I’m a Judge!

IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR. Depending on where in the U.S. you live, the trees are turning colors or you’re nearing the end of hurricane season. Where I live, I’m breaking out my beloved socks and sweaters—a little early, according to the locals, but so what. I like to be warm.

It’s fall, y’all, and time for The Company’s Fall Writing Contest!

That’s right! Your favorite writing school, The Company, is partnering with The Pearl (which if you don’t already know, is an online magazine dedicated to publishing only the best in Christian fiction.

This year, the theme is layers. Sounds vague? Maybe a little. But that’s a good thing, because you could take this theme literally wherever you want. Don’t be intimidated, for I shall be your judge (or one of your judges; I’m also joined by J. Hulse White and Emily Gwaltney, neither of whom are poisonous, though they may bite).

Your mission, should you choose to accept, is to a write a story 1,500 words or less and send it in before the deadline. Submission is free, so that should be no problem. The winner will receive a $100 Amazon gift card, and their story will be published by The Pearl! As someone who has been published thrice by The Pearl, this is a great opportunity, whether you’re a new or experienced writer. 

What Should You Write?

So, as a judge, what am I looking for? Well, nothing specific. You can write pretty much anything as long as it fits the requirements. But here are some things I’d especially like to see.

A CREATIVE TAKE ON THE THEME. When I say ‘layers’, I immediately think of layering clothes. And you can absolutely take the theme at face value. A layer cake, layers of dust, a layered haircut.

But what comes to mind after these first examples? I would love to see a story where ‘layers’ is taken an unexpected direction. You could write a mystery about someone’s layered past. You could write a drama about a surgeon cutting through layers of skin. You could write a story where the characters are scrubbing through layers of paint.

For example, when I wrote The Drummer Boy, I was trying to write a story for guys. I asked myself, What do guys like? My first thought was, War! (Originally Drummer Boy was going to be a battle story.) But I sat with it some more and ended up with a neighborhood drama. So don’t overthink it, but get creative!

GOOD PROSE. This can be a bit subjective, but focus on the basic rules: don’t overexplain what your characters are doing. Show how they’re feeling through their reactions and the way they talk. If you’re writing first person (otherwise known as an ‘I’ story), give your character a unique voice so it feels like we’re really hearing the story from them. (For an example of this, see my story I Saw Bigfoot Today, Darling.)

EXPLORE YOUR GENRE. I love fantasy and sci-fi. I don’t mind if all my fantasy has elves and dragons and all my sci-fi is set on spaceships. Give me the classic tropes.

But take a moment and think about why you love your genre of choice. If you love contemporary, is it because the real world is easier to write? You like exploring today’s issues? You’re inspired by the people around you? If you love fantasy, is it because you like magic systems? Fantastical creatures? Other worlds?

It’s tempting just to copy everything you love from your favorite authors. I definitely struggle with that. But think about why you really love these genres and ask, What is something I wish more authors did? What do I really care about? At face value, I just like elves. But when I dig deeper, I realize I really love their uncanny beauty, the slight creepiness of their enchanted forests, and the philosophical questions about immortality. 

I hope this helps, but of course these aren’t rules. The only rules you’ll find are right here. However, these are things I enjoy reading, and they might get your wheels turning.

So, go check out the contest guidelines and rules for submitting, then get writing! This is a limited-time opportunity; there is a deadline! Don’t forget to check out Emily Gwaltney and J. Hulse White to see what they’re looking for as judges. But don’t be afraid to surprise us either! I’m looking forward to seeing your stories!