Tales Shown, Not Told OLD FORMAT

Choose ONE of the prompts for your story. This round's prompts are:



Choose ONE of these prompts for your story. You're free to explore these prompts in whatever way you wish, but the prompt must be part of the story.

Suggestions.
For genre prompts, stay within the bounds of the genre. For the words prompt, use the words must in a natural way, for example in narrative, description, thoughts, or in dialogue. It will help the judges if you boldface the words so that judges can find them. Grammatical variations of the basic word are permitted, for example "paradoxical" uses the word "paradox." For the character prompt, consider showing the reader how the prompt relates to the protagonist's character arc, i.e., their goals, obstacles, or stakes.

Mixing genres would be awesome! A science fiction story that's also a romance, for example, or a horror tale that's also a western. Be creative.

First Place
Author receives 50,000 GPS and a merit badge
Story receives a blue awardicon

Second Place
Author receives 25,000 GPS and a merit badge
Story receives a red awardicon

Third Place
Author receives 12,500 GPS and a merit badge
Story receives a Green awardicon

The judges will select the merit badge, with most winners earning the short story badge. The best stories will earn the exclusive Max Excellence badge


Judges may elect to award Honorable Mentions, which may include up to 5000 GPS, a merit badge, and an awardicon for the story.

If there are fewer than six entries in the contest, only first and second place awards will be granted.

If there are fewer than four entries in the contest, that round of the contest will be cancelled. Judges may opt to award Honorable Mention awards, including GPS and a merit badge.



Optional Motivation Competition

Contestants may elect to respond to all three prompts. We'll have an additional and separate motivation competition for the best story that responds to all three prompts. The author of the winning story in this category will earn 10,000 GPS and a motivation merit badge. If there is only one entry in this category, it will recive the award. The winner in this category is eligible for the other awards mentioned above. Contestants wanting to enter this competition should list all three prompts in the heading to their story.

The motivation competition requires a minimum of one entry that responds to all three prompts and does not depend on the total number of entries to the main contest. We will make the award for the motivation contest even if only one contestant responds to all three prompts and the above minima are not met for the main contest.

Each round of the contest invites experienced authors on WDC to serve as judges.  Every contestent will recieve a review from one of the contest judges.  The review will provide general impressions and may include suggested edits.  We ask our judges to  consider the stories holistically and to use their best judgment, but we don't give them specific guidelines. 

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Max's Alphabetized links to Useful Stuff  (E) Some links to things every author needs. #1708934 by Max Griffin 🏳️‍🌈

FOLDER

Thoughts on Writing  (NPL) Short essays on the craft of fiction. #1847273 by Max Griffin 🏳️‍🌈

GROUP

The Art of Show vs Tell Courses  (13+) Have you ever been told, "Show, don't tell?"...a 2018 and 2019 Quill Award Winner #2129581 by Jim Hall - GoT Forest Child

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Strolling Through Genres  (E) Strolling Through Genres #2295716 by Max Griffin 🏳️‍🌈

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Contest Graphics  (E) Contest Graphics #2295833 by Max Griffin 🏳️‍🌈

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Thoughts on Craft  (E) Suggestions on Craft for the Tales Shown Not Told contest. #2300355 by Max Griffin 🏳️‍🌈

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Max's Newsletter Archive  (E) Max's Newsletter Archive #2309045 by Max Griffin 🏳️‍🌈

We extend our thanks to all who have generously donated GPS to our contest.
Not counting marketing, each iteration of this contest costs over 100,000 Gift Points. We are grateful for any donations we receive. Our ability to continue offering this contest depends on the generous contributions of members like you.

Benefactors:

Patrons:

Champions:
Simply Me
Elle - on hiatus
Princess Megan Rose GOT Fox
Olivia's on Hi-Carb 2313608
Gaby ~ Keeper Of The Realm
Satuawany

Anyone donating 10,000 or more Gift Points becomes a Benefactor and is listed above.
Anyone donating 20,000 Gift Points or more becomes a Patron and is listed above.
Anyone donating 40,000 Gift Points or more becomes a Champion, is listed above, and receives a Merit Badge.

Donations may be sent to the [#2295635] "ShownNotTold Managers Group" , Max Griffin 🏳️‍🌈 , 🌷 Carol St.Ann 🌷 , or attached to a comment in the contest message board.

Thank you for whatever assistance you can provide.

JANUARY 2024 WINNERS
	The Curse Unravel  (E) Would you be willing to take the risk of exposing your curse for someone you dearly love? #2312371 by GERVIC 🐉 House Targaryen
	STATIC Should I, should I not?  (18+) Vincent reluctantly seeks paternal advice. For Tales Shown, Not Told-Contest #2311402 by Olivia's on Hi-Carb 2313608
	The Flat Mate  (13+) Be careful who you share your living quarters with. #2311572 by Sumojo
for using all three prompts	STATIC It's Raining Doughnuts  (ASR) A chance meeting is brought about by a storm's fury, or is it the magic of fated love. #2312463 by Joey's Spring has Sprung
AUGUST 2023 WINNERS
	STATIC The Bone Thief  (18+) Magency Case File #96109-23. #2299872 by Jaeramee of the Free Folk
	STATIC Tamsin and the Kobold  (18+) A witch's neighbor invites a kobold home, but that's just the tip of the nightmare #2300075 by buddhangela's Psychotic Break
	Two Films  (18+) I discover two films that recorded events during and after WW2. #2301514 by Kotaro
for using all three prompts	STATIC The Bone Thief  (18+) Magency Case File #96109-23. #2299872 by Jaeramee of the Free Folk

Please go to "Tales Shown, Not Told Contest"