Skill: Writing

Major attributes: Intelligence, wisdom
Minor attributes: Charisma

Activities:

Proofread
+10 XP
(+5 INT, +5 CHA)

• Proofreading someone else's writing, approx. 1/2 hour - 1 hour duration.

Writing session (short)
+10 XP
(+5 INT, +5 WIS)

• A session of writing approximately 1 hour in duration. This includes composition, revision, plotting/outline, proofreading, etc.

Critique (Brief)
+15 XP
(+5 INT, +5 WIS, +5 CHA)

• Proofread/critique of someone else's writing with written or verbal feedback, 1/2 hour - 1 hour duration.

Workshop (No Feedback)
+15XP
(+5 INT, +5 WIS, +5 CHA)

• Attend a writing workshop in which my own work is not discussed.
• This activity does not stack with any other writing activity; for example, a writing exercise done during a workshop does not count as a separate writing session.

Ramble
+20XP
(+5 STR, +5 CON, +5 INT, +5 WIS)

• A long walk of about 1 hour duration, in which story ideas are developed.
• This activity does not stack with any other walking-related exercise.

Read Book on Writing
+20XP
(+10 INT, +10WIS)

• Complete the study of a book on writing instruction.
• This activity cannot be completed twice for the same book.
  

Critique (In Depth)
+30 XP
(+10 INT, +10 WIS, +10 CHA)

• Proofread/critique of someone else's writing with written or verbal feedback, 2 - 3 hour duration.

Workshop (Feedback)
+30XP
(+10 INT, +10 WIS, +10 CHA)

• Attend a writing workshop in which my own work is discussed.
• This activity does not stack with any other writing activity; for example, a writing exercise done during a workshop does not count as a separate writing session.

Writing session (long)
+30 XP
(+15 INT, +15 WIS)

• A session of writing approximately 3-4 hours in duration. This includes composition, revision, plotting/outline, proofreading, etc.

Submit Story
+50XP
(+50 CHA)

• Submit a story to a magazine or contest, either by email or regular post.
• This activity does not stack with story submission-related missions.

Missions:

24 Hour Short Story Contest
+120XP
(+40 INT, +40 WIS, +40 CHA)

• Write and submit a story to a 24 Hour Short Story contest
• This mission does not stack with any other writing activity
• This mission can be repeated

Create Anthology
+500XP
(+100 INT, +100 WIS, +300 CHA)

• Prepare an anthology of creative writing for publication through Lulu or other similar self-publishing service.
• This mission stacks with proofreading, critique, and editing activities. It does not stack with story submission or any activities related to the preparation and upload of the relevant computer files.
• This mission can be repeated on a yearly basis.

Bonuses:

Complete Short Short Story
+100XP
(+40 INT, +40 WIS, +20 CHA)

• Awarded upon completion of the first draft of a short story up to 1,500 words.
• Cannot be applied to the 24 Hour Short Story Contest mission
  

Complete Short Story
+200XP
(+80 INT, +80 WIS, +40 CHA)

• Awarded upon completion of the first draft of a short story between 1,500 and 35,000 words

Complete Novella
+500XP
(+200 INT, +200 WIS, +100 CHA)

• Awarded upon completion of the first draft of a novella, between 35,000 and 75,000 words

Complete Novel
+1,000XP
(+400 INT, +400 WIS, +200 CHA)

• Awarded upon completion of the first draft of a novel, consisting of more than 75,000 words.
  

Skill Discussion: Writing

The first skill under discussion is writing. In this case, I'm specifically referring to creative writing, as opposed to business writing, technical writing, or... well, blogging. It wouldn't be fair to give myself points every time I wrote a blog entry, although it would be a neat trick to pull off.

So first off, what skill level am I at? I've been writing for decades, although I would say I first started really taking it seriously about a year ago. I've got one forthcoming story to be published in a magazine, and I've won honorable mention with a fair bit of frequency in one particular contest.

I'm going to start my writing skill level off high, then, but not absurdly high: 8. I'm doing this to reflect the amount of work I've already put into it, but also the relative difficulty that will be involved in increasing the level. If I want to improve, I'm going to have to work at it.

In general, writing should increase the intelligence and wisdom attributes about equally, since it engages both kinds of knowledge. (Again, this is the case for creative writing. Technical writing would be more weighted to intelligence.) However, certain writing-related activities, like readings and workshops, would also engage charisma. There would also be a charisma component to submitting a story to a magazine, since it relates to self-confidence.

I'm going to put my XP earnable activities and missions into another post, which I will link to from the main page.