Jennifer
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The Big, Mean Publisher
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Post by Jennifer on Sept 21, 2009 7:50:03 GMT -8
Becoming an official MG3K writer is not complicated but it does take passion, dedication and a love of the universe. Here are the steps:
1. Write. Anything. A lot. The stronger you are as a writer, the more likely that you'll impress the Senior Editor. Remember the golden rules: Show don't tell. And nothing is better than good story.
2. Be active on the forum. Ask questions. Develop ideas. Make friends. No writer has ever been published with MG3K who wasn't first active on the forum.
3. Read the sourcebook. Twice. Then four more times. The sourcebook is free, so there's no risk.
4. Read all available MG3K fiction, including the fiction included in the Player's Handbook (the handbook is also free). Your story or novel or comic book will need to be written as well as everything else we've published. Also, read everything so that you know your idea hasn't already been used.
5. Pitch your idea to Senior Editor Cris (handle "Cris") in PM. Do not pitch to EJ first. First pitch to Cris. If she feels the idea will fit with the overall arch of the mythology, she'll tell you to PM EJ.
6. Once the mythology and character details have been worked out privately between you, Cris and EJ, you'll be contracted -- and the work begins! Writing!
You will be named an official writer upon publication of your book. Ready? Let's begin the journey now. We welcome writers from all walks of life who have a great love for Mardi Gras 3000.
Now, you may have read forum members writing about holding an expertise in a specific character or characters. You will certainly see mentions of this as you read through these official writer introductions. But what does having a character expertise mean and how does it effect you?
No single writer owns any MG3K character. Even if you make up a character not featured on a card, the character is owned by the brand. However, if you create the character from scratch (not by looking at a character on one of the CCG cards), than you are automatically considered an expert in that character. If anyone else wants to write an official story about a character you created, the writer must talk to you, the expert, about his or her ideas.
Not too differently, if a writer sees a character on a card and works with any known details for that character (which would involve PMing Cris in case certain details are secret) to create a novel, story or comic, that writer may be named the expert for that character. Who best understands and fully-realizes a carded character is decided by EJ.
A character expert works with good faith and graciousness to help other writers create stories with the character he or she holds an expertise in. There is no concern about the resulting story or book being poorly written because both the expert and Cris will have ample time to work with the manuscript and the writer.
It is also important to note that a writer can't stay a character's expert indefinitely. In order to keep his or her expert status, once a year, a writer must create a novel (50K words), novella (30K to 49K words), short story (4K words), comic (24-page), or mini-comic (12-page) featuring the character in a major role. The other way to keep expert status is by supplying the complex concept for a book featuring your character for another writer to write (this is a very special circumstance but has worked well for both EJ and Eric).
Why does a writer want to be a character expert? Not all writers do! But some writers feel so powerfully about a character that they want to help shape his or her entire story arch. That's a writer destined to become an expert.
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Jennifer
MG3K Forum Member
MG3K Publisher}}OfficialWordCount{14693} FanFiction{3175} Awards{31}
The Big, Mean Publisher
Posts: 718
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Post by Jennifer on Sept 23, 2009 4:07:04 GMT -8
Have a question about being an official MG3K writer? Post it here or PM me if you feel the question is sensitive. I'll post appropriate Q/A here.
Q: Does my name go on the cover of a MG3K book that I write or does just the brand name go on the cover?
A: Your name! Usually nice and big, too. The brand banner goes at the top of the cover but you receive complete author credit.
Q: Not to be rude, but do I get paid?
A: That's not rude at all and your answer is yes. Authors receive a 15% royalty on all sales of their book. Additionally, authors receive one free copy of their book (we know, not that many, but our royalty is more than double the 7% industry standard).
Q: I wrote a story that was published by MG3K. Yay me! But I'm very busy and don't want to be an Character Expert who needs to review and approve and work with writers interested in writing about the characters in my story. Is that okay?
A: Of course. And if you ever change your mind, just let me know.
Q: I wrote a story that was published by MG3K and I really want to be named the Character Expert for my characters. Does it happen automatically like getting money from the Tooth Fairy?
A: Um... not sure about the Tooth Fairy part, but you will *not* be named a Character Expert automatically. Because experts are required to produce a story, comic book, novel or novella with their characters once a year, no one will be assigned as an expert unless they contact us first.
Q: I wrote a story that was published by MG3K. I'd like to post it in the Official Fiction section or on my MySpace or Facebook or at another forum or....
A: Sorry but this is not allowed. Once a story is published, it cannot be offered anywhere but in the official book. But don't worry. All MG3K books will be available in hard copy and PDF with a wide range of prices so that everyone can afford to read about this amazing universe.
Exceptions to this rule are when an *excerpt* of a fan fiction story is published or when a special decision to offer a story as a "trailer" is made by the publisher (like Summer Lyn's "Crusade").
Other exceptions are: You can offer the first chapter of your novel or novella, the first two pages of your comic, or the first 200 words of your story for free as a teaser any where.
