I attach details of a short story competition which could (I suspect) benefit from the Literotica treatment!
End of Story www.bbc.co.uk/endofstory
We've got eight best-selling authors who've written the beginning of eight short stories, How do they end? Well, that's up to you! Here's how the End of Story competition rolls out over the coming months.
25th March - Launch of the End of Story website
On the authors' pages, there's a short extract of each of their stories so you can get a flavour of what to expect when the stories are available to download from the site.
Enter your email address in the box on the individual authors' pages and we'll let you know when you can download your chosen author's story. You can only submit one entry.
Please note: You must be a UK resident to enter the End of Story competition You can all stay with me!
If you'd like advice on how to write a short story, check out the Get Writing site.
If you'd like to keep a video diary of your experience writing your ending, email us with your details.
18th April - The first End of Story programme on BBC Three and BBC Two
The End of Story launch programme will be broadcast on BBC Three at 9pm and repeated on BBC Two at 10pm.
19th April - The End of Story Treasure Hunt
20,000 copies of the End of Story book containing all eight stories will be placed in various locations throughout the UK. To find out where the books are in an area near to you, go to a new section on the website called Book drop. This will contain a map with clues as to where the books are placed. If you're one of the lucky people who find a book, you will get an extra two weeks to write your ending ahead of those who wait to download the stories from the website. So get hunting from the 19th and get cracking on your ending!
We're looking for endings of around 1200 words so don't send us an epic!
If you'd like some advice on how to write short stories, get along to one of the writing workshops taking place around the country. If you go to a workshop you'll also be able to get your hands on one of the End of Story books.
2nd May - Authors' stories on the website
All the authors' stories will be available to download on the End of Story site. If you've signed up on the authors' page, we'll let you know that the story you've chosen to complete is available for download.
Go to your chosen author's page to download the story. Print your chosen story and the entry form and don't forget to read the competition rules.
Your entry should be sent to us in hard copy. It should be double spaced on single sides of A4 and we need TWO copies please. We won't accept electronic entries. Don't forget to sign the cover sheet to show you have read and agreed to the competition rules.
Send your entry to:
End of Story, PO Box 5, Manchester, M60 3GE
Please take the time to read the competition Terms & Conditions
Please note: This competition is only open to UK residents
31st May - Competition closes
The last day for receiving entries to the End of Story competition.
Our panel of judges will sift through the entries and choose the best three endings of the stories by each of the authors.
September 2004 - End of Story programmes broadcast on BBC Three
Eight End of Story programmes will be broadcast on BBC Three - one for each of the featured authors. The three entrants shortlisted by the judges for each author will feature in these programmes.
The winner will be chosen by the author whose story they completed.
Prizes
Winners receive a hand-bound copy of their complete story. They will also get to spend time with their chosen author.
Selected stories will be recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio 4.
Terms & Conditions
Please ensure that you have read, and agreed to the following rules and entrant's agreement. If you enter the competition we will take it that you have read, and agree to abide by, these rules.
The story must be:
" The ending to one of the eight short stories which have been written for End of Story
" Your own work, original and unpublished
" Maximum of 1,200 words in length, and typed legibly, with double spacing, on single sides of A4, submissions exceeding this length will be disqualified
" Sent, two hard copies, to End of Story, PO Box 5, Manchester, M60 3GE by Monday 31st of May; entries received after that date, or on e-mail, will be automatically disqualified
" Accompanied by a completed covering sheet, including your name, address, daytime telephone number and the name of the author and short story you have chosen to complete.
You must be:
" Over 16 years of age, as at Monday 31st of May.
" A UK resident
" Not a professional author
" Without a conviction which entails current incarceration
Essential
Please put the following information on a separate sheet of paper at the front of your competition entry.
The BBC will only ever use your personal details for the purposes of administering this competition, and will not publish them or provide them to anyone without your permission. If you would like to know more about the BBC's privacy policy, please visit the website, www.bbc.co.uk/privacy
Name
Home address
Home phone number
Mobile number (where applicable)
Daytime contact number
E Mail address (where applicable)
Short story chosen (ie Rankin's, Weldon's)
Word Count
I have read, and agree to abide by the competition rules and entrants agreement
Signature
Voluntary Information
We would also like to know a little bit more about you, and why you have entered this competition. The following information requests are entirely voluntary and not answering them will not affect the judging of your story. The information will be treated in the strictest confidence.
" Your age as of entrance date
" Your sex
" How did you hear about the competition?
" Ethnic origin
" Do you have ambitions to be a professional writer?
" Why have you chosen to enter the competition?
" Why did you select the story you have chosen?
Entrant's Agreement
By submitting a story you grant to the BBC a perpetual, royalty-free, non-exclusive, license to sub-edit, publish, make available and distribute your story throughout the world on any BBC media now known or hereafter invented throughout the universe.
In submitting a story, you agree that if you are selected as one of the finalists you will work with the BBC Production team for the production of the forthcoming associated TV series. The finalists must be available for a limited amount of filming, may be required to take part in publicity and be able to travel to UK locations during summer 2004.
The stories can only be submitted by post to the following address, End of Story, PO Box 5, Manchester, M60 3GE. The BBC does not accept any responsibility for late or lost entries. Proof of sending is not proof of receipt.
Only one entry will be accepted per person.
Please make us aware of any past or current convictions.
No entry can be returned.
Entries must be within the boundaries of acceptable taste, language and decency.
