Only one submission eh?

[KyoZaber]

Well... main thoughts here focus on where we missed the boat this go around.
We've tried to have a total of 3 writing contests so far... and only 1 of them has actually ended.

Now, we can't make you folks write. Heck I could barely make myself write. I barely broke 17 pages... and I cheated.
Also, I think that my story could've used a little tweaking, however it needed to be ready, and it was. I may have been 2 minutes or so late on the submission, however it was ready.

Now... I know life kicks in. Believe me, 90% of the writing I did on my story took place the night it was due. I wouldn't be surprised if it had an effect on my story.
However, is it too much to ask for at least something to be submitted? It doesn't have to be a bible, just a decent bit of writing to give the judges a little flavor.

Here's my main question... What do you folks see as the problem here?
> Are we giving too short of a deadline?
> Is the definition of a story confusing?
> Something else not listed here?

Or am I seeing ghosts in a house that isn't haunted?
I could be wrong. We could not have a problem. However like I said at the start of this thread...
3 contests, and only 1 has ever been fully finished.

[KyoZaber]

Hmm... Some good points Some1Else.
An average of 10 - 20 pages eh? That's definitely not too bad. At least in my eyes.

Tis true about the SPC writers fandom being small, and your pros and cons of that are spot on. It is a bitter/sweet deal that we have as many SPC writers as we do.

I think however the main reason behind the contests needs to be explained. The general purpose of the contest was not to say "Who's got the best fiction." The general purpose is to spur on creativity and get more fan fictions written. With that said, it appears that the contest isn't working as intended. Then again... perhaps as you said, a longer deadline would be required for our small section of writers.

As for how to write the fiction, nothing's wrong with writing the way you feel.
As long as you know the characters you're writing with, respect them, and have them do actions that you could see them doing in an actual SPC episode, then there's no reason for you to write in the way you see fit.

I write using the script format because it's easier for me to understand and let flow. I however refuse to use a Narrator character like we hear in a usual Samurai Pizza Cat episode. The narrator just does not fit in with the type of stories I like to write.

As for what this crowd of folks expect... Well... I don't think there's anything wrong with everyone getting to see Samurai Pizza Cats in different lights.
If you try one way, and no one likes it, shuffle things around a bit and try again. All because someone doesn't like something does not mean it's the end of the world.
Yes, a good story does need to entertain a crowd. That's the purpose of a good story.

However what is worse? The bad story that everyone hates, or the story that was never written because the writer *did not think anyone would like it?

Thank you for your comments about my story (Which I'll post momentarilly by the way.)
It has it's nips and it's tucks, and most people probably won't like it. This part of my "In Search of the Ginzu" small series is a little too serious in points for my taste. Saying that, next time I'd try to include a little more light-hearted-ness to make the story end on a better note.

Don't worry about long-winded posts.
The purpose of this thread is to shoot ideas around and hopefully come up with a new contest that everyone can enjoy... and actually end up submitting something for.

Edit: Forgot the "d" in "did" >_<

[BurkeWorld]

Jeepers H. Creepers.

Great discussion here and I agree with a lot of what's been said between you two. I suppose I just love writing so much that it just affects me a bit more when a project like this falls through and there is no support shown.

Well.. We'll see what the future brings, perhaps in the summer when there is no school for you HS and College geared fans to worry about, I can try again with a new contest.

Kyo, PM me your new address, I'll mail your gift out, as I said I would to the winning fic.. And since you're the only one who sent one in.. You win! =^_^=

~Burkey

[felineki]

Sorry there wasn't much of a turnout. I'm not really much of a writer unless the perfect idea pops into my head, and that doesn't happen very often. Admittedly, having only gotten back into SPC fandom recently, I haven't read any fanfics myself, but I'm resolving to start doing that. Maybe I'll find some sort of inspiration along the way.

[Mechadon]

Sorry there wasn't much of a turnout. I'm not really much of a writer unless the perfect idea pops into my head, and that doesn't happen very often. Admittedly, having only gotten back into SPC fandom recently, I haven't read any fanfics myself, but I'm resolving to start doing that. Maybe I'll find some sort of inspiration along the way.

Lol! Same here. Yes, I'm guilty. I still haven't read any fanfics. Not one.

