To help polish our skills and present a flavor of our art to other members in the group and world, I am continuing this friendly contest for those who would like to participate. There is no money involved, but there is also no telling what a little recognition and respect might generate. The rules are simple:
1) The story needs to be your own work and should be posted on the goodreads (GR) Discussion board, which is a public group. You maintain responsibility and ownership of your work to do with as you please. You may withdraw your story at any time.
2) The stories must be 750 words or less.
3) The stories have to be science fiction, follow a specific theme and potentially include reference to items as requested by the prior month's contest winner.
4) You have until midnight EST on the 22nd day of the month to post your story to the GR Science Fiction Microstory Contest discussion. One story per author per month.
5) After, anyone from the Goodread's Science Fiction Microstory Discussion group has until midnight EST of the 25th day of the month to send me a single private vote (via GR message or to author.jotrussell@gmail.com) for a story other than their own. This vote will be made public once voting is closed. Reading each story before voting, is required. If you do not vote, your story will be disqualified from the contest.
6) To win, a story needs at least half of the votes, or be the only one left after excluding those with the fewest votes. Runoffs will be run each day until a winner is declared. Stories with vote totals that add up to at least half, discarding those with the fewest votes, will be carried forward to the next runoff election. Prior votes will be carried forward to support runoff stories. If you voted for a story that did not make it into the runoff, you need to vote again before midnight EST of that day. Only people who voted in the initial round may vote in the runoffs.
7) Please have all posts abide by the rules of Goodreads.
8) For each month, there will be two discussion threads: a) Stories - For the stories and the contest results only. b) Comments and Critiques - For discussions about the stories and contest. For critiques, please provide a header indicating that so people can avoid any spoilers before they get a chance to read the story. Constructive criticism is okay, but please avoid degrading comments directed towards any individuals. Feel free to describe elements that you do and don't like, as these help us gain a better perspective of our potential readers. Remarks deemed inflammatory or derogatory will be flagged and/or removed by the moderator. If you want to suggest a change to the contest, feel free to start a discussion about the idea before making a formal motion. If another member seconds a motion, a vote can be held. I will abstain from voting, but will require a strong two-thirds majority to override my veto.
9) The winner has THREE days after the start of the new month to post a new contest thread using the theme/items of their choosing. Otherwise, I will post the new contest threads.
1) The story needs to be your own work and should be posted on the goodreads (GR) Discussion board, which is a public group. You maintain responsibility and ownership of your work to do with as you please. You may withdraw your story at any time.
2) The stories must be 750 words or less.
3) The stories have to be science fiction, follow a specific theme and potentially include reference to items as requested by the prior month's contest winner.
4) You have until midnight EST on the 22nd day of the month to post your story to the GR Science Fiction Microstory Contest discussion. One story per author per month.
5) After, anyone from the Goodread's Science Fiction Microstory Discussion group has until midnight EST of the 25th day of the month to send me a single private vote (via GR message or to author.jotrussell@gmail.com) for a story other than their own. This vote will be made public once voting is closed. Reading each story before voting, is required. If you do not vote, your story will be disqualified from the contest.
6) To win, a story needs at least half of the votes, or be the only one left after excluding those with the fewest votes. Runoffs will be run each day until a winner is declared. Stories with vote totals that add up to at least half, discarding those with the fewest votes, will be carried forward to the next runoff election. Prior votes will be carried forward to support runoff stories. If you voted for a story that did not make it into the runoff, you need to vote again before midnight EST of that day. Only people who voted in the initial round may vote in the runoffs.
7) Please have all posts abide by the rules of Goodreads.
8) For each month, there will be two discussion threads:
a) Stories - For the stories and the contest results only.
b) Comments and Critiques - For discussions about the stories and contest. For critiques, please provide a header indicating that so people can avoid any spoilers before they get a chance to read the story. Constructive criticism is okay, but please avoid degrading comments directed towards any individuals. Feel free to describe elements that you do and don't like, as these help us gain a better perspective of our potential readers. Remarks deemed inflammatory or derogatory will be flagged and/or removed by the moderator. If you want to suggest a change to the contest, feel free to start a discussion about the idea before making a formal motion. If another member seconds a motion, a vote can be held. I will abstain from voting, but will require a strong two-thirds majority to override my veto.
9) The winner has THREE days after the start of the new month to post a new contest thread using the theme/items of their choosing. Otherwise, I will post the new contest threads.
Jot Russell
Contest Creator/Director