Prompt: Auxilium

“Not everyone has to be the Chosen One. Not everyone has to be the guy who saves the world. Most people just have to live their lives the best they can, doing things that are great for them, having great friends, trying to make their lives better, loving people properly. All the while knowing that the world makes no sense but trying to find a way to be happy anyway.”

― Patrick Ness, The Rest of Us Just Live Her

Inspired by the quote above, write a story where the main character is not perceived as a significant individual or the destined hero/heroine.

• Weave a tale in a genre of your choice. (Head on to the thread of this post on our FB Group for an enlightening discussion, if any.) 
• Send in your entries to penmagica@gmail.com as an attachment in a word document (.doc/.docx) along with a 2-3 line bio (not required if previously sent) and a cover picture for your story (optional).
• The subject of your mail should be “Entry for #Auxilium″ (compulsory). 
• Along with your entry please send a suggested cover for your story (LANDSCAPE ONLY, as direct attachment, and no watermark, please). Use pixabay.com, pexels.com or unsplash.com to source lovely covers. In case your story is unaccompanied by a cover or is of poor quality, it will delay the publishing process.

Rules:

1. The submitted story must be between 2500-3500 words (each). Entries lower than or exceeding the word limit will stand disqualified for the event. (Penmancy Tip: Use https://wordcounter.io/ to check your word count.)
2. There is no limit to the number of entries you may submit- though only the first one of them will be eligible for the contest.
3. Previously published or plagiarised works will not be considered for contention. The writer of such content stands to be disqualified for the next Penmancy event.
4. Stories found to have been shared on another writing platform or blog before the declaration of results stand disqualified from the event. Kindly check the Terms of Use for details.
5. In case a story is received after the submission deadline, it shall be considered as a guest entry and shall not qualify for the contest.

Winning criteria:

• The winner will be chosen on the basis of the judges’ scores (out of 10)
  • plot/story/creativity (15 points)
  • language/grammar (10 points)
  • narrative voice & content (9 points)
  • emotional impact, (8 points)
  • use of prompt/theme (8 points) 

• The entries adjudged by a panel of judges and event organisers shall be binding. Judges’ scores to be deemed final and may not be contested or sought from the Penmancy team.
• All writers are required to read and comment on 5 stories other than their own and encourage their fellow writers with valuable and constructive inputs. Comments like ‘nice’, ‘good work’, ‘brilliant piece’, etc., do not provide the necessary critique and are not helpful to anyone.
• Only stories that garnered and average score/rating of 7.5 and above, as aggregated on judges’ scores, shall be eligible for winning.
• Contest Duration 
  • The submission for the contest is open from February 1 to February 28, 2023
  • Results for the event shall be shared on March 7, 2023, at 8:00 pm

Top three winners will receive a copy of three books sponsored by Srishti Publishers

This event is sponsored by Srishti Publishers & Distributors

For questions related to the rules and criteria, please write to us at penmagica@gmail.com