Flash Fiction Competitions

Notes on Creative Writing Institute Contest: Any style / genre but themed, so check website for full details - winners published on website - CLOSED, was a one-off

NOTE 1: I have received a number of complaints regarding this contest as they state: 'No swearing, profanity, explicit sexual scenes, graphic violence, LGBTQ' in their submission guidelines. It's the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and queer, or questioning) reference that is causing offense, as it seems discriminatory and prejudiced. I'm currently investigating this and will update the listing soon.

NOTE 2: I have finished my investigations. Below is my email correspondence with Deb, the competition administrator.  I thought it best to share the whole thing so that you can make up your own mind about the competition and the conduct/intentions of the people who run it.

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Hi Deb

I hope all is good with you.

I’m emailing you because I’ve received complaints about your flash fiction contest from my website users via email, Facebook and Twitter. You state 'No swearing, profanity, explicit sexual scenes, graphic violence, LGBTQ' in your submission guidelines. It's the LGBTQ reference that is causing offense, as it is being viewed as discriminatory and prejudiced. If this is the case, it is not something I will support on my website.

Please could you let me know why you view LGBTQ people as being in the same category as profanity, graphic violence and sexually explicit material, and why you have mentioned them in your subs guidelines? Also, please could you clarify if you accept entries from LGBTQ writers? If not, why not?

And if you have any other comments regarding this issue that explain your brand’s position, please do share them.

Many thanks, Chris

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Hi Chris,

We have had gays on staff and as students. We are not discriminating against gays. We are simply stating what kinds of stories we are looking for. As long as we hold the purse-strings, we will retain that right. I will not succumb to their shameful bullying tactics, nor will I spend any more time trying to reason with them.

At first, I listed the LGBTQ separately and they asked why I was singling them out, so I included it in the group and now they're complaining about that. They won't be satisfied until they run my contest their way.

I guess you'll have to figure out how far they can push you. So far as I am concerned, whether they are gays, Martians, or people of color, their rights end where mine begin.

If you're willing to take the plunge, I would appreciate your backing.

Very best, Deb

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Hi Deb

Thank you for your reply.

Just to be clear, are you saying you won’t accept stories with any LGBTQ characters? Or are you saying you don’t want any LGBTQ sex scenes/references?

I’m not being pushed or bullied. I found it surprising that you mentioned LTBTQ, to be honest. It comes across as being prejudiced against that group of people, whether that is the intention or not. Hence my query.

Cheers, Chris

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Hi Chris,

We are not specifying any particular train of thought. It should be sufficient to say we don't want LGBTQ stories. If I were to enter a contest and it said, "No stories about cats," I wouldn't put a cat in my story. This whole thing befuddles me.

Deb

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Hi Deb

OK, thanks for letting me know.

I feel the mention of LGBTQ singles out certain people, hence it’s causing offense. Singling out cats is not comparative, as cats are not capable of taking offence – they are not people.

Personally, I think that saying you don’t want any sexual content covers everything needed and is unlikely to cause offence to anyone. But that’s just my opinion.

I would add that I’m a firm believer in freedom of speech, so I’m not trying to tell you how to run your competition. I’m simply trying to determine if I want to be associated with it, by advertising it on my website.

I’ll give it some thought.

Cheers, Chris

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Thank you Chris. Everyone is welcome to enter the contest. You made a good suggestion and I will probably do that next year. Thanks very much.

Very best, Deb

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No problem, thanks Deb.

Cheers, Chris

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Have you decided where you stand?  :-)

You might want to check my front page. [CF: check link in main listing, the subs guidelines have been updated but still mention LGBTQ]

Best,

Deborah

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Hi Deb

I have given this some thought. To me, it comes across as prejudiced, even if that isn’t the intention. It’s like saying ‘no stories concerning Chinese people’ or ‘no stories concerning women’. I would regard these examples as racist/sexist and, therefore, discriminatory.

I will leave the listing on the site, but will add a note regarding the issue. At the end of the day, my users can make up their own minds if they wish to enter or not. But it’s not something I can support as it goes against my beliefs of acceptance and equality.

I’m swamped with work at the moment, but will update the site soon.

Cheers, Chris

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Chris, I'm so glad you believe in equality. You disagree, and I don't have a problem with that. God gives you that right and we are not here to take it away, but I have a question. Do we have the right to disagree? Do we not have the right to read what we choose? Gay writers are certainly welcome! I hope you'll rethink this. I know where your sympathies lie, but it doesn't bother me. I fail to see why this should trouble anyone. We are not exempting them. We are merely limiting content.

Thanks so much. I value our relationship.

Deborah

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Hi Deb

No problem at all.

In answer to your question, yes, I believe we do have the right to disagree. I respect the opinions of others, even if I don’t agree with them. You and I simply don’t agree on this point. I will leave the listing on the site and let people make up their own minds.

Cheers, Chris

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I will defend to the death your right to believe anything you want, Chris. Thank you for allowing me the same privilege.

Warmly,

Deb

Notes on Writers' HQ Contest: Any style / genre but themed, so check website for full details - in addition to cash prizes, Writers' HQ subscriptions are given away - winners published on website and maybe in a book too - CLOSED, was a one-off