19 odpowiedzi w tym temacie

[Chris Priestly]

We’re pleased to announce a Dragon Age Creative Writing Challenge to celebrate the launch of lead writer David Gaider’s book Dragon Age: Asunder. The rules are simple—write a short story from the perspective of a Mage or Templar. Email finished work to community@bioware.com and include your BSN username. Also, please post an abstract of your story (50-100 words) in this thread for everyone to see!
 
Entries must be an original, unpublished work of fiction in the English language and no longer than 2,500 words. Multiple submissions WILL NOT be accepted. Please do not include explicit sexual descriptions or excessive violence. Writing will be judged on originality, understanding of & respect for the Intellectual Property, writing quality, grammar & spelling, and keeping within the parameters established in the Dragon Age Universe. The last day we are accepting entries is January 10th, 2012!
 
The Community Team will choose our top five favorites who will receive a complimentary copy of Dragon Age Asunder signed by David Gaider and have their entries read by the man himself! David will choose the overall winner. This winner will receive a full suite of products from the Razer Dragon Age II line: keyboard, mouse, mouse mat, and messenger bag to assist in his or her future writing endeavors. He or she will also be invited to a private Skype Q&A with David Gaider.
 
Looking forward to seeing the creativity that drives our community! Be sure to read Dragon Age Asunder to inspire and inform your writing! 

Użytkownik Chris Priestly edytował ten post 21 grudzień 2011 - 08:05

[Jessica Merizan]

To answer some questions: 

Email your story to community@bioware.com. The work can either be included in the body of the email or attached via Word, PDF, RTF, or text file that can be opened on any standard Mac/PC.

Respect for the Intellectual Property means you don't make major changes to the already established lore (like Hawke never existed or Kirkwall exists in a 1960s timewarp). However, more important than following the IP is understanding it. It may be easy to write something, but it's not easy to write and keep in line with other writers' pre-existing tone/voice. We want your work to compliment the lore (the Wikia is a great resource if you don't already use it!). You can still have characters, settings, and details from the game in your work--in fact, we encourage it--but they should operate within the boundries established by the writers.

And by original, we mean that we do not want to see text reproduced from the game/books in your story and attributed as your own.

Again, to reiterate Chris, unpublished means this is completely unique to this challenge. David's book might give you inspiration so fear not those of you who already have a great deal of DA fiction!

As far as excessive violence and graphic sexual depictions go, I think the game deals with these themes very maturely and your fiction should as well. Sadistic gore and pornographic language will not be read.

We're going to reserve this thread for questions or discussions of this contest. Please post your abstract/synopsis here!!! If you've already posted in this thread, I hope you won't mind re-posting in the other thread so we don't lose any entries.

If anything else is unclear, please let us know!

I should go.

Użytkownik Jessica Merizan edytował ten post 21 grudzień 2011 - 06:38

[Jessica Merizan]

Question: Say I wanted to change some elements about a character, but they were still recognizably the character they were in the game?

Like say I wanted Anders to still be a freedom-fighting mage, but I wanted to change how he came to the idea of doing what he did around the endgame? Would that be allowed?

 *is not planning on using Anders in the way going through his head*

It would be allowed if it makes sense for his character. Unfortunately, it's not as cut and dry as a math equation, but if you provide details that maybe previously haven't been discussed, but you don't change the lore to fit with those details, I'm sure it's fine.

You should be working with the lore, not changing the lore to work for you. A brilliant example of this is Felicia Day's character Tallis which she created to fit within the established DA universe. She did use some creative license at times, however, it was completely recognizable as the story and we all know. Using those small details within the lore generally strengthens your writing IMO.

[Jessica Merizan]

My Name Does Not Matter wrote...

Wait, so what are the guidelines for this? Such as...

How big and what style do you want our font to be? Double or single spaced? Third person or first person?

Whatever you want as long as it's under 2500 words and you post your 50-100 word abstract on the other thread.

[Jessica Merizan]

Lord Methrid wrote...

Can the story take place pre-DA1 events? And must it be within the time frame of the game's / book's story timeline? May we use minimum DA lore and substitute it for DA's grander fantasy lore? I.E. the forming of Templars, the beginning of slavery for Elves, ect.

It should be very obvious from reading that your story is set within the paremeters of the DA universe. Pre- DAII or DAO is fine, however, be aware it will be more difficult to write a convincing piece of fiction the more you stray from existing lore.

[Jessica Merizan]

Yes this challenge is open for everyone as long as you submit your story in English.

Email has been verified. If you already submitted your story and it was bounced back, please email it again to community@bioware.com

[Jessica Merizan]

The Grey Nayr wrote...

I am a little concerned I will be disqualified as correct grammer etc is taken into account, I have improved but I still rely on my BETA reader to improve stuff - I dont think Betas would be allowed.

PLEASE PLEASE edit your work, show it to friends and ask for their critical eye, and edit your work again. As long as your beta reader doesn't do the writing for you, there's absolutely nothing wrong with having someone edit your work.

