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Did I mess up (action) |
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SallyJoe 
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Joined: 19 Jan 2026 Status: Offline Points: 5 |
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 Topic: Did I mess up (action)Posted: 21 Mar 2026 at 10:28pm |
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I just wrote a 100 w story where the action was "picking a lock" and I had the person, basically, pry open someone's "locked lips" but now I don't know if that qualifies. I recently did the short story challenge and they were kind of lenient with that, but it looks like they may be more strict on this one. Does anybody know?
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mvwrite
NYC Midnight Addict 
Joined: 27 Apr 2022 Status: Offline Points: 633 |
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Posted: 22 Mar 2026 at 2:15am |
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You really won’t know until you know. Sometimes loose interpretations are accepted and appreciated, but sometimes they cross the invisible line. I’ve run into this worry before and it’s tough. There’ve been times I was certain I would get disqualified and then I placed instead. I’ve see the opposite happen too. The most you can do is appreciate how creatively you approached the prompt and hope for the best from the judges.
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SallyJoe
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Posted: 22 Mar 2026 at 7:56am |
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Thanks! I realized at 10:30 last night and tried to write something new, but the truth is I liked what I wrote and was too tired to write a new thing, so... live and learn, I guess.
I am doing my first midnight short story challenge but for whatever reason, they're a little more loose with the situation in that one, even according to the guidelines.
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mvwrite
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Posted: 22 Mar 2026 at 11:00am |
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I mean.. locked lips seems pretty cool approach to picking a lock. It’s like another version of unlocking a heart.
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hmparrish
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Joined: 12 Jan 2026 Status: Offline Points: 176 |
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Posted: 22 Mar 2026 at 11:16am |
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Agreed - I would totally get on board for that interpretation of the action and award extra points for creativity  I think it will largely come down to the individual judges and execution. I wish you luck!
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SallyJoe
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Posted: 22 Mar 2026 at 12:50pm |
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Thanks everyone! We'll see how it goes. I like what I wrote, so that's what matters. I just would like to keep going a little further-- not expecting to win or anything, but I really love the pressure of these little assignments.
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mecameron1
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Joined: 22 Mar 2026 Status: Offline Points: 2 |
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Posted: 22 Mar 2026 at 1:25pm |
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I also wondered about the use of metaphor/simile—I was surprised they didn’t clarify this in the FAQ website! My action was “drinking tea” and I wanted to say something to the effect of “she drinks me like a cup of tea” (basic example). I wasn’t confident enough about it in the end. But I am hoping the reason they don’t clarify this in the FAQ is that there might be some room for the use of metaphor in the action! Good luck!
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ZoeLou
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Joined: 19 Jan 2020 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 2869 |
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Posted: 22 Mar 2026 at 10:17pm |
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Hello! Obviously the final decision will come down to the judges, but I have gotten away with a semi-metaphorical action in the past. From memory, the prompt was “hiking a mountain” and my usage was a ship “hiking over mountain range seas”. It placed and the judges seemed to like the unusual prompt use. :)
Crossing my fingers for you!
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mvwrite wrote: