NationStates

Ladies, gentlemen, and robot overlords of A&F, it's time for another short story contest!

Rules:

Writing deadline is July 31. (Your post containing your entry can not be edited after the deadline.)
6000 word maximum, no minimum
No fanfic, but public domain characters are fine
Mind the site rules
The story must be original (not published or previously posted on the internet)

Judging:

There will be three judges: Kannap, Italios, and Respubliko de Libereco. The winner is the contestant with the highest average score.

In past contests, we have sometimes had issues with judges getting busy and not having time to judge, so if there are more people interested in judging, it doesn't hurt to have back ups.

Scoring:

The scoring is going to work a little differently than in past contests. After adjusting the rubric a few times, we couldn't come up with one that everyone was satisfied with, so we're trying a less structured approach to see if it works any better.

Each judge will assign a score on a scale of 1 to 100 and provide an explanation of their reasoning. Judges, please go into some detail discussing different elements of the story, explaining what worked and what didn't. You can use the following rubric as a guide.

Code: Select all

[b]Characters:[/b]
[b]Plot:[/b]
[b]Setting:[/b]
[b]Creativity:[/b]
[b]Style and Mechanics[/b]:

[b]Score:[/b] /100

Feel free to post questions if you are confused about anything.

These contests are a recurring thing, so if you miss the deadline for this one, you can still finish your story and save it for a later contest.

As a reference, here are links to the previous contests




卍卍卍 Good luck everyone! 卍卍卍 (Swastikas are good luck.)

Entries:

The New Greek Republic - "Jericho"

RDL: 61.6
Forsher: 75

avg: 68.3

Vrolondia - "The Black Road to Theralia"

RDL: 49
Forsher: 50

Avg: 49.5

Infected Mushroom - "The Sacrifice"

RDL: 84
Forsher: 85

avg: 84.5

Animal Farm United - "Beautiful Day"

RDL: 48
Forsher: 45

Avg: 46.5

Jacobania - "Stanley"

RDL: 38
Forsher: 75

Avg: 56.5

Unitaristic Regions - "The Bleak Place"

RDL: 79
Forsher: 40

avg: 59.5

Forsher - "Niemand"

RDL: 48

Disqualified because contestants can't be judges, but Forsher gets an honorary perfect score from me for volunteering to judge. Thanks.

Olivaero - "A Moonless Night"

RDL: 36
Forsher: 38

Avg: 37

The Tricolour - "The Snowy Day"

RDL: 20
Forsher: 50

avg: 35

Liberty and Linguistics - "Matt"

RDL: 83
Forsher: 65

Avg: 74

Nazi Flower Power - "Invisible Friends"

RDL: 85
Forsher: 90

Avg: 87.5

I'll confirm my interest in Judging the SSC-2015-S (Does that acronym work? )

Also, you can refer to me as THL, for ease of typing in the future

I'll be a back up this time if you'll have me.

Just tagging this so I can find it quicker.

This is most definitely not a tag. Nope, not in the slightest. Move along, move along, nothing to see here...

The thread is stickied so it should be easy to find even without tagging. That is why the title is lower-case instead of the obnoxious capslock I've done for the last couple.

The High Lords wrote:Also, you can refer to me as THL, for ease of typing in the future

I probably will when it comes time to do scoring.

Vancon wrote:I'll be a back up this time if you'll have me.

OK.

Let's see if I can get something in for this.

Nazi Flower Power wrote:The thread is stickied so it should be easy to find even without tagging. That is why the title is lower-case instead of the obnoxious capslock I've done for the last couple.

Oh. Whoops.

Now, let's see if I can manage to finish a story without the rampant procrastination and rushing...

New Kvenland wrote:

Nazi Flower Power wrote:The thread is stickied so it should be easy to find even without tagging. That is why the title is lower-case instead of the obnoxious capslock I've done for the last couple.

Oh. Whoops.

It's a change from previous contests so it's understandable if people aren't used to it.

Now, let's see if I can manage to finish a story without the rampant procrastination and rushing...

I know that feeling.

This time I actually have a finished story, but it's a little over the word count and it feels dishonest to raise the limit on word count just because I wrote a long story. I might try to do some more editing and see if I can get it down to 6000 words, but more likely I will just write another story on a related subject.

How do I submit a story? I saw this and went "OMFG the one I'm trying to get some feedback on right now is just over 5k words, Its FATE!" Also it sounds like this is intended as a contest for stories about whatever not specifically nationstates stories is that right? Actually... want to hear a cool story? When first creating my still brand new nation I used the country my main characters are from so I could submit it even if it is NS specific content you're looking for. (Though nationstates being all weird it has turned into something far different that the Helbardia of my story world).

Helbardia wrote:How do I submit a story? Also it sounds like this is intended as a contest for stories about whatever not specifically nationstates stories is that right?

Just write up a short story about anything and everything your heart desires, it doesn't have to be limited to anything, and post it here (in spoilers).

The High Lords wrote:

Helbardia wrote:How do I submit a story? Also it sounds like this is intended as a contest for stories about whatever not specifically nationstates stories is that right?

