|
Artifice Comics is currently looking for new writers, characters, and story ideas to further reinvent our version of the Artifice Comics Universe. We welcome any and all parties interested in participating. The following guidelines outline the proper way to propose for an Artifice Comics series. Please follow the guidelines for submission listed. Once completed, please send the proposal to submissions@artificecomics.com. We look forward to hearing from you. Good luck.
Artifice Comics is a shared continuity universe. All of our stories take place in the same world, parts of a larger story that encompasses the site as a whole. With that in mind, we ask that all potential Artifice writers familiarize themselves with the rich history of the universe. Part of this is reading the site's History as well as many of the stories available on the site. The following are stories picked by the staff as essential reading for anyone wanting to get to know Artifice and how it works.
Artifice Comics: Prelude
This tale sets the stage for the current chapter in the history of AC. Knowledge of this one is essential to get a feel for the tone of the site and get familiar with the most important back stories.
Imperial Magistrate Saga
The quintessential tales of the site's two flagship characters. Just a fine example of great writing, establishing plot threads which are still running strong throughout the ACU today. Also, this tale kicks off the current chapter of AC.
Anthology 2 - Mysteria: Winter
#12 "Little Earthquakes", #13 "Silent All These Years", #14 "Precious Things"
Another terrific example of the quality of writing at AC. Also, this tale really marked a turning point for the site as a whole, albeit in a very subtle way. This was the story in which the dream began to crumble. Between Mysteria's rage and Manly's depression, this story defined the tone for the subsequent direction of the site, taking us away from "new twist on icons" to a very literal "deconstruction of icons" as well as far more original, out-there concepts.
The Seige Engine Saga
Perhaps our best example of how continuity interacts, and how it can conceivably come to a head. And, perhaps most importantly, it shows how and why continuity creates the best story. Ideally, one would read everything concerning Millennium Man, Mysteria, and B43 to get the greatest sense for how tightly our shared continuity is wound, but if that's impossible, then this series is essential.
Artifice Comics: Year Two
Gives the most complete summary of where the site and stories are right now in continuity terms. This will bring you up to speed.
Anthology 2 #29 "Mysteria: Frozen in Heaven"
On a simple level, a great look at the interconnectedness and active dynamics of the history of the AC. And on another level, this is the quintessential example of the quality we are looking for from a new writer. A terrific job by Munn of knowing his AC continuity, adding new twists relevant to his series, and executing it with the competence an AC writer should have. Specifically, potential writers need to take note of how well Chris has a handle on the characters' history.
New Mages #1-4 "Still"
Every story since this one needs to tie to it. The events contained in this story are just far to big not to be acknowledged by any author. Perhaps the beginning of a new chapter for the ACU? You might say that, but if nothing else, you shouldn't be writing here without a knowledge of this story.
The Artifice Comics submission process requires all prospective writers to submit a story featuring either Millennium Man or Mysteria as the main character. These stories will be distributed through our "Anthology Two" title.
These audition stories do not have to take place in current Artifice continuity. While we require that you familiarize yourself with the history of Artifice comics we realize it might be hard for newcomers to write a modern tale of the heroes when they are mired in their current plots. So stories can be "Lost Adventures Of..." the heroes. These stories should flesh out the pasts of Millennium Man or Mysteria and provides a means for us to see that you have gotten to know the universe as well as a way for you to create your own bit of Artifice history right off the bat.
Upon reciept of your audition story you will be subscribed to the Artifice Workshop mailing list where your story will be read and critiqued by the Artifice staff. It is also through this mailing list where you will present any original proposal you may have. More information on the Workshop is presented further down this page.
Stories in the Artifice Comics Universe take place all over the world, but the focus remains on two main areas: Pacific City and America.
Pacific City encompasses not only stories taking place in Pacific City but also those occuring in neighboring Harbour City and Lorrington. The prose origins of the ACU are here in Pacific City, as are the flagship books.
America entails all stories taking place in the United States, a recent extension of the ACU.
