Member-Sponsored Feisty Women Flash Contest

Details

Let's celebrate women! Single women. Married women. Curvy women. Skinny women. Heck, let's even celebrate coming of age females. Stories where a character identifies as a woman are also welcome.

In 500 words or less, write a flash piece that focuses on a woman's strength. Her strength can range from emotional to physical. As long as she's handling her business it's all good. All genres are welcome, but keep horror / sci-fi on the lighter side. No excessive gore or hardcore science elements.

The main character should be a human female (or someone who identifies as one). It's okay if secondary characters are men, boys, aliens, vampires, werewolves etc. The protagonist should survive the story, though it's fine if she kills along the way.

This contest is in honor of Frances MacDowell who passed away on February 23, 2014. She was known as feisty. Hence the contest name.

In the spirit of empowerment, prizes are in the form of donations to Heifer International. Heifer International's mission is to work with communities to end world hunger and poverty and to care for the Earth. To learn more go to: http://www.heifer.org.

Here's a breakdown of how the prizes will provide for families in impoverished areas:

First place: Earth Gift Basket (Value $60)

A hive of bees and seedlings of trees are included in this earth-friendly package. Every Earth Gift Basket gives back by:

• Providing more efficient crop growth through pollination
• Preventing soil erosion and proving fodder for livestock
• Contributing to a better environment with cleaner all 

The benefits from the bees in this basket are twofold. The wax and honey they provide can be sold at market for extra income, and their pollination can create more and better fruits and vegetables. As the tree seedlings grow, their roots prevent soil erosion and create shade for animals. Mother Nature would certainly appreciate this thoughtful gift.

Second place: Honey Bees (Value $30)

A Heifer honeybee gift donation includes a bee package, hive, box and training in beekeeping techniques. When you buy bees for a family in need, your gift:

• Boosts income through sales of honey, wax and pollen
• Stimulates growth of the family’s crops through pollination

Sometimes it's the smallest gifts that make the largest impact. Healthy beehives can double fruit and vegetable yields of small farms. Let your honeybee donation turn a family's struggle into a lifetime of opportunity.

Third place: Flock of Ducks (Value $20)

Your gift of a flock of ducks gift provides project participants with a starter flock of ducklings. For millions around the world, duck eggs form the cornerstone of a healthy diet. Duck gifts benefit the family because they:

• Yield eggs and protein for nourishment
• Boost income through sales of ducks, their eggs, feathers and down

Ducks are good for people and for the environment. They rid the area of insects and weeds, and the eggs they lay provide protein for hungry families.

Thanks to your flock of ducks donation, families that begin with a starter flock can eventually manage hundreds of ducks. The money earned from selling the ducks and their eggs can afford a family the opportunity to send their children to school.

Winning entries

Winners have been announced! Log in to see them.

Prizes

Rules

• Entries must be received before midnight of Sunday, March 31st (UTC time) and the winners will be announced on April 15th, 2014.

• Entries must be no more than 500 words per Scribophile's count.

• Multiple entries are not allowed.

• Work must have Public visibility on Scribophile until a winner is announced.

Submission guidelines

• To enter the contest, post your work on Scribophile and check the box that says "Enter this work into the Member-Sponsored Feisty Women Flash Contest." Your work will automatically be considered. The checkbox will be visible until the contest deadline, which is in UTC time.

• Entry is free, but you'll need karma points to post your work. You can earn karma points by writing critiques of work by other members.

• If you have placed in a contest in the past with a particular piece, you may not resubmit that piece in this contest.