Post by Neko Bazu on Aug 22, 2007 12:12:55 GMT -1
So, you're considering entering the Fic Challenge? First off, check out the guidelines below, to find out exactly what it is and how to do it. I apologise for the length, but the guide should hopefully cover absolutely everything, include various legalities. Once you've read it, you should be all set and ready to go!
What is the Fic Challenge?
The Fic Challenge is a light-hearted task that's set once a month. The idea is that I will provide a theme at the beginning of each month, and entrants will write a short story which utilises that theme. With any luck, it'll take off well and we'll get plenty of entries!
What's in it for me?
Most obviously, it will be incorporated in the House System when it gets up and running - everyone who enters gets a point for their house. Further to that, fics that really stand out in one way or another (quality, imaginative use of the theme etc) will earn bonus points, as will individuals whose work has clearly improved. These areas will be judged by me, as a neutral (I won't be joining any houses [Edit: Apparently I don't have a choice - but rest assured, my absolutely apathy on the subject will mean my judging is unbiased!]), a long-time fanfic writer/reviewer and a keen reader eager to see what you all come up with!
Primarily, though, it's about having fun and utilising and improving your own talents (or lack thereof!) - you can ask for constructive criticism to be left to help improve your writing, which is an invaluable aid for any budding writers out there or even people who just write for fun and would like to improve a little.
What do I do?
The 'rules' (as it were) are laid out below:
# At the beginning of each month, I will nominate a theme - it could be a place, an object, a sentence, a concept; absolutely anything.
# Entrants are then challenged to write a short story using that theme, to be submitted by the end of the month (there will be a few days' grace on the deadline). A 'short story' can consist of anything up to 20,000 words, though 2,000-4,000 is a typical figure for this sort of contest.
# The theme itself can be used in any way, ranging from a passing reference to being the centre of the story. Were the theme 'water', for instance, usage could range from a character boiling a kettle to being caught in a rainstorm to the story being set in the Arctic (ice is frozen water, after all). The theme must be present, though, else the entry is considered invalid.
# The story can consist of anything from a 'drabble' (a brief snip of a scene, usually 100-600 words) all the way through to a multi-chaptered effort, if you wish. You may write a completely original piece, write a 'different take' on an existing piece ("What if the White Rabbit hadn't been late?"), or write an alternate ending to a story, film etc. You can even just start in the middle of a story and give us a scene or two. As long as you're not plagiarising others' work, it's pretty likely to be valid.
# Characters may be completely original, taken from one or more 'fandoms' (that is, a book, series, game etc you're a fan of - Ron Weasley is in the Harry Potter fandom, for instance) or a mix of the two.
# IF YOU INTEND TO USE FANDOM CHARACTERS, the following authors/companies have expressly stated they do not wish their work to be used this way - please respect their wishes:
- P.N. Elrod
- Raymond Feist
- Terry Goodkind
- Laurell K. Hamilton
- Robin Hobb
- Dennis L. McKiernan
- Robin McKinley
- Irene Radford
- Anne Rice
- Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb
- Archie comics
Please note also that not everyone will know the characters you're using - if a little back-story is required (i.e. if it's relevant to your entry), please either incorporate it in your story or add it to the thread you post it in before the story itself is put up.
# Please check your story for spelling and grammar errors before posting it. If need be, ask a friend - or me - to do it. One or two slips are okay, but when there's two mistakes in every paragraph it ruins the story. Stories written in txtspk - unless for a clear reason - will result in you metaphorically "getin ur ass kikd."
What can't I do?
First off, the following is from ProBoards' own policy guidelines:
3. CONTENT RESTRICTIONS
Your web site must conform to the following standards to be eligible to utilize this service:
1. User's content must comply in a manner consistent with any and all applicable laws of the State of California and the US Federal Government.
2. User's web site may not contain content promoting the use of illegal drugs, alcohol, sex, pornography, nudity, or any other form of adult content, profanity, hate, "spam," fraud, racism, mlm, pyramid schemes, or promote any illegal activity.
