The Athenaeum Forum

A pale empty sky breathes across the land lifting curled fallen leaves over an old dirt road. A woman sits at the edge of a forest under a barren maple tree, leaves gathering at her feet. Behind her, the sound of footfalls, bare feet upon the woodland meadow...

Summer will soon be at an end, and The Athenaeum’s new writing contest should have a distinctly autumn feel. For our second writing contest, we’ve broadened the range of possibilities for entries.

2010 Autumn Romance Writing Contest
Genre: Romance
Setting: Autumn
Length: At least 5000 words
Contest Begins: Immediately
Entry Deadline: October 31, 2010, 11:59PM

Contest Rules:

1. Participants must abide by the normal submission guidelines for The Athenaeum.
2. Multiple submissions are permitted.
3. Entries may be all-original or based on the fandom of your choice.
4. Entries should not be a part of an already established series.
5. Entries should be new works, and not already posted works on another site.
6. Participants must agree not to post their entry on any other websites, groups, forums, blogs, etc. until after the contest is over and the voting is complete.

Just a clarification, the story does not need to include the following.

A pale empty sky breathes across the land lifting curled fallen leaves over an old dirt road. A woman sits at the edge of a forest under a barren maple tree, leaves gathering at her feet. Behind her, the sound of footfalls, bare feet upon the woodland meadow...

A couple of people e-mailed about that, so I wanted to clear up any confusion.

Sounds interesting, BardEyes.

I'm definitely in


Norsebard

I'm going to try for this one. Depends if I can find a beta.

Me + Beta = No luck.

Hi Bardeyes,

I'm wondering what the word limit is. The minimum is 5000 words but what's the maximum?

Calliopenjo wrote:Hi Bardeyes,

I'm wondering what the word limit is. The minimum is 5000 words but what's the maximum?

There is no maximum length.

Thanks Bardeyes.

So, how is everyone's story coming along?

Mine is almost there (85% done as we speak ). I doubt I'll place well, but it's definitely a lot of fun to participate in these contests


Norsebard

After a failed attempt at writing romance, I decided not to enter.

Yeah, I'm having trouble too. Got a couple of ideas but neither are really coming together. I'm not quitting just yet though. Come on, Calliopenjo, give it another try. Please?

Well, I do have another story that might fit. I'm in the midst of tweaking it at the moment. It doesn't fit into the rules of what romance genre is, but it's the only thing that I have that might fit.

If you want we can crit each other's stories.

Works for me, if I ever finish the damn thing. Right now, I'm honestly nowhere near finished (and last time I only completed my story on the very last day of the competition, so I won't be surprised if the same happens again).

And that's, of course, assuming this also breaks no rules. I mean, with us knowing each other's story it might affect the voting unfairly somehow. Might want to run the idea past Bardeyes first, just in case.

Yeah. Forgot about that. I'll PM her and see what she says.

The Fallen wrote:Works for me, if I ever finish the damn thing. Right now, I'm honestly nowhere near finished (and last time I only completed my story on the very last day of the competition, so I won't be surprised if the same happens again).

And that's, of course, assuming this also breaks no rules. I mean, with us knowing each other's story it might affect the voting unfairly somehow. Might want to run the idea past Bardeyes first, just in case.

Sorry for the long delay in responding. I've really been occupied with RL for a while.

Well, I can't really comment on what happens between a beta and a bard. It's not a posted rule so...

Hi, Bardeyes - did you get the mail I sent to you on Wednesday, October 13th?


Norsebard

Norsebard wrote:Hi, Bardeyes - did you get the mail I sent to you on Wednesday, October 13th?


Norsebard

I did indeed. We have another one with the same subject as well. *g*

Bardeyes wrote:I did indeed. We have another one with the same subject as well. *g*

Excellent... I guess it's Battle On, then!


Norsebard

Hi Bardeyes,

I submitted something to enter into this competition. It should arrive in WebWarriors mailbox any time now.

Good luck everyone.

Nine stories now. If someone sent us a story, and we missed it please let us know ASAP!

Good luck everyone!

May the best bard win!