Constrained Writing Contest #24 + Winners of Constrained Writing Contest #23

svashta (60) in constrainedwriting • 7 years ago (edited)

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 #23

The winners of this week’s Constrained Writing Contest are:

1st Place - @spalatino with the entry "Defiance"

svashta’s note: @spalatino usually excells at character development, but with this week's constraint, even a master such as himself found himself in a struggle. But fear not, for once again, @spalatino delivers! This week @spalatino came up with a blue human-eating giant who barely speaks, but @spalatino still managed to make him feel very real, despite the constraint - the writing and talking both. His story also carries a valuable lesson about the importance of standing up to our suppressors. Definitely a story well worthy a read!

2nd Place - @metzli with the entry "Common fraud - a real story retold"

svashta’s note: @metzli touched a topic often discussed, but rarely taken seriously enough - frauds. Not only do you receive (e)mails that promise to give you tonnes of money, you also receive (e)mails that require you to send a great sum of money, or else they "Insert scary reason like unplugging electricity here". A great story with a great message!
I found a slip-up (or two) in her story, but with the difficulty of the constraint, all is forgiven.

3rd Place - @tiempoyesp with the entry "Insignificant life"

svashta’s note: In the story, @tiempoyesp speaks about a man who is bored to tears with his life, then suddenly witnesses a murder happen in front of his very eyes. With all the faulty accusations happening, the man must now step up and tell what he witnessed.
Like in @metzli's story, I found a slip-up (or two), but with the amount of effort still put in and the difficulty of the constraint, it is forgiven.

Honorable mentions:

@obaseki with the entry "We all are barbarian"

Sadly, you have failed to even attempt and follow this week's constraint. The story in itself has potential - the idea is okay - but the execution is, even without following the constraint, clumsy at best.

@suzanrs with the entry A mother's guilt. I am so sorry I missed this awesome entry when I was reading them all... It's definitely a very touching story everybody should read! :D

Proof of payment:

With that out of the way, onto constrained writing contest #24!

Rules:

This week @metzli contacted me and asked to come up with her own set of rules.

Here is what kind of a story she wants you to write for this week;

Write a story about a birthday party without using the words "happy", "older", or "year".
The story must be at least 250 words long and in English

And as for the usual mumbo jumbo, here's the rest of the rules just about every contest has:

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

I will pay out this post's payout in full, both SBD and STEEM!

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 judge of the Constrained Writing Contest I am responsible for picking the winners on my own discretion, but 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 steemit.chat, or Discord (Svashta#5207).