| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Lord Rad |
Posted - 27 Feb 2003 : 10:52:36
There is a post on the ENWorld site from WotC calling writers to submit work for a new Forgotten Realms novel!!
quote:
The Wizards of the Coast book publishing group would like to announce an open call for submissions for an upcoming Forgotten Realms novel.
The submission guidelines are attached. Here's a brief statement about the nature of the open call:
Wizards of the Coast is seeking proposals for one book in the Forgotten Realms(r) novel line. This is your chance to bring your talents to our attention, and we are known as a publisher that works with talented, unpublished authors. We've had the pleasure of launching a number of writing careers, and would like to launch some more. Please download and read the submission guidelines very carefully before submitting. Submissions that do not conform to the guidelines will not be considered
Guidelines for Novel Proposals Maiden of Pain
Wizards of the Coast is seeking proposals for one book in the FORGOTTEN REALMS(r) novel line. Please read these guidelines very carefully before submitting. Submissions that do not conform to the guidelines will not be considered. This is an "open call" and we expect a large number of submissions.
The book for which we're accepting proposals is Maiden of Pain, part of The Priests, a new series of stand-alone FORGOTTEN REALMS novels that focus on characters who are-you guessed it-priests. As such, the primary protagonist must be a priest or priestess, preferably of Loviatar (a.k.a. the Maiden of Pain). If the protagonist doesn't serve the Maiden of Pain, the principal villain had better do so.
Your essential references are the 3rd Edition FORGOTTEN REALMs Campaign Setting, and Faiths & Pantheons-study them well. Stories must grow organically from the setting. Please don't try to force a "generic" fantasy story in, and certainly don't ask us to do it for you. Learn the setting-as much as you can in the time allowed, anyway. Readers of the FORGOTTEN REALMS novel line are very particular about the world's continuity, and so are we.
Your story should be set in one of three locations in the Realms:
* Anywhere in the realm of Sembia except the city of Selgaunt. Please do not use characters from the Sembia novel series or wander too far into Cormyr or the Dalelands.
* Anywhere in Thay except the Thaymount. Please leave Szass Tam out of it.
* The city of Luthcheq in the realm of Chessenta. Please don't wander east into Unther or west into Chondath.
The list is in no particular order, so choose the location that most strikes your fancy, but stories set anywhere outside one of these three locations will not be considered.
You will have a much better shot at the book if you avoid the following elements:
* Avoid these gods: Lolth (or any other drow god), Mask, Cyric, Shar, Mystra, Umberlee, and Lurue-and their worshipers.
* Avoid these monsters: aboleths, beholders, doppelgangers, dracoliches, dragons, giants, liches, mind flayers, orcs, vampires, and yuan-ti.
* Avoid the following character archetypes: alchemists, any other author's signature characters (Drizzt, Elminster, etc.), anyone who fights with two swords, apprentice/inexperienced wizards, drow of any kind for any reason, even in "cameos," dwarves or gnomes for comedic effect, sorcerers, Asian/Oriental Adventures/Kara-Turan characters. NOTE: If you use one of the "iconic" characters that have game stats in the FRCS, they cannot be killed or permanently altered.
* Please don't use any of these overused or banned themes/plots: an ancient evil has been awakened after centuries of sleep/death/undeath, kid/reluctant hero/Bilbo Baggins gets caught up in an adventure against his will, space travel, "the artifact hunt," time travel, or a monster (especially non-humanoids) as the principal POV character.
Considering the nature of the goddess in question, this book will probably end up being a bit more "dark" than the average FORGOTTEN REALMS sword & sorcery adventure, but please keep in mind a basic "PG-13" level of violence, gore, and sex.
All proposals must be typed, on one side of plain white paper, with one-inch margins all around, and set in type no smaller than 10-point. Your package must include:
* a ten-page, double-spaced writing sample: a scene from your version of Maiden of Pain.
* a one-page, single-spaced story synopsis that tells us the whole story: beginning, middle, and end. Don't write cover or ad copy-tell us the story, and be specific about locations, character types, monsters, etc.
* a one-page cover letter that tells us anything about you that you think we might need to know.
* a stamped, self-addressed envelope.
Please put your name and contact info. on the letter, the synopsis, and the sample. Pay close attention to spelling, grammar, punctuation, and presentation.
