The Official Culling the Herd Poetry and Short Story Contest
Voting has began for the second round. Wasn't much of a round, but it was something. Read the entries at the bottom of the post and then vote.
So, this is the official Culling the Herd poetry and short story contest. It will happen every other month and is a nice way to earn a little gold, while practicing your writing ... or showing it off.
There will be a theme every month and February's theme is Holidays in February. It could be any holiday that occurs within the 29 days of February. The contest officially begins February 1st.
This contest will end March 8th. Entries must be in by midnight. Stories/poems will be put up for voting to the guild and whichever poem/story gets the most votes by March 15th wins. If there is a tie, the judges, Ffaux Pas, fallenseeker, and MorteKitten, myself, will pick a winner. The winner will be announced on March 15th and a new theme will be chosen to start all over again.
The entrance fees are:
600 gold for a poem.
1000 gold for a story.
Send your entrance fees in a trade to guild mule "HeardTheCalling". Please label it "Story and Poem Contest".
Post your story or poem here. There will only be one prize. Then, an honorable mention prize that goes to the poem or story the judges (Ffaux Pas, fallenseeker, and myself, MorteKitten) think was good, but didn't win.
The winner will get half of what is collected, along with what is set aside for the winner.
The honorable mention winner will get their entry fee returned and an extra 300 gold. If any gold is left after paying out the prizes, it will go to the guild.
Also, word count:
Stories: 75 word minimum - 20,000 word max
Poems: 10 word minimum - 2,000 word max
I don't mind reading.
So, be creative and have fun! 4laugh
Any questions can be sent to myself or fallenseeker. fallen is busy right now, so just pm me or Ffaux Pas.
Examples of holidays under 'theme'.
Also, if you decide you don't want to enter after you've entered or you can't get anything in the contest in time, just PM me or post it here.
Loli's Story
Beauty's Story
The next contest will be for April. Since Ffaux isn't around and I didn't receive any fees, I'm not going to worry about collecting any or anything. Prize still stands. If he's not around for the next contest, you can just send the fees to me. Also, if there are no votes and all the judges aren't around, Loli will win by default because obviously I can't win the contest I'm running. ^.^
Voting has began for the second round. Wasn't much of a round, but it was something. Read the entries at the bottom of the post and then vote.
So, this is the official Culling the Herd poetry and short story contest. It will happen every other month and is a nice way to earn a little gold, while practicing your writing ... or showing it off.
There will be a theme every month and February's theme is Holidays in February. It could be any holiday that occurs within the 29 days of February. The contest officially begins February 1st.
This contest will end March 8th. Entries must be in by midnight. Stories/poems will be put up for voting to the guild and whichever poem/story gets the most votes by March 15th wins. If there is a tie, the judges, Ffaux Pas, fallenseeker, and MorteKitten, myself, will pick a winner. The winner will be announced on March 15th and a new theme will be chosen to start all over again.
The entrance fees are:
600 gold for a poem.
1000 gold for a story.
Send your entrance fees in a trade to guild mule "HeardTheCalling". Please label it "Story and Poem Contest".
Post your story or poem here. There will only be one prize. Then, an honorable mention prize that goes to the poem or story the judges (Ffaux Pas, fallenseeker, and myself, MorteKitten) think was good, but didn't win.
The winner will get half of what is collected, along with what is set aside for the winner.
The honorable mention winner will get their entry fee returned and an extra 300 gold. If any gold is left after paying out the prizes, it will go to the guild.
Also, word count:
Stories: 75 word minimum - 20,000 word max
Poems: 10 word minimum - 2,000 word max
I don't mind reading.
So, be creative and have fun! 4laugh
Any questions can be sent to myself or fallenseeker. fallen is busy right now, so just pm me or Ffaux Pas.
Examples of holidays under 'theme'.
Also, if you decide you don't want to enter after you've entered or you can't get anything in the contest in time, just PM me or post it here.
Entires
Loli's Story
Quote:
A Polar Bear in the High Street:
I met a polar bear yesterday, walking down the high street. Other people were passing him by because he was dressed in a fitted cap and a tracksuit. They dismissed him as just another yob, but I saw he was looking down and sat beside him on the council bench. I had little to do because it was Tuesday and I am an author. You haven't heard of any of my books. This society only reads books by established writers, and preferably ones with less imagination than the reader. Mass media has wormed its way into the public's mindset, convincing us that intelligent diversions are to be avoided. Only the privates can still think for themselves, but all they care about is sex. When I say I am an author, I am in fact treating you to one of my favourite synonyms; as the literary critics amongst you will know, an author who is not read by middle class housewives or their children is in truth unemployed. They are not ready for my acerbic humour, my informed wit, my overuse of the word '********, I digress. I may or may not have been coming back from the dole office when I happened across my ursine friend. That is not for you to know. What does matter is that when I sat next to him, the bear didn't look up. I coughed once, twice. A third cough, louder, attracted his stare.
