Signal boost: Minific writeoff (& cash prizes) · 7:13am Aug 11th, 2014
Edited to add: I'm putting my money where my mouth is and offering some modest cash prizes for this round's top stories. There's a special prize for top author new to the writeoffs, too! Details are here.
Doing anything this weekend?
Yes?: NO YOU'RE NOT. 
No?: Then you've got an excellent opportunity to enter the new minific writeoff! You'll have 24 hours to write a mere 400-750 ponywords based on a prompt (*to be revealed Saturday), and submit it (anonymously or nymously) for judging and review. The previous competition's comment thread shows you the caliber of feedback that's available, and the sort of structural discussion that ensues; if you want to learn something from your writing, this is a fantastic place to do it.
(Also, you can do your part to keep my ego in check after Brewmare's win by kicking my butt in the scoring. Six people did during the last minific comp — there's plenty of room at the top.)
Am too!
...but damn it, that really isn't a whole lot of words.
...we'll see.
i've done more in thirty minutes #thirty minute ponies #cool kid alert
seriously though, sounds fun! i'll look forward to it.
now, to see about some prompts...
EDIT: the first time i wrote this the first line read "i've done less in sixty minutes #thirty minute ponies #cool kid alert"
i just wanted to preserve that for posterity, and as a reminder that i shouldn't be trusted to type things into the internet at five in the morning
2360649 2360756
Looking forward to seeing your stories there! I've also decided to sweeten the pot a little bit, if the prospect of some coffee money appeals.
2360756
There is/was a Sixty Minute promptblog, too, though it is/was for mature work.
So, what are the prompts for this?
2360815
The way it works is that there's an open submission for prompts, going on right now, and then later this week there will be open voting for which one it's going to be. The winning prompt is revealed on Saturday and everyone has 24 hours to write to it.
You have one potential issue; scores can tie, and the Writeoff site seems to pick a random story to put ahead in that case. If you had offered this the month I first took part in the Writeoff I would have tied with Zaponator for the best new entrant, as far as the scores go, for example.
I would add some clarification to your rules right now to prevent this issue from rearing its head.
pressuuuuuure D:
Well, I'm certainly intrigued. I don't suppose you could post a reminder blog come Saturday?
2360825
Ah! Yes, that makes sense. Thanks for the clarification.
I'm definitely doing this!
Minifics are my forte, but the last mini fic contest I just really couldn't think of anything to go with the theme. Hopefully I actually finish something this time! (Usually I completely forget when the write offs are happening.
)
You know what makes me happy?
European time zones.
I'm in.
edit:
Is it for ponywords?
2361478
Yep, ponywords.
2361542
Cool.
2360933
Good to know — thanks for the tipoff. Given the amounts at stake, if there is a scoring tie I will simply give the money to both finishers — I can afford a $10-$20 budget overrun here.
In the event that others chip in to the prize pool and we start talking about real money (you know, $10 instead of $5), probably it would be split among tied contestants.
2360946
I reckon it makes sense that anyone who offers prizes wouldn't be themselves eligible to win.
If the pressure of competing for money is getting to you, there's a very easy way to avoid it: pony up $25 and help me double the prize pool!
2360968
I'll do that, as soon as the prompt goes live!
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Hurrah! Will look forward to reading your work.
2361872
I don't have $25 anymore thanks to Bronycon :(
*waves hand in the air* Ooh! Ooooh!
I would like to be anonymous while the fic is being judged, but nymous when the results are posted. Is that possible?
Also, are we allowed to submit more than one fic? The option of being anonymous implies yes...
2372149
The answer to both questions is yes! ALL fics are anonymous during the judging period. When you submit a story, you are given a "Name" field at the top of the submission box — enter your "real" name to become known after judging is over, or a pseudonym if you'd like to preserve the air of mystery.
Multiple entries per contestant are allowed, and in the minific competitions that definitely tends to happen. Here's the last one, for example — 23 stories from 12 distinct authors. It's definitely preferable to submit them all through the same account rather than creating new logins for each one.
EDIT: Whoops! Tweaked for anonymousness.
2375350
Eeee yay! Will look forward to seeing it! (Though the rules say we have to maintain anonymity until judging is complete, and discussing who/what you plan to write about breaks that, so you'll want to edit that comment before anyone else sees it.)
2375418
Ah. So posting it in my compilation before the contest ends would also be out, I assume.
2375424
Right. There's exactly a one-week judging period from the time entries close, so stories should start appearing on FIMFic (in collections, or lengthened out to stand on their own) a week from tomorrow.