Hi there, campers! Welcome to the first weekly of Scratch Writing Camp’s July 2022 session.

We'll be diving into the world of fanfiction, with three excellent workshops created by some of our own leaders and activities to help you strengthen your skills. This weekly has four parts, all of which you must complete to earn points.

You may begin the activities in this weekly at 12:01am on the 3rd of July, UTC timezone.

Part 1: Character Consistency (written by Zai)

For part 1 of the weekly, you’ll be learning how to keep a character’s personality and mannerism consistent to its fandom. The awesome Aleia has created a workshop on how to keep your characters consistent.

After you complete Aleia’s workshop, you’ll be creating a character sheet for a character from a fandom and then putting that character in a scenario to see how they’d react. You can choose a scenario from the list below, or create your own scenario! There’s no word requirement for the character reference sheet, but your writing of the character in a scenario should be at least 400 words long.

Here are some scenarios you can choose from:

• your character is invited to two events but can only attend one of them
  
• your character is running late but they can't find matching socks/shoes
  
• your character is meeting somebody they haven't seen in years
  
• your character is the leader of a rebellion and the opposing force has them surrounded
  
• your character is trying to leave the country but doesn't have IDs and needs to steal
  
• your character has just killed somebody and needs to cover up the murder
  
• your character has just been framed for something they didn't do and is being interrogated by the police
  
• your character has to sacrifice somebody closed to them in order to succeed in their mission
  
• your character has been hired for a cause they no longer believe in, and they want to defect
  
• your character is being chased by an unknown force inside of a cave network
  
• your character is pulling a prank on their friends and something goes terribly wrong
  
• your character is face to face with their evil clone and needs to convince their friends that they are the real character
  
• your character's family is part of an evil organization that is trying to kidnap all your friends
  
• your character is stuck in a burning building with their friends and not everyone can escape
  
• your character needs to cross a freezing river with others but not everybody can fit in a single boat
  
• your character has to tend to multiple wounded people, but there are not enough supplies for everyone
  
• your character has a family to take care of, but they have just been evicted from their home
  

Here’s an example that I wrote: (WARNING: mild spoilers ahead for the fandom I chose!)

Character reference sheet for Connor Morgan Walsh (seasons 1-6 from the TV show, How to Get Away with Murder)
Series continuing or ended?: Ended

Pronouns: he/him
Sexuality: gay
Species: human

Strengths: intelligent, resolute, attractive, sneaky, takes initiative, loyal, competitive, witty
(former) strengths: confident, independent, keeps information close to his chest
Weaknesses: impulsive, indecisive, extremely anxious, unmotivated at times, regretful
(former) weaknesses: rash, selfish, guilty

General view of life: hateful/hopeless, later develops into purposeful, later develops into resigned/submissive

Relationships:
- romantic interest: Oliver Hampton
- friends (from the Keating 5): Laurel Castillo, Michaela Pratt, Asher Millstone, Wes Gibbins
- other friends: Annalise Keating (mentor), Frank Delfino, Bonnie Winterbottom
- family: Jeff Walsh (father), Pam Walsh (mother), Ted Walsh (step-father), Gemma Walsh (sister), Joanna Hampton (mother-in-law)

Tendencies:
- Tends to deal with stressful emotion impulsively, takes out emotions on other
Improvement: improved substantially, resolved by season 4
- Tends to be unable to hide things from others, bound to spill something later on
Improvement: no improvement, staying the same
- Refuses to open up, challenging to express emotions
Improvement: slowly improving
- Suffers from anxiety attacks when not in control
Improvement: no improvement, staying the same
- Acts in the moment, especially when angered, does not think before doing something
Improvement: little improvement, mostly staying the same

Situations:
Loss of a friend:
- tends to act distant, does not show emotion, puts up a wall, blocks out everything
- channels grief into anger, and typically takes this anger out on the people around him, especially friends
- self-guilt, blames himself, wonders what he could have done to have stopped it from happening
- outcome usually is that he either becomes numb to the situation or blocks out the situation entirely

Romantic struggles:
- refuses to accept rejection, continues to come back even when not wanted, very clingy
- does not handle fights well, either ignores his partner during fights/angry, or leaves and vents to a friend
- refuses to admit unhealthy parts of a relationship, willing to change/listen but does not fix things in the moment
- outcome is usually a brief break-up before reconciliation

Helping others:
- finds purpose in himself, motivated to work, is actually happy
- will do everything in his power to successfully complete his assignment, not afraid to ask for help
- reason why he wants to become a lawyer, wants to be able to do good things in the world
- outcome is normally re-energized motivation and excitement after assignment is complete

For my scenario, I’m going to put Connor with Oliver on a camping trip in the middle of the woods, and Oliver goes missing. Later, the forest catches on fire. Notice how I incorporated some of the traits I mentioned from my reference sheet, such as Connor’s impulsiveness and his tendency to take initiative, along with his anxiety attacks when things start to get out of his control.

