Writing Contest - Winners Announced On Page 6

Yes, strange title, but it's summer, the days are longer and hotter, some of us a feeling a bit cranky and restless while some of us has the blues. Regardless of how you feel about summer, there's no denying that summer can be quite exciting and fun, so I felt like including it into our newest writing contest.

As requested and by popular demand, I'll be giving you exactly what you wanted for the newest writing contest: Choose Your Own!!

well sort of it's still your choice, but with a little guidance

Here's the twist though, regardless of which category your story may fall under you must include (3)Three Important Elements:

1)ATS Topic Category: Anything as long as it fits into one of the main forums of the ATS board, ex: War on Terrorism, Fragile Earth, Cryptozoology & Mythical Beasts, Aliens & UFO's etc

2)Story must be set in the summer. The season, heat, rain, bbq, etc all things typical of summer should play a role in the story.

3)The story must include one dialogue scene between characters. No requirements on the length of the dialogue.

Example: "Oh my God John!" Cindy screamed.
"Did you see that too?" asked Tom.
"Yes I did." John replied, covering his face with his hands. "Yes I did"

The usual rules applies, all are welcome to enter the contest, even non writers, you do not need writer status to post in the Short Story Subsection of the CF forum.

Prizes will be awarded as follows:

First Place - 5,000 points
Second Place - 3,500 points
Third Place - 1,500 points

Non writers members will also recieve writer status upon submission of an entry.

All entries must be your stories. PLAGIARISM will be NOT be tolerated. You can write a new story or enter one you've already posted on the Members Short Stories Forum. However previous winning stories are not eligible for this contest

To submit your entry, simply start a new thread in the Short Story Section and include "(STBSS)" as a prefix to the title. All stories with (STBSS) will be topped in the forum throughout the duration of the contest.

Entries will be accepted until July 31st, Winners announced by August 3rd.

Good Luck to all.



[edit on 8-3-2005 by worldwatcher]

Actually, it's only summer in the northern hemisphere.

Antipodeans (especially those in Invercargill and Mawson) ought to get extra points for the imagination required.


[edit on 7-6-2005 by worldwatcher]

Wow, one of my stories from the last contest, "The Ancient Ones" could already be considered for submission. I think i'll pass on it though since it didn't do so hot the last time around.

Question: Do we have to specify which ATS category it falls under or will that be left to the interpretation of the judges?

We can choose from any ATS category huh...jeesh, theres so little to choose from

Thanks WW, the quickest and easiest way to stop the writers from whining is to put them to work. This should be a blast.

Wupy

whoops I messed that up to MA

True, but you're in my world now, where it happens to be summer (does wanna-be evil laugh)

You can leave it up to interpretation, the judges need to do some work too however if you think you are unclear and perhaps blending categories you can alway let us know in a post to the submission.

[edit on 7-6-2005 by worldwatcher]

This seems like fun. I'm not a writer, but hey I'll give it a shot!
Is there any set length, for the whole story?

go for it! no set length, I'd shoot for between 300-500 words, but I wouldn't hold anyone to that, just don't write me novel or anything that takes more than one sitting to finish reading

Okie dokie, I'm on it!

Thanks worldwatcher

Jonas Bringham sat on his porch and took a deep breath of the warm summer air. He scanned the horizon for any unusual activity, as usual…Nothing.
"Eh, doesn’t look like we’re gonna see anything today old friend," he said to his dog, Blue.
Jonas Bringham, a 24 year old man who lived alone with his dog, Blue, in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. He was a lonely fellow, who spent his days scanning the skies, hoping, praying, that one day he will see something. Jonas was an undoubting believer in the UFO phenomenon.
Fairly well off with the inheritance of his father’s money, Jonas didn’t need to work. So he had plenty of time to himself. He spent most of his time on the computer, researching, reading stories of sightings and abductions. He had written several books on the subject and many would call him an expert on the matter. He had read almost every story on the nets, but the one thing that would make his expertise complete, would be to have his own encounter.
Jonas had longed for this since he was just a little boy, when he stumbled upon stories of abductions and became fascinated. So great was his obsession that he had withdrawn from the world. At 15 he spent his days on the nets, reading, writing. It was his passion, and he stuck with it. Now 24 he has resigned to scanning the skies and reading a few things a day.

