[CONTEST - COMPLETED] Horror Short Story

[Sacara]

Welcome all to the first ever Horror Short Story Contest! I'm not active in Arts & Fiction, but some may recognize me from Got Issues?, where I am very active. I have come to present a short story contest, with one goal in mind: to leave the reader feeling unsettled. Will it be with an immense amount of gore or more of a slow paced psychological thriller? How you decide to go about this short story is totally up for you to decide! There is a lot of discretion involved, and no one way is 'right'.

Submitting your entry is very easy; all you have to do is telegram Sacara, include your title, and you're done! Once you have sent the telegram, this post will be updated with your name in the "Current Submissions" list, along with its title. You will also receive a telegram letting you know that it has been entered. Entry starts tonight and the deadline will be November 26th, at 12:01 AM, Central Standard Time. There will be one winner and one runner-up. All nations, regardless of history, will be judged based solely on the following criteria: depth of story, continuity and structure of plot, and how interesting it is to read.

This is my first time hosting one of these, and any questions can be asked in the comments of this thread. Please keep in mind there will be about one week after the deadline has ended before the winner is announced. The prize is just having the satisfaction of beating all of your NationStates peers, which is more than any monetary amount I could ever afford. Also keep in mind that the more in-depth the story, the better your story will do. Being concise is important, too, as this is a short story.

1. The story must be written in comprehensible English. Please proofread and check with online grammar checking sites before you submit!
2. The topic must leave the reader unsettled.
3. The story must be at least five hundred words (no more than 2,000), and please use paragraphs.
4. No more than one entry per nation is allowed.

Copies of the stories can be found when clicking on the link to the review.

FINAL SCORES:

1. They Stood There - Main Nation Ministry - Review: 9.9/10
2. The Party - Infected Mushroom - Review: 9.8/10
3. Winter's Grasp - Free Zone Isles - Review: 9.4/10
4. The Boiler Room - Shwe Tu Colony - Review: 9.2/10
5. The Newcomer - Snoodum - Review: 9.1/10
6. Marionette- Heloin - Review: 8.9/10
7. Dead Man - Mzeusia - Review: 7.5/10

[Infected Mushroom]

OH MY GOD!

OH MY GAAAAAAAAAAAWD!

This is SO EXCITING!

[Main Nation Ministry]

I'm joining this. This can get my creative juices going.

[Sacara]

I'm glad there is some enthusiasm behind this topic! I was worried because I didn't know how popular horror was in NationStates. Personally, horror is my favorite genre of literature.

[The Grene Knyght]

I'll probably submit something. Been a while since we've had a writing competition here.

[Sacara]

Good to hear. Hopefully there are some good writings that get submitted!

[Taliostia]

that's is a surprise.

[Sacara]

that's is a surprise.

What?

[Elundris]

Good luck everyone who decides to join! Not sure if I'll be able to, though, as a curiosity, how long can the short stories be?

[Sacara]

Good luck everyone who decides to join! Not sure if I'll be able to, though, as a curiosity, how long can the short stories be?

Minimum of 500 years and a maximum of 1500.

[Infected Mushroom]

I already more or less know what I'm going to write... problem is fitting it in 1500 words...

[Sacara]

I already more or less know what I'm going to write... problem is fitting it in 1500 words...

Should I increase the amount of words? If so, what is reasonable?

[Infected Mushroom]

I already more or less know what I'm going to write... problem is fitting it in 1500 words...

Should I increase the amount of words? If so, what is reasonable?

I mean, I understand that practically speaking, it has to be short and digestible for the judges. I think a prior contest ran with 2000 to 2500 words and it was after a super long delay, judged to be a draw because the judges slacked =)

1,500 words is a bit tight but I think it will just mean that the stories would have to be crafted more concisely...

[Dreshand]

I will watch this, maybe join it.

[Sacara]

I mean, I understand that practically speaking, it has to be short and digestible for the judges. I think a prior contest ran with 2000 to 2500 words and it was after a super long delay, judged to be a draw because the judges slacked =)

1,500 words is a bit tight but I think it will just mean that the stories would have to be crafted more concisely...

I'll extend the maximum up to 1800, halfway between the two numbers.

I will watch this, maybe join it.

Good to hear.

[Sacara]

And we have our first entry, courtesy of Free Zone Isles! Hope to see many more in the coming weeks.

[Main Nation Ministry]

Will we get to read everyone's stories by the end of the deadline? It will be fun to see the stories we all written.

[Sacara]

Will we get to read everyone's stories by the end of the deadline? It will be fun to see the stories we all written.

Yes, during the week for judging, I will post all the stories. Good question!

[Elysian Kentarchy]

I'll see what my mind can cook up. Don't have much experience with horror or keeping my stories short so I will have to see what my mind comes up with.

[Infected Mushroom]

Will we get to read everyone's stories by the end of the deadline? It will be fun to see the stories we all written.

Yes, during the week for judging, I will post all the stories. Good question!

Can we officially call that week...

“Judgement Week”?

[Dreshand]

Yes, during the week for judging, I will post all the stories. Good question!

Can we officially call that week...

“Judgement Week”?

Did I hear Judgements?

UN. THE SUN. THE SUN. THE SUN. THE SUN. THE SUN. THE SUN. THE SUN. THE SUN. THE SUN. THE SUN. THE SUN. THE SUN. THE SUN. THE SUN. THE SUN. TH
If you dont get the reference, have fun i guess

[Sacara]

Yep -- the week when all the stories are to be judged will officially be referred to as "the Judgement Week".

Also, we have our second story! Reminder that the contest still has 24 days left to enter, so don't feel rushed!

[Free Zone Isles]

Good luck to everyone! Can't wait to see the other contestants.

[Sacara]

Thanks for entering!

[Third Asopia]

I can prove my OP writing skills...