BattleTech - The Board Game of Armored Combat
BattleTech Game Systems => General BattleTech Discussion => Topic started by: HyperionCormyr on 26 November 2019, 15:14:06
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Without plowing through all 200+ pages of the various threads- is there any information about submitting a story for the Shrapnel publication?
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Short answer: Nope.
Long answer: Same, just longer.
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I have been told there will be a portal. Just not there yet. We just need to give it time.
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Personally, I expect it to be much the same as BattleCorps old standards- which can be summed up as; professionally produced, leave the big characters alone (IE, your POV character has not and will not meet Victor Steiner-Davion), and its not a vehicle to get your non-canon merc unit (that is the greatest thing since sliced bread) to be canonized.
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Funny, I was given the impression that it was not BattleCorp 2.0
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Its not going to be from my impression either- but if you are writing for it I still think those three general submission guidelines (professionalism/new writers play around the edges/no unit canonizing) will apply. I expect it will also have things like 'this edition will be about X, stories/articles/analysis will require the inclusion of X.' I would not expect a 'write about any point in the timeline' allowance like BC had at one point.
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What Colt said, re: professionalism and the general rules of thumb that BC submissions had, although the stories can be from any point in the BT timeline.
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Is it just stories or is it a bit more BattleTechnology like in that articles and scenarios are possible?
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Personally, I'd love to see more stories from the pre-BattleMech period. There's a lot of juicy politics going on during the Terran Alliance era, with plenty of conflict, even before the Outer Reaches Rebellion. You've got some sort of biowarfare going on in the middle east (where the future Azami picked up their inherited toxicity), increasingly open clashes between the Liberals and Expansionists, terrorist groups killing off scientists and political leaders (Elias Liao's New World Disciples and others), Alliance Global Militia Para-Cavalry divisions (in which members of House Davion served) massacring protesters, the ultra-wealthy Rudolph Ryan and his son covertly arming colony groups, etc.
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I thank you for your insights. I would hope they will take submissions and bank them in order to put together issues, rather than saying "write something for X period for the next issue". I'd like to see some slice of life things that deal with other perspectives of major events and dig into unexplored parts of history as well.
I'm thinking about a story that deals with what a Clan occupation is like from the civilian aspect.
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How are you guys defining like-BC/not like-BC?
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For me it was 'any well written story that meets guidelines' vs 'any well written story/article/analysis/scenario that fits with edition purpose/theme/current product/goal.'
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All I know is the Guidelines are still being worked on.....
Craig
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For me it was 'any well written story that meets guidelines' vs 'any well written story/article/analysis/scenario that fits with edition purpose/theme/current product/goal.'
Then it’s the former.
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The only problem I see with the first definition is that the "guidelines" could include anything from the second too...
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Ah...just what are we talking about for a subject? The last book that went to this name was ages ago and did not go over well for sales. I lived the book myself.
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"Shrapnel" is the projected name for an upcoming new, canonical BattleTech magazine in the fashion of the old BattleTechnology and 'Mech magazines.
It was achieved as a stretch goal in the Clan Invasion Kickstarter.
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ah, thanks for the heads up in that then.
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Very cool.
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Putting out some very basic hard guidelines would be very beneficial at this point. Things like the word-count are more important for potential submissions than blanket statements such as "professionalism". While the latter is vital and ultimately important to the conversation, it can be assumed at this stage of the game's evolution--given its fiction-heavy lineage.
In other words, having a wonderful 12000 word story does nothing for the writer or editor both if 3000-5000 is a functionally hard limit.
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Indeed. I would like some very rough guidelines thrown out to help get started.
For instance, I have a 4th SW story that is 10K words that I'd like to submit. It DOES include a small merc unit that doesn't last long and only mentions major players BECAUSE they are major players and thus part of the overall setting.
Also knowing if there will be "themed" issues would be good. Like an "All 4th SW" or "All from the Clans Perspective" or "Ghost Stories". There are all sorts of non-stompy tank things about the Battletech universe I would like to explore and getting ideas ahead of time would be good.
I dislike the idea that you cannot create a unit to have it become canon in a SMALL way. Obviously you can't create some Elite Regimental Combat Team that completely did the job of someone else at a pivotal point in BT lore, but a company of mercs on a raid that doesn't go so well should be perfectly acceptable as long as the story itself is well written and engaging.
For ME, using existing canon characters/units FEELS very fanfic. It's acceptable from one point of view, but I don't KNOW those characters well enough to write them without it feeling forced or making them act out of character for my story.
