Monthly SimLit Short Story Challenge: March 2021 Theme Submissions & Top Reader’s Choices

Please note – a little info:

This blog is updated in 3 parts:

Part 1 of this blog will present the current monthly theme, banner links and challenge specifics for the current month.

Part 2 after the close of the monthly challenge this blog will be updated to add links to the that month’s submissions and a link to vote in each category (veteran or novice) will be provided.

Part 3 After the vote closes an update to this blog post will be made to announce the top three Reader’s Choice in each category.

If you are brand new to this challenge click here for info on starting and posting:

Part three

March 2021 submissions & Reader’s Choice Update –

TY everyone – it was a FAB month. So many great stories!

Veterans:

While we did have a top three vote getters here, none had low votes. This was a very good month for numbers of readers & voters.

Top three Readers Choice:

Dial M for Mudder

Nanny is Dead

Freak for a Friend

Novice:

The votes were so close – even tho we got quite a few votes this month the top votes getter was only one point difference from the bottom 3 – which all tied) so ❤ great job novices .. everyone of you had them all captured!

Top three four reader’s Choice:

The Cabin

MSSSC: Death’s Daughter

All The Monsters

The First crime

Monthly SimLit Short Story Challenge – Announcement & Info

Part two

March 2021 submissions & Vote

Veteran Submissions:

Freak for a Friend

Pursued – A Short Story

MSSSC: I’ll Be Watching You

Dial M for Mudder

Monthly Simlit Short Story Challenge: Honeymoon (March 21)

Nanny is Dead

One Stormy Night

Please be kind and read all of the entries before you make your vote;

Please remember to pick your 3 favorites in the poll.

The vote closes on 7 April 2021 @ Midnight PST

*Veteran Vote Link*

Novice Submissions:

MSSSC: Death’s Daughter

All The Monsters

The First crime

The Cabin

Please be kind and read all of the entries before you make your vote;

Please remember to pick your 3 favorites in the poll.

The vote closes on 7 April 2021 @ Midnight PST

*Novice Vote Link*

Thank you for your support ❤

Watch for April’s theme very soon!

Part 1 New Theme for March 2021:

This month I caution is not just horror. Do not limit yourself to B slasher movie thoughts. Suspense or thriller or horror is much more complex. A master of this was the late Alfred Hitchcock. NEVER saw blood but how many of us can go into the shower alone without thinking of his work occasionally.

We are not talking blood and guts here (if you want to go there that is up to you .. we are all grown-ups) but we are looking at finessing a genre. Maybe bringing in the theme without resorting to Chain Saw Massacre LOL

Also do not forget that this genre also can cover humor (Rocky Horror or Beetlejuice … Ghost Busters .. Little House of Horrors).

Some can be very light – Harry Potter.

Some of the great works of fiction come in this category. Edgar Allen Poe. He blew me away.

Old fairy tales came under this genre.

Even looking at modern days .. Stephen King is amazing.

So do not limit yourself to a B slasher movie. If you need inspiration watch a few Hitchcock movies or read some Poe. This is a good month to stretch and grow while still keeping your flavor of storytelling. I cannot wait to see what comes!

AND might I add that this is a month where it will be easier to draw readers in .. it is a popular genre.

CHALLENGE SPECIFICS for March 2021

WORD  COUNT:

Up to 1000 max

SCREENSHOT REQUIREMENT:

min 5 to max 20

DEADLINE:

31 March 2021 @ Midnight PST

TO ENTER:

Post your story on your blog AND give me a link in the MSSSC Forum:

(If you are new to the forum and cannot post a link yet let me know and I will help.)

Monthly Simlit Short Story Challenge – forum thread link

March 2021 participant banners

Select the banner you feel best represents you.

Submit in one of two categories:

Novice – blogging for a year or less

Veteran – blogging for more than a year and/or more experienced writer

Get your banner here:

(Dropbox Link)

Place whichever banner you choose at the beginning of your blog to indicate which branch of the challenge you are submitting to (Novice or Veteran).

MSSSC Table of contents