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2021 "April Conflicts" Short Story Contest
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You can read the first story, written by Travis, at Writers 750 Program. Here it is: https://writers750program.com/writers...
DRAGONS OF THE BALIC MOUNTAINS
by terry turner 1439 words
In the early predawn light, the wizard, Excabar, gazed out of his tower window over the mass of destruction from the night before. He had come to a decision while nervously twisting the large turquoise ring on his spindly finger. His sense of hearing was not good but his eyesight had not diminished over the passing years and what he saw disturbed him.
His mind drifted back to the first day when his village was invaded by dragons and his people lived in fear for their lives. Their homes were destroyed on regular basis and their farms burned. He tried hard to forget those times when his people dealt with starvation and atrocities but recent events had dredged those memories up again.
The latest attack was beyond imagination. Many of the villagers had died and children abducted. Over the past years, he had ordered a tower to be built to accommodate the villagers and their children. A safe haven for the people to wait out the attacks which he knew would surely come again. The tower had deep cellars where the animals were housed and a large well supplied by a mountain stream was fed into an inside well. When the attacks stopped, they would leave the tower and life could resume.
But the wizard knew this could not go on indefinitely. His life was coming to an end and it was with this thought in mind that he brought Mazarina into his life.
Mazarina had been born without sight on the eve when the three moons had aligned and had been given the gift of magic. As a young girl, Excabar cast a spell on her which restored her sight and diligently instructed his protege over the years to rule his people upon his death.
Mazarina quietly watched her master from the far side of the tower room and began to wonder when the village elders would converge on their door demanding to know why the wizard had not dealt with the dragons before now. She watched as tears trickled down her master's bony cheeks.
“Isn’t there anything you can do to stop this reign of terror master?”
His beautiful long-time protege and companion for over 100 years stood motionless waiting for the wizard's answer.
The wizard stopped stroking his long white beard and turned to face Mazarina.
What is it, master?
Dragons were born of wizardry thousands of years ago and now we wizards have no power over them. I need to send you to find out about these dragons. I need to know if this is one of the green Balic mountain dragons or one of the red dragons who dwell in the sea cliffs. It could be very dangerous and I no longer have the power to protect you. I am growing weak, my child.
After hearing the old wizard's plan, Mazarina agreed, and that evening when the three moons climbed into the sky, she made her way to stand on the edge of the abyss searching the sky for any sign of the monster dragon. On the third night, his black silhouette hovered before the moons, then he swooped over the abyss in front of her. Again and again, he circled her each time coming closer until his great dark shape landed beside her.
Mazarina screamed and ran toward a nearby cave but the great dragon spread his wings and stopped her retreat. He spat skyward a long plume of fire so hot that Mazarina felt the heat on her face. The dragon then lowered its head and bowed before her.
“Be not afraid beautiful maiden,” the green dragon said to her. “The destruction of your village was not caused by the dragons of the Balic mountains. I have come to bring you a gift. Give it to your master. He will know what to do with it.”
With that, he reached under his wing with his long neck and pulled out a gold box placing it on the ground before her. Then he leaped from the cliff, stretched his powerful wings, and soared into the night sky.
As instructed, Mazarina delivered the gold box to Excabar and told him everything the dragon had said. The wizard listened quietly to every word that was spoken. When he opened the box, he recoiled with his hand over his mouth.
"What is it, master?"
“It is a Cryote Crystal. I have only seen drawings and was told that they were no longer in existence. It is a powerful orb that could destroy any dragon within its range when required.”
“How do we get it within the red dragon’s range, master?”
Excabar turned a sad face to Mazarina.
“You must do it, my child. I have a plan. The red dragons will attack again while the three moons are aligned and tonight is the last night before the moons start to wane. They will return again tonight and you must be on the edge of the abyss with the crystal.”
At dusk, the wizard gave Mazarina a strong potion, kissed her forehead, and spoke of his love for her.
“You have been like a daughter to me, my child. Whatever happens tonight, know that you will always have a place in my heart.”
Tears streamed down the old wizard's face as he watched Mazarina walk across the marketplace below. She paused for a moment to look back toward the tower window from where she knew Excabar was watching. Then, she quickly ran for the path that would take her to the abyss. Excabar fell to the floor with a high-pitched, mournful cry. He tore at his hair and shouted "what have I done."
