August Fanfiction Challenge - CAST YOUR FANFICTION!

[Admiral2]

And now for something completely different...


So, once in a blue moon a discussion will come up in the forum about casting fanfiction, whether it's one's own stories or those of other authors. Sometimes the debate centers around whether or not it should be done in the first place.

Well, this month, you have no choice in the matter.

Your task is simple: write a short story featuring original characters in any Star Trek setting on any theme you'd like. The challenge is to then choose actors and actresses to play the major characters and include a cast list with your entry. Thus endeth the overview. Here are the details:

- No canon characters or portrayers under ANY circumstance! This is an original-character-only challenge. Why? Because it's not a challenge if the good people at Paramount have done any of the work for you, so no characters from TV, film or books (no appearances or mentions) and no portrayers who have ever appeared on either screen. YOU make 'em up, then YOU play casting director.

- The cast list should be posted at the beginning of your entry thread. Make the cast list your story's opening credits. How you craft the list is up to you (Include links, pictures or neither, what have you) but it should be the first thing a reader sees when the thread is clicked on so that we have an idea of who to watch in our minds' eyes as we read. This is a hard and fast rule. Any entry that does not have the cast list in the beginning is disqualified.

- "Major characters" defined: If a character's whole purpose in the story is to hand the Captain a PADD and walk away, this character need not be cast. Any character with a major role in the narrative must be cast.

- Let's try to dial back the verbiage some. 5000 word limit.

- Post the story in the Fan Fiction forum and include a link to the story thread in this Contest Thread. (Another hard and fast rule.)

- Entries will be accepted until midnight (EDT) on August 29, 2011.

This, gentle ficcers, is my contest offering. You may, of course, accept or decline. Those who accept...start your computers!

 

[Enterprise1981]

In other words, no Trek alumni in the roles of our own original characters and no canon characters even portrayed by non-Trek alums? I'll have to improvise that a bit. Can it involve already created fic series as long as they involve only characters of our own creation?

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

This doesn't really strike me as productive...

 

[RyuRoots]

This doesn't really strike me as productive...

I'm glad it's not just me. This doesn't spark any creativity; no conflict to include, no concept to ponder, no character issue to think about. Just "write anything at all, and then test your knowledge of real-life actors"? Seems kinda pointless.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Exactly...it's a gimmick and sort of a beauty contest of Earth celebrities, not an actual writing challenge.

 

[Stoek]

The casting idea doesn't bother me since I tend to at least loosely "cast" my writing anyway. It's more the totality of the black out. Not using tv/movie characters I can understand. But using novel/comic/videogame characters would not to my mind be any different from using original fan fiction characters (as in not an actor already established in the role) and to so wholly exclude them feels very limiting to me.

However I will admit that it was a bit disappointing as I prefer challenges with more of an emotional are technical theme.

 

[Admiral2]

In other words, no Trek alumni in the roles of our own original characters and no canon characters even portrayed by non-Trek alums? I'll have to improvise that a bit.

That's true, but you'll find the improvisation to be part of the fun!

Can it involve already created fic series as long as they involve only characters of our own creation?

Yes it can! That's the whole idea!

Nerys Ghemor:
This doesn't really strike me as productive...

Then don't enter. Wait till next month when you might get a challenge you like.

...it's a gimmick and sort of a beauty contest of Earth celebrities, not an actual writing challenge.

If RyuRoots's comments are anything to go by, then the challenge will be to get people to write something for the contest without being spoon fed the topic.

And it is not a "beauty contest for Earth celebrities." I never said the actors have to be super-famous or super-beautiful. They just have to fit the characters you create. I want your readers to see the names, read the story and say "Wow! Those choices make whole bunches of sense!" That's what you're shooting for.

RyuRoots:
I'm glad it's not just me. This doesn't spark any creativity;

A common misconception associated with casting your fanfiction, one I'm always fighting against. If you do it right, casting your story involves just as much creativity as writing it.

no conflict to include, no concept to ponder, no character issue to think about.

