First Rule: Please hit Search on the bottom of your screen, select the Group tab, and join the INKsters. This is how I communicate with you. Sorry for all the rules that follow, but it makes it easier for all of us in the long run. Please read and follow them carefully.
TOPICS and DUE DATES:
You have until 11:59 p.m. Second Life time on each day to write one entry in English. Daily topics are on the bottom of this notecard.
PRIZES:
I award L$25 to the best entry as judged by me (ItsNaughtKnotty Cannned) after consultation with my secret inner circle or smart people. If I decide none of the entries are a winner, I reserve the right not to award a prize on a given day, I also reserve the right to award more than one prize if I have ants in my pants.
I am occasionally asked, "What are you looking for?" Short answer: Quality writing. I don't care if it's poetry, prose, fiction, essays, journalism, or alleged non-fiction. If your writing is the best today, you'll win. Please take the topics as starting points only. They're designed to expand your mind and suggest a possible direction for you today, rather than being a specific task for you to complete. Please think divergently and create something beautiful, funny, poignant, interesting or informative.
RULES:
1. Your notecard must be submitted on or before the due date to be eligible. I reserve the right in my sole discretion to grant a wee bit of wiggle room when necessary.
2. Your entry must be no more than 500 words. If it's a little over, I won't disqualify you; if it's a lot over, I will.
3. An illustration, photo or texture usable in Second Life to accompany the story is strongly encouraged, but not required. Please drop your illustration onto your notecard (make sure the properties are set to full permissions -- see below).
HOW TO ENTER:
1. From your Inventory, select the Create menu and then begin a New Note. Write your entry onto the notecard. Your entry should have your name at the bottom. Rename the description on the notecard to be the same as the competition name and date. Save your notecard in your inventory and you MUST rename the notecard with your name first, then the title of the competition, then the due date.
2. Create an image to illustrate your writing and load it into your inventory. (Not required, but way more fun!)
3. Next, you MUST click on both the image and the notecard one at a time and select Properties. Make sure the toggle boxes are checked to allow future owners to modify, copy, AND give/transfer. In order to appear in our anthologies we must have full permissions from you.
4. When you have everything named correctly, and full permissions granted, open your notecard and drag-and-drop your photo (if you have one) onto your notecard. Now you're ready to submit!
5. Please note we may be changing locations, so keep an eye on the group notices. But until then, stop by the INKsters Lounge
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cookie/86/114/35/
and drag and drop your finished notecard into our mailbox. Then send me an IM to let me know you've completed your entry. If you have any technical difficulties, please let me know and I will help you.
PROCEDURAL MUMBO JUMBO:
I publish the writing prompts monthly. William Shakespeare in the INKsters Lounge will always know what's what. Touch him, like he's touched you.
There is no fee to compete. All times are Second Life time. By entering, you grant me the permanent right to use your story in our Second Life anthologies and on our blog related to Second Life on the internet. http://slinksters.blogspot.com/
You retain all other rights. I encourage you to submit your writing to other people and places in the real world and in Second Life.
We have occasional parties to release the anthologies and celebrate winners. All announcements are made through the INKsters group.
This month's topics are:
September 1, 2007: Haikus Gone Bad
Ya know you got 'em tucked away in your notebooks -- and they're even five seven five. Let's read a few (dozen).
September 2, 2007: Summer Festivals
My favorite summer festivals here in the western United States are the apple festivals. I drink so much cider I get a tummy ache. How do you party during the harvest?
September 3, 2007: Labor Day
What's a job you'd love to (hate to) have?
September 4, 2007: Vogon Poetry
According to Douglas Addams the alien race known as the Vogons wrote the worst poetry in the universe. Can you beat them?
September 5, 2007: Read the Label
Turn the ingredients on the back of a packet of your favorite junk food into an action packed thrill ride complete with car chase. Go on, you can do it.
September 6, 2007: NFL Opening Night
Are you ready for some football? I know, it's not soccer, and soccer isn't soccer anyway, but if you live in America, there's only one game you'll need to watch tonight. Are you ready? Well, are you?
