Fanfiction contest sign up thread

[Aladar]

One-shot fanfiction contest​

Sign-up thread​

Attention, members of Bulbagarden forums!
This is the sign-up thread for the upcoming one-shot fanfiction contest. This contest has nothing to do with the "12 days of Bulbagarden". It's a completely different contest- from the writers, for the writers. And since time is money, let's cut straight to the business, shall we?​

Rules and format of the contest:​

The participants, after signing-up in this thread, will submit their entries in the special thread made for the contest. The thread will be made one day after the sign up thread is closed. After the entries are posted, no one is permitted to edit his/her entry. The contest itself will be two weeks long. The entries will be evaluated by our three honorable judges- Ho-Oh, Phoenicks and LightningTopaz. The top three chosen by the judges will be awarded special recognition banners. After the three winners are chosen, you-the readers and participants in the contest alike- will PM your votes for the best entry in your opinion to one of the judges. The writer whose entry has the most votes will receive the "Reviewers' choice" recognition banner.​

Theme of the contest: Dark/Angst, Pokemon-related;​

Lenght of the one-shot entries: no minimum lenght, 7000 words maximum;​

Duration of the contest: two weeks;​

Awards (you waited for this part, didn't you?):
Top Three recognition banners (these banners, along with the "Reviewers' choice" one, will be placed in the same place in your profile as the "Donor" banner"):​

"Reviewers' choice" recognition banner:​

And here's the reviewing format on which the judges will evaluate the entries:​

Spoiler

Note to all reviewers and judges: this is a template for reviewing. Consider each factor (and more) that are given here for optimal results. Additionally, each section of this review should have at least 100 words (the author needs to know enough about his or her good/bad).​

Spoiler

A tl;dr in a nutshell section is as follows.​

The good: What did you like about this story? List good points here.​

The bad: What did you not like?​

Summary: What you think about the entire story in a few sentences.​

Plot

N/10: Your thoughts on the plot along with a rating.​

​

Story: Good? Bad? Dull? This is how interesting the story is.​

Theme: There should be a visible theme. Even if it's only a one-shot, there should be a theme. If not, then the story would have no point. Some themes are: war is bad, people aren't perfect, etc.​

Hooks: The author should use "hooks" to make the reader want to keep reading. These include cliffhangers, foreshadowing, quests, mystery, suspense, and others to invoke curiousity and excitement. Too many is bad, however, especially since this is only a short story (however, this also applies for long stories). Check for that.​

Components of a Plot: Exposition (beginning), rising action (events happening), climax (the final, huge wave that hits as a result of the rising action), falling action (things cool down; the aftermath), and finally the resolution, or dénouement (conclusion; e.g. in a tragedy did the main character kill herself?). This should be considered in conjunction with the prose. THE PLOT SHOULD BE SMOOTH.​

Other aspects from judge's decision.​

Character

N/10: Your thoughts on...

Presentation: How well the character is introduced, personality, occupation, other traits. If you use a canon character, KEEP HIM IN CHARACTER! If not, sorry. -a points!​

​

Development: The character needs to change, learn, etc. A good story allows you to get to "know" the character.​

Variety: This ain't the clone wars!​

Grammar, Spelling, and Punctuation (GSP)

N/10: Graded on the following.

Spelling: Accuracy of words.​

​

Grammar: Capitalization, proper usage of verbs, nouns, adjectives, etc. Also check for passive sentences.​

Punctuation: Ties in with grammar, but should be considered by itself too. This is how well the author used quotation marks, exclams, periods, question marks, etc.​

Execution

N/10: Again, as follows.

Suspension of Disbelief: Normally you wouldn't believe something could travel faster than light without totally warping space, but of course, the author could explain that with technology that could hold a wormhole open to allow quick travel.
Basically, the author can convince you that events in the story are believable. This includes TV programs from that world, government policies, etc.​

​

Descriptions: How well the author explained the scenes, actions, and setting. It immerses the reader. He is swept into the story, as if he were right there! However, a fatal flaw to this is as follows.​

Prose: The author should make sure the style and/or prose should be fluid. Not too awkward, not too liquidy, and NOT TOO COLORFUL! If the author uses too many adjectives to describe, this is purple prose. A big no-no. How dull is reading one adjective after another? (e.g. "Her long, brown hair was sprinkled with a myriad of tiny, silver droplets of rain. These ran down her graceful, swanlike neck in to her elegant dress, which was covered with many beautiful designs" BOR-ING!).​

