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Contests & Activities: January 30, 2008 Issue [#2194]

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Contests & Activities


 This week:
  Edited by: spidey
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

** Image ID #1301304 Unavailable **
Welcome to the Contests & Activities Newsletter. I’m spidey , and I'm your Editor this week. I'll be discussing Interactive Stories. Pay attention, as there will be a quiz on this. (Okay, not a quiz, but there is a contest! Read through the newsletter for details!)



Word from our sponsor



Letter from the editor

Interactive Stories


Interactive Stories are "choose your own ending" stories started by an Author and continued by any Writing.Com member that wishes to participate. At the end of each chapter, readers are given a few plot choices and must choose the direction of the story. When you come to the end of a storyline, it's your turn to add a chapter!





A step-by-step guide to creating an Interactive Story

Step 1:

Click on "Writing" at the very top of any WDC page, and then click on "Interactive Story" within the Writing: Interactive Section. (Or you can click on "Create an Item" within the Site Tools selection in the Site Navigation Tool at the left of the screen.)

Step 2:

Choose a topic. Perhaps you have a specific plot in mind, or just a vague idea. *Smile*

Step 3:

Enter the title and brief description. Rate it according to its contents, and select genres and keywords (to make the item pop up when members browse genres or search for specific words).

Step 4:

Write your item body, which should include a general description of your interactive story. If there are any details or instructions for writers to add, here is where you'll illustrate them. For instance, you may want to give information about characters or the basic plot. Also list any rules you may have.

Step 5:

Email Notifications. You can choose to be notified of new additions to your interactive story. This is a great way to keep track of where the story is going and to make sure additions follow any preset rules.



A few things to keep in mind:


1. Keep rating consistent! It may be a good idea to remind viewers to keep to the overall rating of the item. You are not in control of what writers may add, but you will need to be sure the rating accurately reflects the contents of the story.

2. Amount of detail is important! You want to give your viewers a general idea of the story, of your intentions for where it will lead. However, sometimes if you give too much information (complex plot lines, very detailed character descriptions), you may end up scaring posters away. Give enough information to give viewers a good idea of the basic story, and let them be creative on their own!

3. Reward additions! It's not necessary to give gift points to each user who adds to your interactive story, but it's a good idea to at least thank them for their addition. It may also keep them coming back to add more! *Wink*



Did you know?

You can look at the most active Interactive Story Posters! Follow this link to see a list of the Top 100 posters: http://www.writing.com/main/authors.php/action/interactives/hours/24

You can link individual chapters! Each chapter has its own ID number, and you can link it using the {chapter:} tag. For instance, by typing {chapter:454567}, I get a link to one of my own additions: "Something Suspicious in the interactive story, "The Case of Aloft National Bank Robbery [18+].

You can see your own chapter additions! Using the Site Navigation Tool on the left of the screen, select "My Places" and then "My Chapters" to see your interactive chapter additions!




Enter your Interactive Story & Chapter Addition in my contest based on this Newsletter:
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by A Guest Visitor

(Winners from the last round are listed below in the Ask & Answer section!)

purple flower sig


Editor's Picks


A few example Interactive Stories:

The most-viewed Interactive Story:
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by A Guest Visitor


A few new interactive stories that could use your additions!
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by A Guest Visitor


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by A Guest Visitor


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by A Guest Visitor


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by A Guest Visitor


A contest for Interactive Stories! The deadline has just passed, but if you're looking for "Choose Your Own Adventure" type of items, take a look at the entries!
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by A Guest Visitor



Contests & Activities



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by A Guest Visitor


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by A Guest Visitor


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by A Guest Visitor


Musicology Anthology  [13+]
An annual challenge to write a short story collection based on an album! Runs April-June.
by Jeff


2008 Short Fiction Competition  [13+]
Choose from three prompts and write a short story in the featured genre to win prizes!
by Jeff


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by A Guest Visitor


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by A Guest Visitor



 
Submit an item for consideration in this newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Word from Writing.Com

Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
         https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Don't forget to support our sponsor!



Ask & Answer

My last newsletter gave information on Contest/Activity Promotion.


Nice outline for promotion. I had forgotten about the billboard, and I've even used it for that. *Laugh* Thanks for the reminder.

One thing I wonder about is why more people don't band together. I've seen sig auctions do it for other sig auctions, and a couple of contests do it, but not many. They put a little section in that says something to the effect of, "If you enjoy this contest/activity, you may enjoy these as well." Then they provide links to like-minded contests/activites.

Now I'm just spitting in the wind because I know I haven't done that in the contests I run, but then, I don't come across other contests like the ones I run. *Laugh*
~ Satuawany
Thanks! You have a great idea here! Contest owners joining together can only be good for all! *Smile*



Finally, I'm happy to present the winners of the last round of my contest, "Invalid Item:

Most Creative:
 Dream Assignment  (E)
Can you tell which is the real dream?
#1376497 by TariElanesse



Most votes:
 How Many Licks?  (E)
How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?
#1376919 by Contorted Cookie



Honorable Mentions:
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This item number is not valid.
#1378287 by Not Available.

 If An Alien Spacecraft Landed  (ASR)
I'm curious what writing.com members would do
#1377616 by Prosperous Snow Valentine


Congratulations!




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Word from our sponsor
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