Christmas Short Story Contest

Hello, my friends and newcomers, I've decided to kick off an AWESOME contest.  It's about time, right?  I haven't done anything like this for a while.  

So, it's time for the Christmas Short Story Contest!

Have you ever wanted to create your own Christmas story?  Have you ever wanted to just sit down and think, think, think of another story that will capture the minds of readers for years to come?   Have you...

Oh, come on.   Here's the gist of the matter.  Now is your chance to use/develop your talents.  Create your own Christmas story.  Use anything that runs around in that fantastic mind.  There are many different ways to write a short story, so you're not boggled down on too many rules.   Just write concisely and have fun. You won't be disappointed. The sky is the limit, along with the cosmos for that matter as well.

Information on the Contest

The info is actually quite simple.  You will have almost complete control over the creation of your short story.  All you have to do is make sure that it is a short story.  

There are tons of ways to write a short story but most end soon after the climax.  I.e. you have your exposition, rising action, climax, and sometimes a resolution.  Falling action can sometimes be found in short stories, but it isn't something the author wants to dwell on.  For example, take a look at Poe's The Cask of Amontillado, Mansfield's Bliss and/or - one of my personal favorites - Hurston's The Gilded Six Bits

I also refer you to the following link.  This ebook is USA domain and can be read online or downloaded:  




So, have fun studying up and/or writing.  If you have any questions, simply send a note to me.

About the Contest

You will be creating your own Christmas story.  I don't care how horrific it is, how romantic it is, how ridiculous it is.  Simply abide by the rules listed below.  

Allow your creative juices to flow.  Show your imagination.  Create new Christmas characters,  a whole new world that never had Christmas until this coming one, or Aliens that try to describe our Christmas traditions to their fellows.  Anything's possible.

Some of you do not celebrate Christmas. If you want to celebrate another holiday that exists around the same time as Christmas, please do so.  If you're an Atheist, create a holiday that revolves around certain Christmas values.  Just make sure you specify in your Artist Comments below the deviation!


Start

December 6, 2010

Deadline

January 7, 2011

Contest Rules

All entries must be new creations of the author and submitted to the host Mattiello via note (with a link of course).

All entries must be deviations and the entrants own work.

No slander, excessive foul language, racial remarks, etc will be allowed. In other words, do not use this contest for your drama.   

Let's keep this up to pg-13 people.  No erotic literature will be aloud.

  Your deviation must be above 300 words

  Your deviation must not exceed 10,000 words

You must try to have fun!

  As a reminder, any who break the rules will be disqualified.  I reserve the right to change the content of this content according to my discretion.  I will, however, notify all of you via journal if any changes occur.



Prizes

1st place

50 points from TheBrassGlass
3 month sub from Mattiello (to the winner or a person of the winner's choice)
3 month sub from MeAsTheNarrator
Critique from GwenavhyeurAnastasia
Critique from ATrue
Critique from leoraigarath
Critique from TheBrassGlass
Journal feature from Mattiello
Journal feature from MeAsTheNarrator
Journal feature from GwenavhyeurAnastasia
Journal feature from HugQueen
Journal feature from Memnalar
Journal feature from mode-de-vie
Journal feature from leoraigarath
Journal feature from TheBrassGlass
Journal feature from AngelofGod87

2nd place

30 points from TheBrassGlass
Critique from GwenavhyeurAnastasia
Critique from TheBrassGlass
Critique from leoraigarath
Journal feature from Mattiello
Journal feature from MeAsTheNarrator
Journal feature from GwenavhyeurAnastasia
Journal feature from HugQueen
Journal feature from Memnalar
Journal feature from mode-de-vie
Journal feature from leoraigarath
Journal feature from TheBrassGlass
Journal feature from AngelofGod87

3rd place

20 points from TheBrassGlass
Critique from GwenavhyeurAnastasia
Critique from TheBrassGlass
Journal feature from Mattiello
Journal feature from MeAsTheNarrator
Journal feature from GwenavhyeurAnastasia
Journal feature from Memnalar
Journal feature from mode-de-vie
Journal feature from leoraigarath
Journal feature from AngelofGod87

Honorable Mentions

Up to three

Journal feature from Mattiello
Journal feature from MeAsTheNarrator
Journal feature from leoraigarath
Journal feature from AngelofGod87

All prize-givers are able to feature honorable members according to their wishes.

  If any of the above info regarding prize donations is inaccurate, please note me with your correction.

If you are willing to be a part of this contest but don't have the time to submit an entry, you can still participate!  Simply send me a note and tell me what kind of prize you'd like to donate! Remember, everyone loves a journal feature, and it's not hard to give!  Of course, you can donate a prize/prizes even if you are submitting an entry.


Judging

I will be judging the contest.  If, however, massive amounts of submissions occur, I will call upon the help of some of my fellow deviants. I will also acquire more judges if I find choosing between deviations too difficult. So, go ahead.  ^{Make it difficult.} _{I dare you.}


I ask that you keep a lookout for updates in my journal.  Here is the link: Christmas Short Story Contest journal



That's it folks.  Make sure you have an excellent time writing.  Have wonderful holidays, be safe, and love well.

Ciao,

-Joe-