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Issues Contest: The Fourth Awakens

PostPosted: Thu Oct 27, 2016 10:57 am
by Nation of Quebec
Yes, you read that right. It's time for another issues contest.

Our Editing Team is in almost constant flux, but somehow we all manage to find the time and work on new issues to get them into NationStates canon for you to enjoy... and nitpick. Editors come and go for various RL reasons. While the contests are a lot of work, they have always produced quality editors who were valued members of the team. There is potential for multiple winners (or none at all). It all depends on the quality of the submissions.

How Do I Enter?

We're doing things a bit differently this time. Please submit your one entry via the usual method. Make sure you check the "Issues Contest Submission" box, so we know it's your entry. Entries are limited to one per player, so make sure you're happy with your submission before entering - there is no rush.

What Do I Get If I Win?

You'll get the glory (or burden depending on your point of view), of joining the team as an Issues Editor. You will be recognized with a badge on your nation's main page and your nation will be seen with that puke-brown color on the forums.

What Does That Mean?

It means you'll be working behind the scenes to make sure that the issues are absolutely ready for submission. You'll get to see how issues really work and you'll be privy to top-secret knowledge that you'll be using to make potential issues great. As volunteers, we don't get paid (despite being promised gold-plated mansions), but there aren't any deadlines either. Sometimes an issue can take mere days to get ready and other times it can take weeks. You work at your own pace and hopefully you'll find that sharpening your own writing and editing skills to be its own reward.

How Long Do I Have?

Owing to real life concerns for those interested in entering, the contest will be ongoing until January 15th, 2017. Anything submitted after that deadline will not be accepted for the contest.

Who Can Enter?

It doesn't matter if you are a Got Issues regular or if you've never wrote an issue before, you're welcome to submit an issue.

How Do I Write A Good Issue?

The Got Issues forum has many handy links about issues writing, including the always helpful How To Write An Issue as well as a list of existing issues to avoid duplication, that I strongly recommend you check out.

Please make sure you proof-read your issue thoroughly before submission. Sometimes it helps to get an extra set of unbiased eyes to take a look for potential mistakes and areas of improvement.

What If I Don't Win?

Please don't be discouraged if you don't win. Just because we didn't chose you as an editor doesn't mean your issue wasn't good. It just may make it into the game regardless of whether you become a part of the team. Issue writers are always encouraged to write and we welcome newcomers to writing issues.

Thank you for your time and happy writing! Good luck to all who enter.

PostPosted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 12:27 am
by Noahs Second Country
Are you choosing one editor? Two? How many? Why now?
Edit: Also, are you making decisions based on the experience of the author? The quality of the issue? Past experiences with other nations?

PostPosted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 12:45 am
by Luna Amore
Noahs Second Country wrote:Are you choosing one editor? Two? How many? Why now?
Edit: Also, are you making decisions based on the experience of the author? The quality of the issue? Past experiences with other nations?
Nation of Quebec wrote:There is potential for multiple winners (or none at all). It all depends on the quality of the submissions.

Answered in the OP.

As to how the decision will be made, CWA has developed a very reliable coin-flipping machine. I hear it's very good.

PostPosted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 1:05 am
by Tinhampton
  • What is the rule on forum drafting our Issues Contest issues?
  • What happened to the experiment where new IEs were selected by the current team based on their merits (rather than there being a Contest)?

PostPosted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 1:11 am
by Luna Amore
Tinhampton wrote:
  • What is the rule on forum drafting our Issues Contest issues?
  • What happened to the experiment where new IEs were selected by the current team based on their merits (rather than there being a Contest)?

1. Do. (more seriously, label it [CONTEST] if you want to make it easily separate from garden variety drafts.)
2. It goes on.

PostPosted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 6:09 am
by Troperia
Luna Amore wrote:As to how the decision will be made, CWA has developed a very reliable coin-flipping machine. I hear it's very good.

A 50% chance of being selected? Sounds good to me! But then, 50% of all contestants will be selected.....is it played by rounds?

PostPosted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 6:32 am
by AsReil
I wrote an issue yesterday, any way that could be my entry?

PostPosted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 7:53 am
by Candlewhisper Archive
Asreil wrote:I wrote an issue yesterday, any way that could be my entry?


Seeing as you don't appear to have submitted it yet, I don't see why not.

---

For all and sundry, can I also emphasise this bit here:

Please don't be discouraged if you don't win. Just because we didn't chose you as an editor doesn't mean your issue wasn't good. It just may make it into the game regardless of whether you become a part of the team. Issue writers are always encouraged to write and we welcome newcomers to writing issues.


Just want to make it clear that a good issue will make it into the approved pool no matter what, whether or not its a contest entry or not. You won't reduce your chances of publication by entering the contest, so if you got a great draft going on here right now, may as well make it your entry.

PostPosted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 8:27 am
by The Blaatschapen
What timezone will January 15 2017 end in for the contest? PST? GMT?

PostPosted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 8:42 am
by Sedgistan
No idea - we're not that precise. At some point around that time we'll get an admin to disable the checkbox for submitting contest entries.

PostPosted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 11:28 am
by Eaischpnaeieacgkque Bhcieaghpodsttditf
OMG!!!! I am totally entering this. Gosh, what shall the issue be about. So many options! Will have to think of the best issue ever.

Last remark, are you only accepting 1 more editor, or multiple editors? I'm not going to try anything, but I'm just curious if there will be multiple new members of the team or not.

PostPosted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 11:31 am
by Tinhampton
Eaischpnaeieacgkque Bhcieaghpodsttditf wrote:are you only accepting 1 more editor, or multiple editors?