Scenario writing:

A gust of warm air rushes into the tent uninvited as the tent's entrance flaps open. Connor groggily opens his eyes, reaching to his side for somebody, but his arms are empty. He is alone.

“Ollie? Oliver? I swear I won't kill you if you come back right now,” Connor shouts but receives no response back. Hastily putting on some clothes, Connor exits the tent and is met with the foreboding darkness of the night. The forecast is cloudy. There is no sign of the overhead stars, no sign of the suspended moon, and even worse, no sign of Oliver. The temperate breeze is an anomaly in the middle of this winter night… especially since it appears the campfire was mysteriously extinguished.

Reaching into his pocket, Connor pulls out a set of matches and approaches the firepit. Striking one of the matches, he throws it into the coals, but the match instantly goes out. Upon closer inspection, Connor realizes the entire firepit is soaking wet. It would be impossible to relight the fire now.

“Did you do this? Ollie? Gosh, I hate you right now.” Lighting another match, Connor holds the flame in front of him, attempting to get a better view of his surroundings. The small blaze barely illuminates the campgrounds.

Taking a deep breath, Connor grabs a nearby stick, returns to the tent, and rummages his backpack for another shirt. Connor wraps the shirt around the stick and lights it on fire.

“I really liked that shirt,” Connor mutters. He begins to examine the perimeters of the campground and notices two sets of footsteps on the nearby dirt path. The footsteps aren't approaching the camp, but instead, are running away.

Panicking, Connor curses as he sprints down the trail, blindly following the two sets of footprints. Connor is so concentrated on the footsteps that he does not notice Oliver scampering up to him, causing them to collide.

“Oliver? What are you doing here? I hate you so much right now, I was so worried—” Connor starts, but Oliver shushes him.

“That— that jerk, I saw him, he put out our fire, and then he tried to steal our stuff and I saw him trying to get away, and— and—” Oliver stammers.

Connor puts his arm around him. “Okay, okay, slow down— who did you see?”

“I'm telling you, I don't know who it was, but I was chasing after him, and by the time I got back to our car, he was gone, and our tires were slashed, and I'm— I'm not sure what's going on anymore.”

Connor's relaxed exterior begins to cave as his heart begins to pulse quicker. He starts to lose focus of the shapes around him as vertigo takes over. Collapsing onto the floor, Connor gasps for air, his eyes widening with every gulp of oxygen. The wincing pain in his chest causes him to haphazardly grapples at his shirt.

“Connor, Connor, oh my gosh, we're going to get out of this, okay?” Oliver bends down to help Connor back up. “I'm here. You're okay, we've been through much, much, worse, alright?”

“No— no— what are we going to do, I— I bet he's still out there ready to tear our throats out or— or maybe he'll slice our limbs first or—”

“Connor! We don't even know if he's still here, he probably ran off after discovering we were here, or he might have gotten eaten by a bear, you never know—” Oliver hears the sound crackling approaching from the distance, mimicking the sound of burning paper. Ahead, faint hues of orange and yellow flutter amidst the abyssal backdrop. Before Oliver can say another word, Connor disorientingly interrupts.

“The forest— it's— it's on fire—”

That’s my example! I wrote a lot more than you have to, so this is a reminder that your scenario writing should be at least 400 words, though if you want to write more, you’re more than welcome to!


Part 2: Character Voice (written by Zura)

In this part, we will be diving into character voices, and how to keep them consistent. The fabulous Fae has created a workshop about character voices here. After reading this workshop, you will work with two characters. First, you will write at least 100 words each, identifying their character voices. Then, you will write 2 passages, each at least 300 words, of the characters recounting a past event. Your word count for Part 2 should be at least 800 words. Note: The characters you use CANNOT be OCs.

This is my example (disclaimer: your weekly should be much longer than my example)! For this, I will use Jude and Taryn from the Folk of the Air Series. I will write a scene of them being separated at birth and how it happened.

Character Voices:

Jude is an assertive gal, and doesn’t like the idea of being weak, nor inferior to others. She is very assertive and refuses to bow her head down to oppression and conflict. Also, she is very direct and honest in communicating, and doesn’t try to sugarcoat things to suit the other person. If she is upset, she will express her feelings in an honest manner. Some people may perceive her as aggressive, as she is unafraid of direct confrontation.

