Tales Shown, Not Told Contest

Each round of the contest will have three prompts.
Contestants will pick one of the three and write a short story that uses that prompt.
The story should not exceed 3000 words in length.
Contestants enter via our entry form at the bottom of this page.

There are a few more technical rules below, but that's the basics.

Choose ONE of the prompts for your story. This round's prompts are:



Choose ONE of these prompts for your story. You're free to explore these prompts in whatever way you wish, but the prompt must be part of the story.

Suggestions.
For genre prompts, stay within the bounds of the genre. For the words prompt, use the words in a natural way, for example in narrative, description, thoughts, or in dialogue. It will help the judges if you boldface the words so that judges can find them. Grammatical variations of the basic word are permitted, for example "paradoxical" uses the word "paradox." For the character prompt, consider showing the reader how the prompt relates to the protagonist's character arc, i.e., their goals, obstacles, or stakes.

Mixing genres would be awesome! A science fiction story that's also a romance, for example, or a horror tale that's also a western. Be creative.

First Place
Author receives 50,000 GPS and a merit badge
Story receives a blue awardicon

Second Place
Author receives 25,000 GPS and a merit badge
Story receives a red awardicon

Third Place
Author receives 12,500 GPS and a merit badge
Story receives a Green awardicon

The judges will select the merit badge, with most winners earning the short story badge. The best stories will earn the exclusive Max Excellence badge


Judges may elect to award Honorable Mentions, which may include up to 5000 GPS, a merit badge, and an awardicon for the story.

If there are fewer than six entries in the contest, only first and second place awards will be granted.

If there are fewer than four entries in the contest, that round of the contest will be cancelled. Judges may opt to award Honorable Mention awards, including GPS and a merit badge.



Optional Motivation Competition

Contestants may elect to respond to all three prompts. We'll have an additional and separate motivation competition for the best story that responds to all three prompts. The author of the winning story in this category will earn 10,000 GPS and a motivation merit badge. If there is only one entry in this category, it will recive the award. The winner in this category is eligible for the other awards mentioned above. Contestants wanting to enter this competition should list all three prompts in the heading to their story.

The motivation competition requires a minimum of one entry that responds to all three prompts and does not depend on the total number of entries to the main contest. We will make the award for the motivation contest even if only one contestant responds to all three prompts and the above minima are not met for the main contest.

Each round of the contest invites experienced authors on WDC to serve as judges.  We hope to provide every contestent with a review from one of the contest judges, but can't guarantee this will happen.  If provided, the review will give general impressions and may include suggested edits.  We ask our judges to  consider the stories holistically and to use their best judgment, but we don't give them specific guidelines. 

This gathers together the rules already given, provides more detail, and gives some advice. If you don't follow the advice given here, you'll make the work of the judges harder.

(You know that's not a good idea, right?)

Unless you've done something egregious , we won't disqualify your entry. However, you might get a note from one of the contest sponsors asking you to fix something. .

The contest form only permits one entry per contestant per contest.
Contest is limited to ten entries. An entry is not complete until the contestant completes the Entry Form. If necessary, the time stamp of the the entry, via the entry form, determines the tenth and final entry.
A message at the bottom of the contest page will announce when the contest is open for entries. The contest is generally open for entries the first day of the month in which it runs and for about three weeks thereafter, or until the tenth story is submitted. The contest closing date will appear at the bottom of the contest page. We anticipate offering this contest twice a year.
Entries may not exceed 3000 words.
Entries must respond to one of the three prompts.
Story format
Please set entries to "accept reviews." The setting "Reviews only/No ratings" is both acceptable and preferred.
Short stories only. No essays. Prose only. No poetry.
Once judging starts, announced by a message at the bottom of the page, please do not edit your stories. Editing before and after judging is fine.
We'll read anything, but please be sure that your item is properly rated--see "Content Rating System (CRS)" . While we'll read it, we likely won't post stories to the contest involving non-consensual sex, including sex with minors, nor content that is demeaning to any group. If we feel we can't post your story, we'll let you know and give you a reason. However, any such decision is neither debatable nor subject to appeal. In particular:
Follow the directions on how to enter.
All decisions by the judges are final and not subject to appeal.

