Questions & Answers - How specific should the location be?

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How specific should the location be?

Printed From: NYC Midnight : Creative Writing & Screenwriting
Category: GENERAL DISCUSSION
Forum Name: Questions & Answers
Forum Description: Ask any questions you have regarding NYC Midnight competitions here. We will answer as quickly as possible.
URL: https://forums.nycmidnight.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=37749
Printed Date: 27 Mar 2026 at 12:22am
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Topic: How specific should the location be?

Posted By: ZoeLou
Subject: How specific should the location be?
Date Posted: 05 Dec 2020 at 2:16am

Hello everyone, I'm just a little stumped wondering how strictly we need to stick to the location prompt for the FFC finals.

The location prompt is "a dream", but my question is can this only refer to a sleep dream? Or could we interpret "a dream" to be for example a bar called Dream, or someone's "dream wedding" or "dream job"? Just wanting to be sure my idea won't be DQed before I start writing!

Thanks in advance for any replies!

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Replies:

Posted By: Dark&StormyNight
Date Posted: 05 Dec 2020 at 3:51am

Here’s my thinking if I were in the finals:

Yes: sleeping dream, daydream or vision

Questionable: dream job/wedding/scenario, a ‘pipe dream’

No: a location with Dream in the name

Rules say the location must be the predominant location, but I understand ‘dream’ is a tiny bit vague and any writer wants to be creative with that. I honestly don’t know how strict the judges are on location, hopefully some of the veterans can weigh in on that.

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Posted By: NYC Midnight
Date Posted: 05 Dec 2020 at 11:50am

As long as you are using an acceptable definition from a reputable dictionary for the word "dream", you should be fine. A "dream job" or "dream wedding" may be acceptable depending on the usage, though it would have to be predominantly used in the story and the "dream" aspect would have to be clear. If you are simply including the word "dream" in the name of a location and it has no other references to an acceptable definition of the word, then it will most likely be disqualified. Use your best judgment and please let us know if you have any other questions or need anything else. Good luck!

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Posted By: Reasonably_Crazy
Date Posted: 05 Dec 2020 at 4:55pm

Follow-up question:

Does it have to be "A dream" or can it be a series of dreams had across, for example, several nights?

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Posted By: NYC Midnight
Date Posted: 05 Dec 2020 at 5:27pm

Yes, a series of dreams over several nights would be acceptable. Good luck!

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Posted By: Reasonably_Crazy
Date Posted: 05 Dec 2020 at 5:30pm

Thank you so much!

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Posted By: Oryx
Date Posted: 05 Dec 2020 at 11:18pm

Question about “predominant” location. Does this mean that we will be DQ if at least 51% of the text doesn’t take place at the location? So for example, what if 30% of the story is in the location. Will it be DQed?

Edit: or is it enough that the most significant event happens at the location?

Posted By: NYC Midnight
Date Posted: 05 Dec 2020 at 11:42pm

Based on the definition of predominant, the assigned location should be the main and/or strongest element used throughout the story. Depending on the story, it may be acceptable to have only 30% of the story taking place at the assigned location as long as it is the clearly the most important location in the story or there are no other locations used more often.

For example, if your story takes place at the assigned location for 30% of the story, location B for 60% of the story, and location C for 10% of the story, it would run the risk of being disqualified since location B is clearly used more often. That being said, if plot of the story clearly revolved around the assigned location even when other locations may be used more, it would be less likely that it would be disqualified.

In another example, if your story takes place at the assigned location for 30% of the story, location B for 25%, location C for 25%, and location D for 20%, then you will be fine, even if another location is more important to the plot since it is being used the most of any location.

We recommend using your best judgment. If another location is used more than the assigned location and the assigned location is not critical to the plot, then it will run the risk of being disqualified. We hope this helps, but please let us know if you have any other questions or need anything else. Good luck!

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Posted By: Oryx
Date Posted: 05 Dec 2020 at 11:46pm

Very clear! Thank you for your quick response!