'Hello', I said, taking from my pocket a pack of Marlboro Reds and lighting up. When I offered him one, the bear looked so offended I stubbed mine out; hands shaking, for it had been hours since I'd had one.
'Hello. Do you know you're the first person to sit next to me? This is a terribly racist country, and it's tough being a white bear.'
'If you let people smoke near you they might be ******** nicer', I retorted quickly. I hate non-smokers, with their dreams of eternal life. 'I'm sorry, that was rude. It's been a while since I've had a smoke, just, and I'm having a stressful day. Still, you look worse than I feel, what's up?'
'Nothing much, I just feel as if I have no prospects, what with the state of the economy, and the suspiciousness of youths that the media perpetuates.' He grinned nervously, a bizarre expression to see on a polar bear's face, but one with surprising charisma. 'I know it's just silly, but I worry about the future, you know?'
Already having an awful day, I was disappointed that this chav bear was providing such high brow conversation, and frantically searched my mind for alternatives. I hit upon one with an immediacy that some might call alcoholism. 'Wanna go get pissed? Contrary to the lies spread by the Powers That Be, drinking your problems away is in fact a healthy thing to do.' Looking again at his Adidas tracksuit and eyebrow piercing, I was sure I'd selected a common hobby, but was shocked by his polite refusal.
'Why the ******** not?!'
'I have to visit my grandmother, and tonight it's my turn to cook dinner for the family. You shouldn't drink so early in the day.' He looked genuinely concerned. I could have torn off his face, had it not been for my staggering weakness and his blatantly being a polar bear. Bleeding heart do-gooders.
'Fine... enjoy your afternoon then.'
'I will, and the same to you friend.' My blood was ready to boil, that white b*****d.
'Goodbye then.'
I waited until he was halfway up the street, then shouted, thrusting my hips wildly: 'Say hey to your mum for me, yea!' That was bound to elicit a reaction, I remember thinking, but he only stared back, shook his head sadly and continued on his way. When did I become such a ******** c**t? I blame ******** bears', I muttered, lighting up.
I met a polar bear yesterday, walking down the high street. Other people were passing him by because he was dressed in a fitted cap and a tracksuit. They dismissed him as just another yob, but I saw he was looking down and sat beside him on the council bench. I had little to do because it was Tuesday and I am an author. You haven't heard of any of my books. This society only reads books by established writers, and preferably ones with less imagination than the reader. Mass media has wormed its way into the public's mindset, convincing us that intelligent diversions are to be avoided. Only the privates can still think for themselves, but all they care about is sex. When I say I am an author, I am in fact treating you to one of my favourite synonyms; as the literary critics amongst you will know, an author who is not read by middle class housewives or their children is in truth unemployed. They are not ready for my acerbic humour, my informed wit, my overuse of the word '********, I digress. I may or may not have been coming back from the dole office when I happened across my ursine friend. That is not for you to know. What does matter is that when I sat next to him, the bear didn't look up. I coughed once, twice. A third cough, louder, attracted his stare.
'Hello', I said, taking from my pocket a pack of Marlboro Reds and lighting up. When I offered him one, the bear looked so offended I stubbed mine out; hands shaking, for it had been hours since I'd had one.
'Hello. Do you know you're the first person to sit next to me? This is a terribly racist country, and it's tough being a white bear.'
'If you let people smoke near you they might be ******** nicer', I retorted quickly. I hate non-smokers, with their dreams of eternal life. 'I'm sorry, that was rude. It's been a while since I've had a smoke, just, and I'm having a stressful day. Still, you look worse than I feel, what's up?'
'Nothing much, I just feel as if I have no prospects, what with the state of the economy, and the suspiciousness of youths that the media perpetuates.' He grinned nervously, a bizarre expression to see on a polar bear's face, but one with surprising charisma. 'I know it's just silly, but I worry about the future, you know?'
Already having an awful day, I was disappointed that this chav bear was providing such high brow conversation, and frantically searched my mind for alternatives. I hit upon one with an immediacy that some might call alcoholism. 'Wanna go get pissed? Contrary to the lies spread by the Powers That Be, drinking your problems away is in fact a healthy thing to do.' Looking again at his Adidas tracksuit and eyebrow piercing, I was sure I'd selected a common hobby, but was shocked by his polite refusal.
'Why the ******** not?!'
'I have to visit my grandmother, and tonight it's my turn to cook dinner for the family. You shouldn't drink so early in the day.' He looked genuinely concerned. I could have torn off his face, had it not been for my staggering weakness and his blatantly being a polar bear. Bleeding heart do-gooders.
