Flashfic Writing Prompts

LGBTQ+ Song Fiction Contest

"What is Song Fiction?" we hear you ask.

Song fiction, also known as songfic, is a type of story or fanfiction based on or involving a song. Easy, right? Music inspires a lot of us to write -- we hear a new tune, or even an old favorite, and something about the lyrics just clicks with us. Have you got a song like that? (Let us know in an in-line comment!) 

Challenge

Write a song fiction story between 1,000 and 5,000 words that has LGBTQ+ characters, experiences or themes, based on inspired by one of your favorite songs.

It can be any genre. If you want to make it a romance, make it a romance. If you fancy an apocalyptic sci-fi, go ahead. Or if you fancy something more along the lines of bleak and rainy noir set in the 1940s, be our guest.

It's up to you what you write, just as long as it's based on an existing song. You can pick any song in any language from any artist, however well known or niche they are. Unfortunately you can't use one of your own songs, though -- we want to see how creative you can be by interpreting somebody else's.

Deadline

If you've decided you want to give this contest a go, the deadline is 30th September 2019 at 00:00 (midnight) EST.

That means your story will need to be published on Wattpad (we can't accept links to external sites or documents), and that you've filled in this submission form by the deadline. 

Prizes

Winners will be announced on the LGBTQ+ profile in early October and awarded our exclusive LGBTQ+ winner sticker for their story cover. As well as that, they'll be added to our 'Community Favorites' reading list for all to see.

Need some inspiration?

Not sure what you want to write yet? Here's an idea from one of our Ambassadors to get you going:

Your character is a singer with a song at the top of the charts. One day, they're invited to a talk show and share a personal story about the inspiration behind the lyrics. It turns out to be an emotional ride about a turning point in their life, relationships, and the people that came and went.

Submission Guidelines

·         Tag your story on Wattpad with the following tags: #LGBTQ and #WPContest (you can also tag it #songfic or #songfiction if you like, but this is optional).
·         Fill in the submission form.
·         Optional: Share your entry in the comment section below so other people can check it out.
·         Optional: Nominate a friend to write their own by tagging them in the comments.

Story Guidelines

·         Story must include a clear LGBTQ+ character(s) and or theme.
·         Entries must be published on Wattpad and follow the submission guidelines outlined.
·         It must be a new story written for this contest -- stories published before the contest started won't count.
·         It must be its own publication, not in an already existing short story collection.
·         It can be fanfiction or original fiction, as long as it's based on or inspired by a song.
·         It must be a completed story and marked complete before the deadline.
·         It must be 5,000 words  or under. Word total excludes authors notes, casts, forewords, etc.
·         One entry per writer.
·         The story must be in English (but your song choice can be in any language).
·         We can't accept mature content for this contest. You can read the Content Guidelines here.

Judging Criteria

Your story will be judged based on the following things:

·  Proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation (36% of score). Tip: Be mindful of proper spellings, capital letters, punctuation in dialogue, etc. If you're not sure, ask a friend for help, or visit the ImproveYourWriting page.

·  Interpretation of the prompt (12%). Tip: If your story doesn't contain the songfic prompt or LGBTQ+ characters/themes, it will lose vital points in this area. We're also looking at how creatively you use the prompt given.

·  Originality (12%). Tip: There are a lot of stories on Wattpad, so we're looking for ones that stand out, do things differently, and feel special. But that doesn't mean cliches are out!

·  Engagement/reader enjoyment (12%). Tip: The way you tell the story can make or break it. We're looking at how well your words can draw us in and keep us reading. Again, you can visit the ImproveYourWriting page for some great tips.

·  Overall quality (28%). Tip: This is how well all the previous components come together in your story. The best way to gauge quality is to have a friend or friendly Wattpadder read your story and give you feedback. Make sure to proofread and make edits to your story before the deadline!

FAQ

What is song fiction?
Song fiction is a story with a plot based on or inspired by the lyrics of a song. The lyrics can be inserted within the text of the story, if you like.

Can I write a story based on one of my own songs?
Unfortunately no. We're looking for how creatively you can interpret somebody else's already existing song.

Do I have to say what the song is?
We recommend that you specify your song choice(s) either in your story description or an author's note, but this isn't compulsory. You'll have to specify your song choice(s) on the submission form, however.

Can I pick more than one song?
Yes, you can. We'd advise picking no more than three songs, however, as we won't be able to spot which song you've used when judging your story. Keep it simple -- one song is probably best, but if you think you can manage more, let's see what you can do!

Does the song have to be in English/the original version?
No, you can pick any song in any language from any artist -- that includes parodies and covers. As long as your story is in English it will qualify.

What are you looking for in the winners?
Compelling, engaging, original works. We also highly appreciate proper spelling and grammar.

How many chapters should I write?
You can write a short story in just one chapter, or decide to write multiple chapters if it's longer. Just be sure to keep the total story between 1,000 and 5,000 words and have it completed by the deadline.

I like to add author's notes to my story/chapters. Do they add to the total word count?
No, the total word count is the sum of all the literary content. That means author's notes, forewords, casts, playlists, etc., are excluded from the word total. Glossaries will be included with the word count, as they are used to describe specific story elements.

Are you accepting all story categories?
We are accepting all categories of fiction, meaning all genres of original fiction and fanfiction. We can't accept poetry, non-fiction, random, or mature content at this time.

Is cussing allowed in the story?
Cussing is fine, just don't overdo it.

Am I allowed to collaborate with friends to write a story?
Of course! Please submit your story only once and include the usernames of all participating users on the form.

I don't identify as LGBTQ+, can I still enter?
Everyone is free to enter, no matter how they identify.

Where can I find the submission form?
You can find the submission form by clicking here.

Any other questions, please PM us (as we might miss it if asked in the comments). 

Good luck!

~The LGBTQ+ Team