I have a story I could use, but it contains strong language, some(not too gory) violence, and is over 5,000 words. Would that still be acceptable?
 

I'm glad you allow two. I'll submit one already up on my website, and I'll compose one especially for this. Thanks for putting forth the effort it will take to do this!
Two kudos for you!


 

ditto kudos

I have story but its got some language in it not to bad, and it hints at drug use, is that ok or do I need to stat from scratch.

 

Bravo! This is a wonderful idea. You're to be greatly commended for thinking of it (I only wish I'd thought of it sooner, LOL). I'll certainly do what I can to help spread the word.

Cheers,
Mimi ;-)
www.mimiriser.com

 

This is a brilliant idea, and there are a lot of talented writers on myspace.  I actually just posted my latest short story on my blog called Over Coffee.  I think I will submit that one, and I will write up another tomorrow.

 

I was happy to read about this little venture of yours and Im excited at the possibility of submitting something to it. Im presently working on something with some coarse langauge, but not too much and I dont see the wor limit being an issue. Will be in touch. LOVE this idea. 
 

Way to go!  I'll get this opportunity into our local writer's group and hope that they get their pens refilled and start writing.  Well done!

Jock JR Gordon

Author - Graves in the Wilderness 

 

Count me in. 
 

Get Idea - count me in - if I can get the stuff I'm currently working on organized.

Carol Hightshoe - editor of the award wining ezine The Lorelei Signal and the newly launched Sorcerous Signals.

 

Would I be at a disadvantage because I don't write science fiction?
 

Not at all.  This is an open-genre contest.
 

Some violence is fine, just try to keep it in line with the 'PG-13' rule.

 

A friend of mine just gave me the heads up on this contest.

I'd really love to join myself ^^

Thanks for giving us a chance to show our stuff!

 

Looking forward to seeing your work!
 

Sounds like fun. I may just submit something, but I may have to edit out the "F" word a bit. Of course, the story will lose quite a bit of it's impact if I do that...
 

F-bombs are definitely above the PG-13 threshold.

I understand how explicit language can be essential to certain plots (and I've used it myself before in stories), but since this contest is an all ages type deal, unfortunately it can't be included.  That doesn't mean everything has to be cartoonish and rosey, but if, say, the only time your story could be read on T.V. was on cable after 11 p.m., I'm not going to be able to include it.

 

Don't fee too bad Daninca, many of my horror fiction stories throws a lot of f-bombs around but this particular story doesn't and Steven, this is previously posted on WritersCafe.org but I have all the copyrights for it. It is a true ghost story I wrote at the beginning of the month and it is still quite new. It has a few minor cussing in there making it a PG-13 rated story. My short story Spectral Exile tossed a lot of f-bombs in there, but this one has a big difference it is true. So with that being said -- hope this doesn't spook a few people so to speak. It is about Cuba Road in South Barrington, Illinois. 
          This story is relatively untested on anyone and if you want to review it go ahead and join WritersCafe.org.   I am getting published in Haunted Times Magazine with another story related to this one and in Withersin Magazine with another story -- that is a little more explicit with the language.  This one is clean for my standards but if you want a lot of graphic horror content check out Spectral Exile.

Memoir Of Cuba Road
Word Count: 2,585 Words
Genre: Memoir (True Ghost Story)
Rated: PG-13 (for minor swearing and supernatural happenings)

 

Excellent

Keep us all posted.

I will submit two also.

Good on you for creating your own opportunities (and including others) - good karma coming to you! :)

 

I have 2 stories to submit. However, I'm unable to send you a message to get an email address. Please contact me when you can.
Thanks for doing this.
 

I think that is great having a writing contest for people that are trying to get their short stories published and printed in a book. Good luck to all the peope that will be entering the contest I wish I was talented like you and everyone that writes.

Lesli
 

I would like to send you a short story. Where do you want me to send it to??
 

Just with the suggested rating of PG-13, that takes me out of the running. I do poetry too, but you're asking for short stories.
 

