SHORT STORY WRITERS CONTEST for September 2018 - "The Relic" [REL2018]

This is an ATS Short Story Writers Contest Thread!

It is a place where ATS members can get creative, showcasing their talent for writing short stories.
It is also a great place to find lots of amazing and original stories to read!

The contest is open to complete beginners, novices and experienced writers alike (There are two seperate sections for "Writers" & "Non-Writers").

There are prizes to be won in the form of ATS "Applause" and even the opportunity for entrants to acquire official ATS "writer" status!
But it is more about sharing our creative ideas, encouraging & developing new talent and having Fun!

We usually hold around one contest per month.

This month's theme has been chosen by our current "Non-Writers" section contest winner zosimov.

The Theme is as follows:

"The Relic" [REL2018]

"Describe an artifact/relic.
Does this object unlock past mysteries?
How is it interpreted by the person who ends up possessing it (correctly or not)?
Is it haunted or cursed or does it reveal lost insight or beauty?
Feel free to expand on the topic of ancient object/artifact/relic in any way that stirs your imagination!"



TO ENTER:
Post your story in its own thread within the SHORT STORY Forum HERE
Then place a post with a link (to your story thread) here in the contest thread to enter.


Rules Of Entry:
Video submissions are not acceptable this time around (Unless solely to provide "mood" music/sound effects).
Photos and Music ARE allowed within the entry, so long as the main story itself is "written".

The contest will run from NOW to Thurs 27th September 2018.
(Any submissions after that date will be disqualified.)

A period of ONE WEEK after the closing of the contest will be provided for voting.

All T&C's Apply.

All entries MUST include [REL2018] in the title.

All entries must be linked in this thread, and please include your ATS writer status [writer] or [non-writer] in your submission post within this thread as it makes it easier to determine which group to place the entry in.

There is no minimum or maximum character count, and the entry can be submitted over one or more posts, but please bear in mind that it is a SHORT STORY contest!

Also, please END your submission with "THE END" so that everyone is clear that your entry is complete.

1 Single Story Submission is allowed Per Member.


WINNERS:
There will be 3 winners among members who already have ATS "Writer" status, prizes as follows:

1st Place -- 5 Applause, and selection of the next contest theme (limited to one in a row)
2nd Place -- 3 Applause
3rd Place -- 1 Applause

There will also be 3 winners from the non-writer category who will receive the following:

1st Place -- 3 Applause & Writer Status
2nd Place -- 2 Applause & Writer Status
3rd Place -- 1 Applause

Scoring

Points are awarded by ATS members giving FLAGS to their favourite story threads and STARS to their favourite story posts.
(You can award a Flag and/or star(s) to any stories that you like, but please don't give flags or stars for any other reasons.)

Flags awarded will be worth 2 points each.
Stars will be worth 1 point each.
*Stars for subsequent posts (i.e. additions to the story after the initial story post) will be worth 0.5 points.

If the winner of the "Writers" section is the same person who chose the current theme, then the opportunity to choose the next theme will fall to the runner up.

Any questions about the Theme itself should be directed to zosimov this time around, and I am happy to answer any general questions about the contests/rules etc.

As always... GOOD LUCK and HAVE FUN!


G

awesome and great theme!

originally posted by: SprocketUK
awesome

and great theme!

How do you do that so quickly Sprocket??? ROFL

a reply to: Gordi The Drummer

Magic, mate

i ll send my cv jk.

a reply to: Damla

Jump right in Damla! (You know you want to...) LOL

a reply to: Gordi The Drummer

i know.but i gave no imagination.

a reply to: Gordi The Drummer

I feel like a relic sometimes, should I write a bio?

Good topic Zosi

a reply to: Gordi The Drummer

Thank you for putting this all together Gordi, great looking thread!

Good luck everyone, and I hope the theme sparks your interest. Please let me know if you have any questions

originally posted by: zosimov
Please let me know if you have any questions

I have a question. Can the 'relic' be a really old member here that likes women's shoes?

a reply to: Gordi The Drummer

Do you have the "powers" to grant "writer status" I thought it was a mod only feature

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

Yes.



Wonder who you could be referring to here?

a reply to: zosimov


A totally fictional person of course.

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

I'm not a fictional person, I am a real boy...

a reply to: zosimov

Congrats on winning my friend. Well deserved. It looks good on you.

I guess it's time to put this title I stole to good use.

originally posted by: Spacespider
a reply to: Gordi The Drummer

Do you have the "powers" to grant "writer status" I thought it was a mod only feature

Hi Space,
Good Question!

In short... No, I can't grant writer status personally, but because this is an officially sanctioned ATS writers contest our wonderful mods have agreed to grant writer status to our (2) best finishing non-writers for each contest.

I hope that answers your question adequately?

cheers,
G

a reply to: knowledgehunter0986

I hope you do write something on the theme, I'd love to read it.

(also, Thanks for the really kind words, friend! )

a reply to: zosimov


You deserve your writer status Zos! Great theme for this month's contest!

a reply to: Night Star

Hi Night,
Will you be joining us again this time around (you old relic!!)? LOL
Gx

a reply to: Gordi The Drummer

Jenna Jameson's knickers

Writer