Announcing our Halloweenie Competition

Part of the blurb at the top of the "MicroFiction Category" Page stipulates - "This category is for stand-alone stories only. It is not for stories submitted as part of a series." as part of the rules for microfiction stories.
My question is - Why has an Halloweenie MicroFiction Competition Story been allowed to be entered/published when it has been placed as story #2 in a series?

Quote by AngelWorthy

Only the latest 100 are now appearing on the competition page's entry list.

You are right. I have just counted them. By my reckoning, there should be approximately 110 stories there now judging by which one was 100 yesterday. They are for certain, disappearing from the bottom of the list. My guess is this is a technical issue... or the judge(s) have seen how many entries there are and taken an early Halloween knife to them!

Quote by AngelWorthy

Part of the blurb at the top of the "MicroFiction Category" Page stipulates - "This category is for stand-alone stories only. It is not for stories submitted as part of a series." as part of the rules for microfiction stories.
My question is - Why has an Halloweenie MicroFiction Competition Story been allowed to be entered/published when it has been placed as story #2 in a series?

So long as it's standalone, it's fine. People can still use the series link to group sets of stories that use the same characters or worlds.

We just don't want a part 1, part 2 etc where someone publishes 100 parts to tell a full story.

I'll get the 100 limit issue sorted on Monday. They must have put a display limit on it. Thanks.

Quote by Jen

So long as it's standalone, it's fine. People can still use the series link to group sets of stories that use the same characters or worlds.

We just don't want a part 1, part 2 etc where someone publishes 100 parts to tell a full story.

Can the rules be changed to reflect this, please? From my understanding the last sentence (which reads - "It is not for stories submitted as part of a series") means microfiction stories are NOT to be submitted as part of a series.

Also, I thought competition stories were not allowed to be part of a series. (Well, not until after the competition has ended.) If these rules have changed can you please point me in the direction of where & when it was changed. Some clarification would be much appreciated, thankyou.

https://www.lushstories.com/competitions/rules

A story can share characters from the same world and thus be tangentially related. But it can't be chapter 1, 2, 3, etc of the same story. Even after the comp.

It's always been the same, for both Flash and Micro categories. Because the art is to tell a complete story in the word limit.

Edit: the confusion might arise because the terminology of the story linking feature is called 'Series'. Mainly because most people use it to link chapters. But it's not the only use of it.

Quote by WannabeWordsmith
But it can't be chapter 1, 2, 3, etc of the same story. Even after the comp.

Seriously? So I couldn't do a perfectly good standalone story for a comp and then realize after the fact that I want to continue or add to the story? How would you even police that, given that the followup might come weeks or months after the comp ended?

I am assuming that what you mean is that you can't be leaving obvious hooks for adding chapters later or state openly that it is part 1. If you come back to it later with new eyes and add sequels after the fact, that's a different matter. I hope.

Asking because even outside comps, I often write a story that I think is a standalone and then realize after publication that there's more to tell.

Quote by WannabeWordsmith

A story can share characters from the same world and thus be tangentially related. But it can't be chapter 1, 2, 3, etc of the same story. Even after the comp.

It's always been the same, for both Flash and Micro categories. Because the art is to tell a complete story in the word limit.

Edit: the confusion might arise because the terminology of the story linking feature is called 'Series'. Mainly because most people use it to link chapters. But it's not the only use of it.

Rule number 4 states - "New Stories only should be entered, not stories you've previously submitted. Only standalone stories should be submitted, not those which are part of a series."

I don't like to name & shame. However, in this instance it seems like I need to. This comp entry is Part 2 in a 4 part "Series" I believe it is a "Comp Rule" break, therefore it should be disqualified from the Halloweenie comp. (Unless it is taken out of the "Series".)

Quote by Seeker4
Seriously? So I couldn't do a perfectly good standalone story for a comp and then realize after the fact that I want to continue or add to the story?

Not in flash or micro you can't, no.

Quote by WannabeWordsmith

Not in flash or micro you can't, no.

Okay, that clarifies things. I wouldn't do a sequel to a flash or micro anyhow. I would probably expand it into a full-length story and take the flash or micro down.

EDIT: I kind of take that back. Watching in the Woods is a flash that is basically a sequel to the micro Moment in the Woods. But I didn't link them at all other than maybe suggesting they were related in a promo thread (I think, I have not checked).

Quote by AngelWorthy

Rule number 4 states - "New Stories only should be entered, not stories you've previously submitted. Only standalone stories should be submitted, not those which are part of a series."

I don't like to name & shame. However, in this instance it seems like I need to. This comp entry is Part 2 in a 4 part "Series" I believe it is a "Comp Rule" break, therefore it should be disqualified from the Halloweenie comp. (Unless it is taken out of the "Series".)

I checked that one and I'm fine with it. It's not a part 'whatever' to a story. It's a standalone story that happens to use existing characters, which is fine as I explained above.

Quote by Jen

I checked that one and I'm fine with it. It's not a part 'whatever' to a story. It's a standalone story that happens to use existing characters, which is fine as I explained above.

But it is placed in a "Series" which I believe is against the rules.

Quote by AngelWorthy

But it is placed in a "Series" which I believe is against the rules.

No, it uses the series link. It's not a next-in-line chapter of a continuing series. There is a difference. I don't have an issue with people using that link to group stories so that readers who enjoyed something can find similar stories easily.

