Arlene Writing Contest

September Serenade Results

Here it is! The results are in for September's contest and I am thrilled to announce them. While it is not always easy for me to do this kind of thing (as my friends know, I love making people happy!) my decisions are solely made on following the rules (which EVERYONE did!), grammar, accuracy to prompts, and creativity!

I'm not saying this just because I feel like I have to, but I really did thoroughly enjoy each of your stories so much! They were so unique and creative, and each had its own world that I felt immersed in. Without further ado, the winners....

First place: Bdicocco - The Lightning Jar

Second place: Kismetwinters - The Enforcer and the Eagle 

Third place: RenHidingHood - A Simple Choice

Prizes will be handed out over the next couple of days! As I said before, this choice was a difficult one, and I would highly recommend each of these stories! So, as a way of my thanks, let me tell you a bit about each!

The Lightning Jar

A magical story that starts of with a whimsical feeling of adventure. A young woman, Krista, is sent on a journey to deliver the lightning jar to a great faerie named Athia, who is trapped in a vast mountain. Not sure why she has been chosen, Krista discovers along the way new friends, enemies, and conflict greater than she'd imagined. What will become of the lightning jar and faerie? What other dangers await this land? Embark on this mission with Krista and her companions as they discover unbelievable magics, creatures, and the depths of their own character.

The Enforcer and the Eagle

A story of love, power, and utter scientific adventure; The Enforcer and the Eagle takes you with Luvel, an extraterrestrial being who is unwillingly experimented on. While her companions await her to return to their aircraft, one being named Rider, a strong and respected leader of Luvel's kind, senses the danger his companion is in. The journey to save her is one full of unusual beings, a new planet, and a vast galaxy just waiting to be explored!

A Simple Choice

Death is not always an easy experience. However, for Levi Whittmen, it's an entirely different one. His sister, Lacey, was a beautiful girl full of potential, but a bitter seed was planted in Levi's mind against her when she wasted it all on drugs. On the train to attend her funeral, he is not one to enjoy travel. After awaking from slumber, he finds himself in a rural and empty world. Upon entering a mysterious house, Levi is trapped in a room where he must make a choice. One that, though seemingly simple, is something he would have never expected. A ride of thrill and mystery, this story will cause you to think deeper about life and the simple choices we're asked to make.

Intrigued? I hope you are! Take a peek at these stories and discover a unique and amazing story!

Congratulations contestants! Also, remember you are free to join in any future contests as well! Perhaps return a reining champ, or climb your way to the top... the possibilities are endless.

ANNOUNCEMENT:

Previously I shared that I would be turning one of the unused prompts into my own story to work on next as my current book is coming to a close. I would like to share that I will be doing this, however I will be doing it monthly! Each month I will start on one of the unused prompts as a new book (or alternating months, depending on how busy my life gets!).

With that, Please leave your vote in the comments, as well as anything else you'd like to say pertaining to this chapter/contest! Thanks again for being apart and reading!

Prompts:  

1. You (or your main character) find a spiraling staircase in the middle of a desolate field. The staircase goes up into the clouds, and there is no indication what it leads to. At the top is a floating formation; a platform, Nothing is on the platform, except for a large, pillared archway on the other side. There is nothing else. Or is there? What is this place? Where did it come from? Does the archway go anywhere? You decide!  

2. In a world of cyborgs controlled by the scientists--who are the last beings of human flesh--a crash in the network that keeps individuals thriving occurs. After the scientists develop a system to keep cyborgs charged and working, your main character (or you) forget to charge one night. in a struggle to get to a charging system, your main character/your battery system begins to shut down... or so it seems. It turns out, you/your character did not need charging. Why?

3. Your character/you are running from something or someone, and the only place to go is to wedge into a crevice in the stone ground below you/your character. Hoping to simply balance between the stony walls on either side of you/your character, you/your character slips through the crack and end up stumbling into a dusty, cobwebbed place. Is it an abandoned building? A secret cave? What lies within this hidden crevice? A secret? Treasure? An abandoned society? Only you can reveal its secrets...

4. Once a place of adventures and discovery, your/your character's hometown was historically known to produce the world's greatest explorers. These people were known to do great things, to redefine reality itself. That was long ago. Now, the society has been overrun, and the new world is one of no adventure. There are strict rules, and no independence. You/your character is drawn to adventure. How will you/they overcome this society of depredation and restraint?

5. You/your character discovers a mirror in the attic that belonged to your/their great, great grandmother. It is quite intricate and beautiful, and something that should not be hidden from view. However, when you/your character hangs it in the hall of your/their lovely mansion (that also once belonged to your/their great, great grandmother) you/they discover it is no ordinary mirror. When viewing it, instead of portraying an average reflection, it shows the reflection of the house in the past. After awhile, you/your character begin to notice that things have subtly changed around the mansion. Things have moved, aged, disappeared. Voices are heard throughout the halls, odd sounds, and once you/your character even thinks they saw someone unfamiliar. What is going on around here, exactly?

Again, leave your vote in the comments below and let me know which one you'd want to read! I will also be taking votes in the clubs section of wattpad.com so a wider consensus can be made! 

Though this months contest is over, I still wish you happy writing!