I have a couple of stories I'm working in, hopefully I'll be anble to send one in by May 11 and thanks for the opportunity :)  I'll try to spread the word.

 

are you kidding me?! this is amazing!  i'll definitely help spread the word about this!  thank you so much for putting together such an awesome opportunity for writers who want and deserve to be heard.

man, i wish i could give you more than two kudos....

 

Hi Steven. Thanks for this great opportunity. I have a novel I'm hoping to get published; but I do have a little free story on my Blogs I'd love to share, if you'd be so kind as to make it available to your readers. It's a fantasy, and was written as a gift to a friend. From the feedback, a number of people enjoyed it. It's on my older Blogs and starts on February 14th and goes to February 24th. I think this link will take people there. It probably requires a little editing, which I'll do when I get some spare time. But here it is and I hope your friends enjoy it.

Nate a.k.a N Marion

 http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.listAll&friendID=91294201&startID=234045359&StartPostedDate=2007-02-24%2008:59:00.0&next=1&page=1&Mytoken=F8266CC5-32A7-4D39-81E2E5D26112C0EC69470322

 

This is a really awesome idea.  Good job man.
 

Here's a story I wrote:
I don't know why when I paste it into the window all my 's turn into =. Does somebody know?

3,960 Words



Mirth
by Eric Meeks
meekseric@hotmail.com



Eric=s sword thrust through the soft under scales of the dragon=s breast, slaying the beast and ending the two hundred year reign of Draco Geoffrey.

Killing the ancient dragon had been a long and arduous task when compared to the hours in a day, or the days in a week, or the weeks in the months, but shortened when placed next to the decades and lifetimes and centuries of Geoffrey.

The end of his life had begun when a young princess, named Lydia, had exerted her influence in the Kingdom of Diaz and sought ways to end the evil reign of the wyrm with his burnings of the forests and farmlands and his tormenting and killing of the townsfolk.

So eventually, two courses of action were set upon.

One was for the wisest of and most mystical of men to create a sword capable of striking Geoffrey without shattering or melting, because Dragons are very hot and hard.

The second was to find the man most able to defeat the dragon.

Many applied. Though not as many as you might think given the amount of people living n the affected areas. And there were many who boasted of how they would do it, but somehow never actually made it to apply at the castle.

But Eric the Meek, who was actually Eric the Bookseller (son of Darrell the Bookseller and thereby one himself) had answered the call and gained approval.

It had not been an easy approval to get. For Eric was just an average man, lacking the muscles of most of the other applicants and, although his age was thirty, he had boyish blonde features with a face once upon a time freckled, but now more strawberry tanned, and would never be able to grow a beard. But, that was alright because Eric didn=t really like to shave anyway.

He had gained approval to by impressing the Princess with his research and she in turn had nudged her father, the King.

For a long time, Eric had been reading books on swordplay; practicing when he could. When the call sounded to seek a man to slay the Dragon, he went to the library and studied all the more he could.

First, he studied the historical church records of early priests searching and mapping the caverns in the mountainside where the Dragon slept.

Then, he studied newspaper accounts of witnesses describing how the dragon moved and flew.

Finally, he studied old thrown away wizards administrative reports on the magical abilities and effects from the dragons past.

But, it wasn=t until he went to talk to the lowly disfigured hunchback, who hadn=t bathed possibly ever, and had the extremely dangerous and sad job of delivering the human sacrifices up to the chainpost at the mouth of the Dragons lair, that the plan was completed the application filed.

Eric determined the attack would have to take place on a cold morning. For the Dragon had shown himself over the years, to the cavemaster, to move slower on a cold day and very fast on a hot day. Just as any lizard or snake is affected by summer or winter.

And so, Eric=s plan was accepted and the mystical sword placed in his palm and men were put at his command.

The priests maps of the caves had showed a spot where the rock was weak and an avalanche could cause a cave-in; the wizards reports told how scales could be used to make shields and portable walls for archers to hide behind.

