2124 réponses à ce sujet

[J4N3_M3]

it'd be great if there was another creative writing challenge for the upcoming Mass Effect novel so that those writers who aren't familiar with the DA-verse get a chance to enter a story too

[howwedoit]

J4N3_M3 wrote...

it'd be great if there was another creative writing challenge for the upcoming Mass Effect novel so that those writers who aren't familiar with the DA-verse get a chance to enter a story too

I agree with this! Even for people like myself who have already participated in the Asunder challage it'd be lovely to write in the ME-verse and it would give everyone doesn't win or has miss the deadline a second chance! 

[Shadow of Light Dragon]

It'd be great.

Might depend on how long it takes to do the judging though. Looking at 400 paintings and deciding which you like best is way faster than reading 400 short stories, eliminating the ones that break rules or don't meet standards, possibly cross-checking with lore, shortlisting favourites, and so on until it's narrowed down to 5.

Even if they're not in a hurry to do this again any time soon, here's hoping it'll still happen.

[Prisoner24601]

You're assuming though that they're going to read every entry all of the way through. My guess is that they're going to treat it the way publishers treat a slush pile, and if that's the case, they'll eliminate quite a few rather quickly because the story didn't grab them in the first few paragraphs, or there were lots of g/s/p problems or whatever.

After that... sure it might take a bit to pick winners from the top entries. But it wouldn't surprised me if they weeded them down to the top ten percent rather fast.

[Yunalesca28]

Prisoner24601 wrote...

You're assuming though that they're going to read every entry all of the way through. My guess is that they're going to treat it the way publishers treat a slush pile, and if that's the case, they'll eliminate quite a few rather quickly because the story didn't grab them in the first few paragraphs, or there were lots of g/s/p problems or whatever.

After that... sure it might take a bit to pick winners from the top entries. But it wouldn't surprised me if they weeded them down to the top ten percent rather fast.

A slush pile is a group of unsolicited stories sent to publishers. Since this is a contest, I feel fairly confident they're going to read all of the entries all the way through--unless an entry doesn't meet the contest rules, or it's completely unintelligible.

Modifié par Yunalesca28, 12 janvier 2012 - 07:24 .

[CuriousArtemis]

Yunalesca28 wrote...

A slush pile is a group of unsolicited stories sent to publishers. Since this is a contest, I feel fairly confident they're going to read all of the entries all the way through--unless an entry doesn't meet the contest rules, or it's completely unintelligible.

FYI: I'm an English teacher as well as a book reviewer.  I can read the first paragraph of a paper and pretty much predict whether or not it will receive an A, B, C, or lower.

I think these folks, who are writers themselves, will be able to glance at the first few sentences of an entry and tell whether it will be a winner or not.

For example, I can read the first paragraph of a fanfiction and tell whether or not this is well-written or not.  If it is, I'll keep reading so I can leave a nice review; if it isn't, I stop.

[coderkitten]

motomotogirl wrote...

Yunalesca28 wrote...

A slush pile is a group of unsolicited stories sent to publishers. Since this is a contest, I feel fairly confident they're going to read all of the entries all the way through--unless an entry doesn't meet the contest rules, or it's completely unintelligible.

FYI: I'm an English teacher as well as a book reviewer.  I can read the first paragraph of a paper and pretty much predict whether or not it will receive an A, B, C, or lower.

I think these folks, who are writers themselves, will be able to glance at the first few sentences of an entry and tell whether it will be a winner or not.

For example, I can read the first paragraph of a fanfiction and tell whether or not this is well-written or not.  If it is, I'll keep reading so I can leave a nice review; if it isn't, I stop.

@motomotogirl - I agree with you. I've read Fanfics so bad that you can barely get though the first lines. Sometimes its not even the grammer but the story itself which is horrible.

Although everyone who has entered is hoping to win, there will be some entries that have no hope right off the bat.  

Modifié par coderkitten, 12 janvier 2012 - 08:06 .

[Yunalesca28]

motomotogirl wrote...

Yunalesca28 wrote...