Wrong. Your story can include any or all of those things, and should. I'm just not picking them for you. This month, that's your job.

And I did that because last month the big complaint was "the theme is too restrictive!" You can't get less restrictive than "YOU pick the theme."

Just "write anything at all, and then test your knowledge of real-life actors"? Seems kinda pointless.

No, it's "Write anything at all, and then pick the best actors for the characters", which is fundamentally different. And again, it's not pointless if it's part of your creative process, as it is for some of us (namely moi).

The casting idea doesn't bother me since I tend to at least loosely "cast" my writing anyway. It's more the totality of the black out. Not using tv/movie characters I can understand. But using novel/comic/videogame characters would not to my mind be any different from using original fan fiction characters

It's different because you didn't create them. Someone who got paid to by Paramount did, and therefore half your job was done for you.

...and to so wholly exclude them feels very limiting to me.

Using any established character is also limiting, because you're stuck with the traits someone else gave them. That's why this month it's all about making stuff up.

However I will admit that it was a bit disappointing as I prefer challenges with more of an emotional are technical theme.

See my response to NG. There will be no alternate topics or any other changes.

 

[TiberiusMaximus]

I think it's a great idea. It gives us a lot of freedom, actually, and for once I think I'll be able to enter. Thanks Admiral!

 

[Stoek]

There will be no alternate topics or any other changes.

*raises an eyebrow* Nor was I asking for any. Rather I was providing feedback. It would seem to me that one who is in charge of an undertaking such as this would welcome all rational feedback be it positive or negative, to then later be able to look back at the level of participation and see if anything can be replicated in the case of high levels or altered in the future in the case of low levels. Further it seems to me that taking such a tone which some might read as defensive or dismissive only serves to discourage such feedback.

Peace
And
Long
Life

 

[RyuRoots]

Being condescending is a great way to get those of us who aren't interested into the topic!

I'm not going to bother arguing for the silliness of it since it's self-evident, but "being spoon-fed the topic" and "actually having a challenge" are different things. You seem to have misunderstood my post, as well. The intent was to illustrate that the celebrity favorites game doesn't *inspire* any of those things, not that the fanfiction can't have them. Do please learn further comprehension before telling me I need to be spoon-fed.

 

[TiberiusMaximus]

Seriously? You're not welcoming the chance to, let me put it simply, do whatever the frell you want with this month's contest? The only condition is that you pick an actor or two. Now if it doesn't spark any creativity or desire to participate for you, I understand. But I've found a lot of the topics over the months to be too rigid or totally uninteresting from my point of view - so I do welcome the chance to do whatever the frell I want. I think others might too, especially if they're writers who don't do rigid story guidelines very well.

All I'm saying is freedom is nice.

 

[Admiral2]

There will be no alternate topics or any other changes.

*raises an eyebrow* Nor was I asking for any. Rather I was providing feedback. It would seem to me that one who is in charge of an undertaking such as this would welcome all rational feedback be it positive or negative, to then later be able to look back at the level of participation and see if anything can be replicated in the case of high levels or altered in the future in the case of low levels.

I did entertain your feedback. In fact I responded to all of it. I never promised you'd like the response.

Further it seems to me that taking such a tone which some might read as defensive or dismissive only serves to discourage such feedback.

It's defensive because I was defending my challenge idea. It's only dismissive in the instances when the criticisms were asinine.

Peace
And
Long
Life

Semper Fidelis

Being condescending is a great way to get those of us who aren't interested into the topic!

I'm not here to persuade anybody. The challenge contest is entirely voluntary. You'll either enter or you won't. If you feel that strongly against the challenge requirements, feel free to move on. This month we'll go on without you.

I'm not going to bother arguing for the silliness of it since it's self-evident,

To you...

but "being spoon-fed the topic" and "actually having a challenge" are different things.

Absolutely true, but this month I created a challenge that doesn't require a spoon-fed topic. Yay me!

