Escapecraft

Writing is important. Probably more important than most other skills you will obtain over the remainder of your life. Unfortunately, writing isn't exactly the most exciting activity one can do, but few will go as far as to say it's an useless skill. Many employers look for good written skills and it would foolish to be lacking in this area, especially these days where jobs can be pretty rare.

So, this is my attempt to make it fun by making a contest out of it. If all goes well, it will be something that we can continue again, and again, but we'll first see how it goes. The prize will probably be something in the server like Royalty or whatever, but the real reward will be strengthening your composition ability.

Here's how it will work:
• A genre will be chosen to write about. From there each person will be allowed one week (7 days) to write and complete a short story in the genre chosen. Length will be limited to 10,000 words. One thing to note is some stories may be too interesting to end. There is nothing wrong with submitting a story with no ending. You may be encouraged later on to finish it.

• Once completed, you will post the story in some spoiler tags here in this thread.

A couple of things about formatting: Don't worry about paragraph structure. Instead of tabbing your paragraphs, just use a full return to split them up. Splitting your paragraphs are important and easy on the eyes.

• Grammar is important. If I see any submissions where grammar has been thrown out the window (like many of the posts I see on the forums) that submission will be disqualified. Please be mindful of how you write. Most modern word processors come with spelling and grammar tools. If you lack a word processor, check out Libre Office. It's a free, open source, office suite and is suitable for this. Personally, I use Q10, a
distraction-free word processor.

• Once all submissions have been entered and the deadline is over, a poll will be added and each entry will be voted "Best of the Week." Aside from the Royalty, the winner will also choose the genre (it cannot be the same as the previous week's) for the next week.

• Rinse and repeat.

And that's pretty much all there is to it. Now, keep in mind that the goal is not to cram as many words as you can on to paper, but rather to focus on grammar and syntax while creating something compelling to read.

==================================
Week 1 Genre: Horror
Due: March 13
Winner: Lord Mountbatten
==================================
Week 2 Genre: Low Fantasy
Due: March 27
Winner: Spyboticsguy
==================================
Week 3 Genre: Dystopian Fiction
Due: April 10
Winner: MrJKapowey
==================================
Week 4 Genre: War
Due: A Time
Winner: m477h3w1012

I am interested in participating.

It would appear that the genre for the first week is already listed as horror. Or if that is your chosen genre...
My genre of choice would be: Fantasy

I am interested in participating. I note you also ask us to provide a genre; I'll say "low fantasy".

tanisjihanis wrote:I am interested in participating.

It would appear that the genre for the first week is already listed as horror. Or if that is your chosen genre...
My genre of choice would be: Fantasy

Ah, I meant that to mean that is what I was proposing.

I altered my text to show it a little better.

MKindy wrote:I am interested in participating. I note you also ask us to provide a genre; I'll say "low fantasy".

I've never heard of "low fantasy." What does that exactly mean?

Low fantasy are stories which take place in the real world but with fantastic elements.

fantasy and i'm in

My Genre is: Victor Von Doom

Because the man deserves a genre to himself...

I'm interested in participating, and since I've never really tried it before, I'll go with Sneaky's proposal of horror. Failing that, I would support low fantasy.

Good to see some interest in this.

After this topic has been open for twenty-fours hours, I will count up all of the genre suggestions and see which one is the most popular. Once the genre is set, the first week will begin.

I think you should try what Mojang did with their charity game thing, only with writing; take a selection of genres and settings, put them to a vote, then combine the lowest and highest rated ones into the objective for writing a story. I'd imagine some quite amusing and creative possibilities could come out of that.

Also, I'm down with this, and I suggest Sci-Fi.

This looks interesting. I'll go with Sneaky and support horror as the genre. I've never written a horror piece, so it will be an interesting challenge to do so.

vallorn wrote:My Genre is: VICTOR VON DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM

Because the man deserves a genre to himself...

I fixed your spelling mistake Vall, and i would like to have a go if it's low fantasy or sci-fi seems like interesting places to set a story, that and i'm useless at horror.

Though I've very limited free time, I'll definitely attempt to get one written before the week is up.

I'm cool with any genre.

I'd rather have a fantasy genre.

I just wrote a horror story for my literature class, but to be honest it's half-assed since I put it off until the day before it was due. Would I be in violation of any rules if I were to fix it up to my standards and post it?

Also, yes please on horror. I love horror stories.

I'll try this. even though my English teachers suck and I personally don't think of myself as that great of a writer, though some of my friends do. So here's a chance to compare my stuff to other people :D and I guess I'll go with horror as the genre, why not.

I'll do something, if I can spare the time.

I'm not the greatest writer, but I'll give it a shot.

Maybe.

aflycon wrote:I just wrote a horror story for my literature class, but to be honest it's half-assed since I put it off until the day before it was due. Would I be in violation of any rules if I were to fix it up to my standards and post it?

Also, yes please on horror. I love horror stories.

If it's something that you have written, I don't see a problem with it.

Okay, the genre is horror.

As of right now, all stories will be due in seven days.

And... go.

SneakyPie wrote: Okay, the genre is horror.

crud... i suck at Horror... sorry im out.

vallorn wrote:

SneakyPie wrote: Okay, the genre is horror.

crud... i suck at Horror... sorry im out.

I'm the same as Vall here, horror is not my forte

I'll be out too this time, I am rubbish at horror and I leave that genre to Darren Shan

Iron_Fang wrote:I'll be out too this time, I am rubbish at horror and I leave that genre to Darren Shan

Haha, a friend of mine told me his idea of horror was along the lines of "there was blood, it was there."

And to those that backed out because they say they can't write horror, I've never tried it but I'm interested in attempting something new. Be more inquisitive!

Lord. I have tried. 5 times with several subsets of Horror... all of them were crud. I have issues with Pacing and Imagery with regards to Horror which makes writing it a pain.

Iron:
Shan is a decent writer but his stuff isnt "Horror". its more "Action-Drama with Horror based Charecters. (Vampires, Werewolves, Demons, ETC)

Never tried before, but will now.

Question: Does the horror need to be of any particular variety?

Looks like I shall be doing this in Florida on spring break, cause I have a couple tests coming up tomorrow and friday, but I already have an idea :D

MKindy wrote:Question: Does the horror need to be of any particular variety?

No. Just anything related to horror. It can be set in any time.

I'm out, I've come down with a nasty cold. Can't focus at all.

The Bum wrote:I'm out, I've come down with a nasty cold. Can't focus at all.

Don't be out. D: We've got til next Tuesday! I intend to do all my writing Saturday xD