A slush pile is a group of unsolicited stories sent to publishers. Since this is a contest, I feel fairly confident they're going to read all of the entries all the way through--unless an entry doesn't meet the contest rules, or it's completely unintelligible.

FYI: I'm an English teacher as well as a book reviewer.  I can read the first paragraph of a paper and pretty much predict whether or not it will receive an A, B, C, or lower.

I think these folks, who are writers themselves, will be able to glance at the first few sentences of an entry and tell whether it will be a winner or not.

For example, I can read the first paragraph of a fanfiction and tell whether or not this is well-written or not.  If it is, I'll keep reading so I can leave a nice review; if it isn't, I stop.

Oh, I'm sure they'll be able to tell early on if some of the entries have no hope of winning, that's just a given. I guess my hope is that the judges would be respectful enough of the person that's taken the time to write a story to read more than just a sentence or two.

[Shadow of Light Dragon]

But the judges have already said, IIRC, that they won't be giving everyone feedback. Let's say a story was submitted that was from the perspective of a character who was neither mage nor templar, and was about a tragic Cousland romance with King Alistair. As it disrespects the rules of the competition, why should the judges respect the writer by reading her work?

Prisoner24601 wrote...

You're assuming though that they're going to read every entry all of the way through. My guess is that they're going to treat it the way publishers treat a slush pile, and if that's the case, they'll eliminate quite a few rather quickly because the story didn't grab them in the first few paragraphs, or there were lots of g/s/p problems or whatever.

After that... sure it might take a bit to pick winners from the top entries. But it wouldn't surprised me if they weeded them down to the top ten percent rather fast.

I would tend to agree with you that they won't read all of them all the way through. But even so, if we assume 10% of the stories are gems, it's still faster to judge visual art than written media. I didn't mean to say that the process couldn't be somewhat speeded up, just that by virtue of the differences between the two art forms, one is inherently less time/work than the other on the part of the audience.

[Yunalesca28]

Shadow of Light Dragon wrote...

But the judges have already said, IIRC, that they won't be giving everyone feedback. Let's say a story was submitted that was from the perspective of a character who was neither mage nor templar, and was about a tragic Cousland romance with King Alistair. As it disrespects the rules of the competition, why should the judges respect the writer by reading her work?

Which is why I said "unless an entry doesn't meet the contest rules". I wouldn't expect them to read a story that ignored the rules.

[KawaiiKatie]

Let's say a story was submitted that was from the perspective of a character who was neither mage nor templar, and was about a tragic Cousland romance with King Alistair.

Well, if it was told from Alistair's point if view, it would TECHNICALLY be a Templar story...

And using that logic, it could ALSO still be a Templar story from Cousland's point of view, provided Alistair trained him or her in the Templar Specialization.

........sorry, couldn't help myself! I'll shut up now.

[Baileyj1987]

Tryynity wrote...

Baileyj1987 wrote...

Tryynity wrote...

Baileyj1987 wrote...

Saw this contest on and wrote on a whim since I love Bioware's games. Been lurking here too for a few days and y'all seem like a pretty cool bunch, so I might as well not be shy and say hallo. My forum n00b might be showing, but it won't let me post in the story thread,  so if anyone would like to read, I posted it on my blog jarrydbailey.blogspot.com/2012/01/please-be-gentle.html

Constructive criticism of the non-flame variety is always welcome. Cheers and Good Luck everybody!

Seeing this made me think of this THE WRITERS LOUNGE  created for experienced writers and noobs like myself - to come and share and swap knowledge and simply hang out.

NOTE: it is in DragonAge Origins forum - so be aware when you post stuff in regard to other games (re spoilers) best to post a link for that type of story.

Hope to see you there.

Thanks! I'll definitely check it out. I'm a spec fic writer in a local writers group full of old ladies writing thrillers and chick lit, and while I love my old ladies, it'll be nice to talk to writers who stroll the same alley as me.

Will be gr8 to have you - thank you for the friend request also.

