Whether you're an old friend, or new to The Clarity of Night, welcome!
Spring is finally underway (I think). Let's celebrate with a contest, shall we? It has been about a year since my first contest, and this one will be my fifth. Thanks for the great run!
Using the photograph above for inspiration, compose a short fiction piece of no more than 250 words in any genre or style. Send your entry to me by email at jevanswriter at yahoo dot com before 11:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 25th (Eastern Time, United States). I'd prefer attachments formatted in Microsoft Word or Word Perfect, but if you have something more exotic, you can paste the text into the body of an email. Each entry will be posted and indexed.
To make things interesting, the following prizes are on the line:
- 1st Place: $25 Amazon gift certificate, 8 x 10 print of the "Endless Hour" photograph (inscribed by Jason Evans)
- 2nd Place: $20 Amazon gift certificate
- 3rd Place: $15 Amazon gift certificate
- 4th Place: $10 Amazon gift certificate
- 5th Place: $5 Amazon gift certificate
- Readers' Choice Award $15 Amazon Gift certificate, 8 x 10 print of the "Endless Hour" photograph (inscribed by Jason Evans)
But this is about more than prizes. I hope you take advantage of the opportunity to meet and interact with your fellow writers. It's amazing how many perspectives, styles, and skills shine when we all start from the same place. There is so much we can learn from each other.
Rules:
- 250 words maximum.
- Titles are optional, but encouraged. Titles do not count toward your word count.
- One entry per person.
- Any genre or style is welcome. If you choose to submit poetry, you must have narrative movement within the poem if you wish to compete with the prose pieces for the prizes.
- All rights remain with you, the author; however, you consent to the posting of your entry on this blog.
- Judging will be conducted by Jason Evans on the basis of pacing, entertainment value, technical use of language, storytelling, and voice.
- Please provide a name for your byline. If you have a website or a blog, I'd be happy to link your name to it. If you don't have a website or blog, feel free to include a short bio. A bio does not count towards your word count.
- At the close of the contest, I will give the date and time for the announcement of winners.
- After the winners are announced, I will post what I liked most about each entry in the comments. Also, if you send a request to me by email, I would be happy to offer any constructive comments I might have. Constructive comments will be by private email only.
- The Readers' Choice Award is a coveted award bestowed by vote of the contest participants. The entry with the highest number of votes wins. The rules for this portion of the contest will be posted after the entry period closes.
- Public critiques in comments are encouraged, but must remain respectful. I reserve the right to delete comments and ban participants who do not abide by the collegial spirit of Clarity of Night contests.
- For prior contests and their results, see the links on the sidebar.
Let me officially declare the contest open! Spread the word!
15 comments:
jason, you come up with the best titles. can't wait to see what kind of entries you get from this photo!
Great, Jason, something to get me going! 250 words is a good limit as well; there's no excuse not to take part! :) I've got my thinking cap on!
Is it bad that this photo looks eerily like my own kitchen sink? Uh, Jason, what were you doing in my house??? :-)
This contest ought to be fun. Thanks for hosting another great one!
Ooh, a week, I'm sure I can do this in a week.
Yay!
You know I'm in. Good luck, everyone!
Wohoo, a chance to redeem myself. Good luck everyone and thanks as always to Jason for putting on the contest.
Jason: You may be aware that I have started a similar contest over at my blog. Next one starts May 1st.
With that in mind, it seems like I should put my money where my mouth is and enter your contest.
One question: do you keep your submissions anonymous until the results are in, or do you allow simultaneous posting at the writer's blog (or some third option)? Just wondering.
You couldn't wait until the semester was over?! *dramatic sigh* Oh, all right...
Anne, thanks! They should certainly be interesting. :)
Shameless, I agree. Just enough space to get some storytelling done without committing a ton of time.
Sonya, hehe. :D Seriously though, this is the current state of Margaret's kitchen. It really gives the impression she had to leave in a hurry.
Terri, I'm counting on you! :)
Jaye, high five! It's not a contest unless you're in it.
Wavemancali, the pleasure's mine. :)
Moon topples, I'll have to check out your contest too. The entries here are posted with bylines immediately. Part of the fun I like to encourage is allowing folks to meet each other and interact. Posting simultaneously on other blogs is up to the person. I don't have a preference either way.
Bekbek, you have a certain, um, track record you know. ;) You have a reputation to defend.
Yahoo!!!
(By the way, I think we've been in the same kitchen).
What, no entries yet? I'm still thinking about mine...
Oh how exciting. Right, so we're all going to write about our own messy kitchens. No, that's a joke. Right better get cracking.
Jason, I'm sorry I didn't have time to slot this in today on my blog but I'll do it for you tomorrow.
Yikes, less than a week left!
Thanks for another contest, Jason. I think we all appreciate the time and effort you put into the writing community. I certainly do!
Sounds like fun! I think I'll try.
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