Taryn is a lot more soft-spoken and conflict-avoidant. If someone wronged her, she would either speak in a soft tone, asking them politely to stop, or outright hold back her emotions. Also contrary to Jude, though she might be frustrated, she is more likely to accept her situation at hand, fearing worse consequences. However, she can be angry internally, but not show it.

Scene from Jude’s Perspective:

He took me that night. The room was warm and humid, yet chills lingered over the wooden steps. Then they grabbed me out of my bed. I jerked back and forth, but against their strength, I was powerless. A slash and Mother, soaked in blood, stopped breathing. They killed Mother and ripped me away from Taryn. A growl escaped my throat, yet I froze in silence.

I was weak, and have always hated being weak. And he, Madoc, had the power to take me from the mortal world. And yet, I don't dislike the premise of power here, unlike the old world. I miss Taryn, though she must be safe. Even now, she wouldn't risk a word of opposition, skillfully blending with the crowd.

If only I had enough strength to protect Mother. If only I had enough power to be with Taryn. Deep down, I would have never been good enough– he, a respected Faerie general and I, a human. Seven-year-old me wouldn't have been strong enough, but they would have desired power just as much as I do.

Scene from Taryn’s Perspective:

A clicking rested on the side of my bed, and I, too tired from the day, went to sleep. It was an ordinary day, though Jude would say everything was planned. Ordinary were the bittersweet days, wishing I was with Jude and Mother again.

I had noticed an eerie glow shimmering over surfaces. I don't think Jude was awake then, both our eyes waiting for daylight. Rattles then shook over the house. They tightened their grip around my arms and shoved me out the door. I don't know what I was supposed to do. Helpless and dumbfounded, I glanced at the old white paint that was about to peel off, and the Alice In Wonderland book. They pushed me out of the room, and I'm sure they've gotten Jude by then. Scratching and growling at the creatures, Jude tried to resist. But who were we? Mere seven year-olds pitted against high-ranked Faeries.

They first took her into the living room, before puddling Mother in blood. I watched as Jude screamed–noises I was too frozen to make. They may not think I'm angry. Yet I must accept there was not much that could have been done, and bowing our heads down was our best option.

Part 3: Fanfic Tropes (written by Honey)

In this part, we will be exploring fanfic tropes. The marvelous Mayhem has created a wonderful workshop that you can find here! Once you’ve read it, we can start writing. For this activity, you will be choosing three of the tropes that Mayhem covered to include in a fanfiction. You may find it helpful to use the same characters that you used for the first two parts, but you’re not required to. Your fanfiction must be at least 700 words.
Here is an example! I chose to use The Owl House and the tropes I’m including are High School AU, Soulmate AU, and Songfic (with What is this Feeling from Wicked). I’m making a short outline of my story to make sure I include all the tropes, but you don’t have to. I also might not get to everything in my plan because I don’t want the example to be too long! I don’t think this has any major spoilers (besides something that has probably already been spoiled for you) and there’s nothing from season 2b mentioned.

Luz and Amity are at Hexside High School. So is everyone else I think but the story mainly centers around Luz and Amity. They’re all human(ish) and there is no magic. The first words your soulmate will say to you are written on the back of your hand and only you can see it.
A lot of people tell their friends what those words are but Amity has refused. It hasn’t come up in Luz’s friend group. Luz’s and Amity’s first words are both “What are you doing?”
Luz is watching Willow play basketball with Boscha, Skara, and Amity at lunch. No one wants to be on Willow’s team so Luz offers to play. She runs with the ball and Amity says “What are you doing!?” Luz doesn’t realize that it’s the words on her hands for a bit. Amity tries to grab the ball back from her and she says “What are you doing?” Amity realizes immediately what it is and shows surprise on her face briefly before trying to hide it. Boscha and Skara notice and bother her about it as they leave. Amity denies everything and says she hates Luz.
(What is this feeling so sudden and new?)
Luz realizes after they leave and talks to Willow.
(I felt the moment I laid eyes on you)

And here’s the actual example!

