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See, I put writing so you don't think this is about whose legs look best. *ahem* kazdreamer and I are engaging in a short fiction writing challenge, and we're opening it up to anyone else who'd like to participate. My motivation comes from On Spec's next submission deadline being August 31st; Karen just wanted to write a short story.

The challenge: Write more than 5000 new words of short fiction before August 8th, 2008.

Oh, so easy, says you. We understand that anyone can write 5000 words in three weeks. The challenge is learning how to write "finished" short pieces instead of a beginning to a longer work.

 As not every story need 5000 words to tell it, we have options available to make the challenge as easy and productive as you'd like it to be:

1) It is at your discretion how you use those 5000 required words. So if you want to write like ten 500 word flash fiction pieces, go ahead.

2) You may apply some or all of the 5000 words to completing existing short fiction projects, so long as individual finished pieces remain below 6000 words.

3) You must still write 5000 words. Therefore, if you only need 1500 to complete your project, you have to start another story to write the remaining 3500.

4) You are not required to finish every story you begin, but only completed stories count towards your total.

5) You may write stories set in existing worlds and using existing characters, so long as you are the creator of that world and characters. For example, you may write a side-story adventure for a secondary character from your manuscript or a backstory happening that you wanted to write but didn't feel it "belonged" in the manuscript. The story, however, needs to be completed outside the context of your manuscript.

6) Aside from bragging rights, everyone who meets the challenge will be entered into a draw for prizes! The amount of prizes will depend on the amount of participants. Prizes may include tasty Purdy's Chocolates, amazon.com giftcards, critique services, handmade bookmarks, or something else awesome that we think of.

If you are feeling generous and would like to contribute a prize, please let us know.

Comment below if you are taking up the challenge, so we can track who's involved—and spread the word, so we can be overwhelmed by your awesome short fiction abilities and feel it necessary to make this a seasonal thing. ;)

edit 18/7/08: We will be doing Friday Check-ins, where we related any developments that have come up—as this is a work in progress—and those participating will need to comment leaving a tally of their progress. Daily tallies are optional!

Clarification edits 17/7/08:

1) Will participating affect your ability to submit your work to other markets?

You retain ownership of your work, because we aren't collecting it. We're providing a word goal, the motivation and public "accountability" for you to write. However, I recommend that you only share/post pieces you've written if you want them to be blog content. Anything you might consider selling should only be posted in a password protected location.

2) Does rewriting count towards the 5000 words or this a First Draft Count (like NaNoWriMo.)

This is a first draft count. The 6000 word maximum clause is because a few speculative genre magazines have submission guidelines top-out at 6000 words. Also, we wanted to keep the pieces short to discourage them from turning into novellas or the first few chapters of a manuscript.

3) Are there genre limitations?

Fiction means fiction. Any genre, any reading level. As we aren't "collecting" or "judging" the pieces, why we would impose our preferences on your writing?

4) What happens if we reach 5000 words before August 5th?

Well, if you're enjoying yourself... start another story. Keep going. If you achieve the goal and you want to stop there, go ahead.

5) How are you planning to keep us accountable?

We will be doing Friday Check-ins, where we related any developments that have come up—as this is a work in progress—and those participating will need to comment leaving a tally of their progress. Daily tallies are optional! ajmenden suggested that you can comment in my sort-of-daily check-ins if you like.