INKsters Daily Writing Competition for January 2008
Happy New Year! Come Join Us!
The contest rules and submission requirements are on the bottom of the notecard. Please read them to prevent driving me crazy.
MOST IMPORTANT THING OF ALL: Please hit SEARCH on the bottom of your screen, select the "Groups" tab, and join the INKsters. I'm positively indulgent with telling you about literary events all around Second Life to improve your writing.
This month, for the first time ever, I will be hosting "themed judging parties" with the aim of finding contest winners faster, to help all of us learn how to be better writers, and to visit places in Second Life we might find interesting.
Please take these topics as starting points. 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. If the topic doesn't work for "you," create a character or situation to make it work.
Daily Topics Begin Here:
Tuesday, January 01, 2008: New Year's Resolution
What are you REALLY going to set your mind, your body, and your fortune toward accomplishing this year?
Wednesday, January 02, 2008: Hot Tea
January is hot tea month and every writer should know the effect Earl Grey or chamomile will produce as those dazzling words of wisdom magically appear on the paper. When you write, are you for tea, coffee, wine, or whiskey? Why?
Thursday, January 03, 2008: Handwriting
You're a writer. You probably use a computer ... such a shame ... but when you handwrite what does it say about you?
Friday, January 04, 2008: Trivia
It's Trivia Day in America (did you know that?) You're probably an expert on something esoteric. Give us a lesson about it.
Saturday, January 05, 2008: Twelfth Night
It's the twelfth day of Christmas making tonight Twelfth Night. You may know the Shakespeare play by the same name? You almost certainly have some type of Shakespearean experience worth sharing. Maybe you can write just like William? Do it!
Sunday, January 06, 2008: Epiphany
Every writer sets out a candle to light the world a little bit brighter. Sometimes the candles blow out, but readers come along and light them anew. What type of candle will you set out to light the world?
Monday, January 07, 2008: Radiation
The United States Environmental Protection Agency designates January as National Radon Action Month. What makes you or somebody you know radioactive?
Tuesday, January 08, 2008: Elvis
It's his birthday! What has rock and roll done for you lately?
Wednesday, January 09, 2008: Snowman
Your snowman is alive! Now what?
Thursday, January 10, 2008: The Rubicon
Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon in January (I think?). Describe a point of no return you've faced in life?
Friday, January 11, 2008: Potter
J.K. Rowling finished the last Harry Potter book on January 11. Turns out she sold a few copies of that book. What will you do this year to catch up with Ms. Rowling?
Saturday, January 12, 2008: Eiffel Tower
A long-distance radio message was sent from the Eiffel Tower for the first time on this date. What message would you like to radio back to France?
Sunday, January 13, 2008: Peace
Peace and love, or chaos and war?
Monday, January 14, 2008: Gravity
If you could spend a day without gravity in the real world, where would you fly?
Tuesday, January 15, 2008: President
Hey! You've been nominated by your political party to run for the leadership of your country! Congratulations. You need to put together a press release saying what you stand for. It's due at midnight.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008: Deceit
You've been lied to and you know it. Describe what happened.
Thursday, January 17, 2008: Distraction
January is half over and the biggest obstacle preventing you from accomplishing your literary goals is...? What needs to happen to eliminate the obstacle?
Friday, January 18, 2008: Pooh Bear
Winnie the Pooh author A.A. Milne was born today. If you could spend the day as a teddy bear, how would that go?
Saturday, January 19, 2008: Game Night
Recall a childhood game you've played in the past. Which game? What memories does it evoke?
Sunday, January 20, 2008: MLK
Martin Luther King, Jr., fought for what was the right thing to do. What is your crusade?
Monday, January 21, 2008: Nautilus
The first atomic submarine was christened on this day in 1954. I've heard you've just moved into a yellow submarine. How do you like it?
Tuesday, January 22, 2008: The HOT One
Somebody in your life (other than your committed partner) is exceedingly sexy to you. Fess up. Describe what makes that person so delicious to you.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008: The COLD One
Somebody in your life is exceedingly aggravating to you. Fess up. Describe what makes that person so irritating to you.
Thursday, January 24, 2008: Naked
"The most fun I ever had with my clothes OFF was...."
Friday, January 25, 2008: Dressed
"The most fun I ever had with my clothes ON was...."
Saturday, January 26, 2008: Australia Day
Australia Day is the biggest day of celebration in the country. On Australia Day we come together as a nation to celebrate what's great about Australia and being Australian. What's so great about Oz?
Sunday, January 27, 2008: Light Bulb
Thomas Edison filed a patent request for his electric incandescent lamp on this day and by so doing he solved the problem of darkness and lit the world. What problem in life would you like the inventors of today to fix?
Monday, January 28, 2008: Diet of Worms
You can Wikipedia-ize today's topic for an interesting challenge on the protestant reformation, or you can be more obvious and bring new meaning to mud pies. What do you think of the Diet of Worms?
Tuesday, January 29, 2008: By Any Other Name
Romeo and Juliet was probably first performed on this day in 1595. If you were planning on taking a new lover your family would hate, what would attract you and repel your family to that person?
Wednesday, January 30, 2008: THWACK
King Charles I of England was beheaded on January 30th. Now it's your turn. Describe your last few minutes as you crawl into the gallows.
Thursday, January 31, 2008: Train Wreck
Your worst experience on public transportation went a little like this....
HOW TO ENTER:
1. From your Inventory, select the Create menu and then begin a New Note. Write your entry onto the notecard (or Control-V to paste it onto the card from your word processor). 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. Next, from your saved notecard in your inventory you MUST right-click on the notecard select Properties. Make sure the toggle boxes at the bottom are checked to allow future owners to modify, copy, AND give/transfer. I must have full permissions from you to place the notecard in our anthologies.
3. Teleport to the INKsters Headquarters:
(SLurl found under "Links")
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.
THE RULES:
1. You have until 11:59 p.m. Second Life time on each day to write one entry in English related to the topic. I reserve the right in my sole discretion to grant a wee bit of wiggle room when necessary for late entries (but don't count on it bub!).
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. Brevity is the soul of wit, so please stop when you're done!
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).
PRIZES:
I award L$25 to the best entry. If I decide none of the entries are a winner, I reserve the right to award no 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. Also, please note the vagaries of competition: Sometimes your most beautiful work ever is overlooked in the judging process, and sometimes a total piece of poop wins, and those of us who've been writers for a long time are so used to this we don't even notice it anymore. We hope you understand completing and submitting your writing makes you a champion, and the judging and competition portion of our group is a motivational tactic to help you AND us AND me get off our collective keisters and create something beautiful from nothingness.
PROCEDURAL MUMBO JUMBO:
I publish the writing prompts monthly. William Shakespeare in the INKsters Headquarters 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.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
December 2007 Topics
The INKsters Celebrate December (with a spicy typewriter)
Come Join Us!
The contest rules and submission requirements are on the bottom of the notecard. Please read them to prevent driving me crazy.
MOST IMPORTANT THING OF ALL: Please hit SEARCH on the bottom of your screen, select the "Groups" tab, and join the INKsters. This is how we communicate and we're positively indulgent with telling you about literary events we like.
This month we're going to be wandering through our real lives with Christmas music being piped into our ears everywhere we go. As writers, we question the value of each word being brought forth into existence, and we're going to have a little fun with a few of the songs we know (and love?).
