Crackship Contest: 2022 Jan 06 - Mar 17 · 6:28am Jan 7th, 2022
commission from the amazing Shaslan
Welcome!
Hello friends!
Have you ever read a fic that romantically paired two characters you couldn't imagine ever interacting, much less dating? And then were blown away by how well the author made it work? Well, that is crackships, baby! And that is what this contest will be about, until 2022 March 0317.
Of course, picking two random characters, declaring that they're in love for no discernible reason, and then calling it a day isn't quite what we are looking for!
Criteria!
Entries will be considered and rated based on a few metrics, including the creativity of every ship, how the ship itself is handled, and the dynamic and characterization.
Creativity of the Ship
For this contest, consider a crackship to be one a ship that is between two or more characters who do not naturally cross paths during the show, and are brought together in a way that feels natural with the characters (either currently or previously!) in a romantic relationship. Remember that this is a general guideline and fringe cases like, say, Pinkie Pie and Moondancer may violate this but still be accepted. If you aren't sure, please feel free to ask!
How the Ship is Handled
As stated, characters should have good chemistry with the other. The ship should be presented as a believable one!
Dynamic and Characterization
Do the canon characters act like the canon characters? If a background pony with little to no characterization is used in the show, how well-developed and rich is this background pony? Do they feel like an actual character or more of a prop? Each entry will be considered alongside the following factors. We're looking for the most creative and most dynamic ships!
Prizes!
Note that all prize amounts will be sent by PayPal. If you are unable to receive money by PayPal, I, Bicyclette, will try my very best to arrange an alternative that works for you, but please be aware that it may not work out.
Thanks to me, Bicyclette, we have a total prize pool of $250!
The top four winners will gain the following in American Dollars:
- First Place: $80
- Second Place: $55
- Third Place: $40
- Fourth Place: $25
In addition, each judge will bestow a Judge Prize of $10 on any entry of their choosing.
Judges!
Author of: Limerence (Luna x Coco Pommel); Rooftop (Sunset Shimmer x Abacus Cinch)
Fan of: How to Farm Rocks (in three easy steps) (Princess Cadance x Limestone Pie) by mushroompone, Catch Us If You Can (King Sombra x Troubleshoes) by Miller MinusAuthor of: transequestrianism (Sky Stinger x Sunburst); Forever Fell Short (Derpy x Lightning Dust); A Lesson in Romantics (Cheerilee x Mage Meadowbrook); No Heroes Allowed (Apple Fritter x Twilight Sparkle); A Study in Red (Flash Sentry x Spearhead)
Author of: A Scratch On Shining Armor (Shining Armor x Vinyl Scratch)
Is: a baticorn
Obsessed with: pineapples and headpats
Founder of: Reviewers' MansionAuthor of: BERR-E (Tempest Shadow x Autumn Blaze); Putting Together The Puzzle Pieces (Cheerilee x Coloratura); The Thread That Binds Us (Coco Pommel x Moondancer)
Please keep in mind that judges are not allowed to preread, edit, or discuss any entries with the author before the contest results are released! In addition, judges are asked to withhold commenting on entries until after the release of contest results.
Community!
The group Original Pairings will be hosting the contest. Please join the group to have contest updates in your feed as well as to submit your entry into the contest folder, which is an official requirement. You are also welcome to join the Discord to talk with the judges and other writers!
Rules!
- Stories can be of any genre, not necessarily "romance" stories, as long as they center around a ship. It must also be a ship, not a friend-ship!
- Stories can be any rating or content, with the following restrictions: T-rated stories cannot have the Fetish tag, and M-rated stories cannot have the Fetish, Porn, or Sex tags. Sex and violence can be themes, but pornography, erotica, and gorefests are not allowed.
- Stories based on Equestria Girls, Pony Life, and MLP:ANG (G5) are allowed.
- AUs, crossovers, sequels, and side stories are allowed as long as they can be understood without having read their source material.
- OCs and crossover characters are not allowed as a part of the ship, but you may use background ponies, keeping in mind the judging criteria above.
- The deadline is 1900 03/
0317/2022 UTC-5:00 (7:00PM of March0317, 2022, EST). Stories must be published and completed, and placed in the Crackship Contest Submissions folder by this time in order to qualify. There will be no extensions or exceptions.- The one exception to the above is if a fic is stuck in the moderation queue (because you are a new writer, for example). In this case, you must PM me, Bicyclette, with a password before the contest deadline in order to qualify.
- There is no minimum wordcount, but the maximum is 20kw. If you feel this is too restrictive, please contact me, Bicyclette, to discuss a possible exception.
- Authors may submit only one entry into the contest, but in the case of people who write multiple fics, they may change their mind on which to submit up until the contest deadline.
- Collaborations between authors are allowed, but count as the only eligible entry for all authors involved.
- If you feel like your idea, despite technically meeting all these rules, might go against what we might reasonably expect from a good-faith entry, or if you have any questions or want to clarify anything, please don't be afraid to discuss it with me, Bicyclette! The last thing we want is for you to spend a lot of time working on an entry and then have it not qualify at the end. We understand there will always be corner cases to consider.
- For legal and job reasons of myself, any submission under the same account as fics that would be illegal to publish in the nation of Australia (a certain subset of pornographic material) are disqualified. This is the only requirement based on factors outside of the actual submission itself.
Other Contests
If this contest is not enough for you, try:
- Reactception's Sunset Shimmer x Trixie Lulamoon Contest, ending on 2022 Jan 30
That's it!
Good luck!
pog
Every RariDash fic, yes, I’m familiar with the feeling.
Anyway, this seems like it could be an excuse for me to write more Hoodrat Flurry Heart. Maybe she travels back in time and makes out with Princess Platinum. Or Celestia.
Or both.
Both would be fun.
Hmm. I may need to write a prequel to Agitate the System. Or some similar transdimensional crackship. Doesn't get much more absurd than characters who haven't even occupied the same universe at the same time.
I can't promise anything, but this does sound like a very fun prompt.
Someone write me Derpy x Sombra
5625007
pog
5625024
it's funny thinking about it, nearly all self-ponidox ships would count for this contest!
5625040
*gordon ramsay voice* finally, some good fucking crackship
So, wait, what do you mean by crossovers are allowed but crossover characters aren't?
5625208
it can be a crossover setting, you can have crossover characters in the story, but the ship itself can't involve crossover characters for the same reason why the ship can't involve OC characters. also, analogously, OC characters can of course be present and important in the story, but not as part of the ship
5625101
As always, I would like to invite you to repost the contest in the Hall of Contests group. Hope this will be another successful contest.
5625335
will do, and i appreciate your contest curation!