May 14, 2020 Update

• Writers: Roster is full. We have our 7!
• Readers: Still accepting.

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May 14, 2020 Update

I would like to get a couple more writers and a few more readers for this one, but I will probably continue to take readers in even after the game as active, and with another writer having joined earlier we’re coming along.

I’m open to readers not necessarily applying to the game, but joining the discord and becoming readers there. Someone on Slack pointed out once the free Storium membership period is over, the number of games people have is going to become more precious so it might be wise to drop the readers having to make a character in the traditional sense.

Click on the provided link to the discord to join.

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May 13, 2020 Update

Writers: I consider the roster full enough right now. I’m not closing applications yet, but it will be soon.

Readers: I would still like to get more readers involved.

I’m open to new people, those learning the ropes, etc for the reader role. If you would rather do more lurking than participating, that’s fine! Maybe you’re undecided, or don’t want to commit due to your number of games, or whatever. No problem!

Come, join the Discord, hang out. See if its for you with no pressure to do anything other than join the discord.

If you want to you’ll be able to vote on the stories, or provide me with writing prompts I can give to your player(s) of choice.

All you have to do is click the Discord Link in the ad below, click it and sign up if you don’t already have an account and jump into the server.

Reach out if you have questions; contact info at the bottom of the ad below.

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Writers Room: Short Story Challenge

I recently saw another member post a short story writing competition here on Storium, and thought I would like to give the same a try.

The concept is Writers will brainstorm and write one 1500-5000 word short story per scene. At the end of the scene, the Readers will vote on each story submitted and decide who moves on to the next scene to write the next short story and who is eliminated.

Each Writer will potentially write up to 7 short stories in this challenge, depending on if and when they get eliminated.

One writer will be eliminated each scene until only two writers remain, and whoever wins (gets the most votes) in that final round will be the winner of the challenge.

Players will not apply with fictional characters as they would in most Storiums. Instead they will be filling in some basic details about themselves and submitting that as their character.

During writer selection I will favor those with Storium tenure, so people who are paid Storium members and/or have been around for a while, have follows, etc. The reason for this is so I can see some evidence you take your writing on Storium at least semi-seriously.

So if you would like to practice your short story writing skills in a semi-competitive fashion, or be a reader and help plot the course of the short stories by tormenting writers with writing prompts and voting on the winners of the scenes and overall challenge, please consider applying!

Discord:
We will utilize my Writers Room Discord channel for talking about the challenge, communicating absences, plotting, etc. Both Writers and Readers will be free to participate in the Discord discussion.

If you’re new to Discord, PM me and I can help get you going.

The link to the discord is here: Writers Room

Age Restriction:
I’m looking for players who are mature (ish), so 24+.

Tense:
Unless stated otherwise, you may write in whatever tense, whatever person you wish in each of your stories. Internal monologue is optional also.

Artwork:
I’m a visual person. Please include art wherever you can. You absolutely do not need to include an actual picture of yourself on any of the cards.

If you have a visual impairment issue that prevents you using card art, just let me know and I completely understand.

Deadlines:
There will be deadlines. It will probably be a one week brainstorming period, followed by a two week writing period, then a week of voting before we repeat and start the next scene.

I’m open to suggestions on this one and would look to discuss this on the Discord server to get a consensus on the time-frame. I would prefer quality over expediency but the deadlines are intentional to keep things rolling and so as to not have this initial challenge running into 2021, lol.

If a writer misses a deadline that writer will be eliminated. If a reader misses a deadline, they may lose the opportunity to vote or offer writing prompts.

Writers

Writers: How to apply
We will start with seven (7) writers. They will apply to the storium as normal and I will choose who gets selected. It will not be first come first serve, we will only start once we have enough writers. I may wait to get a certain number of readers too, but we’ll see how it goes.

Writers: Character sheets
You will not be making a fictional character per se; you will instead be filling in details about yourself, as follows:

• Nature card - Your Storium username
• Strength card - Briefly describe a writing skill or technique you’re proud of
• Weakness card - Briefly describe a writing skill or technique you want to learn or get better at
• Subplot card - Select Writer from the choices available.

Writers: How It Works
We will determine some aspects common to each of your stories at the start of each scene. This should guide you on the genre, offer writing prompts and include any special rules or details for that round of writing.

There will be a planning phase at the start of each scene which will likely be at least a week long (TBD) where Writers can brainstorm their short story ideas, outline, discuss, and draft their story.

At the end of the planning phase I’ll announce it and we will then be ready to accept the short stories and Writers may then post.