Each day in December, you have a song title. You can write a MAXIMUM of 500 words on a theme related to the song title. You can make a funny parody of the song, you can write a poem in praise of the writer of the song, you can tell the story of how your mother played that song every year on her reel-to-reel tape, you can research Killarney and write of its Celtic ancestry, or you can go in any direction your mind will take you. Don't forget we're living a second life here, so concepts that bring our favorite metaverse into the picture are always encouraged. If you're Muslim, or Jewish, or Wiccan, we know you're sitting on years of angst over Frosty the Snowman and now is the time to let it out. Be funny, be poignant, be sexy, be Second.
Make Second Life your nightly stop to cut and paste before going to bed. A half hour a day is all we ask.
Here are your daily topics:
Saturday, December 01, 2007: All I Want For Christmas Is…
Sunday, December 02, 2007: Blue Christmas
Monday, December 03, 2007: Christmas For Cowboys
Tuesday, December 04, 2007: Christmas In Killarney
Wednesday, December 05, 2007: Deck the Halls
Thursday, December 06, 2007: First Christmas
Friday, December 07, 2007: Frosty the Snow Man
Saturday, December 08, 2007: Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer
Sunday, December 09, 2007: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Monday, December 10, 2007: Here Comes Santa Claus
Tuesday, December 11, 2007: Holly Jolly Christmas
Wednesday, December 12, 2007: I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Thursday, December 13, 2007: I'll Be Home For Christmas
Friday, December 14, 2007: It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Saturday, December 15, 2007: Jingle Bells
Sunday, December 16, 2007: Jolly Old Saint Nicholas
Monday, December 17, 2007: Let It Snow!
Tuesday, December 18, 2007: Mary, Did You Know?
Wednesday, December 19, 2007: Christmas Tree
Thursday, December 20, 2007: Rocking Around the Christmas Tree
Friday, December 21, 2007: Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
Saturday, December 22, 2007: Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Sunday, December 23, 2007: Silver Bells
Monday, December 24, 2007: Tennessee Christmas
Tuesday, December 25, 2007: The Christmas Song
Wednesday, December 26, 2007: The Little Drummer Boy
Thursday, December 27, 2007: The Night Before Christmas
Friday, December 28, 2007: The Twelve Days of Christmas
Saturday, December 29, 2007: Up On the Housetop
Sunday, December 30, 2007: We Wish You A Merry Christmas
Monday, December 31, 2007: White Christmas
HOW TO ENTER:
1. From your Inventory, select the Create menu and then begin a New Note. Write your entry onto the notecard (or Control-V to paste it onto the card from your word processor). 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. Next, from your saved notecard in your inventory you MUST right-click on the notecard select Properties. Make sure the toggle boxes at the bottom are checked to allow future owners to modify, copy, AND give/transfer. I must have full permissions from you to place the notecard in our anthologies.
3. Teleport to the INKsters Headquarters:
(SLurl located on right column of the page)
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.
AND NOW FOR THE RULES:
1. You have until 11:59 p.m. Second Life time on each day to write one entry in English related to the topic. I reserve the right in my sole discretion to grant a wee bit of wiggle room when necessary for late entries (but don't count on it bub!).
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).
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 who live in real life. 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. Also, please note the vagaries of competition: Sometimes your most beautiful work ever is overlooked by the judges, and sometimes a total piece of poop wins, and those of us who've been writers for a long time are so used to this we don't even notice it anymore. We hope you understand completing and submitting your writing makes you a champion, and the judging and competition portion of our group is a motivational tactic to help you AND us AND me get off our collective keisters and create something beautiful from nothingness.
PROCEDURAL MUMBO JUMBO:
I publish the writing prompts monthly. William Shakespeare in the INKsters Headquarters 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.
Come Join Us!
The contest rules and submission requirements are on the bottom of the notecard. Please read them to prevent driving me crazy.
MOST IMPORTANT THING OF ALL: Please hit SEARCH on the bottom of your screen, select the "Groups" tab, and join the INKsters. This is how we communicate and we're positively indulgent with telling you about literary events we like.
This month we're going to be wandering through our real lives with Christmas music being piped into our ears everywhere we go. As writers, we question the value of each word being brought forth into existence, and we're going to have a little fun with a few of the songs we know (and love?).
Each day in December, you have a song title. You can write a MAXIMUM of 500 words on a theme related to the song title. You can make a funny parody of the song, you can write a poem in praise of the writer of the song, you can tell the story of how your mother played that song every year on her reel-to-reel tape, you can research Killarney and write of its Celtic ancestry, or you can go in any direction your mind will take you. Don't forget we're living a second life here, so concepts that bring our favorite metaverse into the picture are always encouraged. If you're Muslim, or Jewish, or Wiccan, we know you're sitting on years of angst over Frosty the Snowman and now is the time to let it out. Be funny, be poignant, be sexy, be Second.
Make Second Life your nightly stop to cut and paste before going to bed. A half hour a day is all we ask.
Here are your daily topics:
Saturday, December 01, 2007: All I Want For Christmas Is…
Sunday, December 02, 2007: Blue Christmas
Monday, December 03, 2007: Christmas For Cowboys
Tuesday, December 04, 2007: Christmas In Killarney
Wednesday, December 05, 2007: Deck the Halls
Thursday, December 06, 2007: First Christmas
Friday, December 07, 2007: Frosty the Snow Man
Saturday, December 08, 2007: Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer
Sunday, December 09, 2007: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Monday, December 10, 2007: Here Comes Santa Claus
Tuesday, December 11, 2007: Holly Jolly Christmas
Wednesday, December 12, 2007: I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Thursday, December 13, 2007: I'll Be Home For Christmas
Friday, December 14, 2007: It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Saturday, December 15, 2007: Jingle Bells
Sunday, December 16, 2007: Jolly Old Saint Nicholas
Monday, December 17, 2007: Let It Snow!
Tuesday, December 18, 2007: Mary, Did You Know?
Wednesday, December 19, 2007: Christmas Tree
Thursday, December 20, 2007: Rocking Around the Christmas Tree
Friday, December 21, 2007: Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
Saturday, December 22, 2007: Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Sunday, December 23, 2007: Silver Bells
Monday, December 24, 2007: Tennessee Christmas
Tuesday, December 25, 2007: The Christmas Song
Wednesday, December 26, 2007: The Little Drummer Boy
Thursday, December 27, 2007: The Night Before Christmas
Friday, December 28, 2007: The Twelve Days of Christmas
Saturday, December 29, 2007: Up On the Housetop
Sunday, December 30, 2007: We Wish You A Merry Christmas
Monday, December 31, 2007: White Christmas
HOW TO ENTER:
1. From your Inventory, select the Create menu and then begin a New Note. Write your entry onto the notecard (or Control-V to paste it onto the card from your word processor). 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. Next, from your saved notecard in your inventory you MUST right-click on the notecard select Properties. Make sure the toggle boxes at the bottom are checked to allow future owners to modify, copy, AND give/transfer. I must have full permissions from you to place the notecard in our anthologies.
3. Teleport to the INKsters Headquarters:
(SLurl located on right column of the page)
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.
AND NOW FOR THE RULES:
1. You have until 11:59 p.m. Second Life time on each day to write one entry in English related to the topic. I reserve the right in my sole discretion to grant a wee bit of wiggle room when necessary for late entries (but don't count on it bub!).
