Mardi Gras Competition

Mardi Gras

The French name Mardi Gras means Fat Tuesday, from the custom of using all the fats in the home before Lent in preparation for fasting and abstinence. That is not necessarily what we first think of when we hear Mardi Gras. 

That would be bright colors of purple, green, and gold, lavish costumes, and intricate masks. The parades and parties, losing your inhibitions and stepping out of your comfort zone. Let’s not forget the music! 

Mardi Gras is your theme. What does it make you think of, adventurous times, party after party, scary masks, and what lies beneath?  Make it your celebration. 

All topics are open except for micro, flash, play, poetry, and song.

Quick Facts:

You cannot submit already published work.

All Stories Space rules and guidelines apply.lw508rg7DmwH6IXq

The minimum word count is 1000.

The ending date is February 21, 2023

The winners will be announced on March 1, 2023

Prizes:

First: $150 (USD)

Second: $75 (USD

Third: $50 (USD)

Have fun and if you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask!

I actually visited the Mardi Gras exhibit at the Louisiana State Museum on Tuesday so have some inspiration in hand. This should be a fun comp.

I did spend a night in jail during Mardi Gras, back in the day....

Quote by verbal

I did spend a night in jail during Mardi Gras, back in the day....

That might make a better story than anything I come up with. 😜 Or was it a boring thing you did to get the NOPD pissed at you.

This looks fun! I may have to peek through my NOLA pix from a few years back to see if any spark an idea for me.

Quote by Molly
Quick Facts:

You cannot submit already published work.

All Stories Space rules and guidelines apply.zAlBUrO0H72z20Bs

The minimum word count is 1000.

Is there a maximum word count? 200,000 for instance?

Quote by JamesPBear

Is there a maximum word count? 200,000 for instance?

The standard 10,000 since we don't post stories over 10,000.

Quote by verbal

I did spend a night in jail during Mardi Gras, back in the day....

Now I so want to know more about how that came to pass.

As always things are a little different down under, Mardi Gras is synonymous with a celebration of the rainbow community cumulating in the LGBTQI Mardi Gras Parade. A writing well I have drawn from before. But, lol, I suppose I can't just polish this a little and submit:

Finding Pride on Oxford Street

Quote by CuriousAnnie
Mardi Gras is synonymous with a celebration of the rainbow community cumulating in the LGBTQI Mardi Gras Parade

There are LGBTQ+ krewes in New Orleans' Mardi Gras, too. The museum had artifacts from some of them.

Quote by Mendalla

That might make a better story than anything I come up with. 😜 Or was it a boring thing you did to get the NOPD pissed at you.

It's a surprisingly dull story.

What a great theme! Thanks, Molly! I can't wait to read y'alls takes on this theme. Some day I'm gonna go to Mardi Gras 😀

I have an idea ... of course it might star a critter of some kind

... when have you known me not to include an animal as the star

We have our first entry!

OpheliaTusk - https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/speculative-fiction/earned-my-beads-on-downing-street

“Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler!!” Or as they say in The Big Easy….Let the Good Times Roll! This is going to be a fun comp! 🎉🎉🎉🥂🥂💐💐💐👑👑👑

It would be more fun if I could figure out where my story wants to go. I have a beginning but not sure where to go from there.

Okay, I am taking a shot at telling my non-fiction adventures in NO today. Two questions: is non-fiction allowed? And is there a word limit? I looked and couldn't find answers to either.

Oh let’s see what MOLLY has to say about those questions. Good questions though!

Quote by Mendalla

It would be more fun if I could figure out where my story wants to go. I have a beginning but not sure where to go from there.

when that happens to me, I try listening to music or watching something to replenish my wellspring - and refill my creative energy reserves? maybe you can try that?

Quote by verbal

Okay, I am taking a shot at telling my non-fiction adventures in NO today. Two questions: is non-fiction allowed? And is there a word limit? I looked and couldn't find answers to either.

Non-fiction is allowed, Just no mico, flash, poetry, song, or play.

The word limit is the standard 10,000-word limit that the site has.

Quote by Molly

Non-fiction is allowed, Just no mico, flash, poetry, song, or play.

The word limit is the standard 10,000-word limit that the site has.

Thanks Molly. This memory might be a tad more exciting than I had first remembered it to be.

Quote by verbal
Thanks Molly. This memory might be a tad more exciting than I had first remembered it to be.

Speaking for myself and I think many others, I look forward to hearing it!

Two comps stories now!

OpheliaTusk - https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/speculative-fiction/earned-my-beads-on-downing-street

verbal - https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/general/young-and-dumb-in-new-orleans

Woohoo! Finishing up my entry... hopefully publishing by next weekend. 😊

Hi.. it says what we first think of is New Orleans Maris Gras but does the story have to be about New Orleans? Or can it be set somewhere else? Can it be about the beginning of Lent for example? Or is it parades and costumes you want? Thanks.

Quote by Ceebees

Hi.. it says what we first think of is New Orleans Maris Gras but does the story have to be about New Orleans? Or can it be set somewhere else? Can it be about the beginning of Lent for example? Or is it parades and costumes you want? Thanks.

Hello. The story has to be about Mardi Gras. You don't necessarily have to be in New Orleans, just as long as it's during Mardi Gras.

Quote by Molly

Hello. The story has to be about Mardi Gras. You don't necessarily have to be in New Orleans, just as long as it's during Mardi Gras.

So, Carnival in Rio and some other Latin and Caribbean countries would be on point, since those are Mardi Gras festivals?

Quote by Mendalla

So, Carnival in Rio and some other Latin and Caribbean countries would be on point, since those are Mardi Gras festivals?

Of course, since they are the same celebrations.

Quote by Molly

Of course, since they are the same celebrations.

Thanks. Never even thought of it. Probably because I was just back from NOLA when the comp was announced.

I hope others have stories coming because I am flailing. Went back to working on a completely unrelated story last night just to keep myself writing.

I submitted my story this morning. With that finished, I am now free to read the other comp stories as they come in. The two that are published are wonderful.

Grabbing a sparkling water before I take my brother to the pool.

OpheliaTusk - https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/speculative-fiction/earned-my-beads-on-downing-street

verbal - https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/general/young-and-dumb-in-new-orleans

Jimwillhavefun - https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/musings/the-other-side-2

KatarinaTechgoddess - https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/speculative-fiction/memories-of-mardi-gras-one-last-time