The Ravishment Academy is closing in November. Sadly, the support from the community for running a place like this simply wasn't there. But we shouldn't let the Academy just fade away. I'm inviting you all to participate in one last writing contest to celebrate the Academy with us. The rules are simple: Your story may be as long or as short as you want it to be. From flash fiction to long stories, everything is allowed. You have until September 20 2026 to write your story and hand it in. And the theme for our final contest is:
It's better to burn out than to fade away
How you interpret that famous quote from Neil Young's song "My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)" is up to you:
Final Climax Contest Rules for Entries
Theme: It's better to burn out than to fade away
Language: English
Length: Flash, Short, Medium, Long (Minimum 250 words, no maximum)
Required Tags: Eng, Finished
Deadline: September 20 2026, 22:00 CEST
Voting Window*: From September 20 2026, 22:00 CEST to October 4 2026, 22:00 CEST
*The voting window may be adjusted depending on the number of entries.
Rewards
The winner's story will be pinned to the top of the public stories board until the forum closes
The winner will receive a special title of their choice (unless they are part of the moderation team).
If you want to enter your story, please post it in the public stories board and reply to this thread with a link to your story. Also, the subject line of your story should reference the contest in the following way:
Title of your story - Final Climax
You may remove that reference once the contest is over. Also, please include a link to the contest thread before the beginning of your story and tell your readers that the story participates in the contest.
Even if your story isn't finished yet, I would appreciate a short post to let us know if you're interested in participating.
I'm open to adjusting the deadline, voting window, even the theme of the contest if people are unhappy with what I've come up with. But if you want a different theme, please say so quickly.
My stories: Claire's Cesspool of Sin. I'm always happy to receive a comment on my stories, even more so on an older one!
I haven't quite warmed up to the topic yet. But perhaps a story idea will come to me. After all, our stories are meant to be a grand finale for this forum. That makes me all the more determined to write a really good story.
Is it also possible to submit more than one story? After all, only a few authors will likely be participating in the competition.
For instance, I’ve already nearly finished a fairly long story, but I also have a shorter one in mind.
And I’m right about this, aren’t I: the stories are being submitted under the authors' real names this time, not under pseudonyms?
Not under real names, but also not under pink figment names
I don't mind if authors post more than one story, however authors who do should be aware there is a risk that will spread their votes between their stories, so it is a little bit like shooting yourself in the foot
Blue wrote: Wed Aug 19, 2026 8:47 am
Is it also possible to submit more than one story? After all, only a few authors will likely be participating in the competition.
For instance, I’ve already nearly finished a fairly long story, but I also have a shorter one in mind.
And I’m right about this, aren’t I: the stories are being submitted under the authors' real names this time, not under pseudonyms?
Would be fine with me.
My stories: Claire's Cesspool of Sin. I'm always happy to receive a comment on my stories, even more so on an older one!
Right, I’ve got my story ready for the contest.
So now: just upload it to the stories section with the tag "Final climax"?
And include the link to the contest, plus a note here in the forum saying the story has been uploaded?
How do they ensure that the contest entries don't eventually drift down the list and disappear from the first page?
Blue wrote: Tue Sep 01, 2026 8:53 am
Right, I’ve got my story ready for the contest.
So now: just upload it to the stories section with the tag "Final climax"?
And include the link to the contest, plus a note here in the forum saying the story has been uploaded?
Yes, the same as for most contests before
Blue wrote: Tue Sep 01, 2026 8:53 am
How do they ensure that the contest entries don't eventually drift down the list and disappear from the first page?
By pinning them to the top of the board, like we've done for every contest so far.
My stories: Claire's Cesspool of Sin. I'm always happy to receive a comment on my stories, even more so on an older one!