Standing on the rim of the abyss, cold and afraid, she wondered what mysterious energy had brought her to that place and why. Her mind was a dreamscape. The potion was working its magic. Thousands of feet below, a river of molten rock, red, yellow, and orange, flowed slowly but purposefully toward the sea. Her long auburn hair and the sheer white veil that covered her naked body floated gently on the warm sulfide air current that was rising from below.
Then, from out of the starry night sky, a fiery snake-like creature with scaly legs and bat like-wings swooped over the abyss in front of her. It was the red dragon.
The beast circled high in the moon-lit sky and then dived again. This time he came closer and sniffed the air as he passed. He is a wise old dragon who has been around for hundreds of years. He will not be easily fooled. If he suspects that she is a pretender, he will knock her off the ledge into the abyss with his long barbed tail.
Again the dragon circled and this time she saw him coming straight at her. A jet of fire erupted from his angry mouth. She braced herself for what was to come and held the Cryote Crystal high over her head.
Then, from out of the shadows the old wizard rushed to Mazarina's side, pushed her to the ground, and took the crystal from her hands. The dragon grabbed the wizard with his clawed front foot jerking him off the ledge with a jolt.
Mazarina watch in horror as the dragon flew over the molten lava with Excabar dangling helplessly from the dragon's powerful grip. Its flight path took them out to sea before returning to the cliff cave where the other red dragons had gathered to ready themselves for their nightly raid on the village.
Mazarina was stunned as she laid on the ground watching the dragon disappear into the distance. "This is not how the plan was supposed to go," she cried out knowing she had just lost her master and life long friend.
Then she shuddered breathlessly when the ground beneath her shook and she saw a great ball of fire and smoke rise from the cliffs where the red dragons lived.
It was then she noticed a familiar silhouette against the lunar glow. Her heart pounded. Her mind was confused. The dark shadow came closer and shortly the green dragon again landed on the cliff next to her.
“Do not be sad, Mazarena, for the great wizard has provided for your future. He sent a messenger to the Balic mountains yesterday with his magic ring and a message. He has asked that I deliver the ring of enlightenment to you which will give you all the power and knowledge that the ring has gathered and stored for hundreds of years. You must use it wisely to reign over the land. Know the green dragons of the Balic mountains will always be your friends.”
by terry turner 1439 words
In the early predawn light, the wizard, Excabar, gazed out of his tower window over the mass of destruction from the night before. He had come to a decision while nervously twisting the large turquoise ring on his spindly finger. His sense of hearing was not good but his eyesight had not diminished over the passing years and what he saw disturbed him.
His mind drifted back to the first day when his village was invaded by dragons and his people lived in fear for their lives. Their homes were destroyed on regular basis and their farms burned. He tried hard to forget those times when his people dealt with starvation and atrocities but recent events had dredged those memories up again.
The latest attack was beyond imagination. Many of the villagers had died and children abducted. Over the past years, he had ordered a tower to be built to accommodate the villagers and their children. A safe haven for the people to wait out the attacks which he knew would surely come again. The tower had deep cellars where the animals were housed and a large well supplied by a mountain stream was fed into an inside well. When the attacks stopped, they would leave the tower and life could resume.
But the wizard knew this could not go on indefinitely. His life was coming to an end and it was with this thought in mind that he brought Mazarina into his life.
Mazarina had been born without sight on the eve when the three moons had aligned and had been given the gift of magic. As a young girl, Excabar cast a spell on her which restored her sight and diligently instructed his protege over the years to rule his people upon his death.
Mazarina quietly watched her master from the far side of the tower room and began to wonder when the village elders would converge on their door demanding to know why the wizard had not dealt with the dragons before now. She watched as tears trickled down her master's bony cheeks.
“Isn’t there anything you can do to stop this reign of terror master?”
His beautiful long-time protege and companion for over 100 years stood motionless waiting for the wizard's answer.
The wizard stopped stroking his long white beard and turned to face Mazarina.
What is it, master?
Dragons were born of wizardry thousands of years ago and now we wizards have no power over them. I need to send you to find out about these dragons. I need to know if this is one of the green Balic mountain dragons or one of the red dragons who dwell in the sea cliffs. It could be very dangerous and I no longer have the power to protect you. I am growing weak, my child.
After hearing the old wizard's plan, Mazarina agreed, and that evening when the three moons climbed into the sky, she made her way to stand on the edge of the abyss searching the sky for any sign of the monster dragon. On the third night, his black silhouette hovered before the moons, then he swooped over the abyss in front of her. Again and again, he circled her each time coming closer until his great dark shape landed beside her.
