18th Annual Dead of Winter short fiction contest

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Posted on October 1, 2018 by TC Editors

Stories submitted to the 18th Annual Dead of Winter contest (December 2018) will use one or both of the following themes: THE PODCAST or THE AWARD. Your entry must follow guidelines linked below.

This year’s themes are inspired by the contest judges. In 2018, both have been nominated for and/or won an award. Plus, we like podcasts and want to read about them. We couldn’t decide so, as we did ten years ago, we decided to offer multiple themes to choose from.

SPECIAL:

Your entry will not only follow one or both themes but will also use them in a central way, not as a peripheral or “dropped in” detail. For example, the award may be a physical object or a title (like a knighthood or an honorary degree). It could be a heavy object used as a weapon or a medal in an old trunk. Keep in mind that “podcast award” will likely be an often-used theme and that you want your story to stand out. Of course, you’re welcome to go that route.

Please give your story a unique title, not “The Podcast” or “The Award.”

EVERY YEAR:

Stories MUST be based on the theme provided.
Stories MUST be set in winter.
Stories MUST fall in the horror genre
The word count range for DOW2018 is 3000–5000 words.

HOW TO ENTER:

The contest opens October 1, 2018 and the deadline for submission is 11:59 PM ET December 21, 2018.

Email entries to dow2018[at]toasted-cheese.com with the subject line:
Dead of Winter Contest Entry

Follow general contest guidelines and general Dead of Winter guidelines

September 2018
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on September 30, 2018 by TC Editors

Write about an unfortunate bruise.
Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
1. Use the following five words: bell, greeting, fastidious, mild, tongue.
2. Use the phrase: “Lunchtime, tomorrow.”
3. Write about unwittingly doing something the same every time.
Write about faint remnants of something that was erased.
Use these 5 words: nice, support, shop, bleach, quirky.
Narrator contemplates their reflection in a shiny ball.
Your antagonist is named Lianna Acosta.
Use the phrase “You’re safe here with me.”
Your antagonist is a funeral director.
Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
1. Use the following five words: drawing, win, posture, half, resource.
2. Use the phrase: “That looks ominous.”
3. Write about someone who hasn’t been seen in a long time.
Use these 5 words: squirrel, quill, earthquake, space, question.
Write about doing something with the other hand.
Write about not receiving an apology.
Answer a question with another question.
Use these 5 words: hunting, brainstorm, secondary, vetted, calamity.
Write about being barefoot in the office.
Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
1. Use the following five words: dragon, research, diplomat, carrot, strap.
2. Use the phrase: “Good luck with the dog [or other animal].”
3. Write about an unnecessary goodbye.
Write about counting down to the last time something happens.
Start with this line of dialogue: “Remember how I hugged you?”
Write about finishing up chores to make time for…
Write about why you love yourself.
Write about a blank book.
Write about a stolen victory.
Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
1. Use the following five words: housing, bench, publicity, recover, clay.
2. Use the phrase: “It’s remarkably quiet.”
3. Write about getting confused by some numbers.
Use these 5 words: novel, creativity, venture, pannier, excavate.
Write about accidental harassment.
Your protagonist is a cinematographer.
Use the phrase “Blue envy.”
Start with this line of dialogue: “Smell the water.”
Use the phrase, “Didn’t I just do that?”
Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
1. Use the following five words: wisecrack, occasion, turn, snow, border.
2. Use the phrase: “The end of the month.”
3. Write about discarding old things.

Three Cheers and a Tiger Fall 2018 is CLOSED

Posted on September 21, 2018 by TC Editors

This fall’s topic is: A Contest!

Write a fantasy or science fiction story between 3500 and 4500 words about a contest! Your contest can be winner take all; win, place, show; or first, second, third. Whatever the outcome, there must be a contest must be heavily featured in your story.

Be sure to read both the Three Cheers and a Tiger contest rules and the general contest guidelines before submitting your entry.

