*NOVEMBER CONTEST* -- Character Building

[jst5150]

WELCOME to the best contest on AW! Here's the Quick Summary:

Who: You!
What: Character Building Contest
Where: Absolute Write Dot Com Forums
When: Now through 8:45 p.m., Monday, Nov. 19; Judging Nov. 19-22; winners announced Nov. 23


CONTEST
The MCL Character Building Contest

PREMISE
Use the information provided below to build a character. The final product should be a living, breathing human being, built on the premise we provide below. When writing the passage, details matter, both in physical description and personal history. The end result should read like a passage from a book; not from a police blotter. It should flow. It should carry the reader through a series of human events. It should read as though it were pulled from a book. As you might have gathered, this is an exercise to help you build your writing chops with an emphasis on character creation and development.


All that said, the following should be used to write your entry:"Brenda Karricker is a ranch hand in Montana who has spent the last three seasons working the 99ers Ranch outside of Butte. No one's sure how or why Brenda traveled from Maryland to Montana, however, they are all sure this mother of three and former investment banker left plenty behind to come work here."LENGTH
No less than 500 but no more than 1,000 words

DEADLINE

Entries will be taken from now until 8:45 p.m. EST, Monday, Nov. 19. We'll judge the entries based on all the usual criteria. However, we're looking to you to build this character from the word clay we've handed you. Goal is to write that descriptor as though it would be published.FIRST PRIZE

A new copy of Frank Miller’s graphic novel “300” upon which the movie was based
A black "Air Force Reserve" T-shirt in your size
A deep blue "Air Force Reserve" Coffee Mug
Three fantastic "Air Force Reserve" executive pens
First-place certificateSECOND PRIZE




An Air Force Reserve Coffee Mug
Second-Place CertificateTHIRD PRIZE

A white Air Force Reserve T-Shirt
Third-Place Certificate
HOW TO SUBMIT
Send submissions to jst5150 via Private Message. DO NOT POST THEM HERE. Once all the submissions are received, they will be posted anonymously in one thread, with the premise of the character leading off. Again, send submissions via PM directly to jst5150.

JUDGING
Judging will be done, as always, by the AW community. Voters are asked to pick the Top 3, in order, by number. Voters should send their votes in a Private Message to me. Votes must be received by 8:45 p.m. EST, Thursday, Nov. 22. (Note: We may also have a special celebrity guest judge helping out … I don’t want to jinx it. However, that person may help judge the entries as well ... more to come.

ETCETERA
In addition to the submissions thread, the contest will also have a discussion thread for AW to discuss each anonymous entry.
For more information, please PM jst5150 for more.

Ready? Get writing!

[Maryn]

I almost never even look at contest stuff, here or elsewhere, but I'm actually thinking about this one...

Maryn, whose last foray into contests won her some POD novels she didn't want and could have written better

[KTC]

I could kiss you, Jason, but then...you know, it would be all awkward and all. And people would talk. And, who knows...the squirrel may even get jealous? There are so many factors involved here...so I will just say it again>>>YOU ROCK. Great contest. Thanks for the time it will take you to pull it off.

[CaroGirl]

Ooo, fun! I think I'm going to give this one a go. Thanks Jason!

[nerds]

Are you serious about the Air Force prizes? Seriously. Really? I love the USAF as much as I love cowboys.

(I would have entered anyway, but, KEWL prizes. Not that I'll win anything, but I'll still give it a go.)

Thank you for setting this up!

:snoopy:

[jst5150]

Are you serious about the Air Force prizes? Seriously. Really? I love the USAF as much as I love cowboys.

You bet. And while I;m not sure how much you love Cowboys, I would tell you these are all high-quality items and well worth sporting at picnics, bar mitzvahs and the occasional corporate takeover!

Start writing and thanks for your support!

jt

[nerds]

You bet. And while I'm not sure how much you love Cowboys, I would tell you these are all high-quality items and well worth sporting at picnics, bar mitzvahs and the occasional corporate takeover!


I really, really love cowboys. Coincidentally, I was just planning a mongo corporate takeover, but that's set aside today to work on this story challenge.

:hat:

[kdnxdr]

I was just discussing writing with a friend and made the statement that I knew my lack of ability to create persona would always limit me as a writer. In my 2 novels that I'm semi-working on, my people are very one dimensional.

Thank you, Jason for the fantastic impetus to challenge myself!

Here goes!

[jst5150]

Bumping this as we draw closer to the deadline! Good morning and be sure to enter!

[Maryn]

FWIW, I've written something for this contest but will surely tweak and otherwise mess with it until the last possible moment, because I'm like that. So you'll have at least one entry.