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Max's Alphabetized links to Useful Stuff  (E) Some links to things every author needs. #1708934 by Max Griffin 🏳️‍🌈

FOLDER

Thoughts on Writing  (NPL) Short essays on the craft of fiction. #1847273 by Max Griffin 🏳️‍🌈

GROUP

The Art of Show vs Tell Courses  (13+) Have you ever been told, "Show, don't tell?"...a 2018 and 2019 Quill Award Winner #2129581 by Jim Hall

STATIC

Strolling Through Genres  (E) Strolling Through Genres #2295716 by Max Griffin 🏳️‍🌈

STATIC

Contest Graphics  (E) Contest Graphics #2295833 by Max Griffin 🏳️‍🌈

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Thoughts on Craft  (E) Suggestions on Craft for the Tales Shown Not Told contest. #2300355 by Max Griffin 🏳️‍🌈

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Max's Newsletter Archive  (E) Max's Newsletter Archive #2309045 by Max Griffin 🏳️‍🌈

We extend our thanks to all who have generously donated GPS to our contest.
Not counting marketing, each iteration of this contest costs over 100,000 Gift Points. We are grateful for any donations we receive. Our ability to continue offering this contest depends on the generous contributions of members like you.

Benefactors:

Patrons:

Champions:
AnotherDreamer
Elle - on hiatus
Princess Megan Snow Rose
Olivia: it's NaNo-Time 38383
Creeper Of The Realm
Satuawany

Anyone donating 10,000 or more Gift Points becomes a Benefactor and is listed above.
Anyone donating 20,000 Gift Points or more becomes a Patron and is listed above.
Anyone donating 40,000 Gift Points or more becomes a Champion, is listed above, and receives a Merit Badge.

Donations may be sent to the [#2295635] "ShownNotTold Managers Group" , Max Griffin 🏳️‍🌈 , Carol St.Ann , or attached to a comment in the contest message board.

Thank you for whatever assistance you can provide.

JUNE 2024 WINNERS
	STATIC The Less I Know  (E) Won’t you tell me where your garden grows? #2321828 by Amethyst Angel 🍁🙏
	{TIE) STATIC Pearlescent  (E) Mrs. Codswell's pearl was just stolen. Who done it? #2322234 by NaNotatoGo!
	{TIE) The Ghost In My Mind  (13+) A person faces their biggest fear. Will they survive? #2283554 by The Puppet Master
for using all three prompts	STATIC The Less I Know  (E) Won’t you tell me where your garden grows? #2321828 by Amethyst Angel 🍁🙏
JANUARY 2024 WINNERS
	The Curse Unravel  (E) Would you be willing to take the risk of exposing your curse for someone you dearly love? #2312371 by GERVIC
	STATIC Should I, should I not?  (18+) Vincent reluctantly seeks paternal advice. For Tales Shown, Not Told-Contest #2311402 by Olivia: it's NaNo-Time 38383
	The Flat Mate  (13+) Be careful who you share your living quarters with. #2311572 by Sumojo
for using all three prompts	STATIC It's Raining Doughnuts  (ASR) A chance meeting is brought about by a storm's fury, or is it the magic of fated love. #2312463 by Joey' Falling for the Season
AUGUST 2023 WINNERS
	STATIC The Bone Thief  (18+) Magency Case File #96109-23. #2299872 by . . . Jeremy
	STATIC Tamsin and the Kobold  (18+) A witch's neighbor invites a kobold home, but that's just the tip of the nightmare #2300075 by Nobody’s Home
	Two Films  (18+) I discover two films that recorded events during and after WW2. #2301514 by Kotaro
for using all three prompts	STATIC The Bone Thief  (18+) Magency Case File #96109-23. #2299872 by . . . Jeremy

Please use the entry form at the bottom of this page.

After you submit your form, the contest manager will review your submission and post it to the entries section of the contest page. It might take a couple of days to do this. If there is a problem with your entry, the contest manager will contact you.

NEW!   If you have questions or comments about the contest, please post them in the "Tales Shown, Not Told Discussion Forum" .