All writers have editors (the BioWare eidtors are particularly amazing folk!) so PLEASE I cannot stress this enough, edit edit edit.

[Jessica Merizan]

Auroras wrote...

I have a question: is it alright if Hawke and the Warden are mentioned in the story? Not their first names, but their gender, or love interests?

Also, may we post these stories on blogs/ff.net after the contest has ended and the winner(s) have been announced?

Yes you can bring any characters from the DA Universe into the story.

And you are free to do whatever you wish with your story once the challenge is finished and the winner announced

[Jessica Merizan]

Really enjoying all the stories so far guys!

[Jessica Merizan]

Helekanalaith wrote...

Have many entries have been submitted thus far? Will they also be accessible to the community at some point to read through?

You can see abstracts of submitted entries here. Our thinking is that you can read those and PM any member whose story you are interested, and it is up to them whether they would like to share.

Remember, if you have not posted your story there but sent us your entry, please do as we'll cross check! That thread is a collection of stories, an art gallery of sorts, and we want to showcase them!

[Jessica Merizan]

The word limit is precisely why the BioWare writers always claim our awesome editors murder their "word babies". Just something professional writers have to learn to accept.

Any form of "English" is fine as long as it is consistent. I only mentioned it so that other countries knew they could participate as long as they didn't submit something I wouldn't be able to read

@Kittnami - Unfortunately I can't read more than 2500 words because it wouldn't be fair to other entrants. Feel free to resubmit if you need to.

I will try and respond directly to everyone who entered but it's going to take quite some time just to read the entries! We'll do what we can, however. Thanks again for entering and for the feedback regarding the contest! We're always looking for new ways to interact with the community so your feedback and suggestions are important.

[Jessica Merizan]

Last stretch to get your stories in!!!

To answer a ?? re: violence... If your story is painting visuals like rotten dot com then you've gone too far with blood and gore It is subjective but try your best!

The reason we have the abstracts posted in the other thread is to showcase the entries, like a written art gallery! Browse through them and after the 10th feel free to PM any user whose abstract you found compelling and ask for the full story. It is up to him or her to share it. And after the 10th, feel free to post your story anywhere you'd like. We claim no ownership to your work.

We have so many entries that I am not able to email confirmation of receipt. However I am receiving them in my inbox, so unless you misspelled the email address you should be fine. Request a read receipt if your email provider has that function and you are particularly worried

Good luck everyone!

[Jessica Merizan]

Also if you have any last minute questions you need me to answer, the fastest way to get a response is to tweet at me (see link in my sig). Not trying to force Amy twitter converts but I get phone alerts if someone tweets at me whereas I have to manually check here - if I wasn't driving all day today, I wouldn't mind hanging out in the forums

[Jessica Merizan]

You are not required to include a word count and won't be disqualified if you didn't send that info. Just makes things a bit easier for me, but not a requirement.

And ignore @Biotic Budah, that's ridiculous and I would never abuse the community in that way. Take your trolling and paranoia somewhere else, kindly.

[Jessica Merizan]

Contest ends 11:59pm PST on the 10th.

2500 is a strict limit. We won't read it if your story is over.

Remember your abstract MUST be posted in the Abstract thread or you will be disqualified!

People will have a hard time plagerizing your story from an abstract unless you've posted it in it's entirety elsewhere. Ultimately, even if someone was inspired by your abstract (which would be a shame, though imitation can be flattering etc) we'll be able to tell.

However, as with all art contests remember this cannot be completely objective. Several members of the community team will be reading these though so we will do our best to keep things completely fair!

Good luck in this last push

Użytkownik Jessica Merizan edytował ten post 09 styczeń 2012 - 08:02

[Jessica Merizan]

thats1evildude wrote...

On a side note, is there any problem in posting our stories to, say, a fan fiction site once the deadline has passed and the winners have been announced?

Absolutely you can! The work is yours and we claim no ownership of it (as long as you aren't selling it, or claiming our IP as your own etc legal jargon blah blah)

Użytkownik Jessica Merizan edytował ten post 09 styczeń 2012 - 08:07

[Jessica Merizan]

I just want to say that you guys are awesome Not only are we getting loads of entries, but everyone is being really awesome and supportive. Gold stars for everyone!

[Tonia Laird]

Dave has decided to read more of the entries, and the rest of us have been enlisted/volunteered to help out. Which means if you entered your work, at least one writer or editor here will have read it.

[Tonia Laird]

Dasque wrote...

Well, so far in this thread, we've tried patience, we've tried flattery, we've even tried borderline worship.

Anyone up for a sit-down, screaming tantrum?

I am still waiting for that tantrum, though.

[Jessica Merizan]

Hi guys! 

Just posted the results to the writing challenge. You can see them here. David Gaider also posted a lovely companion piece that you can read here.

Please discuss the results in a new thread that you will find here!!!! I probably won't check this thread as much so make sure you're posting in the new thread.

Thanks again to everyone who entered. We really enjoyed reading and will be having more fiction challenges in the future!

Cheers!