All stories take place somewhere, from the depths of space to a warm cafe. Settings become characters: inviting, dynamic, and alive when the spotlight is focused on your WORLD BUILDING.
Send your entry in 1,000 - 6,000 words by email to submissions@writersworkout.net OR upload your document through our DropBox app before 12 am Tuesday, UTC. Remember to include your Title Information specifics: Name, Title, Event Name, Word Count. May the words flow to your victory.
Core Concepts: description, voice
Oooooooooooooh another really good one! You're all putting our brains to work! <3
Jumping in with a question from the get go! Are any other characters allowed in the story? Or does it have to focus solely on an unoccupied setting?
Characters are allowed. As long as that character doesn't overshadow the setting then it's all good!
Hi there! Exciting prompt! I have a few questions, though: 1. In the email, it says that the "world" needs to be the main character in the story. Just confirming that is indeed the case. 2. Core concepts for this challenge are description and voice. Can you please provide a definition for what you are seeking here in terms of description and on voice. 3. With regard to voice, is it the "world"'s voice that's most important or is it the voice of any other character ?
The setting should take precedence, but your story does need at least one character to further the plot. The focus should remain on your world.
In terms of description and voice, your setting should be brought to life, giving it the power to feel real, tangible, and defined for the audience. Whether or not the world is sentient is up to you!
Ooh, I like the sound of this one!
Can the setting itself be alive in any way, for example, like the Tardis in Doctor Who is?
Yes! Your world can be sentient.
@Jake Reilly Ooh, so many possibilities! Thank you!
Is there a parameter on how large the setting has to be?
Your setting can be as vast or minuscule as you want!
Will stories using traditional Sci-Fi or Fantasy tropes fare better in this challenge than other potential "worlds"?
Nope, we're open to all genres!
@The Writer's Workout thank you.
Hot damn! I have been *waiting* for this since the Team Games (and I was on vacation and unable to participate. Gah!) Above it's mentioned that the world can be sentient. Is that a requirement, or can it just be vibrant and well defined? A silent character so to speak....
The world doesn't have to be sentient. It's up to you!
I'm going to ask this just in case: are we allowed to reference real-life locations? IE Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, etc?
Real-life locations are fine. As long as your setting isn't built off of existing stories, you'll be set to go!
Can you give a few examples of stories or books that embody this concept of a story where the setting is the main character?
How you approach the prompt is up to you. We're eager to see what you can come up with!
@Clarissa Rossman Let me try a different question! Without revealing any titles, can you think of a few stories and books where the setting is the main character in a story? I'm having a tough time orienting myself with this description, as you can tell!
Hi Marcy, I'm so happy to see you back this portion! There are several books and series that I can think of that do embody (and inspired) this Event. It's open to any genre and I'm sure if you give it a moment, you'll start your story without even realizing it. Just consider how important this Event's name is to writing.
This is definitely interesting! I just need to figure it out the right way. So the setting has to be the main character that may or may not sentient. I think I vaguely get it. Will think over it for now. Good luck, writers. :)
Oh my god! I am so confused on this. For the first time, I am out of ideas. Could someone tell me what the judges are looking for?
From what I get, the story could be anything,(chimpanzee eating fish, but the forest should be more detailed than the chimpanzee.) Is this right?
I've been also wondering: What do you judges look for in a story, besides grammar and core concepts mentioned. Like do you just read the story, find there are minimal or no errors, then like the story and decide to award it? Do you look at the plot or the style of the story, I mean what is it that makes you say, "This story is amazing!" ?
I mean I'm totally blind about this when writing. I'm coming up with a plot (anything works), making up characters, focusing on the core concepts (like description here, so I make the story vivid) and managing to checklist the criteria. But I have no clue as to what plot you judges are interested in, (I mean if you ask a person who is in love with comedy to judge a horror story, obviously he wouldn't like it) so I'm at a loss here.
