This apparently isn't happening; I apologize for the way this was handled. I've wanted to do a joint IS/CYS contest for some time now, and it is occasionally talked about, but it doesn't look like it will ever occur. A number of IS members seem to feel the only elegible entry should be one submitted to IS, that it should not be a true joint contest but an IS contest in which others can participate only by joining the community. In the midst of the discussion, the contest was abruptly called off entirely and the theme changed, apparently apropos of nothing. It seems short-sighted to me to hold ineligible any entry submitted on this site by those we legitimately invited to compete; to hold a contest spanning two sites is not terribly complicated, but there is the decision. As you were.

It looks like the theme will most likely be "Myth" though we'll get a confirmation within a day or so. These themes are very broad and general; as long as you can provide a decent justification for how your piece fits the theme, you're covered.

I'm not interested in joining a petty forum fight, particularly as an outsider unfamiliar with those involved and with little present stake in the issue. As I said, though, the situation may affect me at some point in the future and certainly seems to color a lot of conversation here at CYS, so I was curious to see what was going on. It helps to know the background behind comments that will appear in various threads and would doubtless confuse me without the explanation offered here, which helps to put things in context.

I don't want my asking to create more controversy, so please don't feel obligated to reply, but I keep hearing things about some great schism going on over here, and I'm curious, particularly as it's bound to affect my own interests in one way or another at some point. Can someone tell me, in an unbiased way, what the upheaval is all about?

Hi, I'm Locke of Infinite Story. There's been some talk of a joint contest between our two communities of late, so I thought I'd check out the forums here and see what CYS is all about.