I notice you are new to the community also - so welcome.

and some old ladies rock - check this out -  * WARNING MA - VERY BAd LANGUAGE Rating

- Grandma plays SKYRIM  




 

That's amazing. My old ladies and grandmother would keel over dead if they saw that. She kind of reminds me of an old lady I work with, though. She once told a customer to "go swing a big bag of [REDACTED] for all I care." Manager just about lost her lunch.

Modifié par Baileyj1987, 12 janvier 2012 - 10:38 .

[Tryynity]

LOL - her swearing at first made my skin crawl - Im not used to the elderly speaking like that - but towards the end I couldnt help but smile - IDK why.

The best part for me was the fact that she was playing the game - and REALLY into it

[Shadow of Light Dragon]

Yunalesca28 wrote...

Which is why I said "unless an entry doesn't meet the contest rules". I wouldn't expect them to read a story that ignored the rules.

Oops. My reading could use some work too, I guess. XD

[guitarbard]

Love the contests...hate the waiting.

Modifié par AndrastesGrace, 13 janvier 2012 - 01:28 .

[K.L.Bryan]

AndrastesGrace wrote...

Love the contests...hate the waiting.

Me too.  Luckily I picked up a copy of Dragon Age Asunder today so I can read that while I wait. :happy:

[BrennaCeDria]

K.L.Bryan wrote...

AndrastesGrace wrote...

Love the contests...hate the waiting.

Me too.  Luckily I picked up a copy of Dragon Age Asunder today so I can read that while I wait. :happy:

I already finished Asunder, and I can't let myself re-read it or anything else until I get at least two chapters, if not three, done on my main fic to catch back up to where I should be for this week.

[Bahim]

How will we know if our entries have been accepted into to top 5? Email, Facebook post, what?

[BrennaCeDria]

Bahim wrote...

How will we know if our entries have been accepted into to top 5? Email, Facebook post, what?

I'd say email certainly, so that they can get shipping info, but I'd assume either here (perhaps edited into the OP?) or on a new thread as well.

[Bahim]

I had troubles with my submission. I sent my story through an email not connected to BSN do you think it will still work, because I had to send another email apologizing for sending it through the wrong email and then I had to send an email telling them which email address was the correct one. I hope they still consider me because if not I will be very sad that my submission was taken into account because of a snafu in the submission.

[BrennaCeDria]

Bahim wrote...

I had troubles with my submission. I sent my story through an email not connected to BSN do you think it will still work, because I had to send another email apologizing for sending it through the wrong email and then I had to send an email telling them which email address was the correct one. I hope they still consider me because if not I will be very sad that my submission was taken into account because of a snafu in the submission.

I can't remember, did it have to be from a linked email, or just with your username included in the file and/or email text? Mine had both, cause I only have one email I use for personal stuff, but I wonder in general.

[K.L.Bryan]

BrennaCeDria wrote...

Bahim wrote...

I had troubles with my submission. I sent my story through an email not connected to BSN do you think it will still work, because I had to send another email apologizing for sending it through the wrong email and then I had to send an email telling them which email address was the correct one. I hope they still consider me because if not I will be very sad that my submission was taken into account because of a snafu in the submission.

I can't remember, did it have to be from a linked email, or just with your username included in the file and/or email text? Mine had both, cause I only have one email I use for personal stuff, but I wonder in general.

All it said in the first post was-

Email finished work to community@bioware.com and include your BSN username. 

It should be alright I think.  I just realised I did the same thing.  

[Bahim]

Alright I feel a bit better now. Hopefully they dont think I spammed them with emails now. :/

[The Sarendoctrinator]

I used a different e-mail too, but I included my username like their instructions said, so I don't think it'll be a problem for anyone. I found out at the last minute that the e-mail I used to sign up for my BSN account doesn't work anymore. I guess that's what happens if you don't use it in a long time.

[Anchor5]

Everyone needs to relax a little bit. You're getting stressed out about things that are too late to change. Worrying wont affect your odds of winning, so just shrug it off and wait until the winners are announced. If you win, you'll be laughing about how scared you were, and if not, then you know your next story will be better.