Writers: Short Story Submission Guidelines

• Writers may post in any order in the scene.
• Each Writer will write one (1) short story post in each scene.
• Short stories will consist of no fewer than 1,500 and no more than 5,000 words.
• Short stories should be character- or plot-driven pieces in the given genre of fiction.
• All stories must be your own work.
• All stories must be previously unpublished (excluding personal website and/or blog publication).
• No excessive profanity.
• No graphic sex scenes.
• No graphic violence.
• LGBTQ+ friendly.
• Each short story in each scene will be stand-alone and not part of a larger plot or sequence of stories.
• You may not reuse character’s between stories.
• Once you have submitted your story, you are not allowed to edit it or to make another move/another story.
• If you are unable to complete your story by the deadline, you will be eliminated and will not be able to write in the remaining scenes.
• Choose from any of the Asset cards given to you by the Readers and/or Narrator to play in your post in the same scene they were given.
• If you are not given any cards by Readers that round, you must select one of the Narrator Asset Cards posted at the start of the scene.
• As Writers, you have the rights to the stories you write, and only the stories you write.
• Respect other peoples work, as you want your own to be respected.
• At the end of each scene, Writers will discard all unplayed Asset Cards.

Readers

Readers: How to apply
I will accept all readers who apply, though I will probably limit the number of people who can join if it becomes ungainly. Readers will be able to re-write asset cards to give to certain players as writing prompts. They will also have a say in the voting, but will not write in the game.

Readers: Character sheets
You will not be making a fictional character per se; you will instead be filling in details about yourself, as follows:

• Nature card - Your Storium username
• Strength card - Give the names of some of your favorite writers or pieces of writing
• Weakness card - Give the name of at least one piece of writing you’ve read that everyone else seems to love, but you don’t
• Subplot card - Select Reader from the choices available.

Readers: How it works
Readers will participate and influence the story by posing their own writing prompts, by reading and by voting at the end of each scene.

Readers will be given generic Asset Writing Prompt or Genre cards at the start of each scene before or as the planning phase starts.

Short Story Challenge Phases

0. Pre-Planning Phase
This is where everyone gets onto the Discord, starts to mingle and ask questions, etc.

1. Planning Phase
The planning phase will happen at the start of each scene, and will likely be at least a week long (TBD) to give the Writers time to brainstorm their short story idea, outline, discuss, and each draft their story. We will determine the length of the planning phase before we start the game as I want to hold to that throughout.

As soon as I announce the planning phase is open, Writers are free to post a cardless move on storium and in that move select one narrator-provided setting card available in Act I Scene I.

These cards are first-come-first-serve, and will be used as the setting and should factor prominently in your short story. You can write what you want on the move, but something as simple as “I claim the x card” is fine and actually take the card in your move.

During the planning phase, if Readers want to assign writing prompts to the writers, they will:

• Rewrite the Asset cards I give them to detail a specific challenge for a specific writer -or- we will discuss on the discord and you will provide me your ideas, and I will make cards and assign them.
• Write a Reader post detailing who they give the card to and any details they want to clarify about the card (if needed)
• Give the Writer the card.

At the end of the planning phase I’ll announce that planning is over, all Readers will stop assigning writing prompts and the Writers will be told they can post their stories.

2. Writing phase
Once the planning phase ends, the writing phase begins. Readers can no longer Assign challenges by giving asset cards to Writers.

At this point, Writers will have two weeks to complete their short story, but I am open to suggestion on this, and final deadline times are subject to change up to the start of the first Scene.

If everyone completes their short stories earlier than the deadline date, we will proceed to the vote as soon as possible, unless any participants are on vacation mode once all the stories are posted, in which case we will conduct the vote and results on the pre-arranged date to keep it fair.

3. Voting phase
I will create a form and share it so the stories can be voted on. The voting phase will last for a pre-determined amount of time as well, but will most likely be a week in length.

Deciding the Winner

Once the writing phase is over, I will end the scene and post a link to the voting form.

Each participant will be able to go and vote for the story they liked best. Voting will likely be based on a few key aspects of story writing. Creativity, character development, technique, structure, enjoyment, etc.

Elimination:
Once you are eliminated as a writer, you are not allowed to write in the remaining scenes.

• The writer who receives the least points in a scene will be eliminated.
• If a writer misses the deadline for a scene that writer is eliminated.

Declaring a winner:
The writer who receives the most points overall will be ranked the winner of the challenge at the end.

Rewards:
I would love to be able to provide some sort of tangible, real life reward but might have to leave it at bragging rights. Definitely a point to consider if anyone has ideas (I’m not rich!) feel free to join the Discord and we can discuss ways I could offer rewards to the winners of each challenge.

Be Kind:
Lastly, be respectful to one another. These times are difficult enough without bringing drama to something we should enjoy. If you decide this isn’t for you, please feel free to drop out at any time. Writing for fun shouldn’t be something that causes stress or agitation.

If someone is eliminated, be kind. This is a competitive challenge but its meant to be a net positive experience where people can work on their writing in a fun and collaborative way, despite the competitive nature of it.

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My contact info

PM me on Storium | @ nautilus_project
DM me on Twitter | @ dvs_sicarius
DM me on Discord | DVS#7165

Hosted and narrated by: nautilus_project

Started 05/07/20. Scenes played: 3

License: Community License