MUD Builders and Areas

Ntanel · 05-11-2004, 01:30 AM

Iluvatar of ImmU and PhoenixMUD wants to partake in a creative writing contest with Keolah of Rogue Winds and a few other MUD builders. However, we need more competitors and judges. Obviously a person can be both, but they can not judge in their own category.

If you are interested, please either post here or goto http://www.mudworld.org/contact.php3 and submit to Ntanel your desire to participate.

If we get a substancial number of responses, then we can plan accordingly and provide details. As far as prizes go... Short of a trophy image, no/low-cost ideas would be nifty.

Rules for the contest may be losely based on what is at http://www.mudworld.org/awards/2001/.

Thanks and ciao!

The Vorpal Tribble · 05-11-2004, 06:56 PM

I'd be very interested, mostly just cuz I like to write and competete, though prizes are rarely bad things either

Count zee tribble in.

Gemini · 05-12-2004, 12:35 AM

sounds like an awesome contest, and if love to join, but i just dont think i have a chance right now... are there plans for this to happen again if all goes well?

Ntanel · 05-15-2004, 01:45 AM

We do things like this every few years. I am sure even after I go someone somewhere would do it once in a while.

Molly · 05-20-2004, 10:09 AM

To tell the truth I wasn't too happy with the way this competition was managed in the past.

If I put several hours of work into writing a story, I don't do that out of sheer creative joy, or to get some graphic award to post on my website, I do it because I want to share the story with others.

To put it plain and simple: I want the story to be read. Meaning that if my story wins any of the prizes, I expect it to be published somewhere on a website, if possible permanently, but at least for a substantial time.

The two last times this contest has been run, this didn't happen. Not even the three top stories were ever published. There was a discussion about it on these boards, and the comment I got from the admin running the contest was, that it was too much work for him to convert the stories into HTML.

To me that isn't satisfactory. I think it shows little respect for the amount of work the winners - and all the competitors for that matter - put into their stories. So we are expected to give up the right to the stories we send in, but we don't even get them published somewhere? I think that's a bum deal.

Unless there has been a change of policy this year, I think I'll pass on the contest, and put my efforts elsewhere.

Estarra · 05-20-2004, 12:48 PM

Though I've never submitted to this contest and don't know its history or anything about it, from what Molly has described, I'll have to agree with her. The only reason a writer submits to contests like what's described is the hope that other people may read their story. If what Molly said is accurate, I'm rather perplexed why this hasn't happened in the past. I mean, if nothing else, a simple text file can't be all that hard to post on a website.

Ntanel · 05-21-2004, 11:17 PM

Well, MudWorld has only held one creative writing contest and that was in 2001, we linked to the original text files of the winners. Immortal University would be responsible for the next contest and they will also post winners. I have to assume Molly speaks of one of the other two networks which have held other such competitions.

The 2001 entries are still available online at this link!
http://www.mudworld.org/awards/2001/stories/

MudWorld does not need to hold a contest to post submitted stories, we do have a section dedicated to submitted articles.

Molly · 05-22-2004, 04:25 AM

My apologies, I just assumed that the same group or affiliates were holding all these contests, since they were so similar in the approach. I admit I often have problems separating these webpages from one another, since the names and content of them are similar.

I apologise for the mistaken identity, obviously those other two contests were run by someone else, (who I cannot even recall now, but I assume Ntanel knows). Anyhow, the wasted efforts in those two made me lose the taste for this type of venture more or less permanently, so I still think I'll pass.

Orion Elder · 05-22-2004, 10:36 AM

I'm the one who ran the last couple of contests, and finding the time to convert the stories for posting has been difficult. I have spent a great deal of time seeking a job, and for quite some time I've been sick (resulting in my recently having surgery).

When I DO find the time to convert the stories, and post them, they will be posted. But, as I have mentioned before... my hobby does not come before my life. I'm sorry if you feel you wasted your time by submitting a story. I really am. But, yes... with everything that has happened in the past two or so years converting those stories simply is too much work.

