Official Ship’s Rules:

• The synopsis writer (SW) sends the President or a nominated Vice-President (here after called the Committee) the synopsis on the Friday before it is due to be posted—a week early. If the synopsis has not been received, the committee will contact the next SW and request their synopsis by Sunday night. If this is not received a committee member will post a reserve synopsis.

• The ship sets sail every otherFriday when a new synopsis is posted by the President or one of his Vice-Presidents.

• Once the synopsis is posted, you may begin writing 13 lines (see Hatrack guidelines for ensuring it is 13 lines).

• You can begin the story from any chronological part of the synopsis.

• Any details not specified in the plan can be made up as long as they do not SERIOUSLY alter the story.

• Remember, this contest is ABOUT mastering the hook--so have one.

• The President or his nominated stand in, will assign your story a number and post it between Monday and Thursday. They will not be posted over the weekend.

• PLEASE don’t look at what other people have done until after you have sent yours to the moderator.

• Edit your work before sending it—no corrections will be made after it has been emailed, and email it only once.

• Email your entry to the President, or his nominated deputy (a post will identify any changes) by latest Thursday night (GMT in my case). Ensure any bold or italic formatting is included exactly as you would format it if you posted it on Hatrack yourself.
Example:

skadder (my hatrack nickname)

Entry # (Committee will fill in number)

Title: The Wrathful Gaze of Allah

The scout’s hand shook as he pointed to the dune. “It lies on the other side, my Lord.”
Caliph Abu Bakr eyed the dune. The cool evening breeze plucked at his robes. Yes, let’s see. He began to walk up the hot sand.
“Caliph, you must not go—it could be a desert djinn.”
“Perhaps.” Abu Bakr turned to grin at the shivering guard. “If Allah wills it so--but Allah put it here, so I will look.”
As he crested the dune he gasped. Before him, half buried in molten, glowing sand, lay a vast metal structure. To one side lay a winged creature with a body like a man. It was totally covered in intricate armour and a single crystal was set in its helm. An angel--a dead one. Then it stirred.
“Quick,” Abu Bakr shouted, “It is messenger of Allah—bring the h

This is the format that you should use to send your work in. I have not included formatting--but you should--as the above is exactly 13 lines--if yours is longer it may get cut. More detailed instructions on how to ensure your intro is 13 lines can be found here.

• I will post the competition is closed and voting can commence. If you enter you are expected to vote. People who enter and don’t vote will be mocked in a 'Walked the Plank' thread. Critting, although useful, is not required, but you are expected to identify a first, second and third, and best title.

• Future Synopsis Writers:

1) Grant John
2) LAJD

If you would like to provide a future synopsis copy the short list above and post a new one with your name on it.

This weeks synopsis is written by the talented Unwritten

quote:

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The world of Wyren is not only a crossroads, it is THE crossroads, because all portals on other worlds lead only to Wyren. Magic flows freely through the elements of this world, but only Gifted people can use it. A Gifted child is carefully taught. The first step is Gathering—taking magic into yourself so that it can be used. The second step is Control. An unskilled child using magic will waste vast quantities to perform a simple spell, while someone with tight Control may hardly use any.

Recently, the rich and powerful mages of Wyren have begun sending their teenagers to a hidden school on Earth to learn tighter Control. No one has discovered a way to Gather magic on Earth, and so the only magic a novice would have is what they brought with them, and what their teachers have stored in gems. A Gifted person whose magic has drained from them suffers the way a drug addict suffers without drugs, so the fear of that feeling spurs the students to learn Control quickly.

But things are changing at the school. This year, when the students return to Earth after a holiday on Wyren, the grounds of the school are dripping with magic. They can Gather it easily, and their classwork is a breeze. Hidden in the northern provinces of Canada , the winters should be brutal, but this year has been exceptionally mild—at least inside the school grounds.

The other students are so pleased with this turn of events that they accept their teacher’s lame excuses easily, but Cam is suspicious. He convinces his friend Warren to snoop around, and together they discover that the teachers have learned how to tap into the magic of Earth, and are plotting to take over the Earth and harness its resources for themselves. Unfortunately, Warren and Cam are discovered, and Cam is killed while attempting to escape. Warren flees for his life, but now he is cut off from the portal to Wyren and to any access to magic.

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