Q: What if someone is granted expertise in a character but by the end of the year the writer hasn't written anything? Can us readers beat them up?
A: That probably isn't a good idea. But don't worry. Writer allowing a character to fall away can't happen. Writers earn their expertise status by turning in content prior to the term of their expertise.
Example: Pat turns in a novel about the carded character Faith. Pat works with Cris (our Senior Editor) and finalizes the book in terms of fact-checking, etc. Cris also runs the book by EJ. After Pat, Cris and EJ are happy with the book, the book is turned in to me, Jennifer, the publisher and brand manager. If Pat, Cris and EJ have decided that Pat should be a Character Expert, I record the date I receive the manuscript and list Pat's expertise here on the forum for the next 365 days.
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Jennifer
MG3K Forum Member
MG3K Publisher}}OfficialWordCount{14693} FanFiction{3175} Awards{31}
The Big, Mean Publisher
Posts: 718
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Post by Jennifer on Sept 23, 2009 19:12:30 GMT -8
We've done it. The first official MG3K anthology has been finalized and the first official novels and comic books are coming in. Overall, they look great! In order to help all of us (because all of us are making at least one of these errors), I've decided to post common MG3K fiction mistakes and their corrections. 1. Human is capitalized. 2. Morph is not capitalized. 3. Telepathic speech is called casting (for Celestials) or sending (for Terrapyres). 4. Creating a mental environment for another that can be experienced fully is called projecting (Celestials only). 5. Compeer and lairmate are not capitalized. Additionally, compeer is italicized (all Homidin words are... even the words Homidin, Homidus and Hom). 6. Immortal (when used as a noun) is capitalized. 7. Intimate Form, Ornate Form, and True Form are all capitalized. 8. Province names are italicized. 9. Province is capitalized. 10. Celestials do not use contractions unless they have been raised outside of and now reject Homidin culture. 11. Neutral Hour is capitalized. 12. Skill is capitalized. 13. Grail is capitalized. 14. Portals go back to Hom and they are made with a biomech unit. If you need to know what one looks like, pose a question to Luz, as she has used them in official fiction  Portal is also capitalized. 15. Warps are jumps within sight-distance of one another and the word is capitalized for both Warps and Warping. 16. Celestials use Warps to enter/exit an Outpost as well. 17. Celestials have Homidin names (such as Eliena and Lynor) when they are born on Hom. They take or are given handles or call signs when they become soldiers on Earth. These call signs are used exclusively on Earth and they are always after Celestial bodies. 18. Celestials refer to Earth flora and fauna by its Latin name. 19. Avoid use of universe-specific words -- such as cast and warp -- unless using them in said specific ways. 20. To show Celestial telepathic speech, enclose the words in ::: instead of quotes. Example: :::Stop, Stella. There is something wrong here,::: Neo cast to his Compeer. 21. If Terrapyres or Humans are communicating via an implant, the speech is enclosed in brackets. Example: [Do you find low-res graphics distracting in the metaverse?] Buck asked Beat, buying time for the node to catch up with them. 22. Thoughts are not enclosed in quotes, brackets or anything else but rather simply italicized. Exampe: I only wish I were brave enough, Sarah chided herself silently. 23. Do not put a white space (a blank line) between every paragraph. Indent properly. 24. Every scene should be useful, lyrical, vibrant, emotional charged. If it isn't, cut it out. 25. Your book or story may be a reader's very first exposure to MG3K. They know nothing. Your job is to share your passion... and the richness of the universe. |
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Lombardi
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Post by Lombardi on Mar 16, 2010 8:47:18 GMT -8
I thought it might be a good idea to begin a database for official writers of sound and XF fonts for use in Mardi Gras 3000 comics. Since I've just come on as Art Director for the MG3K comic line, if this database exists somewhere else, please disregard this message and the admin can certainly delete it. MG3K authors should not use any dialogue fonts other than: DigitalStrip2BB_bold.ttf www.easy-share.com/1909564297/DigitalStrip2BB_bold.ttfDigitalStrip2BB_reg.ttf www.easy-share.com/1909564298/DigitalStrip2BB_reg.ttfSound fonts are used for when a character makes a sound that is something other than a word such as a gasp, huh, grunt, snore, etc. Sound fonts instantly recognizable as special but are readable and fit nicely nestled among sentences set in the dialogue font. Simply making the dialogue fonts larger or bold or italic will not pass my review. FX fonts are sounds not created by a character's voice. These include sounds a character might make with an action such as knocking or punching. FX fonts are also all the environmental sounds, inanimate sounds, and animal sounds. If anyone would like to share here, you can upload your fonts at www.easy-share.com/ Take the time to really share your actual resources. Please don't simply post links to thousands of fonts. What fonts have you used? What were they used for? Having the same kinds of sounds and FX represented by the same fonts across several titles or series is not required but readers will find it comfortable. Mike |
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Jennifer
MG3K Forum Member
MG3K Publisher}}OfficialWordCount{14693} FanFiction{3175} Awards{31}
The Big, Mean Publisher
Posts: 718
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Post by Jennifer on Mar 16, 2010 9:06:50 GMT -8
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Admin
Administrator
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Post by Admin on Mar 16, 2010 14:23:58 GMT -8
Mike and Jennifer, *Thank* you. This is an incredible resource. When I get into the sound FX I'll post mine here, too. Brianne |
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Olivia
MG3K Forum Member
Posts: 13
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Post by Olivia on Mar 18, 2010 2:47:58 GMT -8
Mike, this is a wonderful idea and so I do quite forgive you for stealing my (second) favorite actor for your icon and for ending my reign as oldest member at that forum.
