Just a thought. i was thinking afyer the chat we should have a SF/F writing contest or something. A chance to flex our creative muscles and a chance to improve our skills. just a thought. tell me what you guys think.
I had an idea
- Thread starter Adam_Atlantian
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That'd be great!! I'm in!!!
(as long as no chat is required until sunday when I'll have a stable internet conexion)
(as long as no chat is required until sunday when I'll have a stable internet conexion)
yay! someone agrees with me. this will be great. i think we could really use this. and it'll be so much fun. sharing ideas helping each other. yipee!
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Contests can be a lot of fun, though they usually end up being a fair amount of work for someone. There's already a couple of websites that run regular contests, with voting by the participants determining winners (most of the contests don't offer any prizes, since these are free websites). The real prize is getting a story written that wouldn't have been written otherwise, and getting some light feedback on it from other writers. I participate regularly on one, and occasionally on another.
It could certainly be neat to get a contest going here. However, if there's only a few people interested, it may be easier just to migrate over to one of these other locations (new folk are generally pretty welcome) and participate within their structure. They've already got the machinery in place for contests, and I've learned loads from working with the crowd at both places -- they both possess some very capable writers (and they don't frown on specfic -- it often makes up the bulk of entries in a contest).
If anyone wants more info, let me know, and I can point the way. Membership in the sites is usually by invitation (membership to preserve publishing rights, and invitation to keep out spammers, flamers, and whatnot).
It could certainly be neat to get a contest going here. However, if there's only a few people interested, it may be easier just to migrate over to one of these other locations (new folk are generally pretty welcome) and participate within their structure. They've already got the machinery in place for contests, and I've learned loads from working with the crowd at both places -- they both possess some very capable writers (and they don't frown on specfic -- it often makes up the bulk of entries in a contest).
If anyone wants more info, let me know, and I can point the way. Membership in the sites is usually by invitation (membership to preserve publishing rights, and invitation to keep out spammers, flamers, and whatnot).
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Using the poll system at AW, it wouldn't be that hard. People post their stories in a thread (no feedback, that's what SYW is for) and then someone compiles a poll with all the stories in it so people can vote (anonymously).
Just my 2c.
Maybe Adam has some other ideas? Come on, Adam, it's your idea, after all!
Just my 2c.
Maybe Adam has some other ideas? Come on, Adam, it's your idea, after all!
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Or it could be a prompt-based contest. I know of a site with beautiful fantasy artwork which could be used as a prompt for short stories.
I'll be happy to run it and stuff if you guys want. i already run a monthly fanfic contest on myspace. I coulds think something up. I would say we need at least five entries and at the very least three or four judges.
this willbe a great way for new writer to test out their abilities and not so new writers to get better.
I like the artwork idea. We could pick one or two pieces of fantasy art and post them here. Then the entrents could pick one and write a story from it. A poll will be easy. i think we have a writing contest. Now we need more people who want to enter.
And i think Zornhau should be a judge.
this willbe a great way for new writer to test out their abilities and not so new writers to get better.
I like the artwork idea. We could pick one or two pieces of fantasy art and post them here. Then the entrents could pick one and write a story from it. A poll will be easy. i think we have a writing contest. Now we need more people who want to enter.
And i think Zornhau should be a judge.
I don't mean to be a wet blanket, but the idea of contests on AW is not new. Last year, Jenna sponsored a rather involved Absolute Idol contest. There's also been smaller, forum specific contests in Screenwriting and another in the Poetry forum. Before proceeding too far with your planning for a contest in the Science Fiction/Fantasy forum I think you should check with Jenna and Pthom first. Any contest in this forum would have the appearance of being sponsored and/or condoned by them.
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Birol said:
doesn't seem wet blanketish to me. I didn't know that so thanks for telling us. I'll ask and make sure. I just really think this would be a lot of fun and good for us in general. How else can we grow but by learning from ourselves and from others. Someone might now something another doesn't thus they learn and become better at writing.
I'd be up for it. I would also be happy if it were just an exercise that we shared rather than a contest. Either way, sounds like it would be fun and instructive 
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Adam_Atlantian said:
Only for trial by combat (where it's fairly easy to pick out the winner from those left standing).
Seriously though, the competition's out there. Go sell.
zornhau said:
I see your point. Some of us need a little extra work. With this we can get better and increase our chances of winning the Contest of getting our work sold. It is a learning experience.
Now then. I am thinking up good ideas for this. allow me to think.
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We could write a story between all of us, each AWer taking a turn to write a paragraph or two of the story. Of course, the problem would be deciding wether its going to be sci-fi or fantasy (personally I'd vote for fantasy).
Dama,
If you want to do that sort of thing, you don't need permission. (Although you have it. ) Come over to Writing Exercises, Prompts and Games, and start a thread. Post the rules of the game, and then post the first paragraph.
And since it's your thread, you won't have to vote. Just start writing, and tell everyone it's a fantasy story. If this catches on (and it might or might not, depending on people's moods), others might want to start stories in other genres.
Rep point for you if you do it...
If you want to do that sort of thing, you don't need permission. (Although you have it.
) Come over to Writing Exercises, Prompts and Games, and start a thread. Post the rules of the game, and then post the first paragraph.And since it's your thread, you won't have to vote. Just start writing, and tell everyone it's a fantasy story. If this catches on (and it might or might not, depending on people's moods), others might want to start stories in other genres.
Rep point for you if you do it...
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Done
Now, all of you, go and contribute!!
Or else I shall release my hoarde of fantasywriter-hungry dragons!!
Now, all of you, go and contribute!!
Or else I shall release my hoarde of fantasywriter-hungry dragons!!
Whereas Zornhau's advice is pertinent, a contest run by and for members of this forum is a different sort of competition: more for fun than for profit. Shh, don't tell the Farengis.
We will have a contest. I've instructed Adam to write up a set of rules for it. He and I will work together to refine them after which, they'll be posted here in a sticky thread for the duration of the contest. Due to prior commitments, I have to be out of town for the balance of this week. Therefore, the contest won't start until the first of May. Perhaps it will run for the duration of that month; I dunno, since all the details aren't worked out yet. One thing I can reveal is that there will be prizes for the winners.
Meantime, go to DamaNegra's collaborative fantasy story thread and play that game.
We will have a contest. I've instructed Adam to write up a set of rules for it. He and I will work together to refine them after which, they'll be posted here in a sticky thread for the duration of the contest. Due to prior commitments, I have to be out of town for the balance of this week. Therefore, the contest won't start until the first of May. Perhaps it will run for the duration of that month; I dunno, since all the details aren't worked out yet. One thing I can reveal is that there will be prizes for the winners.
Meantime, go to DamaNegra's collaborative fantasy story thread and play that game.
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