The contest theme has been decided. Grey vs Grey was the most popular decision, with 18 points. Keep in mind that all other themes are welcome, even encouraged to be present in your story as well, so long as Grey vs Grey is one of said themes. I can't speak for the other judges, but bonus points go to whoever incorporates a dystopian setting into their story as well.
Anybody who plans on participating in the contest must PM me the name of their story, and either enable sneak peek mode so I can view the story, or briefly make me a coauthor. This is only so I can check the number of pages completed, I'll PM you back once I've seen the story and you can either keep sneak preview enabled or disable it. I'll remove myself as coauthor of all stories once I've given you the OK.
Contestant stories will not be entered into the contest if I have not been allowed to check the story out. If you wish to change the name of the story at any point, just PM me and let me know.
That being said, the judges are Killa_Robot, Kiel_Farren, and myself. The contest will officially begin on April 10th, and end on May 10th for authors who have already begun work on their stories.. Newly created stories will have an extra week to be completed, the deadline for them will be May 17th, obviously.
Nope. As long as you incorporate the Grey vs Grey theme into it, you have total creative control over your story.
Wait, so we have to have already written out some of the story beforehand? Or, do we have until April 10 to write out the first part of the story and show it to you?
No, just send me a link to the story you plan on submitting once you've created it, just so I can confirm you haven't already previously begun work on it.
Ah. That sounds a lot smarter than what I was saying. Thanks for clarifying.
@playa988 What if I send you the link while you're not online, then work on the story? By the time you look at it, it'll look like I've been wokring on it for a while.
You're doing that a lot.
The latter (and joking about it, of course haha).
I can trust you Seth.
Good luck everyone!
So Grey vs Grey is where there is no obvious good or evil, right?
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GreyAndGrayMorality
Thanks.
So, I don't have a story, so I get until the 17th of May? Also, when would I let out a sneak preview/enable coauthor? Sorry for all of the questions.
If you start early you only get until the 10th...
Ooooooh. If I start on the tenth of April, then I have until the tenth of May, because I already consented
to work. Thanks!
If you've already stated you intend to enter you have until May 10th. If you don't state your intentions until after April 10th, you're deadlined will be extended to the 17th.
In your case, you have until the 10th to enter your submission.
According to TV Tropes, readers tend to stick with the "good guys" but feel some sympathies towards the "bad guys", however does it have to be immediately known to the readers that the "bad guys" aren't all that bad as people may think? Could it be discovered later in the story?
Cant speak for the judges, but imo, a really good grey vs grey story has the player think "yeah lets kick some bad guys teeth in" and then slowly make them question if the bad is really all that bad, and if the good guys are really all that good.
It does not have to be immediately known. You have complete artistic control over your stories, as long as the theme is present, you're good to go.
Good, because I would have to completely change up my idea if we couldn't do that. xD
So I don't need to sign up or anything, just have a new story ready and submitted to you by may 17. Oh and I need to send the link to playa, once I come up with a title. Nothing else right?
I believe the deadline's only extended if you haven't submitted intent by April 10, the official start of the competition.
I don't understand what you mean by "not signing up" when you say later that you're sending him your story.
Psssh who reads anymore. Joking aside, I have not even come up with a title yet, I have barely even starting on drawing an outline. I am only asking just to clarify things for me. Which I guess just posting here serves as my intent until I get a link sent.
Yup. To clarify, you personally will have until May 10th to submit a story.
Alrighty. Better get to my outline.
Yup yup.
Question: What's the minimum amount of entries needed? I think we'd need at least 4-5 (1st, 2nd, and 3rd place + honorable mention) but think it's important to establish beforehand (plus you may disagree).
5 entries.
Any rules on coauthors / previews of the storygames for editing purposes?
Are judges supposed to see nothing of the work till turn in date? (no post on writing workshop with contest entry actual content, only pms, some type of thing in the title to warn off the judges)
No coauthors for any purposes, whether it be writing or editing.
Nobody on the site should see any of your work until it is published.
Okays.
Thank you for that bit of information.
Does this rule still apply? Seems harsh.
I still haven't come up with a grey vs. gray story idea that is compelling enough to write or would be worth telling/reading.
I lost all my notes on the original story, might still start a different one.
Not so fast! 16 pages (outside of the editor)!
I have eight in the advanced editor. God that thing is tedious...
Busy studying for an AP. Trying to get back into writing. Have 9 finished pages from before.
2 pages, with 4 papers to be written before the deadline is up for the contest. So we'll see if I can finish. Colllege coursework comes first.
I think I'm just gonna give up,
I can, but whatever I come up with will be a piece of shit not worth submitting in the first place. So overall there is no point.
"Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat."
Theodore Roosevelt said that. Good man. Putting it in my own words for you, though ...
You gain confidence from victory, you gain knowledge from defeat ... it's only by doing nothing that you gain nothing.
I have that same fear, but I don't intend to give up until they pry this laptop from from my cold dead hands the very end.
School's pretty much restricting any writing time. I've got a good idea flowing though, just need to get it onto the page.
I'm still eagerly anticipating the chance to read all of the entries, so, keep it up guys. I believe in ya.
xD I was hoping someone would be.
