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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.

I just counted 12 (yes I'm sad / bored, take your pick) including 2 I've just noticed and haven't even had time to read yet.

I think a lot of people who do not normally enter decided to enter, whilst those you'd expect to enter didnt necessarily.

Quality, I would guess. The amount of entries was nothing out of the ordinary, in fact if anything there were less than normal. But the quality was better, largely due to a good choice of theme.

Sucessful due to the sheer volume of entries, or the quality?

This has probably been the most successful comp yet... don't wanna be Black Glove right now.

English_Bloke wrote:
> I haven't entered yet. Brace yourself.

Make it quick, rosser, Glovey may pop on and decide to judge.

> Black Glove wrote:
> I think I've chosen my Top 3.

The cut of point was the 14th.

I haven't entered yet. Brace yourself.

*Giggles*

Black Glove wrote:
> I think I've chosen my Top 3.

Black Glove wrote:
> It is decided: later on tonight around 11:30pm.

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Do ittt... *shakes fist*

Black Glove wrote:
> Some good ones will just miss out.

*fully expects one of those to be moi*

If you've got your top 3 then post them chief, it's not a huge decision. It's mostly random, I picked the winners for my contest out of a southern belle's straw hat