Every quarter the Electric Dragon Cafe holds a writing contest. We provide a topic, photo or theme for your story. We do not insist that writers include the elements in any prominent way, but we appreciate ingenuity. We will judge each entry based on adherence to the topic, originality, and sheer entertainment value. The winning story will be published on our site, and the author will receive a twenty-five dollar gift certificate to Borders or Barnes and Noble because we believe that if an author does not want to spend prize money on books, then he, she, or it has no business writing. We may also publish any number of other entries that exemplify the spirit of the contest. Please read the official rules before you submit your work.

Official Contest Rules

1. All entries will be judged by the editors of ElectircDragonCafe.com. All types of science fiction, fantasy and horror with fantastic elements are welcome.
2. All entries must adhere to the current topic.
3. We reserve the right to disqualify any entry which includes foul language, sex or excessive violence. Elements which are essential to the story may not be considered excessive.
4. Entries must be original, unpublished works.
5. Entries must be received by 11:59 PM EST July 31st, 2009.
6. Entries will be judged and the winner notified by email or phone on or before August 25th, 2009. Winning entries will be posted on ElectricDragonCafe.com.
7. The winner will receive a $25 dollar gift certificate to either Borders or Barnes and Noble. Second place will receive a $10 certificate, and third place will receive an Electric Dragon Cafe writing journal from our online shoppe, not because we're cheap, but because we have very little capital.
8. No prizes will be awarded to authors who refuse publication. Stories will remain in publication until the completion of the next quarterly contest.

Current topic:
In today's uncertain global climate, with technology linking every corner of the map and ensuring that no stone will remain intact when the world's most powerful nations react to the sudden, sadly predictable nuclear onslaught from the worlds most unstable nations, the impending apocalypse can almost seem appealing. After all the red buttons of the world have been pressed, and the last set of matching keys has been turned in unison*, anarchy and freedom will become synonyms. What will you do if you are among the survivors? Will you build a new society, or quietly wait out the forces of chaos in a mountain cave? Whatever you choose, this quarter we want stories of hope that rise in the aftermath of Armageddon.

*Please note that it need not be nuclear war that ends our civilization. It could be anything, though we prefer you lay off global warming. Kevin Costner killed that as a viable plot device when he made Waterworld.

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