Barely two months since the call for Dragonslayers had been cast, Eric the Meek found himself, on the first cold morning to come, after much rock-slamming and exposure to massive amounts of hot breath, standing on the chest of a very battered, very old, slightly pin cushioned, very confused and very tired Dragon, chipping away at the tough outer scales, swinging his sword hurriedly, much like a woodsman swings an axe, and thrusting his sword into the Dragons heart.

His studying and research paid off.

What he didn=t study for, and had no way of knowing, was a not too young little Dragon was hiding in a crevasse in the ceiling of the cavern over the body of its father, who Eric had just killed.

The not too young little Dragon, who was likely in his early teens when compared to humans; for he was actually older than Eric, but Dragons live a very long time; was shivering in fright, in fear of losing its life.

For the moment, Eric was safe.

* * *

Later that night, after Geoffrey was killed and the veterinarians had confirmed it and the priests had holied it and the accountants had tallied its treasure, Eric crept back into the cavern and climbed again on top of the body he had slew. Although, this time he climbed to its head and pulled out a Ginsu knife, which is very sharp, and cut out the Dragons eyes.

For in his research, Eric had read much about the magical properties of Dragons and their far-seeing eyes.

Now, Eric meant to make a gift of them to the woman he had grown to love and propose marriage to the beautiful Princess Lydia.

Eric had seen Lydia around the castle much, she running it in King Ross=s absence while he golfed and attended sporting events. Lydia=s mother, the Queen, had died several years earlier, forcing Lydia to grow up fast and learn about things like balance sheets, taxes and legal interpretations.
Lydia was not old, being slightly younger than Eric, a little shorter than he so she always looked up into his eyes, with the appearance of one who was cut from the same blonde-haired red-tanned strawberry stone.

Eric found her exceedingly beautiful from the first moment he saw her and when one time she found a minute to play him in a game of Scrabble, he knew he was in love. Eric fancied himself a good Scrabble player and lost by only three points.

Lydia would also, when she was very happy, sing to him, and she was happy with him often. Eric liked this very much. So much in fact that he would sing back to her. He was as good as she, but she liked it just the same.

So that night, after Eric cut the eyes out and carried them home, he placed them next to the hearth of the fire at the bookstore so they might dry and glaze by the morning.

Yet, because he had never done this before and had only read about it, Eric placed one of the eyes too close to the flame and in the morning it was cracked, brown, and useless.

ANo matter,@ thought Eric, AI still have another,@ which he bundled up and brought to his reward ceremony in the plaza.

The ceremony itself was grand with lots of color and pageantry. But the reward was not. Plus, it was a very hot day after such a cold yester and nobody was dressed right.

Eric did not get the title of Lord as he thought he would. Instead, he got the title of Knight, which he thought he had already gotten when he had first gotten the Dragon killing job but had somehow missed by not reading the fine print in the contract.

Nor did he get any rewarding sums of money or permanent work. But, he did get a nice proclamation which read, >Henceforth this day shall be called Eric the Meek Day= and it was majestically scrawled on a fine scroll of cotton paper and put into a hand-made rosewood box and filed in the Hall of Scrolls and henceforth forgotten until Darrell the Bookseller would go the annual Hall of Scrolls Booksale and buy it for a quarter this winter.

Eric did however, that day, get the chance to see Lydia again and ask her to meet him later in the garden.

And when later they met, for she was in truth smitten in love with Eric and his ability to study and research his victory with the Dragon, they kissed much and he presented the eye to her, which now resembled a large blue Amethyst after its cleaning and curing. Eric did propose; and Lydia said, AYes.@

They kissed some more and their kisses were like the songs they sang to each other.

The Eric told Lydia of the magical far-seeing properties of the Dragons eye and how by looking through it she could see anywhere in the world.

Lydia loved the gift.

The plans were laid for the wedding and it was decided to be soon. No need to delay the marriage of a Princess to a Dragonslayer.

Then, just before the wedding, something awful happened, King Ross up and died.

It was said that King Ross was anxious to return to his Queen, that he had missed her deeply since she passed away and now the time was right.

