Welcome to the Quarantine Writing Challenge!

(Note: The dates listed below were originally incorrect; I apologize for the inconvenience. The dates have now been updated.)

Basic Timeline (current phase is italicized):

Announce Intent to Participate - by May 2

Post Story - May 3

Voting Begins - May 4

Voting Ends - May 11 - Final Day to vote.

Winners Announced - May 12

VOTING RESULTS:

I received 15 entries from 12 authors. There was limited participation with voting so the results were very close together.

Create Some Comedy Entries:

"The McGee's Hunker Down" (DS2010) - FIRST PLACE [3 votes]

"Domestics Aren't for Doctors" (JessicaRae95)- SECOND PLACE [2 votes]

"A Mess in Romania" (Loads of Randomness) [1 vote]

"The Challenge" (whiskerface) [1 vote]

"Orange" (Colours of Imagination)[1 vote]

Heroic Actions Entries:

"The World's A Battlefield" (JessicaRae95 - FIRST PLACE [3 votes]

"Killers Don't Quarantine" (KESwriter) - SECOND PLACE [2 votes]

"Stuck in the Impala" (Dextolan) - SECOND PLACE [2 votes]

"A True Hero" (TimeLordMaster108) [1 vote]

"About Her Father" (The Broken Optimist) [1 vote]

"A Single Act of Kindness" (Midian7919) [1 vote]

"The Art of Shoe Throwing" (Loads of Randomness) [1 vote]

"The Betrayal" (whiskerface) [1 vote]

"Everyday Superheros" (Yeona1709) [0 votes]

"The Solidarity Project" (lakemountain) [0 votes]

Notes on How I Would Do Things Differently if I Did This Again: I would likely poll participants/gather ideas from them on categories as there was an issue with not having enough entries for one of the original categories. I would probably have looser categories so that writers of various genres would feel comfortable in each category. I would try to give at least three weeks advance notice for the contest so that writers would have more time (I know it was close this time so thank you to all who participated!). I would likely expand the length of entries permitted. I would try to get more readers/voters committed to participating (although I do promise that I tried!). If you have any ideas or suggestions (even if you did not participate this time), please pm me so that I will be able to do a better job next time I host something like this (as long as there is an interest in a repeat?).

A special thank you to all who participated during this challenge. It was my first time moderating something like this and I know that I made mistakes. Thank you for participating anyway and allowing me to have the honour of seeing your wonderful entries. I can assure you that even those that did not win were wonderful and I hope that all of you leave feeling like the winners that you are for just putting yourselves out there and participating. To me, that's a sign that you are trying to improve your writing, meaning that your readers will be benefiting greatly from your dedication. Congratulations to all!

During this time of sheltering-in-place due to COVID19, fan fiction is becoming both more of a creative refuge for both readers and writers than ever before. Thus I am creating a writing challenge for the enjoyment of readers and writers alike. No physical prizes will be given, but winners and runners up will be posted here on the profile and given grand and glorious titles to boast about in their lives and writing profiles! ;) All fandoms/crossovers are welcome but please keep submissions to a PG-13 or G level. Submissions that violate this will be removed from the competition. :)

There will be three categories in which to compete - comedy, heroism, and perspective. Each category is detailed more below.

Create Some Comedy - Writers will create the funniest scenario possible. Their goal? Make the audience laugh the hardest they will all day! (This can be based during the pandemic or in whatever situation the writer chooses.)

Heroic Actions - Right now the news is filled with everyday heroes. What would make your favourite character a hero? It can be serious or silly - it's all up to the writer! (This could be based during the pandemic or in whatever situation the writer chooses.)

Gain Some Perspective - What would fictional characters think if they were in the middle of this pandemic? Writers will steal a page from the characters journal, a post from a character's personal blog, or even collect sticky notes to help the readers find perspective on these difficult days. This category was cancelled due to only one entry being posted. It is "Orange" by Colours of Imagination, so if it does not seem fully comedic (the category that we changed it to so that they would be part of the actual competition), just know that they did their very best with a last minute surprise in changing categories. Thank you, Colours of Imagination!

Updated: Voting will open on May 4. There will be one poll for all categories, but each story will be listed along with its category. Voters will be given the chance to vote for up to three two of their favourite stories, meant so that they can vote for their favourite in each category. This will be a blind poll so the results will not be announced until after the voting period ends on May 11.

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For Writers:

Any and all writers are welcome (if you have never published anything before, you are still welcome to compete!). Please read the rules below and contact this account or my primary account if you have any questions.

Rules:

1.) Create a new story in your chosen category that has never been published on this website or elsewhere. Each entry is to be a limit of one chapter, between 500 to 2,000 words. Do not post until May 3 to keep all entries a surprise!

2.) Message this account and announce your intent to participate by May 2. In your message please include the intended title of your story, fandom, and category (you can enter up to one entry for each category). This will allow your story to be added to the favourites on this account on May 3 and put into a poll that will open for voting on May 4. You will be sent a confirmation that your story has been added to the list of entries. Authors who have announced their intention to participate will be added to the list of favourited authors once a confirmation has been sent.

3.) On May 3, post your story so that it can be added to the favourited stories on this account for easy access for readers.

4.) On May 4, enjoy the stories from others (make sure that you vote for your favourites too!). The voting period will extend until May 11 so there will be lots of time to read and vote!

5.) Winners will be announced on this profile on May 12 and winners and runners-up will be notified.

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For Readers:

Before the contest starts, make an account so that you will be able to be involved in the voting. (Accounts aren't useful just for writers - readers can save lists of favourite stories, review stories as themselves rather than anonymous, and communicate with writers and other readers through messaging among many benefits!). Only registered account owners can vote, so please do so!

On May 4, check the list of favourited stories for some fresh reading material. Make sure to comment on the stories that you read. Remember: if you critique, try to include at least one thing that you liked the in the story as well. This whole competition is meant to be uplifting to all involved! When you have finished reading, come back to this account and vote in the polls to help determine who is the winner in each category!

On May 12, come back to learn who won.

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For Everyone:

Please let others know about this competition. All are welcome to compete (and eventually vote) but it will be impossible for me to alert authors in every single fandom, so let your friends and favourite authors know all about it! Thanks, and see you in the voting period! Please also let me know if this is an event that you would like to see repeated in the future. Please PM me if you would be interested in being a competitor in a future contest so that I can gauge the interest level!

Winners will be announced May 12. Depending on popularity, this may be repeated again in the future. :D