When you say you want a beginning, a middle, and an end of the story, does that mean you only want part of the story, or can we enter the whole thing if it fits in the twenty pages?
"Beginning, middle, and an end" = I want an entire story, not a small part of a larger story. Your story can fit within a larger whole, but it must be able to stand on its own.
Also, you said that it can be twenty pages of just text, so does that mean the story can be around fifty pages including the pictures?
Please keep your story a reasonable length!
Just for clarification's sake, does that mean each person can theoretically enter four times-- two entries for each of the two categories?
Yes, exactly.
1. Does our story have to be good vs. evil, or can it man vs. man, man vs. fate, man vs. society, etc.?
Feel free to use whatever conflict you want. Remember: be creative!
2. I'll probably have some really long and really short paragraphs, and I'm sure others will have the same problem. So, can you give us a different limit such as 1 picture for every 10 sentences or something like that? I think that'd be easier to meet than just 1 picture per paragraph.
If I broke it down by sentance, then some sentances are long and some are short. I think you have a rough idea of what a standard paragraph looks like. But another rough ratio is one picture per 200-250 words, thereabouts.
This isn't a firm rule: I won't be counting words or sentances or anything like that. I just want to make sure there is a picture of LEGO every so often - an illustrated short story!
3. Are different scales allowed to be used? For instance, if I need a really big army or a huge castle, I'd just build it in mini-scale, or maybe I'd like a close-up of a special sword and it'd be well above minifig scale. Would this be allowed?
Whatever special effects you want to use, that is up to you. Heck, if you wanted the whole story to be with miniland scale figures or little micro figs, that is fine. Be creative! Make a good story!
I made some MOCs and took some pictures, I then edited the pictures in Photo-Shop to make them look like drawings...
Let me see the pics, and I'll let you know.
I was wondering if we need to have a backdrop, my models are sitting on a table in my garage, and i have no physical backdrop, and i have no idea how ot even start to digitaly add one, so is it important to have a backdrop, or is it ok to just have models and scenery.
The only required element is the use of LEGO pieces. If you want no backdrop, lots of backdrops, whatever, that is up to you and your creative mind!
If one of our characters was to utter a profanity in the heat of a moment, what words wouldn't he be allowed to say in this contest?
Since you asked, try to keep it clean. I'm not going to spell out words, but think about this: Is this story something you would mind reading to your mother or little brother? If no, then re-think the terminology. Remember: be creative!
I'm excited to see so many people interested in this! I'm looking forward to reading the great stories you guys create and sending off some super-awesome prizes!
-Lenny