Mazarina screamed and ran toward a nearby cave but the great dragon spread his wings and stopped her retreat. He spat skyward a long plume of fire so hot that Mazarina felt the heat on her face. The dragon then lowered its head and bowed before her.
“Be not afraid beautiful maiden,” the green dragon said to her. “The destruction of your village was not caused by the dragons of the Balic mountains. I have come to bring you a gift. Give it to your master. He will know what to do with it.”
With that, he reached under his wing with his long neck and pulled out a gold box placing it on the ground before her. Then he leaped from the cliff, stretched his powerful wings, and soared into the night sky.
As instructed, Mazarina delivered the gold box to Excabar and told him everything the dragon had said. The wizard listened quietly to every word that was spoken. When he opened the box, he recoiled with his hand over his mouth.
"What is it, master?"
“It is a Cryote Crystal. I have only seen drawings and was told that they were no longer in existence. It is a powerful orb that could destroy any dragon within its range when required.”
“How do we get it within the red dragon’s range, master?”
Excabar turned a sad face to Mazarina.
“You must do it, my child. I have a plan. The red dragons will attack again while the three moons are aligned and tonight is the last night before the moons start to wane. They will return again tonight and you must be on the edge of the abyss with the crystal.”
At dusk, the wizard gave Mazarina a strong potion, kissed her forehead, and spoke of his love for her.
“You have been like a daughter to me, my child. Whatever happens tonight, know that you will always have a place in my heart.”
Tears streamed down the old wizard's face as he watched Mazarina walk across the marketplace below. She paused for a moment to look back toward the tower window from where she knew Excabar was watching. Then, she quickly ran for the path that would take her to the abyss. Excabar fell to the floor with a high-pitched, mournful cry. He tore at his hair and shouted "what have I done."
Standing on the rim of the abyss, cold and afraid, she wondered what mysterious energy had brought her to that place and why. Her mind was a dreamscape. The potion was working its magic. Thousands of feet below, a river of molten rock, red, yellow, and orange, flowed slowly but purposefully toward the sea. Her long auburn hair and the sheer white veil that covered her naked body floated gently on the warm sulfide air current that was rising from below.
Then, from out of the starry night sky, a fiery snake-like creature with scaly legs and bat like-wings swooped over the abyss in front of her. It was the red dragon.
The beast circled high in the moon-lit sky and then dived again. This time he came closer and sniffed the air as he passed. He is a wise old dragon who has been around for hundreds of years. He will not be easily fooled. If he suspects that she is a pretender, he will knock her off the ledge into the abyss with his long barbed tail.
Again the dragon circled and this time she saw him coming straight at her. A jet of fire erupted from his angry mouth. She braced herself for what was to come and held the Cryote Crystal high over her head.
Then, from out of the shadows the old wizard rushed to Mazarina's side, pushed her to the ground, and took the crystal from her hands. The dragon grabbed the wizard with his clawed front foot jerking him off the ledge with a jolt.
Mazarina watch in horror as the dragon flew over the molten lava with Excabar dangling helplessly from the dragon's powerful grip. Its flight path took them out to sea before returning to the cliff cave where the other red dragons had gathered to ready themselves for their nightly raid on the village.
Mazarina was stunned as she laid on the ground watching the dragon disappear into the distance. "This is not how the plan was supposed to go," she cried out knowing she had just lost her master and life long friend.
Then she shuddered breathlessly when the ground beneath her shook and she saw a great ball of fire and smoke rise from the cliffs where the red dragons lived.
It was then she noticed a familiar silhouette against the lunar glow. Her heart pounded. Her mind was confused. The dark shadow came closer and shortly the green dragon again landed on the cliff next to her.
“Do not be sad, Mazarena, for the great wizard has provided for your future. He sent a messenger to the Balic mountains yesterday with his magic ring and a message. He has asked that I deliver the ring of enlightenment to you which will give you all the power and knowledge that the ring has gathered and stored for hundreds of years. You must use it wisely to reign over the land. Know the green dragons of the Balic mountains will always be your friends.”
Mod
1021 words
Sometimes I just want to relax, watch the birds fly in and out of the trees, and appreciate the beauty of it. There have been a few things that have prevented my goal of making my back yard into a paradise. A big one was Hurricane Michael.
