The competition

You are invited to write a fantasy short story between 1,500 and 3000 words.

So how does it work?

  • Caladria provides three themes. Choose one of these for your story.
  • You can enter as many times as you want before closing date.
  • Your story must take place on the fantasy world of Caladria (www.caladria.com). Sufficient briefing about Caladria is included here, but if you register in the world you will gain access to several free publications containing information that might help you further.
  • Entry is FREE.

So what are the Prizes?

The winner will receive a £25 Amazon digital giftcard and his or her story will appear in our e-zine Fab Fables.

The stories of two runners-up will appear in Fab Fables.

Additionally, all stories published in Fab Fables receive a commission from the revenue received for that issue.

Timetable

DEADLINE: May 31st, 2015.

How to enter

  • Entry is by email.
  • Please type your entry in double-line spacing and export content into RTF, DOC or TXT format.
  • Call the attachment by your name and the number of the theme you have chosen e.g. 1 Marjorie Smith.* Do not put your name on the actual entry.
  • Include the following details in the body of your email: your name, the number of the theme, and number of words.
  • Send your entries, titled ‘Caladria Competition Entry’ to (leah@caladria.com).

Rules:

  • Entries must be in English and entirely your own work.
  • You can enter as many times as you wish, but each entry must be sent on separate emails.
  • The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
  • Entries not complying with the competition rules will be disqualified.
  • Copyright of stories published in Fab Fables belongs to www.caladria.com. While copyright of stories not published in Fab Fables remains with the author, no content can be published about Caladria without permission.
  • Winners will be notified by email.
  • By entering the competition you agree that from time to time www.caladria.com may mail you with news (including other competitions).

The Themes for the Competition’s Stories

Theme 1

Two dragons, brother and sister, have an uneasy truce with each other. They have hit on a way to gain food without effort. One dragon guards a bridge over a dry river bed upstream, the other does the same for a downstream crossing over the same dry river bed. They exact tolls (in the form of food) from the goblins who cross the river. It has always cost the same to use either crossing. An entrepreneurial goblin, using his knowledge that the two dragons do not really get on, persuades one of them to take less food for the crossing. Soon all traffic uses the cheaper bridge. The other dragon is not amused (and hungry).

Theme 2

The goblin matriarchy has decided that a mate for their most attractive female should come from outside the village. They despatch a party to find a candidate and await their return with much excitement and anticipation. The party arrives bringing a goblin whose physical characteristics differ significantly from those in the village. Consternation! To accept him would add an unwanted difference to their society, but they cannot return him because they would lose face.

Theme 3

For years a dragon has ruled the island, but he has grown old and tired. A hard, tough young female dragon has arrived and laid down a challenge for his domain. Tomorrow, a fight to the death will occur. The old dragon does not feel confident. As he dozes, a deputation arrives from the goblins that he has allowed to settle in the island. They show him a liquid which they suggest will cause the young female to accept him as a mate, not a rival. While remembering that he should not always trust goblins, the dragon considers which of the two fates would suit him better.

Learn more about the setting of the island of Molai here and a bunch of maps here

Visit the website:  http://blog.caladria.com/post/115197583382/enter-caladrias-free-fantasy-short-story