3. User's message board and Web site must be in English.
Since ProBoards is hosted in the US, US laws apply, as noted in point one. The most relevant issue to this contest is exactly what can and can't be entered content-wise. The 'acid test' for what would be considered 'obscene' (and so unpostable) is the Miller Test, as detailed below:
To be considered obscene, a material must:
1. lack political, artistic, literary, and scientific value (P.A.L.S.)
2. violate community standards for obscenity, and
3. have the sole purpose of appealing to one's prurient interests.
Since we're posting with the intention of sharing literary and artistic content, our work technically cannot be considered obscene. I will ask, however, that you use common sense - a rape scene for plot, for instance, is one thing, (whether I like it or not, and whether it offends or not, if it's for plot I will defend your right to use it) but a story consisting primarily of a graphic rape scene and not much more by way of content really is crossing the line, as I'm sure we can all imagine. If you're not sure, PM me to check it.
On the subject of nudity, rape, smut and so forth; I say go for it if it's relevant. The terms of use state that we can't post material promoting it, but there's a big difference between saying, "Go and have sex!" and posting a story in which two people have sex - that sex happens is a fact, after all. (Mods, if you want to debate this point, I'm open to conversation over PM)
Submitting an entry
To submit an entry, post it in a new thread, noting the month you're posting for (e.g. 'September Fic Challenge'). Inside, the format for posting should match the example below:
Title: [Story title]
Theme: [The given theme]
Genre: [Humour, horror, drama etc]
Rating: [Age rating - PG, 12 etc. If you're torn between two, go for the higher one to be safe]
Feedback: [Say here whether you want constructive feedback or not - see below]
Warnings: [Note here anything that might cause offence - foul language, nudity, fighting, boys kissing etc. Let the reader decide if it's an issue to them]
Notes: [Any notes you wish to add - which fandoms you borrowed from, if the fic's meant to be a parody etc]
[Add here any further notes - important character background details not mentioned in the story, for instance]
[Story here]
Can I submit more than one entry?
Yes, though any points offered for any extras will depend on the quality of the work - three poor entries will still only earn one entry point between them, whereas one far better entry will stand a better chance of gaining bonus points too. However, should the second entry be deemed up to standard, it will also be awarded an entry point.
Leaving feedback
The writer may ask for one of three types of feedback:
# None - while you may reply to say what you thought of it, the writer doesn't really want advice on improving it
# Yes, public - you may leave constructive feedback on the thread the fic was posted on
# Yes, private - you can reply to say what you thought of it publicly, but please PM any advice
Please note you are not obliged to leave anything more than 'I liked it' though it's obviously helpful if you offer more.
Writers and reviewers, please note the following:
# Constructive feedback should be honest, above all, else it's useless.
# For feedback to be 'constructive', it should highlight good points and bad points, ideally saying what you liked/didn't like and how to improve, if possible. If it felt a little clumsy, say so. If you especially liked the way a character was described, say so.
# Please do not 'flame' a writer:
Constructive feedback:
"I liked it! It felt a little slow toward the end, like it was being dragged out, but the plot itself was good and I liked the way Tom and Jerry interacted!"
Flame:
"That was shit. You're crap."
Notice the difference? Even if you go on to justify why it was shit, that's something. Don't just leave outright abuse though (and if someone writes something you disagree with, don't hold that against them - review honestly; say you didn't like that, but pick up the good points too. The warnings at the top of the story should notify you of anything you don't like)
Likewise, writers responding to reviews, please be courteous and respect their opinions. They don't have to like your work, after all. If you've been flamed, let me or a mod know, and we'll see if it justifies being removed. Don't take flames to heart though - as many a fanfiction writer has remarked, flames are only good for roasting marshmallows!
*~*~*~*~*~*
I believe that covers everything, so ask any questions here, or go forth and prepare Expect the first challenge to run in September!