[Violet]

You know, I didn't used to read fan fics much.  At one time, there was just so many of them. 

....and a lot of them were really bad...

And some were also really long.  I just didn't have time for them.

But now I'm more interested in reading them.  The people who are still writing SPC fan fics these days are the very loyal and dedicated fans, so they're the ones who really care about what they are writing.  Thus, the stories are better and more worth reading now, even though I have less time for them than I did back then. 

[BurkeWorld]

You know, I didn't used to read fan fics much.  At one time, there was just so many of them. 

....and a lot of them were really bad...

And some were also really long.  I just didn't have time for them.

But now I'm more interested in reading them.  The people who are still writing SPC fan fics these days are the very loyal and dedicated fans, so they're the ones who really care about what they are writing.  Thus, the stories are better and more worth reading now, even though I have less time for them than I did back then. 

I just had a crazy thought... YOU should try and write one! That'd be pretty kick ass.



Burkey

[Violet]

I barely have time to write my newsletter.  Anyway, I'm not a creative writer, I'm only good at articles and essays.  It would be like asking a house painter to do a portrait.

[Threaux]

The fact is that most people cringe when they hear the word "fan-fiction" outside of their respective "fandoms."   It conjures up horrible recollections of the hilariously bad text based atrocities that are always being found and showcased on something awful.  Not that it's bad to write good fan-fiction, just really hard for some.  Most individuals just don't want to deal with the work involved or the potential ridicule they might get from their peers.  Asking for a deadline is also a roadblock, It's like asking for a book report that the writer will put off forever, because it's optional.  Lastly very few people will sit down and get excited about reading a long fan-fiction, because sadly now-a-days reading anything over a few paragraphs is considered "work."  For example I can glance at a picture someone drew while I have a few moments and perhaps even comment on it.  I, however, usually do not read every fan-fic I encounter, because I don't have the time or patience in between schoolwork and such to absorb large amounts of extraneous information.  Sadly that's how the Internet system works.  I would love to actually write a decent fan-fiction one day, I just do not have the time or motivation right now, I think that's how most people feel.  To those of you actually going for it and writing, I salute you.  You just have to understand that it's not for everyone. 

-Anyway, what about Pizza Cats poetry? It may get more people involved and writing if you are only asking for a few lines and some creativity.

[AsterCrow]

-Anyway, what about Pizza Cats poetry? It may get more people involved and writing if you are only asking for a few lines and some creativity.

There were no guidelines for the fanfiction contest, anyone could have written poetry if they wanted. I considered writing out a somewhat poetic scene- longer than a poem, but much shorter than a fiction... I just never had time to sit and collect my thoughts to write it out.

Or at least, not enough time that I wasn't spending on drawing. Gotta take motivation when it strikes, y'know. *shrug*

[DashStPierre]

For me its finding the time to dedicate to writing a fanfiction. With Spring Break going on here at school I can finally at least put some time into tweaking a couple of my older stories and maybe even put together a new one.

[Blackcat]

Are we giving too short of a deadline?

Three months is the minimum you should give for a SPC fanfiction contest. Is harder to write when you are forced to use other people characters that have already been established to act in a certain way and you cant take some liberties with them. And of course you have to think that most people have work to do, but if you give to much time people will forget about the contest.

Is the definition of a story confusing?

The more rules you give, the harder is to write a story and the more time it takes.

Something else not listed here?

You could point out that elseworlds are welcomed, For example I still want to do that story of the SPC as pirates…or the Lucille the news reporter special.

[Takila]

Some of us are self-confident over our lackluster style of writing and would rather not risk exposing it for the whole Internet to see.

To those of us unfamiliar to writing, the though of a 3 month deadline involving an art in which we are mediocre at is more than we can deal with.  The fact is, there just arn't enough writers on this form presently to have these contests.

Rather than press forward with another event or giving up, we should encourage whatever writing potential the community has.  We could do this through guidelines, examples, a set of common mistakes and the ability to have a second opinion on our writing style.  The only way that these contests will work is if we build on what we already have. (Also helpful would be a contest during spring/summer, where people have more free time and the settings are more inspiring.)

Ironically, this contest spurred me to the point where I will try for the next one.