CONTEST -- FEE INVOLVED.

July 1, 2015

Wanted: Your crime story. Reward: $1,000. “Crime fiction deals with the mysteries we all face: What’s going to happen? How will it end? Will good triumph over evil? Can we find order in the chaos? It does not limit a good writer but makes every aspect of the human experience available to the writer and to the reader.”  –David C. Taylor, author of Night Life Explore the human experience through a criminal action and a strong central character by crafting an original short story between 1,000 and 2,000 words. To spin your saga, consider these questions: What is the central crime? Is it a crime of passion? Of revenge? Who commits it? A damaged child? A spurned lover? A resentful sibling? Why does he or she commit the crime? And how? Who is affected by the pernicious act? And of course: Then what happens? Do you want the crime to be in the opening scene, or if you want it to happen “offstage”? Is your main character the criminal or the wronged party? Is your story humorous or scandalous? What concrete details can you provide to create a believable setting and theme? The reward Author David C. Taylor will choose the winning entry and comment on its effectiveness as crime fiction. That means your story will be read by an expert in the field! 1st place: $1,000 and publication in the November issue of The Writer 2nd place: $500 and publication on The Writer’s website 3rd place: $250 and publication on The Writer’s website Need inspiration? Check out these detective/crime short stories: “The Purloined Letter” by Edgar Allan Poe “Suspicion” by Dorothy Sayers “Bombardier” by Walter Mosley “Since You Went Away” by Frankie Y. Bailey “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Connor Click here to submit by July 31. What are you waiting for? Think criminally - and get writing! Visit our contest page to submit one story for $25, and up to five additional stories for $15 each on the same transaction.