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).
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 who live in real life. 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. Also, please note the vagaries of competition: Sometimes your most beautiful work ever is overlooked by the judges, and sometimes a total piece of poop wins, and those of us who've been writers for a long time are so used to this we don't even notice it anymore. We hope you understand completing and submitting your writing makes you a champion, and the judging and competition portion of our group is a motivational tactic to help you AND us AND me get off our collective keisters and create something beautiful from nothingness.
PROCEDURAL MUMBO JUMBO:
I publish the writing prompts monthly. William Shakespeare in the INKsters Headquarters 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.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
NEW WRITER'S COMMUNITY VENUE OPENS TODAY ON COOKIE SIM
"Cookie" sim is a haven for the written and performing arts in SL, thanks to the patronage of Thinkerer studios. Today a new venue opens on Cookie called the Writer's Community, managed by the INKsters, the largest and most active writing group in SL.
The venue is intended to foster a sense of cameraderie and shared knowledge amongst all SL writers from the struggling hobbyist to the published professional novelist. The most active writers will be awarded individual work/display space and prims on the centerpiece of the build, a huge treehouse called The Perches at Writer's Community Aerie. All writers will enjoy the Beach/Dance Club, Rose Garden, and other provided community areas and activities. Special events will be hosted by the venue from time to time.
For more information, please contact the Writer's Community proprietors, Nebbisk Oh or ItsNaughtKnotty Cannned.
The venue is intended to foster a sense of cameraderie and shared knowledge amongst all SL writers from the struggling hobbyist to the published professional novelist. The most active writers will be awarded individual work/display space and prims on the centerpiece of the build, a huge treehouse called The Perches at Writer's Community Aerie. All writers will enjoy the Beach/Dance Club, Rose Garden, and other provided community areas and activities. Special events will be hosted by the venue from time to time.
For more information, please contact the Writer's Community proprietors, Nebbisk Oh or ItsNaughtKnotty Cannned.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
November Topics
WELCOME TO THE INKsters SUPERLATIVE NOVEMBER
As always, I apologize for the length of this notecard, but I'm wordy and you do need to read it to be successful in our contests.
The contest rules and submission requirements are on the bottom of the notecard. Please read them to prevent driving me crazy.
MOST IMPORTANT THING OF ALL: Please hit SEARCH on the bottom of your screen, select the "Groups" tab, and join the INKsters. This is how we communicate and we're positively indulgent with telling you about literary events we like.
And now we prepare to write! This month some of us are participating in the NaNoWriMo project and some of us are doing other writing projects. The game this month will be wide open on your choice of topic, BUT you must have written it THAT VERY DAY. No digging around in the cardboard box underneath your stairway for your high school haiku notebook. This month you can turn in anything that fits the daily topic as long as it is NO LONGER than 500 words AND you wrote it on the day it's due. Make Second Life your nightly stop to cut and paste before going to bed.
Here are your daily topics:
November 1, 2007: The most absorbing thing I wrote today is:
November 2, 2007: The most beguiling thing I wrote today is:
November 3, 2007: The most charming thing I wrote today is:
November 4, 2007: The most disturbed thing I wrote today is:
November 5, 2007: The most enchanting thing I wrote today is:
November 6, 2007: The most fascinating thing I wrote today is:
November 7, 2007: The most glorious thing I wrote today is:
November 8, 2007: The most humorous thing I wrote today is:
November 9, 2007: The most impassioned thing I wrote today is:
November 10, 2007: The most impressive thing I wrote today is:
November 11, 2007: The most interesting thing I wrote today is:
November 12, 2007: The most irrational thing I wrote today is:
November 13, 2007: The most lovely thing I wrote today is:
November 14, 2007: The most moving thing I wrote today is:
November 15, 2007: The most nervous thing I wrote today is:
November 16, 2007: The most outstanding thing I wrote today is:
November 17, 2007: The most pathetic thing I wrote today is:
November 18, 2007: The most perfect thing I wrote today is:
November 19, 2007: The most poignant thing I wrote today is:
November 20, 2007: The most relaxing thing I wrote today is:
November 21, 2007: The most seductive thing I wrote today is:
November 22, 2007: The most sentimental thing I wrote today is:
November 23, 2007: The most spontaneous thing I wrote today is:
November 24, 2007: The most terrific thing I wrote today is:
November 25, 2007: The most thrilling thing I wrote today is:
November 26, 2007: The most transcendent thing I wrote today is:
November 27, 2007: The most unrivaled thing I wrote today is:
November 28, 2007: The most winsome thing I wrote today is:
November 29, 2007: The most witching thing I wrote today is:
November 30, 2007: The most witty thing I wrote today is:
HOW TO ENTER:
1. From your Inventory, select the Create menu and then begin a New Note. Write your entry onto the notecard (or Control-V to paste it onto the card from your word processor). 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. Next, from your saved notecard in your inventory you MUST right-click on the notecard select Properties. Make sure the toggle boxes at the bottom are checked to allow future owners to modify, copy, AND give/transfer. I must have full permissions from you to place the notecard in our anthologies.
3. Teleport to the INKsters Headquarters 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.
AND NOW FOR THE RULES:
1. You have until 11:59 p.m. Second Life time on each day to write one entry in English related to the topic. I reserve the right in my sole discretion to grant a wee bit of wiggle room when necessary for late entries (but don't count on it bub!).
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).
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 who live in real life. 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. Also, please note the vagaries of competition: Sometimes your most beautiful work ever is overlooked by the judges, and sometimes a total piece of poop wins, and those of us who've been writers for a long time are so used to this we don't even notice it anymore. We hope you understand completing and submitting your writing makes you a champion, and the judging and competition portion of our group is a motivational tactic to help you AND us AND me get off our collective keisters and create something beautiful from nothingness.
PROCEDURAL MUMBO JUMBO:
I publish the writing prompts monthly. William Shakespeare in the INKsters Headquarters 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.
As always, I apologize for the length of this notecard, but I'm wordy and you do need to read it to be successful in our contests.
The contest rules and submission requirements are on the bottom of the notecard. Please read them to prevent driving me crazy.
MOST IMPORTANT THING OF ALL: Please hit SEARCH on the bottom of your screen, select the "Groups" tab, and join the INKsters. This is how we communicate and we're positively indulgent with telling you about literary events we like.
And now we prepare to write! This month some of us are participating in the NaNoWriMo project and some of us are doing other writing projects. The game this month will be wide open on your choice of topic, BUT you must have written it THAT VERY DAY. No digging around in the cardboard box underneath your stairway for your high school haiku notebook. This month you can turn in anything that fits the daily topic as long as it is NO LONGER than 500 words AND you wrote it on the day it's due. Make Second Life your nightly stop to cut and paste before going to bed.
