Magical Realism is a subset of the fantasy genre (with elements of realism) whereby fantastical elements are mingled with the mundanity of modern life, and treated as being such by the characters involved

Magical Realism is one of the most argued-about genres of recent times: from people who say it is one of the only true new genres, to those who claim its nothing more than a marketing scheme for authors not wanting to be labelled 'fantasy.'

However, this competition isn't interested in that! Instead, I want to see the best magical realism that dA can offer. You have one month to rustle up the finest magical realism story that you can, in return from some awesome prizes.

Want to know more about magical realism? Read this to find out more about this intriguing genre.

The contest objective:

Write a magical realism story, no longer than 3,000 words

Rules

Your story must be recognisably a Magical Realism story. Unsure what that might be?
Read this.

Your story must be your own work (duh) and freshly created for this contest.

You are allowed some wriggle room with the word limit, but I won't be overly lenient. Don't take it as an aim, either: shorter stories are perfectly fine.

When you have completed your story, upload it and send a link of it to me, in a note. Title the note 'Competition,' and link this contest in your artist's comments, please.

You are allowed unlimited edits until the deadline.

Bribing of the judges is encouraged. I like money, `poprocksandcharlotte likes Red Bull, =sonicbutterfly likes philosophy books and *poisonedrose likes hunky Spanish men.

The competition will open Saturday, the 31st of January (today, i.e. NOW) and end Midnight, the 7th of March (also a Saturday). No entries will be allowed after this point, but I will allow for different timezones.

This contest is open to any member of dA.

And finally: Enjoy!

And please: whore this out all you can!

Prizes

Donations of prizes would be very nice! If you're scratching for cash, journal features or critiques are perfectly fine

First Place:
1 year sub donated by me
A critique by the bountily-breasted `smoking-mirrors
1 month sub donated by the ravishing =sonicbutterfly
A drawing (any media) by the beautiful =lady-shirakawa

Second Place
3 month sub donated by the lovely =ashescry
A MYSTERIOUS PRIZE OF MYSTERY (up to $20 in worth) by the astonishing =Dancing-Naked


Third place:
3 month sub donated by the radiant *poisonedrose

All winners:

Journal features by the pentagram of sexiness: =sonicbutterfly, `smoking-mirrors, `GaioumonBatou, =orangefruits and ~TazzyDee


Judges