Summer is working diligently to iron out her Four Horsemen series for Mardi Gras which is still in concept stage but it is things like this that she often worries about. Unique fonts that do not look "cartoonish" are vital to her project which is dark and mature.
Can someone like myself help with this project? If I happen upon a font that I simply think would look incredible as a specific sound or effect?
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LaughingClown
MG3K Forum Member
Writer}}OfficialWordCount{3404} FanFiction{1048} Awards{4}
No black and white. Just black and gold.
Posts: 17
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Post by LaughingClown on Mar 18, 2010 4:10:15 GMT -8
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Sunshine
MG3K Forum Member
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I dare you.
Posts: 80
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Post by Sunshine on Mar 18, 2010 4:21:55 GMT -8
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Cris
MG3K Forum Member
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Homidin: teh sc?o, teh torox, teh antha.
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Post by Cris on Mar 18, 2010 23:29:43 GMT -8
Mike, Awesome avi. Can't wait for the Madonna episode. "How do you like my new look?" Thanks for the great idea. I have... I must admit... thousands of fonts. I have always loved the idea of creating something beautiful with type. And since I've been around since before desktop publishing... yes I am that old...I actually know how to set type by hand and have done so. One of my friends was a typesetter for the Boston Globe before he retired in the mid-1980s. Can the fonts we share be free fonts? What about making our own? Olivia, btw, you ended my reign, which was quite long, as the oldest member of the forum. Now, I guess we've both been kicked off the dias.  Cris |
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Jennifer
MG3K Forum Member
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The Big, Mean Publisher
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Post by Jennifer on Mar 19, 2010 20:05:15 GMT -8
Mike, thank you so much (again) for starting this thread. This is *so* helpful for me. Seriously. I really like the folks post a link to the font but also a description of what in the world it might be used for.
I'm a little shy about this, but since Cris brought it up... I actually made my very own font for the first time about a month ago. It's a font made up of all the tribal-style balloon tails that I needed for my comic series, "Reciprocity." The fonts out there didn't give me enough variety so I graphed out my own :}
Should I share something like that?
(Cris... I can't wait for you to start posting fonts!)
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Lombardi
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Post by Lombardi on Apr 17, 2010 18:06:40 GMT -8
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LaughingClown
MG3K Forum Member
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No black and white. Just black and gold.
Posts: 17
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Post by LaughingClown on Apr 26, 2010 7:15:39 GMT -8
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GamerChick
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Proudly raising little gamers.
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Post by GamerChick on Apr 29, 2010 21:03:49 GMT -8
I told Jennifer about this freebie and she just wrote and let me know that it rocked. www.lanmisoft.com/fastfontpreview.exeIf you've ever wondered what font to use, this tiny program lets you view any word or title or sentence in every font installed on your system. Very helpful for deciding titling or sound effects for comics. Gille (helping MG3K writers everywhere) |
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Jennifer
MG3K Forum Member
MG3K Publisher}}OfficialWordCount{14693} FanFiction{3175} Awards{31}
The Big, Mean Publisher
Posts: 718
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Post by Jennifer on Apr 30, 2010 2:35:03 GMT -8
Gille, grrl, you help *everyone* everywhere It's true. The font previewer is very helpful and also fun There's also a paid program (just $25 but you get it free for 30 days) called Printer's Apprentice that does the same thing as well as it allows you to uninstall and then reinstall any and all of your fonts until you need them. It still previews them all for you, but you won't slow down your system by having all 894 of them (gee, who would have that many fonts installed?! Not me! Oh no, not me). That program can be found here: Printer's Apprentice 8.1 www.loseyourmind.comI also want to share some great fonts I just used in my update of the "Penelope: Written on the Body" comic which is being released in a revised/rewritten/reworked form as the short in the back of the Jared comic -- whew! What a sentence  Smacking into something hard Due Date Celestial acquisition appendages emerging Aidan Celestial cquisition appendages moving fast to strike and acquire a dna sample Speed of Oatmeal These three can be found here: www.easy-share.com/1910073450/fonts.zipAlso, proof that this thread (thank you, Mike!) works so beautifully, I was pleased to find Earthquake listed here. I used it for the sound effect of rocks falling in a bit of a land slide and it looks great! Thank you to everyone who is sharing their FX fonts! Jennifer |
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Portal is also capitalized.
