Two Roads Contest 2014

Wow. Different words in the title aside from the words of a season or any holiday really?

I really didn't see the last contest (disappeared for a bit) and would like to get a contest rolling for this time of the season using my own themes I'd like to see.




The theme of this "Two Roads" contest will involve two key factors:

1st - Two. Involve two or more people into a drama ROMANTIC style of your choosing.

2nd - Be Divergent. Go with unique ideas to explore the concept of a traditional romantic story further. This could be anything from two star-crossed lovers trying to message each other as they grow galaxies further apart OR a dark romance where death is the final act of love. Essentially: have an interesting world for the story to live in!



1. Original Work. That includes anything based on another story (fanfiction) because I will want the world of the story to be something original.

2. Grammar is important. If you feel like you're not sure, feel free to ask. Ask for general structure/formatting questions to people, but DO NOT ask for anything relating to plot/world/etc. If I see this the posts and you have used them, I may disqualify you.

3. Include the tag [2Roads 2014] and post in this topic. I'm usually really busy now a days, so it would really help me if you just linked it.



1st Place - Up to $30 in the FAKKU store (or other online retailers).

2nd Place - Up to $20 in the FAKKU store (or other online retailers).

(Note: Shipping/Tax is not considered in these, but if you live somewhere where shipping is exorbitant, we will talk further to ensure you get the prize you deserve)

(Note 2: While I would rather use the FAKKU store, getting a gift card or some sort is not out of the question at all. Amazon seems fine too, just don't be getting crazy stuff that may or may not lead back to me :P)



Q. Can I submit multiple entries?
A. No.

Q. Are erotic stories allowed?
A. If they fit in to the story and really give a good world, then yes.

Q. Can I submit a poem or any other form of writing?
A. Yes, but remember that there aren't multiple categories.

Q. Who will be judging?
A. Until further notice or another person wishes to judge, I will be the sole judge.

Q. I finished, where do I put it?
A. Link it here.

Q. Is there a word limit?
A. Under 2000 words please.

Q. When is the deadline?
A. I would want to say, roughly November 1st, 2014. This may be pushed back for more submissions.

Q. How will this be judged?
A. I'll divide the scoring into four factors:

• English - This means grammar/punctuation/etc.

• World of the Story - How creative you can be.

• Emotional Response - Can you evoke a special feeling from your short?

• Flow/Overall Readability - At the end of the day, I would rate highly for a well-written story. This means that when you read it, nothing feels rushed or forced.

Q. Can I use previous work?
A. Get on your thinking caps. Everyone needs to come out with a completely new story.

Good Luck Writing!

Current Contestants:

Are You Innocent - d(^_^)(^_^)d

Chronos' Purgatory - Xenon

Fractal Heart - GroverCleaveland

The Interrogation of James Locke - El Chacal

Cleave - The Logophile

The Words Left Unspoken - AssasinZAssasin

Lady of the Night - leonard267

A very interesting and original contest idea, thank you for providing the prizes out of pocket, I know we appreciate it.

We haven't heard from you in quite a while, hope everything has been just splendid asides from keeping you busy. It makes me wonder what sparked the motivation to host your own contest.

I hope everyone is not too burned out of love from the V-day contest to give this a shot. Hopefully a lot of people join.

Best of luck to everyone considering entry.

The prince of coffee returns. Always good to see you man!

The contest is quite interesting, and chances are high that I'll be entering. Best of luck to all!

Couldn't really get the prizes for my contest so I couldn't quite host it. There were other small issues building up to it as well.

Regardless, this is a cool contest, I may just enter it considering the prizes you have here.

I do want to gauge interest in this- if there aren't a lot of participants (it seems there are only 3), I may defer this for later.

Why not Amazon gift cards, the other animu products store Xenon had gift cards of, or PSN/Xbox cards? $30 on Fakku store ain't 'nuff to buy anything except a single t-shirt, which for the same amount I can buy around 10 of them without designs on special. If you're talking about buying smut one could at best buy 1 1/2, while at mandrake you could get five.

That prize is bad from my perspective.

In addition to this, for me at least, there's nothing in that store that I want. I wouldn't mind Amazon. I could get a book or perhaps one or more of those Scott Pilgrim or DBZ color graphic novel/manga.

I don't see the issue here.

It's money.

From his damned pocket.

And it's on Fakku, nothing truly wrong with it from being Fakku, with the Fakku books coming; some may want to spend on that store, sooner or later.

Yes, some people might want things from the Fakku store, but others might not. I'm one of those people. Let's say one of these people wins. They wouldn't be able to buy anything they enjoy; ergo, the money would be a waste. It's like having the ingredients to a cake but not having an oven to bake it in. You're not going to get the cake and enjoy it.

That's.

The damn.

Issue.

>Implying anyone can please everyone.

You sir should write a book on argumentation. I assure you that no one could even form any argument against your masterful refutations.

It's not hard to provide alternative stores for participants. To say that it won't please everyone is ridiculous, you're being given money to purchase an item/items of your choice. How would that not please everyone? The only thing displeasing is the limited number of stores to choose from.

Yeah, a store can't have everything you would want. It cannot please everyone.