'Fine... enjoy your afternoon then.'
'I will, and the same to you friend.' My blood was ready to boil, that white b*****d.
'Goodbye then.'
I waited until he was halfway up the street, then shouted, thrusting my hips wildly: 'Say hey to your mum for me, yea!' That was bound to elicit a reaction, I remember thinking, but he only stared back, shook his head sadly and continued on his way. When did I become such a ******** c**t? I blame ******** bears', I muttered, lighting up.
Beauty's Story
Quote:
The Toothache
Marie Wilder was always afraid of the dentist. She didn’t know why exactly because she’d gone a few times and each had been a pleasant experience. Marie would climb out of the seat next to her mother and slowly walk to the door where a dental assistant would greet her and take her into the room beyond. The walk was scary, as she never knew what would happen once she got in the room with the actual dentist. She would be directed to a seat, given a bib to go over her shirt, and then told to wait for the dentist. He would come in, towering over her with a friendly smile. Marie would relax for a few moments, until the dentist opened his mouth to tell her what he would be doing. It was usually a teeth cleaning. After it was all over, Marie would be given a sugarless lollipop and directed back out to her mother.
The fear really consumed her when Marie woke up one morning and her tooth seemed to hurt just a bit. She ignored it, even though it hurt when she touched it with her stiff toothbrush bristles. Marie brushed carefully. She didn’t want to feel pain, any type of pain. She finished brushing and went downstairs to eat breakfast. Luckily, her mom made soft foods. Some sausage, eggs, and a piece of toast. She ate slowly and carefully. Something her mother didn’t miss.
“Marie, why are you eating so slowly? You’ll be late for school.”
“Sorry, mother. I guess I’m not hungry.”
“Well, let’s get going, then. I have to get to work myself.”
The duo left the house and hopped into the car. Her mother drove more quickly then usual and Marie was dropped at school a little earlier than normal. She scanned the schoolyard. No friends yet. She bit down on her bottom lip and a pain erupted from the front of her gums to her ear. Her face turned red and she gave out a faint scream. If she mentioned it, there was no way her mom would not take her to the dentist. Marie wanted to cry, but she struggled through the day.
At home, her mother asked her why she kept squinting and holding the side of her face. Marie didn’t want to say, but she could feel the dull pain and knew she wouldn’t be able to live with it too much longer. She told her mother and her mother asked her if she’d been brushing and flossing regularly and if she’d been eating too many sweets. Marie admitted that she had missed brushing quite a few times and had snuck a few treats when she wasn’t supposed to, but she didn’t see why that would make her tooth hurt like it did. Her mother was sick of explaining it, so she just shook her head and head off to make a dentist appointment for Marie. Marie was scared.
The dentist office was quiet and empty. Marie sat next to her mother, staring at the older lady sitting a few seats away from them. The lady had brought knitting and seemed to be knitting something that could be a sock or a sleeve. Marie was about to ask her mother what she thought it would be when the dental assistant called her name. Marie’s mother nodded and Marie got out of seat to follow the blond lady.
Marie was told, as usual, to sit in a long, oatmeal-colored chair. The lady put a bib-like paper over her chest and left the room. The room smelled like burnt plastic. The smell bothered Marie and she breathed slowly, thinking maybe she wouldn’t smell the smell so much. She was wrong. If anything, it made the smell more strong.
Dr. Osmond walked in, smiling, and asked Marie what the problem was. She hated when doctors asked that. Her mother had written what was wrong on a paper and had told the lady at the front desk, so she was sure the doctor knew already. She told him that her tooth was hurting and she didn’t know why. The doctor walked closer to her and asked her to show him which tooth was hurting. Marie pointed to the tooth right before where her wisdom teeth would be. He nodded to himself and sat down on a little stool. He told her to open her mouth. She opened, but of course, he asked her to open her mouth even wider. She tried, but it didn’t really open any wider, even though he said that it was much better.
The doctor asked Marie the exact same questions her mother had asked the day before. Marie answered them the same, but the doctor stopped her when she said she didn’t know why her tooth was hurting. He explained that she must have a cavity and not brushing or flossing, then eating candies can build up and make her tooth hurt. Marie sighed and said she’d stop eating candy. The doctor laughed and she didn’t have to stop, but she had to make sure she brushed and flossed after eating candy and junk food.
Dr. Osmond gave Marie a shot of Novocain. It felt like a pinch on her gums and she squeezed her eyes shut. A moment later, she couldn’t feel anything in her mouth. Her gums didn’t feel it when she touched them with her tongue. The doctor then brought out a thing that looked like pliers. Marie wanted to jump out of the seat. The doctor didn’t seem to notice and went on with the procedure.
