Yay, today's the day a lot of you have been waiting for! Before I start, thank you SO much to everyone who participated! I'm so happy that I got more participants than last time! Also, thank you all for your patience, it means a lot to me how patient and supportive all of you have been! Now, the third-place winner of this contest is... *drumroll* - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - *stretches fingers* - - - - - - - - - Congratulations, Allie!!! You are the third-place winner of March's short story contest!!! *confetti* 🎉 Your prizes:- A sneak peak at Mute and a collage made by me for the story you entered! You should get your prizes by the next two weeks! If you don't, please let me know! :) Now, for the second-place winner!! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - *cracks knuckles* - - - - - - - - - - - - - - *stops for an ice-cream break* - - - - - Congratulations, Marie!!! You are the second-place winner!!! *confetti* 🎉 Your prizes:- A sneak peak at Mute, a collage made by me for the story you entered, and a customized email signature!! If you don't get your prizes by the next two weeks, please let me know! :) *drumroll* - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - *tells little brother to leave me alone* - - - - - - - - - - *gets an email and checks it* - - - - - - - - - - *little brother decides to do it for me...* - - - - - - - - - - - - - And now, the moment y'all have been waiting for... Congratulations, Issabelle!!! You won FIRST-PLACE for March's contest!! 🎉 The prizes:- A guest posting on my blog, a sneak peak at Mute, a collage made by me for the story you enter, and a customized email signature!!! You should get your prizes by the next two weeks!! If you don't, please let me know!!! :) Here is Issabelle's winning story~ >>><<< Dreaming Some dreams aren’t meant to come true. But I was the only one who seemed to understand this. Doubling my grip on the laser gun, I crept along the dark alley. My heart pounded and drowned my thoughts. My plans. My mission. I took a shaky breath. The humid air suffocated my lungs and didn’t help relax my nerves. A rattle sounded. I whipped around but only spotted the tin lid of a trash can rolling in a circle. Around and around, in an unstoppable motion. Clank. It collapsed to the cobblestone ground. I took it as a sign. That anything - anyone - can be stopped. A sign I need to continue on my mission. Find the Olcken Compass. I violently shook my head. General Karmping’s words were too loud in my mind. I almost squeezed my eyes shut to push the words away, but thought better of it. After all, the last thing needed was another way to remember what brought me here. The mission General Karmping had sent five of us out on. In search of the legendary Olcken Compass. I stuffed my hand into my pant’s pocket and enclosed my dirt-stained fingers around a small, circular object. Suddenly the noisy sound of an engine drew near. I reached the edge of the alley. My foot barely rested on the line where dark met light. Once I stepped free from the shadows, there’d be no turning back. The Olcken Compass wasn’t safe, but the problem was General Karmping and his rebel group didn’t need it anymore, though they didn’t know that. I gulped. The source of the engine sound grew louder until an odd looking machine zipped up beside me. It looked like a sports car but hovered about three feet into the air. The latest car model was said to be fueled by Lightspeed alone and could outdrive any machine. Which was great for someone who always had the law after them. Someone like me. “Heya, Mahitha. In trouble again?” A fourteen year old boy smirked and ruffled his dark brown hair. Though I was a year older than him, you couldn’t tell it from his very tall height. Not to mention, he seemed to possess some power to feed people whatever lies he wanted. Though, I never fell for his tricks. I climbed into the passenger’s side of his ElectroSpeeder and pointed to the path, curving into another alley. “Take me to the Professor’s lab and don’t ask questions.” The ElectroSpeeder immediately zipped into motion and hurled its way to the alley. The fierce wind from how fast we were moving made it hard to breathe. We turned into the alley and the smell of mildew overwhelmed my senses. “So what happened to you, M?” Joel asked. I slouched and muttered, “I said no questions.” “C’mon. Three days ago you were setting out to find the Olcken Compass and now you’re running ‘round like a wild and crazy girl.” I didn’t say anything. He continued pestering me with questions but my thoughts drifted far from him. And toward the dream I had last night. I double checked that the round object was still in my pocket, gingerly rubbing one side of it. It must be destroyed! I shut my eyes, so tight not even a slither of light could break the darkness. My dream filled my vision. It began with that warning and followed with a blazing fire spreading through the rebel base. It’s blue