I swear I didn't I love you all
FALL WRITING COMPETITION
Please read this whole post, even if you've participated in the contest before! Things are a-changing!
Let's kick it off with grading changes - the previous system has been a little vague on how we grade, and I'd like to try and clear it up as much as possible. Ergo, the four areas of grading are thus:
I) Writing Skill - How well you can write, simple enough. Things like proper use of grammar, punctuation, using complete sentences and the like. This is the 'crunchy granola' of the grading scale.
II) Creativity - How creative you are with your writing. Whether this means taking an existing idea and giving it a new twist, coming up with something new, or taking us in unexpected directions. Everyone's read about the knight who fought the dragon and saved the girl; entice us.
III) World-Building - How invested we are in the story and world that we're in. This is a combination of the previous grading points of involvement and description. In essence, does the world, setting, or even the room that your story takes place in feel natural, alive - or are there just two voices talking in a blank white box?
IV) Investment - The last of the two 'new' additions to our grading roster, investment is just as it sounds. You can have a rich world with interesting characters, but if there's no hook, no reason for someone to get past the first page, something needs to be changed. What is it you're providing to keep us reading to the end, and leave us wanting more?
So after all that, the grading system is the same. Each criteria will be graded on a scale of 1-10, giving a total score of X/40 possible points. The highest total score is the winner!
And what do they win? Well...
You heard it here first, folks.Tom wrote:Yeah sure, I'm still up for the sketch reward.
~Tom
Grand prize is, obviously, a lovely sketch commission from our glorious leader. First runner-up will receive a live audio version of their story, read and performed by yours truly with as much flare and bravado as I can muster.
In place of a third-place winner, we're going to be doing something special - we're going to let YOU, the forum, decide a third winner! Aside from the Grand-Prize and First Runner-Up winners, there will also be a Community Vote winner, decided after all entries have been submitted. Everyone only gets one vote - and before you ask, yes, the community vote winner can also be one of the aforementioned two winners. It doesn't award anything but some esteem.
Now, for a few last pieces of information:
** The writing competition will last from Tuesday, November 1st - Wednesday, November 30th at 10PM Eastern US Time. A decision on grading and prizes will be made by Sunday, December 18th at the latest.
** Pieces should be submitted in their own thread, in the following format: [FWC 16] Title of Story
** Users may submit multiple pieces should they so choose, up to a maximum of two (2). However, for the purposes of prizes, only one prize may be awarded per contestant.
** Works with adult themes (swearing, excessive violence, gore, sexual events) should be marked with an 'NSFW' tag in their thread title.
** While there is no hard-set limit on submission length, please keep in mind that the judges are just human. Please keep the submission within 'short story' range.
** Poetry is allowed.
** Submissions are allowed to be editing as often as the author wishes to prior to closing. At closing, each submission will be copied as-is and considered its final format.
** Users are encouraged to comment on other contestants' submissions.
** Any contest-related discussion, questions, and comments should be kept in this thread.
** Submissions may exist in the setting of a pre-established work, but keep in mind that the reader may be new to your world.
Finally, on the subject of judging: I am looking for 2 volunteers to join me in judging the competition this year. Yes, I am stepping back into the ring - this is my baby and I'll see it delivered. We will also do our best to hold ourselves to a respectable, reasonable timetable.
If you have any questions, please voice them here. Good luck everyone, and lets have some fun!
2016 Entries wrote: Inner Demons by Jarlath
Change by red.wolf
Fighter by Welsh Halfwif
The Return of Harvest Moon by Welsh Halfwit
2020 by HugMePlz
The Modern Moreau by anonfox123
Friend by unsteadypheonix
Ascension by MyPerson54