Luz sat on the bleachers of the gym and stared off into space. She took a bite of her sandwich. Gus was at Anthropology Club and Willow was playing basketball like always, so she had no one to talk to. She traced the words on the back of her hand. What are you doing? Perhaps a prince would startle her from behind as she reached into a pond to save a bug! Or maybe, she would be climbing up a tree to see a bird’s nest when a princess would yell to her from the ground! The corners of Luz’s mouth curled into a small smile as she imagined the moment she would meet her soulmate. A loud statement brought her attention to the basketball game down below her.
“We need two team captains,” Boscha said. “I’ll be one, who wants to be the other?” She, Skara, Amity, and Willow stood in a circle, but Luz could tell that Boscha was only directing the question to Skara and Amity.
“Do we really need team captains?” Skara asked. “There are only four of us.”
“We need to decide…” Amity trailed off, and tilted her head towards Willow. She raised her eyebrows at Skara.
Willow glanced up to Luz, as if to say, “Help?”
Luz’s mouth was full of sandwich, so she just shrugged. What was she supposed to do?
“I’ll be the other captain.” Amity turned to Boscha to play rock-paper-scissors.
Luz couldn’t see what happened, but Amity appeared to have won, because Skara walked over to Amity and Boscha loudly moaned, “But I don’t want her on my team!”
Luz gritted her teeth. I hate that girl. She swallowed the bite of sandwich, shoved the rest into her lunchbox, and hopped down the bleachers. It took her a bit longer than she would have liked — she had been hit in the face by the ball multiple times the previous lunch, so that day she had chosen to sit all the way at the top of the bleachers.
“I’ll be on Willow’s team!” she said.
Willow turned to her with a concerned look on her face. “You don’t know how to play basketball,” she mouthed.
Luz grimaced and mouthed back, “I can learn.”
Willow nodded and turned back to the other girls. “Luz and I can be one team and you guys can be the other!”
Amity, Skara, and Boscha’s eyes darted back and forth to one another. Finally, Boscha said, “I assume Willow’s your team captain?”
Willow nodded and stepped forward. “Luz, you go stand there,” she said pointing to a spot in the middle of the court.
Luz jogged there as the game started. She could hardly keep up with what was going on, but somehow Willow managed to steal the ball away from the other team right away and dribbled it toward their basket. Luz hovered a few yards away from her, hoping she wouldn’t need to do anything but wanting to be a good teammate. As Willow prepared the shoot, the Amity stood in front of her, blocking her from shooting.
Willow looked around for somewhere to go. “Luz, catch!”
Luz held up her arms as Willow tossed the ball toward her. To her own surprise she managed to catch it, and she ran around Willow and Amity and toward the hoop.
“What are you doing?” Amity shouted. She ran to Luz and snatched the ball out of her hands.
Luz threw her hands up. “What are you doing?”
Amity continued to shout even though she was right in front of Luz. “You can’t just run with the ball like that! You have to dribble!” At the end of her sentence she trailed off, as if something had just occurred to her and she could no longer be bothered to yell at Luz.
At first, this confused Luz. Instead of reacting to what Amity had just said, she frowned and tried to deduce what Amity was thinking. But it was only a few seconds before Amity regained herself. As she finally processed Amity’s words, Luz’s shoulders drooped. She gave an apologetic glance to Willow and then said, with more confidence than she felt, “I’m fairly sure you can’t grab the ball out of my hands either!”
Amity paused. “Let’s just end here.” She walked away without waiting for a response.
Boscha and Skara followed her without even a glance at Luz and Willow.

—

When they exited the gym, Boscha and Skara immediately started chattering.
“What did Luz say that made you like… whatever that was!” Boscha leaned in towards Amity.
“Yeah, what happened there?” Skara agreed.
Amity shrugged. “It was nothing. I just… got distracted.”
Boscha and Skara sighed in unison.
“Is she your…” Skara dropped to a whisper. “Soulmate?”
Boscha’s eyes opened wide.
Amity hesitated. Then she snapped, “Of course not!”
“She is, isn’t she?” Boscha said.
“Why would she be my soulmate? I hate her!” Amity walked faster.

What is this feeling, so sudden and new?

—

As soon as Boscha, Skara, and Amity were out of earshot, Luz leaned her head onto Willow’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry.”
Willow rushed to reassure her. “No, it’s fine! It’s just a game.”
“I shouldn’t have rushed into it without thinking,” Luz continued. “What was I thinking?”
“It’s Boscha’s fault,” Willow pointed out. “And Skara’s, and Amity’s.”
As she started to say Amity, Luz’s eyes opened wide.

What is this feeling, so sudden and new?

“What? What is it?” Willow said.
“What was it that Amity said to me?”
“You can’t run with the ball?”
“No, before that.”
Willow furrowed her brow. “‘What are you doing?’”
“Yes, that!” Luz exclaimed.
“Why that?”
Luz glanced at her hand. She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, Willow interjected.
“It has to be a coincidence. She can’t be your soulmate.”
Luz nodded quickly. “Are you sure?”

What is this feeling, fervid as a flame? Does it have a name?

That’s it for my example — have fun writing!