flame lit the dark eyes of the midnight sky. People ran everywhere, trying to escape the fire’s destructive path. We could outrun it, but our base and resources would be forever destroyed. For years we had protected this land from the King and his evil minions, but if our homebase was burned and our companions scattered....We would be done for. Who would’ve thought something as small as the Olcken Compass could cause this? But that was it, no one did. Which was why General Karmping wanted someone to retrieve it from its bed in the depths of the sea. “I have to destroy it,” I mumbled to myself. “What?” Joel’s eyes grew perfectly round. Deep in my gut, I knew I couldn’t do this on my own and needed my friend’s help. “The Olcken Compass.” There I said it. Now everyone would think I was crazy because our one hope to defeat the King had to be destroyed. But they didn’t see my dream. They didn’t understand dreams came true. “Are you crazy? No, you need to find the Compass and give it to the General.” “Don’t you know how the Compass works?” Joel furrowed his brows, but I turned from his burning gaze. Shoving my hand into my pocket, I sighed in relief. The object was still tucked safely with me. “The Olcken Compass can let someone see into the future,” Joel answered. He thought everything in life was so simple, didn’t he? I wanted to laugh because he was so naive. “The Olcken Compass points to the future and lets you see it in dreams. The problem with that is when one has a nightmare. Trust me when I say this. The King found the Compass before Karmping knew where to search. I’m not sure how, but that Compass will explode when it makes it to Camp. It will burn our rebel base to ash.” “You have it,” he breathed. Not being able to deny it, I clenched my fist around the object. “Just get me to the Professor’s lab and don’t ask anymore questions.” Joel fell silent, and it wasn’t much longer before the ElectroSpeeder came to a rickety shack. I stepped out of the car and dashed to the shack. My heart thumped so hard, and I couldn’t breathe. Hurling the door open, I stepped inside a cluttered room that had succumbed to the evening’s shadows. “Professor?” I whispered-yelled. “I don’t think he’s here, M.” I almost rolled my eyes but found enough self-control to spin and lock eyes with Joel. “Leave.” “M, you’re going to-” “You can’t stop me.” Joel shook his head and stepped closer. “I’m not trying to. I believe you and want to help.” “Why is the Professor not here?” I asked; my voice sounded hoarse. Joel shuffled his feet and didn’t meet my eyes. My gut sank to my toes. I didn’t know why the Professor was here - didn’t want to, either - but I was certain that the King had something to do with this. I gritted my teeth and raced to a scuffed-up table near the back of the room. I shoved the bottle contents to the ground. They shattered to a million glass shreds, each crack piercing my ears. For the first time since acquiring it, I pulled the Olcken Compass from my pocket, placed it on the table, and opened it. The arrow stared directly at me. It had given me the dream, the prophecy, the vision of the future. And in thanks, I had to destroy it and make sure that dream never came true. Joel let out a low whistle. “How do you plan to destroy that thing?” Suddenly, a flash of light overwhelmed my senses. In my fading vision, I saw the Compass' arrow spinning wildly until it landed to a corner in the room. My breath fled me as a sharp pain filled my head. For I saw the future one last time. I pointed in the direction where the arrow had landed. “Get the dagger! End this!” As the darkness enveloped me, I could only trust he’d know what to do. # “Mahitha.” Someone shook my shoulder. I threw open my eyes and saw a boy smirking above me. Sitting, I ignored the light headedness filling me. We were in the Professor’s lab, but one thing had changed since I passed out. The Compass rested on the table in a million shattered pieces and Joel gripped a sharp dagger. It was over! The Olcken Compass was destroyed and my mission completed. An indescribable hope filled me in knowing us rebels had another day to fight. >>><<<
Ah, wasn't that such a great story, y'all? It really kept me on the edge of my seat! 😉 Once again, thank you, SO much to everyone who participated! I'm really glad I had more participants than last time! I loved everyone's stories. It was such a tough decision to make. Last post, a lot of you had mentioned that you were okay with there being no short story contest this month. Honestly, I feel relieved that I can prepare for next month's contest 😌, so thank you for your input and great patience! 😄 Also, stay tuned for the TWO awards that I got nominated for! Can't wait to do them! 😉 Have a wonderful day, everyone and stay safe! 😊
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What's up, y'all!! Today's time for a NEW contest for all of us! *doubled the confetti shoots out of nowhere* Well then, let's start, shall we?
