Most writing contests give you a writing prompt or at least a couple of words to work your idea around, which is why I decided to host a slightly different contest.
A constrained writing contest
Instead of being given an idea or a writing prompt, you are allowed to choose the topic completely by yourself. But, varying from week to week, you will face different challenges that limit your writing.
You will be required to omit certain words, use a specific word in every second sentence, use a given sentence unchanged, write a story with a certain amount of words... or a combination of all.
Winners of constrained writing contest #34
The prizes were sadly awfully low for this week's contest. I appreciate everyone who still took their time to write their entries despite the low potential reward. You guys (and girls, of course ;D ) are the best of the best!
The winners of this week’s Constrained Writing Contest are:
- 1st Place - @calluna the entry The sound in silence
Judge’s notes: Imagine waking up one day, having slept through your alarm and having to hurry to make it to work on time. Still sleepy and dead tired, you manage to make it to the kitchen, where you suddenly realize you can't hear a thing. Nor can anyone else.
Good.
Now that you've imagined that, read @calluna's story, and tell us whether she got your feelings right.
In my opinion, it was dead on.
Very well done!
- 2nd Place - @seesladen with the entry The taste of life
Judge’s notes: I thoroughly enjoyed your story @seesladen, and I believe every other reader would, and will, too. Though I've pointed out one technical issue that I've found with the story, I believe it's minor and I might've reacted too harsh in the comment section. You portrayed the lack of taste well, and I loved how the story ended.
- 3rd Place - @theironfelix with the entry Neque-Tactus
Judge’s notes: Though I had some difficulty at first with what sense you've omitted from your story, it all made sense after you've told me. After having read your comment, I could very, very much relate to the story itself and it made more than a lot of sense. I placed you third because I needed that comment to truly understand the story and be able to properly appreciate it.
Honorable mentions in alphabetical order:
- @tristancarax with the entry Smashem!
Judge's note: I liked your story, even though the fight was very much exaggerated. What broke it for me were the commentators and what they were doing. All of that stuff was unnecessary and the story would've been better off without it. I agree it put a new perspective on the "no physical feeling" thing, but it just didn't fit the story properly.
If I, by any chance, missed your entry, please do not hesitate to let me know, and I will do my best to redeem myself. I have missed an entry in the past, so I now pay extra attention, but ... It can happen still.
Sorry and thanks!
With that out of the way, onto constrained writing contest #35!
Rules:
This week I am the sole judge of the contest again, and I decided to continue with the idea of playing with the senses. Here's this week's constraint:
- Everyone can only feel one sensation at a time, and they have to specifically focus on that one sensation to be able to feel it. Let's call it selective sensing. And to make it easier, you can make only one sense be "selective".
Example:
If you choose hearing: You're watching TV, and are focused on the TV, so you hear the sound it makes. What you do not heat, however, is the kettle full of boiling water going off in the kitchen, because you're not focused on it. If you would focus on listening to the kettle whistling, you instead wouldn't hear the TV.
If you choose taste: You're eating an orange, but depending on what taste you're focused on, you taste it either sweet or sour, never both at the same time.
If you choose touch: You can only feel touching one thing at a time, no matter how big that thing is. You can feel the weight of your shirt on your chest, or the pants on your legs, but not both.
...
...
And as for the usual mumbo jumbo, here's the rest of the rules just about every contest has:
- The story must be at least 250 words in length and in English.
- Upvote this post
- Post a link to your entry in the comments below
- Include tag #constrainedwriting among your other tags
- Should you wish to help raise awareness of the contest, please consider resteeming this post (it is by no means compulsory)
Prizes
- 1st place: 45% of post's payout
- 2nd place: 27% of post's payout
- 3rd place 18 % of post's payout
- Judge takes 5 % for his/her efforts
- I will take 5 % for hosting, writing and editing the contest
*Note: In case I receive any donations for the contest, the payout percentages apply to the donation itself as well.
Judges
This week I am the sole judge of the Constrained Writing Contest, and am responsible for picking the winners on my own discretion. I promise to try my best and be as objective as possible.
What's that I hear? You wish to be a judge too? Well look no further!
To apply for a judge and make up your own rules, simply send @svashta a hearty hello on Discord (Svashta#5207).
*Disclaimer: I will only allow fellow writers as judges to keep the competition high quality.
Deadline
- Entries are accepted until this post's payout
- Your entry post must be newer than this post
Good luck!