After the medicine wore off Marie’s toothache was gone and she learned not to be too afraid of the dentist anymore.
The end.
Marie Wilder was always afraid of the dentist. She didn’t know why exactly because she’d gone a few times and each had been a pleasant experience. Marie would climb out of the seat next to her mother and slowly walk to the door where a dental assistant would greet her and take her into the room beyond. The walk was scary, as she never knew what would happen once she got in the room with the actual dentist. She would be directed to a seat, given a bib to go over her shirt, and then told to wait for the dentist. He would come in, towering over her with a friendly smile. Marie would relax for a few moments, until the dentist opened his mouth to tell her what he would be doing. It was usually a teeth cleaning. After it was all over, Marie would be given a sugarless lollipop and directed back out to her mother.
The fear really consumed her when Marie woke up one morning and her tooth seemed to hurt just a bit. She ignored it, even though it hurt when she touched it with her stiff toothbrush bristles. Marie brushed carefully. She didn’t want to feel pain, any type of pain. She finished brushing and went downstairs to eat breakfast. Luckily, her mom made soft foods. Some sausage, eggs, and a piece of toast. She ate slowly and carefully. Something her mother didn’t miss.
“Marie, why are you eating so slowly? You’ll be late for school.”
“Sorry, mother. I guess I’m not hungry.”
“Well, let’s get going, then. I have to get to work myself.”
The duo left the house and hopped into the car. Her mother drove more quickly then usual and Marie was dropped at school a little earlier than normal. She scanned the schoolyard. No friends yet. She bit down on her bottom lip and a pain erupted from the front of her gums to her ear. Her face turned red and she gave out a faint scream. If she mentioned it, there was no way her mom would not take her to the dentist. Marie wanted to cry, but she struggled through the day.
At home, her mother asked her why she kept squinting and holding the side of her face. Marie didn’t want to say, but she could feel the dull pain and knew she wouldn’t be able to live with it too much longer. She told her mother and her mother asked her if she’d been brushing and flossing regularly and if she’d been eating too many sweets. Marie admitted that she had missed brushing quite a few times and had snuck a few treats when she wasn’t supposed to, but she didn’t see why that would make her tooth hurt like it did. Her mother was sick of explaining it, so she just shook her head and head off to make a dentist appointment for Marie. Marie was scared.
The dentist office was quiet and empty. Marie sat next to her mother, staring at the older lady sitting a few seats away from them. The lady had brought knitting and seemed to be knitting something that could be a sock or a sleeve. Marie was about to ask her mother what she thought it would be when the dental assistant called her name. Marie’s mother nodded and Marie got out of seat to follow the blond lady.
Marie was told, as usual, to sit in a long, oatmeal-colored chair. The lady put a bib-like paper over her chest and left the room. The room smelled like burnt plastic. The smell bothered Marie and she breathed slowly, thinking maybe she wouldn’t smell the smell so much. She was wrong. If anything, it made the smell more strong.
Dr. Osmond walked in, smiling, and asked Marie what the problem was. She hated when doctors asked that. Her mother had written what was wrong on a paper and had told the lady at the front desk, so she was sure the doctor knew already. She told him that her tooth was hurting and she didn’t know why. The doctor walked closer to her and asked her to show him which tooth was hurting. Marie pointed to the tooth right before where her wisdom teeth would be. He nodded to himself and sat down on a little stool. He told her to open her mouth. She opened, but of course, he asked her to open her mouth even wider. She tried, but it didn’t really open any wider, even though he said that it was much better.
The doctor asked Marie the exact same questions her mother had asked the day before. Marie answered them the same, but the doctor stopped her when she said she didn’t know why her tooth was hurting. He explained that she must have a cavity and not brushing or flossing, then eating candies can build up and make her tooth hurt. Marie sighed and said she’d stop eating candy. The doctor laughed and she didn’t have to stop, but she had to make sure she brushed and flossed after eating candy and junk food.
Dr. Osmond gave Marie a shot of Novocain. It felt like a pinch on her gums and she squeezed her eyes shut. A moment later, she couldn’t feel anything in her mouth. Her gums didn’t feel it when she touched them with her tongue. The doctor then brought out a thing that looked like pliers. Marie wanted to jump out of the seat. The doctor didn’t seem to notice and went on with the procedure.
After the medicine wore off Marie’s toothache was gone and she learned not to be too afraid of the dentist anymore.
The end.
The next contest will be for April. Since Ffaux isn't around and I didn't receive any fees, I'm not going to worry about collecting any or anything. Prize still stands. If he's not around for the next contest, you can just send the fees to me. Also, if there are no votes and all the judges aren't around, Loli will win by default because obviously I can't win the contest I'm running. ^.^
