Thread: TPW Expansion Preparation

So, this thread is for anybody to voice questions, concerns, and suggestions for the Stories section before the new branch opens. This includes anything from contests, Graders and Grader Wages, backlog concerns, and so on. Feel free to discuss any ideas you may have.

Some things that are currently on the table:

+ Gathering a handful of successful stories from each rank as an example for new writers. Emma expressed the concern that some of these examples would border a pass for the next rank (a good Medium story could be a pass for a Hard story) and would set high expectations for the new writers. Thoughts on this? (When the BMG branch opened, we had a handful of stories as examples, but they weren't picked by Pokemon difficulty.)

+ Gathering a handful of re-graded stories (from any rank) to give new writers a rough guideline as to how they should listen to their grader's advice and fix up their story. So far, I've looked at two re-graded stories that could be included in this.

+ Newbie Writing Contest. There's been numerous of them. The first one held at Pe2K and the one that was held on BMG followed FireFlyK's original rules. There has been another Newbie Writing Contest on Pe2K that had less restrictions as to whom could enter and what Pokemon could be captured. I am planning to have the one on TPW have the same restrictions as the original one to keep it strictly to the new members joining. Does anybody have thoughts on what could be improved on or changed?

Let's get cracking, guys!

- Kat

In the past for the NWC (or at least the BMG one anyways, cause I couldn't find the PE2k one), the writers were forced to write for a specific Pokemon. In the case of the BMG NWC, it was Shellos. I don't really like that. Forcing writers to write for a Pokemon they might not want may not be the most encouraging thing. Limiting the difficulty is something we can do if you don't want to have new members that have superb writing talent entering world-class Porygon stories to compete with the "boy-goes-in-the-woods-and-fights-Pokemon" stories, but I definitely disagree with forcing a Pokemon on writers.

Kinda with Nitro. Instead of forcing a Pokemon, force a difficulty rank, like "You must write for one and only one Medium-level Pokemon". Allows for much more flexibility.

I agree with Nitro as well. Also when I joined BMG, one of the things I noticed was that when I saw those example stories, I was like, "FUUUUUUUUUUUU I'M SUPPOSED TO WRITE LIKE THIS?" I think that for the lower ranks we need more average stories and then we could have some amazing, dynamic complex, demanding, and whatever stories that just blow everyone away.

I dunno what stories were picked last time, but good point Peanut. :o Couple decent simpler stories and a couple more advanced ones is a good route imo. I was under the impression that top notch examples from each category were going to be chosen (like some epic saga for a Lotad), giving the idea that peeps had to be more creative/skilled than necessary for that rank.

Also, I agree with Nitro (aka Troy) as well.

Yeah, I think that just picking one rank for the competition would be better. Medium is pretty basic, and most writers can pass that one on their first or second try.

Also if you need someone else to do wages from time to time, I'll volunteer.

But, I like Shellos :(

I also liked seeing all of the variations that people could put on a story for one specific mon. Not to mention, it isn't really limiting their creativity, it is more just giving them a guideline to get creative with. I can't tell you how much effort I put into finding out all of the details I could about Shellos (since I knew nothing about them and never played anything past Gen III).

Okay, so the consensus is that the writers shouldn't be forced to write for a specific Pokemon. I have no problem letting them choose which Pokemon to write for, as long as the Pokemon stay on the same difficulty (and with no multiple captures). I do agree with Neonsands, though, that I never thought it as "limiting their creativity", even back when I entered.

Question, though. The regular NWCs have had Pokemon from the Simple Rank, but do you guys think that it can be pushed up to Medium? I know that Medium is "pretty basic", but then again, these new writers will have no idea how Story captures work. (Long-time URPG members fail Medium captures all the time, anyway.) We can't give them too much leeway, either. It will be a competition, after all, where the best story wins.

About the story rank stories, yeah, I was thinking on just having normal, run-of-the-mill stories as examples. I just want the new writers to see the minimum-level of grammar, plot complexity, and description needed for that specific rank. There will be people who won't understand what, "Improved storyline and description" means. (Taken from the Complex category description.) Once again, if you guys remember seeing such stories around, feel free to posts them. For these, I would prefer seeing only single-captures of that rank.

- Kat

I think Simple should be the rank chosen. They are new and all, so we want as many entrants as possible. Simple keeps it... Well simple :P

Also, just because it is Simple rank doesn't mean they can't write an awesome simple story. During my NWC, I made it to the final four and there was certainly a variety of lengths. We had a short one that just met simple requirements, we had two that were around 40k, and one on the mid 20k range. Mind you, these were all just for one Shellos. It was cool too because they were all well done and for the same mon.

I agree with Simple. Give them a chance to work out what they should be doing. Also, instead of limiting it to people who have recently joined OR written less than two stories, make it just the first one. That way people who write for like, eight Magikarp or something like that but are new can still get a chance to be in it.

THE EXTERMINATORS. -Complete-

This story I graded last year for a simple example. It was a fun plot idea, sorry if my Grade isn't up to standards though lol.

Originally Posted by Fossil Fusion

THE EXTERMINATORS. -Complete-

This story I graded last year for a simple example. It was a fun plot idea, sorry if my Grade isn't up to standards though lol.

Looks good, Chris!

Okay, we'll stick to Simple rank and to recently-joined entrants in regards to the NWC. Besides, there are the WWC and SWC where they can write for harder Pokemon if they want.

Also, unless anybody has any complaints or other ideas, I think the best place to put these example stories in the Library. It's not being used for anything currently, and the sub-board for it is already there. *shrugs* I would rather have them there than clutter up the Stickied area or shove them all in one or two threads.

- Kat

YES. USE THE FRIGGIN LIBRARY.

The story list needs to be actually used, maybe set a grading quota. Something low like one grade every two weeks, just something to make sure graders actually grade. Besides virtual cash.

Um, but eventually people wouldn't be writing enough stories to keep up with the graders, and then no grader will meet the quota. :< Even at the moment, there isn't one available story to each grader.