Eric did his best to understand. He thought about how he would feel if both his parents were gone and he gave Lydia as much support, consolation and love he could. But, Eric never really got to know King Ross and he always wished he had had more of a chance. Luckily, Eric=s family was well liked by Lydia and quickly cemented a bond.

So Princess Lydia and Eric the Meek were wed, became King and Queen, and moved into the castle.

Only, it was more like Queen and King.

Lydia was the one who ran the Kingdom for several years. All the administrators; the Legal Advisor, the Treasurer, the Accountant, plus all the others, were used to taking orders from Lydia.

What=s more, King Eric was untried in these matters (having recently only been Eric the Bookseller) and was therefore overlooked and treated inconsequential.

The determining factor though was that Lydia liked things this way.


Now a marriage is in itself a very difficult thing. Not too long after a wedding, all the guests go home, the presents are unwrapped, the Thank You=s sent, and the two young people live in a state of blissful mush until the day comes when the real work of making things go right come into play.

* * *

If there had been books he could have read or research he could have studied, Eic would have done it. But, there really isn=t any guidebooks on marriage. So, he did the best he could, making decisions along the way. He progressed through trial and error finding that his errors were each a little trial all their own.

For instance, early on Eric wanted to hang his Dragonslayer sword over the fireplace in the living room. But upon hearing it, Lydia said, AOh, my father would bever had wanted that. You=ll just have to find somewhere else for it.@

Unfortunately for Eric, nowhere else was appropriate for it either. So eventually, he just boxed it up and put it out in the garage and centered his thoughts on the more positive parts of the marriage.

* * *

In the meantime, Lydia played with eye of the Dragon a lot. She liked to look through it and see all the wonderful scenic places in the world.

She saw the Great Northern Doppler Valley where the Snow Lilies grow all year long.

She saw the jungle forested waterfalls of Hawaii cast rainbows into a warm morning sky.

She saw the ancient Pyramids in the painted deserts of the Sinai.

Then she thought of something she really wished to see. She had never seen a Dragon before and so she lifted the blue Amethyst like eye to her own, thought real hard, and looked.

She saw a not too young little Dragon, probably early teenage if compared to a human, hiding in a dark crevasse over a cavern Lydia should have recognized, and crying.

Still feeling sad for herself, the crying Dragon appealed to Lydia. It was cute in a scaly sort of way and it did look a little undernourished.

OH MY GOSH! It turned and looked back at her. For a second, Lydia froze and the Dragon continued to stare. Then she frantically pulled the eye away from herself, hid it in the closet and had great difficulty sleeping that night.

But, in the she pulled the eye away, she got a feeling, no, almost a word n her head. It said, AMirth.@

* * *

Also in that moment, the not too young Dragon learned something. For Dragons are magical creatures and although Eric had learned much about them, like: they could fly, breathe firem stay underwater for up to thirty minutes, were monogamous and had eyes that could see farther than possible, he didn=t know they were telepathic.

In that moment, the not too young Dragon saw the beautiful Queen Lydia, it saw the lover of his fathers killer and all her wildest dreams (because young women have very big eyes and very open hearts). It also saw its way out of hiding and fearing for its life in a dark crevasse.

* * *

When later that same day, Eric found Lydia in her room, he asked about the eye hoping to enliven his own now semi-doldrous life of inconsequentiality only to have her say, AIt=s out being cleaned so the whole world does not appear as if in a fog.@

Eric, for a brief instant wished the second eye hadn=t cracked, but he couldn=t do anything about it so he took the answer she gave as simple enough and went about the Kingdom to find something to do.

* * *

As I said earlier, Queen Lydia had a difficult time sleeping that night, but not because sleeping was difficult.

She had a visitor.

Almost the moment she set her lamp down after retiring to her room there was a scratching at her window and a sound like a washing machine.

This was very strange, because her chambers were on the fifth floor. So, she cautiously went over and peered out the glass.

Flapping its wings very quietly so as not to disturb the rest of the castle, was a not too young Dragon its best to smile without baring its fangs, holding a bouquet of Snow Lilies in its hand.

