Spiral Knights - Event: SK Microfiction

Event: SK Microfiction - [Deadline 7/2]

68 replies [Last post]

Mon, 06/18/2012 - 14:38

Cronus

Game Master

If you were to ask any of my coworkers they'd all tell you that I love to read a good story. Unfortunately my incredibly small attention span makes this difficult. I need your help to entertain me before I'm distracted by something shiny. So for this event each of you will submit a microfiction story that either takes place with in the Spiral Knights world, or is about Spiral Knights.

What is microfiction?

A microfiction story (also known as Nanofiction or 55 Fiction) is one that follows a few specific guidelines:
It has exactly 55 words.
It may have a title of up to 7 words that don't count towards your 55 word fiction.
It must have character(s).
It must have a plot with conflict, climax, and resolution.

Deadline: Deadline for entries is 7/2 at 11:59 PM game time.
Entry Thread: http://forums.spiralknights.com/en/node/57277
Prizes: There will be 3 winners who will each be able to pick between a 30 day elevator pass or a pocket monster (Chroma Whelp, Love Puppy, and Mewkat ).

Submission Guidelines:

- Create an SK inspired story that is exactly 55 words long.
- Different programs count words differently. I will be using a free tool that anyone can use to count the words. In order to be sure you meet the requirements, you'll need to double check that your story is EXACTLY 55 words long using this word counter: http://www.wordcountertool.com/
- Give your story a title that is no more than 7 words long.
- Post your entry in the entry thread. http://forums.spiralknights.com/en/node/57277
- Your entry should follow the template below:

Title of the story
by Knight Name
Prize preference: A 30 day elevator pass or specify which pocket monster you want (Chroma Whelp, Love Puppy, or Mewkat).
The body of your story

-----------

Q&A:

Q: What word counter will you use because sometimes they end up with a different number.
A: For the sake of this contest and consistency, I'm going to use this one here: http://www.wordcountertool.com/

Q: How many times may I enter?
A: Once per person.

Q: Does my knight name or my prize preferences count towards the word limit?
A: No.

Mon, 06/18/2012 - 15:07

Soarel

One question: Does a

One question:

Does a hyphenated word count as one or two?

Mon, 06/18/2012 - 15:18

Katmint

Just test it with the word counter

Typing a hyphenated word into that word counter counts it as one word.

Mon, 06/18/2012 - 15:32

Heavy-Duty

...

Does the title and name count, too?

Mon, 06/18/2012 - 15:34

Arctifice

Submitted mine, now I can

Submitted mine, now I can focus on my other fanfics.

Mon, 06/18/2012 - 15:34

Spectrumized

@Heavy-Duty

It may have a title of up to 7 words that don't count towards your 55 word fiction.

I would assume the knight name wouldn't count either.

Mon, 06/18/2012 - 16:07

Cronus

Game Master

I would assume the knight

I would assume the knight name wouldn't count either.

Correct. Your knight name and your prize preferences do not count towards your word limit.

Mon, 06/18/2012 - 19:32

Nechrome

Um... As typed in the entry

Um...

As typed in the entry thread in the TV, "This thread is to be used for entries for the Edible Monsters events."

Mind explaining that to me? :/

Mon, 06/18/2012 - 21:58

Thalia

Game Master

Haha, see, Cronus? It won't

Haha, see, Cronus? It won't work. He still hasn't gotten over looking at those edible monster entries (Okay, who could blame him?) and the fact that we denied his request to run an "Edible Microfiction" contest. He's just trying to sneak in edible things once more.
Thanks for pointing this out, we've corrected that.

Mon, 06/18/2012 - 22:22

Shadownox

Hi peeps.

Apparently, I was working on an idea, and I wrote: "Ready...set...GO!" The dots keep the words together, so the word counter thinks it's one word. :D

Tue, 06/19/2012 - 05:05

#10

Njthug

Are we allowed to use

Are we allowed to use short-hand for certain words Example:

Divine Avenger ---- DA

Echo of silence -- Eos

Fire-Storm Citadel --- Fsc

Tue, 06/19/2012 - 05:08

#11

Milkman

I dunno people might get

I dunno people might get confused:

DA - defense attorney

EOS - echo of sausage

FSC - ferocious saline cardboards

Tue, 06/19/2012 - 09:20

#12

Heavy-Duty

...

