'Teleport Us' - LitReactor's Sci-Fi Writing Challenge
The utopia and its offshoot, the dystopia, are genres of literature that explore social and political structures. Utopian fiction is the creation of an ideal society, or utopia, as the setting for a novel. Dystopian fiction is the opposite: creation of an utterly horrible or degraded society, or dystopia. Many novels combine both, often as a metaphor for the different directions humanity can take in its choices, ending up with one of two possible futures... (Wikipedia)
This past summer we launched our first ever public writing challenge, Scare Us!, in which we dared you to stretch your writing muscles and terrify us with short works of fiction in the horror genre.
And you came through big. In total, 156 stories were submitted, and they received 680 ratings. And the top-rated stories received critiques from some heavyweight authors.
It was so much fun, we wanted to do it again. But we have to keep things fresh, which means switching up genres. And we talked about it a lot. We wanted something that would be fun, while presenting a serious challenge. A genre that would be a great vehicle for telling stories and force you to re-examine yourself and your work.
Introducing: Teleport Us, our science fiction writing challenge!
Just like last time, this is a public contest. You don't have to be a paying member to participate. It doesn't matter if you're a beginner or a seasoned wordsmith. Even if it's the first story you've ever written—anyone can submit. Also, anyone can read and rate stories, and offer comments and criticism.
To get in on this, you have to write a short story in the science fiction genre between 1,500 and 4,000 words.
But you didn't think we were going to make this easy, did you? You also have to adhere to a couple of guidelines. Your story must:
- Explore a utopian/dystopian theme
- Feature a technology that's scientifically plausible
- Feature a non-human character (what is a non-human? you tell us!)
Everything else is up to you.
Here's the run of show:
- Feb 1: The submission and reviewing period begins.
- Feb 28: Submissions close.
- March 1 to March 31: The reviewing period continues.
- April 1: The top-rated stories will be selected and... well, we're not announcing everything just yet.
Got questions? Ask us in the comments section!
Never written science fiction before? I asked Kat Howard, our resident sci-fi instructor, to weigh in with some advice. Here's what she had to say:
Science fiction is the literature of possibility. This is the place where you can imagine a different world - perhaps a better one - and make it real. Approach it bravely, with a seeking mind, and as you write, allow yourself to be astonished.
Got it? Good. Start writing... submissions open in less than a month!
News by Rob Hart
Rob Hart is the class director at LitReactor. He also wrote The Warehouse, which sold in more than 20 languages and was optioned for film by Ron Howard. Other titles include the Ash McKenna crime series, and Scott Free with James Patterson. His next novel, Paradox Hotel, is due from Ballantine. Find more at www.robwhart.com.
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Working on mine. I fear people might mistake it for a cautionary tale. Ohhh no. I want this.
An hour and a half later and I'm only up to 1,100 words. Man, this one's coming slowly.
@TomMartinArt 1,100 words in 90 mins!! Oh sure, rub it in! I average 500 words an hour no matter how hard I try. You're doing just fine!
Well I already had 400, so only 700 were from today's hour and a half. I stopped to research so often.
Are there any limitations on language, themes, or how graphic I can get?
@William, we're not exactly shy around these parts, but make sure you're serving the story first. Being shocking for the sake of it doesn't always work.
And keep in mind that old saying: "People cuss when they don't have anything clever to say."
Made an account just to enter this...
I finished my story (now just need to edit), but just to clarify, I'm curious how detached from 'human' is 'non-human'. That is, how close can we get (in terms of biology) with it still being non-human? Where does cybernetics fit in with this, then? Genetically still human, but with augmentations (or certain faculties... shall we say, removed). Does that mean they're non-human, if they don't perceive the same reality as the average, everyday fellow walking around with two arms, two legs, a head and a beating heart?
guys you're godspeedy!
Still outlining here. Seriously I might be the slowest LitRea writer.
@mepstein73, you have your prompts. No offense, but it's not a challenge if we have to explicity spell it out.
+
Hey!
I was just wondering whether multiple submissions were allowed or are we limited to one?! I'm liking the theme - it's interesting!
Cheers
Matty
@matt, once.
Oooh. Thanks, @thankeeka. I almost overlooked that little detail.
@Rob, are there any specific rules or guidelines for formatting?
Never written Sci-Fi before, but love it. I will for sure be entering something in this. Also, Scare Us changed my life as a writer too. I'd suggest anyone that has the time and loves to write, to submit something to Teleport Us!
@ender, format as you would a short story for submission, i.e., Times New Roman, 12 point font, double-spaced, etc.
First draft down. Set the burner to simmer. @Rob, I saw that in the previous contest there were revisions made to stories based on comments made. Will that be true this time around?
Just got a wee question to double check a point - when it says feature a non-human character does this character have to strictly be the main character in the story or can they just have minor role?
Ok! Just finished a second draft and topped out at 4005 words (ARGH!). Time to pull out the hatchett.
@DorianxGrey I like that idea. It sounds really... fresh .... Maybe you could have a non-organic dog or something as well? :)
Looking forward to this challenge, hopefully I have time to whip something up.
Fitting place to make my first post on here, sci-fi is my thing but writing a story as short as 4000 words certainly isn't, I'm used to being limitless and to this day I've never entered a writing contest in my life....nice challlenge and good way to start I guess, looking forward to getting an idea finished and submitted!
'By scientifically-plausible, we mean you can't have your narrator throw his shoe at the sun and make it explode into a unicorn army that feeds on human flesh.'
Damnit. There goes my entire premise. :)
Yay! Back down to 3782. How's everyone else doing?
I'm not too far in, but then I've been taken with WAR in the forums. Now that I'm bumped off I'll have more time to shave the corners off this remarkably odd idea I've got.
How dystopic does the dystopia need to be? Is it the general grittiness of the future, like Snow Crash or Bladerunner or is it total and utter darkness, like The Road or 1984?
Really looking forward to this challenge. I can feel the gears starting to turn in the back of my head.
Rob, can we workshop a first draft of the story we submit or does it have to be one that's never been posted on Litreactor?
Excited but terrifed....sci-fi definitely not my genre! Good to get out and streatch the word process though. So can the technology and non-human be a combination?
Finished first draft at 2:30am this morning. It's over the limit, 2nd draft is probably going to increase the count, so 3rd pass will be a hack and slash. It will be painful!
Ive almost finished my first draft, 3,340 words. Hope i can finish n polish before the 28th of Feb.
Having barely missed the Horror challenge i'd really hate it if i missed this one.
I just fed my story to my writing group and other friends. It's like giving wolverines raw meat.
Finally started on something for this. May or may not make it in.
Where do you draw the line at main character? In a small tableau, everybody is pretty main. I am hoping your defenition of main is pivotal, not verbose.
Is there a prefered file format, font, and line spacing for the submission?
I am also wondering about the featuring of non-human character. Is it ok that "it" plays a major role in the story though "it" is a minor character?
***Feature*** a non-human character
Non-human = main character