I’ve been giving this topic a good deal of consideration and will reply as soon as I have a chance to organize my thoughts. Thanks for posing some great questions!

Cozy by a crackling fire, we’re oblivious to winter’s wrath.

1. Write a nanofiction story of exactly 10 words.
2. Post it as a reply in this thread.
3. Earn a Challenge Champ badge!

The fine print:
• You may enter up to 10 times
• One badge per member (not per story)
• Each story must include one of the Cheers to 10 Years competition word selections:
- Celebration
- Achievement
- Stories
- Space
- Camaraderie
- Ten
- Friendly
- Free
- Cozy
- Supportive

Stories Space went live October 12th, 2010, so we are celebrating the first 10 years of this wonderful site!

Tell us about yourself -

When did you join Stories Space/how long have you been a member?

What was the first story and/or poem you published here? Please add links so we can find it!

When was it posted?

What is it about, category, length, etc?

Is the first piece you published your favourite, or is that something else? If it is a different one, again, please post a link.

When you look back at your first works, do you see changes in your writing style or subject matter in the intervening time?

Is there anything else you want to tell us about yourself and your writing?





I joined and submitted my first piece here on Oct. 12, 2010.

“The Pants on the Floor,” a humorous poem written about a year and a half earlier but previously shared only with friends, was one of two submissions posted that day (the other was a Dirty Martini poem).

https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/poetry/-the-pants-on-the-floor-.aspx

With friends and family along with me sharing the link, Pants quickly became the most popular piece on the site, and it remains among the top five or so. It is still one of my personal favorites. Oh, and on the topic of milestones, the clotheshorse and I will celebrate our anniversary in a couple of weeks. Maybe I’ll get him a new shirt.

I've just posted a story for the full story category but it said 2581 words in the submission box (which is what I want) which then jumped to 2589 when I checked the submitted piece - a discrepancy of 8 words between submission box and submitted piece

That's going to make getting the numbers right a game of pure chance. Eek!

Anyway, what the heck, it's a Halloween tale and I hope you like it

The submission screen and what’s displayed when a story is posted sometimes end up with a slight discrepancy because of the different algorithms. We’ll go by what the submission screen says.

I’m looking forward to your Halloween-themed entry!

The three related Cheers to 10 Years contests are now open! Here are links to the competition pages:

• Ultra Short Competition

• Flash Competition

• Full Length Story Competition

Ok, that’s all rather vague. I assume the start date will be pushed back whilst the technical issues are being sorted?

No, the opening date remains Oct. 12.

I'm going to do a trial run now to see how the system handles multiple comps at the same time.

EDIT: It works! Three competitions will be set up to open on Oct. 12.

EDIT 2: Phew, what a week this has been!

I’m sorry if this came across as vague. It was my commentary on the uncertainty of the past week in the U.S., not knowing if the occupant of the White House was mildly, moderately or severely ill; breathing on his own or not; and, of course, mortal or magically transformed into a reverse-aging superhero. There’s been a lot to process.

Phew, what a week this has been!


In any case, here are some of the Cheers to 10 Years details promised.

We will most likely divide this into three contests based on word count to ensure that we aren't comparing apples and oranges in the judging. I say "most likely" because I'm waiting to hear back if the system will allow multiple competitions to be running simultaneously (that's one of the technical points yet to be ironed out). Whether it turns out to be three contests or one, judging will be done in the following divisions:

• 20-120 words — Entries will be accepted in Micro Fiction , Musings and Poetry . For this event only, entries up to 120 words may be submitted in the Micro Fiction category even if they exceed the usual 100-word limit.

• 121-1,012 words — Entries will be accepted in Flash Fiction or any appropriate category (no Micro Fiction). For this event only, entries up to 1,012 words may be submitted in the Flash Fiction category even if they exceed the usual 1,000-word limit. Submissions in other categories must meet our standard minimum (about 600 words for most categories).

• 1,013-3,653 words — Entries will be accepted in any category except Flash Fiction, Micro Fiction and Poetry.

What will be the procedure for submissions? Clueless minds would like to know. No doubt I've missed this info somewhere along the line, either that or the plan is to wait until 1012 to list all the nuts and bolts type rules and regs?



Maggie talked about more details coming so I assume that will include submission process. She's still got a week and a half to get it up, I guess. I've actually got a first draft of a story I hope to use, assuming there isn't a devil in the details when they come out.

Sorry for the delay in posting more details. Life, y’know?

Don’t worry, there isn’t any devil in these details. Entry will be straightforward, just submit a piece and check the competition box. There is no theme requirement, only the word limits and selection of required words listed in the first post.

I still need to iron out a couple of technical points, but I promise to post more info by Friday.

Actually, I have a question about form. Are poems going to be welcome in the shorter categories? I can't really see me writing a 40 word story but some of my poems are in that territory.

Yes, poems will be accepted in the shorter submissions.

