Disqualification |
Post Reply | Page 123 5> |
Author | ||
BA!
NYC Midnight Addict Joined: 06 Oct 2019 Location: Charleston, SC Status: Offline Points: 873 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Posted: 22 Jun 2022 at 3:57am |
|
Has anybody every heard of a story being disqualified for not using prompts, or not using them correctly? How strict or lenient are the judges?
My two most recent stories might be in jeopardy because I'm a dolt. I always try to do something unpredictable with the prompts. I failed to realize that there is an important difference between Micro Fiction and Flash Fiction. In micro, the third prompt is a word, but in FF, it's an item. I used my prompt as an adjective and not a noun. Drumstick was the prompt and I described a character as having drumstick thighs. <sigh> In my R2 FF story, my action assignment is adding sugar. It's as if my subconscious was actually rebelling - or maybe it's just the way I wanted to tell the story, but here's the quote from my story: He would not add sugar today. Amazingly, it didn't even occur to me that I might not be meeting the requirement. Thoughts? |
||
ZoeLou
NYC Midnight Black Belt Joined: 19 Jan 2020 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 2809 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
|
|
Ooooooooh that’s a tricky one. I tend to do the same thing and push the prompts as far as they’ll go to come up with something unique. I’ve had a few times where I was 100% certain I’d gone too far.. only to be praised for originality. An example being the prompt “hiking a mountain” which I turned into a ship “dragging itself over mountain-range seas”.
If we’re keeping with the metaphor trend then the drumsticks would probably be fine, but I’m not sure about the sugar since you outright say he’s “not” adding it. I guess time and the judges’ feedback will tell! Good luck!!
Edited by ZoeLou - 22 Jun 2022 at 11:07am |
||
taaaylor
NYC Midnight Black Belt Joined: 14 Jul 2018 Location: Idaho Status: Offline Points: 6946 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
|
|
Sorry -- I'd expect a DQ on this one. They're really specific about it not simply being an allusion or metaphor within the story but a literal object. Hate to be the one to tell you :/
I'm less confident on this, but a DQ is possible. Ambiguity might save you if it's unclear in the story if he adds sugar back to the bag, or the bag back to a shelf or other place? I'm more optimistic that this one might squeak by, but it'll come down to judges' sensibilities as they are the ones who let Charlie (the contest organizer) know if they feel a story should be removed. Then Charlie reviews and makes a final decision. I'm really sorry about all this :/ My partner was recently DQ'd over a prompt (the judges felt their SSC theme wasn't fundamental to the plot/story, therefore wasn't prominent enough to pass muster) so I totally commiserate with the frustration of thinking you had the prompt right -- again, you might be able to slip through with a bit of luck and grace. It all comes down to the judges at this point.
Edited by taaaylor - 22 Jun 2022 at 2:19pm |
||
Marconimist
NYC Midnight Addict Joined: 26 Apr 2022 Location: Tallahassee, FL Status: Offline Points: 846 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
|
|
I think you’re ok on both fronts. As long as you spell the word correctly where required they’ll let you do anything as long as you make an effort to meet the prompt. Drumstick legs are metaphorically drumsticks, and saying you’re specifically not building a sandcastle that particular day implies that in the recent past a sandcastle was definitely built, so you’ve met that requirement within the framework of the story.
|
||
nod1v1ng
NYC Midnight Black Belt Joined: 26 Jul 2016 Location: ChillybytheSea Status: Offline Points: 12497 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
|
|
I used to say that the judges were pretty lenient on interpretation, but I feel like I have been seeing more and more DQs the past couple of years. That being said, in C2 last year I had "vacuum cleaner" as my object and I misread it as "vacuum" and I used the vacuum of space. I was certain I would get DQed. Got 2nd in my group.
I feel sometimes that some judges seem to favor creative interpretations and others are a little more strict. I believe Charlie reviews DQs, but wouldn't see anything if a judge let a questionable one slide. Fingers crossed. You don't know you are DQed until you know. |
||
taaaylor
NYC Midnight Black Belt Joined: 14 Jul 2018 Location: Idaho Status: Offline Points: 6946 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
|
|
The rules are available right here: PDF link, which is on the main NYCM flash fiction challenge page.
Edited by taaaylor - 22 Jun 2022 at 2:24pm |
||
nod1v1ng
NYC Midnight Black Belt Joined: 26 Jul 2016 Location: ChillybytheSea Status: Offline Points: 12497 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
|
|
I'm going to echo T here - years ago, you could name the dog in your story Drumstick, and it would fly. But not anymore. It could slip by, but it's unlikely to pass the straight-faced test under the new rules definition...
|
||
BA!
NYC Midnight Addict Joined: 06 Oct 2019 Location: Charleston, SC Status: Offline Points: 873 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|
Thanks for the feedback. Holding my breath and hoping for some leniency. I'm quite proud of both of these stories - and a bit deflated.
It wouldn't be a bad idea for NYCM to highlight/stress the difference between MF and FF. It's an easy, and I think understandable thing to assume that the prompts would be consistent.
|
||
jennifer.quail
NYC Midnight Black Belt Joined: 07 Feb 2018 Status: Offline Points: 7931 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
|
|
I mean the rules are different for each contest for what kind of prompts you get. Mirco it's a word. Flash it's an object, short story is a character. Apparently Flash is the one enough people were finding ways to avoid any meaningful use of the object so they had to crack down that yes, you actually have to have it appear in the story. It IS clear it's different, because they send you separate rules for each contest.
|
||
north_north_west
NYC Midnight Black Belt Joined: 08 Nov 2019 Status: Offline Points: 2753 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
|
|
Best of luck to you. I got DQ'd for genre in SSC Rd 2 (unjustly, I think - so from my perspective they aren't lenient on interpretation) and it gave me a sour feeling towards these contests in general, but as you can see I'm still doing them.
The stories are good either way, and you still get feedback. |
||
Post Reply | Page 123 5> |
Tweet |
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |