In the table top gaming world, writers can create one-shots, game scenarios that players can start and finish in a single session. They are not fully narrated stories, but rather elements and significant non-player characters that form the world in which the narrative will take place. The one-shot may have a preferred story arc, and may guide the players along those rails, but are not, strictly speaking, full stories. The players themselves create the story as they react to those world elements as they think their characters would, and the game master adds to the story by directing the NPC's actions.
My question is, if I publish one or two of those and they meet the sales targets detailed in the rules, will they count as short stories that would disqualify me from the contest?
Likewise, if I create a full campaign, which is the same as a one-shot but with a much more fully developed world, would selling enough of those disqualify me?
Thanks for the clarification.
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My question is, if I publish one or two of those and they meet the sales targets detailed in the rules, will they count as short stories that would disqualify me from the contest?
Professional publication is deemed to be payment of at least eight cents per word, and at least 5,000 copies, or 5,000 hits.
8c per word AND 5000 copies.
or
5000 hits/views
This is an interesting question. Can you self-pub a short story and meet the payment requirement? My instinct is to say yes, one short story that reaches 5000 hits counts as one of your three/four.
Do RPG/Fantasy one-shots count? I'd look at length, and the involvement of others. You say the players create the story? Is it with blog-type entries? AMA format? Can you post a screenshot (blurred if the words are under copyright)? If you're hosting a site in which you post a prompt and others contribute, even if you get 5k hits, this doesn't seem to count against you as having published a short story.
Can you answer some of those questions?
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My question is, if I publish one or two of those and they meet the sales targets detailed in the rules, will they count as short stories that would disqualify me from the contest?
Likewise, if I create a full campaign, which is the same as a one-shot but with a much more fully developed world, would selling enough of those disqualify me?
Thanks for the clarification.
I agree with Dustin. The rules are pretty clear on what qualifies as a professional publication that would disqualify you from the contest. Another question to consider: Are you selling these to other people as stories, or are you selling them as game scenarios? If you're selling them as stories, and you can find 5,000+ people to buy them at eight cents per word, then it will likely disqualify you, provided that you sell more than three of them. But if you're selling them as game scenarios, then probably not. Hopefully that's a helpful yardstick you can use to make a determination.
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