joshuapalmatier

If you've ever written a fantasy, science fiction, or horror short story or started a novel, then I want to remind you that there's a contest being run at the Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Online Writing Workshop starting on February 1st and running through the end of the month. I've put all of the official rules under the cut, but if you aren't already a member of the workshop, then the contest is FREE! All you have to do is post some of your writing to the workshop. Then other writers (both just starting out and some already published) will read and critique your work. You read and critique other contestant's stories in return. The contest will be based on how good the feedback is that you get and receive. In the end though, everyone is a winner because you get to see what other people think of your work, and you get to help other people improve their own work.

And if after the free month you don't feel as if you've gotten anything constructive out of the workshop, you don't have to join. I found the workshop helpful when I first started out. It improved my writing and made me think more like a writer, rather than just a rabid fan. So I think it would be helpful; although I realize that it might not be for everyone.

So check it out, try it out, and perhaps you'll win a free membership in the workshop, along with a few books. You'll at least get to see what others think of what you've written. Remember, it starts on February 1st!

Commendable Crit Contest:

1. Eligibility: To enter the contest, the entrant must join the Science Fiction and Fantasy Online Writing Workshop for the FREE trial month sometime during the month of February OR they can already be a member of the workshop. There is no obligation to remain part of the workshop after the free trial month for those that join for the purposes of entering the contest. Details about the workshop can be found at the workshop’s homepage at sff.onlinewritingworkshop.com.

2. How to Enter: During the month of February, the contest entrant must submit at least one story or chapter to the workshop using the guidelines set up at the site so that their entry may be critiqued by other contest entrants as well as other members of the workshop. This story or chapter must be no more than 7500 words in length and be considered part of one of the science fiction, fantasy, or horror genres. It must also satisfy all of the guidelines of the workshop for such a post. The entrant must put the phrase "(Crit Contest)" at the end of the title of their post so that it can be found by other contest entrants. Once the entrant has posted the entry, he or she must contact the sponsor of the contest, author Joshua Palmatier, at jpalmatier@sff.net to inform him of the name of the entrant and the title of their entry on the workshop.

3. Multiple Entries: If the story the entrant wants to be considered for the contest is longer than 7500 words, then it must be split into parts and each part posted separately. The entrant may also post more than one story or chapter for critique for the contest, if they desire. All posts to be considered for the contest must contain the tag "(Crit Contest)" at the end of their title. If more than one story or chapter is to be posted, or a story is being split into parts, the entrant must earn the points to post the additional story or chapter or part by critiquing work at the workshop, as stated at the workshop. But the first posting is “free” for those who sign up for the workshop to enter the contest. There is a maximum of three posts allowed for the contest, since this is the maximum number of posts allowed at the workshop. The entrant must contact Joshua Palmatier at jpalmatier@sff.net with the entrant’s name and the entry’s title for each entry into the contest. No matter how many posts the entrant makes, the entrant will only be considered once for the purposes of determining finalists for the contest; no single person will receive more than one of the prizes. The entries must remain posted on the workshop until the end of February for the purposes of the contest, so that other entrants have the opportunity to critique them.

4. The Process: Once posted, the story or chapter will be reviewed and critiqued by other members of the workshop, including contest entrants and non-entrants. For EACH critique received by a fellow contest entrant, the entrant should email Joshua Palmatier at jpalmatier@sff.net with the following information: the entrant’s name, the name of the contest entrant who critiqued their work, and a score on a scale of 0-5 (0=Bad, 5=Excellent) for the critique they received from that contest entrant. The entrant should then RETURN THE CRITIQUE by reading and critiquing a post by the person who has critiqued them. This is called "crit for crit." The return critique should be thoughtful and meaningful, for the critique will be judged by the person receiving it as part of the contest based on how in depth and helpful the critique was regarding the professionalism of the writing in the post, the character development, plot points, setting, and dialogue. The entrant should also indicate that they are returning this critique as part of the contest at the beginning of their critique. Advice for how to critique a post is available at the workshop.

In addition, the entrants are expected to SEEK OUT other contest entries and critique them, with the expectation that they will receive a return critique. This can be done directly at the workshop by searching the stories and chapters posted for the tag "(Crit Contest)", or the entrant can find a list of all of those who have entered the contest at Joshua Palmatier’s website at www.joshuapalmatier.com (click on "Crit Contest Entrants" on the right side of the homepage). Each critique the entrant does will be judged by the person receiving the critique, so once again the critique should be thoughtful and meaningful, especially regarding the professionalism of the writing, the character development, plot points, setting, and dialogue. It should also indicate that they are critiquing the post as part of the contest at the beginning of the critique. If an entrant critiques another contest entry by another contest entrant (and they have not been critiqued by that entrant first, so this is not a return critique) they should email Joshua Palmatier at jpalmatier@sff.net with the following information: the entrant’s name, the name of the contest entrant they have just critiqued, and the title of the post that they have just critiqued. If no return critique is received by the end of the contest, the contest entrant they have critiqued will receive a 0, to be factored into their score, for not returning the critique, and the entrant who gave the critique will receive a 5 for that critique.

To summarize: Entrants should contact Joshua Palmatier at jpalmatier@sff.net for every contest entry they critique, and for every critique they receive from other entrants. For every critique they receive from contest entrants, they should provide a score for how helpful they felt the critique was that they received.

It is to the entrant’s advantage to critique as many entries as possible, and to return every critique they receive with the best advice they can possibly give. Joshua Palmatier reserves the right to disqualify entrants who are not participating in the contest in a fair and honorable way, and all such decisions are final.

5. Judging: Every critique given by an entrant will be scored on a scale of 0-5. Using this information, ten finalists will be chosen for each of two categories: entrants who are new to the workshop (those who joined after May 31st, 2007), and entrants who have been a part of the workshop since before June 1st, 2007. Of the ten finalists in each category, Joshua Palmatier will select a first place, second place, and third place winner, after reviewing the critiques made by those finalists.

6. Prizes: First Place: One year’s membership to the OWW along with signed hardcover copies of The Skewed Throne, The Cracked Throne, and The Vacant Throne by Joshua Palmatier; Second Place: A 6-month membership to the OWW along with signed hardcover copies of The Skewed Throne and The Cracked Throne; Third Place: Signed hardcover copy of The Skewed Throne by Joshua Palmatier. A first, second, and third prize will be given for each of the two categories.

7. Timing: The contest will begin on February 1st, 2008. Critiques will be accepted until February 29th, 2008. The last day that scores for critiques received will be accepted will be March 5th, 2008; all emails sent to Joshua Palmatier after midnight on March 5th, 2008 will not be considered for contest purposes. The ten finalists for each of the two categories will be announced on March 6th, 2008 at the workshop, as well as on Joshua Palmatier’s website (www.joshuapalmatier.com) and LiveJournal. After this, Joshua Palmatier will consider all of the finalist’s critiques and the winners will be chosen. The critiques will be judged not on "nits" (comma placement, grammar, etc.) but on how in-depth and helpful the critique was regarding the professionalism of the writing in the post, the character development, plot points, setting, and dialogue. Winners for each of the two categories will be announced on March 15th, 2008 at the workshop and on Joshua Palmatier’s website (www.joshuapalmatier.com) and LiveJournal.

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