Our Season of Giving may have come to an end but the snow hasn't melted on The Bell Tree's winter fun just yet! While we venture through one of the dreariest months of the calendar it's good to keep your mind active and your spirits up. So grab a cup of coffee—or hot cocoa if you prefer—and prepare to flex your writing skills for your chance to earn some frosty community favourite prizes!
How to Participate
Your task is to write a short story that meets the criteria outlined below.
- Your short story must fit at least one of the following themes: winter and/or Animal Crossing.
- Word count must be between 500 - 2,000 words.
- Must be a complete short story. No poetry, scripts, or a chapter of a larger piece of work.
- Must be fiction. No non-fiction or personal accounts.
- No fan fiction outside of Animal Crossing. Completely original works are accepted.
Rules
- Only one entry per person and entries must be your own work.
- You cannot collaborate with another person whether or not they are a TBT member.
- Must be a brand new piece of writing.
- Serious entries only please. If we think your entry lacks effort, or has just been submitted as a joke, then it will be disqualified.
- Keep content suitable for a PG-13 audience. If it would breach our Rules & Guidelines then it is not suitable here.
- Entries that go outside of the word count guideline will be automatically disqualified. Word count often differs between word processors, so we will be using this word count tool as the official guide for this event. Please use this to check the length of your entry before submitting it.
How to Submit
Submit your entry by posting it in this thread by 11:59pm EST on January 31st 2021.
Prizes
First Place
- Gold Trophy Collectible
- 150 TBT bells
Second Place
- Silver Trophy Collectible
- 125 TBT bells
Third Place
- Bronze Trophy Collectible
- 100 TBT bells
Participation
Every accepted entry will be entered into a raffle drawing for one of the thirteen prizes listed below. Every single person to have an entry accepted will receive a participation prize. The first, second, and third place prize winners will also receive a participation prize in addition to their trophy and bell prize.
| # | Prize | Chance |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
| 5% |
| 2 | 
| 5% |
| 3 | 
| 5% |
| 4 | 
| 5% |
| 5 | 
| 5% |
| 6 | 
| 5% |
| 7 | 
| 10% |
| 8 | 
| 10% |
| 9 | 
| 10% |
| 10 | 16% | |
| 11 | 12% | |
| 12 | 8% | |
| 13 | 4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Who will decide who wins? The staff or members' votes?
A. The staff will vote internally to nominate entries. The entries with the most staff votes will then go forward to a public poll within two weeks of the contest closing. The recipients for the first, second, and third place prizes will then be decided on by the community.
I want to take part but atm a mind blank 
