October Writing Challenge Rules & F.A.Q.
Hey there fellow writers!
Want to gear up for Nanowrimo? Want to get back into the swing of things with your writing?
Then come joins us every October for a fun-filled month of writing! Write 10 entries of 1000 words or more - whether they be updates for your novels or one-shots, and one Halloween-themed story that has a minimum of 6,000 words!
RULES
1. Two weeks before October, an entry will be posted with a message from the moderators - please comment on the entry to be sure to sign up.
2. The contest officially begins at 12:01 a.m. (PST) on the 1st of October - please do not post entries before this time period. Here is a useful link to a time zone converter: http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html
3. The contest officially ends at 11:59 p.m. (PST) on the 31st of October - you will not be allowed to post entries after this time period.
4. Please only post entries that you write within the official confines of the contest.
5. Post your ten (10) entries of one thousand (1000) words at any time during the month. But only post your Halloween-themed entry during the last ten days of October!
HOW TO POST
Please post all your entries to the community itself, and not just as a link to an outside source. Use LJ cuts on all your contest entries, and longer, non-entry posts. Here's a link with instructions if needed: http://www.livejournal.com/support/faqbrowse.bml?faqid=75
Please post this information in your entry before the LJ cut and follow this format:
Title: "Insert Title Here"
Entry Number: 01
Author: username
Fandom: (You don't need to include this if your entry is original fiction.)
Rating: (G, PG, PG-13, etc) Also post any other special ratings here like violence, abuse, bdsm, etc.
Genre:
Spoiler Warnings:
Word Count:
You MUST tag your entries with the year, the entry number, and the fandom. If you are posting original work, please use "original" instead of "fandom:insertname" (Ex. 2011, 1, fandom: batman OR 2011, 1, original) Please stick to this tagging format and refrain from tagging things like the genre or author's username. This way we can avoid amassing too many tags.
Please be sure to rate your entries, especially if they are of an R-rating or above. This way those who do not wish to read explicit material can easily avoid it. Please also include spoiler warnings for your fandom, if applicable.
Please use spellcheck on your entries, and try to read them over before you post. We understand that everyone makes mistakes (us included), but please do not be excessively lax in this area.
Please make sure to post the original text in the entry, instead of a link to an outside source.
FINAL NOTES
A theme (perhaps this is called a sub-theme?) for the Halloween-themed entry will be announced at midnight on Oct. 1st - the theme is just a guideline for you to include in your 6000 word story. You can do anything you want with it, as long as you do something with it!
Be encouraged to comment on the work of others, but please use constructive criticism. Flaming will not be tolerated.
Feel free to post polls, pictures, and questions if you need help, advice, or information. But no spam or you will be removed from the community.
Please feel free to message one of the mods if you have a question or a problem! We can of course be contacted through LiveJournal, or at our gmail account: octoberwritingmods@gmail.com.
PLEASE NOTE: All important informational posts by the mods will have the tag: modpost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I claim my Challenge Winner's prizes?
A: First of all, congratulations! You've won the October Writing Challenge! If your name is listed as one of this year's winners, then email or message the mods with the email address of your choice. You will be then be emailed your banner and wallpaper!
Q: When can I sign up?
A: Any time during the season! This means as soon as the Notice of Participation Post is up in September, and all the way through October! And you can, of course, join the community at any time! Just be sure to remember that the longer you wait to sign-up, the less time you give yourself to compete.
Q: Can I go over the word limit?
A: Yes! There's nothing to say you can't go over the word limit if you want to, we just want to make sure you fulfill the minimum.
Q: How do I title my entries?
A: With the entry number, and the title
EXAMPLE: Entry 01, Currently Untitled
Q: Should I tag my entries a specific way?
A: Yes. Please tag your entries 1-10 in the order that you post them, and tag your Halloween-themed entry as number 11. Also include the year, and your fandom (fandom:insert title here).
EXAMPLE: 2011, 1, fandom:Rurouni Kenshin
Q: What fandoms can I use?
A: Any fandom! Here are some examples: Rurouni Kenshin, Batman, The Mentalist, Heroes, Star Wars.
Q: Does the long contest entry have to be original fiction?
A: No! Of course not! It can be either fanfiction or original fiction - whatever you feel like (as long as it's Halloween-themed)!
Q: Do my stories have to relate to each other?
