Announcing our Halloweenie Competition

Wanting to know. Please confirm. Can we place our Halloweenie Micro into any category for this story comp? Or do we place the story in the MicroFiction Category only? (Sorry guys, this is messing with my OCD.)

They should all go in the microfiction category unless they're fantasy stories, in which case they need to go in that category, thanks.

Edit. Stories only - no poems please.

Quote by Jen

They should all go in the microfiction category unless they're fantasy stories, in which case they need to go in that category, thanks.

Edit. Stories only - no poems please.

Noticed a few new ones in other categories again. Just fyi…

Quote by KimmiBeGood

Noticed a few new ones in other categories again. Just fyi…

Yeesh, who is moderating this week? Must be hitting the backstage liquor cabinet too hard or something.😉

Mine should come this weekend, maybe even today. It's set up as a draft, has a cover, and I think I like it as it stands. Just going to let the pot simmer a bit longer in case something hits me when I read it again.😎

Quote by Seeker4

Yeesh, who is moderating this week? Must be hitting the backstage liquor cabinet too hard or something.😉

Mine should come this weekend, maybe even today. It's set up as a draft, has a cover, and I think I like it as it stands. Just going to let the pot simmer a bit longer in case something hits me when I read it again.😎

my bad. i laced the brownies at the last mod meeting. oops. btw, i have mine in. first story i've written in... forever. it was fun. probably not going to win any awards, though lol

Noticed a few with ‘pumpkins’ too.

Are they disqualified since they can’t read the rule or does that go by the way too?

Just thought it better to get this clarified now since the debacle with the Debauched competition where some stories were sent back to be rewritten as they didn't have a wish while others were allowed without a wish and it created all kinds of bad feeling so rules were going to be clearer in future I think was the decision from Nicola at the time.

There is something that I have been wondering about since I wrote my entry. Having never attempted Microfiction before I left the author's note off as I assumed it would eat into the 100 words. But is that right?

Maybe it is 100 words plus the author's note. Please would someone clarify?

Thank you.

Quote by deviantsusie
Are they disqualified since they can’t read the rule or does that go by the way too?

I actually asked Jen upthread if we could use plural and there was no answer so far. I used singular anyhow. I think using the plural should be allowed at this point if they have been allowing this far in but clarification from Jen would be nice.

Quote by wxt55uk
Maybe it is 100 words plus the author's note. Please would someone clarify?

Author's note is not counted in story length but I suspect they will take a dim view if someone uses that to try to sneak extra words into their story.

Quote by Seeker4

I actually asked Jen upthread if we could use plural and there was no answer so far. I used singular anyhow. I think using the plural should be allowed at this point if they have been allowing this far in but clarification from Jen would be nice.

the plural is fine.

Quote by deviantsusie

Noticed a few with ‘pumpkins’ too.

Are they disqualified since they can’t read the rule or does that go by the way too?

Just thought it better to get this clarified now since the debacle with the Debauched competition where some stories were sent back to be rewritten as they didn't have a wish while others were allowed without a wish and it created all kinds of bad feeling so rules were going to be clearer in future I think was the decision from Nicola at the time.

the plural is fine.

Fair enough. Maybe it should have been clearer in the rules then.

In that case does the word have to be pumpkin or can it be any other member of the Cucurbitaceae family?

Or since pumpkin carving came from Europe and they didn’t have pumpkins there and carved jack o’lanterns from turnips or swedes can turnip be used instead? Or turnips even.. or neeps?

Quote by deviantsusie

Fair enough. Maybe it should have been clearer in the rules then.

In that case does the word have to be pumpkin or can it be any other member of the Cucurbitaceae family?

Or since pumpkin carving came from Europe and they didn’t have pumpkins there and carved jack o’lanterns from turnips or swedes can turnip be used instead? Or turnips even.. or neeps?

has to be pumpkin(s).

Quote by sprite

has to be pumpkin(s).

Not even Rumpy-pumky?

Oh no! I wrote about a bumpkin! Glad I didn't jump in! I guess my entry won't be lumped in. I feel like a munchkin.

