out of sequence signal boost

[lolmac]

All ye fanficcers, get ye over to Whatever RIGHT NOW and read about the
Wil Wheaton/John Scalzi facfic contest.

Behold the image:  a painting of Scalzi as an Orc, and Wil in a clown sweater astride a flying unicorn cat, caught a dramatic albeit confusing tableau.  Does this inspire your creative juices?  You have until June 30th to write something about it -- 400 to 2,000 words -- and submit it to them, one entry per person.  (That means a quadrabble is legit!  Go for it, wabbit!)

The winning entries will be professionally published.  As in paid.  The stories, plus stories written by Scalzi, Wheaton, Catherynne Valente and Patrick Rothfuss, will be collected into a chapbook and sold as a fundraiser for the Lupus Foundation of America.

Obviously, RPF is allowed (although it's kind of stretching the term once you get the Orc in there), but they are specifically prohibiting slash in submitted fics.  I suspect their respective wives might have something to do with this (and I don't blame them, y'know).

Fame!  Fortune!  Flying unicorn cats!  And Wil Wheaton and John Scalzi!  Let's do it!!!1!

Beth
May 2010

Comments

[curuchamion.livejournal.com]

That really makes me wish I knew anything about either of the guys involved beyond the clown sweater (which I've seen before - I used to know how Wil got it, but my brain's a sieve these days).

[studyofrunning.livejournal.com]

I don't know anything about these people, but that's awesome and I want in on it.

[curuchamion.livejournal.com]

Correction: got photographed in it. (Told you my brain's a sieve.)

The winner will be some very clever writer who not only comes up with a hilarious and halfway-plausible scenario but knows enough about both guys to do clever satirical characterization with subtle in-jokes. I can't write it, but I'd love to be a fly on the wall at the judging!

[lolmac]

As a teenager, Wil Wheaton played Wesley Crusher, the Mary Sue kid on Star Trek TNG. He's now a notable geek blogger and author, as well as continuing to make TV appearances. He did a hysterical set of tongue-in-cheek commentaries on the first season of Star Trek TNG, mostly making fun of his own character.

John Scalzi is a best-selling science fiction author; his blog, Whatever, is one of my daily must-reads. He's made some outstanding posts on writing, publishing, and surviving as a creative person in the real world. He's also the current president of SFWA (Science Fiction Writers' Association) and has blogged before this on the theme of "I'm a pro and I think fanfic is cool".

[lolmac]

At least we'll all have the opportunity to read it -- and make a contribution at the same time.

One commenter on Whatever bemoaned the thought of the resulting slush pile.

[studyofrunning.livejournal.com]

I've heard of Wil Wheaton, but somehow I've never read his blog or those reviews.

John Scalzi is a new name to me. He sounds really cool.

[jackwabbit.livejournal.com]

Saw this on Twitter yesterday. Died.

In. In. In. In. In.

That is all.

What I'll write? No clue. But I will write!

[lothithil.livejournal.com]

This should be interesting! :D

[agentmeerkat.livejournal.com]

...Flying unicorn cats...? Huh...?

[agentmeerkat.livejournal.com]

Never mind, I figured it out. Creepy. I'm scarred for life.

[lolmac]

Follow the link, and you'll see the picture. It's kind of an insane unicorn pegasus hippogriff kitten. And Wil Wheaton is riding it. Srsly.

[lolmac]

Yes, Scalzi has Much to Answer For today.

[agentmeerkat.livejournal.com]

Yes. I saw the pic...please excuse me while I find a private place to vomit...

[alternatealto.livejournal.com]

But teh kitteh is cuuuuuuuuute!! How can u not luv teh Cute?

Especially the insanely gleeful and maniacal version of Cute that the picture epitomizes?

[agentmeerkat.livejournal.com]

I guess it might grow on me...if I can get past the gag reflex first...