 Fantasy: September 18, 2013 Issue [#5894] |
  Fantasy
This week: Fantasy & Sci-Fi: activity hard to find Edited by: Dawn Embers  
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| Fantasy and Science Fiction are great genres and ones that I see many people write on WDC. However, when it comes to contests and groups made just for those genres, there is a struggle to keep them open. I have seen a number of them close their mystical doors. It makes me wonder why it's so hard, with the number of writers interested, to maintain a speculative fiction activity here. |
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Who likes Fantasy? Well, I hope you do if you're reading this newsletter. On the off chance, anyone also like Science Fiction? Yes, some like that too. Okay, but here is my next question: How many contests and activities cater to Sci-Fi and/or Fantasy exist? Not as many as you'd think.
Over the years on WDC, and I've been on here over 8 years now, I have noticed an odd trend.Many writers on the site love the genres of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Many write in them and just as many read in them. However, often times contests and groups or activities that focus on those genres don't survive long. And I wonder why that is the case. If there is such an interest, why do so many disappear? I don't have an answer but have a few thoughts to share on the topic.
Length comes to mind at first. While we like the ideas of novels and long works of fiction, from my experience here on WDC, short is preferred. There are more contests and readers online for fiction under 5000 words. And while some can write excellent Fantasy and Science Fiction in the flash fiction format, it is a challenge for others. The genres do at times trend towards longer word counts. And the longer contests also struggle to stay afloat or even get off the ground (another observation I've made).
One suggestion that has been mentioned to me before is that the combination of Science Fiction and Fantasy, a lack of distinction between the two, is what dooms a contest. And in some cases that could be possible. If the scope is too broad, it might make it hard to pick one and thus enter the contest. Well, really I mean Me. Hard for me at times. But it is true that some of the contests no longer running did in fact focus on both Science Fiction and Fantasy. While they both fall under the broad scope of "Speculative Fiction" they are not the same thing. Ask someone from either genre and they will tell you that it's not the same. Does this mean a dual focus can't work? No, I don't think so. It might have an affect but it's hard to pinpoint if that is the actual problem with the contests because some contests disappear are focused on either Science Fiction or Fantasy. And in a group setting, it is plausible to have both involved.
Another possible answer is that so many contests have prompts that work for Science Fiction and Fantasy stories that maybe a "genre only" contest isn't necessary. I know I have entered genre stories in contests that do to look for the genre in particular. So even if there aren't many that remain open, as there are some that are holding out so far, there are still places to enter and groups to join that have other writers of the genre present.
The truth is there are many factors. People leave the site for different reasons. Funding runs out or the lack of entries makes someone give up. Alien abduction. Really, there are many possibilities as to the demise of the various Fantasy and Science Fiction activities on WDC over the years. I found a few in my search and want to post their titles though all are not active at the present time and some may never become active again.
Contests closed or on hold.
Yera's Scifi/Fantasy Contest - Ended after round 4 with no results and no further posts. No longer a viewable item.
A Return to Optimism - A science fiction contest that has changed and is now open under a new name.
Epic Fantasy Stories - Fun idea but with the month requirement most fizzled after the first month and in the end, things fell apart. Doesn't appear to have a winner or a new round.
Dragon's Keep - Temporarily closed. May return in the future.
SF & F & a Touch of Romance - last entry related post 7 years ago but still showing up in searches.
Black Holes and Magic Souls - a contest that alternated between science fiction and fantasy each round but hasn't had a round since November.
Science Fiction Newsletter - both the official and unofficial ones. There once was a Science Fiction newsletter and some of the archives still can be found. Then came an unofficial one but we haven't gotten a newsletter from the group in a long time.
Hopefully, some of the ones I feature in this newsletter doesn't get added to the rankings but you never know who will be next. Have fun and keep writing that speculative fiction, no matter if it's fantasy or science fiction.
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Here are a few groups and contests that are open for the time being involving Science Fiction and/or Fantasy
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| | WYRM (13+)
A group for those dedicated to writing and reviewing speculative fiction.