The book itself will be 90,000 words in length, with a first draft due somewhere in the neighborhood of June or July of 2004. Please be realistic about your ability to do the writing. We're very deadline-driven here, and there's rarely any room for authors to run late. It's not a bad idea to read over our standard submission guidelines at wizards.com.
We will be accepting proposals through the end of the business day on July 1, 2003. Any proposals received after that date will not be read. Any proposal longer than a one-page synopsis/10-page sample will not be read. Proposals not specific to the novel Maiden of Pain, will not be read. We will only read hardcopy submissions sent by mail. Please do not email us. Flooding us with submissions will not help-please send us only your best proposal.
Though only one proposal will be chosen for Maiden of Pain, we will be looking at all of these as writing samples with other opportunities in mind. This is your chance to bring your talents to our attention, and we are known as a publisher that works with talented, unpublished authors. We've had the pleasure of launching a number of writing careers, and would like to launch some more.
Please address proposals to:
Maiden of Pain
c/o Book Publishing
Wizards of the Coast
P.O. Box 707
Renton, WA 98057-0707
GOOD LUCK!
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| 16 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Sadonayerah Odrydin |
Posted - 08 Mar 2003 : 21:15:39
It would be cool to try...but I'm still trying to get halfway through *my* original story....  And I'm one of those types of people who can't write something (and have it be as good as I would like it) that's already chosen for me by someone. I wish anyone who's going to give it a try the best of luck though. |
| branmakmuffin |
Posted - 06 Mar 2003 : 18:05:58
Obviously WotC has done their darndest to antcipate the kind of goobers likely to submit material.
You know even their explicit admonitions won't keep Mr. "I'm gonna be the next Robert Salvatore!" from submitting treatments involving a dual curved longswords-wielding ("They're not scimitars, I swear!")drow priestess of Shar who, with Szass Tam's help, has awakened the sleeping King of Good Dracoliches, whose guardians are a gnome and a dwarf named Boolean Thumblewoddie(tm) and Mobius Halfeyes(tm). |
| Voronica Whitney-Robinson |
Posted - 06 Mar 2003 : 01:54:08
Well folks, here is the official WotC link for the open call:
http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=fr/fx20030305x
Good luck to one and all! |
| Lord Rad |
Posted - 04 Mar 2003 : 08:17:44
quote:
Originally posted by branmakmuffin
Are we sure this is for real? There's nothing about it on the WotC website.
Im not certain if this is official or not. Maybe the WotC authors who visit here can maybe clarify this? |
| branmakmuffin |
Posted - 03 Mar 2003 : 23:06:21
Rad:
>There is a post on the ENWorld site from WotC calling writers to
>submit work for a new Forgotten Realms novel!!
<snip>
Are we sure this is for real? There's nothing about it on the WotC website. |
| Thomas M. Reid |
Posted - 01 Mar 2003 : 01:31:38
quote:
Originally posted by Voronica Whitney-Robinson
I can't speak for the others, but perhaps Alaundo could collect a list of some of your top questions and pose them to those of us who are able to contribute a little time to answering them. They could then be posted like the interviews were.
I'd be happy to participate in this. Good idea for a format, Veronica.
Thomas |
| Alaundo |
Posted - 28 Feb 2003 : 19:42:47
Well Met
quote:
Originally posted by Voronica Whitney-Robinson
I can't speak for the others, but perhaps Alaundo could collect a list of some of your top questions and pose them to those of us who are able to contribute a little time to answering them. They could then be posted like the interviews were. Although, I offer this idea not knowing how busy Alaundo and the others are!
Indeed! A scroll such of this would be worthy and extremely valuable within the great library. We thank you for your offer Voronica (and also for your link to Candlekeep on your site  ).
So be it, those wishing to ask questions to the authors, pen your questions to us and we will speak with the master scribes of the Realms.
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| Voronica Whitney-Robinson |
Posted - 28 Feb 2003 : 18:27:50
quote:
Originally posted by Mumadar Ibn Huzal
(Unfortunately no 'lightbulb' icon)Idea!
Maybe some of the (WotC)scribes resident in Candlekeep could provide some tips and tricks for aspirant writers... Thomas, Dave, Voronica, e.a., you guys had to have started somewhere as well. Would you be willing to share some of these 'secrets' of writing with the other scribes?
