Reposting this. -- Erin

That's right! I'm jumping the gun just a bit, and it's time to announce...

BCTS July 2018 Story Contest: Staycation

It's time our stories got with the times, isn't it? The modern budget-conscious among us don't do "vacations" any more (or at least that's what the media and news feeds seem to tell me.) Instead, what's in is the Staycation: taking your vacation time and, instead of exhausting yourself traveling and fighting with the kids and traffic and paying out lots of money, simply relaxing at home, doing your own thing and being decadent. Topical relevance, hurrah!

And thus, onto the particulars:

-Entries must be posted between July 1st and July 31st 2018 depending on your region. I'm trusting y'all to keep yerselves honest on this one.
-Entries must feature an LGBTQ character in a prominent role in the tale and (obviously) play upon the theme of a "staycation."
-As per usual for my contests, entries must be complete in one posting: no serials, multi-parters, or continuations of other tales.
-While there is no hard rating limitation this time around, I'd personally prefer not to read anything beyond a moderate "R," just so it's said.

Votes will be tallied the first weekend of August, and yet again highest kudos/thumbs up wins, and the prize for the top two authors will be subscriptions to the hatbox. In ADDITION to the prizes, however, I will also donate an additional 1 dollar to the hatbox for every (qualified) entry we receive, up to an arbitrary amount determined at vote counting time (read: however much I can reasonably afford at the time past the cost of prizes.) So, if you want to give to the site and can't afford to right now, chip in on the contest; your entry will help to keep this wonderful place of ours around!

So, what are y'all waitin' for? Pour yourselves a big glass of iced tea, start your own staycation, and write on!

Melanie E.

NOTE: I have had concerns expressed during my last competition concerning the emphasis on single-posting, complete stories. There are a number of reasons I prefer this format for entries, but rest assured: over the next few months I will give authors who prefer to write serialized pieces an opportunity to do so :) Let it not be said I am unfair!