Fiction Contest at DKA

[SelenaT]

Ladies and Gentlemen, start your keyboards!

DKA is hosting a fiction contest with the theme – Dragons, Knights, and Angels.

Sound familiar?

What we are looking for is…
“Innovative and unexpected uses of dragons, knights, and angels - [preferably] all three in one story.”

(That’s a quote from Assistant Editor Mirta Ana Schultz. Thanks Mir. )

Contest submissions are being accepted through Sunday, April 30th.

To submit a story for the contest, please read and follow our submissions guidelines.
In addition, please indicate in your cover letter if your submission is for the contest.

Please be aware that while we want to see innovative stories about angels (and dragons, and knights), we do not want to see any stories where angels (or God) are depicted in a way contrary to Christian beliefs, or stories that would be offensive to a Christian audience.

Unexpected and unusual - that's good.
Irreverent could even be fine.
We just don't want to see anything contrary to Christian beliefs or stories that would be offensive to most Christian readers.

This contest will be judged by our cracker-jack editorial staff. Don’t know who they are? Check out our contact us page.

There is no entry fee.

Four prizes will be awarded:
First place - $25
Second place - $15
And two honorable mentions at $5 each.

Contest entries will also be considered for publication in DKA, unless the author specifies otherwise in the cover letter. If they are accepted for publication in DKA, the author will also receive the usual $10 payment for the story.

As with our usual submissions, contest entrants can expect some feedback from the editorial staff if their story is declined. Please let us know in your cover if you do not want any comments on your submission.

The usual fine print applies: contest entries must be received by deadline, the judges’ decisions are final, etc.

Any questions? Just post ‘em here or pm me.

Thanks.

I can’t wait to see what you come up with!
_________________
Selena Thomason
Managing Editor
MindFlights magazine

[SelenaT]

You guys probably figured this out already - but winners will be announced in May.


_________________
Selena Thomason
Managing Editor
MindFlights magazine

[Mirtika]

Is there some way that we can limit the contest to NEW stories--no reprints, no previous contest winners or placements?

I'd really like to see new work, not stuff that's done the rounds so that internet readers of SFF may have already encountered it.

Mir
_________________
"I believe in what I cannot see."
Mir is said like the historic Space Station.
Mirtika=meer-TEE-kah (with an Hispanic accent)
Visit Mirathon

[SelenaT]

Sure, it's done.

Please only submit stories that have not been previously published or entered in another contest.

Thanks.
_________________
Selena Thomason
Managing Editor
MindFlights magazine

[Cepelin]

Ditto.
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[url=http://www.doubleedgedpublishing.com/]Moderator Edit[/url]

[Mirtika]

Selena, I had two writers ask me about story length (range, limitations, etc). One from ACFW and one from FHL chapter of RWA.

I told them to come here and ask you, but that I considered the limitation that described by the term "short story", ie, 1000 to 8000 words (possibly up to 10K, depending on whose definition one uses). Above that, we're in novelette territory, methinks. Below that we're in "short short story" territory, which is fine, but makes it harder to adequately compete in telling a true story.

So, you may want to add something as the managing editor on length?

Mir
_________________
"I believe in what I cannot see."
Mir is said like the historic Space Station.
Mirtika=meer-TEE-kah (with an Hispanic accent)
Visit Mirathon

[SelenaT]

Ok, length...good question

Mir, you and I are on the same page on this.

I am looking for story stories or flash fiction. So, I would say, I prefer about 5,000 words or less, but would consider stories up to 10,000 if they kept me interested. I am a little flexible on the actual word count.

I like flash fiction, but you're right...it's tough to tell a whole story in so short a form. So, writers can submit flash; they should just make sure it tells a complete story.

Thanks for bringing this up.
_________________
Selena Thomason
Managing Editor
MindFlights magazine

[Mirtika]

You know, for our next contest, let's put something up on the main site.

I'm so used to going through links, that I didn't realize that we have NOTHING announcing the contest in the main portal. If someone stumbled onto the website, but not the forum, they wouldn't have a clue.

Or did I miss it? (Not beyond me to have a blippy moment.)

Mir
_________________
"I believe in what I cannot see."
Mir is said like the historic Space Station.
Mirtika=meer-TEE-kah (with an Hispanic accent)
Visit Mirathon

[SelenaT]

[pixydust]

I'm still planning on subbing a story for this. How late on Sunday is the subbing open for? (I adore waiting until the very last second to get stuff done)
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About Pixy
Pixy's DeviantArt

[SelenaT]

[pixydust]

Yes, ma'am!
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About Pixy
Pixy's DeviantArt

[rick1960]

Yea, and I'll help you critique it.

"Yea, I really think a head jump would work there! Ya...do it!"


_________________
R. L. Copple
My Blog

[pixydust]

No jumping off cliff in this one. But there are water sprites.
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About Pixy
Pixy's DeviantArt

[SelenaT]

Alright everyone, the deadline is fast approaching!

So, wrap it up (or get to work if you're the procrastinating type!) and send us your best story with a dragon, a knight, and an angel. (They don't have to walk into a bar. )

Sunday, April 30th midnight
(Eastern Time)

That's it. No extensions. No exceptions.

Sorry, we've got to cut off contest submissions at some point so we can move to the reading and making decisions part.

Post, PM, or email if you have any questions.

I'm looking forward to reading all your brilliant, innovative stories.
_________________
Selena Thomason
Managing Editor
MindFlights magazine