The Royal Academy of Bards
is proud to present
The 2009 Summer Challenge (BC #21)
Summer 2009 Punzle
<.cue the Go-Gos…two, three, four…>
Vacation… all I ever wanted…Vacation…had to get away…Vacation…meant to spent alone.
EXCUSE ME? I don’t think so. <.g.>
The challenge is to write a vacation story.
Heavenly vacation? Where everything goes sooooooooooo right. YES!
Vacation from hell? Where everything goes horribly wrong. YOU BET…THIS COULD BE FUN!
Oh, and set your vacation story in any season you choose. I’m easy. (ask Steph <.g.>)
XWP ‘Verse, Amazons, Uber or Original story…you choose that too.
The catch? None this time. Really.
Be aware of this bonus opportunity: OZ loves Amazons.
Including “known” XWP ‘verse Amazons in your story will get you a point for each Amazon in the story (up to five points max).
There is only one category of competition this time: Best overall story (voted upon by the public)
ROOOL #1: Participants may enter one story.
ROOOL #2: All competing entries will be posted anonymously.
ROOOL #3: If you choose to participate but not compete in the voting category, your entry will be posted with your identification on it. Since it is not anonymous, you are allowed to include any characters that belong to you (from previous posted stories). Please indicate, clearly on your entry whether or not you are competing.
ROOOL #4: Stories must not be longer than 25 pages in an 11 font.
ROOOL #5a: If you are competing, please do not reveal your participation to anyone who has the potential for being a voter…the only exception being…
ROOOL #5b: You may use a beta reader, but please keep the number of beta readers to a reasonable limit…anything more than three will be considered a violation of…
ROOOL #5c: Posting any of your entries on any other sites or lists (private or public) before the end of the contest is a BIG NO NO.
We ask that the entrants who are only participating and NOT competing to voluntarily obey this roool for the duration of the contest. Once the contest is over and the winners are announced, feel free to post EVERYWHERE,
ROOOL #6: There is no number six.
ROOOL #7: Please do not stuff the ballot box or lobby for votes...we at the Academy have gotten very good at identifying this behavior. We won't publicly embarrass you but we will quietly eliminate you from the contest.
The Academy folks are everywhere and know everything…we will find out.
ROOOL #8: The "Roools Committee" aka the Munchkins and I, reserve the final say on everything and anything concerning this challenge.
It's our sandbox <.Nyah.>
DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES IS July 12, 2009, midnight (pick a time zone)…Send it to: academy_contest@yahoogroups.com
I will acknowledge receipt of it within twenty-four hours, if I do not…please send it again to or contact me at PHIL728@aol.com
The stories will be posted online (and open for reading/voting) on July 18, 2009 to celebrate and support the International Day of Femslash.
The WINNER (plus an honorable mention) will get a personalized framed tile and a gift certificate from their choice of one of several popular online retailers.