@Milkman
Then it looks like I just crafted a Defense Attorney after running Ferocious Saline Cardboards with an Echo of Sausage member.

Tue, 06/19/2012 - 10:53

#13

Excalipoor

Questions

1. Are the pockets(if chosen)bound?

2. Can we edit our works in the case of grammar and/or number of words?

Tue, 06/19/2012 - 11:15

#14

Keelan

I hope you don't mind that I

I hope you don't mind that I edited my prize preference from a Mewkat to an Elevator Pass...

Tue, 06/19/2012 - 11:34

#15

Juances

I dotn want to spam that thread, but it says:

Deadline 7/7/2012 at 11:59 PM Game Time.

Tue, 06/19/2012 - 12:30

#16

Divine-Slayer

wait one question????

so as i've been looking through the settings (in the game) what is a reedeem code and how can i aquire one???

And i do realize that this is way off topic srry -___-

Tue, 06/19/2012 - 13:10

#17

Softhead

Curses Cronus...

Why coulden't it be 100? I mean, description is my best feature....

Tue, 06/19/2012 - 16:46

#18

Cronus

Game Master

I dotn want to spam that

I dotn want to spam that thread, but it says:
Deadline 7/7/2012 at 11:59 PM Game Time.

Oops, thanks for pointing that out, it's now fixed. Looks like I booched my copy/paste.

Tue, 06/19/2012 - 16:58

#19

Schattentag

More Contests!

Questions
How many winners will there be?

How will the winner(s) be determined?

General Comments
The Sonnet of the Blade by Roakou is really cool (it even follows the proper sonnet form), but it's got literally twice the number of allowed words... On that note, it seems there's a few people who are either ignoring or not noticing the 55-word rule.

It's been interesting to see what people come up with with just 55 words to use, though. It's difficult to write a meaningful story with so few words. Writers really have to appeal to readers' imaginations and hope they have the context and creativity to really understand their stories.

It's been interesting to see what I came up with with just 55 words to use, while limiting myself to haiku form. It's difficult to write a meaningful story with so few words and such strict syllabic restrictions [I'm gonna stop copying my last comment now]. It was probably really stupid of me to do it, but I did have fun wracking my brain to try to get everything to work out.

Tue, 06/19/2012 - 21:20

#20

Autofire

Oh my freaking gosh 55 words

Oh my freaking gosh 55 words is a small number. I could only make about 6 sentences. It makes for a fun challenge, though. I wish all of you the best of luck! :D

Note: this post is exactly 49 words long and 248 characters long, counting this note.

Wed, 06/20/2012 - 08:25

#21

Mczeno

Gasp!

Gasp! Where may I get a fine profile picture suchas to yours?

Wed, 06/20/2012 - 08:44

#22

Yvanblo

This is a fun little Event

I like this, and enjoyed writing a quick little story!

On a side note: Please bring back the monster pockets at some point in the near future. I had just spent all my cash the day before these adorable adopted monsters came out, and I would love to have one of my own. I'm sure there are plenty more people like me that wish the same. Monster pockets are a great crown sink!!!

Thu, 06/21/2012 - 12:24

#23

Kotsuso

Regarding Accessories

Quick question(s): When you remove accessories, are they destroyed? Say I won a pocket pet, and equip it to my armor "X". Later, I decide that I need better armor. If I want to move the pet to a different piece, will it be destroyed upon removal? And if I use "X" to CRAFT "Y", will the accessory transfer to the new piece?

Thu, 06/21/2012 - 14:57

#24

Frozyn

baffling bug is baffling

The word counter counts any space in front of your first sentence as a word. This nearly made my head kersplode. D:

Thu, 06/21/2012 - 15:17

#25

Frozyn

Question regarding rules

Can I link to my entry instead of posting it on the forums? I wanted to try something fun with the spacing, but I just realized that the forum text removes all that.

Thu, 06/21/2012 - 15:22

#26

Schattentag

@Frozyn

Use   to add an extra space.

