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What are the Archives
You will find all you need to get started on this page. Please read it completely before joining. The Prime Archives are a collection of works that describe the future of our universe...or at least the universe through the eyes of our contributors. We are creating the solar systems, planets, species, technologies, animals, and organizations that exist in the Earth year of 3572. In 1,500 years things have changed. Humans now live on numerous planets spread across hundreds of light years, and we no longer call Earth home.
Our contributors are varied....some world-build, some tell stories, some dabble in the visual arts, and others use our content to Role Play. And these ideas have come from literally all over the world...several states in the US, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Poland, Scotland, Germany, Finland, and the UK. It is truly awesome to work on a project of this scale. The Milky Way Galaxy is huge, and with more than 200 billion stars, there is plenty of room for you to create your own set of worlds. you can create places that interact with civilizations that others have created, or create your own private undiscovered star with no interaction with others.
How do I contribute
The Archives (This site) are the official content for the Prime universe, but the actual work takes place on the world building forums. There are several ways to contribute:
Read
...If you like science fiction, come and read what others write. Science fiction is a broad genre, but our main focus is hard science fiction (SF)--writing that attempts to stay true to know scientific facts, while tickling your imagination with the possibilities of the future. For example Superman, while an awesome story, would not fit into the realm of Hard SF. It's pretty safe to say...no matter what color the sun is on your home-world, it wont give you the ability to overcome gravity on a planet orbiting a different colored star. However, we don't want to be too rigid. One thing history has proven, is what we know today, may not be true tomorrow. Check out the Archives for completed submissions, and Prime Word Building Group for writers brainstorming current ideas.
Build
...Once you have a good grip on the content of our existing world and have reviewed the scifi-worlds.com style guide, submit an idea of your own. Start small...something like plant life (see skinmoss) or equipment, and create a new thread in the forum matching your new idea. Let's say for example you want to create a new piece of equipment called Gravboots--they are a pair of boots that automatically adjust the gravity of your current location to match that of your home planet. Just start a new thread with "Brainstorming - Gravboots" in the subject line, and describe it the best you can. Use a template as a pattern to get you going.
After posting, wait for comments by the group. This may take some time, but once the idea has been throughly hashed out, reply to the thread with "LAST CALL before submission". Give it a week, and if you have no other responses move the thread to the In Edit forum, and wait for an editor to pick up your submission. The editor will then work with you to get your write-up ready to be published to the site. Just remember, brainstorming produces a lot of ideas...some good, some essential, and some bad, and it's your job to lead the development of this idea, and bring it to fruition. Check out this example brainstorming session. And the step-by-step process of taking a brainstorming idea from conception to completion.
The Archives have a separate section known as the Tech Manual, that is reserved for true science content. Often when writing science fiction you need to look up some facts for your stories. Try your hand at creating factual scientific articles.
Write
...One thing every good story needs is a seting. The main thrust of this site is world-building. What we excell at is building the setting for stories. Have a jab at writing a story in our universe. We'd love for you to bring it to life. And feel free to share poems, fantasy, horror, alternate history...really whatever you've written in the non-prime writing forums. You can find our writing in the Galactic Library.
Play
...We also have a few forums set up if you like to Role Play. Check out our Play-by-Post forums, and experience the Prime Universe through role play.
Feedback
...One way to contribute to the site is to give good feedback. Editors are not perfect, and with a site this size it's easy to miss something. If you notice a misspelling, bad grammar, or just an idea that doesn't seem to fit let someone know. Something that's particularly helpful is to assist a writer with their submission. Offer suggestions or potential changes, but just remember to be constructive with your comments. No idea is stupid...just throw it out there, and watch it develop.
Art
...The process is very similar--just post in the Brainstorming Artwork section for visual art.
How do I get an account
To get started you must sign up for a forum account. On the forums you can discuss your ideas, and then get feed back on them.
Wiki accounts for the Prime Archives are reserved for honored contributors. Once a member has reached the rank of Designer, a wiki account is set up for them. Then they can create a contributor page where they can share their interest in sci-fi and Prime, and showcase their works.
Copyright Statement
A copyright is a term used to describe the rights given to creators for their literary and artistic works. The kinds of works covered by copyright include: literary works such as novels, poems, plays, reference works, newspapers and computer programs; databases; films, musical compositions, and choreography; artistic works such as paintings, drawings, photographs and sculpture; architecture; and advertisements, maps and technical drawings. Check out the website of the World Intellectual Property Organization for more information.
You retain all ownership rights to content you submit to the Prime World Building Project (PWBP), and have the right to use your content in any way you choose. By posting any content on or through the PWBP, you hereby grant to it a limited, royalty-free, perpetual license, with the right to publicly display, to reproduce, and to create derivative works of solely on the PWBP any materials you submit.
All materials contained in the PWBP are either the copyrighted property of the project, the copyrighted material of the partners of the project, or the intellectual property of the individual authors themselves. No material from the PWBP or any material posted by individual authors may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, or transmitted, without the written permission of the author (s). Likewise, the submission of intellectual property that is the property of another writer or artist, which a third party attempts to pass off as their own, is strictly prohibited. The PWBP assumes no liability in such a case and the perpetrator will be subject to prosecution from the legitimate author of the intellectual property.
Community Life
Being part of a creative collaborative community is both a rewarding and challenging task. Below is a list of guidelines that will help us work together and build magnificent worlds.
Respect is key. No posts that attack, insult, "flame", or abuse people, will be allowed. Even if you disagree with someone's view, please respond respectfully.
No advertising or spam. However, we invite with open arms your creativity, determination to grow, and commitment to help others be the best they can be.
No mature themes. I think there is great creativity yet to be discovered within our young writers, and I want the Prime World Building Project (PWBP) to be a place for all to enjoy.
No Lone Rangers. To be part of our collective group, you must be willing to help others with their work. Offer suggestions. Look for errors. Take the time to actually read others work. Also, be ready to accept suggestions from the community--if you can't handle others critiquing your work, then the PWBP is not the place for you.
Do have fun. Writing can be extremely rewarding, just relax and let your heart flow out through your pen--or actually through your keyboard.