Rules for this Contest (and all of the other ones in the future)~ 1. Whatever you submit must be your own work!! Which means, you are not allowed to copy anyone else's work and pass it off as your own. That's plagiarism and it's very bad!! 2. Your story must be entered with the correct genre of that month. 3. Your story must be a maximum of 1,350 words. 4. The short story that you write must be appropriate for ages 14 and under. 5. The story must be submitted before the deadline. 6. Only one entry per person allowed. If you submit more than one entry, then your first entry will be the only one I will count. 7. Follow all of these rules, or else your story will not be counted as an entry. (No matter how good it is!!) Disclaimer: I won't be making any exceptions for anyone!! The Prizes for this Contest (and most of the Other Ones in the Future)~ First Place Winner:- A guest posting on my blog, a sneak peak at Mute, a collage made by me for the story you enter, and a customized email signature!!! Second Place Winner:- A sneak peak at Mute, a collage made by me for the story you enter, and a customized email signature!! Third Place Winner:- A sneak peak at Mute and a collage made by me for the story you enter! The Genre for this Month:- Sci-Fi (Thanks to Chloe for recommending this genre!) The deadline for this contest is March 31 at 11:59 PM (PST) I will announce the winners sometime during the week of April 1st. Can't wait to read everyone's stories! (And I hope I get more people to enter. XD) Here is a link to the form for y'all to submit your entries! I hope all of you have a fun time writing! Happy writing!! 😊 This is it y'all, the moment you've all been waiting for. (And no, I am not talking about COVID-19 being over, so sorry about getting your hopes up if that's what you thought.) It is time for...THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE WINNERS!!! *echoes* *throws confetti* *cheers and applause heard* Yes, that is right. I have decided the very special winners for this contest!!! Right now, I want to make sound effects, but unfortunately, I cannot...because this is a blog post, not a YouTube video. Before I announce the winners, big shoutout to everyone that participated!!! It really meant a lot to me. :) Now, the third place winner of this contest is...*drumroll* - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Issabelle's right, this is fun. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Okay, I'll stop now... - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Congratulations, Issabelle!!! *confetti shoots out of nowhere* You are our third place winner for this contest!!! Your prizes:- A sneak peak at Mute and a collage made by me for the story you entered! You should get your prizes by next week! If you don't, please let me know!!! :) Now, the second place winner!! *drumroll* - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I don't wanna stop. XD - - - - - - - - - Maybe I should stop now... - - - - - - - - - How about now? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Okay, okay, I'll stop - - - - - Congratulations, Alexa!!! *confetti, once again shoots out of nowhere* You are our second place winner for our contest!!! Your prizes:- A sneak peak at Mute, a collage made by me for the story you enter, and a customized email signature!! You should get your prizes by next week!! If you don't, please let me know!!! :) Now, last but definitely not the least, the first place winner of this contest!!! *drumroll* - - - - - - - - - - - - - I should do this more often. XD - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I'm gonna do more than before...just for the sake of suspense. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Should I stop now...?...Nah! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - How about now? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Okay, fine, I'll stop - - - - Congratulations, Katherine!!! *confetti shoots out of nowhere* You are our first place winner for our contest!!!
The prizes:- A guest posting on my blog, a sneak peak at Mute, a collage made by me for the story you enter, and a customized email signature!!! You should get your prizes by next week!! If you don't, please let me know!!! :) Congratulations to all of the winners! I loved your stories!! And once again, THANK YOU to all of you who participated! This contest would be nothing without y'all! :) Now, I will share Katherine's story with y'all! Here it is~ >>><<< The Missing Wand: A Fairy Mystery “Have you seen my wand?” I asked Evergreen when he found me in my garden. He sat on a toadstool. “Do I look like I’ve seen it?” he asked, raising his honey-colored eyebrows. I let out an exasperated sigh. Evergreen may have been my best friend but he wasn’t always helpful. “It’s missing, Evergreen! Someone stole it!” “You probably misplaced it.” He shook his head. “That’s what I thought early this morning,” I said as I continued searching the ground. “Until I found clues that led me to believe it was stolen.” The end of my flower-petal dress got caught on a twig. I tried to get it loose but it didn’t work. If I had my wand it would make it easier to get my dress unstuck. “Pineapple,” Evergreen called my name as he came over to help me. He waved his wand and my dress broke loose from the twig. “Thank you,” I said. Evergreen nodded his head then continued talking, “Why would anyone want to steal your wand? All the fairies have their own wands already.” Why wouldn’t anyone want my wand? It’s intricate design was one of the finest for wands. Not to mention it’s gorgeous golden color. “I don’t know for sure,” I replied, “but I need to get my wand back.” “Alright, I’ll help you. What were the clues you were talking about?” “The first clue I found was that the plants had been trampled on.” I pointed around my garden where certain places of the grass and plants were