SHORT STORY WRITERS CONTEST for April-May 2021 -- NEW NORMAL -- NN2021 --Winners Announced

This is an Official ATS Short Story Writers Contest!



It is open to ALL members of ATS.

There are prizes to be won in the form of ATS "Applause" and even the opportunity for entrants to acquire official ATS "writer" status, but it is more about sharing our creative ideas, encouraging & developing new talent and having Fun!
We will try to hold around one contest 4-6 times per year.

The current contest theme is: " -- "NEW NORMAL" [NN2021]
The topic was chosen by the winner of our last contest Olaru12.


Since the beginning of 2020 until today, life has changed in various ways for pretty much everyone on this earth.
Your assignment is writing a SHORT STORY, which contains or relates to the theme: "NEW NORMAL"


HOW you do that is... of course, up to YOU!



RULES of ENTRY:
Original written entries only please.

The contest will run from NOW to Monday, May 24, 2021.
(Any submissions after that date will be disqualified.)

A period of ONE WEEK after the closing of the contest will be provided for reading & voting.

All TERMS and CONDITIONS Apply.

All entries MUST include [NN2021] in the title.
(e.g. "The New Normal made me the happiest person on earth [NN2021]”)



There is no word count limit, but please remember that it is a SHORT story contest but the story should be confined to the OP!!!
Stories that run past the OP are accepted but no points given for additional posts, see SCORING below.

All entries must be posted in their own thread within the SHORT STORIES forum HERE, with a link (to your entry) added to a post in this contest thread. (Just ask if you're not sure how to link!)

Please END all of your submissions with "THE END" so that everyone is clear that your entry is complete.



WINNERS:
There will be 3 winners among members who already have ATS "Writer" status, prizes as follows:

1st Place -- 5 Applause, and selection of the next contest theme (limited to one in a row)
2nd Place -- 3 Applause
3rd Place -- 1 Applause

There will also be 3 winners from the non-writer category who will receive the following:

1st Place -- 3 Applause & Writer Status
2nd Place -- 2 Applause & Writer Status
3rd Place -- 1 Applause

SCORING

Points are awarded by ATS members giving FLAGS to their favorite story threads and STARS to their favorite story opening post.
(You can award a Flag and/or star(s) to any stories that you like, but please don't give flags or stars for any other reasons!!)

Flags awarded will be worth 2 points each.
Stars in the opening post will be worth 1 point each.
*******No other posts will earn points for the contest.********

If the winner of the "Writers" section is the same person who chose the current theme, then the opportunity to choose the next theme will fall to the runner up.
Only one prize per member per contest.

I am happy to try answer anything else the contests/rules etc.

And please... ENJOY this new contest, GOOD LUCK, HAPPY READING and HAVE FUN!

Note: Image selection and artwork thanks to JohnnyAnonymous.




WINNERS ANNOUNCED

a reply to: DontTreadOnMe

OK, I'll give this one a go.

Although I have to preface my entry with a simple meme...



Good luck all you writers out there.

I look forward to reading what comes out of your heads.

a reply to: DontTreadOnMe

Looking forward to the entries.

a reply to: DontTreadOnMe

DTOM, tomorrow is Saturday April 24, Monday is April 26, 2021.

Or, Is this the New Normal??

a reply to: NightFlight

LOL
Thanks for catching that.
I try to reread looking for goofs, and I always seem to miss a biggee!

a reply to: Lumenari

Heh i was thinking along the same lines... It's been a while since i saw a writers contest...

I'm looking forward to.

May the newest normal win.

err.. a bit late.t

As much as I despise the phrase "New normal"...I need a creative outlet right now.
Will give it a go.

a reply to: JohnnyAnonymous

Erm... Johnny?

Is "Not Normal" the "New Normal" too?

originally posted by: Lumenari
a reply to: JohnnyAnonymous

Erm... Johnny?

Is "Not Normal" the "New Normal" too?

It possibly could be as simple as that... If that is the case, the question is (or should be), " am I in good company? "

...BTW...

*Is Not Normal the New Normal?* Strangely enough.... that sounds like a great name for a book (or story).


Johnny

a reply to: DontTreadOnMe

Thank you for the effort you guys put into making this all possible
www.abovetopsecret.com... (NN2021) The Boxes

a reply to: DontTreadOnMe

Today

Don't read it... it's dark.

originally posted by: Lumenari
a reply to: JohnnyAnonymous

Erm... Johnny?

Is "Not Normal" the "New Normal" too?

Talk about having a bad couple of days...

I had two little graphics made up... and of course I Up'd the wrong one.. (sigh),
... and to make it worse I'm looking at your comment and it still didn't hit me till right at this moment when I experienced a "DOH" moment and then my eyes were opened.

Wish I had some great excuse... but err... NO... I screwed up and that's the reality of it... So here's the correct one while I faceplam myself.

Bright

The Broom (NN2021):

One day long time ago there was this man sitting next to the road.

He was selling fruits and some-bead work, but behind him stood a broom.

I begged my parents, please, I want this broom.

I reckoned it was a cheap, lousy old thing anyway.

And then, one day, I stood before my mirror as teenagers do, and I started singing and playing air guitar with the broomstick.

And then suddenly I was a bit older, and I was a rock star!

No, no ... this is no imagination.

I felt the lights, I heard the thundering screams of the fans.
I played the show in my bedroom and ended up leaping off the bed.
The press went crazy, and boy did they line up for autographs.
And then the door opens.
"Is your room almost clean? What are you doing with that broomstick ... what are you hiding from us"?

They say there are many dimensions, in one I sold millions of records, signed countless autographs and watched the tears as my band-mates drifted away.

In another I'm just me - a student of the mysterious universe.

Let me show you something I hide under my bed.
What could it be?
It's the floor that needs sweeping?

Nah, I think dusty is the "new normal" today.

- End -

a reply to: DontTreadOnMe

Great work putting together another contest! The theme is pulling me in one direction, but I'd rather go off on a tangent and try something different... we'll see.

So many great stories have already been posted so early on, this contest is going to be epic!

a reply to: JohnnyAnonymous

Great graphics, Johnny. It's weird... I thought about what I wanted to write for my short story before seeing your image, which has a similar element I was going to use. I think you've inadvertently given me the green light to proceed with my idea.

a reply to: JohnnyAnonymous

Wish I had some great excuse... but err... NO... I screwed up and that's the reality of it... So here's the correct one while I faceplam myself.

You are human.

We mostly all are on ATS...

Although your first reply really threw me for a loop until you posted again.

Excuse my sense of humor.

originally posted by: Lumenari
a reply to: JohnnyAnonymous
Although your first reply really threw me for a loop until you posted again.

Excuse my sense of humor.

Well I'm glad I finally had the light switch turned on...

You tried to tell me.. but I was oblivious (at that time), and I was thinking also about your post.. ("what the hell is that all about?"). And then I proceeded to make a generic diplomatic post.. (sigh, a Mod's life)




LOL.. this is waaaaay too funny.
Johnny

a reply to: JohnnyAnonymous

LOL.. this is waaaaay too funny.

Maybe it is just our new normal.