Welcome to the annual story writing contest on Islamicboard.
This thread will be the main hub for the general discussion about the Story Writing Contest. A separate thread will be created, after the deadline, to house this year's entries.
Here are 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 not conflict with forum rules.
Stories must be the entrant's own work and must be in English.
Each entrant may submit only one story.
Stories cannot have been posted already on this forum.
Stories cannot use existing characters e.g. your story cannot be about the adventures of Batman and Robin.
Stories can be any length, but no longer than 5,000 words - this is a limit not a target.
Do not post your story here or anywhere else on the forum (or anything to do with your story), as the contest is supposed to be anonymous. Not the genre, not the title and not even one sentence of it.
The deadline is tentatively 31st December 2016 - this is the last day on which entries shall be accepted. However, there is leeway to change this if necessary.
Stories should be submitted by Private Message to the Host - Scimitar. The host will then create the thread for the entries, and post the entries there, once they've all been submitted and the deadline has passed. The host cannot participate in the contest, and cannot vote (as he/she will know who has written what).
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
If you have any further suggestions, please share them.
The parameters are really wide. Read through some of the previous entries to see how wide those parameters are. We've had dramas, crime thrillers, horror, action-adventure, cute stories, and stories with morals etc.
To all: be sure to check out this thread (Writing Tips) http://www.islamicboard.com/creative...ting-tips.html and by all means feel free to read previous contests. Also feel free to ask any questions you have regarding the competition on this thread.
Take your time and make your entry the best it can be; really let your creativity loose.
I would like to thank the brothers and sisters who have hosted and organised the contest in previous years, I have just copied that in this post.
Let the writing begin!
Last edited by AabiruSabeel; 12-31-2016 at 03:29 PM.
Reason: host
I'm in a...gestation period...I have a couple of ideas bouncing on the insides of my super head, just need to narrow them down...and you know write them...
Last edited by Muhammad; 10-24-2016 at 05:41 PM.
Reason: !
Someone said to the Prophet, "Pray to God against the idolaters and curse them." The Prophet replied, "I have been sent to show mercy and have not been sent to curse." (Muslim)
I'm in a...gestation period...I have a couple of ideas bouncing on the insides of my super head, just need to narrow them down...and you know write them...
boo indeed lol - I've now failed each one five years in succession. At least I never promised
I always think about participating in these writing contests but can't get past "once upon a time.. "
Wa alaykum assalam,
I sometimes find that the most difficult part of writing. Sometimes I *really* want to write and express my creativity but I have no idea what to write about. I suppose it's like 'writer's block'.
Sometimes you just need to write about something which comes from your own life experiences or a subject you're really interested in. Or maybe there is a book you really enjoy, and then you can write something on a similar vein.
Less than 2 months left for the deadline. You can still join now if you haven't already. Just start writing and we will announce whom to submit your entries at the end.
I sometimes find that the most difficult part of writing. Sometimes I *really* want to write and express my creativity but I have no idea what to write about. I suppose it's like 'writer's block'.
Sometimes you just need to write about something which comes from your own life experiences or a subject you're really interested in. Or maybe there is a book you really enjoy, and then you can write something on a similar vein.
Free writing is a prewriting technique in which a person writes continuously for a set period of time without regard to spelling, grammar, or topic. It produces raw, often unusable material, but helps writers overcome blocks of apathy and self-criticism. It is used mainly by prose writers and writing teachers. Some writers use the technique to collect initial thoughts and ideas on a topic, often as a preliminary to formal writing. Free writing is not the same as automatic writing.
Unlike brainstorming where ideas are simply listed, in freewriting one writes sentences to form a paragraph about whatever comes to mind.
-wiki
Free writing is a prewriting technique in which a person writes continuously for a set period of time without regard to spelling, grammar, or topic. It produces raw, often unusable material, but helps writers overcome blocks of apathy and self-criticism. It is used mainly by prose writers and writing teachers. Some writers use the technique to collect initial thoughts and ideas on a topic, often as a preliminary to formal writing. Free writing is not the same as automatic writing.
Unlike brainstorming where ideas are simply listed, in freewriting one writes sentences to form a paragraph about whatever comes to mind.
-wiki
Scimi
Now that I think of it, that could really help.
Sometimes we can put so much pressure on ourselves to produce a beautifully written, grammatically correct, completely original miniature masterpiece and you are left there staring at a blank paper because you have just put so many expectations on yourself.
It's like with painting, you end up not touching a blank canvas for weeks because you're scared to produce something anything less than 'perfect'. When in reality it's so much fun to just splash some colours around without expecting a result.
Sometimes we can put so much pressure on ourselves to produce a beautifully written, grammatically correct, completely original miniature masterpiece and you are left there staring at a blank paper because you have just put so many expectations on yourself.
It's like with painting, you end up not touching a blank canvas for weeks because you're scared to produce something anything less than 'perfect'. When in reality it's so much fun to just splash some colours around without expecting a result.
And the same applies to character - we have lost the understanding of individualism and then end of caving into a norm always wondering when will we ever break the glass ceiling.
I just finished reading Herodotus (all books/volumes) and my brain hurts.
I won't be reading any book between now and next solar new year, so I'm really looking forward to some light and airy short stories to help balance my heavily weighed down cranial substance you guys call brains.
Scimi
EDIT: no host yet, and deadline is 31st Dec 2016... get a move on peeps. (I'd offer to host, but I'd probably mess it up so,)
Just a few days more than a month left now. I hope you are all progressing well.
Anyone ready to host the contest? If not, then one of us mods will take the responsibility .
format_quote Originally Posted by AabiruSabeel
BUMP
Less than 2 months left for the deadline. You can still join now if you haven't already. Just start writing and we will announce whom to submit your entries at the end.
Someone said to the Prophet, "Pray to God against the idolaters and curse them." The Prophet replied, "I have been sent to show mercy and have not been sent to curse." (Muslim)
You have until 31st of this month so you still have time to put your thoughts to paper and spin a yarn or two in sha Allah.
You don't have to have a masters in English either lol... you just need a good story you think will interest others, and it should be your own work. See first post in this thread for more details.
So all ya'll budding writers of imaginative tales, fantasists, plot enthusiasts, word geckos and linguistic mystics - do yer thang.
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