When the time is found, it will be done. Until that time... sorry.

Fifi · 05-22-2004, 04:03 PM

Just curious, were the prizes ever actually awarded, ie the banners adds put up?

Estarra · 05-22-2004, 05:13 PM

After looking at the link to the 2001 contest (was there a 2002 or 2003?) and browsing the winners, this does look like a neat contest. I also note one of the judges is named Molly (*peers at Molly*).

Molly · 05-23-2004, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by

After looking at the link to the 2001 contest (was there a 2002 or 2003?) and browsing the winners, this does look like a neat contest. I also note one of the judges is named Molly (*peers at Molly*).

Yes, I was one of the judges in the 2001 contest, run by Ntanel of Mudworld. Nice to see that the stories from that one are still available. The winning story was totally awesome, I suggest you all go and read it.

It was when the 'show' was taken over by Orion of MudPlanet in 2002 and 2003 that things went wrong. And judging from Orion's response, he still has no plans of publishing the winning stories from these years in foreseeable time.

So, to turn this into something constructive, I suggest that Orion could e-mail those stories to Ntanel - or any other person who declares themselves willing to publish them on a website. It cannot be THAT hard to html-ize them, and I still think they deserve to be read by more people than the 3 judges.

As for Fifi's question; yes, I believe the banners were run for a month, and there were some graphic rewards that the winners could place on their own websites too. I never bothered to put them up myself. Like I said before, graphics are not the reason why people partake in contests like that.

KaVir · 05-23-2004, 04:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by (Molly O'Hara @ May 20 2004,16:09)

we are expected to give up the right to the stories we send in

You are? And did you do so in writing? Signed? Because if not, you've not given up the right, and there's nothing stopping you from putting your story up on your own website.

Fifi · 05-23-2004, 08:58 AM

Sheesh. I never got my graphic reward!

Orion Elder · 05-24-2004, 06:17 AM

No one said you gave up the right to your stories, only that you gave me the right to post them when, where, and how I see fit. Much the way the licenses work for DikuMUD and the like.

As for the graphics, I e-mailed them to the addresses given to me. If you didn't get yours, I apologize... but they were sent out. I can see if I still have them, but I make no guarantees that I do... or for that matter that I even still have the template used to make them.

As for the stories, I will post them when I have time. Whether that is today or ten years from now. Before my surgery, I made plans to begin a redesign of the MUD Planet website, afterwards. During that redesign, I was hoping to get all of the stories posted. I've had chapter thirteen of Cold Desire and the first chapter of a new story since I ran the last story contest, and not enough time to deal with any of them.

But, I have to find the time for all of that, amidst everything else that I have to deal with. I do apologize that my real life demands don't coordinate with your schedule of my time, though.

Joking aside, hopefully it will be done, soon. If not... well, I try not to make promises.

Raeven · 05-24-2004, 12:23 PM

Hey Molly, or whoever else knows the answer to this question.
Where do I go to access the stories from the 2001 contest? I would love to read these.
I might even participate in this contest if I find the time.
But please, info on the 2001 contest?

Molly · 05-24-2004, 04:53 PM

Raeven wrote

Quote:

Originally Posted by

But please, info on the 2001 contest?

The link to the 2001 entries was posted by Ntanel higher up in this thread: http://www.mudworld.org/awards/2001/stories/

Threshold · 05-25-2004, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by (Orion Elder @ May 22 2004,10:36)

I'm the one who ran the last couple of contests, and finding the time to convert the stories for posting has been difficult. I have spent a great deal of time seeking a job, and for quite some time I've been sick (resulting in my recently having surgery).

When I DO find the time to convert the stories, and post them, they will be posted. But, as I have mentioned before... my hobby does not come before my life. I'm sorry if you feel you wasted your time by submitting a story. I really am. But, yes... with everything that has happened in the past two or so years converting those stories simply is too much work.

When the time is found, it will be done. Until that time... sorry.

Ok, seriously...

