STOP!
READ THIS IMPORTANT NOTE:
This is the submission form for the Prep Contest Rounds.
You must go to, sign up for, and participate in "October Novel Prep Challenge" to compete in this contest!
No, seriously. Go here first:
October Novel Prep Challenge: Contest Rounds
a survey form for submission of Prep Contest Round entries
What is The Prep?
The Prep is a month-long, community-oriented challenge that takes place every October, designed to help you plan a novel prior to writing it. You don't even have to have a novel idea to participate! Your first assignment, on Oct. 1st, is to come up with an idea, and we provide you with brainstorming tools, plot generators, and a whole community of other novelists to help you along. The month-long Prep activity and daily assignments can be found here: "October Novel Prep Challenge"
What are the Prep Contest Rounds?
The Prep Calendar of daily assignments includes four optionally competitive assignments judged and ranked by a team of judges for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes. Contest Rounds typically fall on the Saturdays in October. If you choose to compete in one or more Prep Contest Rounds, use this form to post your submission(s).
Abbreviated Rules
For full Prep rules refer to "October Novel Prep Challenge" .
Sign up and log your first Prep assignment by 10/3 to be eligible to compete.
Spend at least 15 minutes on each Contest Round entry (no time or word count max.)
Contest Round submissions may be any rating.
Submissions are due via this form by the deadline.
You must also log the assignment on the Entry Form for Prep assignment credit.
The Contest Rounds
Click each assignment for detailed instructions.
Week 1: - CONTEST ROUND: Protagonist Background Story ▼
Write a story about your protagonist that takes place outside of your novel. Make your readers relate to him or her in such a way that we would be devastated if he or she were to experience conflict (which, ultimately, sometime in November, he/she will.) The object of the contest is to make your judges root for your protagonist! Simply put: the character we like best wins. If your protagonist is a drug dealer or someone similarly "unlikeable" (a.k.a, an "anti-hero"), never fear! I love Vlad Taltos, the professional assassin. You can make us love your character, too.
*Contest Round entries may be any rating. Submit your ITEM or ENTRY number by 1200 noon WDC time on Sunday to compete. WDC time is New York City time and can be found at the top of the IM Console. If you miss this deadline or choose not to compete, you must still log the assignment complete (without linking your work) for the grand prize, per the standard Prep guidelines.
Week 2: - CONTEST ROUND: Antagonist Background Story ▼
Write a story about your antagonist that takes place outside of your novel. The object of the contest is to make your judges understand and empathize with the antagonist's motivations.
If your antagonist is a situation rather than a person, write a background story about that. The Tom Hanks movie "Cast Away" famously features only one character (unless you count Wilson), and his antagonist is loneliness. Could you personify loneliness? Why does loneliness exist? What motivates it? How would a lack of loneliness affect survival of the human race? How did it drive main character Nolan to survive for years alone on a deserted island? Loneliness has a job to do. Make us believe it's a valid one.
*Contest Round entries may be any rating. Submit your ITEM or ENTRY number by 1200 noon WDC time on Sunday to compete. WDC time is New York City time and can be found at the top of the IM Console. If you miss this deadline or choose not to compete, you must still log the assignment complete (without linking your work) for the grand prize, per the standard Prep guidelines.
Week 3: - CONTEST ROUND: Setting Description. ▼
Describe a setting in words. Use all five senses and make your reader experience the setting as if he or she were there.
*Contest Round entries may be any rating. Submit your ITEM or ENTRY number by 1200 noon WDC time on Sunday to compete. WDC time is New York City time and can be found at the top of the IM Console. If you miss this deadline or choose not to compete, you must still log the assignment complete (without linking your work) for the grand prize, per the standard Prep guidelines.
Week 4: - CONTEST ROUND: Plot Background Story ▼
Write a story that sets up your plot. EXAMPLE: The Lord of the Rings story revolves around the One Ring, its significance, and how it's destroyed. But how did Frodo get the One Ring in the first place? We learn that in The Hobbit. You obviously can't write a full-scale novel in 15 minutes, but you could write the scene where Bilbo encounters Gollum and stumbles across the ring. That would be a background story that sets up the plot in Lord of the Rings.
*Contest Round entries may be any rating. Submit your ITEM or ENTRY number by 1200 noon WDC time on Sunday to compete. WDC time is New York City time and can be found at the top of the IM Console. If you miss this deadline or choose not to compete, you must still log the assignment complete (without linking your work) for the grand prize, per the standard Prep guidelines.
*WDC time is New York City time and can be found at the top of your Favorites bar.
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