Here are your daily topics:
November 1, 2007: The most absorbing thing I wrote today is:
November 2, 2007: The most beguiling thing I wrote today is:
November 3, 2007: The most charming thing I wrote today is:
November 4, 2007: The most disturbed thing I wrote today is:
November 5, 2007: The most enchanting thing I wrote today is:
November 6, 2007: The most fascinating thing I wrote today is:
November 7, 2007: The most glorious thing I wrote today is:
November 8, 2007: The most humorous thing I wrote today is:
November 9, 2007: The most impassioned thing I wrote today is:
November 10, 2007: The most impressive thing I wrote today is:
November 11, 2007: The most interesting thing I wrote today is:
November 12, 2007: The most irrational thing I wrote today is:
November 13, 2007: The most lovely thing I wrote today is:
November 14, 2007: The most moving thing I wrote today is:
November 15, 2007: The most nervous thing I wrote today is:
November 16, 2007: The most outstanding thing I wrote today is:
November 17, 2007: The most pathetic thing I wrote today is:
November 18, 2007: The most perfect thing I wrote today is:
November 19, 2007: The most poignant thing I wrote today is:
November 20, 2007: The most relaxing thing I wrote today is:
November 21, 2007: The most seductive thing I wrote today is:
November 22, 2007: The most sentimental thing I wrote today is:
November 23, 2007: The most spontaneous thing I wrote today is:
November 24, 2007: The most terrific thing I wrote today is:
November 25, 2007: The most thrilling thing I wrote today is:
November 26, 2007: The most transcendent thing I wrote today is:
November 27, 2007: The most unrivaled thing I wrote today is:
November 28, 2007: The most winsome thing I wrote today is:
November 29, 2007: The most witching thing I wrote today is:
November 30, 2007: The most witty thing I wrote today is:
HOW TO ENTER:
1. From your Inventory, select the Create menu and then begin a New Note. Write your entry onto the notecard (or Control-V to paste it onto the card from your word processor). 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. Next, from your saved notecard in your inventory you MUST right-click on the notecard select Properties. Make sure the toggle boxes at the bottom are checked to allow future owners to modify, copy, AND give/transfer. I must have full permissions from you to place the notecard in our anthologies.
3. Teleport to the INKsters Headquarters 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.
AND NOW FOR THE RULES:
1. You have until 11:59 p.m. Second Life time on each day to write one entry in English related to the topic. I reserve the right in my sole discretion to grant a wee bit of wiggle room when necessary for late entries (but don't count on it bub!).
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).
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 who live in real life. 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. Also, please note the vagaries of competition: Sometimes your most beautiful work ever is overlooked by the judges, and sometimes a total piece of poop wins, and those of us who've been writers for a long time are so used to this we don't even notice it anymore. We hope you understand completing and submitting your writing makes you a champion, and the judging and competition portion of our group is a motivational tactic to help you AND us AND me get off our collective keisters and create something beautiful from nothingness.
PROCEDURAL MUMBO JUMBO:
I publish the writing prompts monthly. William Shakespeare in the INKsters Headquarters 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.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Happy Birthday Knotty!
It's Knotty's birthday today! Yay! Everyone wish her a very happy birthday. And ask her how old she is. :D
Monday, October 1, 2007
October Topics
The rules and topics below are available in notecard form in-world. Good luck this month!
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As always, I apologize for the length of this notecard, but you do need to read it to be successful in our contests. Really guys, just print this out and take it with you. You'll need this one in your back pocket this month.
SCARY SCARY CHANGE (for me)
I'm putting the rules for submitting your entries to the contest at the bottom of this notecard. If you haven't turned in anything yet (or for awhile, ehem) you must read and follow the rules at the bottom of the card to ensure you're not driving me crazy. First Rule: Please hit SEARCH on the bottom of your screen, select the "Groups" tab, and join the INKsters. This is how we communicate with you.
October will be remembered as the month Knotty got preachy and YOU MADE THE DECISION to write your first good novel. During October, we will lay the groundwork for November, when some of you will write novels, and some of you will write surprisingly long short stories. At Christmas time, you'll have something you built with your heart, your mind, and your bloody fingers ready to give to your family and friends.
If you haven't already done so, you need to go to http://www.nanowrimo.org/ and sign up as a novelist. If you're a poet, don't be ashamed to go slumming with the novelists for thirty days. Think of it as an epic poem. Then, you need to go tell your family and friends what you're doing because you'll be unbearable until December 1st (in the afternoon).
For the writing topics this month, you will NOT begin writing your NaNoWriMo novel because that would be cheating. You will however assemble all of the pieces and parts, the "elements of fiction" for those of you English majors out there, so your mind is focused and ready to go when we arrive in November. Here's another benefit to being a Second Lifer ... I'm going to pay you the daily winner's fee if you do the best work on a given day to prepare for NaNoWriMo. If you take time now to do the October topics, I promise your novel will be much better (dare I say publishable?) when you start working on it in November. Even if you only complete a few of the October assignments, your final product will be better. And by the way, I expect these daily assignments to be working papers, not your usual gorgeous prose, so give yourself permission to get the meat on the table and worry about the napkin rings later.
One note: My approach to preparing for a novel is very old school and doggedly pragmatic. I believe the main reason you write a novel is so you can ask somebody else to read it. Even the most experimental fiction will still require the "basics" if you hope to make any sense to your reader. In this month's assignments, I've tried to recognize the many different ways you might approach novel writing, but I still rely on the notion you'll need characters, plot and setting to make a novel readable. I know it's terribly colloquial, but I have faith y'all city folk can work around this limitation.
And now we prepare to write the best novels we've ever written:
October 1, 2007: Protagonist Description
Let's name a few: Odysseus, Jesus, Hamlet, Holden Caulfield, Harry Potter. You just have to say their names and you know all about them. In 500 words or less, tell us about your protagonist for your new novel. A physical description, an emotional description, and a little bit of history will help you understand who you're going to be following around for the next two months.
October 2, 2007: Protagonist Support
Even Gregor Samsa, who woke up one day as a cockroach, needed his family, music and friends. Who are the people that love your protagonist and why do they want the best for him or her or it?
October 3, 2007: Protagonist Today
One day, King Lear asked his daughters to say how much they each loved him. It turned out to be a bad idea and a very bad day. But the day BEFORE was pretty good. He taxed the tenants, he had a lovely breakfast, his stroll in the gardens seemed particularly refreshing. What does your protagonist do on an ordinary day ... the day before all the things in your novel turned into a story.
October 4, 2007: Supporting Cast: Round
You may have the need for one, or two, or three other characters with fully developed appearances, personalities, histories, and support systems of their own. Who are the other characters you intend to build full blown lives around? Why are they important?
October 5, 2007: Supporting Cast: Dynamic
Maybe it's your protagonist, maybe it's somebody else, but you're very likely to need somebody to change in an important way during the course of your novel. Who will be your dynamic characters? Why do they need to evolve? How will they change? What will make them change?
October 6, 2007: Supporting Cast: Flat
Ahhhh, the much maligned flat character. You need them! Your point of view in your novel means you're not going to spend time fully developing the funny boy at the coffee shop, the gay cowboys' boss, the surprisingly pretty girl on the subway. Take a moment to imagine and share some of the people in your protagonist's life who might be necessary, but won't play a leading role.
October 7, 2007: Supporting Cast: Static
Second Lifers may understand this character type better than others since we deal with inanimate objects seeming to be alive all the time. Take a moment to picture the big scary house in the movie Psycho. Or Hogwartz. Maybe the Death Star in Star Wars. Blood on Lady Macbeth. Or maybe Little Stinky the INKsters bear. Sometimes things grow in importance to the point of being characters themselves. What stuff in your protagonist's life is so important it becomes a character in itself. Describe those things and explain why they are important.