Your 48 hours start now. Good luck!

Toasted Cheese 18:3

Featured

Posted on September 1, 2018 by TC Editors

The September 2018 issue of Toasted Cheese features poetry by Clara Burghelea, John Grey, Erren Kelly, K.M. Lighthouse, D.W. Moody, Jared Pearce, Donna Pucciani & Diane Webster; flash by Olga Dermott-Bond, Mike Dillon, Amie E. Reilly & Alicia Zhang; fiction by Hayley N. Jones, Mark Joseph Kevlock, Gwenda Major, Thaddeus Rutkowski & Dana Verdino and creative nonfiction by Marsa Laird.

TC 18:3 also includes the 2018 A Midsummer Tale Writing Contest winning stories by Sarah Evans, Mike Wang & Lou Nell Gerard.

At Candle-Ends, Shelley Carpenter reviews Ms. Anna by Bill Lockwood and Tony Press reviews New Micro: Exceptionally Short Stories edited by James Thomas and Robert Scotellaro.

This issue’s Snark Zone is by Theryn “Beaver” Fleming.

The cover image is by Nakeva Corothers on Flickr, with additional photos by photographers around the world, all of whom have generously made their work available for use under Creative Commons licenses. Please click through and check out their photostreams.

Congratulations to all. Happy reading!

August 2018
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on August 31, 2018 by TC Editors

Write about a civic holiday or commemoration.
Include a character who is a model.
An unorthodox way of doing calculations
Write about an origin story.
Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
1. Use the following five words: cheese, grace, qualification, peak, rider.
2. Use the phrase: “long tail feathers.”
3. Write about struggling to stay awake.
Start with this line of dialogue: “It’s not perfect, but…”
What to do when the internet is down.
Use the following phrase: the largest in history
“They’re all odd numbers.”
Use these 5 words: conjunctivitis, metropolis, leviathan, gnash, slippery.
“This doesn’t look very random to me.”
Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
1. Use the following five words: irony, apathy, ceiling, sandwich, process.
2. Use the phrase: “That’s not what we expected.”
3. Write about very strange or extreme weather.
“You need to learn to lie with sincerity.”
Use the following phrase: according to multiple sources
“Last question: Where shall we have lunch?”
Your protagonist is an architect.
Write about an afternoon nap.
Write about denying the truth.
Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
1. Use the following five words: candle, countryside, bring, copy, prize.
2. Use the phrase: “That’s pretty strong.”
3. Write about a stuffed animal.
Use the following phrase: tricky questions
Write about pulling the plug for the last time.
Use the following phrase: police find arm at sea
“What’s it like, driving a behemoth?”
Use these 5 words: bump, warm, deliver, misty, probable.
“Remind me why we’re doing this?”
Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
1. Use the following five words: section, calendar, note, beautiful, exact.
2. Use the phrase: “We’re not late, yet.”
3. Write about watching someone sleep.
Include a character who’s neither male nor female.
Start with this line of dialogue: “What the f–k just happened?”
Write about trying to understand someone on a noisy connection.
Write about what scares you most.
“How many days is it since he left?”

July 2018
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on July 31, 2018 by TC Editors

Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
1. Use the following five words: inspire, sister, wall, relationship, breed.
2. Use the phrase: “A riddle wrapped in a mystery.”
3. Write about an idea with the potential to change everything.
Start with this line of dialogue: “I don’t ask for much.”
“We were not expecting that.”
Use these 5 words: quotidian, percussive, Freudian slip, toque, outshine.
Write about an unfortunate anniversary
Use the following phrase: an undercover sting
“I just did it. It’s not my turn.”
Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
1. Use the following five words: crude, wife, dictate, training, attract.
2. Use the phrase: “You have to unlock it.”
3. Write about calling people names.
Write about wondering what the instructions mean.
Use these 5 words: side step, chocolatier, flibbertigibbet, tromp, brute.
Discuss spelling of nonsense sounds.
Use these 5 words: tub, scrawny, cough, room, disapprove.
Write about Friday the 13th.
Write about a quick decision.
Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
1. Use the following five words: point, sketch, ignite, suffering, short circuit.
2. Use the phrase: “It’s no trouble at all.”
3. Write about sloshing liquid.
Your protagonist is a general practitioner.
Your character cusses creatively
Include a character who is a bookmaker.
Start with “Next year at this time…”
Start with this line of dialogue: “I miss everyone already.”
“You’d think we’d know how to do this by now.”
Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
1. Use the following five words: train, dump, useful, sustain, total.
2. Use the phrase: “All the towels are wet.”
3. Write about waiting for somebody who’s late.
“Even numbers, odd numbers, and the rest of them.”
Use the following phrase: people camping in their backyard
“I did the whole thing in one sitting.”
Use the following phrase: standing room only
Use the phrase, “Only one mistake.”
Write about taking a chance.
Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
1. Use the following five words: buffet, neck, overlook, aware, conscience.
2. Use the phrase: “Crunching on the gravel.”
3. Write about borrowing something from a neighbor or friend.
Use the following phrase: thirty days of heart opening
“There isn’t room for all the digits.”

2018 A Midsummer Tale Winners

Posted on July 31, 2018 by TC Editors

Toasted Cheese is happy to announce the winners of the 2018 A Midsummer Tale Narrative Writing Contest.

1st: “Seven Disconnected Facts About the Human Heart” by Sarah Evans
2nd: “10 O’Clock” by Mike Wang
3rd: “Derecho” by Lou Nell Gerard

Congratulations!

First place receives a $50 Amazon gift card, second place a $15 Amazon gift card, and third place a $10 Amazon gift card. The top three stories will appear in the September issue of Toasted Cheese.

Kudos to everyone who entered! We received more than 60 entries this year and enjoyed reading your creative takes on the theme of “thunderstorms.” We hope you’ll join us for A Midsummer Tale again in 2019 and that you’ll pass the contest info along to your writing friends! Next summer’s theme will be announced April 1, 2019.

Our next contest is the fall Three Cheers and a Tiger writing contest, which runs the weekend of September 21-23. See our contest page for details.

June 2018
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on June 30, 2018 by TC Editors

Begin with “Starting today…”
Your protagonist is named Najla Mahmood.
Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
1. Use the following five words: formulate, outfit, ensure, rear, rabbit.
2. Fill in the blank: “It seems a little _______ for this time of year.”
3. Write about two friends of your character who don’t get along.
Use the following phrase: egg-free scrambled eggs
Write about a friend in trouble.
Use these 5 words: kiss, morning, live, zipper, material.
“Is that a threat? Or a promise?”
Your antagonist is named Channary Chanthavong.
Use the phrase “They presumably know that.”
Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
1. Use the following five words: press, false, yard, exposure, damage.
2. Fill in the blank: “I learned a lot about being human from _______ .”
3. Write about a rite of passage.
Use the phrase “Tell me more lies.”
Include a character who is a software engineer.
Use the phrase “What was I thinking?”
Your antagonist is a bus driver.
“You’ve confused me with someone else.”
Your antagonist is a janitor.
Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
1. Use the following five words: jury, wash, worker, ambiguous, latest.
2. Answer an either/or question with “yes” or “no.”
3. Write about not celebrating a holiday.
Start with this line of dialogue: “Look at these pies!”
Use the phrase, “What are you talking about?”
Use these 5 words: sunken, raspberry, ampersand, zombify, temerity.
Write about changing seasons.
Your protagonist is a psychologist.
“This is like a maze… I’m lost.”
Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
1. Use the following five words: outside, available, national, heel, contrast.
2. Use the phrase: “culture seems foreign.”
3. Write about a flower.
“You’re up early…”
Start with this line of dialogue: “I believe the allegations are true.”
Write about a gathering storm.
Start with this line of dialogue: “Look at this nice letter!”
A long-deferred vacation
Use the following phrase: a major advancement in technology