Question: If I (or all of us) have a moment of inspiration, can we submit more than one entry?

Maryn, whose house is drafty because the door's open to inspiration

[jst5150]

Once again, a bump and a reminder:


this is a great crop of prizes
this is a challenging bit of writing
this is the best contest in AW, so ENTER!

Nine days until deadline!

[Maryn]

Please send The Muse around ASAP. Don't forget to tell her I'm in D.C. for the weekend and the best time to drop in might be in the car for the long drive back.

I don't know about other people, but I can go on long flights of fancy in the car.

Maryn, Navigator and Sleeper

[jst5150]

Today's bump -- just SIX (6) days to get me an entry. Thanks to those who have sent entries in!

[Maryn]

Oh, good, mine won't be the only one, you all forced to give miserable work a prize because you feel like you have to declare a winner even though the entry was wretched...

Maryn, grinning

[qdsb]

LOL, Maryn!

Hey, Jason...How many entries do you have now?

[jst5150]

I believe I count 4 now ... I'd LOVE to have 7-10.

[Maryn]

I'm workin' on a second idea, but it's not quite coming together in a way that meets the requirements. It wants to turn into a tidy little gotcha, complete in itself rather than something you might find in a book. But hey, I'm having fun, and that's why you created this contest, that I might amuse myself, right?

Oh.

Never mind.

Maryn, winking

[qdsb]

Come on, people!!!! I love a good contest, but I'm with Maryn...It's no fun if there are winners by default.

(And I don't want to be the only loser.)

[jst5150]

Just a reminder -- four (4) VERY good entries for this contest. I'm HIGHLY encouraging you to take an hour or two, sketch out this character and make an entry. Just FIVE (5) days remain!

[nerds]

Maybe, hmmmm, I don't know where, if any place, would be okay to post about the contest, but maybe in Novel Writing? I'm not sure everyone scrolls down this far on the AW front page - there are so many places to get waylaid along the way. Wouldn't some of the novelists up there have some interest? Perhaps? Just sayin'. I'm just not sure all that many people know about the contest. But I could be wrong. And possibly some Newbies would be interested, perhaps a word in newbieworld.

[qdsb]

Maybe, hmmmm, I don't know where, if any place, would be okay to post about the contest, but maybe in Novel Writing? I'm not sure everyone scrolls down this far on the AW front page - there are so many places to get waylaid along the way. Wouldn't some of the novelists up there have some interest? Perhaps? Just sayin'. I'm just not sure all that many people know about the contest. But I could be wrong. And possibly some Newbies would be interested, perhaps a word in newbieworld.


I was wondering the same thing.

Are we allowed to advertise this contest on other threads?

[jst5150]

GREAT suggestion. I just made a post on the novels thread. It's in my sig block. If you folks would like to evangelize the cause, I'm all for it! Extra Scooby snacks and ovaltine after you're through. :-)

[nerds]

I was wondering the same thing.

Are we allowed to advertise this contest on other threads?


I had it in my sigline with a link to the rules for several days, but it didn't do much, apparently. I know that quite a few people tune out the siggies, due to perceived general info overload in them. They're trying to read the post, not the siggie. In fairness, as artful and fun as they are, I tend to do the same - the more stuff that's there in the sigline, the more I tune it out because it's too much visual distraction for me.

But now we can go promote this one in Novel Writing, YAY!
I'm guessing it's always best to ask a Mod first though, to answer your question.

[Maryn]

Oh, thanks a lot! [<--dripping sarcasm] Now instead of competing with the handful who found this thread, I'll be competing with many more!

Maryn, her dreams of T-shirt ownership dashed

[c.e.lawson]

Did you say first prize also included Gerard Butler reading Miller's graphic novel to the winner over candlelight and a glass of rare vintage cabernet?

If so, then I'll finish polishing up my 74 entries ASAP.

Thanks much,

c.e.

[nerds]

:D

[nerds]

Oh, thanks a lot! [<--dripping sarcasm] Now instead of competing with the handful who found this thread, I'll be competing with many more!

Maryn, her dreams of T-shirt ownership dashed


oops. That :D was in response to the above.

[qdsb]

Did you say first prize also included Gerard Butler reading Miller's graphic novel to the winner over candlelight and a glass of rare vintage cabernet?

If so, then I'll finish polishing up my 74 entries ASAP.

Thanks much,

c.e.