A: Nope - they can all be completely different from each other.
Want to gear up for Nanowrimo? Want to get back into the swing of things with your writing?
Then come joins us every October for a fun-filled month of writing! Write 10 entries of 1000 words or more - whether they be updates for your novels or one-shots, and one Halloween-themed story that has a minimum of 6,000 words!
RULES
1. Two weeks before October, an entry will be posted with a message from the moderators - please comment on the entry to be sure to sign up.
2. The contest officially begins at 12:01 a.m. (PST) on the 1st of October - please do not post entries before this time period. Here is a useful link to a time zone converter: http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html
3. The contest officially ends at 11:59 p.m. (PST) on the 31st of October - you will not be allowed to post entries after this time period.
4. Please only post entries that you write within the official confines of the contest.
5. Post your ten (10) entries of one thousand (1000) words at any time during the month. But only post your Halloween-themed entry during the last ten days of October!
HOW TO POST
Please post all your entries to the community itself, and not just as a link to an outside source. Use LJ cuts on all your contest entries, and longer, non-entry posts. Here's a link with instructions if needed: http://www.livejournal.com/support/faqbrowse.bml?faqid=75
Please post this information in your entry before the LJ cut and follow this format:
Title: "Insert Title Here"
Entry Number: 01
Author: username
Fandom: (You don't need to include this if your entry is original fiction.)
Rating: (G, PG, PG-13, etc) Also post any other special ratings here like violence, abuse, bdsm, etc.
Genre:
Spoiler Warnings:
Word Count:
You MUST tag your entries with the year, the entry number, and the fandom. If you are posting original work, please use "original" instead of "fandom:insertname" (Ex. 2011, 1, fandom: batman OR 2011, 1, original) Please stick to this tagging format and refrain from tagging things like the genre or author's username. This way we can avoid amassing too many tags.
Please be sure to rate your entries, especially if they are of an R-rating or above. This way those who do not wish to read explicit material can easily avoid it. Please also include spoiler warnings for your fandom, if applicable.
Please use spellcheck on your entries, and try to read them over before you post. We understand that everyone makes mistakes (us included), but please do not be excessively lax in this area.
Please make sure to post the original text in the entry, instead of a link to an outside source.
FINAL NOTES
A theme (perhaps this is called a sub-theme?) for the Halloween-themed entry will be announced at midnight on Oct. 1st - the theme is just a guideline for you to include in your 6000 word story. You can do anything you want with it, as long as you do something with it!
Be encouraged to comment on the work of others, but please use constructive criticism. Flaming will not be tolerated.
Feel free to post polls, pictures, and questions if you need help, advice, or information. But no spam or you will be removed from the community.
Please feel free to message one of the mods if you have a question or a problem! We can of course be contacted through LiveJournal, or at our gmail account: octoberwritingmods@gmail.com.
PLEASE NOTE: All important informational posts by the mods will have the tag: modpost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I claim my Challenge Winner's prizes?
A: First of all, congratulations! You've won the October Writing Challenge! If your name is listed as one of this year's winners, then email or message the mods with the email address of your choice. You will be then be emailed your banner and wallpaper!
Q: When can I sign up?
A: Any time during the season! This means as soon as the Notice of Participation Post is up in September, and all the way through October! And you can, of course, join the community at any time! Just be sure to remember that the longer you wait to sign-up, the less time you give yourself to compete.
Q: Can I go over the word limit?
A: Yes! There's nothing to say you can't go over the word limit if you want to, we just want to make sure you fulfill the minimum.
Q: How do I title my entries?
A: With the entry number, and the title
EXAMPLE: Entry 01, Currently Untitled
Q: Should I tag my entries a specific way?
A: Yes. Please tag your entries 1-10 in the order that you post them, and tag your Halloween-themed entry as number 11. Also include the year, and your fandom (fandom:insert title here).
EXAMPLE: 2011, 1, fandom:Rurouni Kenshin
Q: What fandoms can I use?
A: Any fandom! Here are some examples: Rurouni Kenshin, Batman, The Mentalist, Heroes, Star Wars.
Q: Does the long contest entry have to be original fiction?
A: No! Of course not! It can be either fanfiction or original fiction - whatever you feel like (as long as it's Halloween-themed)!
Q: Do my stories have to relate to each other?
A: Nope - they can all be completely different from each other.