It said, Ahello Lydia. These are for you.@ At least she thought it had said it. Its lips hadn=t moved or lost its smile and it would be difficult to easily talk over the rumble-tumble noise of its wings through a closed window. But, she definitely heard it. She didn=t feel afraid though. So she opened the window and took the bouquet.

AThank you,@ she said. ABut who are you?@

AI thought I said earlier,@ it replied. AI=m Mirth.@

There is much more to his name. But, seeing as it is unwritable and unpronounceable to any being without three stomachs and two sets of windpipes, lest they eat their own tongues while kick starting a motorcycle and playing a flute, >Mirth= will have to do.

That night Mirth and Lydia talked on and on. Because they did have much in common, each having recently lost their father, they were quickly friends and began spending much time together when Lydia wasn=t busy being Queen.

* * *

Meanwhile, Eric, not wanting to resign his life to a life of inconsequentiality, was finding new adventures to fill his days. He was after all, a proven Dragonslayer and a researcher.

So, he journeyed to the edge of te Kingdom nearest the sea abd battled a giant sea turtle. This was not nearly as difficult as killing a dragon, but still a valiant victory in its own right.

Eric dragged the huge turtle shell home and tried to suggest to Lydia that it would, when polished and flattened, make an excellent flooring for the Royal Ballroom.

But Lydia was still preserving the memories of her parents and she resented the fact that Eric was not around as much, so she replied, AI don=t want that silly thing in here. It will make the whole place smell of fish.@

Eric was dejected but did not complain.

While turning to leave, he noticed all the exotic flowers in her room and asked, AWhere did all these come from?@

Lydia, quite coolly and calmly responded, ASome citizens of the kingdom sent their regards in light of past circumstances.@

Eric thought about this for a second and it sounded reasonable, so he asked no further questions and left.

And Lydia did not think this misleading because, after all, the dragon was a citizen of the kingdom and he was sending his regards in light of past circumstances.

But things were generally not smooth between Lydia and Eric and without even thinking about it she began avoiding Eric as did the castle staff.

* * *

Eric=s next quest was closer to home but very hectic. He attempted to clean out a nest of giant snakes that were illegally dumped into the kingdoms sewer system. In doing so, he discovered other problems too; Over crowding in the merchants quarters and administrators who wouldn=t listen or help.

After a long hunt and getting extremely dirty in the sewer tunnels and getting very nasty with a few administrators (who would not hesitate to remind Eric he wasn=t Queen), he killed all the snakes and somewhat solved the problems of the merchants. Then, he went home to his wife to show her his trophies.

For reasons unbeknownst to Eric, Lydia was angry with him. She said, ADon=t shake those old snake skins at me. I don=t want shoes or purses from them.@

And...

AWhy are you so anti-establishment? Don=t you know the headaches you=ve caused me?@ Then she added, AYou look a mess. Can=t you wear so decent? You=d hardly think you were King! I don=t know why we=re married.@

This time when Eric started to leave, he noticed a new Egyptian necklace next to a photograph of Lydia atop a tropical jungle waterfall.

AWhere did these come from?@ Eric turned and yelled.

AWhile you were out spending time away from me, I made a new friend,@ she returned evenly.

AWhat=s his name?@ Eric growled.

AIt=s Mirth,@ she said coyly.

AI work hard to do what=s right and you do this?@ raged Eric. AWell, if all my efforts can=t make you happy, maybe I should go,A and he stormed out of the castle with only a blanket and two pillows.

* * *

Now, I have to say here, that as mad as Eric was, he did try to understand Lydia=s feelings.

He felt deeply for her losses and extra forced responsibilities. He also wished he could have been more help around the castle.

But, the forces at the time had seemed too great, too ingrained and he had done what he=d done because, not having a guidebook to research, he thought he=d done his best and now it was being used against him very harshly.

Eric was very upset and grumpy about his new mobile living conditions. He also missed Princess Lydia very much and was looking for a guy named Mirth.

