there will be *several* fanfiction contests at this year's kumoricon.
some will involve creating fics on the spot.
some will involve reading fics aloud.
some will involve performing fics as cosplay!
and others will be the more traditional, turn it in in writing and it will be evaluated by a judge kind of contests.
here are my proposed rules for each.
please note, i will accept suggestions and feedback on these all the way up through the end of the con, but most need them during this week, while i'm initially posting them and can still officially amend them.
I. on-the-spot fic creation:
(a) written: scenes from a hat;
(b) oral/ acted: story story die!
in scenes from a hat, each participant will write down on a scrap of paper, a phrase or sentence or word. these scraps will all be collected and each participant will reach in and grab one. whatever each gets on that scrap of paper, s/he must incorporate as a line in, title of, and/or theme of, a fanfic written there right on the spot. if someone grabs his or her own theme, this is accepted, but must be acknowledged. the group will begin with half an hour to write, and at the end of that half hour, the group will collectively decide whether they would like another fifteen minutes to finish up. up to another half hour total will be permitted, based on the consensus of the group. ten minutes will then be provided for each author to beta-read his/her own work (apply proofreading and editing to it).
after a 5 to 10 minute break, we will reconvene and each in turn will read his /her own fic aloud, beginning and ending with informing the crowd of the text on the scrap of paper s/he'd selected.
winners will be evaluated by participants, and by me. categories will include best writing, best performance, and best incorporation of assigned theme.
(b) story story die!
contestants will be grouped into teams. each team will decide for itself a fandom (a show, game, manga, etc. with which they all have at least some familiarity, or can brief each other about). someone will start orally composing a fanfic. the facilitator will then at some point interrupt that person and point to the next, who will have to pick up the storyline exactly where the other left off, but may take it in absolutely any (non x rated) direction from there. a participant who gets stumped has to act out dying a dramatic death, selected for them by another participant or audience member. prizes will be awarded by participants, audience and facilitator, and will include best individual performance, best team effort, and best 'death'.
II. fanfiction bedtime stories!!
everyone's sentimental favorite returns
a fic may be read by its author, or anyone else the author permits. authors may also turn in fics for others to read. participants, audience and judge will all evaluate in categories including:
best reading voice
best costume, best props, best overall performance (see fanfic theatre, below)
best in genre:
comedy
parody
drama
game-based and/or other non-anime based fic
and.....everyone will be invited to create categories for mock prizes. these categories can be anything anyone wishes, so long as they are not insulting nor x-rated. it could be anything from best fic to read aloud to woo a date, to best fic to cheer you up that at least your life isn't that bad, etc. etc. folks will be encouraged to draw their own appropriate certificates embodying the theme of their mock-award titles and give them to the authors/readers!
of note is that this event also features free bedtime snacks, and that folks are encouraged to come in comfy pj's. we really do go all night long, and "adult-themed" material is encouraged after curfew (midnight, 17+ or accompanied by parent/guardian).
more in a moment!
