Member-Sponsored Ghosts of the War Contest

Details

November 2018 marks one hundred years since the end of the Great War. Not only can the War be said to have created many ghosts of the “normal” sort, above all, it was a schism in history, and made ghosts out of empires, possible futures, histories and ideals.

This contest, therefore, is about lives (real and fictional) cut short, possibilities cut short, possibilities still-born. What else died? Ideals, cross-border friendships, social values such as deference and restraint. Populations, too... whole villages were cleared out.

In your story, your “ghosts” do not need to be aware of their own demise, but the reader must realize what has been lost, or what the alternative “gain” was. Colonial and anti-colonial (and other non-Western) histories are welcome.

Stories may be up to 3,000 words, but flash is acceptable, too.

Prize money for this contest is provided by the Scribophile Writing Contest Prize Fund.

Winning entries

Winners have been announced! Log in to see them.

Prizes

Rules

• To enter the contest, post your work to Scribophile and check the box that says “Enter this work into the Member-Sponsored Ghosts of the War Contest.” 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 will need karma points to post your work. You can earn karma points by writing critiques of work by other members.

Submission guidelines

• Entries must be received on or before November 1, 2018 (UTC) and the winners will be announced on or before Armistice Day – November 11, 2018.

• Entries must be no more than 3,000 words, per Scribophile's count. We expect short stories, but will consider flash.

• Because of the multiplicity of the theme of lost histories and lost futures, up to two entries will be allowed.

• No poetry, novel chapters, or memoir.

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

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