When’s the last time you wandered through a fair-like exhibition full of writers and writing resources? For many of us, the answer’s “a loooong time ago.”
When’s the last time you rode a magic carpet over that exhibition? If your answer is anything BUT “never,” I know you’ve been to one of the year’s best events in Second Life: The Autumn Writers Exhibition (AWE) in Second Life.
A bird’s-eye view of one section of the Autumn Writers Exhibition (AWE) in Second Life
Thanks to the great folks at the Written Word community in SL, more than 100 writers, songwriters, comedians, magazines, newspapers, writing groups and other resources are gathered in a jumble of colorful tents and displays on Cookie Island in SL until November 2, 2008. It’s completely free (to both exhibitors and visitors) and requires no First Life travel!
What’s this got to do with magic carpets? you might be wondering.
Written Word co-owner Hastings Bournemouth is also a building/scripting wizard who created a way to fly over the entire exhibition, from one tower to the other, while seated on a carpet. Not only is the ride great fun, but it puts the whole exhibit—and the island it’s on—in perspective.
One or two avatars at a time can ride the magic carpet over AWE
In addition to such fun (and free!) experiences as taking the tower elevator and the carpet rides, here’s a sampling of what you can find among AWE’s displays:
- Published and unpublished writers to chat with
- Samples of original writing (poetry, fiction, nonfiction, songwriting, scriptwriting) from some of the best writers in Second Life
- Second Life publications that buy freelance material
- Venues—from coffeeshops to the West of Ireland Cultural Center and Library—that offer a range of opportunities to writers
- SL groups and venues for playwrights and actors, musicians, and storytellers
Just a few of the more than 100 booths at AWE in Second Life
“The exhibition is similar to a literary festival that I’d like to go in RL,” the other owner of Written Word, Jilly Kidd, said in the Second Life Newspaper’s report on the event. Jilly and Hastings organized the first AWE last year, and it was so successful, they decided to do it again this year.
Cash Prizes for Writing & Exhibiting
This year’s AWE is proving to be even bigger and more exciting—and potentially profitable for authors and exhibitors both! Jilly and Hastings are offering three prizes of L$5,000 each for:
- The best display by an exhibitor
- The best original poem or song submitted
- The best original fiction or nonfiction story submitted
The writing competition is open to anyone. Here’s a summary of the guidelines:
- All entries must be original writing, on the theme of Autumn.
- The prose can be fiction or non-fiction up to 2,000 words, and the poetry can be a poem or song lyric with no limit in length “but don’t make it a whole book-length poem!”
- Entries must be received by October 31, 2008.
Jilly adds, “Entries that have appeared on other websites and in other publications will be considered because you can’t see too much of a good thing and we believe setting limitations on writers and artists is unfair.” Visit AWE for more details.
Occasional poetry/short prose “slams” will also be held during AWE. Just “turn up and enter, and the audience decides—winner gets L$2,000!” according to the AWE web page.
Starting Oct. 26: A Week of Special Events
The final week of AWE, beginning October 26, is the “Main Events Week” and includes readings by published poets and novelists, interviews with publishers, and music, comedy, and fireworks.
The best way to get all the details on these events is to join the Written Word group in Second Life.
To teleport to the marvelous 2008 Autumn Writing Exhibition, use this SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cookie/40/175/21.
And be sure to take a ride on the Sheherazade magic carpet!
(At left, my avatar, Alas Zerbino, enjoys a ride on the magic carpet as it passes a row of AWE booths.)