Thu, 06/21/2012 - 17:04

#27

Frozyn

close but no cigar :S

Thanks, that ALMOST did the trick. Unfortunately, it wasn't as precise as I needed it to be... So my question concerning linking to entries still stands. (Sorry for the spam)

Thu, 06/21/2012 - 17:48

#28

Schattentag

lol

You can use <code>blah blah blah</code> to make "blah blah blah" appear in a monospace font, meaning each character is the same width.

Example of what to write:
<code>blahblah|
 b:l(a&h|</code>

Example preview:
blahblah| b:l(a&h|

Note that if you have an empty line between the <code> and </code> tags, everything past the empty line will not appear in the monospace font.

Example of what to write:
<code>blahblah|

 b:l(a&h|</code>

Example preview:
blahblah|

b:l(a&h|

You can fix this by simply adding more <code> and </code> tags at the beginnings and ends of each line, respectively.

Example of what to write:
<code>blahblah|</code>

<code> b:l(a&h|</code>

Example preview:
blahblah|

b:l(a&h|

Hope that all makes sense. >_>

Sat, 06/23/2012 - 08:38

#29

Tevokkia

Word counter?

Is anyone else having trouble with the word counter site given? I've tried a few browsers, and it keeps coming back as "Server Not Found".

EDIT: Never mind. I got it working on a different computer.

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 23:15

#30

Jpisbeast

The Vigilante with Hair and a Pipe

Down with one health bar left, battling the notorious jellies in the treacherous Garden of Goo. I revive my friend Turtle-Ninja, and I swore that day I swore! A man I guess disguised as a jelly with combed-back hair and a pipe, has attacked me. And I swore I swore! I will get my revenge.

IGN: JpisBEAST

Preference: Love Puppy

Sun, 06/24/2012 - 08:12

#31

Snowdusk

@All fellow contestors

Well well well, it seems that we shall have a decent competition... *bows respectfully*
Then I shall take the challenge as well. ;)

Tue, 06/26/2012 - 12:52

#32

Autofire

@Jpisbeast

Um, sorry, wrong place. That goes here.

Anyway, I wish you all the best of luck.

EDIT: wait a second, look at this:

It must have a plot with conflict, climax, and resolution.

Excuse me, but not all stories have resolutions. Some end off at the climax to let the reader decide what happens afterward. This is an especially handy technique when you have so few words to work with. My story and the first one posted are like this. Does this mean these stories are disqualified?

Tue, 06/26/2012 - 14:44

#33

Snowdusk

*Agrees with Autofire*

Yup, I've read some of the entries; lots of them let it hang there. Some even kept holding onto the conflict and let it end there (that means their "stories" have only the conflict part).
Everyone should be clear that this is a fiction story-telling contest, not some sort of "self-narrative" talking about what you feel about your dead brethren, or just anything that looks like that. Just ask your English teacher about the basic structures of literature and you'll get what I mean.

By the way, since this is a fiction story contest, I don't know if poems or haikus count. I've also seen some people submitting dialogues. This is really confusing.

TL;DR: Make complete stories, go ask your teachers for help if you need to, stick to regular story and not poems.

Tue, 06/26/2012 - 23:31

#34

Autofire

Ok, I have to agree with you there

Some of them don't really comply with these, although I'm guessing these just won't win. I doubt they would get removed, because they are entries non the less.

In my English class, they mentioned some short stories without a resolution. I sort of do really wanna know if this is allowed, 'cause I might need to change something in my story if it isn't. (If it is possible to change it.)

Wed, 06/27/2012 - 08:33

#35

Prestopotato

I would just like to say,

I would just like to say, Good Luck to all and may the best stories win. =D

Wed, 06/27/2012 - 12:29

#36

Frozyn

what's the verdict, admins?

So before I can post my entry, I need to know two things. First, are cliffhanger stories disqualified? Second, can I upload my entry on say, Deviant Art, and link to it?

I'm sorry to keep pestering, but I need an answer soon, or I might not be able to adjust my entry to fit the rules in time.

Wed, 06/27/2012 - 13:45

#37

Biligum

Ohoho...

Hee hee, think I've got a good idea. :P Good luck, everyone!

Wed, 06/27/2012 - 21:29

#38

Lyzak

The concern about "complete stories."

