The 2021 Geek Pride Story Event: Official Support Page

[LAHomedog]

Seeking a bit more "geek" clarification.

Does the story have to be in a genre or have a theme that is geek passion oriented like Si-Fi, Cos-Play, uber cool tech stuff.

or

Can it be a story about someone who is geeky. Or a geek love affair?

Or maybe a geek/nerd love affair sparked by some shared geek interest?

Any of the above OK?

 

[sirhugs]

The word geek is a slang term originally used to describe eccentric or non-mainstream people; in current use, the word typically connotes an expert or enthusiast obsessed with a hobby or intellectual pursuit, with a general pejorative meaning of a "peculiar person, especially one who is perceived to be overly intellectual, unfashionable, boring, or socially awkward".

It also still may refer to a circus geek, or the non-circus equivalent.

Those of us who ARE geeks are represented by Katherine Dunn's novel, Geek Love. One book website uses the term "human oddities", which I quite like. And as one, I must be right.

 

[PoisonPen33]

Seeking a bit more "geek" clarification.

Does the story have to be in a genre or have a theme that is geek passion oriented like Si-Fi, Cos-Play, uber cool tech stuff.

or

Can it be a story about someone who is geeky. Or a geek love affair?

Or maybe a geek/nerd love affair sparked by some shared geek interest?

Any of the above OK?

My story is about the owner of a small gaming store falling for a newcomer with a mysterious past, and RPG references abound throughout. So yeah, I'd say you're good with "all of the above."

 

[Voboy]

Seeking a bit more "geek" clarification.

Does the story have to be in a genre or have a theme that is geek passion oriented like Si-Fi, Cos-Play, uber cool tech stuff.

or

Can it be a story about someone who is geeky. Or a geek love affair?

Or maybe a geek/nerd love affair sparked by some shared geek interest?

Any of the above OK?

Back when it started, it was ONLY about SF. Now, I think it's either SF or people who are geeky.

 

[MisterWildCard]

Stories about people involved in geeky hobbies or geek culture, like fan conventions are just fine.

 

[yowser]

As with most challenges, I think a broad definition is entirely appropriate. My entry will be about the adventures of an over-educated fellow obsessed with the life and works of Isaac Newton.

 

[MisterWildCard]

Also, since there are no prizes involved, the structure of this challenge is pretty loose. If you think that it fits, then go ahead and submit it, it’s not like there’s any penalty or potential loss if you don’t meet some perfect criteria.

 

[LAHomedog]

Well, I have an idea about a story that takes place during a Magic the Gathering regional tournament.

It's not written, just an idea. I wanted to make sure it would qualify prior to devoting the time to write it. It sound like it would. Thanks all.

Thanks all

 

[MisterWildCard]

Well, I have an idea about a story that takes place during a Magic the Gathering regional tournament.

It's not written, just an idea. I wanted to make sure it would qualify prior to devoting the time to write it. It sound like it would. Thanks all.

Thanks all

Sounds perfect! Go for it!

 

[SimonDoom]

Well, I have an idea about a story that takes place during a Magic the Gathering regional tournament.

It's not written, just an idea. I wanted to make sure it would qualify prior to devoting the time to write it. It sound like it would. Thanks all.

Thanks all

Sounds like good geek stuff to me. I am working on a story where, originally, the characters were playing a Magic The Gathering game, but I'm reworking it into a story where they are playing a Dungeons and Dragons-style game based on the Star Trek characters and setting. So I'm glad to hear you are taking up the Magic The Gathering mantle.

I used to play Magic The Gathering with my kids, and I felt like an old incompetent Boomer, because I could never get the hang of it and it felt like they were always just making up the rules as they went to annihilate all my cards.

 

[Payne_Hall]

I used to play Magic The Gathering with my kids, and I felt like an old incompetent Boomer, because I could never get the hang of it and it felt like they were always just making up the rules as they went to annihilate all my cards.

I’m here to tell you that this isn’t you. That game is just ADHD about “these are the rules until this card you’ve never seen says that’s not the rules anymore”. I had to learn off untap, where everything was free haha.

Also, LA, I don’t know how to multiquote but please make a joke about people stealing Magic cards. I feel like every geek I’ve known who got caught stealing was doing it because of Magic.

 

[LAHomedog]

I’m here to tell you that this isn’t you. That game is just ADHD about “these are the rules until this card you’ve never seen says that’s not the rules anymore”. I had to learn off untap, where everything was free haha.

Also, LA, I don’t know how to multiquote but please make a joke about people stealing Magic cards. I feel like every geek I’ve known who got caught stealing was doing it because of Magic.

If I can pull this off I will need help from my adult son. He is well known in the Magic community and a Level ? judge at tournaments. I was hoping to pick his brain for the Magic game interaction and use that as the spine of a story.

As a "Magic Dad" for 20+ years and helping to finance his game I have marginal knowledge of the game, but a lot regarding the world.

 

[ChloeTzang]

Seeking a bit more "geek" clarification.

Does the story have to be in a genre or have a theme that is geek passion oriented like Si-Fi, Cos-Play, uber cool tech stuff.

or

Can it be a story about someone who is geeky. Or a geek love affair?

Or maybe a geek/nerd love affair sparked by some shared geek interest?

Any of the above OK?

Any of the above is fine. It’s a very loose definition of geeky. Mines a chess tournament.

 

[MisterWildCard]

Making some nice progress on my "Kamen Rider" homage story. The main sex scene turned out even steamier than I expected, which was a pleasant surprise. At this point it's a question of how much longer do I want to draw out said scene, and where to end the story afterwards. I've got plans for another big fight scene, followed by an enemy rider showing up and trying to take advantage of said fight scene (and failing, falling to the protagonists), and then perhaps one more sex scene to wrap things up and leave things open for possible sequels.

