#DreamScape

They say that dreams often hold the key to unlocking hidden truths. How about beginning April with a prompt that beckons you to blur the lines between reality and dreams?

Dive into the depths of imagination with #DreamScape.

Craft a story in any genre or blend of genres where the ordinary meets the extraordinary, where the mundane transforms into the magical. Let your characters navigate through the landscape of their dreams, confronting their deepest fears or wildest desires.

A vivid dream that feels unsettlingly real, or a recurring nightmare that yearns to be unraveled, a mysterious place that exists only in dreams or an artifact that can alter reality.

Let your imagination soar beyond the confines of the known and create a narrative that captivates and inspires.

Prompt credit: Monica Singh

• Weave a tale based on the prompt given. (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).
• The subject of your mail should be “Entry for #DreamScape″ (compulsory).
• (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 2500-5000 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. AI generated content stands invalid for the contest. Repeated offenders will be barred from participation in Penmancy events.
5. 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. You may share the story on your blog wih a backlink to Penmancy’s original published post.
6. 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:

1. 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)
   • characterisation (8 points)
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Only stories that garnered and average score/rating of 7.5 and above, as aggregated on judges’ scores, shall be eligible for winning.
5. Contest Duration
   The submission for the contest is open from April 1 to April 30, 2024.
   Results for the event shall be shared on May 7, 2024, at 8:00 pm.

Top three winners will receive a copy of a book gifted by Lata Gwalani.