October 8, 2007: Supporting Cast: Antagonist
Our favorite character. Who will be the troublemaker in your little world? Lovingly describe your antagonist. Maybe try speaking in the antagonist's voice so you can come to know the inner soul of the person we love to hate. A word of caution here, if your antagonists are 100% evil with no redeeming qualities at all, and even you as the author don't like them, you've probably created flat characters and you'll have a difficult time making us care what happens to them.
October 9, 2007: Genre
We've spent over a week thinking about our characters because they (not you!) drive the novel. Once you know your characters and how they will react in any situation, you ... the writer ... become the observer recording the salient points of their drama. So now let's give our characters something to do and a place to do it. If you took the genre challenge in August, you already know you have the skills to write across the spectrum. If you didn't take the challenge I'll spank you when I see you. So now, let's pick. Will your characters ride a horse and sing? Will your characters play baseball with ghosts? Will you spend time with unicorns and sorcerers? Will your character find meaning in her kitchen making toast for her gardener? If you haven't been in awhile, go to a book store, buy a cappuccino, and wander the aisles until you find the shelf where you want your novel to be sitting this time next year, and then tell us why this will be your genre this year. Don't tell us the plot in today's assignment, but tell us why you love science fiction, or romance, or epic poetry? What is it in you that drives you to want to be on that shelf?
October 10, 2007: Story
Finally! Ten days later I finally ask you what the story is. Picture yourself on an elevator. The editor-in-chief from Random House steps onto the trolley car (see, I can talk British!) and pushes the 23rd floor button. Your palms get sweaty, your voice shakes, you find yourself inexplicably standing on your toes. You know you have exactly one minute (or 500 words) to tell her what your novel is about in the hope you can convince her to look at it. Go!
October 11, 2007: Plot
You're sitting in New York City (the not so good part) in your agent's ratty office surrounded by stacks and stacks of paper, dusty furniture, and Taco Bell cups. She's smoking and speaking to you in that condescending accent of hers. She peeks up at you over the top of her half-framed glasses, ashes fall onto her desk from her Marlboro, and she says, "I know, I know, you told me they're in love, but it's a video game, this Second World whatever thingy of yours. You tell me right h'yere on page seven how two avatahs go about falling in love. But sweethawt, I need to know WHY they're in love." Why why why. You have your characters, you have a sense of what happens to them, but tell us about the bottom of the iceberg. Why are the events significant to the characters?
October 12, 2007: The Big Conflict
There's a school of thought in the literary world that conflict is the only plot line. It drives a storyline conveniently for the author. There's a reason why conflict happens (and someday I'm going to write my deconstructionist treatise on this very notion) and you as the writer need to understand the one big problem making your protagonist's life cumbersome. You love your protagonist, you even love your antagonist (if you have one), you hate to see troubles come their way, but go ahead and send it in. What's the big problem in your novel and how will they ever set things right?
October 13, 2007: Little Conflicts
It might be Hannibal Lecter's annoying brilliance, it might be a fender bender on the 405, it might be phonies, it might be your skull just turned into a donkey's head. If you watch Seinfeld, you know about millions of little funny conflicts, and if you watch CSI you know about millions of un-funny conflicts. Examine your storyline and describe the bumps along the road your characters will face.
October 14, 2007: Style
When I write, I start out trying to be flowery and literary. This usually gives way to me trying to stay on the topic. In the end, I'm telling jokes and being sarcastic. Imagine you're being interviewed for 60 Minutes tonight and Mike Wallace asks you, "How would you characterize your writing style in this novel?" And you smile quirkishly, and say....
October 15, 2007: Tone
You're writing a horror novel and you have a choice between "Scary Movie" or "Halloween." Your science fiction novel could be J.R.R. Tolkien or Douglas Adams. Your readers want to have a certain "feeling" as they make their way through your work. You'll be in charge of setting the mood and atmosphere for your protagonist to endure. What is the final feeling you'd like the tone of your novel to leave?
October 16, 2007: Language
Now we get down to the evil part of writing. We write our daily shorts to work on our weak spots, but we undertake novels to celebrate our abilities. Do some self analysis and identify your strengths and weaknesses as a writer. What things go well for you, and what things give you a struggle? How can you focus on your strengths and avoid your weaknesses?
October 17, 2007: Language Models
If we can't write like William Shakespeare, we can try to be Earnest Hemingway. If we can't write like William S. Boroughs, we could try our hand at William Carlos Williams. We all want to write like J.K. Rowling so we can get one billion dollars. None of us want to write like Stephen King, but we sure want his success. Who is the writer you want to emulate as you begin your journey on this novel. What makes their use of the English language the model you admire?
October 18, 2007: Point of View
Pesky pesky. Readers don't care who tells the story, but editors and critics get all high and mighty about shifts in point of view. You can speak from an omniscient all-knowing god-like point of view, you can be Spartan and self-righteous and allow only a first-person view of the action, or you can jump into the action too, just as you've done in Second Life, and celebrate us and our and we, in the fun and exciting world of participatory second person viewpoint. All of these points of view have benefits and limitations, but if you switch from one to the other, you better have a good reason! Who will tell your story and why?
October 19, 2007: First Person
You settled into your narrator's voice yesterday, now let's question that decision. What if Helen of Troy wrote her own version of the Iliad? What would Oedipus's mom write? Pick one of your flat or static characters and have them describe the plot of your story from their own point of view. We know they're not going to be a big deal in the story, but for just a moment, let them speak in their own authentic voice about what they've seen and done to be a part of your novel.
October 20, 2007: Parody
Twenty straight days of obsession over your new project. You don't eat right, you don't sleep well, you daydream about the day your character will finally set ablaze the antagonist with your loving verbs. Then you get a telephone call. Fox's MadTV plans to do a parody version of your award winning novel and they've managed to talk George Clooney and Angelina Jolie into playing the lead roles. They want you to toss together a funny little skit to poke a little fun at your novel. Can you write it down real quick? It's due today.
October 21, 2007: Un-Parody
Harvard and Oxford contacted their benefactors and they've agreed to provide you with a substantial honorarium if you'll come to a hoity-toity literary conference in Sydney and speak (oh say, 500 words) on the subject: "My novel: The real story." Can you drop your rough draft of your speech into the mailbox today so we can look it over?
October 22, 2007: Setting
We're two-thirds of the way through the month and we've never talked about setting. Here we are in beautiful Second Life and we know the importance of the environment and how it affects the life we lead. In novels, only Jane Austin can get away with one setting ... the parlor. Now that you know almost everything you need to know about your novel and the creatures inhabiting it. Describe in excruciating detail ONE of the principal locations where you anticipate an important piece of action will happen to your characters.
October 23, 2007: Locations
Review your story line and imagine all the locations you'll need to make this novel happen. Your evil character will need a demon's lair, your happy housewife needs a yellow kitchen, your pilot needs his spaceship, and your teenager needs the back seat of the Oldsmobile. You might not need to flesh out every detail of these locations, but you'll need to be able to help your readers find their way around. Write an overview of the many other places you'll need in your novel and the key descriptions you'll need to make them come alive.
