Taking a page from WotC’s setting search contest, today White Wolf announced a $20,000 Fiction Contest. Entrants are asked to send a one-page synopsis of the World of Darkness novel they envision. One hundred of those will get $50 apiece and an invitation to enter the second round, which requires an entire first chapter. Of those, only five will be awarded $1,000 each and an invitation to the final round, producing an entire manuscript for a chance at the $10,000 grand prize and publication in late 2006. At least White Wolf has learned from WotC’s mistakes, and seems to be giving itself enough time to sort through the entries.
White Wolf press release follows:
White Wolf Launches $20,000.00 Fiction Contest
Atlanta, GA, November 24, 2004 — White Wolf is looking for a few good fiction authors and is putting up $20,000.00 in the search.
White Wolf Publishing, Inc. today announced a contest in which entrants submit ideas for novels set in the World of Darkness, the company’s wildly popular contemporary horror setting. Run in three rounds, the contest asks prospective writers to first submit a one-page synopsis of their novel, then a first chapter, and finally the entire manuscript. The winning manuscript will be published by White Wolf as part of their World of Darkness fiction line in late 2006.
Cash prizes also occur in all three rounds. One hundred winners of round one will receive $50.00 each and an invitation to enter round two. Five winners of round two will receive $1,000.00 each and an invitation to enter round three. The grand prize winner will receive $10,000.00 as an advance on royalties for publication of his or her novel. Other contestants may also be approached about publishing their novels. Full details of the contest are available at http://www.worldofdarkness.com/novelcontest/.
This contest coincides with the launch of White Wolf’s new line of novels based on the World of Darkness. The first novel in the series, Greg Stolze’s Vampire: A Hunger Like Fire, releases on December 13th and further novels are scheduled throughout 2005. This fiction line comes on the heels of the hugely successful launch of the World of Darkness Rulebook and Vampire: The Requiem last August.
Vampire: A Hunger Like Fire
by Greg Stolze
WW11235; ISBN 1-56546-862-3; MSRP $6.99
288-page mass-market paperback
Since its entry into the roleplaying game market in 1991, White Wolf Publishing, Inc. has grown, maintaining an average market share of 26%. With collective book sales in excess of 5.5 million copies during this time, White Wolf is one of two undisputed worldwide publishing leaders for pen and paper roleplaying games. White Wolf properties have been licensed for television series, comic books, action figures, console and computer video games, coin-operated arcade games, professional wrestlers, replica props and weapons, interactive media events, and a myriad of merchandise. More information on White Wolf can be found at www.white-wolf.com .
I think I will enter. I imagine a country run by corporations and special interest groups all governed by greedy vampires who suck the life blood out of their workers. Then by pure chance and a lot of misinformation they elect a dummy president who would be their puppet. Not to mention during this time Vampire servants would gain control of the House and Senate to further their evil plans.
muuuuahahahaha
Does it seem weird to anyone else that, given the opportunity to do something like the D&D Setting Search, WW wold choose to do it for book-length fiction?
I mean, maybe I just don’t understand WW’s core market that well, but it seems like what they need is another game product that will actually get people excited. Something at least as interesting as Morpheus, and preferably analogous to Exalted.
I think WW has done just fine for itself over the past several years being a book publisher. They make a ton of cash off their D20/D&D lines, and their mass trades, where as their “flagship” WoD products have become more boutique. For some reason it would have surprised me more if it _had_ been a gaming product….