I would like to thank @curie and @randomwanderings for the opportunity he gives us to give a boost to our initiatives.

It is very gratifying to see how ideas like this do not stop arising with the sole purpose of helping people and making the community grow.

What is #MicroCiFi256 and #MicroTerror256?

1.206 stories, 605 unique users

There are two contests of literature in Spanish language that began on November the 11th of 2017, ten months ago. Since then, there have been published ** 1,206 stories ** written by ** 605 unique users ** exclusively for the contests.

The contests consist of writing a micro-story of no more than 256 words. #MicroCiFi256 is a science fiction contest and #MicroTerror256 is a horror contest.

Both competitions are managed by me, and in weeks with a lot of participation, there have been weeks with more than 170 stories to contest, @aniestudio also works on the project as a member of the jury.

How do the contests work?

The bases are very simple:

• Each week a different theme is proposed. The subject can be a concept, a word or a phrase, normally it is a clear and precise idea. In the next calls may also be proposed images to inspire the authors.

• The stories that want to participate should deal with the proposed topic and be written on the genre of the contest in question.

• They must be written in prose and in Spanish language, since it is my mother tongue and is the only one with which I can assess the literary quality of a writing.

• The maximum length should be 256 words regardless of the title.

• The post with the contest stories must have a specific title proposed in the bases, such as: "Science Fiction Micro Fiction Contest #MicroCiFi256 - Week 11 - Hive Mind"

• It is mandatory to add two tags: #MicroCiFi256 and #ciencia-ficcion, if it is the science fiction contest or #MicroTerror256 and #Terror if it is about horror.

In each call, three prizes are given:

• First classified: 50% of the SBD and / or Steem generated by the post of the contest.

• Second classified: 35% of the SBD and / or Steem generated by the contest post.

• Third classified: 15% of the SBD and / or Steem generated by the contest post.

With which 100% of the rewards generated by the post are shared among the winners.

In addition, the first positions are endowed with points of value, which serve to compose a Ranking that is maintained throughout the season. This creates a lot of expectation and motivation for the contestants who have fun in tight battles week after week.

How is the calendar of the contests?

The method is very simple. The contest post is published with the bases and the new proposed theme. Contestants have a week to write and publish their stories. After that week, a post with the winners and a list of all the participants and their respective stories is published.

Example of post with the winners

A few days later, a Ranking like this is published.

The following week a new call is published again, this time falling from science fiction to terror or vice versa. With which a new contest is published every 15 days. The week that is free between contest and contest is dedicated to publish tow post: a post with the winners and another with the ranking.

What is the purpose of these contests?

The main motivation of these competitions has always been the same: Promote writing and reading literature in Spanish at Steemit. When I started in Steemit there were not many people who published in Spanish, because almost everyone did it in English despite being Spanish speakers. And literature in Spanish was very scarce, what was published most was poetry. So I set out to promote literary publications by creating a science fiction contest, since it is my favorite genre.

The initiative had a very good reception, and a few months later I launched the terror contest, which had an even better reception.

Consequences

I can say that creating the contests is the best thing I've done in Steemit. I have received many messages from people very grateful for the impulse that I have given to the literature on the platform. People who had never written and encouraged by the competitions have begun to discover creative writing and enjoy it. Writers who had never dared with the science fiction genre and who have discovered their pleasures. And a lot of synergy has also been generated among the contestants, new relationships and a small community of writers and readers who are very grateful and involved with the initiative.

I am convinced that by supporting these competitions there will be even more people determined to approach both writing and reading. The love for literature will be encouraged and all participants will see their writing improved with the exercise proposed by the competitions.

Holiday return

Last July, the last call was held:Concurso de Microrrelatos de Ciencia Ficción #MicroCiFi256 - Semana 11 - Mente colmena. Once finished and due to the summer period, we made a stop for vacations, to gather strength and prepare the following year. Recently the next calls have been announced and will begin on September the 22th. Once started, they will continue uninterrupted until next summer.

How does the scoring process work?

To evaluate the stories and obtain the list of winners, the texts are evaluated as follows:

In the first place, the literary quality of the story is taken into account. The spelling, the style, the ability to transmit what the text intends and the beauty of it is valued. On the other hand, story is valued. If it is of the proposed genre, that it deals with the proposed theme and that it is original and interesting.

