ZUser Created Challenge Writing Round- Chapter 2

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Altamira

Here we go again. With the start of a new year, I figure it’ll be a nice way to begin with the ZUser Created Challenge Writing Round of 2006, this one entitled “Chapter 2” (heh, get it?) It’ll be just as last time when it first started in September, only with a few new rules and perks for this time around.

I’ll get right down to business, here’s what you’re doing if you wish to participate-


Topic-

Your topic for your written piece is to select any one scene from a Zelda (but not Ocarina of Time, I’ll get into this later), any Zelda game, from The Legend of Zelda to the Minish Cap, and put it into writing. That means, taking the scene, and simply writing the thing out. You can do a fight scene, a dialogue scene, even a short side-quest type, whatever you want, from whatever game you want. And don't worry if you do the same as another contestant, you may very well have the superior form of the scene.


Rules-

-The minimum word total for your written entry is 800 words, the maximum is 1700

-You must type in 12 Size, Times New Roman font on Microsoft Word, it's how I decided length

-You must have a title, and a by-line, these do not count towards your word length

-Give a rating as well, use the video game ratings (i.e, E, T, M or A)

-One entry only, during the allowed time, you can do many ideas, but you can only hand in one final piece

-You may post drafts in this thread to show off or get advice, but if you do, please put it in quotation tags. This will go the same for the Final Entry Thread

-You have a week and a half from today to work on it, if you haven't handed in your entry before the Final Entry thread is locked, you will not be judged, even if you pm a judge.

- No Ocarina of Time entries. Any other game will be accepted, but this time, we're looking for something different. In the last ZUCWR, out of 19 final entries, 11 were based off Ocarina of Time. There's many more awesome Zelda titles out there my friends, give them some respect


And for your convenience, a list of dates-

Monday January 2nd- ZUCWR Chapter 2 begins

Tuesday January 10th- Final Entry thread is opened

Thursday January 12th- Final Entry thread is closed at 7:00 PM EST, judging begins

Wedensday January 25th/Thursday January 26th- Judging is finished

Friday January 27th- Awards are presented, official end to ZUCWR 2006.

(card is subject to change as time goes on)



Other Contest Information-


Judges-

Same as last time, I will be judging alongside four very worthy members of ZU. Our scoring rubric is confirmed, and we’ll be sure to be ready for judging come time when entries are closed. Our judges this time will be-

vacumgod
Tiroth
Janus
Mr Spork
Mirren (me)


And these are the judging aspects we'll be looking at, make sure your piece applies these well-


Spelling and Grammar- Microsoft Word usually gets all mistakes, but make sure you read it through a few times and see that's nothing incorrectly spelled our there is lack of correct grammar in sentence parts. Do a spellcheck if you need. Any mistakes, whether minor or major, will decrease your point score for that category, and on an overall level lower your main score

Dialogue- Hey, even if you just have Link in the scene, or a single character or whatever, you'll have to make them talk. Make sure what they say isn't exaggerated or sounds funny, make it clear whose talking, and of course have a variety of speaking description words (i.e, said, asked, inquired, replied) And a big thing, over-amount of cussing= bad

Originality- You're taking a scene that's already been made and putting it into writing yes, but if you just do that, then your score's gonna flop. Add little things we don't see, get into character's heads, have the narrator say things we didn't experience in the game. But remember, going overboard with new stuff will get you in trouble for this score as well, keep it in perfect moderation

Vocabulary- When you’re writing, you have to make sure that you choose your words carefully. If you’re going to use a lot of advanced words, they must be used correctly, and not just be there to make you sound smart. If you use too many, your writing will seem poor, but if your vocabulary is simplistic beyond belief, it’ll still be poor. Remember what I always stress- moderation.

Description- Writing is painting a picture with words, but like real art, doing too much can make things bad, and doing too little is horrible. Just as originality, keep it in moderation. Add detail, but don't add too much, because then it'll sound funny, and your score won't be too good. Use just the right amount

(each category is scored on a system of ten points each)



As for this thread, use it to ask questions which I can answer, and also discuss the contest. Most of all, use this place to post your first drafts and such, talk about your entries and stuff, it all works. But this is not a chat-room, make productive posts, and contribute well to the topic. It's all about the writing and the contest, keep it at that.

Good lock, enjoy yourself, and I hope that you all help to make this ZUCWR even more successful than the last.

Goodie, now that I'm not a judge, I have an opprotunity to compete! And Mirren, you need someone to make the award banners? I'm open for anything you can throw.

Originally Posted by Mirren

Monday January 3rd- ZUCWR Chapter 2 begins

*cough*

Mirren, today is the 2nd, not the 3rd. New Years Day was on Sunday.

*ahem*

I am very proud to be on the judges panel for the new ZUCWR. However, as pride is generally considered a bad thing, that means I may have a slight problem in the ego department...

