Iron Author Contest (This is the Creative Writing Contest)

[The Vorpal Tribble]

I have reservations on the contest being based off a random wiki article... but we'll see how it goes.

[Fat Daddy]

I have reservations on the contest being based off a random wiki article... but we'll see how it goes.

VP, I understand your reservations, I am curious to see how well it will work out as well. However, from the beginning, this was going to be based off random wiki articles...

Okay so this thread got me thinking. Is there any interest in a random writing contest where contestants would have a couple of days to write a short story based on a few random articles? I was thinking something similar to the "Ceramic DM" contest on the Enworld boards. Instead of pictures though it would be random articles on Wikipedia.

We'll see how it goes. Hopefully everyone will have a good time and we'll get some great stories to read.

[King_of_GRiffins]

I think I'll submit my interest as well, but as everyone else has said, It'll be a slow process to write anything.

[Gengy]

...I am uncertain as to wether I will write anything interesting based off a random wikipedia article, but I'll give it a shot. Go ahead an make me an entrant.

I do have one question, howsomever. How much of our writing is needed to be based on the article? For example, we could end up with a historical article on the lightbulb... How much of our piece need be on the actual facts based in the article, and how much can we make up? I can very easily make an entire story on ten armed creatues from outerspace who discover an earth style lightbulb, and wing it from there for 5000 words... but I'd never mention anything else in the article except the object of the aliens' facination is a common lightbulb.

I'm not sure I'm making the question clear enough, but I'll say it again: Since this is a creative writing contest, based upon random articles, how much of the article need we actually include in our writing?

[DarkLightDragon]

I can very easily make an entire story on ten armed creatues from outerspace who discover an earth style lightbulb

That could actually turn out to be pretty interesting!

[Tanon Sharpe]

Read the rules - sound fine to me.

[Om]

I'm half interested in this. My crippling workload plus other writing commitments leaves me little time to spare. All the same I might try to do something with this. I'll wait until I see the wiki articles before waiting for inspiration to strike.

[Amotis]

I'd sure like to give it a try. How close would the story have to be to the article? Like directly about it? Like if we got a person would s/he have to be the main character? Or if it was a place, the setting? Or can they allude, or take the general idea?

[Cult_of_the_Raven]

OO! can i join too? can i can i can i?

[averagejoe]

Ooooo rigorous.

You don't really say anything about genre, or other such concerns. Is it just open, as far as that goes?

[TheSilverKnight]

So when is it starting I want to know what the topic is to see if I will be able to write a fantasy narrative off of it.

[Cult_of_the_Raven]

did you not read the thing? the topic is randomly generated!!! and it starts very shortly. i think he said tomorrow or the next day.

[Caillach]

I would also like to join, so long as I am also able to drop out at any time. My life has been very chaotic for the last little while, and though I think I can commit now, things may look very different in a few weeks time.

[Brickwall]

It's not like we can prevent you from dropping out, y'know...
I think we should have an official rule established for handling dropouts, though. Just in case there is contention.

[Fat Daddy]

...I am uncertain as to wether I will write anything interesting based off a random wikipedia article, but I'll give it a shot. Go ahead an make me an entrant.

I do have one question, howsomever. How much of our writing is needed to be based on the article? For example, we could end up with a historical article on the lightbulb... How much of our piece need be on the actual facts based in the article, and how much can we make up? I can very easily make an entire story on ten armed creatues from outerspace who discover an earth style lightbulb, and wing it from there for 5000 words... but I'd never mention anything else in the article except the object of the aliens' facination is a common lightbulb.

I'm not sure I'm making the question clear enough, but I'll say it again: Since this is a creative writing contest, based upon random articles, how much of the article need we actually include in our writing?

I'd sure like to give it a try. How close would the story have to be to the article? Like directly about it? Like if we got a person would s/he have to be the main character? Or if it was a place, the setting? Or can they allude, or take the general idea?

I think that a certain amount of artistic license is necessary in a contest such as this. For instance if you got http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_A._Brewer as one of your threads, I don't see a problem with including Marines or even Space Marines in your story. The more completely you can incorporate your article though, the more likely it is to impress the judges. So I would say the 'general idea' is the guideline here.

SNIP ... I think we should have an official rule established for handling dropouts, though. Just in case there is contention.

I agree. I have thought about this and I think that a drop out will simply be seen as a disqualification. So if you are in a bracket against a drop-out, you will automatically advance to the next round (provided you post your story on time and are not also disqualified ).

Also, I edited the first post to show that registration will be closing in approximately 22 hours and 40 minutes!

I plan on posting the first round brackets along with their respective links Friday night (around midnight EST).

[Dispozition]

Also, I edited the first post to show that registration will be closing in approximately 22 hours and 40 minutes!

I plan on posting the first round brackets along with their respective links Friday night (around midnight EST).

Gah...I'd better get cracking on those trophies then...*Trundles off to do his 'stuff'*

[Tormsskull]

Ok, if I understand this correctly, we're going to be given 2 random articles, and then using the information contained in those two random articles we are writing ficitonal stories that incorporate the elements of the articles.

If I am understanding that correctly, sign me up.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Whaaa? I don't wanna wait till Friday

[Amotis]

We should make sure that all of the people who expressed interest are in it for sure.

[Timberwolf]

Ok, sign me up although I may have so much uni work come at me (such is the lot of the trainee teacher ) that I can get nothing done. Don't think it will but stuff can happen. How are we submitting these, do we just post 'em in a thread ?

[Brickwall]

I am absolutely most definitely in. Put me on the chart, monkey-things!

[Fat Daddy]

Registration is now CLOSED!

Any entrance requests after this post will not be placed into the contest.

Now to answer some questions/concerns.

Ok, if I understand this correctly, we're going to be given 2 random articles, and then using the information contained in those two random articles we are writing ficitonal stories that incorporate the elements of the articles.



If I am understanding that correctly, sign me up.

You understand it correctly and I have signed you up.

Whaaa? I don't wanna wait till Friday

Rule 1: No Whining! You'll wait 'til Friday and like it!

We should make sure that all of the people who expressed interest are in it for sure.

I agree. I will PM all those who expressed interest before posting the brackets.

I am absolutely most definitely in. Put me on the chart, monkey-things!

That's monkey-BOY. CORPORAL monkey-boy to you!

Stay tuned folks, the creative flurry will begin in a couple of days!

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Rule 1: No Whining! You'll wait 'til Friday and like it!

[Amotis]

Creative Flurry! From Dairy Queen!

[Cult_of_the_Raven]

geez, i sure cant wait till friday.

[Brickwall]

Question: if we get an article that is ambiguous (example: The Wounded is both a Dutch rock band and a Star Trek episode), what should we do with it?

[Amotis]

I don't think a wiki page would give both. I also think in the chance it did you could choose either and the judge wouldn't really hold it against you but it would be awesome if you somehow did both.

[Gengy]

I see it now: "Space. The final frontier... that we haven't rocked on!"

[Amotis]

Man, I can see it now. Filled of lines where Picard addresses a member of the crew in a seemingly normal sentence until he ends it screaming ROCK OUT!!!

Ex.
"Lt. Forge set course to...ROCK OUT!!!"
"Commander Riker I need your opinion on how to...ROCK OUT!!!"

[Dispozition]

As a judge, I as commanding that this strange event happens...I would laugh my ass off!