Muse Fusion for January, 2015 - starting now!
Comment here with prompts for our Torn World writing, arting, and creating team!
We're standing by to write and draw furiously to prompts, starting today (now!), running through the weekend and closing on Monday at noon (Alaska time). As a prompter or a creator, you may hop in for a few moments in this window of time, or throw yourself all-out at the Fusion for the full time!
Suggestion: For this Muse Fusion, to get us back on track (it's been a while since we had one of these!), I am making two suggestions:
One, mine prompts from Sketch Fest! This prompt-based event is aimed at visual artists, but writers may get juicy ideas, too. Sketch Fest is not limited to Torn World, so not all the prompts may apply easily, but there will be plenty of generic or broad topics to pick from.
Two, let us know what you're working on! Do you have a project in progress right now? Are you stuck? Do you have a few story ideas, but aren't sure what to pursue? Let's start a conversation - maybe we can help you get past a plot hole, or express excitement about a story idea that will help you get started. The point of Muse Fusion is to fuel creativity - it doesn't haven't to be from specific prompts if you'd rather put that energy into an in-progress project. We'll cheer you on!
Prompts: Let us know what you want to see! Do you want to know what a character's opinion on a subject is? Want to see a particular plant or animal in action? Maybe you'd like to hear a dialogue between two characters on a particular topic! A prompt can be specific, or general. One-word prompts are welcome, as are picture prompts, or links. Cross-over fanfiction can be requested, though not all participants may be interested in creating it. The only major restriction for prompts is that they should be appropriate to Torn World. You may treat it like a Q&A session - where you get your answers in fiction, artwork and poetry instead of just a boring answer. (Though you may get a straight answer, also, and you may also get links to stories or articles that already address your question.) You do not need to be a member of, or familiar with, Torn World to leave a generic prompt. Something like 'a spring day' or 'something green' is plenty specific, or you can make a general theme request like 'a body-positive story' or 'a story about lost children.' You can also ask a specific question, like 'how the heck do you groom a giant furry unicorn?'
Feel free to leave more than one prompt; we try to ensure that everyone gets one prompt answered, and that's easier if you leave us some choices.
Note that May will be Sea Monster month again. Prompts that can be used with this theme may be particularly inviting to creators who are thinking ahead!
Creators: Use the prompts as a jumping-off point for art, poetry, stories, vignettes, meta-fiction articles... or even just sit and brainstorm answers! There is no time limit for each piece you work on, it doesn't have to be canon, and you don't have to finish within the window of the Muse Fusion (though it does keep some of the energy of the event up if you reply to the prompt and let us know what you've started!). You are invited to use crowdfunding or ask for sponsorship of your work. Anyone may participate in Muse Fusions, but if you use Torn World base material, you are bound by our contributor guidelines.
Drafts: Please keep in mind that rough drafts created from our Muse Fusion will be going through a review process to maintain overall world continuity - any drafts shared with you during the Muse Fusion may be changed before being posted as canon contributions. Writers are encouraged to share drafts with prompters, and post public excerpts to give a taste of what they're working on. Additionally, registered readers who give prompts that result in finished work will be listed as 'inspiration' at our site and have access to those supporters-only pieces that they've spawned!
Chat: You are welcome to join us in chat while we create, in this chat room, here. Or, join the #tornworld channel via IRC on the starchat.net server. I will drop in if I can! Use the dropdown to make a noise if you join and no one says hello - sometimes we're busy creating in another window... (The chat relies on java and unfortunately does not work in Safari. Some sounds are only available through the javachat option, not IRC.)
Ready? Set? Go!
We're standing by to write and draw furiously to prompts, starting today (now!), running through the weekend and closing on Monday at noon (Alaska time). As a prompter or a creator, you may hop in for a few moments in this window of time, or throw yourself all-out at the Fusion for the full time!
Suggestion: For this Muse Fusion, to get us back on track (it's been a while since we had one of these!), I am making two suggestions:
One, mine prompts from Sketch Fest! This prompt-based event is aimed at visual artists, but writers may get juicy ideas, too. Sketch Fest is not limited to Torn World, so not all the prompts may apply easily, but there will be plenty of generic or broad topics to pick from.
Two, let us know what you're working on! Do you have a project in progress right now? Are you stuck? Do you have a few story ideas, but aren't sure what to pursue? Let's start a conversation - maybe we can help you get past a plot hole, or express excitement about a story idea that will help you get started. The point of Muse Fusion is to fuel creativity - it doesn't haven't to be from specific prompts if you'd rather put that energy into an in-progress project. We'll cheer you on!
Prompts: Let us know what you want to see! Do you want to know what a character's opinion on a subject is? Want to see a particular plant or animal in action? Maybe you'd like to hear a dialogue between two characters on a particular topic! A prompt can be specific, or general. One-word prompts are welcome, as are picture prompts, or links. Cross-over fanfiction can be requested, though not all participants may be interested in creating it. The only major restriction for prompts is that they should be appropriate to Torn World. You may treat it like a Q&A session - where you get your answers in fiction, artwork and poetry instead of just a boring answer. (Though you may get a straight answer, also, and you may also get links to stories or articles that already address your question.) You do not need to be a member of, or familiar with, Torn World to leave a generic prompt. Something like 'a spring day' or 'something green' is plenty specific, or you can make a general theme request like 'a body-positive story' or 'a story about lost children.' You can also ask a specific question, like 'how the heck do you groom a giant furry unicorn?'
Feel free to leave more than one prompt; we try to ensure that everyone gets one prompt answered, and that's easier if you leave us some choices.
Note that May will be Sea Monster month again. Prompts that can be used with this theme may be particularly inviting to creators who are thinking ahead!
Creators: Use the prompts as a jumping-off point for art, poetry, stories, vignettes, meta-fiction articles... or even just sit and brainstorm answers! There is no time limit for each piece you work on, it doesn't have to be canon, and you don't have to finish within the window of the Muse Fusion (though it does keep some of the energy of the event up if you reply to the prompt and let us know what you've started!). You are invited to use crowdfunding or ask for sponsorship of your work. Anyone may participate in Muse Fusions, but if you use Torn World base material, you are bound by our contributor guidelines.
Drafts: Please keep in mind that rough drafts created from our Muse Fusion will be going through a review process to maintain overall world continuity - any drafts shared with you during the Muse Fusion may be changed before being posted as canon contributions. Writers are encouraged to share drafts with prompters, and post public excerpts to give a taste of what they're working on. Additionally, registered readers who give prompts that result in finished work will be listed as 'inspiration' at our site and have access to those supporters-only pieces that they've spawned!
Chat: You are welcome to join us in chat while we create, in this chat room, here. Or, join the #tornworld channel via IRC on the starchat.net server. I will drop in if I can! Use the dropdown to make a noise if you join and no one says hello - sometimes we're busy creating in another window... (The chat relies on java and unfortunately does not work in Safari. Some sounds are only available through the javachat option, not IRC.)
Ready? Set? Go!