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Contest Announcement

22 September 2009 42 Comments

I am very happy to announce the very first fiction writing contest on The Colors Magazine.

As we all know contests are a great opportunity to share your writing and experience, to get valuable feedback on your creations. But more than that it is always a wonderful chance to meet people who love writing just as you do, to share perspectives and to learn. Yes, we do learn from each other and that’s the best part of all the contests.

The first contest on The Colors Magazine is dedicated to 55 Fiction. I am sure many of you have heard about it if not tried yourself. For those who don’t know or have forgotten about it I will explain one more time.

Criteria for 55 Fiction

A literary work will be considered 55 Fiction if it has:

  1. Fifty-five words or less (A non-negotiable rule)
  2. A setting,
  3. One or more characters,
  4. Some conflict, and
  5. A resolution. (Not limited to moral of the story)
  6. The title of the story is not part of the overall word count, but it still can’t exceed seven words.

Elements of 55 Fiction

As the limit on words is strictly put, the words of a good 55 Fiction have to be chosen very carefully. The following constitute the main elements of a 55 Fiction:

  • Drama: Most 55 Fiction works are dramatised so as to get the effect in limited time.
  • Suspense: This is regarded as an essential element of 55 Fiction work. Never until the last sentence, does the actual theme of the story emerge.
  • Shock: Most 55 Fiction works incorporate what is known as a Last Sentence Shock. This is usually done carefully by adding double meaning or confusing words throughout the story so as to misguide the reader into thinking about a different theme for the story. This results in a shock for the reader who comes to know about the story’s actual theme in the last sentence itself. Mostly, it translates to the reader having to read the story again to convince himself/herself that the plot is consistent.

*Source Wikipedia

What I want?

The keywords in criteria for 55 fiction are a story and a conflict. I want them. Simple as that. I don’t want just a scene from your not finished novel or already published story. I want good original interesting STORY. I want a CONFLICT. I want EMOTIONS. I want your stories to make me feel, to make me cry, smile, hate, sympathize with.  I want them to be real.

Guidelines and Rules

1. 55 words, title (optional) does not count towards word limit.

2. Any topic. Any genre. No limitations. But stay clean, please. No violence, nothing pornographic. Such entries will be disqualified automatically.

3. Original work. Should not be published previously on your blog or site. The copyright remains with you, however, you grant me worldwide first electronic publishing rights to post your entry on The Colors Magazine. I request you not to post your entry on your own blog/site less than in a week after its publishing here.

4. Entry is free.

5. One entry per person.

However you can send the second entry if you write about the contest on your site/blog linking to The Colors Magazine. In this case add a link to your post along with your submission.

And you can even send the third entry if you do one of the following:

  • Subscribe to my feed. You can receive the updates just by filling in the form below.
    Enter your email address:

If you submit more than one entry, please let me know in the mail what exactly you have chosen - Feed, Twitter or Facebook along with your name/id on both networking sites.

6. Entries should be mailed in the body of e-mails preferably to contests@thecolorsmagazine.com

Along with your entry/entries please add your name and your website/blog url. Short bio (up to 100 symbols) is allowed.

Deadline

October 1st 2009, 11 PM, Moscow time (simpler for me) - UTC +4

Judging

I am the only judge. Hope you don’t mind. I know what I want (read above) and I know what I like. I might be biased in a way but I am honest about my opinions. I will choose the best story as I see it.

Prizes

Yes, we have prizes too. How good is that? There is no fun in contests if there are no prizes, right?

And now I am happy to introduce the sponsor of our contest - Sai - Kiran Publications.

Sai-Kiran Publications

Sai - Kiran Publications is a publishing house to promote the work of new writers. The house might be young but itsurely has a bright future. They provide encouragement, support and ideas for improvement for first timers. That is a tough job, but it pays off because we as readers get to know new names in the writing field.

The managing director of the company Arti Honrao agreed to give books as prizes, shipping included.