October 24, 2007: Era
You know that guy who does the movie trailers with the deep voice? He always begins every trailer with the same phrase: "In a world where...." Whether it's a galaxy far far away, a Grecian amphitheatre with Euripides underway, a boxing match on the streets in the late 1920s, or Second Life last month, your novel will be set in at least one era and you should know a little bit about the zeitgeist of the age. Take some time to capture the reasons why you've selected one of these eras. Remind us (and yourself) of the key aspects of the era you're bringing to life.
October 25, 2007: Socio-Economics
Rich or poor? Fitzgerald or Hemingway? Consider the impact affluence will play in your drama. Poor people have one kind of problem; rich people have another kind of problem. Somebody climbing their way through the ranks has yet another type of problem. Describe your vision of the economic status of your characters and how that affects the way they think and act.
October 26, 2007: Furries Dilemma
It's not the same from country to country, from land to land, from this world and that world, but it seems like everywhere you go, somebody is discriminating against somebody else. I won't let any furries buy my scooters for example. (Just kidding … I'd sell a scooter to Osama Bin Laden.) Do any of your characters have racial biases? Sexual-orientation biases? Does one of your characters really truly hate a class of people? How will you build a world of love and light if your readers are used to bigotry? Take a moment to analyze your plans and discuss how embedded social stigmas might affect your novel, both for you as the author and for your rag tag band of merry ones.
October 27, 2007: Symbolism
Black is scary, red is mean, yellow is happy, white is virginal. A pencil means you draw. A typewriter means you're way the coolest. An orange sunset stands for hope. Edible underwear stands for, uh, well, it means you won't be writing much. If you're writing about vampires, you have an inherited set of symbols at your disposal. If you're writing about Second Life, you know what a boy in a white T-shirt, blue jeans and flip flops means. Sometimes a symbol becomes symbolic only after repeated appearances within a literary work, as classical music does in A Clockwork Orange, or the Virgin Mary does in the Bible. As you make final preparations to dive into your masterpiece, what existing symbols do you imagine will be useful in your work? What things within the body of your work will end up with symbolic meaning?
October 28, 2007: Theme
We now must tread carefully. Nothing will ruin a book faster than an author dead set on cramming a thematic message down the reader's brain. Less competent writers don't have faith in their readers' intelligence. Those authors feel like they need to spell out the moral of the story. If you believe in your protagonist's ability to run the show and live through the complications of the storyline, you'll let the theme evolve naturally from the actions of your own characters. Nobody needs to tell us that Oscar the Grouch really isn't all that grouchy. When we hold our Second Life book club for your novel, and we all sit around and talk about what your book meant to us, what will we say? What message will we have taken away from your efforts?
October 29, 2007: My Life
The last three days of October is a time to remember yourself. You've done the pre-planning. You know what you're going to write. There's no way you're not going to be successful. So you need to write your "About the Author" biography for the back page of your book. Who are you? What makes you the right person to write this story? This is the part that will be quoted in high school book reports for all eternity, so it wouldn't be a bad idea to find yourself utterly fascinating.
October 30, 2007: My Goals
The goal of NaNoWriMo is 50,000 words by November 30th. That's 1667 words per day. Take a moment to jot down your other goals. Maybe you need to write a little more to feel a sense of accomplishment. Maybe you need to call your mom, your high school teacher, your agent, and let them know what you're doing. Maybe you owe it to yourself to spend a night in a fancy local hotel on November 29th and your lazy ass husband needs to watch the kids. Maybe you need to promise yourself that you'll rent the big space on Ina Centaur's sim to display your novel for sale. Whatever your goals for the next month are, share them! Writing them down will make them happen, and where else do you have the opportunity to win a dime for recording your plans for making history?
October 31, 2007: The Commitment
"I, (name), take the Second Life version of the NaNoWriMo challenge, to be my obsessive commitment for the next month, to have and to drive me and my family and my acquaintances completely crazy from this day until December 1st in the afternoon when I wake up from a nap; for better or for worse but hopefully better because I sure don't want a crummy novel after all this work; for richer (ah yeah!), for poorer (no way! I'm the next Sidney Sheldon), in the mental sickness bordering on derangement for undertaking this insane idea, to love and to cherish and to write my little fanny off from this day forward until I write the best novel of my life." You can write better vows than this one. Do it now and go to bed. You have a busy day tomorrow.
***************
HOW TO ENTER:
1. From your Inventory, select the Create menu and then begin a New Note. Write your entry onto the notecard (or Control-V to paste it onto the card). 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. Next, from your saved notecard in your inventory you MUST right-click on the notecard select Properties. Make sure the toggle boxes at the bottom are checked to allow future owners to modify, copy, AND give/transfer. I must have full permissions from you to place the notecard in our anthologies.
3. Teleport to the INKsters Headquarters:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/sLiterary/97/81/26
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.
AND NOW FOR THE RULES:
1. You have until 11:59 p.m. Second Life time on each day to write one entry in English related to the topic. I reserve the right in my sole discretion to grant a wee bit of wiggle room when necessary for late entries (but don't count on it bub!).
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).
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 who live in real life. 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.
PROCEDURAL MUMBO JUMBO:
I publish the writing prompts monthly. William Shakespeare in the INKsters Headquarters 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.
************************************************************************************
As always, I apologize for the length of this notecard, but you do need to read it to be successful in our contests. Really guys, just print this out and take it with you. You'll need this one in your back pocket this month.
SCARY SCARY CHANGE (for me)
I'm putting the rules for submitting your entries to the contest at the bottom of this notecard. If you haven't turned in anything yet (or for awhile, ehem) you must read and follow the rules at the bottom of the card to ensure you're not driving me crazy. First Rule: Please hit SEARCH on the bottom of your screen, select the "Groups" tab, and join the INKsters. This is how we communicate with you.
October will be remembered as the month Knotty got preachy and YOU MADE THE DECISION to write your first good novel. During October, we will lay the groundwork for November, when some of you will write novels, and some of you will write surprisingly long short stories. At Christmas time, you'll have something you built with your heart, your mind, and your bloody fingers ready to give to your family and friends.
If you haven't already done so, you need to go to http://www.nanowrimo.org/ and sign up as a novelist. If you're a poet, don't be ashamed to go slumming with the novelists for thirty days. Think of it as an epic poem. Then, you need to go tell your family and friends what you're doing because you'll be unbearable until December 1st (in the afternoon).
For the writing topics this month, you will NOT begin writing your NaNoWriMo novel because that would be cheating. You will however assemble all of the pieces and parts, the "elements of fiction" for those of you English majors out there, so your mind is focused and ready to go when we arrive in November. Here's another benefit to being a Second Lifer ... I'm going to pay you the daily winner's fee if you do the best work on a given day to prepare for NaNoWriMo. If you take time now to do the October topics, I promise your novel will be much better (dare I say publishable?) when you start working on it in November. Even if you only complete a few of the October assignments, your final product will be better. And by the way, I expect these daily assignments to be working papers, not your usual gorgeous prose, so give yourself permission to get the meat on the table and worry about the napkin rings later.
One note: My approach to preparing for a novel is very old school and doggedly pragmatic. I believe the main reason you write a novel is so you can ask somebody else to read it. Even the most experimental fiction will still require the "basics" if you hope to make any sense to your reader. In this month's assignments, I've tried to recognize the many different ways you might approach novel writing, but I still rely on the notion you'll need characters, plot and setting to make a novel readable. I know it's terribly colloquial, but I have faith y'all city folk can work around this limitation.