Quote by Ensorceled

Oh no! I wrote about a bumpkin! Glad I didn't jump in! I guess my entry won't be lumped in. I feel like a munchkin

Before you get sunk in to a rhyming entry, poetry is not permitted. On that note I have to write a new one!

Quote by Seeker4

Author's note is not counted in story length but I suspect they will take a dim view if someone uses that to try to sneak extra words into their story.

Thank you Seeker4, that's what I thought but it's nice to have it clarified.

Quote by sprite

mine was 100 words in word (on my comp) and says 101 words when i submitted it. fuck you, lush word counter. i ain't removing nothing.

There are various cheats that I've discovered that can change the word count by one or two…in a pinch.

Not tellin'. Unless you make it worth my while, that is…

Just leaving this here for reference

https://www.lushstories.com/forum/writing-resources/writing-microfiction

Hi! I'm a new member. Still figuring my way round this website, so sorry in advance for this silly question but ...

How do you vote for a story that you like? I can see the like, favourite, and share buttons but that's pretty much it

Quote by Rama_NM

Hi! I'm a new member. Still figuring my way round this website, so sorry in advance for this silly question but ...

How do you vote for a story that you like? I can see the like, favourite, and share buttons but that's pretty much it

Hello and welcome to Lush. The like button is your way of voting for a story you like. Of course, you can do that with as many stories as you enjoy.

The favorite adds it to your favorites of course and then there is always leaving a comment. Everyone loves receiving comments.

I hope this helps!

Quote by Rama_NM

Hi! I'm a new member. Still figuring my way round this website, so sorry in advance for this silly question but ...

How do you vote for a story that you like? I can see the like, favourite, and share buttons but that's pretty much it

Hi Rama! Welcome to Lush. Voting for a story. That would be the Like button with the little heart next to it. Likes are considered votes. And, also, any other questions, post them or hit up one of the mod - i'm one of them, btw. we'll be happy to try to steer you right

ps - there are no silly questions.

Quote by Jen

Just leaving this here for reference

https://www.lushstories.com/forum/writing-resources/writing-microfiction

An excellent guide with a lot of great additions by talented writers in the comments

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

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

Amen to that.

Anyone who only has time to read one, make sure it's My Treat by Toreador. But if you have any more time, plough through the rest and show the authors some love for their craft. You won't be disappointed. Some incredibly imaginative tales already, and still nearly three weeks to go till the deadline.

Quote by WannabeWordsmith

Amen to that.

Anyone who only has time to read one, make sure it's My Treat by Toreador. But if you have any more time, plough through the rest and show the authors some love for their craft. You won't be disappointed. Some incredibly imaginative tales already, and still nearly three weeks to go till the deadline.

I read about three-quarters of the competition entries and there were 3 that stood out for me. Many I liked, but only those three which I marked as favourites. Why? Because first I related to them and second, I thought was a fantastic idea well executed.

I don't want to be controversial but for me, My Treat was like standing in front of a piece of modern art. I know it was good, everyone says it is good, but I didn't really understand it. I know it is a good technical piece of writing but sometimes I just like something easier to read, sorry.

Update:- I have finally got it! You were right WW, though perhaps it was a bit too clever for me! 🙄

It appears that the earliest published stories have started to drop off the competition page's entry list. Is that just me or a bug that could be fixed?

Quote by CuriousAnnie

It appears that the earliest published stories have started to drop off the competition page's entry list. Is that just me or a bug that could be fixed?

Not sure if anyone else had issues like this but my first entry was removed as it was a poem. Worked out though, I’m happier with my second entry.

https://www.lushstories.com/stories/microfiction/midnight-visitor-2

Quote by CuriousAnnie

It appears that the earliest published stories have started to drop off the competition page's entry list. Is that just me or a bug that could be fixed?

You are right CuriousAnnie. There are only 3 (now 2) below my entry today, yesterday there were roughly 8 below mine. So some have dropped off the list.

Quote by CuriousAnnie

It appears that the earliest published stories have started to drop off the competition page's entry list. Is that just me or a bug that could be fixed?

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