Edit: I may fall into the habit of using certain fanfiction-related terms throughout all this; there's a pretty good article on various common terms here if you have time and want to check them in advance instead of getting explanations at the time
What is the Fic Challenge?
The Fic Challenge is a light-hearted task that's set once a month. The idea is that I will provide a theme at the beginning of each month, and entrants will write a short story which utilises that theme. With any luck, it'll take off well and we'll get plenty of entries!
What's in it for me?
Most obviously, it will be incorporated in the House System when it gets up and running - everyone who enters gets a point for their house. Further to that, fics that really stand out in one way or another (quality, imaginative use of the theme etc) will earn bonus points, as will individuals whose work has clearly improved. These areas will be judged by me, as a neutral (I won't be joining any houses [Edit: Apparently I don't have a choice - but rest assured, my absolutely apathy on the subject will mean my judging is unbiased!]), a long-time fanfic writer/reviewer and a keen reader eager to see what you all come up with!
Primarily, though, it's about having fun and utilising and improving your own talents (or lack thereof!) - you can ask for constructive criticism to be left to help improve your writing, which is an invaluable aid for any budding writers out there or even people who just write for fun and would like to improve a little.
What do I do?
The 'rules' (as it were) are laid out below:
# At the beginning of each month, I will nominate a theme - it could be a place, an object, a sentence, a concept; absolutely anything.
# Entrants are then challenged to write a short story using that theme, to be submitted by the end of the month (there will be a few days' grace on the deadline). A 'short story' can consist of anything up to 20,000 words, though 2,000-4,000 is a typical figure for this sort of contest.
# The theme itself can be used in any way, ranging from a passing reference to being the centre of the story. Were the theme 'water', for instance, usage could range from a character boiling a kettle to being caught in a rainstorm to the story being set in the Arctic (ice is frozen water, after all). The theme must be present, though, else the entry is considered invalid.
# The story can consist of anything from a 'drabble' (a brief snip of a scene, usually 100-600 words) all the way through to a multi-chaptered effort, if you wish. You may write a completely original piece, write a 'different take' on an existing piece ("What if the White Rabbit hadn't been late?"), or write an alternate ending to a story, film etc. You can even just start in the middle of a story and give us a scene or two. As long as you're not plagiarising others' work, it's pretty likely to be valid.
# Characters may be completely original, taken from one or more 'fandoms' (that is, a book, series, game etc you're a fan of - Ron Weasley is in the Harry Potter fandom, for instance) or a mix of the two.
# IF YOU INTEND TO USE FANDOM CHARACTERS, the following authors/companies have expressly stated they do not wish their work to be used this way - please respect their wishes:
- P.N. Elrod
- Raymond Feist
- Terry Goodkind
- Laurell K. Hamilton
- Robin Hobb
- Dennis L. McKiernan
- Robin McKinley
- Irene Radford
- Anne Rice
- Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb
- Archie comics
Please note also that not everyone will know the characters you're using - if a little back-story is required (i.e. if it's relevant to your entry), please either incorporate it in your story or add it to the thread you post it in before the story itself is put up.
# Please check your story for spelling and grammar errors before posting it. If need be, ask a friend - or me - to do it. One or two slips are okay, but when there's two mistakes in every paragraph it ruins the story. Stories written in txtspk - unless for a clear reason - will result in you metaphorically "getin ur ass kikd."
What can't I do?
First off, the following is from ProBoards' own policy guidelines:
3. CONTENT RESTRICTIONS
Your web site must conform to the following standards to be eligible to utilize this service:
1. User's content must comply in a manner consistent with any and all applicable laws of the State of California and the US Federal Government.
2. User's web site may not contain content promoting the use of illegal drugs, alcohol, sex, pornography, nudity, or any other form of adult content, profanity, hate, "spam," fraud, racism, mlm, pyramid schemes, or promote any illegal activity.
