Writing a story can be a complex task. You are challenged with the task of cleverly drip feeding characters, interaction, structure and obviously plot evenly over the nominated chapters. It's probably why editors have such a task when making the story even throughout and how the word counts can dramatically change throughout the edit. The result after all this effort? Your show stopping story.
But what if there wasn't an ending? What if the story was open ended? Think of your favourite soap opera but without the constraints of location, character or budget.
Well that will be the new book we're launching on 1st January 2012. The never ending story. A story only limited by the authors imagination. Will it work? Well that'll be down to you. I can only re-iterate that we're not going to penalise any entry on grammar or spelling but simply judge each entry on its story. In fact we may publish an adaptation of your story so even the most basic of story could get an editors make-over.
Writing just became fun again...
Visit: http://www.thebigstorychallenge.com
Wednesday 30 November 2011
Saturday 8 October 2011
The story so far...
Well what a week it has been. After launching "The Big Story Challenge" on 1st October we have been pleasantly surprised by the number of people registering and even more surprised to start receiving submitted chapters within 24 hours of the launch!
So here we find ourselves, just a few months after initial inception already over half way through the first month and the new developmental ideas for the project are coming thick and fast. Our next plan will be starting a tiered schools section. The idea being that each school will run their own internal competition challenging children from each year to write a chapter or short story. The school will then judge the entry that they want to submit and then the schools compete against each other. Of course if we can attract the necessary sponsorship then we will be able to provide prizes at each end of term.
But until then keep the chapters coming - don't forget that the deadline for submission is the 20th October. The winning chapter for each book will then be published on 1st November for the world to read and then the it starts all over again.
Good luck!!!!
http://www.thebigstorychallenge.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/add2story
Twitter: @add2story
So here we find ourselves, just a few months after initial inception already over half way through the first month and the new developmental ideas for the project are coming thick and fast. Our next plan will be starting a tiered schools section. The idea being that each school will run their own internal competition challenging children from each year to write a chapter or short story. The school will then judge the entry that they want to submit and then the schools compete against each other. Of course if we can attract the necessary sponsorship then we will be able to provide prizes at each end of term.
But until then keep the chapters coming - don't forget that the deadline for submission is the 20th October. The winning chapter for each book will then be published on 1st November for the world to read and then the it starts all over again.
Good luck!!!!
http://www.thebigstorychallenge.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/add2story
Twitter: @add2story
Friday 30 September 2011
The Big Story Challenge
Are you a writer? Or maybe you could see yourself as a story teller… Well Bedlam Media are starting an online competition entitled “The Big Story Challenge”. At 9.00am on 1st October their website launches and challenges every wannabe writer to put pen to paper and fingers to keyboard to write what could only be described as the greatest story ever told.
The task? On the 1st of every month the latest chapter will be published and the “challenge” will be to read the story so far and then write the next chapter. Sounds simple but in reality nothing like this has ever been attempted before. Bedlam explains “We’ll be starting with three genres of book and just for the beginning we’ll write the first paragraph. Then it will literally be over to you. You have up to 5000 words and 20 days to write the next chapter. We’ll then judge and publish the winning chapter on 1st of the next month – it then starts again.”
So where did this idea come from? “We just thought it was staggering how social media could connect you with millions of people. We’d started writing a sitcom and we thought it’d be interesting to ask your Twitter followers to help write it. Plus we’re all different. For example one of us is great with ideas but struggles with writing, yet I can write but when faced with a blank page I get writers block. Imagine if you brought people together like that – the possibilities are endless”.
“There are no limits, no boundaries. We’re not going to judge entries on spelling or grammar but just on your ability to create. There is so much un-tapped talent out there and with UK literacy rates falling what better time than now to get the world writing again."
To join in just visit http://www.thebigstorychallenge.com/, register for free and get writing.
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/add2story
Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/add2story
The task? On the 1st of every month the latest chapter will be published and the “challenge” will be to read the story so far and then write the next chapter. Sounds simple but in reality nothing like this has ever been attempted before. Bedlam explains “We’ll be starting with three genres of book and just for the beginning we’ll write the first paragraph. Then it will literally be over to you. You have up to 5000 words and 20 days to write the next chapter. We’ll then judge and publish the winning chapter on 1st of the next month – it then starts again.”
So where did this idea come from? “We just thought it was staggering how social media could connect you with millions of people. We’d started writing a sitcom and we thought it’d be interesting to ask your Twitter followers to help write it. Plus we’re all different. For example one of us is great with ideas but struggles with writing, yet I can write but when faced with a blank page I get writers block. Imagine if you brought people together like that – the possibilities are endless”.
“There are no limits, no boundaries. We’re not going to judge entries on spelling or grammar but just on your ability to create. There is so much un-tapped talent out there and with UK literacy rates falling what better time than now to get the world writing again."
To join in just visit http://www.thebigstorychallenge.com/, register for free and get writing.
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/add2story
Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/add2story
Friday 19 August 2011
Technology - you gotta love it...
"The more a man writes, the more he can write" - Amos Bronson Alcott
Ah so true. In fact we have found that in all creative walks of life. On music, people ask me that whilst song writing I must surely run out of ideas, rather than understanding that once I am in the creative flow the ideas come thick and fast. If only they knew that the problems only arise when I stop - getting started again is the hardest thing.
Getting started is the hardest thing...
