Member-Sponsored Carlos' Crime Fiction Contest #2

Details

Here we go again, you criminal-minded types. With the help of his crime partner, Daniel Mkiwa, who designed that great logo, Carlos Dunning is once again seeking the best in short crime fiction. What does "the best" mean? First it means a piece that is original. If you've got a stereotyped or hackneyed notion or characters, you need to do a hard re-boot. What placed high last time? An addict complicit in Philip Seymour Hoffman’s overdose; a black gangbanger ferreting out betrayal; a tough-talking wisecracking noir private eye named—what else?—Nicholas Noir.

Gimme some storytelling that has impact for the reader. Sure, a crossbow bolt to the throat has impact, but so does a sweet-talking charmer decked out in gold lamé hanging over a Bellagio crap table at 6 a.m. dribbling champagne on the green felt. I want some imagination here, people!

Carlos believes that the best crime writing (not to mention genre writing of any sort) is entertaining and interesting, even intriguing and compelling. But stories that are comical, droll, or steamy hot will also be looked on favorably.

The story (or scene or vignette or more-or-less self-contained chapter) must fall into the general genre of crime fiction. This means that something illegal, illicit or ethically over the line must have taken place in the past, must be taking place in the present, or will take place at some point in the future or be threatened—all as expressed in the context of the piece. Adult material is not only okay, Carlos is just a bit of a perv: the best X-rated story gets 10 karma just for being the best sexy story.

Carlos may comment on entries as they come in. For example, the story length is limited to 3,000 words. If you enter a story that is 5,000 words long, Carlos may bring this to your attention with a comment on your entry, and he may be just a little sarcastic about it.

Winning entries

Winners have been announced! Log in to see them.

Prizes

Rules

• Entries must be received before midnight, Wednesday, April 30th (UTC time) and the winners will be announced on or before May 7.

• Entries must be no more than 3,000 words per Scribophile's count.

• Multiple entries are allowed.

• Work must have Public visibility on Scribophile until a winner is announced.

Submission guidelines

• To enter the contest, post your work on Scribophile and check the box that says "Enter this work into the Member-Sponsored Carlos Crime Story Contest #2." Your work will automatically be considered.

• The checkbox will be visible until the contest deadline, which is in UTC time.

• Entry is free, but you'll need karma points to post your work. You can earn karma points by writing critiques of work by other members.

• If you have placed in a contest in the past with a particular piece, you may not resubmit that piece in other contests.