Sweek Flash Fiction Contest: #MicroSecret

Psssst, Sweekers!

The theme for this round of the Sweek Flash Fiction contest is a secret – or several, if you prefer. For this flash fiction round, #MicroSecret, we want you to write a story dealing with just that – whether it is the revelation, keeping, or public exposure of a secret, or perhaps something else entirely is completely up to you and your imagination. We look forward to seeing what you come up with!

SUMMARY OF THE CONTEST:

– Write 250 words (max.) of prose including the word “secret” anywhere within the story.

– Add #MicroSecret tag either in the main title of the story / its description / tags- section to take part in the challenge.

– You can participate no matter where you are from although entries marked as #MicroSecret must be written in English.

– You can take part in this contest even if you’ve already participated/won previously.

– This is your chance to get discovered and published via Sweek self-publishing!

❓ HOW TO PARTICIPATE ❓

Step 1: Download the Sweek app or use our website:

Website: https://sweek.com/

Android app: http://bit.ly/SweekforAndroid

iOS app: http://bit.ly/SweekforiOS

Step 2: Create an account or log in

Step 3: Upload your story by going to ‘My stories’ and ‘Start a new story’

Step 4: Publish your story with the tag #MicroSecret either in the title, description or tags section (which is part of Story Details).

That’s it, easy-peasy – you’re published! Don’t forget to share with your friends and family to get more fans!

🗓 DURATION 🗓

Submissions open: 1st of September –  22nd of September (23:59 CET)

Winners announcement: 30th of September

🏆 PRIZES 🏆

The Best Story: $50 cash prize + getting published in the Sweek book + a free copy of the bundle!

The Most Original Story:  A special badge on the story + getting featured on Sweek!

The Best Feedback: $15 cash prize

The Most Popular Story: will be awarded a special badge

All shortlisted authors will get published in the bundle and featured on Sweek!

💬 #MICROSECRET FEEDBACK 💬

How to join?

Step 1. Search for #microsecret on Sweek and read a story.

Step 2. Provide feedback/critique in a comment on the story.

Step 3. Add #microsecretfeedback at the end of your comment so that we can find it.

Step 4. You can participate as many times as you like until the 22nd of August 2018. You can take part even if you didn’t write a story on the topic!

📜  RULES 📜

Read these guidelines carefully before joining this writing competition!

1. You need to be 13 years or older to participate. Younger participants need their parents’ permission.
2. This is an international contest open to every country (if you participate in another language than English, make sure that you write a correct, language-specific tag). Entries marked as #MicroSecret must be written in English.
3. The story cannot exceed 250 words.
4. Your story doesn’t have to be exclusive (for instance, it can be from your blog) but needs to be uploaded on Sweek during the submission period.
5. The story must be tagged with #MicroSecret (in the main title of the story / its description or within the tags section).
6. The story must be created by you. You can also write with a friend if you want to, but in case you win, the prize will be shared. Plagiarism is strictly prohibited and actions may be taken against those involved in plagiarism.
7. The story must be submitted and finished before the deadline. Don’t edit your story afterwards – it will lead to your disqualification from the contest.
8. You can participate with multiple entries.
9. You can join any round of the contest at any time.
10. The story can be in any genre, as long as it’s prose, not poetry. It can be a combination of e.g. young adult, romance, fantasy, science fiction and crime.
11. The most popular story is determined by the number of likes. The deadline for likes is 30th of August, 23:59 CET
    Falsification of likes and followers will lead to disqualification. The most popular story needs to meet quality requirements determined by the Sweek team. You can only win one popularity prize as a writer.
12. Spam comments/messages with promotion of your story (except for a special story dedicated to promotion) will result in disqualification and possible account deletion if the behavior continues.
13. If winners do not respond within a timeframe of two weeks, then the prize will be given to the second place.
14. By entering in this competition, you give Sweek the right to publish your story in a book. In case the author does not agree, he/she must state in the short description that Sweek cannot publish the story in print.
15. The cash prize will be transferred via PayPal  (Sweek bears the transfer costs). If the winner is based in Europe, the cash prize will be arranged via a bank transfer. In case there is no option to create a Paypal account, we can arrange the prize via a gift card or a bank transfer for which the costs are split. We’re not responsible for currency conversion rate at the time of transferring the cash prize.
16. By participating in this contest the user acknowledges that he/she is aware of and accepts the rules of said contest.

🖋  HOW DOES IT WORK? 🖋

Step-by-step instructions

1.    Every round gives you a new word/sentence (here: “secret”) that you must include in your story (open topic) or a specific theme to write about
2.    Only prose is accepted.
3.    You can join the contest at any time (even if you didn’t take part in the previous rounds). Also, the winners and shortlisted authors of the earlier editions are welcome to participate in the following editions.
4.    Every round you must tag your story with a hashtag that includes the word #micro + the word of that round (here: #microsecret).
5.    You have 3 weeks to write, then the jury members along with the Sweek editorial team will be judging the entries.
6.    The winners will also be announced via our Social Media (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter), blog and e-mail on 31/08/2018.
7.    The Best Story prize will be based on writing style, the plot development of the story, originality, the overall correct use of the English language (including grammar and punctuation) as well as the interpretation of the given prompt.
8.    The author of The Best Story will receive $50 and will be published in the Sweek Microfiction book with all the shortlisted stories via Sweek self-publishing.
9. The Most Original Story must have an unexpected plot twist/ending, present unique insights or be written on a noteworthy topic.
10. The Most Popular Story will be determined by the total number of likes and will receive a special badge on Sweek.
11. The shortlist (excluding the most popular story) will be featured on Sweek and published in a bundle.
12. There will be one winner in The Best Story and Most Original category, one contestant will get The Best Feedback title and one story will be designated as The Most Popular Story.
13. To win in The Best Feedback category you must tag your comments with #microfearfeedback.
14. The shortlist will include 10-20 titles (all will be published in the bundle). If there are enough high-quality stories selected by the jury, the longlist will also be announced. However, the titles on the longlist will not get published in the bundle.
15. The new round will be announced on 01/09

WINNERS:

Best Story: No One Should Know by @Risti Ghosh

Most Original Story: Golden Crowns by @Jane W.

Most Popular Story: Babel by @Elvissavir

Best Feedback: @SilverStockings

🤓 JURY MEMBERS  🤓 

Together with the Sweek editorial team, our jury members choose the shortlist and the winners.