Flashback
My husband Bob and I braced ourselves against the glass sliding door as we faced hurricane strength winds. As the winds pushed the glass door inward, I looked up at the framing above to see a large crack appear and disappear then reappear again with each forceful gust. Pine cones struck the glass in front of us like balls sent from a canon. How long had we stood there and faced the monster known as Hurricane Michael?
Twenty-four hours earlier, we received the news that Michael had entered the Gulf of Mexico. I had previously planned a trip to Tennessee to go alone to visit my mother and her husband.
But I would not abandon my husband to survive a hurricane by himself.
I called my mother to cancel my trip. I cried on the phone because I had so looked forward to it. After all, it had been five years since I’d seen her. But she understood. Then Bob and I took to task of boarding just the front windows. In the past we customarily boarded the side windows of the bedroom and bathroom and also the back glass sliding door. We made the mistake, like many Floridians of not boarding up entirely. Like many locals, we misjudged the potential strength of this hurricane.
I had worked many years in my backyard garden. I had three palms, a number of elaeagnus shrubs along the privacy fence, a huge century plant, a magnolia tree, a pine tree, an angel fountain, and a bricked in flower bed. Beyond our privacy fence there were many lush green trees. Little did we know that all of this would change in a matter of hours.
It was October 10, 2018. By the time Michael reached the Panama City, Florida coast, it was a category 5 hurricane. We knew we were in trouble and should’ve completely boarded up. We spent several hours with our hands braced against the glass door to the back yard. We witnessed the fury of the hurricane as it toppled trees from across the road that landed on power lines and eventually on our property. We watched our 2-story tall pine tree bend to the left and right without breaking; it didn’t crash on our house like so many other homes were damaged by trees in the area. All the while I was declaring in prayer, “Shalom! Peace be still!” Meanwhile, water had entered our house and was pouring out of air-conditioning ducts. The worst was in a hallway near the front door. Thankfully Bob had gotten a large trash can to catch the water. But water was pouring in through the skylight several feet away from this in a bathroom.
Many people who had Virgin mobile phone service lost connection during the hurricane. Fortunately, I had Metro PC; I was able to see Michael on the My Radar app as it traveled through and left the state. I placed a claim call to our home owners’ insurance agent before Michael had left the state. When it was over, it was as if a bomb had been dropped. So many trees covered the road that we were trapped in our neighborhood. Power lines were down everywhere. Privacy fences were flat on the ground. Shingles were missing from every house. Vehicles were damaged on the bodies and windows from flying debris such as the shingles; one vehicle was flipped upside down. We lost palm trees and pine trees too damaged to save. Michael picked up my angel fountain and hurled the bottom of it into the unknown. The next few days were spent picking up piles of shingles and pine cones and cutting broken privacy fencing to set out for pick up by the county. We’d have to work to regain our back yard garden again, our piece of heaven.
We went a week without water and electricity. A nearby pond provided some water to wash our dishes and flush the toilets. Thankfully, I’m a hoarder of plastic bottles which came in very handy for having set aside drinking water. The National Guard dispensed MRE meals in the parking lot of a nearby school. They also dispensed tarp for our houses. Before the week was up, my brother showed up unannounced bearing gifts: a large pumpkin, a case of trail mix granola bars and other food items, two large commercial flashlights, a generator, and some gasoline. That is the most loving, unselfish thing my brother had ever done for us. It helped lighten the load for sure.
After the electricity and water were restored, it was a small waiting period to begin employment with a company I had applied for before the hurricane. It was a blessing in disguise. The recovery efforts have been slow and sometimes disheartening. A two-story house on my street is still wrapped in tarp two and a half years after Michael due to a pending law suit for damage claims while a small house still has a tree on top of it a little ways from here, and the owner sleeps in a small travel trailer. Churches still stand broken and abandoned; commercial properties are empty, covered with only concrete foundations and parking blocks; houses stand abandoned with tall weeds in the yard.
And then the Covid-19 hit the US and the world.
Sometimes I’m glad for the lockdown and social distancing since my view out of my window is a forest beyond my neighborhood filled with large, dead looking trees with stubby branches erect or leaning. My back yard garden is still my oasis from the world. I also receive encouragement from God’s word and his promises such as "For I know the plans I have for you", declares the LORD. "Plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11
Mod
New Site for a Village Sought by F. F. Burwick 901 words"You will never return here again!" Agrohlin, the huge interbred man giant called out at the small group of men, women, and children who hurried off with the few possessions they could from their homes as Agrohlin's troop gathered into that small village overlooking the river valley.