And now we prepare to write the best novels we've ever written:
October 1, 2007: Protagonist Description
Let's name a few: Odysseus, Jesus, Hamlet, Holden Caulfield, Harry Potter. You just have to say their names and you know all about them. In 500 words or less, tell us about your protagonist for your new novel. A physical description, an emotional description, and a little bit of history will help you understand who you're going to be following around for the next two months.
October 2, 2007: Protagonist Support
Even Gregor Samsa, who woke up one day as a cockroach, needed his family, music and friends. Who are the people that love your protagonist and why do they want the best for him or her or it?
October 3, 2007: Protagonist Today
One day, King Lear asked his daughters to say how much they each loved him. It turned out to be a bad idea and a very bad day. But the day BEFORE was pretty good. He taxed the tenants, he had a lovely breakfast, his stroll in the gardens seemed particularly refreshing. What does your protagonist do on an ordinary day ... the day before all the things in your novel turned into a story.
October 4, 2007: Supporting Cast: Round
You may have the need for one, or two, or three other characters with fully developed appearances, personalities, histories, and support systems of their own. Who are the other characters you intend to build full blown lives around? Why are they important?
October 5, 2007: Supporting Cast: Dynamic
Maybe it's your protagonist, maybe it's somebody else, but you're very likely to need somebody to change in an important way during the course of your novel. Who will be your dynamic characters? Why do they need to evolve? How will they change? What will make them change?
October 6, 2007: Supporting Cast: Flat
Ahhhh, the much maligned flat character. You need them! Your point of view in your novel means you're not going to spend time fully developing the funny boy at the coffee shop, the gay cowboys' boss, the surprisingly pretty girl on the subway. Take a moment to imagine and share some of the people in your protagonist's life who might be necessary, but won't play a leading role.
October 7, 2007: Supporting Cast: Static
Second Lifers may understand this character type better than others since we deal with inanimate objects seeming to be alive all the time. Take a moment to picture the big scary house in the movie Psycho. Or Hogwartz. Maybe the Death Star in Star Wars. Blood on Lady Macbeth. Or maybe Little Stinky the INKsters bear. Sometimes things grow in importance to the point of being characters themselves. What stuff in your protagonist's life is so important it becomes a character in itself. Describe those things and explain why they are important.
October 8, 2007: Supporting Cast: Antagonist
Our favorite character. Who will be the troublemaker in your little world? Lovingly describe your antagonist. Maybe try speaking in the antagonist's voice so you can come to know the inner soul of the person we love to hate. A word of caution here, if your antagonists are 100% evil with no redeeming qualities at all, and even you as the author don't like them, you've probably created flat characters and you'll have a difficult time making us care what happens to them.
October 9, 2007: Genre
We've spent over a week thinking about our characters because they (not you!) drive the novel. Once you know your characters and how they will react in any situation, you ... the writer ... become the observer recording the salient points of their drama. So now let's give our characters something to do and a place to do it. If you took the genre challenge in August, you already know you have the skills to write across the spectrum. If you didn't take the challenge I'll spank you when I see you. So now, let's pick. Will your characters ride a horse and sing? Will your characters play baseball with ghosts? Will you spend time with unicorns and sorcerers? Will your character find meaning in her kitchen making toast for her gardener? If you haven't been in awhile, go to a book store, buy a cappuccino, and wander the aisles until you find the shelf where you want your novel to be sitting this time next year, and then tell us why this will be your genre this year. Don't tell us the plot in today's assignment, but tell us why you love science fiction, or romance, or epic poetry? What is it in you that drives you to want to be on that shelf?
October 10, 2007: Story
Finally! Ten days later I finally ask you what the story is. Picture yourself on an elevator. The editor-in-chief from Random House steps onto the trolley car (see, I can talk British!) and pushes the 23rd floor button. Your palms get sweaty, your voice shakes, you find yourself inexplicably standing on your toes. You know you have exactly one minute (or 500 words) to tell her what your novel is about in the hope you can convince her to look at it. Go!
October 11, 2007: Plot
You're sitting in New York City (the not so good part) in your agent's ratty office surrounded by stacks and stacks of paper, dusty furniture, and Taco Bell cups. She's smoking and speaking to you in that condescending accent of hers. She peeks up at you over the top of her half-framed glasses, ashes fall onto her desk from her Marlboro, and she says, "I know, I know, you told me they're in love, but it's a video game, this Second World whatever thingy of yours. You tell me right h'yere on page seven how two avatahs go about falling in love. But sweethawt, I need to know WHY they're in love." Why why why. You have your characters, you have a sense of what happens to them, but tell us about the bottom of the iceberg. Why are the events significant to the characters?
October 12, 2007: The Big Conflict
There's a school of thought in the literary world that conflict is the only plot line. It drives a storyline conveniently for the author. There's a reason why conflict happens (and someday I'm going to write my deconstructionist treatise on this very notion) and you as the writer need to understand the one big problem making your protagonist's life cumbersome. You love your protagonist, you even love your antagonist (if you have one), you hate to see troubles come their way, but go ahead and send it in. What's the big problem in your novel and how will they ever set things right?
October 13, 2007: Little Conflicts
It might be Hannibal Lecter's annoying brilliance, it might be a fender bender on the 405, it might be phonies, it might be your skull just turned into a donkey's head. If you watch Seinfeld, you know about millions of little funny conflicts, and if you watch CSI you know about millions of un-funny conflicts. Examine your storyline and describe the bumps along the road your characters will face.
October 14, 2007: Style
When I write, I start out trying to be flowery and literary. This usually gives way to me trying to stay on the topic. In the end, I'm telling jokes and being sarcastic. Imagine you're being interviewed for 60 Minutes tonight and Mike Wallace asks you, "How would you characterize your writing style in this novel?" And you smile quirkishly, and say....
October 15, 2007: Tone
You're writing a horror novel and you have a choice between "Scary Movie" or "Halloween." Your science fiction novel could be J.R.R. Tolkien or Douglas Adams. Your readers want to have a certain "feeling" as they make their way through your work. You'll be in charge of setting the mood and atmosphere for your protagonist to endure. What is the final feeling you'd like the tone of your novel to leave?
October 16, 2007: Language
Now we get down to the evil part of writing. We write our daily shorts to work on our weak spots, but we undertake novels to celebrate our abilities. Do some self analysis and identify your strengths and weaknesses as a writer. What things go well for you, and what things give you a struggle? How can you focus on your strengths and avoid your weaknesses?
October 17, 2007: Language Models
If we can't write like William Shakespeare, we can try to be Earnest Hemingway. If we can't write like William S. Boroughs, we could try our hand at William Carlos Williams. We all want to write like J.K. Rowling so we can get one billion dollars. None of us want to write like Stephen King, but we sure want his success. Who is the writer you want to emulate as you begin your journey on this novel. What makes their use of the English language the model you admire?
October 18, 2007: Point of View
Pesky pesky. Readers don't care who tells the story, but editors and critics get all high and mighty about shifts in point of view. You can speak from an omniscient all-knowing god-like point of view, you can be Spartan and self-righteous and allow only a first-person view of the action, or you can jump into the action too, just as you've done in Second Life, and celebrate us and our and we, in the fun and exciting world of participatory second person viewpoint. All of these points of view have benefits and limitations, but if you switch from one to the other, you better have a good reason! Who will tell your story and why?
