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The Storytelling Contest

The Storytelling Contest Information
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Ah yes, the Story Telling Contest! It's pretty much a Neopian version of the game you play when everyone sits down in a circle and makes a story by getting everyone to add a part to it! If you really want to write a story all by yourself, then you should consider entering into the Neopian Times instead.

Background

The old version of the contest usually started on a working Monday every week and ended on the Friday of the same week. In the past, a TNT staff member wrote the beginning of a story, and two winners were selected per day. At times, especially for every one hundredth storytelling contest, or when the judge saw fit, the contest would be extended by another week.

The format was changed to contests lasting for one week but only accepting one entry per day, for a total of five entries per competition. Instead of TNT staff members, users submitted beginnings that would be selected and posted on Monday. Currently contests usually last for two weeks, with one entry accepted per day.

Submission Timeline

Every Monday, a user is selected to begin a Neopets story. Story beginnings may be submitted once the ongoing story has ended, which is usually on a Friday and any time between that and around Monday 12 noon NST. Submit as early as you can after the most recent entry is posted, or at any time before the next working day begins. Otherwise, you may have submitted too late for TNT to read, but occasionally entries go up as early as 7:00-8:00 AM NST.

If the Storytelling Contest is not updated when you check for the next entry, check back again from time to time as sometimes entries are posted late, on the following day, and sometimes even on weekends.

It is then up to other Neopians to provide the rest of the story for the next two weeks, a few paragraphs at a time and up to ten winning entries selected per competition. However, the contest has not been too consistent as of late: some contests have less than ten entries and accept entries with several-day gaps rather than daily, while another contest posted a second entry on the same day a beginning was introduced.

Of course, even if you aren't able to win this week, you can still enter next week's contest!

Submission Content

Simply think of a few paragraphs that would progress the story and type them into the "What Happens Next?" box on the Story Competition page and see if your entry gets picked! If you're wondering how long entries usually are, the average length is about 400 to 800 words, but many accepted parts can either be quite short or on the opposite extreme. There is no set word limit or minimum.

Entries should also follow the general Neopets Rules and Contest Rules, though as with the Neopian Times, the rules can be bent slightly.

Bracket HTML tags, such as italics ([i][/i]), may be added. It is also highly recommended to break an entry down into paragraphs (no need for paragraph tags, though!) and remember to check spelling and grammar.

Starting a Story

Would you rather start the story instead of continuing it? If you have a starter in mind, wait until the ongoing contest has ended, which is usually signified by a "The End" in the final entry. Type your starter into the text box as you would a normal storytelling entry. You may submit as many starters as you can, and unpicked entries may be resubmitted.

The same tips apply to starters, except that instead of asking whether your entry progresses the story, you must ask yourself if you have set the stage for a story to begin. Write as though you are creating your own story, with a plot, a setting, character/s and the beginning of a conflict, but stop at a cliffhanger that will allow someone else to continue it as they please. Style is no object; you are free to structure the story however you wish whether it is told in first-person, or in verse.

User Collaboration


You said it was my turn three paragraphs ago!

As with the Neopian Times, users may collaborate on a single entry for Storytelling. Because one user will be submitting the entry, that user must include the name of their collaborator in the body of the entry. While there is no specified limit on collaborations, the most number of collaborators has always been two.

Story Contest Tips

Alright, so now that you've decided to give this Story Telling thing a go, how can you get yourself in? Well, in the official (and very thorough) FAQ the former judge gives this list of criteria, and I'll expound on each:

Do the characters stay true to their personality?

Self-explanatory. You must be able to keep the characters as they are, but don't make them so consistent that they're one-dimensional. They must be dynamic, but at the same time not deviate so much from their thoughts and actions in previous entries without good reason. That's why you should read through everything else first—do the characters have any particular quirks that may either be useful in the story later on or just provide good inside jokes? Would they really do or think what you want them to do or think?

The initial entry usually provides one or more characters in the beginning of the story, whether established site characters or otherwise, but you are more than welcome to add other characters, as long as they do help the plot along to some extent and aren't just there for the ride. Introducing characters becomes kind of a long shot toward the end, when things are supposed to be wrapping up, but of course, it all depends on the context of the plot. If you want to add a character or two, they must be able to stand out from the main ones and be as dynamic while at the same time leaving some room for the successive Storytellers to develop them further.

Does it progress the story?

Your piece must contribute some development to the plot, usually in the form of a twist or an answer provided to a question raised in the previous part(s). You don't have to write so much to put out a creative entry; many seasoned Storytellers can introduce a new plot development in short entries. The point is to, well, get your point across and try not to drag the story, like lengthening a conversation without answering any questions or plot points.


Plots without development are very, very boring plots.

Does it make sense?

It is all too easy to read through the previous parts too quickly and miss the little yet significant details of the story, leading either to inconsistencies in the plot or the theme and mood being derailed. This is why the importance of reading and even rereading bears repeating, to avoid contradicting the other Storytellers. The greatest, most unexpected and dramatic twist will not be selected if it ends up deviating so much that it is like a wrong piece in a jigsaw puzzle. Creativity is one hundred percent welcome, but stay within the parameters already specified in the story.

When writing a starter, the starter by itself should still have a degree of consistency throughout so as not to confuse succeeding writers.

Is it interesting?

This one's self-explanatory as well. Because many people—including those more well-versed in the Storytelling universe—are vying for spots every week, you must make your part stand out. Why should the judge choose yours? A good way to make things interesting is to write something unexpected, like a sharp turn in the story that will keep readers hooked, or a new plot point. Alternately, how will this story's loose ends be tied up when it concludes - or, in the case of starters, do they open up many possibilities?

Prizes

If you win, you'll be notified by Neomail and receive a trophy, 2,000 NP, and a random rare item. The rare item is a shared pool among several creative contests, and you can find a full list here:

Creative Contest Item Prizes »

Win Limits

You are allowed to win multiple times, but the unofficial limit is once in one week (so you can shoot for two in a two-week competition if you can!). This is to allow other Neopians a chance to add to the story, too.

100th Storytelling competitions

Every 100th competition also receives an exclusive Collectable Card:

The Storyteller
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This game guide was written by: Kat