A writing exercise


RPG Superstar™ 2008 General Discussion


I'd recommend to anyone serious about writing, or competing next year, or whatever to write the next round even if you're the only one who ever see's it.

You can post it and look for criticism (though I might recommend waiting until after the 32 have finished and posted) if you want, but it's a good structured exercise.

1000 words? Gah. Time to break out the red pen and slash my ideas down.


Cainus wrote:

I'd recommend to anyone serious about writing, or competing next year, or whatever to write the next round even if you're the only one who ever see's it.

You can post it and look for criticism (though I might recommend waiting until after the 32 have finished and posted) if you want, but it's a good structured exercise.

1000 words? Gah. Time to break out the red pen and slash my ideas down.

I think a cross thread between advancers and non-advancers is a great idea.

Maybe I'll even find the time ;)

Grand Lodge Dedicated Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8

I'll be in for that.


Sounds like fun.


I was thinking that very thing. Of course, it's nice when the pressure's off to do such a thing because you can choose not to if life gets in the way later.


varianor wrote:
I was thinking that very thing. Of course, it's nice when the pressure's off to do such a thing because you can choose not to if life gets in the way later.

Yeah, there is that. We won't have the pressure that the winners have, so we'd have an easier time.

But the most important thing in writing is practice, and having the opportunity to do so in a format set by editors is golden.

I just getting back to writing for gaming (wrote a few articles for Polyhedron a bunch of years ago) and I'm finding that I'm rusty on my wording and phrasing.

Great ideas (at least I hope so) but they're looking kinda clunky coming out.

Scarab Sages

I had this thought going to bed last night; you beat me to it Cainus. Expect to see the Kingdom of Xochi soon... :)


allen trussell wrote:
I had this thought going to bed last night; you beat me to it Cainus. Expect to see the Kingdom of Xochi soon... :)

If anyone is going to post for everyone to criticize I have a suggestion and a warning.

Suggestion, wait until after the Superstars have. They deserve the focus and the glory.

Warning, if you post it expect to have it stolen. If you're ok with that go ahead.

I'm not sure if I'm going to post mine or not.

Wide pool of critquers vs possible theft and copyright issues.

Liberty's Edge

Cainus wrote:


If anyone is going to post for everyone to criticize I have a suggestion and a warning.

Suggestion, wait until after the Superstars have. They deserve the focus and the glory.

You suggest we wait until after the Superstars have their countries displayed before we post our own "writing exercises"? That's probably a good idea ... unless you want to show that you could keep the deadline too!


It is a good idea, but I am beginning to feel like it is less a writing exercise than a chance to jump up a flail your arms about "Woohoo!! Look at me! I can write too!" and take the attention off of the contestants and their creations.

It's like watching American Idol (or similar) and having someone in the audience trying to prove thay can sing as well.

I have a feeling this is what is going on with so much attention being put on the items that didn't make it, rather than the items that did. At least, that is my perception.

Not trying to step on any toes (it IS a good idea), but let's find a good way to execute it without taking away from the contest.

Scarab Sages

Absolutely; I wouldn't want to take anything away from our contestants or honored judges. And I fully expect anything posted in a public forum is open for critique and/or procurement by others.


I would also appreciate the ability to show off my chops, at least, but Iagree that as good losers we should not start posting our hypothetical second round entries until voting for the 32 lucky writers who did make it have had their submissions voted on, preventing the possible scenario of "none of these guys are as good as (insert your name here)'s country"

The Exchange RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16

Absolutely. Is there any way the folks in charge of these boards could construct a messageboard where we could submit our "writing chops practice" countries, that would remain hidden until after everyone's voted on the 32?


TwilightKing wrote:
It is a good idea, but I am beginning to feel like it is less a writing exercise than a chance to jump up a flail your arms about "Woohoo!! Look at me! I can write too!" and take the attention off of the contestants and their creations.

Or to hope that Paizo offers you something anyway? I agree with your statement, and though I didn't think about it at the time, yes, it's an attempt to steal thunder. That said, it's not done to be mean, just to show that despite a rejection, you've got something.

TwilightKing wrote:
Not trying to step on any toes (it IS a good idea), but let's find a good way to execute it without taking away from the contest.

That's a good suggestion. I would say not posting anything here on Round 2 until after voting is fair. I will probably put up something in my LiveJournal (friends-locked) if I do write something, but it's looking that I won't have the time.


I think that this is definitely a good writing exercise. I would also agree with TwilightKing about waiting until after Round 2. I would say that after judging would probably be a good idea considering that we are going to be reading through a total of 32,000 words (32 entries) which will take enough time as it is. Making sure that we take the time to seriously consider and evaluate the entries should be really important and trying to balance that with other people posting here as practice might be difficult.

Marathon Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9 aka Clouds Without Water

Kari Houle wrote:
I think that this is definitely a good writing exercise. I would also agree with TwilightKing about waiting until after Round 2. I would say that after judging would probably be a good idea considering that we are going to be reading through a total of 32,000 words (32 entries) which will take enough time as it is. Making sure that we take the time to seriously consider and evaluate the entries should be really important and trying to balance that with other people posting here as practice might be difficult.

Agreed.

I like the idea, and I like the idea of keeping the sort of activity that's sprung up around this contest alive as much as possible.

But there's 32 people who deseve all our attention until voting is over.

In the mean time, we can console ourselves on one of the 3 or 4 item threads with lively discussion, including one that's more or less alternate/new ideas.

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer

Chris Mortika wrote:
Absolutely. Is there any way the folks in charge of these boards could construct a messageboard where we could submit our "writing chops practice" countries, that would remain hidden until after everyone's voted on the 32?

That's really not an appropriate prioritization of our effort, but we don't mind if folks post such things *after* public voting closes.


Yep, with feelings clear nad a desire to respect teh winners, I'll hold off till after voting closes. I look forward to commenting on countries and seeing others comments.

It's a fun excuse to do setting stuff. And this whole collaborative writing excercise has been awesome.

Grand Lodge Dedicated Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8

This was a hard assignment. I'm glad I had more time than the contestants.

It still needs trimming down and editing, but I won't add information or change the structure after I've looked at the entries.

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