Prompt: #PoeStory

On the occasion of the International Poetry Month, let’s blend Prose and Poetry and create stories out of our favourite poems!

Pick your all-time favourite poem (one poem) and write a story based on your interpretation of why, who, where, and what the specific poem means to you. Create a story based on your interpretation of the poem.

Remember to give due credits to the poem you choose by adding a Reference/Author’s Note at the end of your entry. Also, keep in mind that the poem will serve as inspiration and the interpretation will be in prose form only. Yes, you can include verses in your narrative, but keep a close watch on them lest they overpower the prose!

• 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 #PoeStory″ (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)
  • charactrisation (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 April 1 to April 30, 2023
  • Results for the event shall be shared on May 7, 2023, at 8:00 pm

Top three winners will receive a copy of this book sponsored by Mithila Peshwe

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