Guidelines:

1.) 2,500-3,500 words
2.) Must be original, not used before.
3.) Must be certain genre (will be decided by previous winner. For the first contest, I’ll pick the theme) OR free-write?
4.) One month to write
5.) Voting open for two weeks after writing has finished (writers will be writing for the next month’s entry during this time).
6.) Vote for two entries; first/second favorites

I’ve probably missed some things, and obviously these rules so far are negotiable. I just wanted to give people a general idea of things. Anybody interested in starting up a short story contest?

I'm not sure how successful it would be here on dreamers, most people couldn't even be bothered with the 100 word one, but it's worth a shot and I might be willing to contribute. I'm thinking there might be some way to make it more challenging and interesting other then just picking genre such as other limitations... that way it might encourage people to actually read the other submissions.

The drabbles, you mean? I tried one of those once, actually. It came out more as a warped poem, if anything, and was quite terrible. Anyway, if you have suggestions that might help make this more interesting, I’m all ears. I didn’t know what you guys would want, so I just threw some stuff out there to be batted around. Was there anything specific you had in mind that might draw more people in rule-wise?

What the hell DB, I'll find some time to contribute to this, I just hope I do have time considering that I'm opening up a show in about two weeks. JSo just for clarification, the theme can be about anything right?

Ok, I'll join.
I would rather like, that the theme would be free to choose, because not everybody can write in every genre. ANd if the choosen genre doesn't fit a person, there will be less entries.

I'm not for the word count restriction. Only seeing the number makes people lose spirit (made me). I'd suggest any number of words, because many people wouldn't want to read 5-6 texts of about 3.500 words, yet alone write one. Perhaps it turns out to be 3.500 words in the end, but only thinking about having to write 3.500 words is what would make some people not write (it would make me).

I see what you all mean about word/genre restrictions. When I post the “official topic” thing (where the final products would go), I’ll change all the guidelines (which by then will be rules).

So then, it’s basically a free-write now (in all senses of the term), but all that would need to be decided otherwise is how long do you guys want to have to do the writing? Does a month still sound alright, or is that too short/long of a time? Also, do you guys want to have this sort of like the poetry contest, where you PM me what you’ve written and I post it in one topic and leave the writers anonymous (for voting so people can’t be biased), or would you guys rather just post them yourselves when you’re done? It’d be easier to keep editing it that way, but whatever.

Glad to see people are interested in this though =).

I'll say keep it anonymous, to avoid possible favoritism. And yes, I would rather there be no restrictions for word count. A long story may not be a good one, and good one may not always be long. I've read very damn good drabbles, and some story that goes on and on and on then finally reaches the main plot when I already feel like dozing off.

I like this idea, and I also agree with everyone else. After I am done with a small... Issue, I will think I will make an entry. It really depends on few things, but this looks quite interesting and fun. YAY *turns on some techno and does a funny little dance*

Just to inform, there are nine days left to send me an entry. So far I only have one entry (and no, it’s not my own, for those who are wondering.). Hopefully more of you are actually doing this (I have no idea if you are, being this the first bout of the contest), but just remember that you only have nine days left to get something to me. That’s still quite a bit of time though, so don’t rush.

I'll be done later this week DB,. Still need to add the finishing touches to it.

Riiiight, so I’m going to extend the date. Mainly because for those who are still doing this, I don’t want you to feel pressured to get something done, or end up dropping it because it’s getting so close to the deadline and you don’t want to bother with it anymore.

Well, that’s mostly the reason. But anyway, I’m going to extend the “due date” for another two weeks, just to see if anyone else wants to do a short story. It’d be nice to have more than two people besides me, but I guess if that’s all I can get, I’ll be happy with just two.

So yeah. We all now have sixteen days to get an entry in. If somebody doesn’t want the extension...just tell me >.o. But I doubt that’d be the case anyway, so...yeah...Sixteen days now, not two. =).

Two weeks, aye? I'll think of something, since my mind keep getting clouded with inspiration for my new secret project and I have to get some of it to spill out before I explode.

Brain-storming time!!!

So you all know, I’ve given an extension for Contest #2. The last entry date is 30 June. There hasn’t been much output (for either SS Contest), so I’m wondering if you guys want to continue this? I suppose I should say, do you guys want to start this? =p. I kid, I kid...

Whenever you wish to start it DB. Though I'm sure there are people who want to participate but like me just haven't found the time to sit down and write out a story.

I will enter this free write. The dead line is June 30th I will PM to you my writing as soon as I have finished it.

I admit I had totally forgotten about this. It was at the back of my mind, then I finally realized today that I hadn't submitted the entries yet for the second contest, and it is already July 2.

So anyway, since it does take some time to write these, how about I move the writing time to two months so that we get two solid months to write something? I can understand if people don't have time to write, so hopefully this might help?