You seem to have misunderstood my post, as well. The intent was to illustrate that the celebrity favorites game doesn't *inspire* any of those things,

Again, to you, and you've taken up NG's mantle of misrepresenting what I'm asking for. It is not a "celebrity favorites" game. At no time did I say anything like "Whoa! It'd be cool if somebody like made Snooki a Star Trek character!!"

(Course, if somebody really wanted to do that, I'd hurl, but it would be valid...)

not that the fanfiction can't have them. Do please learn further comprehension before telling me I need to be spoon-fed.

I never thought that's what you said. Apparently, I'm not the only one who needs a refresher in reading comprehension.

 

[Sovereign_One]

Seriously? You're not welcoming the chance to, let me put it simply, do whatever the frell you want with this month's contest?

Then it's not really a challenge, is it?

 

[Admiral2]

Seriously? You're not welcoming the chance to, let me put it simply, do whatever the frell you want with this month's contest?

Some people just don't recognize a gift when it's handed to them.

The only condition is that you pick an actor or two. Now if it doesn't spark any creativity or desire to participate for you, I understand. But I've found a lot of the topics over the months to be too rigid or totally uninteresting from my point of view - so I do welcome the chance to do whatever the frell I want. I think others might too, especially if they're writers who don't do rigid story guidelines very well.

All I'm saying is freedom is nice.

It is indeed. And you're welcome.

Seriously? You're not welcoming the chance to, let me put it simply, do whatever the frell you want with this month's contest?

Then it's not really a challenge, is it?

There is a challenge...it just isn't "meeting a specific theme."

 

[Sovereign_One]

Casting is not even on the top twenty list of things I do for a character. It might happen; cool beans if it does. When/if it does happen, it's after I've taken the time to get to know the characters. After a year and a half and fifteen stories of getting to know the main character of my Tales of the Storyteller series, someone was casted. (I couldn't use her for this challenge because her actress starred in one episode in one ST series.) Three weeks isn't really enough time to get to know a character and write a story well enough to pick a face to reflect them. Or is it the face that matters and not the quality of the story?

 

[TiberiusMaximus]

Seriously? You're not welcoming the chance to, let me put it simply, do whatever the frell you want with this month's contest?

Then it's not really a challenge, is it?

I disagree. For example, if someone asked me to make them dinner and demanded, I don't know, Chili Con Pollo, that would take some skill, obviously. But it would also take skill to create an enjoyable meal if they said "Surprise me!" So here the challenge is "Make something entertaining," as opposed to "Make something entertaining out of this and this and this."

Dang, I just made myself hungry.

Or is it the face that matters and not the quality of the story?

Why would you think that? It's not going to be judged based on the actors/actresses you choose. Like the Admiral said, it's NOT a celebrity beauty contest.

 

[Sovereign_One]

Then how is it going to be judged?

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

A beauty contest.

 

[TiberiusMaximus]

How is every other monthly contest judged? Don't people VOTE on which story they LIKED or ENJOYED the most? If the actors that have been cast make the story seem more enjoyable, that may affect their voting, but the quality of the story will have far more to do with it.

 

[Admiral2]

How is every other monthly contest judged? Don't people VOTE on which story they LIKED or ENJOYED the most? If the actors that have been cast make the story seem more enjoyable, that may affect their voting, but the quality of the story will have far more to do with it.

I like Tiberius's ideas! I shall adopt them as my own!

My plan for poll time is to instruct the voters that they will act as "film critics" as well as literary critics. The idea behind presenting a cast list at the beginning is to put the idea in the voters' heads what the writer was thinking in terms character traits as the story is being read. I want the voters to run the stories in their heads like films, then grade everything, performers, story, pacing, etc. That way, the voters put as much mental energy into their evaluations as the writers did into their products.

That's my plan.

So now I ask you, Nerys Ghemor, Stoek, RyuRoots and Sovereign One,, will you be accepting the challenge? It's a simple "yes" or "no."