The Terry Pratchett Prize, Round Three...

[Quatermass]

Has anyone got any idea whether the third TP Prize is a go or not? Only I've got a pretty damn good idea for a novel for it, and I'm itching to start writing... :think:

 

[pip]

Why not write it anyway. TP prize is not the only route open

 

[michelanCello]

What Pip said, there's no harm in writing it anyway, a good story's a good story whether it is for a prize or not.

 

[The Mad Collector]

Go for it Q, then you will be ready if/when they do announce something

 

[Quatermass]

Well, I have started, but I'm struggling anyway. Partly because I'm world-building more or less from scratch.

 

[michelanCello]

Means you can shape it any way you please

 

[Quatermass]

Means you can shape it any way you please

Actually, that's not strictly speaking true. If I did, then it'd have a Marty Stu self-insert in the lead and he'd triumph by the fact of his mere existence.

 

[Quatermass]

Ugh, well, it's not going well. I've got two potential stories for the TP Prize, but I'm not interested enough in either of them to do anything more than token efforts. The only stories I'm interested in writing ATM are not eligible for the TP Prize.

 

[michelanCello]

Well, elaborate on those then... you'll have plenty of time to come up with the prize after/if it's announced.

 

[raisindot]

Forget the damn prize, Q. Write the stories you want to write and work on getting them reviewed and edited by people you trust and, if deemed commercially viable, try to get them published. Trying to write for a specific contest is pure folly--you put all that sweat equity into it last year and nothing came of it. If you're truly bent on writing for competitions, write your story first and then look for competitions appropriate to your genre--there are hundreds of them out there, many of which are just as prestigious as the Pterry competition.

 

[Quatermass]

I'm lacking the motivation to write other books at the moment. Thinking seriously about an entry in the TP Prize might jumpstart the creative juices. I'm not putting my other projects aside, except temporarily (that is, until I get inspiration).

 

[pip]

If motivation is the issue will it help if we occasionally threaten you until the book is ready.

 

[Quatermass]

If motivation is the issue will it help if we occasionally threaten you until the book is ready.

[EFF!] off.

 

[pip]

Take that as a no then

 

[Quatermass]

Take that as a no then

Yep.

 

[michelanCello]

Why? The threat of me singing is usually pretty persuasive...

 

[Quatermass]

That's no threat. I can sing better, and worse, than you can. The latter has been banned under at least two international treaties.

 

[Quatermass]

Inspiration! Watch this space...

 

[The Mad Collector]

Good news Q, hope the inspiration hangs around long enough

 

[Quatermass]

Oh, the idea's an excellent one. Just weird enough to hook me, but I've modified it enough so that it falls within a scientifically plausible (if pretty far out) context.

The trouble is getting a story together based on the idea. I have a few thoughts which I'll have to consider and see whether I can work something out... :think: