In vain have I struggled, but it will not be denied. I swore 9 times sideways of Tuesday that I would not run another flash fiction contest. After Fairy Ring, Once Upon a Time Writing Contest AND Faerypin, I vowed I was done with contests for the year.
#lies
Instead, I found myself awake at midnight AGAIN with a brain buzzing with suppressed creativity. And then someone must have cried havoc and let slip the dogs of war. Not one or two but over a half-dozen of my friends started poking and prodding me about when my next contest will be. So you have Ruth Long, Kern Windwraith, Jo-Anne Teal, J.B. Lacaden, Jeff Tsuruoka, Angela Goff, and Lillie McFerrin to blame, along with the countless other Fictionlings who’ve been baying for another chance to enter one of my eccentric pen-fests.
So be it. Too late to back away now. #MOOGHOOHAH
Methinks this contest needs a darker twist, a jagged edge, a crooked seam to counterbalance the beauty and light of the other contests.
My friends, it’s time to go dark. All Hallows Eve is nearly upon us. A chill wind blows, dead leaves rattle past, and good people everywhere lock their doors and light a candle against the dark.
Hear that distant music playing? It’s time to go Behind the Curtain.
Behind the Curtain Flash Fiction Contest
Greasepaint and floodlights and cheerful music out front, but behind the curtain sometimes darker dramas unfold. Whether theatre or circus, pantomime or ballet, there is the world presented…and then the world hidden.
Too often, a gorgeous, painted stage facade conceals dry rot and warped wood. The clown’s smile wipes away to reveal bitter rage. The ballerina’s twisted foot, the leading man’s alcoholism, the abuse of performing animals, all carefully hidden from the audience. For the price of just a ticket, the artifice is yours.
Yet I challenge you to pull it aside, to peek behind the curtain. Who do you see, what do they feel, and most importantly what do they hide?
The prizes are better than ever and will be announced later. Gotta keep you reading, don’t I?
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No one does a flash fiction contest like the Dark Fairy Queen. DAMN YOU MEADE. *pushes WIP into drawer and sharpens pencil* I’m ready!
YAAAYYY! Just the flavor I was looking for 🙂
I’m In!
Brilliant!
Smoooooshes for the dark fairy!!! Tra la la la to yet another magnificent flash contest by our beloved headmistress!!!
*Licks blog to check for flavour.*
Oooh, savoury.
I’m in!
Okay now this is my kinda flash fiction! Twisted and dark are my specialties!
Finished! I just couldn’t wait, this was right up my alley! Booo, I never know how to do the link coding right. 🙁 Help!
My first ever contest, nervous sure but I enjoyed it, thank you.
Oh, this is too awesome. All in!
I just read this! Yikes! I don’t know if I can get something in on time as I just have mere hours to go now. *sigh*
Of course, I just looked through the Pinterest board and got inspired by one of the pictures, so maybe I can find something to write, even if it will be too late to enter. 🙂
Thanks for always being an inspiration! I am looking forward to reading the other entries. 🙂
Eek! I made it! 🙂
I wish I’d read this sooner… I don’t know how to write flash fiction… what if it’s no good!
Go for it! I’d never written anything until the Once Upon a Time contest, and everyone was very supportive!
I did it! Barely. I’m tired! But it’s done!
Such a shame we can’t comment on Diane J Reed’s story because I loved it. The quality of these entries is, if possible, even better than the last one. Am so thrilled to be in such glorious company. Thank you all and THANK YOU Dark Lady for producing this
Sorry about that, Cameron–I’ll try to wrangle my computer and figure out the whole comment thing soon. Thank you for your kind words–I loved your story as well! : )
Hahahaha! Joke’s on me. I finally got my piece done and went to enter it and missed the close of the competition by two hours (the global time thing is very confusing when you live waaaay down in Australia – even here we have six time zones at the moment due to daylight saving). Anyway, although it won’t be in the competition, I thought I’d leave a link in case you wanted to see what I would have submitted. http://www.theuntamedvoice.com/2012/10/behind-curtain-flash-fiction-entry.html
Dearest Faerie Queene Anna–are we supposed to send in our 3 fan favorites somewhere? Do tell (they are ALL so amazing! : )
The behind curtain flash fiction contest. Useful post
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