And then our stereotypical panel of judges will be complete!
I thought I was supposed to be the asshole? You can't terk my jerb like that!
I have no fucking idea how to work Grey Vs Grey into my story.
Count me (probably) out.
Like him, i am also finding it hard to make my story Grey v.s. Gey. It's very frustrating.
But this doesn't mean i'm quitting, not just yet.
Feel free to call it what you want. I honesty can't bring myself to give a solitary fuck.
My skill is the ability to be patiently driven toward an *shrug* idea. Wait, would that be considered grey vs. gray? Nah, still not feeling it... I guess I'll keep looking ...
.....Guys, grey vs grey is literallyt the easiest thing to write ever. Its something you should be writing anyways. All Grey vs Grey requires you to do is to have a none-one-demensional villain and hero. Where the hero isn't always Good, and the Villain isn't always bad.
The villain could be avenging the murder of his dad. The hero could be using sneaky tactics (such as poison) to get rid of the villains thugs.
DIE HARD IS A GREY VS GREY STORY. Kinda.
Seriously, this should be really easy, ha ha. At least gathering ideas. I know writing is tough, but the ideas are everywhere!
If Negative could come up with something in a day, maybe I can think of something in the next couple of weeks. Yeah! Go ME!!!
I'm a perfectionist, who doesn't see the point of doing something if it isn't going to turn out well. I don't see the point of writing and publishing something that isn't going to be better than okay.
I'm so low in confidence in anything, not just as a writer. I've been working on it, but it is baby steps.
I'm sorry.
I don't remember who said it, but I always liked this idea about writing:
In your head, the story is perfect. The plot is clever, the characters are interesting.
When you start trying to write it down, it isn't that perfect thing in your imagination any more. The real thing can't ever live up to the ideal. It's always a disappointment.
And that's why everybody thinks they could be an author, and hardly anyone actually is.
Most people would rather keep their shining idea of a story.
True, but these people, myself included sometimes, can realize that others may see it and like it, even if it isn't that perfect world that you imagined. It happens all the time.
I won't sign up for this. I have no idea how to insert the Grey vs Grey morality to my storygame. It's dystopian. I don't think I can finish it until May due to exams.
Edit: Yeah, I think I can add a little bit of Grey vs Grey morality and scenes to my storygame. Still I won't sign up though.
Wow, I totally forgot this was a thing.
Is it too late to enter?
So who thinks they're gonna be able to get something turned in for the contest?
I am trying so hard to get a story at least presentable, but it probably won't be finished. With my AP tests approaching, I seem to have less and less time to do anything that I want.
Even so, I'll try to submit submit something.
Same here. I might sign up for the contest. I can't finish it due to exams but I'll try to finish parts and make it presentable.
Hold on, I don't think I can submit it......
Why not?
Lacked of multiple endings. Can't get much Grey vs Grey into it until the later parts. Grey vs Grey in the game is more of morality choices and character backgrounds. It's 95% dystopian.
... So make some more endings?
Honestly, in a dystopian world, it's incredibly easy to fit in Grey vs Grey.
What Kiel said. Also, you can still submit, but if the story doesn't branch it's not going to score as highly. I can't speak for the other judges though.
I have no idea for other endings for the second part of the series, the only ending is to kill the professor and push the PLA back from USA plus to cure the world with the cure AT THE THIRD PART OF THE SERIES! (The ending is placed at the third part of the series) I can't afford to make it shorter. I still got ideas for the Grey vs Grey morality though. It's a mix of zombies and realistic soldiers.
Well thanks for ruining the ending hahah
It was made to have a lot of explorable places though. I'll try to make the characters interesting.
... Word of advice: Never spoil the ending of a game. Ever. >.>
Thanks for the suggestions.
Good for you.
Well, I'm working on something. 25 days left, right?
Can't promise anything. Lots of real life going on.
I know the feeling.
Basically like what Seth said.
I don't know. I have a 10 page research paper, a 3 page paper, a behavior modification report, an abnormal psych diagnosis assessment, three exams, a clinical skills practical exam, a presentation, and five finals in the next 2 weeks.
My college work comes first. Otherwise I won't get into graduate school. My grades have to be great.
I may not be able do.
Don't we need another judge now that playa is banned? Or is the contest just not going to continue?
@killa_robot @kiel_farren
are you guys up to continue the contest?
I'll still award the points, if people write stories.
I still don't have an idea, but I'll let you and Kiel know the minute I do.
Good, good.
A message from Playa:
It's Playa, 3J has decided to ban me and while I don't personally agree with his decision, he's the admin and rules are rules. His site, not mine, and all that.
However, I asked him to do me one favor and post on my own behalf. The writing contest is still ongoing, and I would be remiss if it were to be canceled because of my own personal actions. He will allow me to still judge the contest and give feedback to those who enter, so this does not mean that all of your work was for naught.
Given everything that has taken place though, I can't help but feel that changes need to be made. Many of you have complained about testing and real life interfering with your plans. Combine that with the fact that I no longer have use for my old account, I'm going to push back the deadline all the way to 11:59 December 31st Eastern Standard Time.
Now, here comes the juicy part.
Instead of a 100 point prize for first place, I'm going to put a whole THOUSAND of my previous account's points up as a prize for 1st place. Second place prize collects the same amount of points, and third place or lower are awarded no points. You have no excuse to not be able to write an amazing story within that span of time (you know, unless you suddenly become a tomato) and I fully expect any stories that are entered to be nothing short of excellent quality.
Clock is ticking yo. Tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock.
PS: I love you Tan and Aman! Coolest Jews ever!
Note: I'm not sure how I feel about that transferance of 1000 points, but 100 is certainly fine. I'll just need to think on it.
I will definitely sign up for the contest!
Well that's changed my writing plans. I'm going for Gold now for sure with my fantasy story. It'll be out in 3 months or so. :D
Good morning (from my time zone) guys!
Well...that escalated quickly. But honestly, that gives me an even greater incentive to finish.
But 3J, is it possible that he can come in on another account, but still give away all/part of his points? I mean, it's great that he's being so generous, but it almost makes me feel bad about him being banned. I know that you have to stick to your guns, but if you decide to let him have another account/the same account but reinstated, is it possible that you could justify his presence back on the site with the loss of 1000 points and a long period of probation as a warning?
Look, I like Playa as much as the next person, but if I start letting users come back on alternate accounts, then it defeats the whole purpose. Playa was banned for breaking the rules, and that means he's gone. I can't let him in on probation because that sends entirely the wrong message.
However, as I've said before, if I can get the culture of the site back to how I want it, policies will change. Maybe we can revisit things then.
You have a point, and therefore I concede defeat. As soon as I read the message, curiosity and interest ignited my desire to write once again.
Also, I find it quite admirable that you continue to uphold the rule even for friends, but still give him an opportunity to have his voice heard (by delivering his message, that is, unless you wrote it yourself, trickster!). You are indeed a compassionate despot, good sir.
No, December of last year. You need to build a time machine in addition to writing your story. :P
xD I'm surprised by the exceptionally generous extension, too. If I had known he was giving people that long, I might've entered instead of judging seriously considered being a contestant and then not have gone through it because I'm way too damn busy finishing my current games.
That's. . . Um. . . Way too long. I'm out.
The reason I entered was because I thought a month was a reasonable amount of time.
I don't have the rest of the year to commit to writing an epic.
:( Sorry to hear it. (I'd, uh, loved to have consulted with Playa about all of this beforehand, but ... well ... you know.)
xD When he mentioned thinking about an extension right before he was kicked, I was thinking a week...
I think that's what you'll end up with. Some stories that happened to be ready around the due date.
8 months is really too long to sustain interest in a contest.
Look at the post-apoc. Extending the deadline didn't add a single new person who wasn't already competing. Anyone who'd given up stayed given up, they didn't think "oh, now I can enter."
(And face it, most people (who aren't Endmaster) don't spend 8 months on a story anyway.)
(xD I am not most people... and I actually needed the extension on the post-apoc, but I can't speak for the contestants.)
(Same, but I didn't even get to finish mine with the extension and all.)
"But hey, a good story that's complete beats a sharp stick in the eye any day." Words of wisdom.
By the way, length does not necessarily equal quality.
I realize 1000 points is a lot, but points are a measure of site contribution, are they not? They do have eight months to make something worthy of those points, and I have no intention of handing them over to just anyone. If the prize pot is going to be that big, it better be a damn good game, I mean, feature-worthy and front-page worthy, capable of inspiring guests to become members and write their own epics.
(Then again, I am concerned that that might intimidate some people.)
No, I completely agree with you there. 1000 points is definitely no small amount, though I wonder how many will participate. Here's to hoping we'll have some heavy competition!
For me, a thousand points should be life changing, considering that it would affect everyone on the site.
It should be brought into moderation. That amount would upset the balance considerably.
Right. 1000 points are way too much.
I was thinking more along the lines of 100 for first, 50 for second and 25 for third. If it was truly worthy of more, as members we could convince the mods to award extra points. There could even be token prizes for stories that the author(s) obviously spent considerable time on, even if they weren't prize worthy.
That seems quite reasonable.
I can produce something epic in this time!
Nice.
I'm in total agreement with you on this one. A thousand points for one story!? Even if were to become the best story on the site, it wouldn't merit such a dramatic change. Points should be hard earned or they lose all value.
And an extension would be fine, but I agree with the majority - eight months is too long.
I see what you mean with the points, and the length in fact. If we were to have eight months, we may lose some contestants.
*shrug* I don't think it's really up for debate, though.
I think he meant that the second place prize would remain unchanged. It just could have been stated better.
Ah. Looks like it's time to write a storygame.
(1000, 100 or 10 points, whatever, I just want a shiny competition trophy to display!)
Goddamn it. Aman, maybe, but tans is not as cool as me by a wide margin.
Plz, you're not even Breslov.
Tan actually wrote a gud game. Tan wins this one, ha ha.
I'll show you in this next contest. You and your stupid mustache.
Is it gonna be co-authored by stedgy? ;P
That was a great game... but no.
