writing contest – Yearning for Wonderland

Who Won Dark Fairy Queen Midsummer’s Night Dream Contest?

WINNNNNNAAAAAARS!

For me, the hardest part of these contests is always the judging. One story, I love because of the lyrical writing. Another, because of the gorgeous imagery or the clever plot or the way it makes me feel at the end.

Ultimately, I could probably choose several sets of winners. Thank you to everyone who entered. Judging is very subjective, so I have to leave it to: who wrote a story for #DFQMND that encompasses the theme and does all of the above. I am very excited to announce these winners. I chose two, one for the Dreams package (Light) and one for the Nightmares Package.

So, without further ado, I present…your winners.
DFQMND
WINNER, Dreams

Daniel Swensen, for Annabella of the Spring

Sheer gorgeousness. Daniel, your writing makes it totally worth having to revamp the prize package, since I’m not awarding you the book you wrote. Your story is delicate and yearning and a perfect drop of longing in 400 words. Well done. I will be in touch regarding other prize options.

Honorable Mentions, Dreams

J.T. Ellis, for January in Sunset

Dr. Pete Meyers, for Listen

Holly Kench, for Dreaming Just Enough

WINNER, Nightmares

Steven Marsden, for The Princess and the Whispering Pines

This is a fantastic surprise, for Steven put up a blog simply to enter this contest. He wasn’t even in the DFQ group before this. Of course, now he is doomed. #MOOGHOOHAH. Steven, your story was lovely and the tempo was classical fairytale, but there’s a dark underbelly that took my breath away. Brava! So glad you entered.

Honorable Mentions, Nightmares

Eric Martell, for Evidence of Things Not Seen

Lyndsey E. Gilbert, for Mother May I

K.J. Collard, for The Coming Winter

Again, thank you to all those who entered! You humble and honor me with your collective talent.

Love to all,

#DFQ

Dark Fairy Queen Midsummer Night’s Dream Writing Contest

I know a bank where the wild thyme blows,
Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows,
Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine,
With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine:

There sleeps Titania sometime of the night,
Lull’d in these flowers with dances and delight;

– A Midsummer Night’s Dream, II.1

I was woken from a dream to a shocking realization. It has been nigh on two years since my last flash fiction contest (see Behind the Curtain). How can this be??

Clearly this must be rectified immediately. And, in classic DFQ fashion, in the midst of full-time job and life and…but if I waited for things to slow down, I would never do ANYTHING.

Thus it is my pleasure and privilege to announce my latest flash fiction writing contest, the Dark Fairy Queen Midsummer Night’s Dream.

So here are the details:

It is summer, a faint breeze blows, and the leaves are rustling. As dusk falls, the fireflies glow in a distant meadow. Have you not felt the magic of a summer night? Your story should.

Let us celebrate a midsummer night by creating 400 words.

For your theme, your story must take place, at least in part, on a summer evening. Also, choose one from the following list:

Dreams
Fairytales
Myths

Your story should be posted on your personal blog or a friend’s and linked up below with the Inlinkz tool (which opens July 15).

Need more inspiration? Check out the Faerytaleish Pinterest Board. Our Twitter hashtag to talk about the contest is #DFQMND. If I feel so inspired, there may be another #FanFav contest on Twitter.

Excited about the contest? Here’s the easiest ways to spread the word!

Share on Twitter

Share on Google+

Share on Facebook
No fan fiction (original worlds only) or erotica, please.

Prizes will be announced in a future post. You only have two weeks once the contest opens on July 15, what are you waiting for?

Need the code to link up on your blog? Here it is!

get the InLinkz code

Tales of a Zombie Olive

So my lovely friend Holly is running a zombie flash fiction contest on her hilarious blog, Confessions of a Stuffed Olive.

She draws funny cartoons of olives, cats and other creatures. The winner of her contest will get their story illustrated by her.

Artwork owned by Confessions of a Stuffed Olive

You may recall the last time I did a zombie-themed story. That little story won the Fan Favorite contest run by J. Whitworth Hazzard.

I swore then that I would not write another zombie tale.

I lied. Not only did I have to write another flash fiction zombie tale, it had to be a funny one. CURSE MY LUCK!

Of course, my sense of humor is a little warped, so you can see the result:

A Life-Long Dream

She carefully traced a carmine line around her lips. They weren’t nearly as full as they used to be, so she had to employ all her arts to evoke youthful beauty. A hint of blusher, a quick hairbrush and she was ready to go.

“I, Norma Jean Pintucker, accept the crown of Miss Yuba City; it’s a life-long dream for me. I’d like to thank my agent, Quincy…”

Norma Jean frowned. What –was- her agent’s name? It rhymed with “squirter”, she was fairly sure. Her memory was worsening.

As she drove her 2006 Audi to the Convention Center, she fretted, “Werter. Frankfurter.” She examined her reflection in the rearview mirror, “Ugh, my skin looks so pasty.”

Once she reached the stage door, she patted her hair into place and whispered, “Showtime.”

The crowning ceremony had already started without her. That wasn’t right. She struggled through the heavy velvet curtain, applause ringing in her ears.

“I’m here!” she shouted, pushing some highlighted blonde stranger in a showy dress away from the microphone.

She plucked the tiara from the velvet pillow and stepped into the spotlight.

“I accept the crown of Miss Yuba City today. I’d like to thank my agent, Quincy-“

She was saved from recalling his name by the scream in the audience.

“Quincy-“

Just then, her lower jaw fell off and clattered to the stage floor.

She gingerly placed the tiara on her head, kicking her jaw into the orchestra pit, “Thank you, ish been a life-long dream.”