As you’ve doubtlessly all heard, the Phobos anthology is no more for the foreseeable future. (It had something to do with Phobos actually wanting to make money on the books, which even I foresaw was a long-shot. But it was fun while it lasted. )
However, Phobos has recently announced a new contest for amateur writers: the Phobos Challenge.
Basically, it is a series anthology of stories written to their specifications. They have created a universe where two interdimensional cops, Vale and Mist, chase the evil Swarm, who go pillaging one parallel universe to another. Your job is to take make a story in the universe of the last published story, then supply another universe for the next author to play with.
The stories will be published on the first of each month, and the next story will be due on the 15th. Which gives only about 2 weeks to write the story, which is why they call it a “challenge.”
If your story is selected, they will pay $50 for all rights and publish it on their website.
It’s not a great deal, since it is work-for-hire at below-professional rates. But it is a way to get a story published, and from my experience, their checks have never bounced.
So if you’re interested in a challenge, check it out here . Read the bible carefully, because they have specific rules which you must obey.
I just found out that they’ve published the first story, which you can link to here .
To any who will submit—good luck.
[This message has been edited by AndrewR (edited July 26, 2004).]
[This message has been edited by AndrewR (edited July 26, 2004).]
Posted by Christine (Member # 1646) on :
Thanks for the heads up! It could be a fun writing exercise, even if they don't want my story. And if it keeps going, it can be a fun writing exercise every month. I actually enjoy the idea of parallel worlds and universe hopping...but I've never written a story in one because it always seems to me that anything I come up with has been done before. This could be a nifty opportunity.
BTW, your link is broken. You have to take off the last ']'
A story in 2 weeks isn't that tough, imo. If you work at it, you could do around 10 per week.
[This message has been edited by Phanto (edited July 26, 2004).]
Posted by Jules (Member # 1658) on :
I think 10 a week's pushing it a bit. I don't write a lot of shorts, but when I do it usually takes about 3 or 4 drafts to find the right way of writing them, and then a few revisions... I'd say 1-2 days is how much time you'd need, so 3-5 a week, if you're not working on anything else, seems reasonable to me.
As for this challenge, I have a few interesting ideas, but they aren't ready yet. I wonder if the editor(s?) will like them.
Posted by Christine (Member # 1646) on :
10 a week!
My goodness, if I'm feeling motivated I can punch out one a day, but then the next week I have to rewrite them. If I'm not motivated I can stil write 1 a day, but then the next week I have to decide which to throw in the trash before rewriting the rest.
However, one short story in two weeks, especially with a specific guideline like this, shouldn't be any tougher than a writing exercise.
Posted by Phanto (Member # 1619) on :
Well, if you need money, that's a very good motivator .
2 per day for 5 days, edit for 2 days.
Posted by Rahl22 (Member # 1411) on :
Shoot. That sounds fun, but that particular setup is just not my bag, baby. Oh well.
Posted by MaryRobinette (Member # 1680) on :
Yeah, I'll give it a try after they get out of zombie land. Ick.
Posted by Christine (Member # 1646) on :
I thought zombie land sounded kind of ick myself, but I'm about 1000 words into an interesting attempt and I've evern got a clever idea for the next land. (Which I'm kind of glad I wouldn't have to write if my story got accepted...heh heh )
Posted by Hildy9595 (Member # 1489) on :
Yup, taken a stab at zombie land myself. If nothing else, it's a fun exercise.
Posted by Ordover (Member # 2140) on :
Just got the first submission for REALITY COPS - submission deadline for this round is August 15th.
A gentle reminder from your friendly neighborhood editor.
Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :
Welcome, Ordover. It's always nice to have a friendly neighborhood editor around.
Posted by Hildy9595 (Member # 1489) on :
Okay, I just sent my submission in. Anybody else?
Posted by Christine (Member # 1646) on :
I sent mine in about a week ago (or theresabouts).
[This message has been edited by Christine (edited August 12, 2004).]
Posted by Hildy9595 (Member # 1489) on :
Christine, did you get any sort of acknowledgement of receipt of your submission? It looks like mine went through, but I didn't get one of those automatic "thank yous" you typically get. Just wondering if you did. Thanks!
Posted by Christine (Member # 1646) on :
I did not get an auto-reply, at least not one that I can find now and since I usually keep those I'm going to say no. I did get an interesting letter from the staff (that actually I found a little devastating) that pointed out that another submission chose a very similiar next episode cliffhanger as mine. So much for creativity, huh?
Posted by Hildy9595 (Member # 1489) on :
Well, it depends. It may have been similar to another entry that was downright brilliant, in which case...not such bad news.
ETA: Aw, crud, didn't win this one. Very disappointed
[This message has been edited by Hildy9595 (edited August 16, 2004).]
Posted by Ordover (Member # 2140) on :
The first Phobos Challenge story has been chosen.
A little early, but REALITY COPS: EPISODE TWO: "DEAD AND LOVING IT" or "I LOST MY HEART AT THE DRIVE IN" by Jeff Harkness is up www.phoboswebcom/valeandmist in both text and downloadable audio.
Posted by Ordover (Member # 2140) on :
Christine, sorry you were devastated - that was not my intent in sending you and the other author what you each wrote. I just wanted to illustrate what is listed under the legal stuff on our site, that things overlap. It says nothing whatever about your creativity or the other author's. Great minds think alike, that's all.
When I was pitching Star Trek Voyager at one point, one story I pitched was rejected because not only did it beat-for-beat duplicate a story they had in process, but it had the same title as well (and they sent me the script that day to prove it).
It says nothing about you as a writer or a creative person to have duplicated what someone else thought of. Happens all the time.
Posted by Christine (Member # 1646) on :
You're absolutely correct, and that is the conclusion I came to after I thought about it. This is simply a frustrating truism of writing that there are very few new ideas. (Some people say none but I'm going to have to disagree with them on that one...) But there are few enough that any given writer is unlikely to come across one in his or her lifetime. The best he or she can hope to do is put the best new spin on the idea. Posted by Hildy9595 (Member # 1489) on :
Well, I'm feeling good about attacking the next challenge. Apparently my last story was nearly selected this time, missing bythatmuch to the one ultimately chosen. It's a nice bit of encouragement to know that I very nearly won something.
Posted by Christine (Member # 1646) on :
