~Autumn ArtFight '09: Fall Three-fer Edition~

[Dr. Weird]

AOTK's Fall Contest is Now Open! Or is that ContestS? This time we have devised not one, not two but three categories for you to show of your art or writing skills! Yes writers, you will no longer be left out in the cold to starve to death. The theme? Stories & Storytelling.

ALERT: Contest Closed. Voting will begin on Sunday.
Check the 'Spanking Fiction' area in the Downloads section for all the great entries to the Story Contest!
View entries for Art Contest I HERE.
View entries for Art Contest II HERE.

But don't start sharpening your pencils just yet... First you should read The Rules.

Art Contest I: Worth a Thousand Words
Sure, everyone says a picture is worth a 1000 words but that was back in the old days when they had nothing better to do than invent Impressionism. In the Information Age, you're lucky to find a picture worth a couplet. But you will challenge that perception! Draw a single picture that tells a story.

No comics, no word bubbles, no typing out a novella or screenplay in the description field. You get one image to tell your tale, and that's it. How you do that is up to you; other than the rules I just specified there are no restrictions. How many words is your picture worth? Make sure to post it in the appropriate folder! Which you can find by clicking HERE.

Art Contest II: Read a Book, Dammit!
We've had contests featuring anime and video games and all sorts of other general geekery, but it's time for a change. Let's try nerdery instead! Pick a book--NOT a manga or a 'visual novel' or a magazine article, but an honest-to-goodness words and pages BOOK--and illustrate a spanking scene using your favorite reading material's characters and setting.

Books based on a movie, TV series, video game, card game, board game, or political/religious scripture/screed DO NOT COUNT. Books that inspired any of the above DO COUNT. Books based on the setting of any of the above are subject to moderator discretion. Basically if--with the entirety of human literature since the dawn of time available as inspiration--you want to draw Ewoks, at least pick one of the Extended Universe books. Also, I will think less of you as a person. Make sure to post it in the appropriate folder, and include the name of the book and its author in your post. That folder may be found by clicking HERE.

Story Contest: As Written By...
You think you're a writer do ya? Well, maybe you are and maybe you aren't... But let's just see if you can be another writer instead! There are only two requirements for this contest: Your story/poem/whatever must be at least 500 words long AND it must be written in the style of a published author.

Other than that, there are no restrictions. If you think you can produce Fullmetal Alchemist spanking yaoi as written by Cormac McCarthy, I wish you all the best. If nothing else, it will provide a vital clue for House M.D. when he tries to puzzle out how my brain spontaneously burst into flames. However, DO NOT say in advance whose style you will be 'appropriating.' Only list that at the END of the story. Also, when you add it to the downloads section, make sure you say that it is a contest entry.

Simple enough, right? Here's all the rest of the details before you starting asking questions.

• The contest will be open to entries for the next month, starting... Now.
• Voting will last two weeks; there will be one winner chosen for each category.
• You can enter 2 or even all three contests if you have an excess of time on your hands, and want to better your odds of winning. But you only get one prize, even if you sweep all three. In the event that someone manages this, the winner will be awarded the prize from whichever entry garnered them the most votes. The other two commission prizes will be awarded to the second place finishers in the other categories.
• Given the difficulty of evaluating story quality on a site with so many people speaking English as a second language, the winner of the Writing Contest will be decided by a vote among the admins and moderators, plus a selection of secret judges. Spelling and grammar may or may not count depending on the judge but it sure as Hell does with me.
• If you are an admin or mod with an interest in entering the story contest, you may do so. You just don't get to vote on the winner.
• If you are an artist or writer with no interest in entering any of the contests, but an interest in cash money/arbitrary power PM me. We should talk.

And there you have it... Everyone clear on the rules? If not, ask your question here and now or forever hold your peace.

NOW, you may start drawing. :P

[Erebus]

The writing theme is interesting, but it's also not going to be easy for those of us who don't speak english as a first language. I'll definitely try to enter something, although I wonder if I'll be able at all to imitate the style of a published english-speaking writer. Style is something I pay much less attention to when I'm not reading in my own language. Oh well, let's try and learn.

Just one thing : maybe it'd be better to quickly check that enough people intend to take part in the writing contest. The previous two art contests have had quite a lot of artists taking part in them, but this is the first contest for writers.

And just to make sure : the deadline is Nov 30, right ?

[Macha]

Originally Posted by Erebus

The writing theme is interesting, but it's also not going to be easy for those of us who don't speak english as a first language. I'll definitely try to enter something, although I wonder if I'll be able at all to imitate the style of a published english-speaking writer. Style is something I pay much less attention to when I'm not reading in my own language. Oh well, let's try and learn.

Worse: Sometimes, the style differs between original and translation. I've seen dozens of translations that didn't convey the style well at all. Many readers of non-english books might copy a style that nobody who never read the book in their language can figure out. Even worse is when books get translated into english. A lot of stylistic things simply get lost in that transition.

[Nerdking14]

The writing contest looks really interesting, but I'm not entirely sure I get what you mean by "style of a published author." Would you mind explaining that, please?

[Dr. Weird]

Originally Posted by Macha

Worse: Sometimes, the style differs between original and translation. I've seen dozens of translations that didn't convey the style well at all. Many readers of non-english books might copy a style that nobody who never read the book in their language can figure out. Even worse is when books get translated into english. A lot of stylistic things simply get lost in that transition.

...Which is why the story contest is being judged by the admins, mods and special guest stars instead of a forum poll like the art contests are decided. Look, either you believe the judges will give your writing a fair chance or you don't. If you're that concerned about being lost in translation, PM me with the author you had in mind and we'll discuss it. The topics for this contest weren't chosen by throwing darts at a board, they were chosen because they offer the best chance we'll be able to handle any disputes or problems that arise.

TL; DR: Try me.

Originally Posted by Erebus

And just to make sure : the deadline is Nov 30, right ?

Yes.

I know it can take a long time to get a story looking the way you want it, and I'd rather people have a chance to take their time and write something they're satisfied with. Also, at least one of the art contests has a particularly tricky theme as well.

[IchigoMasaki]

I probably won't enter, but in case I decide to, I have a question. Becuase I'm too poor to buy tickets and see plays in a theater, I normally read the published versions. Do these count as 'books?'

[Dr. Weird]

Originally Posted by IchigoMasaki

I probably won't enter, but in case I decide to, I have a question. Becuase I'm too poor to buy tickets and see plays in a theater, I normally read the published versions. Do these count as 'books?'

Honestly? Depends on the play. Anything you can find in the 'Literature' section of your local bookstore is fair game. The scripts of 'Rent,' 'Cats,' or 'Avenue Q' and so on, are not (unless based on actual book). Nothing personal--I loved Avenue Q--but it does go a bit against the theme.

...Although there's nothing stopping you from picking Wicked or Les Miserables under those rules I suppose. It would certainly lead to... interesting... entries I'm sure.

Look, people, at no point did I say you were restricted to classics of Western literature. Pretty much everything from Beowulf to the Tale of Genji to the latest James Patterson and Terry Pratchett is there for the choosing.

[IchigoMasaki]

I was thinking more along the lines of Oscar Wilde, but you're right, Wicked would be... interesting. Thanks for clearing that up.

[Exodus]

I'm in. Jot me down for Option 1.

[CM_Zero]

I have an idea for contest 2. I'll try to make something nice ^^