The entries will be judged by a professional team of readers and experts who will select a short-list of winning entries for each story, on the basis of their originality and appropriateness in providing an ending. The author will make the final decision from the short-list. The BBC's decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
All stories may be published on the End of Story website on BBCi
End of Story www.bbc.co.uk/endofstory
We've got eight best-selling authors who've written the beginning of eight short stories, How do they end? Well, that's up to you! Here's how the End of Story competition rolls out over the coming months.
25th March - Launch of the End of Story website
On the authors' pages, there's a short extract of each of their stories so you can get a flavour of what to expect when the stories are available to download from the site.
Enter your email address in the box on the individual authors' pages and we'll let you know when you can download your chosen author's story. You can only submit one entry.
Please note: You must be a UK resident to enter the End of Story competition You can all stay with me!
If you'd like advice on how to write a short story, check out the Get Writing site.
If you'd like to keep a video diary of your experience writing your ending, email us with your details.
18th April - The first End of Story programme on BBC Three and BBC Two
The End of Story launch programme will be broadcast on BBC Three at 9pm and repeated on BBC Two at 10pm.
19th April - The End of Story Treasure Hunt
20,000 copies of the End of Story book containing all eight stories will be placed in various locations throughout the UK. To find out where the books are in an area near to you, go to a new section on the website called Book drop. This will contain a map with clues as to where the books are placed. If you're one of the lucky people who find a book, you will get an extra two weeks to write your ending ahead of those who wait to download the stories from the website. So get hunting from the 19th and get cracking on your ending!
We're looking for endings of around 1200 words so don't send us an epic!
If you'd like some advice on how to write short stories, get along to one of the writing workshops taking place around the country. If you go to a workshop you'll also be able to get your hands on one of the End of Story books.
2nd May - Authors' stories on the website
All the authors' stories will be available to download on the End of Story site. If you've signed up on the authors' page, we'll let you know that the story you've chosen to complete is available for download.
Go to your chosen author's page to download the story. Print your chosen story and the entry form and don't forget to read the competition rules.
Your entry should be sent to us in hard copy. It should be double spaced on single sides of A4 and we need TWO copies please. We won't accept electronic entries. Don't forget to sign the cover sheet to show you have read and agreed to the competition rules.
Send your entry to:
End of Story, PO Box 5, Manchester, M60 3GE
Please take the time to read the competition Terms & Conditions
Please note: This competition is only open to UK residents
31st May - Competition closes
The last day for receiving entries to the End of Story competition.
Our panel of judges will sift through the entries and choose the best three endings of the stories by each of the authors.
September 2004 - End of Story programmes broadcast on BBC Three
Eight End of Story programmes will be broadcast on BBC Three - one for each of the featured authors. The three entrants shortlisted by the judges for each author will feature in these programmes.
The winner will be chosen by the author whose story they completed.
Prizes
Winners receive a hand-bound copy of their complete story. They will also get to spend time with their chosen author.
Selected stories will be recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio 4.
Terms & Conditions
Please ensure that you have read, and agreed to the following rules and entrant's agreement. If you enter the competition we will take it that you have read, and agree to abide by, these rules.
The story must be:
" The ending to one of the eight short stories which have been written for End of Story
" Your own work, original and unpublished
" Maximum of 1,200 words in length, and typed legibly, with double spacing, on single sides of A4, submissions exceeding this length will be disqualified
" Sent, two hard copies, to End of Story, PO Box 5, Manchester, M60 3GE by Monday 31st of May; entries received after that date, or on e-mail, will be automatically disqualified
" Accompanied by a completed covering sheet, including your name, address, daytime telephone number and the name of the author and short story you have chosen to complete.
You must be:
" Over 16 years of age, as at Monday 31st of May.
" A UK resident
" Not a professional author
" Without a conviction which entails current incarceration
Essential
Please put the following information on a separate sheet of paper at the front of your competition entry.
The BBC will only ever use your personal details for the purposes of administering this competition, and will not publish them or provide them to anyone without your permission. If you would like to know more about the BBC's privacy policy, please visit the website, www.bbc.co.uk/privacy
Name
Home address
Home phone number
Mobile number (where applicable)
Daytime contact number
E Mail address (where applicable)
Short story chosen (ie Rankin's, Weldon's)
Word Count
I have read, and agree to abide by the competition rules and entrants agreement
Signature
Voluntary Information
We would also like to know a little bit more about you, and why you have entered this competition. The following information requests are entirely voluntary and not answering them will not affect the judging of your story. The information will be treated in the strictest confidence.
" Your age as of entrance date
" Your sex
" How did you hear about the competition?
" Ethnic origin
" Do you have ambitions to be a professional writer?
" Why have you chosen to enter the competition?
" Why did you select the story you have chosen?
Entrant's Agreement
By submitting a story you grant to the BBC a perpetual, royalty-free, non-exclusive, license to sub-edit, publish, make available and distribute your story throughout the world on any BBC media now known or hereafter invented throughout the universe.
In submitting a story, you agree that if you are selected as one of the finalists you will work with the BBC Production team for the production of the forthcoming associated TV series. The finalists must be available for a limited amount of filming, may be required to take part in publicity and be able to travel to UK locations during summer 2004.
The stories can only be submitted by post to the following address, End of Story, PO Box 5, Manchester, M60 3GE. The BBC does not accept any responsibility for late or lost entries. Proof of sending is not proof of receipt.
Only one entry will be accepted per person.
Please make us aware of any past or current convictions.
No entry can be returned.
Entries must be within the boundaries of acceptable taste, language and decency.
The entries will be judged by a professional team of readers and experts who will select a short-list of winning entries for each story, on the basis of their originality and appropriateness in providing an ending. The author will make the final decision from the short-list. The BBC's decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
All stories may be published on the End of Story website on BBCi
