I want to open a Competition! Yes, with a capital letter! Because it's a capital idea!

From a fantasy writer with writer's block comes a new competition to blow you away, and hopefully blow away my block. Sick and tired of the same old stereotypes found in just about every fantasy book you ever flick through in a book store, I decided to make a competition that tests the true fantasy writer.

The basic premise for the competition: Fantasy Fiction! I know you're all drooling with barely contained lust now, so I'll plough ahead. I want a story that shows a fantasy creature, or humanoid, or anything out of a fantasy universe, that smashes away the stereotype, triumphing with bold and daring new ideas. What I'm saying is, don't have elves that live in forests, that always use bows, and are always vying with dwarves. Don't have dwarves that live underground, drink large quantities of ale and wield gigantic axes. Don't have farmers suddenly imbued with godly magicks. IT'S ALL BEEN DONE BEFORE!

I want original. I want fantasy. I want a well thought out story. Bonus points for multiple genres (fantasy and romance, or fantasy and horror, or any combo you wish). Bonus points for a bit of original humour. 1000 to 2000 words. I want original (but readable) submissions, with a creative font, page layout - even your own pictures, if you can. I want to be enveloped in your story! Heck, bonus points will be flying willy-nilly! Most of all though, I want BELIEVABLE characters, in that, when they say or do something, it makes sense. I don't want love-struck titans suddenly dying from a plague the author casually forgot to mention four hundred words earlier!

Whew. If you can get your head around that, then you'll do fine. Before you get bogged down by all that, keep this simple message in mind: Concentrate on a good story, with great characters that don't conform to the normal cliche.

Dates: Entries accepted from now until 11:59PM EST, June 30th. Plenty of time to get the imaginitive juices pumping, and the words scribbling!

1st Prize: 1 Year Subscription
2nd Prize: 3 Month Subscription
* Plus one to three (depending on the number and quality of submissions) honorable mentions!

Submission: Submit your story as you normally would (deviation), and send me a note with a link to your deviation, and let me know the word count. One submission per deviant. I am the judge.

Any questions will be welcomed and answered as best I can. May the best story win! Good luck, chums!