2000 Summer Story Contest Rules

Starts: Memorial Day (May 29)
Ends: Labor Day (Sept 4)

Organizer/Troubleshooter: MrSpraycan
Archivist & Systems Guru: Don Croyle

Reviewers/Readers:
bookbabe
Pablo (July on)
Saintfrancis
Alex Birch
Sarah The Sparkster
Darvell349
Don Croyle

** We could use a few more reviewers. Write to me soon at <mrspraycan@aol.com> if you are interested in participating. **

Special Awards: A former regular poster, who we shall call <anon>, has offered to provide some special awards of a novel nature.

Post Stories To: ssc@gelemna.org

  1. Introduction

    The SSC is one of the great traditions of ASS and SSS.

    This year's contest will not differ greatly in character from previous years. I encourage anyone to try to write a story, novice or otherwise. It is open to all participants in SSS, or any writers who are into WIITWD.

  2. Content, Etc

    It *is* a short story contest, and writers are reminded that a strict 500 word limit will be enforced. Headers, titles, author names, copyright notices and other 'story furniture' are excluded from this count. Stories that exceed 510 words will be rejected and/or returned to the author for editing.

    Otherwise there are few limits, as many of you already know. Stories may be on any topic (see below for some ideas), provided that at least some linkage to our shared preference is established. In other words, general purpose sex stories aren't very appropriate, fun though they may be.

    The stories have to be *NEW* to SSS. No reposts, please.

    Writers can enter as many stories as they wish.

    It is probable that stories with a higher erotic and/or spanking content will be more appreciated by the audience. It is also likely, because of the innate prejudices of the organizer and some of the reviewers already chosen, that stories with a literary edge or good writing style will meet with greater approval in the judging process. However, this does not intend to convey any prejudice against a "ripping good yarn," or some plain old-fashioned filth. Imaginative tales well told, with strong imagery and erotic power, are the goal of the contest. BTW, to remove any suggestion of elitism, we have a 'folk art' section for those who are grammatically challenged.

  3. Winners, Prizes:

    Entrants must categorize their stories under one of the following headings (place the category in the body of the posting, above the title). I mean this, don't leave us to figure out what category it belongs in. You wrote it, you must know what it is!

    These categories are mostly self-explanatory. But:

    1. The Movie/TV category is intended to cover 'missing scenes' and similar forms.
    2. 'Asssville' stories are accepted on the strict proviso that no nonconsensual use of other SSS players names or personalities will be permitted. We had some nasty incidents last year with attacks on personalities. In view of the recent Mod War, this clause will be enforced.
    3. Collaborations can be by two or more authors.
    4. 'Folk Art' is intended to allow writers who are challenged by conventional grammar, spelling, punctuation and storytelling conventions to have a chance to win something!
    5. We typically don't see much M/M work in SSS. This is merely an observation. Do with it what you will.
    6. Edge/Extreme authors are welcome, but warned - by someone who knows - that they can expect a fair reception only from the reviewers. Debporn and other controversial genres are accepted. Rejuve writers should clearly state their alternative reality premises in an intro to avoid being flamed.

    You ought to be able to fit any story into one of these topics! In each category a 'best' story will be nominated - strictly in the opinions of the reviewer panel - but SSS members are free to post their own comments and nominations at any time. Three 'runners up' will be listed.

    In addition to this process, the reviewers will issue brief comments on each story entered.

    While the process is by definition not democratic, Mrspraycan agrees to listen politely to reasoned critiques from interested and informed parties, and to offer clarifications of policy as the contest unfolds, as well as to adjudicate any disputes.

    We should have final results and some commentary by October 1, 2000.

  4. Mechanics:

    1. Entries should have a Subject that begins with the letters SSC. Mail sent to the entry addresses without this may be shoved off to the side until a human was a chance to look at it and confirm that it really is a story.
    2. Entries should be mailed to <ssc@gelemna.org> and posted to the NG. Please make sure you e-mail your story to this address, otherwise it won't be forwarded to one of our readers.
    3. If you normally post via an anonymous server, use spam blocker language in your address or just don't won't to get mail from an autoresponder, please mail your stories to <ssc-nr@gelemna.org> instead. This just suppresses the sending of the confirmation note and is mainly intended to protect the contest tech support person from large numbers of bounce messages.
    4. By entering a story you agree to allow it to be archived. The archive for this year's stories will initially be reachable from: http://www.gelemna.org/nbt/index.html. It may, at some point after the contest, move to another free site. Stories will be archived with the address they were mailed from. Requests to alter or modify addresses will be honored.
    5. Conversion of entries from text to html for the archive happens as time is available. If paragraphs are indented or separated by a blank line, most of the process can be automated. Not only does this reduce the turnaround time, it reduces the chance of errors being inserted. Left margins require manual editing as well.
    6. All comments from the readers will be held until after the contest is complete. After they are announced on the newsgroup, they will be added to the archive.
    7. Please use the entry addresses only to enter stories. Questions, comments or other correspondence should be sent to the reviewer panel at <ssc-readers@gelemna.org>.
    8. Entries will be accepted between May 29, 2000 and September 4, 2000. Entries received after the deadline will not be read or archived.

Enjoy.
MrSpraycan

Back to 2000 SSC archive