So here we go:

1st Prize

  • One month featuring on The Colors Magazine with a banner on the sidebar and a link to your website/blog
  • Between The Moons - Haiga and Taiga. Volume I by Janice Thomson

2nd Prize

  • Is This Love & Autumn - The Last Leaf by Arti Honrao (Two in one short story book)

3rd Prize

  • The Eleven.  Short Stories by Bloggers Part - I

Readers’ Choice

  • My Life - story by Arti  Honrao

More information about the books you can find here.

Contest Results

I will give the additional information about the date and time of results’ announcement as well as about voting procedure for readers’ choice award.

Stay tuned (better by subscribing), spread the word, participate, comment and have fun. Good luck!

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42 Comments »

  • umesh said:

    This is good move!!

    best of luck!!!

    [Reply]

    The Colors Magazine

    thank you :)
    I really would need luck with this one!

    [Reply]

    # 22 September 2009 at 3:38 pm
  • Hemanth Potluri said:

    thats awesome news….count me in :)..

    urs..hemu..

    [Reply]

    The Colors Magazine

    Glad to hear that, Hemz :)

    [Reply]

    # 22 September 2009 at 3:56 pm
  • mahesh said:

    I will try for this :)

    [Reply]

    The Colors Magazine

    I would love you to take part in the contest :)

    [Reply]

    # 22 September 2009 at 4:57 pm
  • HOBO(nickname) said:

    Excellent !!!
    I am sure if advt. well many fiction writers will be present.
    Cheers for the magazine And cheers for upcoming writers.

    [Reply]

    The Colors Magazine

    I will try my best to spread the word about the contest and collect as many good entries as possible :)

    [Reply]

    # 22 September 2009 at 5:05 pm
  • Tweets that mention 55 fiction writing contest | The Colors Magazine -- Topsy.com said:

    [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Another Poet. Another Poet said: 55 fiction writing contest | The Colors Magazine http://bit.ly/WyIr0 #writing [...]

    # 22 September 2009 at 8:50 pm
  • Ankur said:

    good luck and am soon gonna participate!! :D

    [Reply]

    The Colors Magazine

    thank you and if you are going to participate, then good luck to you too!! :)

    [Reply]

    # 22 September 2009 at 10:36 pm
  • -=A.R.N=- said:

    wow…this is quite a professional contest.
    looking forward to it.
    :)

    [Reply]

    The Colors Magazine

    :)
    Would be nice if you participate too!!

    [Reply]

    # 23 September 2009 at 12:39 am
  • Preetilata said:

    grt :D

    [Reply]

    # 23 September 2009 at 10:55 am
  • jaishree said:

    This is nice contest Good Luck!Will try ..

    [Reply]

    The Colors Magazine

    I hope to see your entry too :)

    [Reply]

    # 23 September 2009 at 4:59 pm
  • Amity Me said:

    Hi Lena,

    I am ready with my entry. How will I submit it to you? Please let me know before the deadline….

    regards!:)

    [Reply]

    The Colors Magazine

    Hi dear!
    The mail id to which you should send your submission is mentioned in the post itself: contests@thecolorsmagazine.com

    Looking forward to your entry :)

    [Reply]

    # 23 September 2009 at 7:21 pm
  • Creative Writing Ideas | Bright Ideas said:

    [...] 55 fiction writing contest | The Colors Magazine [...]

    # 23 September 2009 at 7:37 pm
  • Gleenn said:

    great contest leah, count me in. I’m sure will find time to write one. I love writing short stories.

    thank you for passing by and for your comments. I added you to my blogorll. :)

    [Reply]

    The Colors Magazine

    I would love you to participate. Am sure you will come up with something good (judging from what I have seen on your blog). I am sure going to be regular there :)

    [Reply]

    # 24 September 2009 at 3:30 am
  • Ray said:

    I love this idea. I may have to give it a go, though I know me. While I think I can write the story and give it that shock ending, I am going to be very hard pressed to say anything in 55 words. I am definitely going to share this around though, as I like the idea. Are you going to share the stories in some format or another that you receive, winners or not?

