Mini-Contests
On The
Premises occasionally
runs mini-contests with very small prizes (and still no
entry fees). These are open only
to
newsletter subscribers. If you wish to subscribe to our (free, short,
monthly) newsletter, click that
link and enter your e-mail address into the web form
that appears.
You can read the winning mini-contest entries via the links
below, or by using the navigation bar to the left.
Mini-Contest #11
results.
Premise: Fix
ambiguous writing. Give us a maddeningly unclear
sentence, then two rewrites of that sentence, each of
which clarifies the ambiguity in a different
way.
Mini-Contest #10
results.
Premise: Imply/evoke
an entire story just by showing us a short “sticky note”
written from one character to another.
Mini-Contest #9
results. Premise:
Describe a strategy for adding tension to a story about
a competition in which an overwhelming favorite easily
defeats an inferior opponent. Also provide a short
excerpt that captures the flavor of the story you’d
write.
Mini-Contest #8
results. Premise:
Write a bland, generic sentence. Then revise it by
adding key details that help establish the story’s
setting and (if relevant) character. (We called this the
“worldbuilding” exercise.)
Mini-Contest #7
results. Premise:
In 25 to 75 words, write a complete story in which the
most important and prevalent sensory information relates
to sound, but use dialogue sparingly if at all.
Mini-Contest #6
results. Premise:
Write a complete story in 25 to 75 words in which 100%
of the story is dialogue. No narration!
Mini-Contest #5
results.
Premise: In 50 to 100
words, describe a “single moment in time just after
something happened” that, by itself, implies a
story.
Mini-Contest #4 results.
Premise: Write two
sentences: a bad one featuring a horrible writing
cliché, and a good one that replaces the cliché with
strong, evocative writing.
Mini-Contest #3 results.
Premise: In 25 to 50
words, write the beginning of a story. Make the
beginning so good that the judges beg you to write the
rest of the story.
Mini-Contest #2 results. Premise:
In 50 to 100 words, write a complete story that shows
the results of one or more characters’ bad decision(s).
Mini-Contest #1 results. Premise:
Write a complete story in 10 to 20 words.