Short Fiction

VirtualIndividualEarly Submission

View Official PDF (Page 55)

Competitors are to submit an original work of fiction no longer than 10 pages that relates to the theme and can also be applied to a competitor-defined target audience. Illustrations are permitted for younger intended audiences.

Format

Virtual (Online)

Early Submission Requirements

• Competitors must submit their Short Fiction piece and written statement 2 weeks before the Regional Tournament via MyMIST.

Registration Guidelines

1. A limit of two (2) students from each team may register for this competition.
2. Each student competes individually — collaboration is not permitted.

Procedure

1. Competitors must identify a target audience on the title page.

2. The piece must clearly relate back to the theme but also be applicable to a general audience.

3. No AI permitted — usage is grounds for point loss and/or disqualification.

4. A PDF copy must be submitted via MyMIST 2 weeks before the Regional Tournament.

   • Late submissions result in point deduction.

5. This is an entirely virtual competition — no copy required at tournament.

   • Entries should be typed in black ink only.

6. All submissions must:

   • Be double-spaced
   • Have a cover page with title, MIST ID, and intended audience age group only
   • Competitor name must not appear anywhere
   • Be typed on 8.5 × 11 inch paper
   • Be no more than 10 pages (exclusive of title page and written statement)
   • Use Times New Roman, 12pt font
   • Include a written statement based on interview questions

7. Competitors will be judged according to the Short Fiction Ballot.

Checklist

• PDF copy of Short Fiction piece on MyMIST (2 weeks prior)
• Written statement based on interview questions (Section D)
• Cover page with title, MIST ID, and target audience
• 10 pages maximum (excluding title page and statement)
• Labeled with MIST ID and competition name

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Interactive Scoring Ballot

Interactive Ballot

Enter scores to calculate the total automatically.

Criteria	Score
Section A: Technical (5 points)
Technical Short Fiction piece does not exceed 10 pages No identifiers on submission aside from MIST ID
Section Subtotal	0 / 5
Section B: Content (45 points)
Conventions Is the piece mostly free of spelling mistakes? Is the piece mostly free of punctuation mistakes? Is the piece mostly free of grammatical mistakes?
Ideas and Development Did the writer address the theme in a clear manner? Did the writer take a unique approach? Did the writer stay on topic throughout? Was the main idea or message clear to the reader?
Organization Is the title relevant and applicable to the story? Does the story have a logical series of events? Were there adequate details leading to natural flow between intro, plot, climax, and resolution? Were paragraphs well-developed with natural transitions? Was the story original, not falling into cliché storylines?
Sentence Fluency Did the writer vary sentence types (simple and complex)? Do most sentences begin with different words? When read aloud, do sentences flow well together? Was dialogue used where appropriate?
Section Subtotal	0 / 45
Section C: Style (35 points)
Word Choice Did the writer use thoughtful adjectives to create vivid imagery? Did the writer use strong action verbs? Did the writer use precise nouns? Was dialogue formatted appropriately? Did word usage create color and texture? Did the writer take risks?
Voice Was the writer able to distinguish a clear voice in the story? Is the tone natural and consistent? Does the writer capture a mood with their words? Does the writer appropriately reach the target audience?
Section Subtotal	0 / 35
Section D: Application of Theme (15 points)
Application of Theme Strong, clearly evident relevance to the theme Theme expressed in a unique or outstanding way Purpose and inspiration clearly articulated with evidence of reflection/research Short Fiction piece easily understandable for Muslim and non-Muslim alike
Section Subtotal	0 / 15
Total Score	0 / 100