“You think it’s okay?” Abigail asked tentatively. Emma held up the phone and began to read aloud. “‘Dearest Troy’ – Dearest was a nice touch – ‘I’m so happy for you getting your dream job! That’s quite an achievement – you should have a big celebration. The thing is, Troy... I don’t want to hold you back. You need to be free, and deserve someone just as supportive of your aspirations as...

Added 14 Oct 2020 | Category Micro Fiction

Have you found them? Don’t worry, most people can’t on the first try.  They’re there, all right, but only reveal themselves to those who are ready to believe, to accept, to embrace.  Close your eyes and open your mind. Clear away the prejudices, fears and preconceptions. Suspend your skepticism. Relax and let all your senses — even those you don’t fully perceive or comprehend, and may...

Added 02 Mar 2019 | Category Flash Fiction | Votes 13 | Avg Score 5 | Views 741 | 12 Comments

Sipping dirty martinis Watching girls in bikinis And strumming on my Les Paul Albert King ambles through Riffs ‘I’ll Play the Blues for You’ Man, I really got it all CHORUS It’s a dream vacation No place I’d rather be Yeah, a dream vacation Not sure where I’m at But it suits me Checking out pics From my Exakta 66 Can’t believe what I see Don’t remember all those Sometimes, that’s how it goes...

Added 07 Oct 2018 | Category Songs | Votes 12 | Avg Score 5 | Views 780 | 10 Comments

  MARTIN HANDED A MUG of fresh coffee to Jane and slid into the seat opposite her at the breakfast table, pausing a moment before he spoke. “Jane, I need to ask you something.” Caught off guard by the statement, she slopped a little of the steaming liquid. “You always do that when I’m holding a drink,” she chided gently, dabbing the spill with a napkin. Her lighthearted tone belied...

Added 13 Sep 2018 | Category General | Votes 12 | Avg Score 5 | Views 585 | 7 Comments

  THE CALENDAR TAUNTED JANE, its little yellow-highlighted square outlined in a bold red stroke mocking her lack of progress. ‘You’re going to miss the deadline, you know. I’m just six weeks away now,’ it scoffed. ‘Whatever made you apply for that fellowship anyhow, and what could the panel have been thinking when they gave it to you? You’re no writer; you’ve proven that over the past...

Added 12 Sep 2018 | Category General | Votes 11 | Avg Score 5 | Views 715 | 6 Comments

Note: This compilation occurred to me more than a year ago. In fact, the reason I logged on to Facebook on March 14, 2017, was to reach out to Alan and propose that we combine our efforts, merging his Colorado Calling and my Jersey Rejoicing into one poem. Instead, I learned that morning of Alan's passing a few days earlier. It threw me for a loop, and the idea got pushed to the back of...

Added 17 Mar 2018 | Category Poetry | Votes 7 | Avg Score 5 | Views 760 | 6 Comments

  1. NaIgnoNaNoWriMo: Just ignore all the NaNoWriMo hoopla and hype. Pretend you didn’t read this or anything else about the writing frenzy that occurs every November. Yeah, yeah, I know it’s almost impossible to ignore NaNoWriMo anymore. But you can say you did. I promise not to tell anyone otherwise. 2. NaNanoWriMo: In the short time remaining, craft some kick-ass nano fiction....

Added 30 Nov 2017 | Category Musings | Votes 2 | Avg Score 5 | Views 1,010 | 2 Comments

You always did like surprise endings, A twist no one could see coming, And that last one of yours was a doozy. Days later, we're still reeling, Not from the shock, which dissipates, But from a grief that lingers. You probably never knew The regard people held you in, For it seemed to sneak up As we chatted and laughed About topics big and small. Our esteem grew Alongside your virtual...

Added 17 Mar 2017 | Category Poetry | Votes 20 | Avg Score 5 | Views 1,149 | 10 Comments

The president is doing great Only a fool would think Otherwise Most everyone believes We should trust him There is no cause for concern But some are saying The country is in danger People are scared Nothing could be further from the truth Everything is going to be fine Now read from the bottom up… * * * © 2017 by M.P. Witwer • All rights reserved    ...

Added 15 Feb 2017 | Category Musings | Votes 13 | Avg Score 5 | Views 1,005 | 14 Comments

There was a crooked man Who ran a crooked race [1] And with his crooked words, Put opponents in their place He chopped them down, one by one ’Til a single foe remained On merit, she’d win handily, So he painted her with disdain [2] This shameless huckster’s style Is totally ‘in your face’ At any time in memory, It would have brought him great disgrace But that isn’t how it happened, Not...

Added 16 Jan 2017 | Category Musings | Votes 9 | Avg Score 5 | Views 1,140 | 8 Comments

When a noted writer hits the wall with her current project, she heads to the beach to concentrate on her work, but instead finds a charming distraction. This award-winning short story (approximately 4,500 words) has been called “magnificently well-crafted,” “clever,”...

A timely tale of just 2,300 words, “Lost and Found” is the second story in the Short Tales series, an affectionate look at a few of the pitfalls and mishaps faced by a couple navigating a new romance. Jane and Martin both have past histories: love, loss and unforeseen changes, but...