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I dislike the idea that you cannot create a unit to have it become canon in a SMALL way. Obviously you can't create some Elite Regimental Combat Team that completely did the job of someone else at a pivotal point in BT lore, but a company of mercs on a raid that doesn't go so well should be perfectly acceptable as long as the story itself is well written and engaging.
For ME, using existing canon characters/units FEELS very fanfic. It's acceptable from one point of view, but I don't KNOW those characters well enough to write them without it feeling forced or making them act out of character for my story.
My comments are being blown out of proportion . . . I said major characters- like the example I gave, your character has not been pal'ing around with VSD from the age of 5 and regularly meets for cocktails- but that still leaves a LOT of empty names. Want to submit a story about a company you created in the 2nd Regulan Hussars in 3061? Sure, grab the characters from FMFWL & FMU and have them in the story. But a story about a unit that Duncan Fisher endorses and says they are like the Black Thorns but better . . . very likely will not be in the cards.
My only point was they would likely have very similar guidelines as the BC ones that were released.
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My comments are being blown out of proportion . . . I said major characters- like the example I gave, your character has not been pal'ing around with VSD from the age of 5 and regularly meets for cocktails- but that still leaves a LOT of empty names. Want to submit a story about a company you created in the 2nd Regulan Hussars in 3061? Sure, grab the characters from FMFWL & FMU and have them in the story. But a story about a unit that Duncan Fisher endorses and says they are like the Black Thorns but better . . . very likely will not be in the cards.
My only point was they would likely have very similar guidelines as the BC ones that were released.
I am not disagreeing with you. Most of the major characters like VSD have been overwritten IMO and need to be left alone to explore the rest of known space.
Could you post a link to the BC Submission guidelines?
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The original guidelines were on BattleCorps.com, which is now 404 territory. Craig Reed, one of the main BattleTech authors on BattleCorps, posted some good guidelines (along with the dead links to the official guidelines) here: http://thebattletechstate.blogspot.com/2012/03/dos-and-dont-of-battlecorps-writing-dos.html
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Could you post a link to the BC Submission guidelines?
They used to be up on the BattleCorps site, but since that's disappeared it might be hard to find an exact copy. From what I recall, when I inquired some of the highlights were:
- Length: 5,000-10,000 words
- Standard manuscript format (title page with title, contact details, word count, Times New Roman or other standard font, etc.). On that note, I found this site helpful: https://www.shunn.net/format/story.html.
- Follow BattleTech spelling conventions and styles
- Could not break canon (no AUs or what-ifs, etc.)
- Similar to the above, but no universe-changing events (which is where I think the earlier advice about major characters comes in--not that you couldn't mention them or have them at the periphery of the story, but they couldn't be main characters)
- No vanity unit or write-up of your tabletop games (not that you couldn't invent a unit, but rather the narrative/story had to be the focus)
- No multi-part or ongoing sagas (had to be a self-contained story)
If Adrian's comment above ("any well-written story") is any guide, it doesn't look like they're thinking about thematic issues, but if the guidelines aren't settled yet then I would guess they might be a ways from having a detailed publication schedule.
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The original guidelines were on BattleCorps.com, which is now 404 territory. Craig Reed, one of the main BattleTech authors on BattleCorps, posted some good guidelines (along with the dead links to the official guidelines) here: http://thebattletechstate.blogspot.com/2012/03/dos-and-dont-of-battlecorps-writing-dos.html
They used to be up on the BattleCorps site, but since that's disappeared it might be hard to find an exact copy. From what I recall, when I inquired some of the highlights were:
- Length: 5,000-10,000 words
- Standard manuscript format (title page with title, contact details, word count, Times New Roman or other standard font, etc.). On that note, I found this site helpful: https://www.shunn.net/format/story.html.
- Follow BattleTech spelling conventions and styles
- Could not break canon (no AUs or what-ifs, etc.)
- Similar to the above, but no universe-changing events (which is where I think the earlier advice about major characters comes in--not that you couldn't mention them or have them at the periphery of the story, but they couldn't be main characters)
- No vanity unit or write-up of your tabletop games (not that you couldn't invent a unit, but rather the narrative/story had to be the focus)
- No multi-part or ongoing sagas (had to be a self-contained story)
If Adrian's comment above ("any well-written story") is any guide, it doesn't look like they're thinking about thematic issues, but if the guidelines aren't settled yet then I would guess they might be a ways from having a detailed publication schedule.
