The Mini Contest
From time to time, the community hosts a "Mini Contest" that is run independently from the main contest. Prizes, topics, timelines, and other requirements vary depending on who is hosting the contest. As always, you may play "just for fun" and have your entry edited.
When do mini contests happen?
Mini contests are often random and unexpected, though we try to have one any time there's an extra week between main contests. Some contests are multi-part and last the entire month, some are only in one part but last the month, some are two parts and two weeks, one part and two weeks, one part and one week.... Any time the mini contest doesn't last for the whole month, it's positioned towards the end of the month so that contestants who have been eliminated from the main contest have a chance to compete again.
Who runs the mini contests?
Anyone who has an idea can volunteer to host a mini contest. This person's level of involvement is completely up to them - some people just pass along the idea and let a moderator take over, some run it equally with a moderator, and some do it completely on their own.
If you would like to host, there are three things you need to come up with: a genre, format, or theme for the contest; the topic(s); and the prize. The genre/format/theme can be just about anything - song lyrics, scripts, radio broadcasts, or monologues, for example - or may not even be necessarily specified, leaving entries as varied as in the main contest. Topics are usually similar to the main contest's style of topic posts. A prize is encouraged but not required, but it should be of non-monetary value.
What sort of contests have there been in the past?
Sometimes, hosts provide a sentence that must be the first line of your entry (April 2010). Other times, the topics are presented the same way as in the main contest (January 2010). Even sending individual topics to contestants has happened! (October 2009) And we can't forget the time Brigit's Flame competed against other LiveJournal communities in a community-vs-community writeoff!
Other requirements have included needing to sign up, minimum and/or maximum word counts, and a limited eligibility (All-Stars contest). Prizes have been books, dreamcatchers, videos, icons, flowerpots, homemade cookies, and more. All mini contests can be found here on the community.
Are there basic rules for competing in mini contests?
Yes, but they're the same basic rules as for the main contest: only one entry per contestant; entries must be public (not friends-locked) and new, original work; and adult themes are fine but must be labeled NSFW (Not Safe For Work) when applicable. Any other rules will be specified when the contest is announced, or you can ask the host if you aren't sure of something.