October 19, 2007: First Person
You settled into your narrator's voice yesterday, now let's question that decision. What if Helen of Troy wrote her own version of the Iliad? What would Oedipus's mom write? Pick one of your flat or static characters and have them describe the plot of your story from their own point of view. We know they're not going to be a big deal in the story, but for just a moment, let them speak in their own authentic voice about what they've seen and done to be a part of your novel.
October 20, 2007: Parody
Twenty straight days of obsession over your new project. You don't eat right, you don't sleep well, you daydream about the day your character will finally set ablaze the antagonist with your loving verbs. Then you get a telephone call. Fox's MadTV plans to do a parody version of your award winning novel and they've managed to talk George Clooney and Angelina Jolie into playing the lead roles. They want you to toss together a funny little skit to poke a little fun at your novel. Can you write it down real quick? It's due today.
October 21, 2007: Un-Parody
Harvard and Oxford contacted their benefactors and they've agreed to provide you with a substantial honorarium if you'll come to a hoity-toity literary conference in Sydney and speak (oh say, 500 words) on the subject: "My novel: The real story." Can you drop your rough draft of your speech into the mailbox today so we can look it over?
October 22, 2007: Setting
We're two-thirds of the way through the month and we've never talked about setting. Here we are in beautiful Second Life and we know the importance of the environment and how it affects the life we lead. In novels, only Jane Austin can get away with one setting ... the parlor. Now that you know almost everything you need to know about your novel and the creatures inhabiting it. Describe in excruciating detail ONE of the principal locations where you anticipate an important piece of action will happen to your characters.
October 23, 2007: Locations
Review your story line and imagine all the locations you'll need to make this novel happen. Your evil character will need a demon's lair, your happy housewife needs a yellow kitchen, your pilot needs his spaceship, and your teenager needs the back seat of the Oldsmobile. You might not need to flesh out every detail of these locations, but you'll need to be able to help your readers find their way around. Write an overview of the many other places you'll need in your novel and the key descriptions you'll need to make them come alive.
October 24, 2007: Era
You know that guy who does the movie trailers with the deep voice? He always begins every trailer with the same phrase: "In a world where...." Whether it's a galaxy far far away, a Grecian amphitheatre with Euripides underway, a boxing match on the streets in the late 1920s, or Second Life last month, your novel will be set in at least one era and you should know a little bit about the zeitgeist of the age. Take some time to capture the reasons why you've selected one of these eras. Remind us (and yourself) of the key aspects of the era you're bringing to life.
October 25, 2007: Socio-Economics
Rich or poor? Fitzgerald or Hemingway? Consider the impact affluence will play in your drama. Poor people have one kind of problem; rich people have another kind of problem. Somebody climbing their way through the ranks has yet another type of problem. Describe your vision of the economic status of your characters and how that affects the way they think and act.
October 26, 2007: Furries Dilemma
It's not the same from country to country, from land to land, from this world and that world, but it seems like everywhere you go, somebody is discriminating against somebody else. I won't let any furries buy my scooters for example. (Just kidding … I'd sell a scooter to Osama Bin Laden.) Do any of your characters have racial biases? Sexual-orientation biases? Does one of your characters really truly hate a class of people? How will you build a world of love and light if your readers are used to bigotry? Take a moment to analyze your plans and discuss how embedded social stigmas might affect your novel, both for you as the author and for your rag tag band of merry ones.
October 27, 2007: Symbolism
Black is scary, red is mean, yellow is happy, white is virginal. A pencil means you draw. A typewriter means you're way the coolest. An orange sunset stands for hope. Edible underwear stands for, uh, well, it means you won't be writing much. If you're writing about vampires, you have an inherited set of symbols at your disposal. If you're writing about Second Life, you know what a boy in a white T-shirt, blue jeans and flip flops means. Sometimes a symbol becomes symbolic only after repeated appearances within a literary work, as classical music does in A Clockwork Orange, or the Virgin Mary does in the Bible. As you make final preparations to dive into your masterpiece, what existing symbols do you imagine will be useful in your work? What things within the body of your work will end up with symbolic meaning?
October 28, 2007: Theme
We now must tread carefully. Nothing will ruin a book faster than an author dead set on cramming a thematic message down the reader's brain. Less competent writers don't have faith in their readers' intelligence. Those authors feel like they need to spell out the moral of the story. If you believe in your protagonist's ability to run the show and live through the complications of the storyline, you'll let the theme evolve naturally from the actions of your own characters. Nobody needs to tell us that Oscar the Grouch really isn't all that grouchy. When we hold our Second Life book club for your novel, and we all sit around and talk about what your book meant to us, what will we say? What message will we have taken away from your efforts?
October 29, 2007: My Life
The last three days of October is a time to remember yourself. You've done the pre-planning. You know what you're going to write. There's no way you're not going to be successful. So you need to write your "About the Author" biography for the back page of your book. Who are you? What makes you the right person to write this story? This is the part that will be quoted in high school book reports for all eternity, so it wouldn't be a bad idea to find yourself utterly fascinating.
October 30, 2007: My Goals
The goal of NaNoWriMo is 50,000 words by November 30th. That's 1667 words per day. Take a moment to jot down your other goals. Maybe you need to write a little more to feel a sense of accomplishment. Maybe you need to call your mom, your high school teacher, your agent, and let them know what you're doing. Maybe you owe it to yourself to spend a night in a fancy local hotel on November 29th and your lazy ass husband needs to watch the kids. Maybe you need to promise yourself that you'll rent the big space on Ina Centaur's sim to display your novel for sale. Whatever your goals for the next month are, share them! Writing them down will make them happen, and where else do you have the opportunity to win a dime for recording your plans for making history?
October 31, 2007: The Commitment
"I, (name), take the Second Life version of the NaNoWriMo challenge, to be my obsessive commitment for the next month, to have and to drive me and my family and my acquaintances completely crazy from this day until December 1st in the afternoon when I wake up from a nap; for better or for worse but hopefully better because I sure don't want a crummy novel after all this work; for richer (ah yeah!), for poorer (no way! I'm the next Sidney Sheldon), in the mental sickness bordering on derangement for undertaking this insane idea, to love and to cherish and to write my little fanny off from this day forward until I write the best novel of my life." You can write better vows than this one. Do it now and go to bed. You have a busy day tomorrow.
***************
HOW TO ENTER:
1. From your Inventory, select the Create menu and then begin a New Note. Write your entry onto the notecard (or Control-V to paste it onto the card). 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. Next, from your saved notecard in your inventory you MUST right-click on the notecard select Properties. Make sure the toggle boxes at the bottom are checked to allow future owners to modify, copy, AND give/transfer. I must have full permissions from you to place the notecard in our anthologies.
3. Teleport to the INKsters Headquarters:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/sLiterary/97/81/26
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.
AND NOW FOR THE RULES:
1. You have until 11:59 p.m. Second Life time on each day to write one entry in English related to the topic. I reserve the right in my sole discretion to grant a wee bit of wiggle room when necessary for late entries (but don't count on it bub!).
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).
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 who live in real life. 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.
PROCEDURAL MUMBO JUMBO:
I publish the writing prompts monthly. William Shakespeare in the INKsters Headquarters 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.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
September Topics
INKsters Daily Writing Competition
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 and they lived happily ever after."
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.
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.
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