"Hello Jon!" said Isaac, the neighbor’s boy.
"Hi there Isaac…"
"Anything new?"
"Nope…"
"Anything I can do?"
"Nope…"
"…Okay… Well, bye Jonas." Very disappointed, Isaac left.
Isaac had been trying to get through to Jonas for quite a while now. He knew Jonas had no friends and all his family was gone, so he thought Jonas must feel lonely. But every time he tried to talk to him, Jonas got mad. He didn’t understand it. Why was Jonas so withdrawn? It made him angry, so he tried to think about other stuff.
He decided to go to the beach with his brother, Roger, for a while, that would take his mind off of that crabby old man.
"Ahhh. I just love the beach, don’t you Roger?"
"Mmhmm…"
They walked in silence for a while. Then they heard a crash off in the distance. Isaac told Roger to go see what it was, but to keep his distance. Isaac knew right away, he ran all the way back to Jonas’ house.
"Jonas, Jonas, come quick!!!!"
"What is it, kid?"
"A UFO crashed on the beach just now, you gotta come see this!"
That was all it took, in the blink of an eye, Jonas was out the door.

"Roger, are you okay?" Isaac said to his younger brother.
"Mmhmm, I think so. Isaac, what is that thing!?"
Isaac turned around to see Jonas bent over a body, it was glowing a bright, whiteish blue color.
Isaac was speechless.

Jonas bent over the body, and just stared. He was completely shocked. The alien was dead, that was the only thing he knew for sure. He snapped back to reality when he saw the boys standing over him.
"Jonas, what is it?" Isaac said, when he found his voice again.
"That, Isaac, I believe is an alien," Jonas said.()
Looks like he finally got his wish.



Jonas and the boys got the authorities out there immediately. They were all called heroes for this amazing find. The bodies were proven to be extraterrestrial and the ship was studied thoroughly and caused immense leaps in aerospace technology, moving us so many steps closer to traveling through space and discovering new worlds.


--END---

meh, this is what i could squeeze out of myself in the wee hours of the morning with a timeframe of 45 minutes. hope thats not too tedious, if i ramble on parts, let me know and i will edit it.

Got to try it out...

this can be fictional correct? I know this is a dumb question, but I just wanna make sure because if it has to do with the forum categories that could mean that it must be some sort of true story. My guess this is supposed to be fictional with factual aspects, at least in most cases, correct?

Okay Watcher, I gotta ask! Who....who....WHO...is that H-O-T girl in your avatar?? Oh..yeah I'll write something...

Hey, I'll write something for sure.

Ryan, yep Fiction, but depending on what you choose, like you said it could be fiction based on facts.

Toelint, which one?

perfect
something for me to do in my spare time

go for it! no set length, I'd shoot for between 300-500 words, but I wouldn't hold anyone to that, just don't write me novel or anything that takes more than one sitting to finish reading

Hi worldwatcher.

Just wondering what's the time is for one sitting?

lol..for me a "sitting" is about 10- 20 minutes in reading time.
short stories usually average around 30 minutes or less for me, but then again I am fast reader.

Don't worry too much about the minute details, just hit the 3 main elements and write whatever flows, I would hate to put a cap or limit to creativity.

Hmm, my one paragraph story could also be used (but there would be multiple winners though )

great job all, I'm loving those entries

I think Ill give it a shot. I really need those points to pay off my debts. I hope those casinos accept ATS points

I've got it all finished worldwatcher, but I used a typewriter.
Now I have to type it into my computer so I can post it!
Wouldn't ya know it my scanner doesn't work on this computer.
I still got till the end of the month right?