• People's Choice - The main prize goes to the winner of the popular vote. Depending on participation, runners-up may get prizes as well.
• Staff Picks - RPGC staff each select winners from the bonus categories

These optional categories will be tied to special staff pick awards (of the same name) handed out for this month, so take on one (or more!) of the challenges if you want a chance to win another prize!

For this theme, we want each bonus category to be approachable in more ways than one. Each is based on a celestial body with ties to mythology or historical significance. We hope that either the body itself, the figure it represents, or the stories associated with it will inspire your piece -- whether that means journeying through space or simply looking up at the night sky.

What Are Bonus Categories? [+]

Bonus Categories are optional endeavors that add another level of challenge to the contest. You may tackle as many (or as few) as you like in your entry. At the end of the contest, the judges will select winners in each category, separately from the popular vote. Bonus Challenges are not required to be eligible for the main prize.

Why Bonus Categories? Because they're fun, challenging, and who doesn't like more prizes?

• MARS -- The Red Planet, named after the God of War. Earth's closest neighbor.
• PLUTO -- A small and distant world at the edge of oblivion. Named after the Roman god of the underworld.
• NORTH STAR -- The unmoving point of the heavens, which guided sailors to the new world, and guided slaves to freedom.
• THE CONSTELLATIONS -- Select any constellation -- or any other celestial body with a story -- as your inspiration.

• Follow all general contest rules.
• Send your entry to @rpgc entry with the title of your entry in the subject line by July 5th
• Be sure to mention any bonus categories you're hoping to win -- we'll consider everyone for everything, but it can't hurt to remind us!
• All entries will be posted (anonymously?) on July 5th, after which everyone can read, discuss, and of course vote for a winner!

Okay, just a quick question because this immediately popped in my head.

Are fanfics allowed? Like, stories set in a universe based upon a work?

<Snipped quote by Psyga315>

absolutely.

MARS -- The Red Planet, named after the God of War. Earth's closest neighbor.
PLUTO -- A small and distant world at the edge of oblivion. Named after the Roman god of the underworld.

Space. We're in space.

One minor note. Inconsistency in bonus categories:
<Snipped quote>
The latter attributes to the relevant pantheon, while the former claims to be the sole god of war. Rectify?

Our initial thought on bonus categories is that they don't really inspire. You've got the entire universe to play with, and two of the four bonus categories are planets in our own solar system? Where's the thoughts on hard/soft Sci-fi? Deep space? Dark matter? wormholes/spatial folding? FTL travel? Aliens? Etcetera etcetera...

PLUTO -- A small and distant world at the edge of oblivion. Named after the Roman god of the underworld.

Our initial thought on bonus categories is that they don't really inspire. You've got the entire universe to play with, and two of the four bonus categories are planets in our own solar system? Where's the thoughts on hard/soft Sci-fi? Deep space? Dark matter? wormholes/spatial folding? FTL travel? Aliens? Etcetera etcetera...

True. It can be played around with. The North Star one in particular. The feeling we got was just that the options offered far fewer possibilities than bonus categories could have.

Do as you like. You're incapable of producing something bad.

<Snipped quote by mdk>

That sounds like a challenge.

Fair warning -- publishers don't like it when a certain amount of the material has been put online already (I think the magic number is 10%? It varies probably). It's probably fine if there's heavy editing in your future, but it's something to be aware of when you're putting up huge portions like @Keyguyperson does. Might wind up closing some doors if you're not careful.