Rules and Guidelines
The Animism collaborative fiction contest has a lot of moving parts--so we’ve put together this rule-sheet to help make things a little bit easier. If something is missing from the details below, check out the Discussion section above to see if your question might have already been answered.
How It Works
To be eligible, entrants must be a member of the Animism social network. Registering is quick and easy--if you’re not already a member, just click 'Not a Member' on the bar above!
Once logged in, you’ll notice two new sections under 'Animism Fiction Contest': My Stories and Browse Entries. To write and submit your own short 1000 word piece, simply click on My Stories and use the creation tool provided. Once finished, select the theme you want to submit to and click the 'Submit' button at the bottom of the page. If the theme you want to submit to is closed, the theme will be greyed out in the selection box. You can view your submission or create a new one at any time by clicking on My Stories above.
Submitted stories must relate directly to one of the contest themes and incorporate Animism's spirits. More can be learned about the spirits on the right and in the Writer's Guidelines on The Themes page. Those submissions that do not sufficiently meet the guidelines of the contest may be disqualified prior to voting (see Submission Guidelines below for details). All voting takes place at the Animism Facebook site where submissions can be both read and voted on. You can also monitor your submission using the Facebook site's ranking page, which is updated daily. Other submissions can be read either here via the Browse Entries section above or on Facebook.
All themes open simultaneously, and begin closing over a series of weeks. The competition begins March 1st with the first theme closing 2 weeks afterward. See The Themes page for details on deadlines.
The Prize
If you're selected as a winner, your 1000 word piece will be published in a kindle anthology alongside the authors whose works you see listed on the front page. You become an official part of Animism canon and you'll be side-by-side in a table of contents with the likes of David Farland, Nick Mamatas, Cat Rambo and Kevin J. Anderson. Of course, you'll also receive a small honorarium, but is that really the best part?
Questions and Answers
How Many Submissions Can I Make?
As many as you'd like! Just remember that each theme has its own deadline, so ensure that you submit them in time. The earlier you submit your stories, the better chance you have to win!
How Do I Actually Win?
There are two ways to win. The first way is to accumulate the most number of votes in your theme on the Facebook voting page. The second is to be selected by our panel of editors as an official 'Editor's Pick'. Both of these winners will appear in the published anthology and will have their works folded into the canon of the Animism universe (see legal conditions below).
What Exactly is an Editor's Pick?
The Editor's Pick is selected by a panel of the TV series writers. The recipient of this pick will have typically made effective use of Animism's existing canon in a way which blends well with the universe and its characters, which means the more research you do on the show, the more likely you are to scribe an Editor's Pick!
What Sort of Resources can I use to enhance my chances?
The Writer's Guide (which can be found here) should be the primary resource in guiding your writing, but don't forget these other items:
- The canonical flash fiction submissions which can be found on the front page. Each of these offer some sense of the creative palette from which you can work.
- Animism currently has a pilot episode which can be viewed here. The 22 minute episode offers a window into the lives of some of the show's key characters.
- There is an Animism Alternate Reality Game which was run over the course of 3 months. It’s key sites can be found here and here.
Each of these sites represent a piece of Animism's canon and be drawn on reliably as a resource for your creations.
Are There Prizes for Voting too?
Yes! Check out the Facebook voting page to see what you're eligible to win as a voter. But remember, you need to be a Facebook member in order to vote!
Are there any legal or privacy details I know about?
As with all things contest-like, there are legal details. The legalese can be found in its entirety below, but here are the key points you should know.
- Your work must be an original and must be yours.
- We will only use and disclose your personal information for purposes of prize fulfilment.
- We reserve the right to disqualify any submission at our discretion (so please play nice).
These terms are presented to you again prior to submission and must be agreed upon before submitting to the Animism collaborative fiction contest.
This week's winner
Early Civilization Winner!
If your submission wins, you'll be featured here where all can see your soon-to-be published glory. Submit Today!
Click here to vote for next week's winner.
The Mother is nature embodied, inspiring ecological balance & celebrating life--but life is only one half of the transaction. Though disease and natural disasters, The Mother can be a brutal equalizer in what she upholds as the ideal natural balance on this earth. Crossing her can have deadly consequences.
Avarice, progress, hunger...these things together are the essence of The Grinder. The Grinder moves ever forward, advancing restlessly. He consumes those he inhabits and they, in turn, consume on his behalf. Get in his way and you face a rabid and desperate foe.
The Trickster is whimsical and adventurous. His guile has left many looking like fools and his wanderlust has inspired some of the world’s most storied explorations. He is the spirit responsible for ensuring that his siblings share their dominion over this world, but his capricious desires often interfere...