Alaundo/Tethoril, maybe something for a seperate thread or subforum?
Again, just a quick/wild idea...
I can't speak for the others, but perhaps Alaundo could collect a list of some of your top questions and pose them to those of us who are able to contribute a little time to answering them. They could then be posted like the interviews were. Although, I offer this idea not knowing how busy Alaundo and the others are!
I think the best tip that has worked for me is having a good sounding board. If you have a friend or associate whose opinion you respect, ask them to look over your outline/chapters. Ask them to be honest in how they find your work (grammar, syntax, etc.,logical flow)and tell you. Sometimes it can be hard to tell a friend who is very proud of what they have just produced that parts might be in need of re-working, but if that's what needs addressing, then it has to be done.
Just a quick thought...good luck to everyone!
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| Kitira Gildragon |
Posted - 27 Feb 2003 : 17:00:22
As the GLoD&D, I'd love to do some work on the maiden of pain. Trust me, this would be a grand opportunity and I would think about it except I don't have enough time or enough knowledge about the area.
Good luck to anyone who tries though! |
| Mumadar Ibn Huzal |
Posted - 27 Feb 2003 : 14:44:21
quote:
Originally posted by Thomas M. Reid
In another thread in the Novels Forum, someone brought up the issue of why you don't see more books from an evil character's POV, or as the protagonist. This call for submissions seems to be asking for that very thing. Interesting, hmmm?
Thomas
Hehehe... I believe I know that person... 
Psionics at work? I might have to review Mumadar's charactersheet...
But how about the above idea Thomas? Might it work, some sort of workshop type of thing? |
| Thomas M. Reid |
Posted - 27 Feb 2003 : 14:21:42
In another thread in the Novels Forum, someone brought up the issue of why you don't see more books from an evil character's POV, or as the protagonist. This call for submissions seems to be asking for that very thing. Interesting, hmmm?
Thomas |
| Mumadar Ibn Huzal |
Posted - 27 Feb 2003 : 12:23:31
(Unfortunately no 'lightbulb' icon)Idea!
Maybe some of the (WotC)scribes resident in Candlekeep could provide some tips and tricks for aspirant writers... Thomas, Dave, Voronica, e.a., you guys had to have started somewhere as well. Would you be willing to share some of these 'secrets' of writing with the other scribes?
Alaundo/Tethoril, maybe something for a seperate thread or subforum?
Again, just a quick/wild idea... |
| Echon |
Posted - 27 Feb 2003 : 12:08:13
I have written fantasy stories before, mostly in school with the longest reaching 30 pages on the computer. Since then I have attempted others stories and I have had ideas for years but for some reason they never get anywhere.  
quote:
Originally posted by Mumadar Ibn Huzal
<Reads scroll copied by Rad>
The thing I always seem too run into is the need of someone else's input to keep things rolling and moving forward in the general direction... Maybe that's why I like DM-ing PbeM's...
'Tis true. We DMs are very sensitive to player input.
-Echon |
| Mumadar Ibn Huzal |
Posted - 27 Feb 2003 : 11:48:57
<Reads scroll copied by Rad>
Hmmm maybe something for the resident Gentle Lady of Death and Destruction...
Though I must admit it is intrigueing... even while reading gears started spinning in my head... Have never written a book much less a short story (well sort of...)
The thing I always seem too run into is the need of someone else's input to keep things rolling and moving forward in the general direction... Maybe that's why I like DM-ing PbeM's... |
| Echon |
Posted - 27 Feb 2003 : 11:47:34
I am considering taking the offer, too. However, I still know that I am not going to. I would really like to do a fantasy novel - I always have - but it would be far too time consuming compared to what I can afford at the moment and secondly, I would prefer to create my own setting, a unique universe, rather than one created by others.
-Echon |
| Bookwyrm |
Posted - 27 Feb 2003 : 11:37:31
[Gazes at the offer with longing . . . .]
*sigh* Much as I would love to, I just can't work inside another's series like that and still keep to the canon. I'm too much of a tinkerer. I have to keep changing things . . . it's compulsive.
Anyone else going to give it a shot? If you do, I offer my services as a sounding board and partial editor . . . . |
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