:roll:

That's a pretty extravagant prize for 1000 words. :)

[c.e.lawson]

:roll:

That's a pretty extravagant prize for 1000 words. :)

A gal can try, can't she? ;)

[Maryn]

It's sensible to work on the principal that governs cats: It never hurts to ask.

Maryn, catless at this time

[c.e.lawson]

I agree, Maryn.

c.e., Gerardless at this time (but hopefully not for long)

[jst5150]

Maybe I can work up a T-shirt for the winner, too. Something 300 themed. Stay tuned.

jt

[c.e.lawson]

Hi jst5150,

I hope you didn't think I was complaining about the prizes. I think they're great. I was just being silly. And really, after this, I should enter. I'll try to work on something tonight.

c.e.

[jst5150]

Not at all. I didn't think of the T-shirt, which is relatively easy to bring onboard as a prize. :-)

[JosephineDamian]

Go, Precie, go!

*shake my booty*
*shake my booty*

I gotta sit this contest out cause of school, but I hope you win!

[nerds]

Looks like people are comin' on down to check out the contest.

:snoopy:

It pays to advertise.

:D

[Maryn]

I did it. (I sent mine in.) And I'm still toying with a second idea. It's a pleasant sort of challenge, short enough to knock off fairly quickly yet not too easy.

As usual, I have no idea if what I wrote was any good, but I'm pretty sure the spelling was spectacular.

Maryn, adequate speller

[qdsb]

Go, Precie, go!

*shake my booty*
*shake my booty*

I gotta sit this contest out cause of school, but I hope you win!


:e2cloud9:

I already have my own cheerleader?!!!

Josephine--Thanks for checking out the contest! I know you'd enter if you could. And thanks for the support! You haven't even seen my submission. LOL!





(I've been shamelessly putting the word out in the blogosphere about the contest. :) )

[qdsb]

Maybe I can work up a T-shirt for the winner, too. Something 300 themed. Stay tuned.

jt


But you're already dangling an Air Force Reserve t-shirt as one of the winner's prizes!

[jst5150]

That I am. See how enthusiastic I am?

Feel the love, kids. :-)

[nerds]

I really, really want that USAF shirt. Size ladies' small, okay? :D

* Like Maryn, am realizing that things were better when there were only three entries. *

[qdsb]

* Like Maryn, am realizing that things were better when there were only three entries. *

LOL! Not me! I'm a glutton for a challenge, even if I end up getting stomped on.

Bring it!

*I don't actually talk this way offline...but my competitive streak is showing.

[jst5150]

FOUR days and counting! Enter, compete and relish the glory!

[Maryn]

Oh, I could have diddled my not-quite-there idea last night, but no-o-o, I had to watch lackluster TV and complain about being tired. They say winners never quit, but I seem to quit most nights about 8:00.

Maryn, not seeing a T-shirt in her future

[jst5150]

"That boy's got a lot of quit in him." -- Ron White

[qdsb]

Oh, I could have diddled my not-quite-there idea last night, but no-o-o, I had to watch lackluster TV and complain about being tired. They say winners never quit, but I seem to quit most nights about 8:00.

Maryn, not seeing a T-shirt in her future

:e2cheer:

You can do it, Maryn! Go, go, go!

[nerds]

Maryn, not seeing a T-shirt in her future


Well, I just suffered near-total humiliation in the latest Poetry contest, so, if things run true to their present form for me, your chances of a shirt might just be better than you think. ;)

[jst5150]

Six entries now as we approach three days from the deadline! Keep 'em coming!

[nerds]

* visions of USAF goodies fading fast . . . *

Just kidding, I'm glad things are picking up. Looking forward to reading all of them.

[qdsb]

Jason--I just noticed the change in your sig line. Niiiiiiiice rhetoric. LOL!

[Maryn]

Hey, that raises a question. Once the judging is complete, will the entries be posted anonymously, so we can see them? Will the winners' entries be posted with their names and level of awardiness? (Yeah, there's probably a real word that means that, but whatever gets the idea across, right?) Will I get a good lottery number in the Springsteen ticket draw?

Maryn, full of questions if not breakfast

[qdsb]

JUDGING
Judging will be done, as always, by the AW community. Voters are asked to pick the Top 3, in order, by number. Voters should send their votes in a Private Message to me. Votes must be received by 8:45 p.m. EST, Thursday, Nov. 22. (Note: We may also have a special celebrity guest judge helping out … I don’t want to jinx it. However, that person may help judge the entries as well ... more to come.

ETCETERA
In addition to the submissions thread, the contest will also have a discussion thread for AW to discuss each anonymous entry.
For more information, please PM jst5150 for more.


