NCIS Big Bang Announcement
This year we will have different levels for the NCIS Big Bang challenge. We're going to try a new offering for 2016 and decide next year if we will keep the option of different levels or go back to the original 10K minimum for 2017.
Over the past couple of years, I have been asked to include a smaller word count option. Since I had previously read that the original Big Bangs were 20K and some challenges have since dropped the word count to 10K to increase participation, I've always thought of 10K as a Mini Bang, and thought it would be nice to recognize 20K as the Big Bang level. At the same time, we would like to encourage more writers to join the challenge, especially those who weren't sure they could reach the 10K minimum.
Bottom Line: Writers will now have the opportunity to post their story as long as they hit a 5K *Micro Bang* minimum word count.
Goal: To bring in more writers for the NCIS Big Bang and create more new stories, while recognizing those with larger word counts.
- Writers will sign up for the challenge, but no one has to set a goal or state what level they're aiming for.
- Writers can set their own goal (publicly or privately), but will be eligible to post their story as long as it meets the minimum word count.
- Each level will at least double the previous level's word count.
Levels:
Micro Bang = 5K
Mini Bang = 10K
Big Bang = 20K
Super Bang = 50K
Extreme Bang = 100K
Mega Bang = 200K
Colossal Bang = 500K
- Writers may only post one Micro Bang story per year. Other levels are not restricted.
- Stories must hit a minimum 10K word count to be eligible for the Art Claims.
If you enter a story for the art claims, and it does not meet the minimum 10K word count when posted, you may be banned from future art claims.
- If all the 10K+ stories are claimed, there may be a separate Art option for any Micro Bang stories.
As this is our first year offering the Micro Bang option, we'll have to see how many artists are willing to produce art for these additional stories. For the Micro Bang stories, art will be limited to a single banner (an optional icon would also be fine). There are no limitations on art for other levels.
- Levels will be used as *mile markers* for the check-ins.
For example: If an Author has written 5K by the 1st check-in, they can *claim* to have achieved the Micro Bang level.
If the Author has reached 20K by the 2nd check-in, they can *claim* to have achieved the Big Bang level.
If the Author edits their story down to 15K by the 3rd check-in, they would *claim* to have achieved the Mini Bang level.
- After each check-in a separate post will be made noting the current level of each Author.
We're hoping to get more participation for the check-in posts to help keep each other motivated and excited about the new stories.
- When submitting rough drafts, Authors will claim their current level at that time. This will not lock the Author into that level. Their finished work may be above or below the level claimed when submitting the rough draft as long as it meets the minimum WC when posted.
- The final level achieved can be noted when the story is posted and will be posted on the Master List as a category.
- Most stories are expected to fall within the Micro, Mini or Big Bang categories.
Over the past couple of years, I have been asked to include a smaller word count option. Since I had previously read that the original Big Bangs were 20K and some challenges have since dropped the word count to 10K to increase participation, I've always thought of 10K as a Mini Bang, and thought it would be nice to recognize 20K as the Big Bang level. At the same time, we would like to encourage more writers to join the challenge, especially those who weren't sure they could reach the 10K minimum.
Bottom Line: Writers will now have the opportunity to post their story as long as they hit a 5K *Micro Bang* minimum word count.
Goal: To bring in more writers for the NCIS Big Bang and create more new stories, while recognizing those with larger word counts.
- Writers will sign up for the challenge, but no one has to set a goal or state what level they're aiming for.
- Writers can set their own goal (publicly or privately), but will be eligible to post their story as long as it meets the minimum word count.
- Each level will at least double the previous level's word count.
Levels:
Micro Bang = 5K
Mini Bang = 10K
Big Bang = 20K
Super Bang = 50K
Extreme Bang = 100K
Mega Bang = 200K
Colossal Bang = 500K
- Writers may only post one Micro Bang story per year. Other levels are not restricted.
- Stories must hit a minimum 10K word count to be eligible for the Art Claims.
If you enter a story for the art claims, and it does not meet the minimum 10K word count when posted, you may be banned from future art claims.
- If all the 10K+ stories are claimed, there may be a separate Art option for any Micro Bang stories.
As this is our first year offering the Micro Bang option, we'll have to see how many artists are willing to produce art for these additional stories. For the Micro Bang stories, art will be limited to a single banner (an optional icon would also be fine). There are no limitations on art for other levels.
- Levels will be used as *mile markers* for the check-ins.
For example: If an Author has written 5K by the 1st check-in, they can *claim* to have achieved the Micro Bang level.
If the Author has reached 20K by the 2nd check-in, they can *claim* to have achieved the Big Bang level.
If the Author edits their story down to 15K by the 3rd check-in, they would *claim* to have achieved the Mini Bang level.
- After each check-in a separate post will be made noting the current level of each Author.
We're hoping to get more participation for the check-in posts to help keep each other motivated and excited about the new stories.
- When submitting rough drafts, Authors will claim their current level at that time. This will not lock the Author into that level. Their finished work may be above or below the level claimed when submitting the rough draft as long as it meets the minimum WC when posted.
- The final level achieved can be noted when the story is posted and will be posted on the Master List as a category.
- Most stories are expected to fall within the Micro, Mini or Big Bang categories.