Still time to get in >300 word queer spec fic entries! This contest is how my first original story was published.

I'm poking at an idea I hope I can get in shape in time... Fingers crossed! I wanted to start my entry earlier but my fanfic wouldn't let go til I was done! https://twitter.com/QueerSciFi/status/1240780551709061120

Yesterday I drafted 470 words. Hours later I edited down to 380, so I'm getting there!

I bit off a lot with this one (LOTS of identities (queer and not) represented, concept with big implications) but I think with help from my awesome beta readers, I'll be able to make it work!

Teaser:
Modern fantasy setting. MCs are in a long distance open relationship. One's at magic university, one's not.

Iris: biromanric asexual cis woman, polyamorous
Winter: bisexual/biromantic nonbinary person, nonmonogamous (maybe polyamorous), fat & confident in their skin

See what I mean about a lot of identities? My initial idea was "ace long distance handholding via innovative tech or magic" and the characters told me more about themselves from there.

Iris's name came to me quickly. I just like it, and am not close to anyone with that name.

Winter's took some thought. Enby friends' & acquaintances names popped into my head, but I didn't want to name them after someone.

Then I remembered "Dear Winter" by AJR. A guy's singing to his future hypothetical son. I'd only seen Winter as a girl's name the few times I had.

The dad alludes to that in the song. Though the lyrics are presumptuous in some ways, they also offer casual gay & bi acceptance for his future kid, which gives me warm fuzzies.

So I decided to go with that name. And listened to the song on repeat just because it's pretty.

I'm listening to Iris by The Goo Goo Dolls now. I can draw a few significant connections between the song and character. The mood is totally different and some things are opposite. But it's neat to have vaguely relevant music to listen to while editing now, I didn't last night.

DEADLINE EXTENDED to April 17th! If this contest looked interesting to you but you didn't think you had time, now there's more!

Note that I messed up the first tweet in this thread, stories must be 300 words or fewer, not greater than 300 words. Sorry!

Ugh apparently I missed that I used the wrong symbol promoing this, entries must be *300 words or fewer*, not over 300. Apologies for the typo!