The original contest announcement would seem to indicate that, yes, each entry will be posted anonymously for commentary and voting. :)

[jst5150]

And to clarify, yes, the entries will be posted anonymously. Actual votes should be PM'd to me; however, I may -- MAY -- create a poll for drive-bys. That poll WILL NOT (Foot stomp) will not count in the final tally. Only those who PM with votes will be counted.

[qdsb]

Any word on the potential celebrity guest judge?

[jst5150]

I'm going to rep the bunch of you tonight -- rep script is broken here at work. :-(

[jst5150]

Any word on the potential celebrity guest judge?
Still working ... it'll be a last-minute thing if it happens.

jt

[jst5150]

Will I get a good lottery number in the Springsteen ticket draw?
Let me get out my tarot cards ...

[qdsb]

In the interest of preventing humiliation--most especially my own--, I'd like to suggest that the total scores of each entry NOT be posted.

Based on nerdrus's Poetry contest experience, I'd rather not know if I come in dead last. I'd also rather not have everyone on AW know it either.

Just a suggestion. :) (No offense to anyone involved in the running of the Poetry contest!!!!)

[jst5150]

In the interest of preventing humiliation--most especially my own--, I'd like to suggest that the total scores of each entry NOT be posted.

Based on nerdrus's Poetry contest experience, I'd rather not know if I come in dead last. I'd also rather not have everyone on AW know it either.

Just a suggestion. (No offense to anyone involved in the running of the Poetry contest!!!!)
I wouldn't think of doing it any other way. What will be announced will be first, second and third place winners. If contestants are curious about their scores, I'll be happy to release their scores and placements to those people via PM. Otherwise, the scores will be known only to me.

ETA: I will tally the scores and have a couple of mods verify those totals as well to ensure credibility on both ends as well. Again, I stress -- I am not a judge, just the administrator and prize giver. :-)

[nerds]

LOL, in fairness to Mr. Poetinahat, we who enter those contests are given an option to not have our names attached to our poems. An option I might well choose to exercise in future. :D And we know going in how it's set up. It's okay.

They do like my goofy stuff over in Office Party Silly Friday, so, Getting Shellacked, thy Sting is Brief.

[nerds]

If contestants are curious about their scores, I'll be happy to release their scores and placements to those people via PM. Otherwise, the scores will be known only to me.


Very cool, and thanks.

[jst5150]

SEVEN (7) entires now with just 2.5 days to go. I'd remind you that you can submit multiple entries, but not more than two.

I welcome all of you to enter. See the top of this thread for details!

jt

[jst5150]

T-Minus two days until we close the contest. C'mon folks! Let's get a few more entries!

[Maryn]

Surely someone dreamt a nice character sketch last night...

[nerds]

Surely someone dreamt a nice character sketch last night...



I dreamt of characters, but none worth sketching. Absolutely not. *shudder*

[reigningcatsndogs]

I dreamt of characters, but none worth sketching. Absolutely not. *shudder*
ditto!! I keep dreaming Orlando Bloom is giving me a massage, but when I look back, all I see is RollingThunder's stupid av grinning back. ewwww! I wish he'd change that thing!!

[jst5150]

ONE DAY MORE! No, not a classic line from 'Les Miz.'

Rather, the amount of yime left to enter. I know you're entry is ready. Don't be afraid to submit. Just 1,000 words -- let's go!

Black ... the dark of ink on pages ...

[nerds]

Will we be having the celebrity mystery judgetype person? If so, will their identity be revealed? Will there be coffee, doughnuts, drinks, crudite(s)?
Inquiring minds are . . . inquiring. :D Well. Mine is.

[jst5150]

12 hours and counting until deadline! Chop chop people! Add this one to your 'submissions/acceptances' pile!

[jst5150]

FOUR hours and counting until deadline! We're up to NINE (9) entries and looking for your entry in my mailbox! Let's go, AW team!

[jst5150]

Now TWELVE (12) entries strong with about 20 minutes to go! C'Mon folks!

[jst5150]

It's time to vote!

I'd like your help in getting the word out about voting in the MCL Contest. The thread with the details is here (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84147). Votes are done by PM to me. Please stick it in your sigs or beat the electron-powered kettle drums. In any case, I'd appreciate whatever digital ink and shout out you can give to rock the vote for your fellow AWers who took the time and entered this contest.

Thanks!

Jason

PS, here's that thread address again: http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84147

[jst5150]

11 votes so far, folks! Hop out of Office Party and take 30 minutes or so to glean the entries and vote.

Thanks!

Closing this thread here; please trot over to the Discussion thread to continue the conversation.

jt