Toasted Cheese 18:2

Posted on June 1, 2018 by TC Editors

The June 2018 issue of Toasted Cheese features poetry by Devon Balwit, Emile Benoit, Katherine Davis, Kenneth Pobo, Kurt Rasmussen, Susan Richardson, Alex Stolis, Rodd Whelpley, Christine Wright & Margaret Young; flash by Erica Plouffe Lazure, Kimberly Lee, Rolf Samuels, Jamie L. Sawyers, John Carr Walker & Becca Yenser; fiction by Penny Frances & Joseph McGrail and creative nonfiction by Zixu Fan.

TC 18:2 also includes the Spring 2018 Three Cheers and a Tiger Writing Contest winning stories by Jill Spencer, Zachary Turner & Josh Flores.

At Candle-Ends, Shelley Carpenter reviews Necessary Lies by Richard Edgar, Bill Gaythwaite reviews Mr. Neutron by Joe Ponepinto, and Bill Lockwood reviews Laughter and Early Sorrow and Other Stories by Brett Busang.

This issue’s Snark Zone is by Theryn “Beaver” Fleming.

The cover image is by RichardBH on Flickr, with additional photos by photographers around the world, all of whom have generously made their work available for use under Creative Commons licenses. Please click through and check out their photostreams.

Congratulations to all. Happy reading!

May 2018
Daily Writing Prompts

Posted on May 31, 2018 by TC Editors

“Mayday! Mayday!”
Start with this line of dialogue: “Look no further!”
“There will be a price to pay.”
Write about sharing war stories.
“Be quiet, both of you, and work together.”
Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
1. Use the following five words: applied, orchestra, hang, recognize, penalty.
2. Write about a picture of home.
3. Use the phrase “any time now.”
“It’s chilly in the cave.”
Use the following phrase: thunderbolts and lightning
Write about using the wind to advantage.
Use the following phrase: already has my heart
A new building, without windows.
Your protagonist is named Prashansa Iyer.
Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
1. Use the following five words: common, noble, threshold, glance, jelly.
2. Write about doing something another person doesn’t approve of.
3. Use the phrase, “Are you my mother?”
Use the following phrase: a monarchy with racist baggage
Write about a character who’s illiterate.
Your protagonist is a criminal.
Alone, after the memorial service.
Use these 5 words: repent, colleague, siphon, weeping willow, wholesale.
Use the phrase “Let me handle this.”
Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
1. Use the following five words: discover, shift, snack, orthodox, magnitude.
2. Fill in the blank: “I’m too _______ for this kind of thing.”
3. Use the phrase, “Quickly. It’s starting to rain.”
An unfortunate anniversary.
Use these 5 words: keelhaul, vigorous, uncivilized, topnotch, avatar.
“Stay tuned, you’ll see.”
Your antagonist is a sailboat captain.
Write about a poor translation.
Use the following phrase: as far as Mars–and beyond
Get today’s prompts on Twitter.
1. Use the following five words: provincial, load, market, gene, conclusion.
2. Fill in the blank: “I like this so much I could just _______.”
3. Write about making contact with a long-lost friend or family member.
Use these 5 words: popcorn, voyage, dashing, mature, symptomatic.
Write a ten-minute play.
Start with this line of dialogue: “You may know her from…”
“Last person out, please turn out the lights.”

Toasted Cheese

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Author Archives: TC Editors

18th Annual Dead of Winter short fiction contest

Featured

September 2018
Daily Writing Prompts

Three Cheers and a Tiger Fall 2018 is CLOSED

Toasted Cheese 18:3

Featured

August 2018
Daily Writing Prompts

July 2018
Daily Writing Prompts

2018 A Midsummer Tale Winners

June 2018
Daily Writing Prompts

Toasted Cheese 18:2

May 2018
Daily Writing Prompts

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