Literary quality is given 65% importance and story 35%. Each of them is scored from 1 to 100 and after applying the previous formula, each story gets a score.

Once valued all the stories are ordered by their score, the best valued ones are read again. Approximately 20% of the total are valued blind again, that is, hiding their previous score. In this way, an average of the first score is drawn and the second, which gives the final result. That's where the winners come from. I think it's the most fair and objective way to value the work of writers and so far is giving very good results.

How much support am I seeking for this project?

I don’t have any specific figures in mind, but the best possible vote would be the post of the contests, since all the rewards will be distributed among the winners. I will not keep anything. I think it's a great motivation for the contestants that there is a valuable prize.

Also, as a support to my work and my effort, since during the week of the contest I have to be reading and evaluating all the stories, I would also like to receive votes in the post where the winners and the ranking are announced, although if you can only Support the post of the contest, it will be fine.

We must bear in mind that a contest post is published every two weeks, so during the two-month period for which I am applying, only 4 post will be published with new contest calls. That is why I request the largest possible vote. If we take into account the announcement of winners and the ranking, in the period of two months there will be a total of 12 post. It is the decision of the team of @curie and @randomwanderings to support the 4 post of the contest or the 12 of the complete project.

The winning stories of #MicroCiFi256 and #MicroTerror256

I leave below the winning stories of each of the editions that have taken place. I hope you enjoy them.

#MicroCiFi256

Author	Title
@ficciones	El inmortal
@ficciones	Los cuidadores
@cre47iv3	Polvo en el cielo
@jcalero	Caza
@elnefelibato	CICLO DEL NO CREER
@lizbetcontreras	El día que el tiempo se detuvo
@amaponian	Las profecías 'q nos tragamus'
@adncabrera	Los campos de ayer
@alevil	SOBREVIVIENTE
@adncabrera	Polvo de estrellas
@juagarsa	Diario de X'aar

#MicroTerror256

Author	Title
@marlyncabrera	Ansias prohibidas
@juagarsa	El viejo diablo
@salvao	Una gota de otoño
@jcalero	Viejo amigo árbol
@adncabrera	Padre e hijo
@jcalero	SS Miskatonic

605 contestants to date

I would like to make a special mention to all those people who have participated in the contests, citing them below:

