Sable Scroll - Entry & Voting Process

[Count Darvaleth]

Hello!

This thread will guide you through how to enter and vote in the Sable Scroll competition. Anyone can vote (no matter if you've entered or not) but you can't vote for yourself (obviously!).

How the competition will work is simple. To enter your story, simply create a thread titled "Sable Scroll: *title of your choice*" and put in your short story. Clearly mark the start and finish if you wish to add a footnote or anything.

To vote, you must first read the story (duh!) and then make a post in that story's thread. Clearly write:

Vote

- Originality: x/10 - *give reason*

- Writing Style x/10 - *reason*

- Overall Impression x/10 - *reason*

You may then make any other comments below, if you wish. If you have entered you must vote in everybody else's thread for an extra three points, but I will be checking these to make sure it's fair.

Non-entrants may vote in as many or as few threads as they wish, but I would encourage them to vote in as many as possible; after all, it's all about producing good fiction!

Entries may be made from the 18th September, and the deadline will be confirmed at a later date. Voting may commence as soon as the threads are there; get stuck in if you see one! I wish everyone luck and look forward to reading all your works.

~ Darvy

 

[Mello]

Sorry, two questions..

Can we start posting now? (you say 18th of sept.)

And what do you mean by originality? Staying close to the warhammer universe?

 

[Count Darvaleth]

Sorry, two questions..

Can we start posting now? (you say 18th of sept.)

And what do you mean by originality? Staying close to the warhammer universe?

1) No, post on the 18th (ie... tomorrow).

2) Not about origins, about originality; uniqueness. How inventive and original your story is. For instance, an imperial guardsman walking on patrol, having tea, then going to bed might not be particularly original. Of course, if it was very well written and revealed more about the guardsman than is on the surface then it could still score well for originality.

 

[Mello]

So origianality us more on how good a story it is.. And writing style is how it is written. Hmm I'm SO goig to post my story at midnight

 

[Bartel]

I'll try to give as many stories as I can swallow my personal score. I'll wait till I can compare all before revealing anything, though. So you'll have to start showing your writing.
Hope I get some descent stories on my plate, but don't expect too much, we all know who will win...

 

[Mello]

Well I'm the only one to have posted, and nobodies replied

 

[Bartel]

If our dear Count would be so kind as to, for once, put a clear deadline well before it expires, you'd at least know when it is justified to start panicing for real and curse the heavens in profound indignation.

That said, I've read your entry. Yet, as I said, I'd like to read at least a few others before starting to give feedback.

 

[Count Darvaleth]

Well it really depends when people will post up. Already two have told me they completely forgot *grumble grumble* and evidence has shown only one reply so far. But I'm confident everything won't go to pot, so here's a deadline.

[mod]ALL entries MUST be posted up by October the 9th or they will NOT be counted. A further week will then be given to finish off voting before the winners are announced.[/mod]

 

[Mello]

well it seems that nobody has posted except me anyways. and even then nobody has voted for me. I've had 25 views :sadface:

 

[Count Darvaleth]

Don't worry Mannfred, I'll start voting once I've got some of the entrants posting....

 

[Sanai]

Looking forward to reading all of these. I won't be entering this time, but keep an eye out soon, I am starting a new series called "Lord of the Dead". It will detail the journeys and rise to power of Lord Sanai Callistarius, a strigoi vampire and self proclaimed true heir of the Lord of Masks, and his interactions with various races, vampires and enemies. I will be starting part 1- "Walking Death" Soon.

 

[Mello]

Sounds suitibly cool/epic Sanai

 

[Zephyr]

October 9th...phew, I'm still going to make it! Doing a spell-check and quick re-read right now.

EDIT - and posted! I'll be giving comments to the others once the 9th is there. I'd like to read through them all in one go.

 

[Count Darvaleth]

I won't be available to post/answer posts/PMs until next wednesday, I'm afraid, at which point I will most likely also be buried in work. SO, until then, please keep the, a-hem, pledged entries coming and I'll sort any problems when I'm back.

Good job to those who have posted so far! At the moment you will all win by default.

 

[Boo]

So there we go! The story is posted! Now I just need some time to read through all the other posted.

 

[Count Darvaleth]

I'll be casting my vote for each story this weekend. I may extend the deadline for entering the stories as so far only one story will not be taking away a pile of zombies (I'll probably give everyone some anyway though!) but I'll see how we go first. Thanks for posting Boo!

 

[Count Darvaleth]

Darn, I meant to vote this weekend. Sorry about this, workload is quadrupling lately. I'll vote this coming friday. Also,

[mod] Entry deadline extended to the 20th October [/mod]

to allow those who pledged but didn't post to do so!

 

[Sir_Jackonan_De_Orage]

thanks, my workload has too increased and finding the time to do this is a challenge, ill try to write something

 

[Bartel]

Since this is a scory thing (envy welcome! Bye bye conviviality), here are mine (no spoilers):

Originality: I was most intrigued by the idea behind Boo's story. Though Zephyr also succeeded in treading novel paths. Gabula's tale, on the other hand, was very predictable, yet then again, mandatory that such a topic should arise in a writing competition on these forums!

Boo: 9/10
Zephyr: 8/10
Mannfred: 6/10
Gabula: 4/10

Style: There are two things in writing style: one is the story's structure, structure of sentences and choice of words. In that regard, Zephyr is a clear win to me. The other is grammatical correctness, spelling, punctuation etc. Here, Gabula deserves praise. But overall, the former of course weighs the most. Yet, if you really start writing lots of errors (I'm looking at you, Boo erv, even a good structure may be spoiled.

Zephyr: 9/10
Gabula: 7/10
Mannfred: 5/10
Boo: 4/10

Overall: I enjoyed Zephyr's story the most. Well written, interesting theme and even some kind of moral lesson at the end. Then again, I really love the genre that Gabula treated. Boo's one, as I said, was original and it just happens to be I kind of lean more towards fantasy settings than 40k. So, sorry Mannfred, as much as I liked your tale, it wasn't really standing out in any of the things that make reading enjoyable (but then again, neither was it truly bad in anything), not compared to the others anyway.

Zephyr: 10/10 (just because I hate the principle 'oh no, no one can be perfect')
Gabula: 8/10
Boo: 7/10
Mannfred: 5/10

If any other stories may appear in the next days (which I highly doubt), they can ******** ****** ** ***** ****** ** ***** *** *** *****. In short: get a 0/10 on everything from me :tongue:.

 

[Count Darvaleth]

The votes were intended to be put into the thread containing the story, but don't worry. Just so long as everybody else sticks to it!

 

[Mello]

Yay came last . Not to be unexpected though, this is my first time, ever... :slapface: prboably should have son a practic before entering the forums official conpetition

 

[Count Darvaleth]

Those aren't the final votes! :slapface: I will average each vote made before releasing the final results.

 

[Mello]

I know, darvy, I'm just last right now

 

[Count Darvaleth]

Entry is now closed. I will leave voting open for a while longer before announcing the results.

Don't worry, I'll create a special batch of special prizes for you all.

 

[Mello]

:O special...

How much time do we have to vote?