There was no way the people who had lived here for more than a dozen generations in peace and apparent security could be prepared for battling the invaders from the other side of the mountains, who had descended quickly from those mountains toward the village while it was yet morning of that spring day. Agrohlin had called out from an overlooking hill the warning to them that his forces would now occupy that village and any who remained when his forces entered into the village would be slain.
Jogarno and the forty four people with him needed to find a place that would provide them immediate shelter. There was no place known to them like the village of huts made against the cliffside which they had just lost to that invasion. They would look persistently but it could be a long search for such, which they really could not afford. And they continued traversing along the stretch of the valley through that day.
Jogarno's sister said to him, "There is no place good for new homes to us near enough that we can get there this day, is there?"
Jogarno said, "I do not want to think like that, we get by doing what we have to do, but the area we were familiar with did not have any other spot good for our homes as what we had. We will go on, keep looking out."
Further along in the narrow valley they came near to a densely growing forest. This would not serve them. Jogarno called to the others, "Let us go around on this side, to go around it rather than trying to pass through that dense growth."
The others agreed readily, and they went to the side a little uphill to go around that. As Jorgarno and the people of his village came nearer to the end of that long length of forest, they saw an ape coming out from the trees at their side, toward them. Jogarno instructed the others, "Stay close together, and if this creature comes close, yell and make a lot of noise, that should drive this animal away."
"Peace," the ape, a creature with soft fur of light brown and green streaks, with a mild expression in a dark skinned face, and with a medallion hanging from around the neck, said to them, "I am a guardian ape. You are people fleeing from your homes, and you need a new place to come to, that will serve you as well as the homes that were your own, which will be even more safe. I can give you help. Come, one of you, and take this help being offered." The guardian ape reached for the medallion, and worked it open, and brought out a papery material, folded small that enabled it to be kept there. The guardian ape held it out.
Jogarno came forward, cautiously, until he was near enough to reach for what was held out. He asked then, "What do you want from us in return?"
The guardian ape said, "This that I let you have will show you the way to where you will have homes safe and with abundant supply of what you need to provide for yourselves, and you will learn to have needed things keep growing there. Giving you this will free me and those living here of worrying about the lost out here driven away without knowing where to go."
Jogarno unfolded the papery material and saw on it a map of this area adequately portrayed to recognize, with the forest area in the middle. He could see from it that going a little further, shown on there, there was a narrow passage through high hills and mountainous terrain further on, to the right of their direction ahead, which turned in away out from sight while leaving it to look like a short dead end from outside that passage. In the hidden area there was plenty of open space though. There was yet a stream which flowed down that way to join the river flowing down along the middle of the valley.
Jogarno said, "Thank you, this will really help us immensely. We will go that way indicated on here. I must say I am so surprised you can speak to us to help us."
The guardian ape said, "You should always take into account that there are ways purposely provided for you. Even that I and the others of my kind being here where we might be of help to lost ones, as you are, is such a provision. And we are more intelligent than we may look to you, with a superior way to speak to other minds."
Jogarno said, "This really means a whole lot to us. We will go on, now, to find that place." Jogarno returned to the others of his community again, and indicated to them he had learned to watch for a passage from this valley, that looked short, but would have a hidden way further in that would be out of sight from others, where they could have their homes and grow things there.
Can instructions be given for sending votes?
Mod
Good story Fred. Hope you had as much fun writing it as I did reading it.
F.F. wrote: "New Site for a Village Sought by F. F. Burwick 901 words
"You will never return here again!" Agrohlin, the huge interbred man giant called out at the small group of men, women, and children who hu..."
F.F. wrote: "New Site for a Village Sought by F. F. Burwick 901 words
"You will never return here again!" Agrohlin, the huge interbred man giant called out at the small group of men, women, and children who hu..."
Wow, Glenda. How soon we forget. Good story. An eye opener.
Glenda wrote: "Devastation of Michael
1021 words
Sometimes I just want to relax, watch the birds fly in and out of the trees, and appreciate the beauty of it. There have been a few things that have prevented my ..."
Glenda wrote: "Devastation of Michael
1021 words
Sometimes I just want to relax, watch the birds fly in and out of the trees, and appreciate the beauty of it. There have been a few things that have prevented my ..."
