Hello everyone!
Today we are launching our long awaited month-long writing challenge, SCARE US. If you simply want to dive in, you can start right here. Otherwise, I wanted to take a few minutes to make sure we're all on the same page.
First and foremost, this challenge should be about having fun. In fact, we have tried to make this as clear as possible. This is why most of our prizes won't actually be tied to any "ratings". With this challenge, you aren't a "winner" because you got all of your friends to vote for you. Instead, you're a winner if you had fun writing and polishing up a story. Maybe, you'll end up with something that is good enough for you to send around? That should be the goal.
Second, there is a set of criteria your story should meet. We think they are pretty clear, but if you have a question, let us know. The point here is to try to give you a few prompts that can be explored in a variety of ways. Find out about the prompts here.
Third, this event is open to everyone who has a LitReactor account, even the free account people (we like them too). That said, if you are concerned about a larger audience than normal having access to your writing, this probably isn't the best event for you.
Fourth, Workshop Members may notice this operates differently than the workshop. There are no stars, instead, you have a binary "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" decision to make once you've read a submission. Though you're not required to, we do strongly suggest that you also provide written feedback on any stories that you rate.
Fifth, be nice and have fun. You see how I keep mentioning "have fun". Well, I mean it but also, be friendly and hopefully we'll see a bunch of new faces around here.
"But Kirk, you just mentioned prizes. I want to know more!"
We have a lot of things planned and truthfully, we're also making things up as we go (hey, we're new at this). But here's what I can tell you so far. For the most part, prizes won't be awarded only to the "best". If you participate, you will have a good chance of winning something cool.
"What kind of cool stuff?" you ask.
- We have enlisted a bunch of our friends and instructors to provide feedback on select stories. People like: Ed Sikov, Holiday Reinhorn, Suzy Vitello, Lidia Yuknavitch, Christa Faust and others who we haven't announced yet.
- We have swag that needs a new home.
- We have books that need reading.
- Other secret things that you're going to have to wait for!
I think that is more than enough for now. If you have any questions or comments, please share them below.
I've finished more stories because of the workshop here. I just can't stand re-reading my own writing for very long and I have blindspots - I can't see my own mistakes or awkward sentences for shit. The moment I see a LbL that points it out, it's obvious and I feel like an idiot for missing it.
Without the workshop, I had to let a piece go for months without looking at it before the blinders came off. With the workshop, I can write twice as fast (which means less time between stories, for me).
You don't have to live it down, jacks. It's been liberating. I never knew who I really was until you inspired me to wriggle from under the thumb of filthy male oppression. I love you for that. But, as I am an angry lesbian, I also really hate you. I hope you catch Lou Gehrig's Disease.
How clear do we need to be on the whole 'town-we-grew-up-in' criteria? The setting is the bar that's always been where kids go to drink cheap in my hometown, but I don't know how blatant you need this to be. Thanks for your reply.
I see no reason why your local hangout wouldn't be your town. It's more about having something that reads like a real place as opposed to fighting Zombie-Godzilla on Mars (Not that I don't want to read that story, too).
As far as the kill count criterion goes: is it three deaths period, or at least three deaths? Also, are off-screen deaths counted?
At least three, go on a massacre if you want. I don't see a reason off-screen wouldn't count so long as that is actually included in the story.
If you click on your own story and open it up like you were going to read it, at the very top (above the scare us banner, but beneath the site options like 'dashboard and online classes) there are three options "view edit voting results"
Click edit. Under file, click "remove file". Then you'll have to upload the new file before you can save it at the bottom of the page.
@Mr. Riser
I hope you wrote a review here http://litreactor.com/events/scare-us
And not in the regular part of the workshop. Because if you posted in the workshop, my submission was your red herring. But no matter, I shall win that coffee mug for you, don't fret.
I'm just really getting started on my story so I'm a little ways down the line before I submit it - probably that last push (give me a deadline, and I'll milk it for all it's worth). In the meantime, I'm trying to read stories here and there during work breaks, evenings, time off, etc. I'll try to get through a bunch - though I don't think I'll be able to get through all of them. The good thing is that it looks like there's already a bunch of submissions just a few days into it - that's great - and there's a bunch of names I'm not as familiar with - so welcome to LitReactor!
@jacks - Servers me right for not being in the loop, I guess. Somehow I thought it went into a category for the event whether it was part of the workshop or not. So oh well! Maybe next time. I'll maybe read your updated tale if I can find time today.
I'm hoping to write something at some point too, but it's gonna' be strained. This is a busy, busy month, and things haven't been going as planned so far...
Hey, I'm excited, this sounds like a fun evening around a campfire! Just one quick question about the prompt:
How stricktly should I interpret the term "monster"? As in, can this be extended to "normal humans" who do extraordinarily bad things? entities? or should I stick to the non-human, rawr!, teeth and fur and scales kind of monster? :) Thanks!
Cheers and beers from Deutschland!
I'd recommend sticking to the more literal monster. However, bear in mind that your story is going to get a thumbs-up/thumbs-down vote from a wide reading public. There's not much in the way of "rule enforcer". Yeah, word count or missing the deadline can bust your story, but really, if you can sell your story to each individual reader as something awesome, then feel free to play in the margins of the rules.
I'm glad everyone is having fun so far. I'll post the first Mug winners when I'm back home on Saturday as I'm currently in New York for the first official LitReactor meetup, which I assume everyone is attending!
But what the hell, if you still want a mug I'll give on away randomly each day until then. So, basically, each day will have a give away. Wed, Thurs, Fri.
In other words, I'll actually be announcing 7 winners on Saturday.
We'll get to some other fun stuff next week!
Welll... I'm submitting something just for fun, just finished it this morning. A disclaimer: it takes place where I currently live, though I've lived here in Philadelphia for like 7-8 years. I'm guessing the rules aren't super strict. Anyway, it's a first draft and I plan on submitting something more aline with the prompt before the end of July.
From Howie upstream:
If you click on your own story and open it up like you were going to read it, at the very top (above the scare us banner, but beneath the site options like 'dashboard and online classes) there are three options "view edit voting results"
Click edit. Under file, click "remove file". Then you'll have to upload the new file before you can save it at the bottom of the page.