Dialogue: This is how well the author handled speech. Robotic dialogue is not good. Make people sound human: give 'em a brain! Additionally, the school bully shouldn't talk like a professor and vice versa.​

Transitions, structure, starts: Tying in with the prose, sentences and paragraphs should be smooth and flowing, not awkward.​

Originality/Innovation

N/10:

Clichés: A balance of cliché and original elements is ideal. Who likes a corny modern-day Disney movie? Or dare I say, Twilight?​

​

Originality: Uniqueness; if this story is a rare gem in a sea of overused tropes and/or plots/plot devices. For example, Harry Potter has received criticism for being similar to Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, etc. This only results in the plot being extremely predictable and boring (i.e. gives you the "been there, done that" feeling).​

Innovation: New ideas. Similar to originality, but just overall how creative the story is.​

Entertainment And Enjoyment

N/10: How did YOU like it? This does not affect the final score.​

​

The Bottom Line

N/10: THIS IS THE FINAL SCORE!​

​

This is your conclusion. Summarize the good and bad, what you though should be improved, etc. Then give your rating. This is out of 10. Use careful consideration.​

Reviews will be short and sweet.​

You have one week to sign-up (from today, 6th of September to 13th of September). To sign-up just post your username in this thread and feel free to ask questions regarding the contest. I'll add your name to the list.​

Sign up-list:​

1. Aladar
2. kaeim
3. PokemonHero
4. Shiay
5. Zephy Changes
6. Gastlys Mama
7. Aestivate
8. Reggaehype
9. TheProphetJerematic
10. Hide in Plain Sight
11. Clefable
12. The Meme-er
13. absol trainer
14. Musashi
15. AshTheManKetchum
16. Daren
17. LightningKimba
18. Nekusagi
19. Chocolate Bones
20. Lil Brother
21. Ciaran
22. Akiyama

Key:

Bolded--This person has already submitted their entry and finished writing.

In Italics--May not have entry in on time; will withdraw/be withdrawed unless there's an extension

Underlined--This person promises to have entry finished and submitted on the deadline date

Untouched Names--No feedback, promises, replies or any other information has been received from this person. Has yet to submit entry and may be withdrawn by judges if there isn't an extension.




Thread and contest approved by moderators.​

 

[White Len]

I'm in-desu.

 

[kaeim]

count me in, I'm kaeim (obviously )

 

[Ho-oh]

Wow, impressive!

W00t! Second spoiler ain't workin' though.

 

[Aladar]

Wow, impressive!

W00t! Second spoiler ain't workin' though.

Why thank you! I haven't noticed the second spoiler, I've just edited it out.

 

[PokemonHero]

Hmm...interesting. I guess I'll try. I've been working with a lot of angst recently.

 

[Shiay]

*writes her name down on the sheet*

 

[Ciaran]

How did you pick the judges? Phoenicks doesn't write fanfiction or evaluate it, and I'm not sure about the other 2. Who picked the judges?

 

[Flaze]

Count me in

 

[White Len]

How did you pick the judges? Phoenicks doesn't write fanfiction or evaluate it, and I'm not sure about the other 2. Who picked the judges?

Volunteers.

 

[Ciaran]

Can I be a judge? The more judges the fairer the result will be as you have more opinions so more genres counted for and you can get a wider and fairer result.

 

[The Golden Tyranitar]

I would also like to be a judge.

 

[Ciaran]

Yeah me and Golden Tyranitar would make 5 judges which is a much better number than 3 and would provide more opinions and so ensure an accurate result, and at least we attempt to write/evaluate fanfiction which not all the other judges do. Please can me and him be judges as well.

 

[Aladar]

The judges were volunteers and were approved by the majority of writers in the Fanfcition Authors' usergroup. Since the number of judges would still be uneven, I'm not against more judges. But since I have no experiance in judging and evaluating, nor I'm familiar with the writing of Ciaran and Golden Tyranitar, I'll take the "wait and see" approach.


Let the other writers/readers/judges decide. Oh, and I suggest the new volunteers to get in touch with the already appointed judges.

 

[Mitsuki_SOS]

Bravo on this, Aladar! =D

Username (obviously): Mitsuki_SOS

 

[AiedailEclipsed]

I'm curious do you need any more judges?

 

[Ciaran]

I think 6 or 7 would be too many. 5 seems the perfect number

 

[Flaze]

Wouldn't that be too many judges I mean five is okay but seven

 

[Zephy]

I'm in, definitely.

 

[AiedailEclipsed]

Yeah, it's ok, I didn't notice that ya'll had a applied, so I'll withdraw my interest.