I've hosted contests with prizes before; it isn't so easy. Just be happy that there's rewards at all. Each host has their own style and way of doing things, and they try to make sure the prizes somehow 'fits'. Coffee thought it'd be cool for the contest in a hentai site forum's writing contest should give out a prize money for its store.

We all know this. What else is there to argue about? I don't think there really needs to be an argument to begin with.

Do you know an easy way to bypass this? Don't give them store credit and give them the actual money. Simple. It's easily solvable.



I question how onerous it must be to give the contestants options. How is it difficult?



I think you're giving an intention to the host's selection of prizes when he/she hasn't given any.

Wow... so much arguing.

Basically, yes, I am giving prizes and I chose FAKKU simply because its given enough love to you and your right hand that it wouldn't hurt to throw some love back.

That said, I may consider Amazon or similar gift cards.

That was the original idea in the event that the winner is in some country that FAKKU can't (or is prohibitively costly) deliver to.

The idea was to use FAKKU since we're all on FAKKU as of now. However, The Logophile if your entire argument is based on saying its a waste is a misconception. I consider FAKKU first because it can introduce people to the store more (hey, you looked too) and has some good.

For me personally, dropping cash whether its FAKKU or any other retailer really doesn't matter. I can do whatever I want with this cash and I chose to host a writing contest on FAKKU.

*** I edited my original post. However, I don't see the point in arguing about the prizes unless you're somehow literally the best at writing on this here site. I do judge harshly on what I want as others have seen before. And note, this is not a community voted poll. I am the judge and I choose. ***

>Arguing.

Hahahaha.


In all seriousness though, I had no intention of arguing in your thread, Coffee. Sorry for any inconvenience I may have caused by replying here.

>A manga
>A t-shirt.

Where is this "everything"?

That's all Fakku has.

The store Xenon used had things like figurines, animes, posters, and the possibilities are just endless with Amazon.



We need to talk things out if we feel the need to it. Demeaning a conversation as a petty argument is my fun, not yours- and this one isn't a petty argument.



Denial, the first stage. I would like you to reconsider. Not everyone is a die-hard fan of Fakku's F! t-shirt and old doujins one could get for free with a quick google search. Once again, do reconsider.

[size=4]Even if my ass doesn't stand a chance in the contest.[/h]

Now look here, you're being awfully rude. I'm not asking you to be a fanatic for FAKKU's list of things. If you feel like you're not getting whatever you want, the answer here is simple, don't enter.

I'm paying out of pocket as an incentive for people to write- when writing itself is supposed to be something you enjoy doing in the first place. I already addressed the Amazon thing however. Depending on what the winner wants, I'll consider it. However in order to get to that stage, you have to win.

It's entirely up to you to consider to join this contest or not. Even if you don't join, the contest will keep happening.

What has this world come to when a bunch of normally fine friends decide to argue†•yes, argue†•about the prize to a contest that Coffee is hosting out of season and out of pocket? This is juvenile.

Shiki, I respect you, but you're a blatant and biased anti-Jacob and anti-Fakku spokesmen if your posts around the forum are any indication.

Logo, it's funny you use cake as an example, because it's coincidental to hear you justify having it and eating it too.

There is no reason to argue here, Coffee is willing to provide alternatives to those who wish or ask nicely, so ask nicely first next time instead of being overly critical right off the bat. Just try to be grateful and humble people please?

I think Coffee's decision for a prize for his contest is just fine and I'd be happy for the opportunity to write even without a prize, which I fear may happen if Coffee reconsiders with little turnout†•the more important matter. Sadly, advertising has been the weak point in our section's contests and it's hard to determine who will participate, but leaving a month and a half as an open window should garner a lot of interest in that time, I hope. It's a good way to spend this down-time before our Halloween event, that is, if we do it again this year. I think mentioning it in the lounge is a good place to start.

I agreed with Shikinokami about the prize and expressed my concerns. It was only after Cinia Pacifica commented and dismissed those concerns (of ours) that it escalated. After CoffeePrince had settled the matter, those concerns were dispelled, and I didn't comment afterwards. Shikinokami suggested alternatives and I agreed and thought that those (alternatives) could (easily) be accommodated. This also benefits anyone else who doesn't wish to be restricted to the Fakku store.

Honestly, the prize isn't the biggest deal in the world; prizes are great, if they are offered, but ultimately, they are secondary to me, and before someone points to my post, I expressed my concerns about it, and that is why I said it (the prize) would be a waste. Someone would have it and would have nothing to spend it on. Though, if I win a contest with a prize, I will accept the/a prize.



Shiki, the argument/dispute is over and has been addressed. Your post is unnecessary.


On an unrelated note, the second chapter of "On Grammar, Punctuation, & Usage" is up and complete while the third is up but incomplete. I'm about to update the third chapter now, actually.

Well, you made me feel remorse yet again. I was also turning quite Jewish there for a moment.



Thank you, and I have my reasons.



I'll see if I can write something that isn't a joke for both this Summer and the Event just for the heck of it.



I noticed and I wasn't going to continue after my post.



That sentence was unnecessary.