Just write up a short story about anything and everything your heart desires, it doesn't have to be limited to anything, and post it here (in spoilers).

Hmmmm that's interesting if we're all posting our stories here in thread for god and everybody to see does that mean theirs a lot of suggestions and revisions going on between people who've already submitted their piece?

It returns.

Definitely confirming my interest here.

Hm. I suppose I'll try my hand (or my pen?) this time.

Bezombia wrote:Hm. I suppose I'll try my hand (or my pen?) this time.

or keyboard?

I'll backup judge.

New Kvenland wrote:

Nazi Flower Power wrote:The thread is stickied so it should be easy to find even without tagging. That is why the title is lower-case instead of the obnoxious capslock I've done for the last couple.

Oh. Whoops.

Now, let's see if I can manage to finish a story without the rampant procrastination and rushing...

I'm having the opposite problem I have one I should probably post right now, but I'm like "Maybe I should put in some more work on it first, I don't want to embarass myself." The problem is that I'll always have that urge.

Hmmmm I see the site rules say PG-13 and I looked up the actual guidelines the Cinema Stazi claims to use, does this mean realistic or sustained depictions of violence are a no-go? Also I think the decision about whether or not "offensive language" (a really harmful concept in and of itself ironically) warrants a PG-13 or R rating is subjective so could I post something and have someone tell me if what I've got is acceptable?

Not the slightest bit of anything sexual though, no drug use either (outside a medical context).


Seriously what kind of messed up bullshit is the notion that one of the criteria for censoring art is "too realistic"

Coincidentally, recently Allancia gave me an idea for a story, I wrote it and published it as a Factbook (LINK TO STORY) However, you said no published stories - does a Factbook one count? If not, I'd love being a backup judge if there are any open positions.

Helbardia wrote:

The High Lords wrote:
Just write up a short story about anything and everything your heart desires, it doesn't have to be limited to anything, and post it here (in spoilers).

Hmmmm that's interesting if we're all posting our stories here in thread for god and everybody to see does that mean theirs a lot of suggestions and revisions going on between people who've already submitted their piece?

I don't think there's really that much revision by peer review going on, we're trying to evaluate your work based on your own product alone, and not of those who have contributed in form of peer review... Though you can do this offsite with other people, or take it to your college professor to read over it (if you guys are that good of friends), but I'm sure you'd feel bad on the inside, knowing it isn't really fully your work alone.

But of course, you could also not give a crap because you're a honey badger. (Yes, I did just do that. Get at me.)

It is a good point though... I guess we could try doing a private submission system: by TG or something like that. What do the rest of you people think?

Helbardia wrote:Hmmmm I see the site rules say PG-13 and I looked up the actual guidelines the Cinema Stazi claims to use, does this mean realistic or sustained depictions of violence are a no-go? Also I think the decision about whether or not "offensive language" (a really harmful concept in and of itself ironically) warrants a PG-13 or R rating is subjective so could I post something and have someone tell me if what I've got is acceptable?

Not the slightest bit of anything sexual though, no drug use either (outside a medical context).


Seriously what kind of messed up bullshit is the notion that one of the criteria for censoring art is "too realistic"

Movie violence is different from textual violence. If you're not going over-the-top with gore, you're fine. And the forum rules allow swearing.

The High Lords wrote:
but I'm sure you'd feel bad on the inside, knowing it isn't really fully your work alone.

?! What a horrible sentiment. My goal is to write as good a story as possible and improve as a writer and collaboration is a wonderful way to do both of those things. Bouncing ideas off of other writers is also a great way to explore them in your own mind.


You people seriously don't swap advice or feedback on one anothers work?

Shaggai wrote:Movie violence is different from textual violence. If you're not going over-the-top with gore, you're fine. And the forum rules allow swearing.

Awesomesauce

Helbardia wrote:

The High Lords wrote:
but I'm sure you'd feel bad on the inside, knowing it isn't really fully your work alone.

?! What a horrible sentiment. My goal is to write as good a story as possible and improve as a writer and collaboration is a wonderful way to do both of those things. Bouncing ideas off of other writers is also a great way to explore them in your own mind.


You people seriously don't swap advice or feedback on one anothers work?

There's another thread where you can do that. Hang on. I'll go find it and link it for you.

Here: http://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=332786

You can also post it in this thread if you want. There is not any rule against discussion, and you are allowed to edit your post until the deadline.

You just might get a better response by using the Writing Discussion thread. Posting in the Writing Discussion thread while the Short Story Contest is running does not disqualify you. It is an exception to the rule that your story must not have been posted on the internet. The exception only applies if you enter the same round of the Short Story Contest that is running when you post in the Writing Discussion. The original Short Story Contest in 2011 was organized by posters in the Writing Discussion thread, and there is precedent for allowing people to use the Writing Discussion to workshop their entries.

It's also just a thread you might enjoy if you want to bounce ideas off people.

Shaggai wrote:Movie violence is different from textual violence. If you're not going over-the-top with gore, you're fine. And the forum rules allow swearing.

Awesomesauce

I was going to tell you something similar to what Shaggai said, but it appears to be already cleared up.