Good luck (not lock) to all those who decide to participate in this, and I look forward to reading your entries.

*vanishes in puff of smoke*

I doubt I will be allowed, but I'm quite interested in being a judge or making award banners (although it seems Altamira is doing them, so maybe for the next challenge).

Anyways, besides that, I will try. I said try. I have been feeling extremely uncreative latley... but it's worth a shot.

Originally posted by Safer
And Mirren, you need someone to make the award banners? I'm open for anything you can throw.

Altamira just finished them yesterday

Originally posted by Tiroth
*cough*

Mirren, today is the 2nd, not the 3rd. New Years Day was on Sunday.

...

Ever since I bought RE4 last night I haven't been thinking clear. Damn head-exploding zombies...

I'll edit that in a sec

Hoorah, another competition for me to *cough*dominate*cough* er, I mean, enter! :3

So the final entry thread is only going to be open for two days? Hmm... just curious... on the off-chance someone would be totally tied up for those two days, could one submit it via PM beforehand?

Best of luck to everyone else. Lesse another round of feirce competition!

Awesome! ^_^ I missed the first one of these, but maybe I can enter this. I'll try and get something written for it, though I may not get it finished in time. I already have an idea though! ^_^

I've already finished my first draft.
It's a bit late for me now, but I'll post an extract from it tomorrow so you can all tell me if it's good or bad and what needs improving.
I'm going to win one of the awards for this!
I'm determined to.

I'll sign up! ^_^

I didn't do as well as I could last 'go round, so I'm happy for a second chance. Not to mention I've been off for however long I was...

I'll be writing about TWW again, but with a different perspective. (other than the main characters)

Okay, I'm in this, I think, though finding time for this might be difficult, next week appears to be pretty hectic indeed. But I will try my best, especially now that Safer's taking part

I missed out the first time round, although I think I'll enter now ^^ .

I'll probably do something from the Wind Waker, although it would probably be a good idea for me to re-play it to watch some of the better scenes again.

This is an extract from my story. I have a particular liking for Link's Awakening so I based my story on the scene from where Link wakes up and meets Marin to when he retrieves his sword. So far my story is 988 words long. This extract gives you an idea of how the rest of the story is written (in structure and language terms).

“… Zelda?” Link moaned. The girl looked up at him, and stared into his eyes with a look of confusion crossing her youthful features.
“Huh? No… My names Marin.” She replied, still slightly confused at, in her eyes, this lost youth.
“Marin?” Link asked, his brow frowning slightly in concern. “What is going on?” He thought to himself.
“You’re lucky to be alive. I honestly thought you would never wake up. It must have been weeks ago now when I fished you out of the water down on that beach.” She continued, unaware of Link’s look of confusion and concern.
“W… Where am I?...” Link questioned her weakly.
“Why, you’re on Kholint Island! Birthplace of the Windfish, our landmark!” Marin exclaimed, somewhat excited now. This youth was actually getting better. Link looked out of the window, following her gaze outside. His eyes widened at the impressive and mysterious sight of a huge, spotted egg on a mountain, resting like a giant on a seat. It was the weirdest sight he had ever seen, and Hyrule had some crazy images.

Well? What do you think? Any suggestions for improvement?

Well, since I'm not a judge, I get to enter.

*claps hands and laughs evilly*

Shot must compete in this, if only he could get to a computer long enough to do so.

Ahem, I am so in, and I plan to do better than last time. I think I'll do mine off of a realitivly unappriciated game. Hmmm....methinks I shall do The Minish Cap. We shall see.

*Nazi Librarian shows up, Power Shot is gagged and leaves*

I think I'll participate in this one, sounds a bit easier than the last writing competition. I already got two scenes in mind. One question, what's a by-line? :embrsd:

Originally Posted by Scoria

I think I'll participate in this one, sounds a bit easier than the last writing competition. I already got two scenes in mind. One question, what's a by-line? :embrsd:

I think a by-line is the line at the end of your work which says:
By Hero of the Winds (type your name instead of mine).
If I'm correct, it goes at the end of your piece. Miss a line under your piece, and then write this down.

Hrm... Majora's Mask or Oracle of Ages? I can't decide which to enter. I've already started both.

No, I'm not telling which scene(s).

Originally posted by Hero of Winds
I think a by-line is the line at the end of your work which says:
By Hero of the Winds (type your name instead of mine).
If I'm correct, it goes at the end of your piece. Miss a line under your piece, and then write this down.

That's for a letter. The by line comes after the title and before the writing for a story.

I think I'm going to enter this one, considering I've finally found a Writing Contest that's still open... Maybe I'll do something from MM or ALTTP.

I'm in this one! I saw the last one and all of the OoT scenes. Hmm... yes...