Quote by Jen

No, it uses the series link. It's not a next-in-line chapter of a continuing series. There is a difference. I don't have an issue with people using that link to group stories so that readers who enjoyed something can find similar stories easily.

So moving forward, for future story comps, we ARE allowed to use the series link for our competition entry, as long as the story is a standalone story. Thankyou for the clarification, Jen.

I knew I had seen it before. I had to go back a ways. But I found it. This is in the forum thread "Announcing Our Foolish Story Competition" on page 2, dated 5th April 2021.

Quote by CumGirl
I'm probably being a bit dumb, so you can use characters or a format you've developed in a series just as long as the story itself works as a standalone entity?
Have I got that right? If not, I've got a 5000 word story going free to a good home.

Quote by sprite
it should be fine as long as you don't attach a series tag to the story. if you'd like, once the comp is over, you can go back and add it at a later date.

Sorry for hijacking this thread, however, I am needing clarification. Has the rule changed or not? Can we use a series tag for a comp entry story "during the competition open dates" or not?

On micros being 100 words long. I noticed a 1,700 word micro on the front page.. might be worth maybe recategorising it? https://www.lushstories.com/stories/microfiction/first-online-meeting-chapter-one

Quote by deviantsusie

On micros being 100 words long. I noticed a 1,700 word micro on the front page.. might be worth maybe recategorising it? https://www.lushstories.com/stories/microfiction/first-online-meeting-chapter-one

Um, what? That's too long for a flash, let alone a micro. Wonder if the dev geeks could code up something so that if you choose Flash or Micro as the category, you get warned if you exceed the length limit. I was going to say stopped, but then I remembered the issues with word count in the editor so probably just a warning so you can ignore it if it is just case of the word counter being off.

Quote by deviantsusie

On micros being 100 words long. I noticed a 1,700 word micro on the front page.. might be worth maybe recategorising it? https://www.lushstories.com/stories/microfiction/first-online-meeting-chapter-one

we never claimed to be perfect. thanks for the heads up. it'll get fixed.

Quote by Seeker4

Seriously? So I couldn't do a perfectly good standalone story for a comp and then realize after the fact that I want to continue or add to the story? How would you even police that, given that the followup might come weeks or months after the comp ended?

I am assuming that what you mean is that you can't be leaving obvious hooks for adding chapters later or state openly that it is part 1. If you come back to it later with new eyes and add sequels after the fact, that's a different matter. I hope.

Asking because even outside comps, I often write a story that I think is a standalone and then realize after publication that there's more to tell.

as has always been the rule, once the comp is over you are are free to turn your entry into a multi chapter series if you wish.

Quote by KimmiBeGood

Woke up feeling good because I’m NOT the poor soul having to shortlist this competition!

the only reason i enter comps anymore is so Jen can't tag me to shortlist the damn things :)

Quote by sprite

the only reason i enter comps anymore is so Jen can't tag me to shortlist the damn things

I bribed her to make you do it!

Quote by AngelWorthy

Sorry for hijacking this thread, however, I am needing clarification. Has the rule changed or not? Can we use a series tag for a comp entry story "during the competition open dates" or not?

I've already explained, twice, what the rule is. The series tag was the blue tag we used to have on v1. We don't have that any more.

Look, this is a site run by volunteers on a day to day basis. We're scattered all over the world. And things change. I don't really need someone combing through threads from over 2 years ago to try to make a point that we're not consistent, especially when we've had a major site update since then, and when I've already clarified, again twice now, what is fine for this current competition.

I also don't like to see people trying to get other people disqualified from a competition discussed on a public thread, so if you have any further issues with stories in the competition, feel free to PM me directly instead. Thanks.

Quote by krystalg

I bribed her to make you do it!

bitch.

well... that was entertaining...

Is this a record number of competition entries?

I asked this question with the Freespirt competition and was told that there were two previous story competitions that ran to over 100 entries. So with the counter stuck on 100 and with me reckoning there have been at least 117 entries, this must now be the most popular story competition ever on Lushstories.

And we are only halfway through the allotted entry time.

I feel sorry for the judges, but I wish them good luck!

Quote by sprite

well... that was entertaining...

Yup, glad I’m just a reader…

And I think the Series thing is great way to group similar micros. I used it to group my Spookys and Christmas scribbles.

Quote by wxt55uk

Is this a record number of competition entries?

I asked this question with the Freespirt competition and was told that there were two previous story competitions that ran to over 100 entries. So with the counter stuck on 100 and with me reckoning there have been at least 117 entries, this must now be the most popular story competition ever on Lushstories.

And we are only halfway through the allotted entry time.

I feel sorry for the judges, but I wish them good luck!

I think the Masturbation comp had over 100. It was perfectly timed with COVID isolation and lockdown, so… 😳🤣

Quote by KimmiBeGood

I think the Masturbation comp had over 100. It was perfectly timed with COVID isolation and lockdown, so… 😳🤣

I am just hoping when the competition is over that Lushstories will have enough badges to give out! 🙄🤣

Quote by KimmiBeGood

I think the Masturbation comp had over 100. It was perfectly timed with COVID isolation and lockdown, so… 😳🤣

Masturbating is a competition?! I'm so positive I'd win; I'm so good at it.