I will be announcing the winner and awards soon!
April Conflict awards:Gypsy Road to Redemption by Paul Ahnert
Best Redemption and Best Character Development
New Site for a Village Sought by Fred Burwick
Best Map and Best Hope for a New Home
Devastation of Michael by Glenda Garber Reynolds
Best Survival and Best Disaster
Dragons of the Balic Mountains by Terry Turner
Best Dragon Saga and Best Gold Box
The Half-Empty Glass by Arthur Chappell
Best Curmudgeon and Best Blessing In Disguise
Battle of the Bellies by Travis Jackson
Best Battle in Town and Best Surprise Ending
I loved reading your stories this month!
The winning story is Travis Jackson’s “Battle of the Bellies”
Congrats!
Thank you, everyone, for posting your April Conflict story!
They are all very creative stories, and I enjoyed them very much.
I’ll be posting May Misty Swamps Short Story Contest sometime later today.
Congratulations, Travis. Very creative story. Cheers to everyone who took the time to post a story and vote.
Mod
Congratulations Travis! Cheers to everyone!!
TOPIC: Disturbing Conflicts
THEME: Optimism
SETTING: Start your story with a disturbance. Your character is passionate about a certain goal, but a conflict is making it difficult. The goal might be in the performing arts, in athletics, music, politics, law enforcement, gardening, cooking, or in something else of your choosing. The opposition might be a criminal, disgruntled employee, death of a loved one, or an immoral acquaintance. An important message helps your character find optimism and persevere in spite of the obstacle.
3 HIGHLIGHTS (include): A box or gift, an optimistic message, and a conflict
3 OPTIONAL PROMPTS TO GET YOU STARTED:
1.) Your character is a single person who discovers that his or her boss has suddenly died the night before. Police arrive at the small business to question everyone who worked with the boss. Since your character is single, he or she has no alibi. Your character looks guilty but must remain optimistic. You decide possible motives for the co-workers. You decide who killed the boss and why.
2.) Your character loses his or her beloved job. While down in the dumps, he receives a message to help him look on the bright side. He starts a new job doing something totally different or unusual such as packing boxes for people who are moving. You describe internal conflicts. Decide how the new job turns out. Decide whether he returns to his old career if the opportunity ever is given again.
3.) Your character carries a terrible secret such as accidentally killing someone in a car crash. Years later, a new neighbor bully happens to be a relative of the deceased person. This neighbor bully keeps making life difficult, prank after prank, until an important message stops the neighbor from bullying. You character almost seeks revenge on the neighbor bully until a box arrives with something inside to help your character remain optimistic.
WORD COUNT: 750-1,500
PRIZE: Winner receives a book!
AWARDS: Each story will receive an award!
OPTIONAL RESOURCES:
You can find optional conflicts on pages 44-45 in "Writers 750 Emerald Workbook" written by H.M. Schuldt.
For more inspiration, you can read short stories in "Giant Tales Beyond the Mystic Doors," Chapter 4: Mysterious Boxes.
POST YOUR STORY AT Writers 750 Program: (You can also post your story here.)
https://writers750program.com/writers...
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CONTEST GUIDELINES – Skip over this comment section if you are familiar with the Writers 750 Program.
GENRE: Fantasy, Thriller, Sci-Fi, Mystery, Crime, Comedy, Romance, or a mixture (No erotica)
PURPOSE -
The main purpose of this contest is to practice the skill of writing fiction, explore conflict and character development, write a new short stories, and receive good feedback.
RULES & DIRECTIONS -
• Type in English - a minimum of 750 words; a maximum of 1,500 words
• Post your title and word count total in the first line of your story posting.
• Writers are responsible for their own copyright. Authors keep all rights. PRIVACY POLICY IS ENFORCED. COPYRIGHTS AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS BELONG TO INDIVIDUAL AUTHORS. THIS CONTEST DOES NOT GRANT ANY PERSON THE RIGHT OR LICENSE TO COPY OR USE OTHER STORIES. EACH STORY IS PROTECTED BY THE COPYRIGHT OF THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR.
• ONE entry per person, must be the writer's original work, a final revision, and a new piece of writing. Please do not delete and re-post since this becomes confusing to the readers. Make sure to post your final revision.
SUBMISSIONS: Post your story at Writers 750 Program. You can also post your story in the section below.