* * *

What Eric didn=t know was that Mirth, being a magical dragon, had seemed very special to Lydia and that, coupled with the young woman=s charms had mixed into a potent relationship.

Eric couldn=t find a guy named Mirth anywhere inn the Kingdom. No one had ever seen or heard of him. For twelve days Eric looked to no avail and this drove him into a state of deep sadness. He bagan to think Lydia had made the whole thing up just to be rid of him.

So, in his frustration, Eric went to Lydia, who was now at her summer ocean estate, and not being invited or expected stumbled upon his wife in the garden talking (or thinking as it were) to her new friend.

He was big. He was scaly, kind of cute, and he looked a lot like Geoffrey.

This made Eric cry. He went up to Lydia and interrupted Mirth to plead his case and ask for his wife=s love back.

AYou=re the one who left me,@ she said. @I=m free to do whatever I want.@

Eric pleaded again and again but each time it was no use.

Finally, Eric gave up and left again. This time to seek psychological help because he was very distraught.

Only before Eric left, Mirth took a long look at him and being telepathic couldn=t help but sense Eric=s sadness. It made Mirth feel very bad. It made him feel sorry for Eric because dragon=s hearts are very large.

Mirth began to think, >Other dragons have been friends with men= and >This wouldn=t be the first time.=

So, after a little while, when Mirth cold excuse himself from Lydia without being rude, Mirth began to look for Eric. But, Eric wasn=t easy to find.

Mirth looked in bars. Eric had been there briefly but wasn=t much of a drinker and hadn=t stayed long.

Mirth looked at the bookstore. But, without Lydia, books didn=t mean as much to Eric. So, he wasn=t there.

Finally, after much looking, Mirth found Eric three towns over from the capitol of the Kingdom of Diaz, in a little two story building, seeking help upstairs, at a place called Village Counseling.

Mirth waited until Eric was done and then caught him outside the building and confronted him.

Mirth told Eric a plan that would make everyone happy.

Lydia was hesitant at first. She didn=t know how or if her love could regrow for Eric. She had grown happy with Mirth by herself. After a while though, she consented to try.

Truth be known, it took Eric dressing up in a Western Union delivery outfit and singing the appointed time and place to get her to go.

But she did go down to Village Counseling with Eric and Mirth between them and although it wasn=t easy, it did help because they were able to discuss their differences in ways they never could before.

Yet still, it wasn=t quite enough for Lydia, who kept saying, AI don=t know.@

But Mirth knew what it was, he being a dragon and telepathic.

Lydia had gotten so wrapped up in being Queen, in controlling the Kingdom and enjoying Mirth on her own, she had forgotten how to be just Princess Lydia. She had forgotten how much fun it was to sing songs in the garden with Eric and kiss.

And, Eric was so distraught, he couldn=t think of how to help her remember.
So, ..Mirth took matter into his own hand and tail and the next time the two misguided lovers were discussing their difficulties, he gave each of them a push.

Lydia fell forward into Eric=s arms, he missed her because he was being pushed himself. Their faces came very close together and instead of kissing, they bumped their heads into each other and fell to the ground with a whump. They weren=t hearing songs. They weren=t kissing. They just sat their and rubbed their bumps and bruises.

Discussing their differences still took several sessions to iron out. They found they were not interested in living with each other anymore. Eric could keep the sword and the turtle shell, but had to give up the title of King (although he would remain a Knight) and Lydia would still be Queen and keep the castle.

They found they could share Mirth=s friendship. He was good at showing up at either of their places at different times and never again played referee between the two.

And the Kingdom lived happily ever after.
 

Sounds fun, id like to participate in your launch of a good idea.
 

What an excellent idea.

I've sent a link to a new story called 'The Shard of Gahzbrid'.

Thanks for organising the contest.

All the best,

DJ Burnham
 

would you accept any late submissions?  sorry-- i just found out about this and would love to get on board!  but even if i am too late, i would love to purchase a copy once it's out

please let me know!!!

michel