It has been 1-2+ years since these people put in a lot of work to participate in the contest YOU asked them to participate in.

You cannot even UPLOAD some text files and then make some links? That takes like 5 minutes at MOST.

Sure, it isn't pretty, but it is better than not posting them at all.

Converting them to html to fit with your site would take less than an hour, even if you had TONS of stories.

If you have time to post on Top Mud Sites then you have time to show those people a little courtesy and spend a few minutes to post them.

This isn't a matter of "RL takes precedence over a hobby." This is a matter of common decency when dealing with other people to whom you make a commitment.

Ntanel · 05-25-2004, 11:10 PM

Orion,

I can convert those for you, send em my way and a template to apply them to. It will take me only a few hours. Class does not start until June 7, so I have some time.

Iluvatar · 05-27-2004, 02:46 PM

I have all the stories from the contests I judged in which is most of them. I also helped design the contest parameters and in the first one, Molly recused herself from judging her own story. We kept Ntanel as the wild card to judge in a tie-breaker and I'm pretty sure I remember Orion acting in the same capacity.

Ntanel's contest is posted, Orion had some issues with posting but I've got to say he did a great job just holding it considering all the work it took to get judges and make sure we all got the files in a timely fashion. If anyone is willing to convert and post .doc files or .txt files, I would be more than happy to send copies. My only request would be that the judges get some credit as well as the excellent writers that took the time to submit.

There were and still are no copyright implications to any of these stories. They were freely submitted in an open contest without restrictions or conditions and as such, I've no qualms about sharing the content, critiques or final results with anyone who asks within reason.

I'm actually looking forward to this next contest and plan on submitting a story myself. That's a challenge, Molly!

05-11-2004, 01:30 AM	#1
Ntanel Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: North America Posts: 155	Iluvatar of ImmU and PhoenixMUD wants to partake in a creative writing contest with Keolah of Rogue Winds and a few other MUD builders. However, we need more competitors and judges. Obviously a person can be both, but they can not judge in their own category. If you are interested, please either post here or goto http://www.mudworld.org/contact.php3 and submit to Ntanel your desire to participate. If we get a substancial number of responses, then we can plan accordingly and provide details. As far as prizes go... Short of a trophy image, no/low-cost ideas would be nifty. Rules for the contest may be losely based on what is at http://www.mudworld.org/awards/2001/. Thanks and ciao!

05-11-2004, 06:56 PM	#2
The Vorpal Tribble Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 203	I'd be very interested, mostly just cuz I like to write and competete, though prizes are rarely bad things either Count zee tribble in.

05-12-2004, 12:35 AM	#3
Gemini Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 97	sounds like an awesome contest, and if love to join, but i just dont think i have a chance right now... are there plans for this to happen again if all goes well?

05-15-2004, 01:45 AM	#4
Ntanel Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: North America Posts: 155	We do things like this every few years. I am sure even after I go someone somewhere would do it once in a while.

05-20-2004, 10:09 AM	#5
Molly Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Sweden Home MUD: 4 Dimensions Posts: 472	To tell the truth I wasn't too happy with the way this competition was managed in the past. If I put several hours of work into writing a story, I don't do that out of sheer creative joy, or to get some graphic award to post on my website, I do it because I want to share the story with others. To put it plain and simple: I want the story to be read. Meaning that if my story wins any of the prizes, I expect it to be published somewhere on a website, if possible permanently, but at least for a substantial time. The two last times this contest has been run, this didn't happen. Not even the three top stories were ever published. There was a discussion about it on these boards, and the comment I got from the admin running the contest was, that it was too much work for him to convert the stories into HTML. To me that isn't satisfactory. I think it shows little respect for the amount of work the winners - and all the competitors for that matter - put into their stories. So we are expected to give up the right to the stories we send in, but we don't even get them published somewhere? I think that's a bum deal. Unless there has been a change of policy this year, I think I'll pass on the contest, and put my efforts elsewhere.