    [Reply]

    The Colors Magazine

    I would like you to participate, so maybe you still will come up with something, won’t you? And I would really be grateful if you share the information about the contest with those who might be interested :)
    All the entries will be posted here for commenting and reviewing of all the participants and readers :)

    [Reply]

    # 24 September 2009 at 5:21 am
  • Anna said:

    Lena excellent idea, sorry I don’t think I can contribute, but I will be glad to read it. Anna :)

    [Reply]

    The Colors Magazine

    If you just stay here and read some entries (if not all) I am sure people will appreciate your feedback :)

    [Reply]

    # 24 September 2009 at 6:37 am
  • Geraldine said:

    I’m going to give this a go Lena. Thanks for hosting such a worthwhile contest. I’m going to share this link over at my blog, hope that’s ok. The more the merrier, right? :<)

    Hugs, G

    PS: Do you live in Russia? I hadn’t realised that.

    [Reply]

    The Colors Magazine

    I will be more than happy to receive your entry, Geraldine :)
    Thank you for posting it at your blog, you are right, the more people take part in contest the better for all of us :)

    PS: I do live in Russia :)

    [Reply]

    # 24 September 2009 at 1:33 pm
  • Geraldine said:

    Here’s the announcement that I posted over at MPP:

    http://mypoeticpath.wordpress.com/2009/09/24/55-word-fiction-contest/

    Thanks again Lena!

    [Reply]

    The Colors Magazine

    thank you one more time for posting about contest on your blog :)

    [Reply]

    # 24 September 2009 at 1:54 pm
  • Gleenn said:

    hi Lena! Please check out my blog for the latest post. It’s about your writing competition. Thank you for visiting and for all your comments. They are highly appreciated. :)

    [Reply]

    The Colors Magazine

    Hi Gleen, Thank you for posting about contest on your blog :)
    Looking forward to your story :)

    [Reply]

    # 24 September 2009 at 5:22 pm
  • Kunjal said:

    its been long that I wanted to step into 55 fiction.It always looked too difficult to wrap up the story within 55 words lets see if I will be able to do it:)

    [Reply]

    The Colors Magazine

    You should try it. If you don’t write, you won’t know if you can do it. And we all are here to learn :)

    [Reply]

    # 25 September 2009 at 10:55 am
  • the solitary writer said:

    interesting…count me in as well :)

    [Reply]

    The Colors Magazine

    Looking forward to your entry :)

    [Reply]

    # 26 September 2009 at 12:31 pm
  • Rajlakshmi said:

    Hmm hv never written a fiction before .. Bt stil thinking of giving it a try..sounds interesting.. Wl hv to google more on 55 fiction.. :)

    [Reply]

    The Colors Magazine

    I am glad you are taking part in this contest :)

    [Reply]

    # 28 September 2009 at 2:56 pm
  • Indrajit said:

    Hi, I don’t know if my comment is smart or not, but the intent is right.. that’s all i can say. :)

    Great that you have started this competition, which would surely gibe the required footage for the website to get more popular (deservedly).
    :)

    I have’nt writtne any 55 fic ever and might not just participate, but you never know!

    Al th best.

    [Reply]

    The Colors Magazine

    Well, let’s hope this contest will boost the popularity of the magazine. Deserved or not :P
    I believe you could write 55 fiction too :)

    [Reply]

    # 29 September 2009 at 6:35 pm
  • Gleenn said:

    hi Lena! I sent my entry this morning 6:32am here in Bangkok. I’m not sure what time there but i hope that it comes on time. I sent it at contests@thecolorsmagazine.com. Please inform me when you get it. thanks. :)

    [Reply]

    The Colors Magazine

    Hi Gleen,
    I received your entry, sent you a mail too :)

    [Reply]

    # 30 September 2009 at 3:34 am

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