And that is where we are now - trying to get our new platform started. All the concept and idea is there, we're just continually pushing and waiting for the web designers to catch up. And catch up is what they've nearly done but just not in time for 1st September.... so reluctantly we have had to delay the unveiling, hold back on the fanfare and stall the release until 1st October.
Yes it will be worth it. In fact it will be better than we were originally thinking. "The Greatest Story Ever Told" - sounds good doesn't it. Want to be part of it?....
Ah so true. In fact we have found that in all creative walks of life. On music, people ask me that whilst song writing I must surely run out of ideas, rather than understanding that once I am in the creative flow the ideas come thick and fast. If only they knew that the problems only arise when I stop - getting started again is the hardest thing.
Getting started is the hardest thing...
And that is where we are now - trying to get our new platform started. All the concept and idea is there, we're just continually pushing and waiting for the web designers to catch up. And catch up is what they've nearly done but just not in time for 1st September.... so reluctantly we have had to delay the unveiling, hold back on the fanfare and stall the release until 1st October.
Yes it will be worth it. In fact it will be better than we were originally thinking. "The Greatest Story Ever Told" - sounds good doesn't it. Want to be part of it?....
Saturday 6 August 2011
The future is bright - the future is bedlam
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams" - Stuart Spicer
And so the days turn into weeks... spring turns into summer... and the ticking of the clock inexorably goes on... Our project; the platform of possibility, is now beginning to take shape - but what is it exactly?
Well due to strict confidentiality policy we are unable to tell you and reveal all for a short while longer. What we can say is this;
Hold the line, stay with us... 25 days to go...
And so the days turn into weeks... spring turns into summer... and the ticking of the clock inexorably goes on... Our project; the platform of possibility, is now beginning to take shape - but what is it exactly?
Well due to strict confidentiality policy we are unable to tell you and reveal all for a short while longer. What we can say is this;
- Imagine a place where the realms of possibility are only restricted by the limits of your imagination
- A place where your idea may not be just an idea but THE idea
- Where the sum of a whole is far greater than any individual part
- Where the world finally unites as one
Hold the line, stay with us... 25 days to go...
Monday 1 August 2011
Making friends and influencing people
"Ability is of little account without opportunity" - Napoleon Bonaparte
So here we are at the start of August. For many that means summer holidays but for us it means that it's the countdown to 1st September 2011. 31 days until we unveil our new platform and offer our subscribers an incredible opportunity. So for now we are busy designing and refining our website to make sure that it delivers everything that we will be offering.
In the meantime we have been busy making contact with numerous writers via Twitter (@bedlam_media) and will be updating our progress more and more up until launch on there. We have met some very talented and entertaining literary folk this way and look forward to meeting many more so spread the word! At launch all we will ask you to do is to have a look at our website and, if you like the platform, get involved and re-tweet it to your followers.
Our PR company are also busy writing the various press-packs. The project is very media-friendly so we are expecting a lot of publicity so when it hits the headlines you'll already be in the know!
Stay tuned - there's nothing out there quite like it...
So here we are at the start of August. For many that means summer holidays but for us it means that it's the countdown to 1st September 2011. 31 days until we unveil our new platform and offer our subscribers an incredible opportunity. So for now we are busy designing and refining our website to make sure that it delivers everything that we will be offering.
In the meantime we have been busy making contact with numerous writers via Twitter (@bedlam_media) and will be updating our progress more and more up until launch on there. We have met some very talented and entertaining literary folk this way and look forward to meeting many more so spread the word! At launch all we will ask you to do is to have a look at our website and, if you like the platform, get involved and re-tweet it to your followers.
Our PR company are also busy writing the various press-packs. The project is very media-friendly so we are expecting a lot of publicity so when it hits the headlines you'll already be in the know!
Stay tuned - there's nothing out there quite like it...
Tuesday 19 July 2011
The start of a new era?
"It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life and I'm feeling good" - Nina Simone, 1965.
Bedlam Media - what does that mean to you? Maddening chaos? Probably... To us it is an umbrella covering and protecting our ideas and promoting yours. It's not a name that you have probably heard of yet but believe us you will. We are in the process of putting together one of the most innovative, forward thinking platforms the creative world has seen.
The process has been quick; from initial concept to formulative design, recruitment of IT and PR solutions. As of today we are tentatively waiting for stage two of the web design (scheduled by 29th July) with the first draft completed by 19th August. Our focus group will then pull the design to pieces before it being re-built in time for launch on 1st September 2011. A tall order? Maybe... Delays are possible, potentially inevitable but without the drive of a deadline most fall short.
And that is all that can be said for today. The waiting will soon be over and the grand unveiling will soon commence. Buckle up, free your mind and brace yourself - the show starts in 42 days...
Bedlam Media - what does that mean to you? Maddening chaos? Probably... To us it is an umbrella covering and protecting our ideas and promoting yours. It's not a name that you have probably heard of yet but believe us you will. We are in the process of putting together one of the most innovative, forward thinking platforms the creative world has seen.
The process has been quick; from initial concept to formulative design, recruitment of IT and PR solutions. As of today we are tentatively waiting for stage two of the web design (scheduled by 29th July) with the first draft completed by 19th August. Our focus group will then pull the design to pieces before it being re-built in time for launch on 1st September 2011. A tall order? Maybe... Delays are possible, potentially inevitable but without the drive of a deadline most fall short.
And that is all that can be said for today. The waiting will soon be over and the grand unveiling will soon commence. Buckle up, free your mind and brace yourself - the show starts in 42 days...
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