September 7, 2007: Middle School Isn't Over
Sometimes you need to ooze frustration, lust, wanton desire, and puppy love in a dainty little poem or in 500 anguished words to help you wallow in that delicious middle-school-esque angst. Today is sappy day; writing embarrassing tomes to that blonde boy on the skateboard is okay today.
September 8, 2007: My Favorite Avatar Is...
Write about a fellow Second Lifer and how they enhance or detract from your experience here. Yeah, gossip away.
September 9, 2007: Yeah Right
Be Kind to Editors and Writers Month. It really is! Who are they kidding?
September 10, 2007: Classical Music Month
What music is classic to you? What would your favorite Kafka character load onto his IPod?
September 11, 2007: Patriot Day
Serious day for a serious topic. What are your memories of THAT day?
September 12, 2007: Rosh Hashanah
Happy New Year! How do you look wearing a kippah? What are your plans for your new year?
September 13, 2007: Dark and Stormy Nights
"Once upon a time
September 14, 2007: National Singles Week
You might not be single now, but you remember what it was like. You might have an SL "partner" or you might be on the prowl. Why don't they have National Doubles Week? Is it really okay to be running through life making it on your own?
September 15, 2007: Software Freedom Day
We all appreciate all the free things in Second Life with little scripts in them. Did you know there's a day dedicated to making more free software? Tell us about your favorite freebie, your favorite software designer, or the joy you feel at configuring your video card.
September 16, 2007: Bottled Water
Ever notice people carrying around bottles of water these days? We never used to do that! Did we get thirstier in the last decade? What should we do with all those plastic bottles?
September 17, 2007: Sobriety Checkpoint Week
You can't drink and drive in real life, but you can drink and type in the INKsters. Yay! Your favorite intoxication story please.
September 18, 2007: Fabulous Creatures
The unicorn, pegasus, dragons, Nessie of Loch Ness fame. Surely you have your favorite other-worldly creature. Do you love Godzilla the most. If you had a big pen behind your house in Second Life, who would you like to have living with you the most?
September 19, 2007: Aargh!
Talk Like a Pirate Day! FINALLY! Write whatever the hell you want, but by gum you better WRITE LIKE A PIRATE!
September 20, 2007: Tangled Webs
How many twists and turns can you fit in 500 words? Amaze us!
September 21, 2007: Yom Kippur/Atonement Day
The big one. Study up and share your experiences, or your non-experiences, or your view on organized religion.
September 22, 2007: Equinox
Today's a good day to get in touch with your pagan mysticism. How are you and the rotation of the Earth getting along?
September 23, 2007: UFOs
As promised, our monthly astronaut topic! Bright summer night skies invaded by little green men. Ever seen one? Perhaps it was a shooting star or perhaps not! Ever been abducted by aliens?
September 24, 2007: National Dog Week
Dogs are WAY better than cats. Discuss.
September 25, 2007: Pun-ish Me
Sigh. Bet you can guess who submitted this topic. How many puns can you pun-ish your readers with in a mere 500 words?
September 26, 2007: Playgrounds
They mean one thing to your kids, another thing to your adult life, and yet another thing in Second Life. Relate a monkey bars disaster, a slightly naughty story about someplace you like to "play," or tell us about playing in our favorite metaverse.
September 27, 2007: Mobile Phone Tales
You really can't talk on the phone and drive safely, but you do it anyway. Tell the story of your most exciting adventure where your cell phone played a key role ... but ... tell it from the phone's perspective.
September 28, 2007: Rainbows
Forget the pot of gold. What lies at rainbow's end in SL?
September 29, 2007: Banned Books Week
Heh heh heh. Those crazy wacky librarians! God love 'em. Tell us about your favorite book you shouldn't have read.
September 30, 2007: Oktoberfest
It always starts in September, but as long as they're serving beer, you can count me into the fun. Where is your favorite place to imbibe? Is dancing drunk in the street and throwing up in the bushes a cultural phenomenon everyone should enjoy? Do German's deserve a special thank you for thinking up such a grand concept? Wrap up September by writing about October.
Thanks to Skye Soderstrom, Deeter Decosta, Geaven Gall, Wille Messmer, and Nebbisk Oh for submitting some of the ideas for this month's topics.