My personal take on it is that the judge is not going to be judging for literary compliance, with the exception of the word count and basic grammar and spelling distractions. It is true that not all stories have all the elements listed as "all stories have:______"

My take on all of this is that the requirement stresses the point that a Microfiction cannot be, say, a "chapter" of a larger work, so to speak. It must be the whole story, not a part of a larger idea.

There are a lot of brilliant and funny entries, very few of which meet the exact stated standards of "must have characters, plot, climax and resolution."

...

In other news, I just had to rewrite my story because SOMEONE decided to... "adapt" my punchline into their own story. GRUMP!

Having said that, their story pulled it off much better than mine did, and I like my new story much, much more.

Good luck everyone!

Wed, 06/27/2012 - 22:47

#39

Schattentag

Re: "Completeness"

As far as I'm concerned, both Autofire's and my entries are complete in the sense that they seem to offer a resolution to the conflict presented in each. In Autofire's case, the narrator of the story finds the button for the elevator and thus brings closure to the problem of finding a dead end. In my case, it's implied that the new Knight learns about Cradle from Rhendon, resolving the fact that the Knight is confused after the crash landing.

I don't mean anything personal by this, but to me the story by Snowdusk/Snowprism appears to be among those that lack a proper resolution. It seems like the conflict lies in the fact that Biscotti made a mistake by adding Dark Matter to her would-be cupcakes. The story approaches a suspenseful climax as she asks Wegner what to do, then hits that climax at the very end of the story when Wegner responds, "now I shall finally teach you a lesson." Readers are left with little sense of closure.

Naturally since entries are so very short, there's going to be a lot of interpretation involved in even just reading them. What I wrote above is simply how I interpreted those entries - others are free to interpret them differently.

The way I see it, as long as entries appear to resolve their respective conflicts in the eyes of their writers, there's no problem.

Thu, 06/28/2012 - 16:03

#40

Autofire

Hmm, I see.

We will just have to say you guys are correct until a GM says so.

Fri, 06/29/2012 - 19:11

#41

Shineep

sounds fun :D

Sun, 07/01/2012 - 21:20

#42

Topoyozada

um, what time is 11:59 game time at HK

i need the answer fast, please i want to get a elevator pass, thanks!

Mon, 07/02/2012 - 21:12

#43

Autofire

Go into the game. Look at an

Go into the game. Look at an arcade window. (Not the missions, actually in Haven) Somewhere in that window is the game time. I think it is PST, but I forget right now.

Mon, 07/02/2012 - 23:16

#44

Tevokkia

Almost over

Well, looks like we've got about 45 minutes left ... wonder if we'll get any last-minute entries.

(Although I'm a bit disappointed the cliffhanger question never got an official answer)

Tue, 07/03/2012 - 09:38

#45

Iskender

So, when can we expect the

So, when can we expect the results to come in?

Tue, 07/03/2012 - 11:59

#46

Heavy-Duty

...

I think it ends around... now?

Tue, 07/03/2012 - 12:01

#47

Cronus

Game Master

Update

I just wanted to update you all so you'd have an idea for when judging would be complete. Due to the number of entries (yay) and the fact that it's a holiday in the US this week, please expect the judging time to take longer than the last event. I hope to have winners posted at some point next week. Thank you all for providing me with my vacation reading material, you've done a fantastic job!

Wed, 07/04/2012 - 08:05

#48

Autofire

orly?

He he he hee. Your welcome.

Anyway, I was kind of hoping to get the results in on the 4th, but whatever. Glad you like them. :D

Fri, 07/06/2012 - 11:24

#49

Artistbma

Whoa whoa whoa

The fourth is our Independence day mister. No way you're taking that from us.

In other news, I hope I win. Ive got a little twist on mine. Oh yea, the full version of my story can be found here:

http://forums.spiralknights.com/en/node/56393

Oh yes, the sequel can be found there tooo.

Sat, 07/07/2012 - 13:23

#50

Autofire

lol

That's not what I meant. I was thinking the results would come in on Independence day, as something in SK to sorta celebrate it. Otherwise, we wouldn't (and didn't) have something in SK on said day, but whatever. I'm happy anyway. I'm not saying to take it away. (Unless I'm not getting the your point.)

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Event: SK Microfiction - [Deadline 7/2]