Being a writer!

Quick List

So you want to write for Arcanacon XXVIII?

Now is the time. We require your blurb. From the blurb comes the commitment to writing. From the full commitment to writing comes madness. And the madness will make you stronger, oh yes.

Blurbs can be submitted now via AON. We need all the blurbs by 30th of September, just before UniCon.

So if you're ready to tell us what you want to run, you can login or signup to AON, register for Arcanacon 2010, and submit your blurb. If you'd like to know a little more first, then read on....

What's involved in writing for Arcanacon?

A Blurb

Every event needs a short blurb to let people know what it is all about. Your blurb should include an event name and your name, and, if appropriate, the game system you'll be using. It should have something like a couple of paragraphs about the game, or some other way of conveying what your event is. It should also cover the basic ratings that we like to put in - Adult Content, Characterisation, Genre/Rules Knowledge and Seriousness.

Your blurb has to be able to catch people's attention pretty quickly - some people scan the events for people they know, or systems they want to play, but some people actually read the blurbs to see what the game is about before they decide if they want to play.

Because of the hike in printing prices over the last few years, we've now moved from the pre-convention booklet entry form to a pamphlet and website. This opens up a couple more options for you as a blurb desiger. You can provide more material via the website, like character briefs, images or game background. If you have ideas, contact us - we're willing to listen.

For more information on blurb guidelines, please look at:

If you've not written for a Con before, it's also worth skimming through some of the old Arcanacons and taking a squiz at what other people have done - blurbs done as news articles, poems, images or letters convey a lot about an event quickly.

If you want to write, we need your blurb by the start of October - we need time to get our advertising material together, and you need time to accomplish part II - actually writing the game.

Writing the event

Writing always takes more time than you think. You might get writer's block, you might just find that you keep having ideas and want to get them all down.

Try to not be still writing the day before the Convention - while you might be able to pull it off and have people enjoy themselves, equally you might botch it and everyone will point and laugh.

Playtesting is often a good idea - of course, if you're running a 40 player freeform, it's a bit tricky, but for yon standard four player tabletop, a session run a couple of weeks before the Con can spot those subtle plot holes before you run your game around in public.

And finally...

Running the Event

Seems simple - show up, get players, go about your business. And hopefully that's what it will be like.

With our current online registration, you can see how many players are pre-registering for your event, and when. You can see if you'll need extra GMs - chances are you will need at least one more person to cover a majority of the Con with you, and it's always nice to have more backup.

Showing up for pre-registration is still a plan - there are a lot of people who show up on the day and want to get into your game, and it's easiest if you can be there when they are.

If the worst happens, and you can't offer your game, please don't just not show up - there is no blacklist, but the Organisers have a long memory. The earlier you can let us know, the happier we'll be obviously, but sometimes Life intrudes and events are not able to be run.

Not scared off? Cool! Any questions about blurbs or writing? Send them along to orgs@arcanacon.org.


ABOUT NEWS REGO EVENTS	Being a writer! Quick List Submit your blurb through AON Blurb guidelines Electronic blurb guidelines So you want to write for Arcanacon XXVIII? Now is the time. We require your blurb. From the blurb comes the commitment to writing. From the full commitment to writing comes madness. And the madness will make you stronger, oh yes. Blurbs can be submitted now via AON. We need all the blurbs by 30th of September, just before UniCon. So if you're ready to tell us what you want to run, you can login or signup to AON, register for Arcanacon 2010, and submit your blurb. If you'd like to know a little more first, then read on.... What's involved in writing for Arcanacon? A Blurb Every event needs a short blurb to let people know what it is all about. Your blurb should include an event name and your name, and, if appropriate, the game system you'll be using. It should have something like a couple of paragraphs about the game, or some other way of conveying what your event is. It should also cover the basic ratings that we like to put in - Adult Content, Characterisation, Genre/Rules Knowledge and Seriousness. Your blurb has to be able to catch people's attention pretty quickly - some people scan the events for people they know, or systems they want to play, but some people actually read the blurbs to see what the game is about before they decide if they want to play. Because of the hike in printing prices over the last few years, we've now moved from the pre-convention booklet entry form to a pamphlet and website. This opens up a couple more options for you as a blurb desiger. You can provide more material via the website, like character briefs, images or game background. If you have ideas, contact us - we're willing to listen. For more information on blurb guidelines, please look at: Blurb Guidelines Electronic blurb submission If you've not written for a Con before, it's also worth skimming through some of the old Arcanacons and taking a squiz at what other people have done - blurbs done as news articles, poems, images or letters convey a lot about an event quickly. If you want to write, we need your blurb by the start of October - we need time to get our advertising material together, and you need time to accomplish part II - actually writing the game. Writing the event Writing always takes more time than you think. You might get writer's block, you might just find that you keep having ideas and want to get them all down. Try to not be still writing the day before the Convention - while you might be able to pull it off and have people enjoy themselves, equally you might botch it and everyone will point and laugh. Playtesting is often a good idea - of course, if you're running a 40 player freeform, it's a bit tricky, but for yon standard four player tabletop, a session run a couple of weeks before the Con can spot those subtle plot holes before you run your game around in public. And finally... Running the Event Seems simple - show up, get players, go about your business. And hopefully that's what it will be like. With our current online registration, you can see how many players are pre-registering for your event, and when. You can see if you'll need extra GMs - chances are you will need at least one more person to cover a majority of the Con with you, and it's always nice to have more backup. Showing up for pre-registration is still a plan - there are a lot of people who show up on the day and want to get into your game, and it's easiest if you can be there when they are. If the worst happens, and you can't offer your game, please don't just not show up - there is no blacklist, but the Organisers have a long memory. The earlier you can let us know, the happier we'll be obviously, but sometimes Life intrudes and events are not able to be run. Not scared off? Cool! Any questions about blurbs or writing? Send them along to orgs@arcanacon.org. Arcanacon XXVIII Roleplaying Convention: Saturday 23rd January to Tuesday 26th January 2010 AON: username: password: © Random Inc 2009-2010, enquiries: orgs@arcanacon.org / last updated: 01 September 2009	WRITING HELPING COMMUNITY ARCHIVE