Proposals to occur in either area will be taken into consideration. Characters and overall plots should be presented prior to beginning your series. While you do not need to detail each and every character and issue you plan on writing, we ask that you have a strong handle on the main characters and a rough outline of plots to present. This is so we can see how your ideas work into the Artifice tapestry and where changes can be made to ensure seamless interaction between your ideas and the overall plot of the site.
New series may be created for Pacific City related stories though new series proposals for America will be handled differently. To ensure properly structured expansion of Artifice Comics, any new stories for America will take place in the Artifice America Anthology with the possibility of spinning off into an independent series over time.
Characters must be original. Whilst a certain amount of parody and satire is apprecited (especially when using superheroes) and that a lot of the genre relies on association with a previously published character we do encourage you to also go beyond the parodies and faux-characters. We are aware that it is difficult to be original within the superhero genre and all characters to a certain degree will in some way be reminiscent of another but it is our hope that there are enough 'twists' left in the genre to ensure that we do not end up with a library of carbon-copied characters.
Though our heroes are larger than life, their power levels must be moderate. Whilst there are a handful of omnipotent characters in existence within in the ACU it is recommended that prospective writers avoid such characters as more often than not they are unsuitable for team-up adventures, and a diet of endless world-destroying threats becomes stale after a while.
At present Mysteria is the most powerful character in the ACU but it is recommended that prospective writers look to Millennium Man and his powers as more of a guideline by which to gauge the powers of new characters. While others may approach his power level, we would prefer it if they did not exceed it. In this manner, writers have a solid index by which to measure their own creations' power levels.
Proposals featuring ‘handles’ instead of author’s names will not be accepted. The following MUST be included in your submission:
- Your email address.
- Acknowledgment on your part that you have read at least
a portion of the series on the Artifice Comics page and/or
the timelines provided on the Artifice Comics History Page.
One of the beauties of Artifice Comics is that its staff have shown an interest in not only producing top quality heroic fiction online, but also in inviting and encouraging new writers to be a part of this grand adventure. To that end, The Artifice Writers Workshop has been developed as a way to assist writers interested in joining the august ranks of quality craftsmen at Artifice.
Essentially, the Workshop works with any new submissions to the site. These submissions include a Millennium Man or Mysteria story for "Anthology Two" as well as the writer's proposal for the work he/she wants to do at Artifice. These are funneled to the EiC first. Then the writer submitting would be contacted and join the Writers Workshop mailing list where their story would be presented to the Artifice staff. Here other writers will suggestions, encouragement, advice on both what works about the piece and what needs work in it. This session will be to help the new writer not only with their submission story but in working on their potential series for Artifice.
Once the writers have read and offered their suggestions, the story is then returned to its author, suggestions included. It is up to that respective author to make use of those suggestions or not. When he/she has done whatever they choose to do, the story can be submitted to the EiC again who will then make the decision as to whether or not the story will become a part of the Artifice line up.
When an author is added to the Writers Workshop list they will receive a file on Creating a Series. This guide should be read and taken into consideration when developing a new series proposal for a site. Please take your time in presenting your ideas to us. Once you feel that you can explain your ideas, present to the Workshop details on each of your main characters as well as the overall plots to your series. The Artifice staff on the list will then work with you on your ideas, helping develop them and work them into Artifice Continuity.
The goal here is to improve and maintain the quality of workmanship Artifice wants to be known for, but also to give every writer who wants a chance to stand among the best that opportunity. Right here at Artifice Comics.
Artifice Comics provides a means for writers and artists to showcase their work. All submissions that meet our guidelines (as described above) will be available for public reading on our site. Authors maintain ownership of their stories, and character creators retain the rights to any characters that they devised.
By submitting to Artifice Comics you grant Artifice FIRST ELECTRONIC ARCHIVAL RIGHTS to your stories and characters. For information on what these rights mean, please visit Rights: What They Mean and Why They're Important by Marg Gilks. While you retain ownership of all stories and characters, Artifice can publically archive submitted stories electronically on the website, but it is not allowed to use characters or plots further should you leave the site.
More or less, what you submit stays and we don't have to change our history should you leave, but we can't keep playing with your toys.
Material appearing on our site is not in the public domain. Though freely available for reading, the stories, characters, and artwork may not be published elsewhere without the permission of the copyright holder.
|