smushed. Evergreen’s eyes were wide like he didn’t notice that earlier. “The other clue was long, bright-red hairs lying everywhere.” I picked up a hair that was underneath my feet and showed it to Evergreen. He took it in his hands and inspected it for a long time. Finally, he looked at me and said in a firm voice, “I know who took your wand, Pineapple.” “YOU DO?” I shrieked. “Who is it?” I stood on tiptoes and anxiously waited for his answer. He nodded his head. “The person who took your wand was a human.” Evergreen gazed around, probably to see if he could find where the human was now. “How do you know it was a human?” Evergreen looked back at me. “This is human hair. I can tell because it’s not as fine and soft as fairy hair. Logically speaking, whoever took your wand was probably a little girl who was excited to find an actual fairy wand.” I let out a deep breath. “How am I going to get it back?” Evergreen thought for a moment. “Alright, I’ve got a plan. You make a replica of your wand while I track down the human who took it.” I nodded in agreement. Evergreen began searching for footprints or anything that would lead him to the culprit. I grabbed the twig that had gotten stuck on my dress earlier. Then I went inside my tree-stump house to forge a fairy wand. First, I sanded the twig so it would be smooth. Then I carved a design that was similar to the one on my wand. Carving the design was not easy though. I got a couple of scratches from it. Once I was done with the carving, I painted the twig gold. After a while, Evergreen came back. “Is the false wand ready?” he asked. “Yep!” “Great! Follow me and I’ll show you where the girl is.” I raised my eyebrows. “So you were right? It really was a human girl who took my wand?” Evergreen nodded. Then he turned to lead the way to the human girl. Evergreen and I flew for what felt like forever before we reached a white house with a girl playing in the backyard. We landed on a tree branch not too high above the girl. Sure enough, the red-headed girl, who looked to be about six-years-old, was waving my wand in the air. I wanted to fly straight down there and get my wand back, but Evergreen held me off. “Here’s what we’re gonna do,” he whispered. “I’m gonna distract the girl by making a bird-call sound. Then you’re going to switch wands.” “Alright. That will work . . . except for one thing. What if she doesn’t put down my wand?” “I’ve got to distract her well enough for her to put it down,” Evergreen said and then flew to another tree. He whistled his bird call and the girl immediately turned her head to the sound. He continued and the girl walked toward the sound. With her curiosity increasing, she tried to climb the tree that Evergreen was in. In doing so, she dropped my wand and I seized my opportunity. I flew to the ground, replaced my wand with the false one, and flew back to the tree I had come from. Evergreen stopped his bird call and flew to my tree. We watched the girl realize the “bird” was gone and climb down from the tree. She then bent down, picked up the forged wand, and happily skipped away. I was happy to have my wand back. But I was even more thrilled that I could make the little girl happy. >>><<< I hope y'all loved her story as much as I did!! Once again, congrats to the winners!!! I love ALL of your stories! Hope y'all have a wonderful day, today! The next short story contest will start tomorrow so stay tuned! :) Hi writers! (Yes, that sounds better.)
I hope that this month's short story contest's genre hasn't been too hard for y'all!!! To make it a bit easier, here's a link that might help you get those gears moving in your heads. thewritepractice.com/20-mystery-story-ideas/ I hope it helps all of you as much it helped me! Anyway, that's it for today's very Tiny, Itty Bitty, Little Announcement!!! Have a Wonderful Wednesday, y'all!! Hello fellow humans!! (That doesn't sound right...)
Welcome to my first contest for y'all!! This is not just any contest, it's a short story contest!! Yes, you read that right! I will be hosting one once a month. Every month, there will be a genre that you need to submit your story about. (I will tell the genre shortly.) Rules for this Contest (and all the Other Ones in the Future)~ 1. Whatever you submit must be your own work!! Which means, you are not allowed to copy anyone else's work and pass it off as your own. That's plagiarism and it's very bad!! 2. Your story must be entered with the correct genre of that month. 3. Your story must be a maximum of 1,350 words. (I would've said 1,000, but 1,350 sounds better.) 4. The short story that you write must be appropriate for ages 14 and under. 5. The story must be submitted before the deadline. 6. Only one entry per person allowed. If you submit more than one entry, then your first entry will be the only one I will count. 6. Follow all of these rules, or else your story will not be counted as an entry. (No matter how good it is!!) Disclaimer: I won't be making any exceptions for anyone!! The Prizes for this Contest (and all the Other Ones in the Future)~ Yes, OF COURSE there are prizes! I mean, c'mon, what's a contest without prizes? Am I right? First Place Winner:- A guest posting on my blog, a sneak peak at Mute, a collage made by me for the story you enter, and a customized email signature!!! Second Place Winner:- A sneak peak at Mute, a collage made by me for the story you enter, and a customized email signature!! Third Place Winner:- A sneak peak at Mute and a collage made by me for the story you enter! The Genre for this Month:- Mystery The deadline for this contest is February 28 at 11:59 PM (PST) I will announce the winners sometime during the week of March 1st. Well, I can't wait to see all of your short stories everyone!! Here's a link to the survey for y'all to submit your entries. Happy writing everyone! 😊 |
Photo used under Creative Commons from Scouse Smurf