Thank you both. I have pulled the information from both sites and will be using it to put the final touches on my initial story. I would imagine the PTB are holding off from putting out any guidelines and a submission "box" because A) it's the holidays; B) They weren't expecting the absolute shattering of every stretch goal and then some; and C) They want to get their publishing ducks in a row before opening things up.
I honestly wish someone would revive/recover the BattleCorps site as it sounds like there was a lot there that I missed out on while I was a lapsed player.
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I honestly wish someone would revive/recover the BattleCorps site as it sounds like there was a lot there that I missed out on while I was a lapsed player.
Sharpnel is supposed to be Battlecorps' replacement. We will be looking for new authors. My guidelines mentioned above should still be good as an outline to start with.
Craig
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I would imagine the PTB are holding off from putting out any guidelines and a submission "box" because A) it's the holidays; B) They weren't expecting the absolute shattering of every stretch goal and then some; and C) They want to get their publishing ducks in a row before opening things up.
Guidelines are in progress. Management is aware of the demand and working to get something out to everyone asap.
I honestly wish someone would revive/recover the BattleCorps site as it sounds like there was a lot there that I missed out on while I was a lapsed player.
Not a small task, and not without its snags. But some of the large repository of BC stories will be making their way out again in digital collections soon.
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"Shrapnel" is the projected name for an upcoming new, canonical BattleTech magazine in the fashion of the old BattleTechnology and 'Mech magazines.
It was achieved as a stretch goal in the Clan Invasion Kickstarter.
Yes - and much as I support the magazine, I think a more "neutral" name might be beneficial.
There is plenty of BT stuff to include, but a more inclusive approach, a magazine that included material for Shadowrun, Leviathans and other CGL products would have a wider audience and possibly a more stable foundation at, admittedly, the cost of focus. It's like a comparsion between the BattleTechnology magazine, and Dragon or Rifter.
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Now that the initial issue has started to be released, has there been an update on submitting a story?
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took a snapshot from the issue 1 PDF.
i assume that further content specific guidelines will be made available later.
however i would suggest that professional writing style and prose, avoiding more well trod parts of the setting, and avoiding adding anything that requires major canonizations is a good set of guidelines that will make your stories more likely to see print.
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And for those who want some advice on submitting to Shrapnel:
http://thebattletechstate.blogspot.com/2020/05/submitting-to-shrapnel.html (http://thebattletechstate.blogspot.com/2020/05/submitting-to-shrapnel.html) ;)
Craig
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so in order to have a chance at getting published you have to shoot your best shot... but if you miss you can't use that idea again. what i need to do is convince someone far more competent to do it instead :))
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so in order to have a chance at getting published you have to shoot your best shot... but if you miss you can't use that idea again. what i need to do is convince someone far more competent to do it instead :))
It's more along the lines of, "Don't change the serial numbers on the rejected story and resubmit as a new story." Nothing wrong with reusing the basic idea/plot, just don't make a few cosmetic changes and call it a new story.... :D
Craig
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i'll find out if i'm even in the neighborhood of good enough. then maybe i'll try plan B -
bribing petitioning a competent author :))
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Can anyone explain how one actually gets a copy of the first issue? I'd love to but I can't seem to find a link anywhere.
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Came with the Kickstarter, per the New Release thread it will be available for general release in a week or two.
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Can anyone explain how one actually gets a copy of the first issue? I'd love to but I can't seem to find a link anywhere.
If you backed the Clan Invasion Kickstarter, then you should have gotten an email from CrowdOx with a download link. If not, then not to worry: it will be available for the general public within the next two weeks, so be on the lookout for an official announcement.
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Ahhh, it appears I did receive that email, but missed the link because it was at the bottom of a long list of download links for BattleCorps stories I already had. Thanks!
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This thread was useful. Thank you to everyone for the information provided - here, and on blogs.
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It's in the back of the issue, full page or two on it.
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For easy access, here's the link to the submissions portal, which also has the submissions guidelines:
https://pulsepublishingsubmissions.moksha.io/publication/shrapnel-the-battletech-magazine-fiction
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And for those who want some advice on submitting to Shrapnel:
http://thebattletechstate.blogspot.com/2020/05/submitting-to-shrapnel.html (http://thebattletechstate.blogspot.com/2020/05/submitting-to-shrapnel.html) ;)
Craig
If you're not listening to Craig, you're going to fail, point blank.
read this, read his other posts, and then put your butt in a seat and write. :-) I have no better advice, and since my story was like, 14K words AND created a new mech variant, I'm a terrible example. ;) ;D
remember, like my mentor taught me as he was taught, "write, submit, repeat." good luck to you all! :)
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Well, I submitted a story a few nights ago. I'll keep everyone posted on how it goes.
