RHP Prose Contest 2021

Dear all,

we had a very good contest last year and I just reread the thread, enjoying it very much. Thread 185267

So I would kick off the discussion for how we proceed for this year.

it has been suggested t use a 1000 word limit. I am going with that suggestion. Last year some of the entries would have profited from more words.

As a topic I would suggest that we try to to something up-lifting. Any suggestions?

As always I think we can have three stories per participant.
We will give four to six weeks to write
We will take a week at least to vote in a first round.
Should we agree on a second round voting like last year?

Please take part in the discussion here.

See binding set of rules will be decided in the next week or so.

@Ponderable

Hurra! 🙂

@ponderable said
Dear all,

we had a very good contest last year and I just reread the thread, enjoying it very much. Thread 185267

So I would kick off the discussion for how we proceed for this year.

it has been suggested t use a 1000 word limit. I am going with that suggestion. Last year some of the entries would have profited from more words.

As a topic I would ...[text shortened]... ake part in the discussion here.

See binding set of rules will be decided in the next week or so.

I agree with the 1000 word limit. Writers don't have to use the full amount but would provide a little more legroom.

@ghost-of-a-duke said
I agree with the 1000 word limit. Writers don't have to use the full amount but would provide a little more legroom.

100 words either way seems fair.

@trev33 said
100 words either way seems fair.

You would require the stories to be 900 to 1100 words? s that what you meant?

@ponderable said
You would require the stories to be 900 to 1100 words? s that what you meant?

In previous years there have been some excellent shorter stories well below the upper word limit. It would be a shame I think to exclude those by introducing a lower limit.

@ponderable said
Dear all,

we had a very good contest last year and I just reread the thread, enjoying it very much. Thread 185267

So I would kick off the discussion for how we proceed for this year.

it has been suggested t use a 1000 word limit. I am going with that suggestion. Last year some of the entries would have profited from more words.

As a topic I would ...[text shortened]... ake part in the discussion here.

See binding set of rules will be decided in the next week or so.

How about two categories of word length across the same subjects?

E.g. 1000 word entry and 250 word entry with submissions allowed from both. Or...maybe a couple of topics and writers choose one topic for each word count.

Just mixing it up a bit.

@Ponderable


I would like to see two topics in two different genres ( e.g., travel, memoir, relationships, adventure, scifi, or some such, to be decided by vote), meaning two topics total (not four); two max word limits (short 1000, and micro 250); max four entries per contestant if entering two in each genre, or max three entries if entering only one genre.

PS, and only one round of voting.

@moonbus said
@Ponderable


I would like to see two topics in two different genres ( e.g., travel, memoir, relationships, adventure, scifi, or some such, to be decided by vote), meaning two topics total (not four); two max word limits (short 1000, and micro 250); max four entries per contestant if entering two in each genre, or max three entries if entering only one genre.

It would be good to have a twist this year.

"Uplifting" subject matter is a hard sell in my camp: It's been a terrible year. (Obviously)

A good purge of pent-up darkness may be more in order.

I shall read them joyfully, in all cases, however.

@wolfe63 said
"Uplifting" subject matter is a hard sell in my camp: It's been a terrible year. (Obviously)

Wolfy I couldn't agree with you more! At the same time reading some uplifting stories would be a great thing to see.

-VR

happy endings

@ghost-of-a-duke said
It would be good to have a twist this year.

You mean, like you not winning?

@wolfe63 said
"Uplifting" subject matter is a hard sell in my camp: It's been a terrible year. (Obviously)

A good purge of pent-up darkness may be more in order.

I shall read them joyfully, in all cases, however.

Catharsis might be an appropriate topic.