05-20-2004, 12:48 PM	#6
Estarra Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Home MUD: Lusternia Posts: 145	Though I've never submitted to this contest and don't know its history or anything about it, from what Molly has described, I'll have to agree with her. The only reason a writer submits to contests like what's described is the hope that other people may read their story. If what Molly said is accurate, I'm rather perplexed why this hasn't happened in the past. I mean, if nothing else, a simple text file can't be all that hard to post on a website.

05-21-2004, 11:17 PM	#7
Ntanel Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: North America Posts: 155	Well, MudWorld has only held one creative writing contest and that was in 2001, we linked to the original text files of the winners. Immortal University would be responsible for the next contest and they will also post winners. I have to assume Molly speaks of one of the other two networks which have held other such competitions. The 2001 entries are still available online at this link! http://www.mudworld.org/awards/2001/stories/ MudWorld does not need to hold a contest to post submitted stories, we do have a section dedicated to submitted articles.

05-22-2004, 04:25 AM	#8
Molly Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Sweden Home MUD: 4 Dimensions Posts: 472	My apologies, I just assumed that the same group or affiliates were holding all these contests, since they were so similar in the approach. I admit I often have problems separating these webpages from one another, since the names and content of them are similar. I apologise for the mistaken identity, obviously those other two contests were run by someone else, (who I cannot even recall now, but I assume Ntanel knows). Anyhow, the wasted efforts in those two made me lose the taste for this type of venture more or less permanently, so I still think I'll pass.

05-22-2004, 10:36 AM	#9
Orion Elder Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 346	I'm the one who ran the last couple of contests, and finding the time to convert the stories for posting has been difficult. I have spent a great deal of time seeking a job, and for quite some time I've been sick (resulting in my recently having surgery). When I DO find the time to convert the stories, and post them, they will be posted. But, as I have mentioned before... my hobby does not come before my life. I'm sorry if you feel you wasted your time by submitting a story. I really am. But, yes... with everything that has happened in the past two or so years converting those stories simply is too much work. When the time is found, it will be done. Until that time... sorry.

05-22-2004, 04:03 PM	#10
Fifi Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 168	Just curious, were the prizes ever actually awarded, ie the banners adds put up?

05-22-2004, 05:13 PM	#11
Estarra Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Home MUD: Lusternia Posts: 145	After looking at the link to the 2001 contest (was there a 2002 or 2003?) and browsing the winners, this does look like a neat contest. I also note one of the judges is named Molly (peers at Molly).

05-23-2004, 08:58 AM	#14
Fifi Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 168	Sheesh. I never got my graphic reward!

05-24-2004, 06:17 AM	#15
Orion Elder Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 346	No one said you gave up the right to your stories, only that you gave me the right to post them when, where, and how I see fit. Much the way the licenses work for DikuMUD and the like. As for the graphics, I e-mailed them to the addresses given to me. If you didn't get yours, I apologize... but they were sent out. I can see if I still have them, but I make no guarantees that I do... or for that matter that I even still have the template used to make them. As for the stories, I will post them when I have time. Whether that is today or ten years from now. Before my surgery, I made plans to begin a redesign of the MUD Planet website, afterwards. During that redesign, I was hoping to get all of the stories posted. I've had chapter thirteen of Cold Desire and the first chapter of a new story since I ran the last story contest, and not enough time to deal with any of them. But, I have to find the time for all of that, amidst everything else that I have to deal with. I do apologize that my real life demands don't coordinate with your schedule of my time, though. Joking aside, hopefully it will be done, soon. If not... well, I try not to make promises.

05-24-2004, 12:23 PM	#16
Raeven New Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 25	Hey Molly, or whoever else knows the answer to this question. Where do I go to access the stories from the 2001 contest? I would love to read these. I might even participate in this contest if I find the time. But please, info on the 2001 contest?

05-25-2004, 11:10 PM	#19
Ntanel Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: North America Posts: 155	Orion, I can convert those for you, send em my way and a template to apply them to. It will take me only a few hours. Class does not start until June 7, so I have some time.

MUD Builders and Areas

Creative Writing Contest