I'd love to see a grassroots BT renaissance, so come on and get writing, people! This game is fan-driven.
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i've got most of an outline. we'll see if i have the will to fill it out
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Once you get going, write every day. Following through. You build your momentum and it keeps you going.
Now I'm trying to think of another idea for a submission. It's not easy. I don't have all my resources at hand, so that kind of hurts, too. But I have ideas. I just need the right place to start.
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Now I'm trying to think of another idea for a submission. It's not easy. I don't have all my resources at hand, so that kind of hurts, too. But I have ideas. I just need the right place to start.
I've found some help right at the beginning of Robert McKee's tome Story, p. 4: it's about archetypes, not stereotypes.
"The archetypal story unearths a universally human experience, then wraps itself inside a unique, culture-specific expression. A stereotypical story reverses this pattern: It suffers a poverty of content and form. It confines itself to a narrow, culture-specific experience and dresses in stale, non-specific generalities."
Put more simply: I find the stories that are obviously trying hard to be BattleTech stories first, or whose purpose is playing with BT canon for the sake of playing with BT canon, are much less interesting and successful. Whereas the stories that start with some segment of the vast human experience, and then sheath it in BattleTech elements, work well.
Look at the BT stories that we all point to as "the best":
Decision at Thunder Rift is a story about discovering self-reliance amid tragic loss. With BattleMechs.
Wolves on the Border is a story about the conflict between sworn duty and found brotherhood. With BattleMechs.
You get the idea.
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There is some good advice in here.
I plan to see what comments and criticism I get from my first submission before working on another.
Also I suggest letting your work sit a bit, then go back and proofread. It would not hurt to cultivate a few folks you trust to read over it prior to submission as well.
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Also I suggest letting your work sit a bit, then go back and proofread. It would not hurt to cultivate a few folks you trust to read over it prior to submission as well.
Which is the only thing I learned from Stephen King's book on writing...
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Which is the only thing I learned from Stephen King's book on writing...
Stephen Kings book "The Craft" was hilarious, though. But not as good as Anne Lamott's book, "Bird by Bird". Read it sometime!
I've found some help right at the beginning of Robert McKee's tome Story, p. 4: it's about archetypes, not stereotypes.
"The archetypal story unearths a universally human experience, then wraps itself inside a unique, culture-specific expression. A stereotypical story reverses this pattern: It suffers a poverty of content and form. It confines itself to a narrow, culture-specific experience and dresses in stale, non-specific generalities."
Put more simply: I find the stories that are obviously trying hard to be BattleTech stories first, or whose purpose is playing with BT canon for the sake of playing with BT canon, are much less interesting and successful. Whereas the stories that start with some segment of the vast human experience, and then sheath it in BattleTech elements, work well.
Look at the BT stories that we all point to as "the best":
Decision at Thunder Rift is a story about discovering self-reliance amid tragic loss. With BattleMechs.
Wolves on the Border is a story about the conflict between sworn duty and found brotherhood. With BattleMechs.
You get the idea.
I get the idea. I tried my best with my submission and I think I achieved it, this idea that we should start with the human experience first, then move on to making it BattleTech.
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Whenever I get a new email notification, I get all excited that today's the day I get my rejection notice. Hopefully it comes with notes on what I could do better next time.
I can't imagine getting accepted. I've only had poems published. This would be my first story.
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I had a piece of art I did when I was like eight selected to hang in a dentist’s office. To this day I have no idea what it was. My teacher probably got mine mixed up with someone else
Though I will own my eventual and inevitable Shrapnel rejection in high esteem, nothing will beat the thrill of getting rejected in less than twelve hours from that one grad school way out of my league
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Whenever I get a new email notification, I get all excited that today's the day I get my rejection notice. Hopefully it comes with notes on what I could do better next time.
I can't imagine getting accepted. I've only had poems published. This would be my first story.
You should be able to check your position in the queue by following the response email link. That is what I have been doing. I would practice patience, they all have a lot on their plates at the moment, so it might be a while.
Edit: oh, and good luck.
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Thank you, and good luck as well.
But don't mistake my enthusiasm as impatience. I haven't been this excited about my writing in a long time. And I hope to use this experience for the good of the community. Acceptance or rejection, I want to use this thread to show some of the more shy posters how the process goes, so they will know what to expect. And see that it doesn't hurt to be rejected in the realm of writing or other creative endeavors.