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Question for the week: Why do you think Fantasy and Science Fiction contests and activities don't last on WDC? Is there one you would like to see created?
I received some very nice, some slightly long, and in general interesting feedback from my newsletter about human-like fantasy characters. Here are some of the ones sent in relation to that newsletter:
shaara
Otherization? Nice word. Can't find it in my dictionary, but I think it should be there. LOL
Interesting monologue. It's funny how Hollywood/ one author has the power to change a worldwide conviction. Ever since the move Labryinth, I've thought fairies were dangerous. In Peter Pan, Tinker Bell even plots to kill Wendy. Definitely a creature to watch out for.
Nice analysis. I agree that for us to gain empathy there has to be a degree of humanity inside the alien/fantasy creature. We like Chewbacca most when he acts human -- jealous, childlike, emotional. We understand Tinker Bell's love for Peter, even relate to the alien in Aliens when it shows love.
If a creature were no different than a rock, an amoeba, there'd be no story -- at least, not from his standpoint.
Thanks.
- Thank you Shaara. I got "otherization" from my bout in policy debate where I dealt with creating a whole topic on the "other" in reference to abjection. Fun times. That is an interesting point about Tinker Bell who has become a very commercialized and noticed fairy character, both on the jealousy and on how we can see her love for Peter Pan. The human-like actions and in some cases emotions are good examples too.
dragonline (dragon online) 
I agree, most people I know can't get around a fantasy story because it isn't realistic. I'm a fantasy fan too and love to read about new characters, new problems to solve and yes, all of those fantastical creatures including elves.
- I do know some people who have issue with the realism, very true. But others of us, like you love the different characters and worlds.
A*Monaing*Faith
I DO adore fantasy also, anything that can do something I can't or 'out of the ordinary' is my cup o' tea. Though I'd like to see more mixing of types, like vampires who burn in the sun and those who don't. Werewolves that turn into animal wolves and those that look more like man beasts, think it'd be cool to see how they get along....
- Those could be very interesting stories indeed. Maybe someone will do that some day and we'll get to see what happens when the non-human also have a set of differences like that. Could bring in some conflict.
Quick-Quill 
One thing I would like to add. Humans read books. While we like to imagine, we can't relate to something that we don't understand, (sound of book closing and being thrown against the wall) We have to be able to relate to the characters. What they look like is up to the imagaination (Yoda or Jabba) how they act/react is what we relate to. If they have to hold something they need hands and fingers of some sort. They need to move so feet or some wheel like momentus. Our minds limit us to some degree. If a writer gets too far fetched, the story better be good or again (book hitting wall) will be the answer. As readers we want to wowed but remain feet firmly on ground or floor of ship. Thanks for this NL
- You do bring up a good point. We have to consider who is doing the reading. I have almost thrown a book before but it was with a human character, and it was my sister's Nook.
Tileira 
The key aspect of an elf used in most fantasy - whether tall or short or sneaky or militant - is that they're long-lived or immortal. They tend to be used as a wiser species than humanity, or one which view things in a different way. Sometimes "wiser" means versed in magic, or more in tune with nature, more rational, or sometimes it just means arrogant and educated. For me the elf-iest elves are Tolkien's and the Vulcans in Star Trek (because, if you're honest, they are space elves).
Anyway, what I mean to say is that immortal elves are the race who knows the things humans don't, and thinks about lasting consequences. They're the ones with insight in the mysteries.
Also I'd like to refer to Elder Scrolls: Skyrim for dwarves and orcs - The Dwemer and Orsimer in that fantasy setting are both breeds of elves along side the Dunmer, Altmer, Bosmer and Falmer.
- Some interesting points you have made. I don't care for the immortal ones but that is a whole different topic, but the role that they often play in a story is important. Though I don't know anything about Skyrim or any other gaming type.
Thanks for the feedback from last week and I look forward to any comments people have this week.
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