@abelardo, @abelardobravoh, @acostacazorla, @adncabrera, @afigueroa, @aguilargomzz, @ailindigo, @aimeyajure, @albertovi, @albert-thecat, @aleli, @alevil, @alexaivytorres, @alexander88, @alexasteemit, @alexdc88, @alexmorent, @alexos, @alextorres, @alisabelsilva, @allenblue405, @almeida9977, @amaponian, @amazonia, @amigoponc, @amma21, @anabanana, @anasuleidy, @andreacrangel, @andreinacepeda, @andreinaisabel, @andresfer0310, @andrewferz, @andyartland, @ang3l.geo, @aniat, @aniestudio, @animery, @annycor, @antoaristi, @antolinamartell, @antoniodpz, @antonyq94, @aplausos, @aputigbas, @arcabuzx, @aresbon, @argentoescribe, @argsanabria, @arlemvs, @arletv, @armonia, @armoniritmia, @arturocl21, @asdrubal, @ashking, @astrea, @audiarmis, @ayato, @azuhei, @babylu13, @barbaragreen, @baurk, @benayetfranco, @bertrayo, @betzabesp94, @bivianlg, @blavin, @breili, @briancarrizo, @bridareiven, @bryangav, @buju, @cafeconleche, @calaveradeazucar, @callmebyjuan, @canchunchu, @canelita, @canserbero, @caracasfrases, @carlagonz, @carlos3587, @carlosgerdet, @carlosmpc, @carlucho3000, @carolacarmona, @catalinamorales, @cavilacion, @ceccilia, @cesaramos, @cesard26, @chaggy32, @chaptermemories, @charjaim, @chejonte, @chemax, @chinami, @chopiliart, @chosu, @chretien, @christian94, @christianpoetry, @ciaolovers, @ckarin, @clacrax, @claudiaarcamone, @claunis, @contraproducente, @cordero212, @corderosiete, @cotarelo, @cre47iv3, @cricri27, @crisanto93, @cristinach, @cuarzo, @curiousworld, @dalisett, @dancolmenares, @dandara, @danielachirinos, @dannaxkana, @danny23, @danvel, @darius86, @darius86/, @dariuska2008, @darkcentinel, @darlingomaet, @darruiz, @davidbolivarg, @davidmaldonado, @dayanaromer, @dayramsazahara, @decomoescribir, @descamellado27, @devinalivaudais, @dexter.weed, @d-fx, @diegoaraujo, @difelice5000, @disguarpe, @dldb1604, @doblev, @drmaizo, @drope96, @dubraskaspindola, @dygandica, @edgarirebeca, @eduguai, @edurley, @eiffel99, @ektod, @el-brayan, @eleonardo, @elfranz, @elguille, @elisea, @eliza-lanz, @eljose27, @elmagodeozcar, @elnefelibato, @emibach, @emily61, @enaudi, @encontactove, @ennyta, @erikapinto, @erilej, @erizabesu, @erunart, @eryh14, @esme-olguin, @etoil, @eudisdiaz, @exqueila, @extasispro, @fabian98, @fabigamboa93, @fakj94, @fanisk, @felixrodriguez, @fernando.lubezki, @fernandoportillo, @ferod23, @ffodie, @ficciones, @ficciones, @flamendialis, @fmuzz, @francis228, @franciscomarval, @francisftlp, @francismg, @francismmc, @fujoshi94, @gaboroa14, @gaborockstar, @gabrielaa, @gacorniel, @gadielisaac, @galileosegundo, @gasparcha, @gatolector, @geanrossi, @genehdez, @genesisojeda, @geotitalunar, @geraldindalto, @gilc, @gizechluy, @gorgonio, @gracielaacevedo, @greciav, @greenskullrider, @gusran, @gythanobonfak, @halenita, @haroldmateria, @havs, @haydeart, @helheim, @hengis341, @henrry1954, @henrycalu, @herioswal, @hernanmrtnz, @hljott, @hogarcosmico, @holistica, @huesos, @hugobohor, @humoalex, @hyperion, @idandy, @ikar59, @ilhuna, @indimar, @inedido, @inesmc27, @ingenierogabriel, @irvinc, @isauris, @jadams2k18, @janileth, @jbfa, @jcalero, @jeffersonsalcedo, @jenniferb, @jesmary.otero, @jesusmartinez99, @jesusw, @jfinol, @jggarcia, @jguillermo, @jhonathan28, @jkolinovich, @jmigueferrer, @jmperez, @joankii, @johan154, @johannfrare, @johelconh, @johntkd, @jokossita, @jolugo23, @jorgeavila, @jorgelcc, @jorsorio, @jose27117, @joseafanador17, @joseantpp, @josecarrasquero, @josefranyoly, @josegrech, @josegregori, @joseleogon, @josemed, @joseph1956, @joslud, @jossduarte, @josyweed, @jp1995, @jsanchezjm, @juagarsa, @juancarlos2906, @juanmcabeza, @jufasan, @juliensorel, @julioromero, @justgeorgie, @kalte, @kamilo.sin.k2105, @kanadeblanco, @karenslicious, @karinanunez, @karirivas, @karlala, @karupanocitizen, @keivynkaiba, @kellysar, @keylibeth, @kimbygrr, @kiriatjrb, @kirvic-aguilera, @kismar, @kristal24, @kruznik, @l2rigual, @laleerock, @lamcast, @las3mosqueteras, @lastsense, @lauracampos, @lauracguzman, @lavidaalnatural, @lecumberre, @leflaneur, @leidysnena, @leikerm96, @leninbracho50, @leonardobasti, @leonardoj333, @leveuf, @lhenriquez13, @lidiceml, @lifejaissan, @lindaaguila, @lizbetcontreras, @ljpaez, @lord-faustus, @luciana.malave, @luherretes, @luingrid.guerra, @luisangela, @luiscolmij, @luisfe, @luisinister, @luisrigual, @luming, @luys2791, @luzmar, @lyza, @maastro, @machiqui63, @macielaraujo, @macodi1, @madamebovary, @maeugenia, @maguy, @mahou-suzu, @manuelalejandro, @manustrange, @maralcruz, @marangel, @marcanofernanda, @marcosjleal, @marcybetancourt, @maria1989, @mariabarreto, @mariacaffrey, @mariachacon, @mariana4ve, @marianaperdomo, @marianycr, @mariart1, @mariaruizmx, @maribelquere97, @mariposa03, @marizam, @marlyncabrera, @marpa, @maryed, @maryelinpirela, @matutesantiago93, @maurojrc, @mavel, @maykolwilliamt, @mayraro05, @mcgok, @meglisj, @megusta, @mervin-gil, @miguel-alejandro, @miguelangelroses, @miguelarl, @miguelcarrillo, @miguelguacamaya, @miguelsanchezz, @miguelvargas, @miikeruiz, @milaromero, @milennycova, @misterlangdon, @mllg, @moises2612, @moises-moran, @monoindustrias, @myp9193, @nachusky, @nadeurdaneta, @nakary, @nameless16, @namra, @napoleon3, @neiraurdaneta, @nerypirona, @netcy, @nicole20, @nicomax, @niklaus22, @ninibeth, @noizeincity, @norat23, @norihany, @norkamoran, @noryelis, @numberzero, @oacevedo, @ojitosdeportillo, @olymar248, @omardrea, @onswitch, @orianana, @origen1618, @orivv, @orlandeto, @oscardice, @oscarina, @otroindie, @pablitomoreno, @pakko, @paolapaopoly, @paper-pecado, @pauli0606, @pavelnunez, @pavonj, @pedromachado22, @pepiflowers, @perolehs, @pkztillo, @poesiaempirica, @potatosauce, @psicomar, @psidema, @purapapita, @putignanoespe, @qetu, @quirimora, @rabitt11, @rafabr, @rafartista, @raizalorant, @ramhei.textual, @ramsesuchiha, @readthis, @realtulior, @rebecaarcano, @reciclajeymas, @reisender93, @reneestebansalas, @renesalasvilla, @reycard, @reyesjosecordero, @reyvaj, @ricardo993, @ricardox, @richardoccas, @rickwonders, @ricmorte, @ricodarly, @rigual, @rinixmax, @riosnath, @rmm31, @rnunez09, @roadstories, @rodben, @rodode, @rodrigocabrera, @roelvi, @rogeviolinista, @rognel2904, @romeroingrid, @romulexx, @ronny91, @roronoa07, @rorrorengifo, @rositam82, @rosz, @rotsen.zemog, @rouscelin, @roxanav, @rpgia, @rpm2393, @rubencaterpila, @rubendariogil, @rvag5, @sacra97, @sadocd1, @sakura91, @salvao, @sanchezangl, @sanchezpuukko, @sandracabrera, @sandrapatricia, @sansoncarrasco, @sartigas16, @sashas, @sashy, @saych, @sayury, @scienceboy, @seifiro, @sharliep, @shaularosa, @shippo, @shirani, @sie7e, @silene.quere, @simonmaz, @sincroniadivina, @sirgatodaniel, @sir-lionel, @sirtorito, @sleepingdrag0n, @slwzl, @smanuels, @sneikder, @snowy-june, @sofiapaola, @soledadjc, @solisghersi, @solperez, @sophiegeek, @soyellobo, @soyluijo, @spavan697, @stillstreet, @sulemna, @surika, @tanusk, @tatorey, @teresarod, @tettu, @th2017, @thaishps, @the-dollar, @theferro, @thenewblack, @thewinter, @tibisayvelasquez, @tomz13, @tonizio, @torrewill, @trebolcoins21, @treborxd, @tresminotauros, @txatxy, @ulises06, @unatalpaola, @undeniable, @unicornprincese, @uninsoft, @valeriaanzola, @venaicru, @venecia, @vestige, @vexleon, @vickaboleyn, @vicokiwi, @vicraf, @vicrivasr, @vidasago, @vincibass, @volderhein, @waldo22, @wayuu-reg, @wildermanjnm, @wilyamison, @windzarf, @winifer, @winifredzerlin, @wisejg, @wjborges, @wladimircarrera, @wolfenlord, @xmaryx, @yajasalcedo, @yaleal, @yangmi, @yayita, @yilda, @yimiipsa, @ymferrer, @ymmerehg, @yoelh, @yordin, @yrmaleza, @yumifer, @yusmi, @zeleiracordero, @zenkly, @zhat, @zuk0, @zuleef

It would be a pleasure to have the support of Curie Community Building Support.

I sincerely hope that these contests are interesting and deserving of the support of @curie.

I leave my discord name in case you want to contact me:

trenZ#3074

Greetings to everyone.