3. User's message board and Web site must be in English.
Since ProBoards is hosted in the US, US laws apply, as noted in point one. The most relevant issue to this contest is exactly what can and can't be entered content-wise. The 'acid test' for what would be considered 'obscene' (and so unpostable) is the Miller Test, as detailed below:
To be considered obscene, a material must:
1. lack political, artistic, literary, and scientific value (P.A.L.S.)
2. violate community standards for obscenity, and
3. have the sole purpose of appealing to one's prurient interests.
Since we're posting with the intention of sharing literary and artistic content, our work technically cannot be considered obscene. I will ask, however, that you use common sense - a rape scene for plot, for instance, is one thing, (whether I like it or not, and whether it offends or not, if it's for plot I will defend your right to use it) but a story consisting primarily of a graphic rape scene and not much more by way of content really is crossing the line, as I'm sure we can all imagine. If you're not sure, PM me to check it.
On the subject of nudity, rape, smut and so forth; I say go for it if it's relevant. The terms of use state that we can't post material promoting it, but there's a big difference between saying, "Go and have sex!" and posting a story in which two people have sex - that sex happens is a fact, after all. (Mods, if you want to debate this point, I'm open to conversation over PM)
Submitting an entry
To submit an entry, post it in a new thread, noting the month you're posting for (e.g. 'September Fic Challenge'). Inside, the format for posting should match the example below:
Title: [Story title]
Theme: [The given theme]
Genre: [Humour, horror, drama etc]
Rating: [Age rating - PG, 12 etc. If you're torn between two, go for the higher one to be safe]
Feedback: [Say here whether you want constructive feedback or not - see below]
Warnings: [Note here anything that might cause offence - foul language, nudity, fighting, boys kissing etc. Let the reader decide if it's an issue to them]
Notes: [Any notes you wish to add - which fandoms you borrowed from, if the fic's meant to be a parody etc]
[Add here any further notes - important character background details not mentioned in the story, for instance]
[Story here]
Can I submit more than one entry?
Yes, though any points offered for any extras will depend on the quality of the work - three poor entries will still only earn one entry point between them, whereas one far better entry will stand a better chance of gaining bonus points too. However, should the second entry be deemed up to standard, it will also be awarded an entry point.
Leaving feedback
The writer may ask for one of three types of feedback:
# None - while you may reply to say what you thought of it, the writer doesn't really want advice on improving it
# Yes, public - you may leave constructive feedback on the thread the fic was posted on
# Yes, private - you can reply to say what you thought of it publicly, but please PM any advice
Please note you are not obliged to leave anything more than 'I liked it' though it's obviously helpful if you offer more.
Writers and reviewers, please note the following:
# Constructive feedback should be honest, above all, else it's useless.
# For feedback to be 'constructive', it should highlight good points and bad points, ideally saying what you liked/didn't like and how to improve, if possible. If it felt a little clumsy, say so. If you especially liked the way a character was described, say so.
# Please do not 'flame' a writer:
Constructive feedback:
"I liked it! It felt a little slow toward the end, like it was being dragged out, but the plot itself was good and I liked the way Tom and Jerry interacted!"
Flame:
"That was shit. You're crap."
Notice the difference? Even if you go on to justify why it was shit, that's something. Don't just leave outright abuse though (and if someone writes something you disagree with, don't hold that against them - review honestly; say you didn't like that, but pick up the good points too. The warnings at the top of the story should notify you of anything you don't like)
Likewise, writers responding to reviews, please be courteous and respect their opinions. They don't have to like your work, after all. If you've been flamed, let me or a mod know, and we'll see if it justifies being removed. Don't take flames to heart though - as many a fanfiction writer has remarked, flames are only good for roasting marshmallows!
*~*~*~*~*~*
I believe that covers everything, so ask any questions here, or go forth and prepare Expect the first challenge to run in September!
Edit: I may fall into the habit of using certain fanfiction-related terms throughout all this; there's a pretty good article on various common terms here if you have time and want to check them in advance instead of getting explanations at the time