Crosstimbers Contest FAQ

CONTEST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do I have to use the name Ruby for my character?
No. We've used Ruby in our contest prompts for years, but feel free to choose the name and pronouns for your point-of-view character that are most appropriate to your story. If you choose a name other than Ruby, please tell us along with the character's pronouns when you post the story.

Is there a minimum length for the story?
Stories should be at least 1000 words, but we won't disqualify stories shorter than that. Bear in mind that flash fiction is extremely difficult to write. Stories in this contest that are shorter than 1000 words are uncommon, although it's possible to win with such a story.

Is there a maximum length for the story?
Stories should be no more than 3000 words. Stories exceeding this length will be assessed a penalty for not following the rules. Stories 4000 words or longer will be disqualified.

My story is a poem. Is that okay?
While it's certainly valid to write a story in verse, this contest focuses on prose fiction only, not poetry.

I've written this awesome essay about someone engaged in the activity in the prompt. Does it qualify?
Successful entries will tell a story. One kind of story is epistolary, i.e. one revealed in news articles, diary entries, text messages, etc. Usually epistolary stories consist of a sequence of such items. Fried Green Tomatoes is an example of a novel using this technique. So, the answer to this question is YES, provided it tells a story.

I'm so inspired by this that I've written thirty-two stories. Can I enter them all?
No. One entry per contestant per month, please.

I've written a story using characters from Star Trek. Is that OK?
Please don't submit fan fiction to this contest. Fan fiction can be fun, but you don't have to create your characters or your fictional world--someone else did that. The whole point of this contest is to give you a chance to flex your story-telling muscles, and you can't do that with fan fiction.

I've written this great story where Ruby CENSORED CENSORED. Can I submit it?
So, We're not prudes, and WDC doesn't censor anything, but this is our contest and certain things are off-limits. For example, non-consensual sex, sex involving minors, sex with animals (sentient aliens, werewolves, and vampires excepted). Splatterpunk   is ok, but it must serve the story as opposed to being the purpose of the story. If you are uncertain, ask first. Also be sure that your items are appropriately rated.

We'll add to this FAQ as we get questions.