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"Short Story Competition 5"

Okay, here’s my competition.

I’ve decided your stories should be based around/feature this item: the Mask of Markopan. Now I don’t know what that conjures in your minds – perhaps something creepy or classical, something comical, gothic or bizarre (I like bizarre)… I don’t know, but that’s what I’ve come up with.

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The Rules.

One entry per person. I want to read the best that you can do. So take your time. Paradox, take note.

No word limit, but try to make it short-ish. You can name your story The Mask of Markopan if you wish. I don’t mind.

Put SSC5 in the title, and I’ll pick the top 3 – when? – on the 14th of June. That’s two weeks.

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I might adopt the Meka Dragon way of judging – i.e. cut and paste each entry and then read them all in one go when I’ve long forgotten who wrote what, but if that's not possible I'll comment when I see/read them.

So there you go. An invisible trophy brimming with invisible tenners will be awarded to the winner.


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Result

There were many entries - some good, others very good - and it was genuinely tricky for me to pick a top trio. Several stories were on the fringe of making it in – so merit to all who took the time to write.

But choose a Top 3 I must, and here is my final judgment, in reverse order:

Third
One Hell of a Battenberg (Meka Dragon): A humorous tale – entertaining and nicely constructed.

Second
Herbidie’s True Love (Grix Thraves): A wonderful fairytalesque yarn.

The Winner
Eyes That See (FinalFantasyFanatic): I really like FFF’s stuff. Reading his abstract weavings is like accessing the mildly unhinged machinations of a peculiar webspinner - you can quote that on the back cover of your forthcoming book ;-) - and his entry is a prime example of this poetic-prose goodness. Well done, squire. Keep it going.

English_Bloke wrote:
> Black Glove wrote:
> Excellent. I look forward to your stories.
>
> I will pretend that was aimed at me.
>
> *Feels impotent*

Some beer and porn will remedy that

I don't know why you're all whining - the whole point of this is for it to be a challenge, for it to make you really use your imagination.

There's no point in making it nice and simple and vague so that you can write about anything.
Specific titles are challenging, hence why SSC4 and 5 have been the best titles so far.

Black Glove wrote:
> Excellent. I look forward to your stories.

I will pretend that was aimed at me.

*Feels important*

Meka, check your dead end topic please.

Excellent. I look forward to your stories. I wanted a more specific title. I thought it might be more challenging (maybe?).

Meka Dragon wrote:
> I've an idea, which hit me the moment I mis-read the topic. I look
> forward to seeing what will come of this.

Me to. You better not have nicked my idea!

Isn't half the fun of this thing writing to themes we may not have considered otherwise?

I think it's a great idea, and whilst I wouldn't have done anything quite so specific for fear of getting a dozen identical entries, I think that the people that enter these things are original enough for that not to be a problem.

I've an idea, which hit me the moment I mis-read the topic. I look forward to seeing what will come of this.

Lil Bro wrote:
> Wow, well done brilliant title ^o)
>
> I can promise you no entries from me this time round, not that you
> care of course.

But I do, I do. At least I think I do.

Yeah, you're right. It's my competition and it's staying! I shouldn't be so soft. Use your imaginations, you nullifidians!

Keep it. It's your comp and you're the boss.

Brown noses

I may actually enter this one