I've got a story idea, but I don't know if smoking as a theme is something to get the story disqualified for?
Thanks
- My destiny awaits! 🏆
I doubt it. Not disqualified, anyway. If it's glorified it probably won't win, if it's preached for or against, same. Really depends. Themes can be wisps or they can be hammers. 
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Smoking what?
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Small Gods and Little Demons - Parsec Issue #10
Addiction works as a theme, so I don't think smoking would be disqualifying. As Dustin mentioned, how you handle the subject will really determine that. My main concern would be that your spec component for the story shouldn't be just window dressing around it. There's room to do interesting things with it, though, since future culture is as much a sci-fi element as future tech.
DQ:0 / R:0 / RWC:0 / HM:15 / SHM:7 / SF:1 / F:1
Published prior WotF entries: PodCastle, HFQ, Abyss & Apex
Pending: Q1.V42, Q2.V42 / Q3.V42 in limbo while I work on other things...
Smoking what?
Important question!
From the unwritten rules:
No explicit use of real-world narcotics or other controlled substances. Off-screen use may be OK, but not endorsing the use of these. (You may consider it unfair, but alcohol and tobacco are acceptable. This is just the way the legal system works in the USA at this time. It's still not a good idea to glamorize them.) Magical drugs or future drugs or addiction to cybertechnology or any other speculative addiction are acceptable. These make great metaphors, and we have had some winners based on these, but real-world addictive substances are off-limits.
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Smoking what?
Important question!
From the unwritten rules:
No explicit use of real-world narcotics or other controlled substances. Off-screen use may be OK, but not endorsing the use of these. (You may consider it unfair, but alcohol and tobacco are acceptable. This is just the way the legal system works in the USA at this time. It's still not a good idea to glamorize them.) Magical drugs or future drugs or addiction to cybertechnology or any other speculative addiction are acceptable. These make great metaphors, and we have had some winners based on these, but real-world addictive substances are off-limits.
Yeah, but what about kippers and bacon?
R:6 RWC:1 HM:9 SHM:3
My Blog
Small Gods and Little Demons - Parsec Issue #10
Smoking what?
Important question!
From the unwritten rules:
No explicit use of real-world narcotics or other controlled substances. Off-screen use may be OK, but not endorsing the use of these. (You may consider it unfair, but alcohol and tobacco are acceptable. This is just the way the legal system works in the USA at this time. It's still not a good idea to glamorize them.) Magical drugs or future drugs or addiction to cybertechnology or any other speculative addiction are acceptable. These make great metaphors, and we have had some winners based on these, but real-world addictive substances are off-limits.
Yeah, but what about kippers and bacon?
I would say bacon is definitely an addiction. 
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Not tobacco. Various herbs and leaf, which impart magical abilities.Smoking what?
Important question!
From the unwritten rules:
No explicit use of real-world narcotics or other controlled substances. Off-screen use may be OK, but not endorsing the use of these. (You may consider it unfair, but alcohol and tobacco are acceptable. This is just the way the legal system works in the USA at this time. It's still not a good idea to glamorize them.) Magical drugs or future drugs or addiction to cybertechnology or any other speculative addiction are acceptable. These make great metaphors, and we have had some winners based on these, but real-world addictive substances are off-limits.
- My destiny awaits! 🏆
Not tobacco. Various herbs and leaf, which impart magical abilities.Smoking what?
Important question!
From the unwritten rules:
No explicit use of real-world narcotics or other controlled substances. Off-screen use may be OK, but not endorsing the use of these. (You may consider it unfair, but alcohol and tobacco are acceptable. This is just the way the legal system works in the USA at this time. It's still not a good idea to glamorize them.) Magical drugs or future drugs or addiction to cybertechnology or any other speculative addiction are acceptable. These make great metaphors, and we have had some winners based on these, but real-world addictive substances are off-limits.
I would have thought that would be fine, in fact it sounds pretty cool.
Got an image of a wizard topping up his powers with a pipe lol.
R:6 RWC:1 HM:9 SHM:3
My Blog
Small Gods and Little Demons - Parsec Issue #10
Yeah, but what about kippers and bacon?
I've got kippers on standby. Just trying to find an excuse to cook them up.
I'd be down for a story that glorified kippers, though.
DQ:0 / R:0 / RWC:0 / HM:15 / SHM:7 / SF:1 / F:1
Published prior WotF entries: PodCastle, HFQ, Abyss & Apex
Pending: Q1.V42, Q2.V42 / Q3.V42 in limbo while I work on other things...
