If a comp states a word count of no more than 1000 words, say, then does that include the title, and should I put the word count at the bottom and does putting the word count get included in the word count.

Eg, story is 998 words, title is 2 words, writing 998 words is 2 words.

What counts in the word count? Or should I not put the word count at the bottom? I am used to putting something, either a word count or (ends).

I don't do comps much so can anyone advise, urgently please???

TIA,

Deb

I wouldn't have thought that anything that wasn't the story itself was counted. To me, that doesn't include the title (unless your title is several parags. long!) or the bit where you write Word count: 998.

Thanks Leila. Much appreciated. I thought that should be the case, but was just making sure. Would be so annoying to be disqualified for one word that I didn't realise would be included!

The best advice is to RTFM... Every competition I've looked up that specifies a word-count also has somewhere in there a line that says "not including the title" or "including the title" or something similar.

If it doesn't specify, my instinct would be to agree with Steerpike's Sister as, with the exception of the ultra-short flashes, I don't see how the wordcount is enough of an obstacle to make a title significant.

G

Yes, I wouldn't count the title.

Emma

Thanks Emma.

Gaius, I did RTFM and it doesn't say. It's just one page of double-spaced instructions. You don't think I would have thought of that before posting on here? ;-P

Why would you mention title's word into your work's word count. There is no point of doing that, all you need to mention your work's word-count -- that's all.

Mox