The sex is currently two guys teaming up on one lady (hooray for double penetration!). I'm debating if I should have the two guys maybe get into each other a little bit as well, or just leave it as is. I'm fine writing either way, but the sense I get from these two dudes is that they're straight and not bi. *shrug*

Then again, there was a really hot scene from an old movie called THE DOOM GENERATION where you had a girl on her back getting it missionary from a guy, and then another guy behind the first guy, sliding into the first guy's ass. Might be fun to recreate that here, but I'm thinking that might be something to save for a later story with these characters, after they get to know each other even more.

 

[yowser]

Any of the above is fine. It’s a very loose definition of geeky. Mines a chess tournament.

Employing a Sicilian defence? Or a Hippopotamus?

 

[gordo12]

I'm starting to wonder if there is even a geek anymore. In this technological age, and from the genres being discussed on this thread that I know involve millions of people, I'm starting to think it's not about geeks and normal.

Geeks have become the new normal, and it's only us Dinosaurs left behind. A lot of the conversations here, so far, involve things I've heard about and things I haven't. But to be honest, half the time, I have no fuck'n clue what some of you are talking about.

I blame my parents for having me too early

Anyway, I'm done. As of last Nov, I had my boring old-fashioned fantasy story written and edited. It's about demons and the old west. The title is "EVIL." Around 9-10k words.

It's dark and heads into horror. (for my tastes) I don't want to post it in horror. Not enough readers. But I also think it wouldn't do well in sci-fi. I may have to toss a coin to decide where to post.

 

[SimonDoom]

Also, LA, I don’t know how to multiquote but please make a joke about people stealing Magic cards. I feel like every geek I’ve known who got caught stealing was doing it because of Magic.

OK, here's another thing I don't get about it: My sons would go to a store (the geekiest group of people I have EVER seen, except possibly that one time I went to a pseudo-medieval LARPing fake sword-play event) and they would spend extra money to buy special cards for their personal decks. So nobody has the same deck. They'd give me a deck (Them: Here, Dad, take these, they should work out just fine for you. Me: Tell what "manna" is again?). How can you have a meaningful, fair game where people aren't playing with the same cards?

I never got it. But I know others who did.

It's DEFINITELY geek.

 

[SouthernCrossfire]

No cards or D&D in mine. My geek is a traditional study nerd (a la Louis and Gilbert) who grew up to become a CPA and financial officer in firm. There are major changes in his life early in the story and he lands in a high school-like setting while waiting to start his new job. While there, he has an encounter that sets him on a nerd-like scheme to get what he needs most: action. When it works better than he expected, he discovers that he may have found more, but his true nerdiness is exposed when he drives her away and then has to work to get her back.

The story is currently just over 20K words and I'm about 90% complete according to the outline.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

I've pulled out a draft I've had knocking around for ages, and figure it could work for this.
Bunch of engineering students in the early 90s get to use instant messaging for the first time. Flirting happens. And more.

A lot of editing of (so far) 25k words will be needed, though.

My college mates tried to get me into Magic: the Gathering but the first time had me going "so that means I can play this card, right? And this one? And then I can do this? Doesn't that mean I've won?"
Repeat another two times and we all agreed to give up. I did get roped into LARPing a bit though, which was fun until some people started taking it way too bloody seriously. We got interviewed by the police, too, which was entertaining because they were clearly more terrified than we were.

 

[PeytonMirabelle]

Well, I have an idea about a story that takes place during a Magic the Gathering regional tournament.

Hey, LA! You and are going down the same path (Magic tournaments). My story is set in the 90s, when the game was young and I'm getting in touch with some old geeky memories.

I can't wait to read your interpretation!

 

[Blind_Justice]

How can you have a meaningful, fair game where people aren't playing with the same cards?

The short answer: Everybody IS playing with the same cards, the only difference between poker and Magic The Gathering is the size of the available card pool. A normal playing card deck has 52 unique cards while MTG has several thousand unique cards across thirty-odd years of releases which are nominally compatible with each other.

That said, over the game's thirty-plus year lifetime, there have been sweeping rule and balance changes, some early-edition cards have been declared illegal for tournament play because they were too powerful, but in essence every MTG player goes by the same rules when building their deck. Picking and choosing which cards go into a deck is as much an art as it is an expression of individuality.

I prefer closed-box games over CCGs (collectible card games) though. Much less expensive and no need to hunt those ultra-rare cards. Something like Star Realms has everything you'll need to play without the immediate "need to buy better cards" insanity MTG seems to foster.

 

[PoisonPen33]

Now I'm half-tempted to have the store owner in my story catch someone stealing Magic cards...

 

[Payne_Hall]

You guys are killing me. I’ve been trying to avoid talking about Magic because I will not shut up about it and there’s so much there.

Also, the stealing Magic cards thing is why all the game store owners have them locked in a glass case.

Also, my favorite Magic story involved a friend going to another friend’s house to play Magic and they sat at the gaming table, remembered the Derringer in their pocket, casually sat it on the table and no one thought it was weird.

 

[TxRad]

You guys are killing me. I’ve been trying to avoid talking about Magic because I will not shut up about it and there’s so much there.

Also, the stealing Magic cards thing is why all the game store owners have them locked in a glass case.

Also, my favorite Magic story involved a friend going to another friend’s house to play Magic and they sat at the gaming table, remembered the Derringer in their pocket, casually sat it on the table and no one thought it was weird.

That sounds like some of the local poker games.

 

[NotWise]

Just the support thread is too geeky for me.