Challenge Guidelines and Prize Info

Drabble Challenges

Drabbles should be exactly 100 words in length (not counting the title).
Series and related drabbles are okay, but each drabble must also be able to stand as a complete story by itself.
The prompt can be used literally or symbolically.
A new challenge will be posted every few weeks.

Challenges listed as "(author's choice)" require the author to choose a prompt, within the parameters specified (eg "day of the week", "song title", etc).
Challenges listed as "(special)" have additional rules or requirements that must be met (eg "drabble must rhyme", etc).

All ten challenge words must be included in the drabble text.
The exact words must be used (alternate forms don't count).
Drabble may be written for any prompt, as an entry or alternate (flash writings do not qualify).
If more than one drabble is written by the same author using the same challenge words, the additional drabbles will not qualify for the Bonus Challenge.
New challenge words will be randomly-selected periodically.

Flash Writings may be based on any Drabble Challenge prompt (as long as the author has also submitted a drabble for that prompt).
Flash Writings should be exactly 500 or 1000 words in length (not counting the title).
Flash Writings may be included in series, but each flash must also be able to stand as a complete story by itself.
The prompt can be used literally or symbolically.

Some older Flash Writings may be between 100 and 1000 words (instead of exactly 500 or 1000), due to the fact that the original flash guidelines were less specific.

Awarded to the Author who has written the most new drabbles (entries and/or alts) - Must have Gold Star to be eligible for this prize
Awarded to the Author who has written the most new drabble entries - Must have written a drabble for the current prompt to be eligible for this prize
Awarded to the Author who wrote the first drabble for the current prompt
Awarded to Authors who have written drabbles for all prompts
Awarded to Authors who have written drabbles for all prompts since joining
Awarded to Authors who have written drabbles for all prompts this year
Awarded to the Author who wrote the first drabble using the current bonus challenge words
Awarded to other Authors who have written a drabble using the current bonus challenge words
The Author who suggests the current challenge prompt gets a cookie

If the Author who receives the Gold Crown has also written the most total drabbles (entries and/or alts), this Ornate version will be awarded instead - Must have Gold Star to be eligible
If the Author who recieves the Trophy also wrote the first alt for the current prompt, this Plus version will be awarded instead - Must also have Gold Star to be eligible for this version
If the Author who receives the Gold Medal has also written drabbles for all bonus challenges, this Blue Ribbon version will be awarded instead
If any Author who receives a Silver Medal has also written drabbles for all bonus challenges, this Blue Ribbon version will be awarded instead

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