Part 4: SWC Fanfic (written by Lio)

For the final part of this weekly, we’ll be taking on an SWC favorite—writing fanfiction about Scratch Writing Camp itself! Whether you want to explore a literal camp themed like SWC, complete with cabins and hosts and campers, or your story describes the opinions the personifications of each cabin has on mangos and guitars, this activity is entirely open ended. Have fun with it!

Your piece should be at least 400 words. While not a requirement, I encourage you to use what you have learned about character consistency, character voice, and/or fanfiction tropes throughout this weekly.

Here’s my example (though it’s not quite as long as yours will be):

At camp, each new morning dawns with a sense of opportunity and hope for the day ahead. Waking up is never accompanied by the same growing dread of school or stress for the tests and responsibilities certainly found there. No, certainly not, for every morning at camp brings with it joy, reassurance, and, of course, mangos.
The origins of our obsession with mangos cannot be pinned down, but the stories are countless and each so wonderfully goofy. Perfect for a camp which celebrates the art of storytelling. And mangos are perfect for us as well, it seems. For as long as I can remember, mangos have been a part of the daily routine here at Stellar Writing Camp.
Before Morning Celebration and with it the announcement of the current cabin leaderboard—oh the excitement of seeing whether Sci-Fi or Thriller has taken first place!—and the reveal of the new daily activities, we share mangos and delight in their marvelous sweet flavor. While at lunch with our cabins or at workshops with Birdi, Robin, and the other lovely staffers, we eat dried mangos and drink mango juice. Even during free time, when we can do whatever we like with whomever we choose, many campers, leaders, and hosts can be found taking solace in the beautiful refreshing tang of a fresh mango.
While away from camp, I never quite like the fruit as much. Without the friends to share it with, without the promise of a new story just seconds away, mangos never taste the same. But I know, whenever I spot the bright-colored drupe, that camp is always waiting, always ready to welcome me home.

Conclusion (intro and conclusion written by Robin)

To earn 3000 points for your cabin, comment in the main cabin that you've completed the weekly and include links to the following:

• Your character reference sheet (no word minimum) and your writing of character in a scenario (400+ words) from Part 1
  
• Your two character voice identifications (100+ words each) and each of those two characters recounting a past event (300+ words each) from Part 2
  
• Your fanfiction using three tropes (700+ words) from Part 3
  
• Your SWC fanfiction (400+ words) from Part 4

All proof must be provided before 11:59pm on the 9th of July, UTC timezone. Late or incomplete weeklies won't be accepted!

Don't forget that you have a full week to complete this activity, so don't stress! Take your time and complete each part to the best of your ability.

Thank you to Birdi and Bakie for helping to plan this weekly, as well as the writers!

FIRST
edit: now what to do with this slot..
edit:
MYSTERY FOR THE WIN!!!

First!

Edit: Second actually.

Third XD

NOT FIRST!

5th!

I love this weekly! I bet you this'll be my favorite weekly this session.

eighth

9th?!

P.S : This weekly looks cool, I'll see what I can do

Not first!

Are we writing for an existing or original character for part 1?

-myyxo- wrote:

Are we writing for an existing or original character for part 1?

That would be an existing character from an existing fandom of your choice ^^

I've made a promise that I'd only write about the lexicographer Dr. Samuel Johnson - cue the fanfiction topic that died out 230 years ago!

YAS I LOVE FANDOMS!

so doing this weekly xd

wait so quick question are we making a character thats from the actual fandom or are we making up a character to put in the fandom?

Edit: nvm i saw somone that asked the same thing as me

yess fanfiction writing ;o she-ra fanfic timee

#mysteryftw! :>
Find my dailies and weeklies on my alt: @Scrax24SWC

⠂ᴡᴇᴇᴋʟʏ #1 (ᴊᴜʟʏ 3)⠐
~Part #1.1 (character reference sheet): https://scratch-mit-edu.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/projects/711215549/ | 435 words
~Part #1.2 (scenario writing): https://scratch-mit-edu.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/projects/711240976/ | 401 words
~Part #2.1 (character voices): https://scratch-mit-edu.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/projects/711380363/ | 208 words
~Part #2.2 (recounting of a past event): https://scratch-mit-edu.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/projects/711387399/ | 637 words
~Part #3 (fanfiction tropes): https://scratch-mit-edu.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/projects/711418719/ | 712 words
~Part #4 (SWC fanfiction): https://scratch-mit-edu.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/projects/711761368/ | 403 words
(3000 points)
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Last updated: 5/7/22, 5:52 pm (SGT/UTC+8)

in 1 Hour And 38 Mins

Ooh, this weekly looks really cool!

i don't really understand?