It's almost that time again.
![Grin ;D](http://absolutechaos.net/fictalk/Smileys/default/grin.gif)
~ Do you find reading in a different genre or main character, other then what you're comfortable with, a challenge?
~ Maybe you find it a challenge to commit to reading a story all the way through?
~ Perhaps your challenge is taking the time to leave thoughtful feedback on every chapter as you read or as an author, responding to that feedback.
If you fall into any or all of those categories, this challenge is for you!
Just a few things to keep in mind...You can submit up to five stories for the challenge but once you submit you have to also agree to read!
Readers who do not write can also participate
Stories have to be at least 10 chapters or more to be submitted.
You can submit short stories but you have to group them together and there has to be at least 5.
You can submit the same stories you have in past challenges but obviously, the reader has to be different.
Some new rules starting in 2015:
~ You can only submit a collaboration if all writers are participating in the challenge. The story can be submitted by both people and it can be read by two different people but I think it's fair. Otherwise, it can be an awkward situation for the person reading it. And you never know if the other person who wrote it would want it to be read for a challenge.
~ When you volunteer to participate in the challenge, before I allow you to submit stories you need to meet the following guidelines:
-Under your username where it says reviews, you must have at least 200 there, unless you are a newer member (less than two years) then I will allow 100.
- I will check to see if you respond to the reviews that you receive, if you don't then this challenge is not for you.
~Before I allow a story, I will actually click on the first chapter and if it's laced with a ton of grammatical errors, I will not allow it as part of the challenge unless it's fixed.
The one thing I am trying to get rid of, is the element of feeling like something is homework or just not reciprocal. When a story is full of errors it becomes more of a chore for the person reading it and could be pretty awkward if that person isn't accustomed to giving concrit. In turn, no one gets anything out of the challenge. Same on the opposite end, if you happen to have someone reading your story who doesn't give concrit and isn't the best at reviewing or responding, it becomes very one sided.
I would prefer only a handful of people who take this seriously than a ton of people who don't.
If you have any questions or suggestions, use this thread.
In May we will start asking for participants and in June the actual challenge will start!
We always have a lot of fun when we do this and new friendships are almost always formed. It's also a great way to get more people to read your stuff, simply by word of mouth!!
I look forward to seeing you all again!