Official Annual Story Writing Contest Discussion Thread

**Muezzin** · 10-10-2012

At the time of writing, we've had four previous writing contests, and they've all been fantastic mashallah.

Let's make this an annual thing.

This thread will be the main hub for the general discussion about the Story Writing Contest. Each year, a separate thread can be created to house that year's entries.

So just to get discussion going, here's some suggested rules for the contest, based on the rules we've had previously:

Stories can be about any topic, theme or genre, but must be the entrant's own work and must be in English

Stories can be any length, but no longer than 5,000 words - this is a limit not a target

Stories should be submitted by Private Message to the Host - Yanal

Stories can be edited and formatted etc however the author chooses before submission, but the Host will not alter or reformat the story once it has been submitted

This year's deadline is 28 December 2012 - That is the last day on which entries shall be accepted.

Again, just suggestions, and if you have any please share them.

**Hulk** · 10-15-2012

Wanted to join this competition then I see that there's gonna be scientists, medical students, batmans, etc joining. IM OUTTA HERE. I'll just sit back and vote.

**Scimitar** · 10-15-2012

Originally Posted by glo

Should the content be Islamic?

Sis glo, it can be about anything you want, as long as it's not offensive to the faithful

Go for it, go go go ferrritz

YUSH!!!

**Scimitar** · 10-15-2012

Originally Posted by Hulk

Wanted to join this competition then I see that there's gonna be scientists, medical students, batmans, etc joining. IM OUTTA HERE. I'll just sit back and vote.

And since when was THE HULK afraid of peeny puny human batman?

Scientists, I can understand... they did, after all, alter Banners DNA and turn him into YOU.

Medical Students? pah. - pay 'em no mind, they lack imagination. (limit themselves to zombie stories)

**White Rose** · 10-15-2012

Originally Posted by Hulk

Wanted to join this competition then I see that there's gonna be scientists, medical students, batmans, etc joining. IM OUTTA HERE. I'll just sit back and vote.

*grabs popcorns*

Now I know, even the hulk runs away.

**Musaafirah** · 10-15-2012

Originally Posted by Hulk

Wanted to join this competition then I see that there's gonna be scientists, medical students, batmans, etc joining. IM OUTTA HERE. I'll just sit back and vote.

Whoah.. what's wrong with scientists? Bear in mind I was literary pro before science frazzled my mind, so maybe you'll win outright anyway...
And hey, who said I was entering..was wondering if there would be a theme or something... But it's freestyle, man I'm useless at freestyle.

**sister herb** · 10-15-2012

Glo possible tells murderer who is gardener...

Lets see.

**Hulk** · 10-15-2012

Originally Posted by Musaafirah

Whoah.. what's wrong with scientists? Bear in mind I was literary pro before science frazzled my mind, so maybe you'll win outright anyway...
And hey, who said I was entering..was wondering if there would be a theme or something... But it's freestyle, man I'm useless at freestyle.

This is how horrible my english skills are, when you said "bear in mind" I immediately imagined a BEAR in my MIND. You were a literary professor? my goodness.. this is where hulk jumps off into the horizon.

**Scimitar** · 10-15-2012

I absolutely love that twist... so original

genius plot for comedy

Hey you, Mr Murderer, don't tell no one - but that person over there is a gardener.

(yes, I have fallen off my bed and my sides hurt from too much laughter)

**CosmicPathos** · 10-15-2012

aamirsaab: sometime around Dec 23ish or afterwards? You know xmas time, ppl will get some time off to polish their stories. Let me know what you think.

**Muezzin** · 10-15-2012

Can't wait to see what everyone is cooking up.

We've had a wide variety of genres, which is the advantage of a freestyle contest.

Maybe we can see about organising different events with themed prompts...

EDIT: How does everyone feel about the above suggestion to move the deadline to 23 December 2012? It's fine by me. Gives me more time to start--I mean finish my entry.

**Scimitar** · 10-15-2012

that would give me the oppo to enter my nonsensical ramblings

*disclaimer*

Reading material submitted by me may cause severe nerve damage to your brain and/or leave you in epileptic fits of confused laughter

My lawyers let me know what I can get away with in writing, so you can't sue me

*end disclaimer*

**sister herb** · 10-15-2012

I told before I tells by ghost.

Real one.

**Scimitar** · 10-16-2012

I have no idea what to write about... I guess I'll have to make my writing so, that it amuses me - if I can do that, then no doubt you will be entertained... unless you harbour some sort of humour defect.

Or am I throwing you a curve ball?

lol

**joyous fairy** · 10-16-2012

Oooooh! This is interesting, I wanted to enter last year but got busy so wasn't able to

but inshaAllah his year will be different.

P.s. I am no writer, just a reader but im gonna try put some rambling together and make it into a short story..

hope it works!

**Musaafirah** · 10-16-2012

Originally Posted by Hulk

This is how horrible my english skills are, when you said "bear in mind" I immediately imagined a BEAR in my MIND. You were a literary professor? my goodness.. this is where hulk jumps off into the horizon.

Oof no, I was good at English..once upon a time. Never a professor. Don't think I'm old enough.
Anyway, 23rd December sounds do-able.. Have an inkling of a story somewhere, but it seems weird at the moment, so I'll try to un-weirdify it.
Khair, what be the rules and regulations peoples?

**glo** · 10-16-2012

Originally Posted by Musaafirah

Khair, what be the rules and regulations peoples?

Look at the first post in this thread.

Deadline is now the 23rd December.

**Hulk** · 10-16-2012

Man.. does this mean we have to wait till 23rd december to start reading stories.. sigh..

**joyous fairy** · 10-16-2012

Originally Posted by Musaafirah

Oof no, I was good at English..once upon a time. Never a professor. Don't think I'm old enough.
Anyway, 23rd December sounds do-able.. Have an inkling of a story somewhere, but it seems weird at the moment, so I'll try to un-weirdify it.
Khair, what be the rules and regulations peoples?

Hey! Weird is good. Good is weird. Weird is interesting. Interesting is weird.

**IbnAbdulHakim** · 10-16-2012

im starting to seriously wonder if anyone would read a completely pointless story if I wrote it in a way that is gripping and exciting.

for example:

"The crows gathered silently amongst the tree's, watching the two young children pass by, their eyes fixed firmly upon the mansion to which the boys heedlessly stepped into... unaware of what fate had planned for the next few days."

**Scimitar** · 10-16-2012

could work, if the story is about the crows and not the kids

imagine a pair of crows having a convo, discussing the stupidity of humans

"... all the children ever hear is SQUAWK, and they run away"
"yeah it's sad frank, I was trying to warn that kid about that man in a trenchcoat and slippers"
"the flasher?"
"yeah, I followed him from his house - you think he spotted me?"
"you're flying in the air you parrot"
"oi stop it with the insults already."
"yeah well - kids dead beat now, he gonna be butt hurt"

laughter "squawk squawk sqauwkety squawk"

see how that could work?