Nation of Quebec wrote:There is potential for multiple winners (or none at all). It all depends on the quality of the submissions.

PostPosted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 11:31 am
by Maljaratas
Eaischpnaeieacgkque Bhcieaghpodsttditf wrote:OMG!!!! I am totally entering this. Gosh, what shall the issue be about. So many options! Will have to think of the best issue ever.

Last remark, are you only accepting 1 more editor, or multiple editors? I'm not going to try anything, but I'm just curious if there will be multiple new members of the team or not.

Nation of Quebec wrote:There is potential for multiple winners (or none at all). It all depends on the quality of the submissions.

PostPosted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 11:38 am
by Eaischpnaeieacgkque Bhcieaghpodsttditf
Maljaratas wrote:
Nation of Quebec wrote:There is potential for multiple winners (or none at all). It all depends on the quality of the submissions.


Did not see that. My bad.

PostPosted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 11:41 am
by USS Monitor
Eaischpnaeieacgkque Bhcieaghpodsttditf wrote:
Maljaratas wrote:


Did not see that. My bad.


Seems like a lot of people are missing that. Apparently NoQ has the power to make invisible posts. Must be an Editor superpower.

PostPosted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 12:05 pm
by Luna Amore
USS Monitor wrote:
Eaischpnaeieacgkque Bhcieaghpodsttditf wrote:
Did not see that. My bad.


Seems like a lot of people are missing that. Apparently NoQ has the power to make invisible posts. Must be an Editor superpower.

Most people stop at 'New Issue Contest' with these announcements.

PostPosted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 12:12 pm
by USS Monitor
Luna Amore wrote:
USS Monitor wrote:
Seems like a lot of people are missing that. Apparently NoQ has the power to make invisible posts. Must be an Editor superpower.

Most people stop at 'New Issue Contest' with these announcements.


Yeah, but that explanation isn't fun. I like mine better. NoQ has superpowers. I bet he can shoot lasers from his flag too.

PostPosted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 12:14 pm
by Maljaratas
USS Monitor wrote:
Luna Amore wrote:Most people stop at 'New Issue Contest' with these announcements.


Yeah, but that explanation isn't fun. I like mine better. NoQ has superpowers. I bet he can shoot lasers from his flag too.

That's no lighthouse! :p

PostPosted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 1:36 pm
by Candlewhisper Archive
USS Monitor wrote:Yeah, but that explanation isn't fun. I like mine better. NoQ has superpowers.


NoQ, they're onto you! Run! Run!

I bet he can shoot lasers from his


Ohmigod, they know, they KNOW!

flag too.


Flag?!?

Don't worry, NoQ, abort the flight, they know nothing.

By the way, did you get that ruby quartz "plug" I sent you?

PostPosted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 1:42 pm
by Drasnia
Candlewhisper Archive wrote:
USS Monitor wrote:Yeah, but that explanation isn't fun. I like mine better. NoQ has superpowers.


NoQ, they're onto you! Run! Run!

I bet he can shoot lasers from his


Ohmigod, they know, they KNOW!

flag too.


Flag?!?

Don't worry, NoQ, abort the flight, they know nothing.

By the way, did you get that ruby quartz "plug" I sent you?

Guys, I'm telling you, don't believe Candlewhisper's inane mutterings. It's a false flag operation! :O

PostPosted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 1:56 pm
by The United Ontarian Socialist States
Noahs Second Country wrote:Are you choosing one editor? Two? How many? Why now?
Edit: Also, are you making decisions based on the experience of the author? The quality of the issue? Past experiences with other nations?

I agree, I've gotten many issues about road safety involving cars but i have banned cars...

PostPosted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 2:02 pm
by Tinhampton
USS Monitor wrote:
Luna Amore wrote:Most people stop at 'New Issue Contest' with these announcements.


Yeah, but that explanation isn't fun. I like mine better. NoQ has superpowers. I bet he can shoot lasers from his flag too.

GAAAAAAAAAAAH!!! WHO just blinded me for a while?

PostPosted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 2:22 pm
by The United Providences of Perland
Welp, I'll give this a go. Probably won't win, but never hurts to try.

PostPosted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 3:14 pm
by Nation of Quebec
I'm glad to see that there is an interest in this contest.

My biggest piece of advice to offer is to please take your time. You have over a month to get your issue ready. Take your time to make sure it's as funny and as well-written as it can be.

I also ask that you put some more effort into this issue. It's disinheriting to see that some people (not GI regulars) have obviously put no time and effort into the issues they submitted already.

Maljaratas wrote:
USS Monitor wrote:
Yeah, but that explanation isn't fun. I like mine better. NoQ has superpowers. I bet he can shoot lasers from his flag too.

That's no lighthouse! :p


I see they're on to me. Good thing I've activated my Editor Stealth ModeTM.

Fun fact, the landmass in my flag is actually a cabbage (according to the artist who did my flag).

PostPosted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 3:18 pm
by Maljaratas
Nation of Quebec wrote:I'm glad to see that there is an interest in this contest.

My biggest piece of advice to offer is to please take your time. You have over a month to get your issue ready. Take your time to make sure it's as funny and as well-written as it can be.

I also ask that you put some more effort into this issue. It's disinheriting to see that some people (not GI regulars) have obviously put no time and effort into the issues they submitted already.

Maljaratas wrote:That's no lighthouse! :p


I see they're on to me. Good thing I've activated my Editor Stealth ModeTM.

Fun fact, the landmass in my flag is actually a cabbage (according to the artist who did my flag).

I'll take my time. I'll have to, because none of my stored ideas are really jumping out at me, so I'll have take a little longer to figure out which one I'll submit from them (after drafting of course).

I can see the resemblance to a cabbage. :p