I don't mean to sound rude, I just am writing a story for a blind audience, and have no idea what to do. Most of you might know this already, but this is my first time, so I have no idea what in a story makes the audience enthralled. Please help me.
I feel exactly the same! I feel this is the beginning of the end. We are given a theme but it seems to be wide open. But then when people ask specific questions they are given specific answers which suggests there are parameters that we don’t know about!!
Hi @Huda ,
As in all Events, the judges are looking for how you use the Core Concepts. Most of our Events are wide-open so you feel you have the space to create, which gives the judges more variety than reading different iterations of basically the same story each week. If you want to write about a chimp eating a fish in a detailed forest this week, that's entirely up to you. This Event in particular is a crowd favorite because it focuses on the way the world interacts with its characters.
As explained on the Games Information page and in our FAQ, linked above and below, the judges focus on utilization of the Core Concepts and how other aspects of writing are incorporated to meet the Event's requirements. In this case, they're looking for whether your world is described in enough detail to feel alive. Grammar never affects the score, though the judges do appreciate when stories have been proofread prior to submission so they are easier to read. Judges spend six weeks training for this competition. They learn how to put their feelings and preferences aside when judging, how to work in groups of judges, and what to look for when reading entries. No one judges alone and it's always about how the entry used the Core Concepts. I'm sorry this wasn't clear to you when you read through the Information and FAQ pages.
We know this competition looks much more difficult than other writing contests. Blind judgement is a major plus in your favor because you can write whatever you're inspired to write, whether it's outside your comfort zone or not. You're encouraged to be creative here and try things you've wanted to but didn't because you were worried about the audience. When you write to please a certain person, you're shackling your own creativity. This competition gives you the freedom to unlock those shackles and try something new.
Hi @Ann Walton ,
There are no hidden parameters. Each announcement gives you everything you need to create a qualified story. Most Events are open so you have space to interpret your creativity. I can understand how stressful it is to have one loose guideline but it's also a gift because you have the freedom to try something you always wanted to.
When other participants ask specific questions, they're asking about their own idea, using vague terms so as to not give away what they're planning. If you feel you need more information than the announcement provides, you're welcome and encouraged to look up the Event's definition on the Tips & Events page. Just keep in mind the announcement in this forum takes precedence. This means that if the judges required the world to be the main character, as the definition states, they would have to say so in the announcement. As you can see from the announcement, they did not make this requirement.
Have I understood this correctly? The setting may (or may not) be sentient. Does that extend to personification in terms of being able to speak? I'm not suggesting the setting sprouts arms and legs a la Disney, but wish to confirm that it can voice its thoughts out loud. I don't mean for the setting to talk to the "human" characters, but to other elements of the setting. For instance, in a beach setting could the sand speak to the sea?
It is totally up to you how you bring your setting to life. As long as it feels tangible as the focus of your story you're good!
Thanks!
Can the sun be world?
@Huda Yes, the Sun would work! As for your other question, we're currently working on giving you a response, but it's not our place as judges to answer questions about how we score pieces. Our management will take a look when they get the chance!
Can the setting simply be something as small as a room? It doesn't have to be a literal "world", correct?
The world you create can be any size!
I have never done world building as I have been confused and overwhelmed as to how to do it. I watched a video on it and since my story is not SF or Fantasy, but fiction, so I could try to get an understanding on how to do this. I am not sure if I got it right, or the format, but I did look at the formatting instructions.
Hey, Stormie! Worldbuilding can be tricky the first time around, but looking at other sources can do wonders, so I'm glad you did! And size doesn't matter; your "world" could be a local coffee shop if you wanted it to be. If you have any specific questions about the Event, we can answer them here!
Our window into your World Building has CLOSED.
I just couldn't get out the gate this week, but best of luck to everyone who made it with an entry! I'm so excited to see which ones win and read them in the anthology!!! <3
I failed. I tried but couldn't get 1000 words in time. Next event I will push myself even harder.
You didn't fail. You practiced.
Thank you for a maddeningly fun activity!