text: # Happy Saturday, serialists! \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ This week it’s all about the *Calm Before the Storm*. **Serial Saturday has a healthy mix of first timers and TT serial veterans, but we all have one thing in common:** Characterization can make or break us. When we go into a serial it can be easy to focus on the action-- tense scenes and endless heartbreak. *... No?* Let’s take this week to focus on characterization ( \^-- Sidenote, this song is amazing as a mood piece for 'Calm Before the Storm', take a listen.) Kiss those boyfriends/girlfriends/cats goodbye, because we're about to get on the bus to Plot Crazytown, Population: Serial Saturday serialists. If you’re brand new to /r/shortstories and thinking about participating in Serial Saturday, welcome! Feel free to consider this assignment basically a ***slice of life*** piece. Strengthen your setting and tell us why we should care about your characters. Ideally the groundwork you lay here is what will keep us caring about your character when they fail, and the strength and weaknesses you cover here is what will help your characters face challenges and live to see the dawn. That can come down to showing us a skill building scene, an illustration of your character’s beliefs, or taking a moment to strengthen a relationship. Basically, literally, friendship is magic, If you’re starting Serial Saturday with a TT continuation, consider this assignment your chance to inform us or endear us further to your characters before their , err, I mean, world changes forever. Do they know they’re about to be a protagonist in your universe, or are they ? Maybe your story isn’t about people. Maybe your story is about the crushing weight of forces beyond our control. In that case consider using this as a chance to lead us through a montage of your sleepy town and it’s unsuspecting residents. Perhaps your main characters use this moment to take stock of the good, the bad, and the ugly. Polish those guns. Write those will and testaments. Send the letters that never get opened. Things to think about for this assignment: Where does your character live, work, and play? Do they have nervous tics? When do those come out? Are your characters identifiable if you put them in a police lineup? What are their humanizing flaws? What does that look like? What do they do that endears us to them even when they *should* be unlikable? Show us what that is in this assignment. \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ **Top picks from last week’s assignment,****:** **Fan favorite with the most votes:** /u/Ryter99, This week the **Smoking Hot Serial Sash:** /u/Xacktar, And honorable mentions: /u/Kammerice, /u/Lynx_elia, **Remember, top picks depend on your votes dm’d to me,** u/aliteraldumpsterfire, so make sure you send in your votes at the end of campfire! \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ **The Rules:** * Submit a story that is between **500 - 750** words in your own original universe. * Submissions are limited to ***one*** serial submission from each author per week. * E**ach author should comment on at least 2 other stories** during the course of the week. * That comment must include ***at least one*** **detail** about what the author has done well. * Authors who successfully finish a serial lasting longer than 8 installments will be featured with a modpost recognizing their completion and a flair banner on the sub. * Authors are eligible for this highlight post only if they have followed the 2 feedback comments per thread rule. *Yes, we will check*. * While content rules are more lax here at /r/ShortStories, we’re going to roll with the loose guidelines of "vaguely family friendly" being the rule of thumb for now. If you’re ever unsure if your story would cross the line, feel free to modmail! &#x200B; **\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*** **You have until \*next\* Saturday, 8/29, to submit and comment on everyone else's stories here. Make sure to check back on this thread periodically to lay some sweet, sweet crit down on those who don't have any yet!** \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* # New to /r/ShortStories and Serial Saturday, but want to join in the fun? We appreciate all contributions made to this thread, and are happy to offer the freedom of choice for our current and new users alike. All submissions are of course welcomed. We hope you enjoy your time in the community. * Leave a story from your original self-established universe, between **500 - 750** words here in the comments. * Leave at least 2 comments on other people’s stories mentioning at least one detail on each that you liked. * Authors that complete a serial with 8 or more installments get a fancy banner and modpost to highlight their stories. **Join us for Serial Saturday’s Campfire!** * Saturdays we will be hosting a Serials Campfire on the main voice lounge. Join us to read your story aloud, hear other stories, and share your own thoughts on serial writing! We start on Saturdays at 9AM CST. **Don’t worry about being late, just join!** * There’s a *Super Serial* role on the Discord server, so make sure you grab that so you’re notified of all Serial Saturday related news! **Reminders:** * Authors that complete a serial with 8 or more installments get a fancy banner and modpost to highlight their stories. * Make sure your post on this thread also includes links to your previous installments if you have a currently in-progress serial. Those links must be direct links to the previous installment on the preceding Serial Saturday post.