SCP Idea: Shakespeare's Writing Quill (V.2)

Summary:

claims to house the soul of one of the world's most famous authors

SCP Idea: Shakespeare's Writing Quill (V.2)

PosidenSon2002 04 Sep 2020 15:37

A sentient writing quill that claims to house the soul of one of the world's most famous authors

I moved and trimmed your thread summary, since it was taking up extra space in the main forum screen. Try to keep thread descriptions (the text in the little box under the thread title) and titles short so you don't crowd out other authors in the forum listing. ~Zyn

Seeking Greenlights: Yes

Page Type: SCP Article

Genre: History

Elevator Pitch: The SCP article describes a 15th century writing quill. When picked up by an ungloved hang of a human, the person’s hand will start to autonomously write with it. The quill’s effects can be relisted easily and has no lasting effects after releasing it. The quill writes sentences directed towards the writer, asking them to talk to it, which can be done by writing with the quill when it is not actively influencing the writer. The quill claims to hold the soul of William Shakespeare and will write in a fashion (style, grammar, vocabulary, and penmanship) like William Shakespeare. The quill has knowledge of anything Shakespearean, including knowledge of his life, works, and even things evolving Shakespeare after his death.

+ show block

Central Narrative: The main story of the article will be a series of test/interview logs done by the foundation inquiring about the quill’s past. Through these interviews the quill tells us that he (Shakespeare) was a witch who joined, and later betrayed, a coven of witches to gain fame and power. He used his new found power to influence his writing into becoming wildly famous. The central conflict will evolve Shakespeare’s old coven trying to kill, defame, and sabotage Shakespeare’s life out of revenge; this will lead to events like the show McBeth getting cursed, Shakespeare dying form mysterious means, Shakespeare’s corpse having its head stolen (that actually happened, look it up), his works largely being hated or unknown by the general populous in the 21st century, and more.

Hook/Attention-Grabber: There isn’t many articles on the wiki like this as I could find, with Shakespeare only being apart of one SCP (SCP-3564) and there only being one self-writing pen (SCP-067) on the wiki. Also, I have not read many SCPs that go into real human history and try to explain it through the SCP Foundation, so I think this would be a rather unique addition to the wiki.

Additional Notes: This is a re-write of a thread I posted two weeks ago, the thread is dead at this point, so this is my 2nd try going for a greenlight.

As a courtesy to our readers on mobile devices, please collapse long posts. ~Zyn

Last edited on 05 Sep 2020 04:06 by Zyn Show more

Forum Criticism Team - Captain Post

Zyn 05 Sep 2020 04:08

This is a re-write of a thread I posted two weeks ago, the thread is dead at this point

General note, author, if you're having trouble getting further replies on a thread, you can look at this thread for options to contact reviewers: http://www.scp-wiki.net/forum/t-13282692/how-to-get-more-reviews Just waiting for more replies when there are at any moment dozens of active concept threads tends to not result in any new reviews.

_{(also, you want sapient, not sentient. Lobsters are considered sentient. For human-level intelligence, self-awareness, and communication ability, sapient is the word.)}

Re: Forum Criticism Team - Captain Post

PosidenSon2002 05 Sep 2020 12:23

Thank you for the advice, I’ll keep that in mind for the future, I’m really just trying to get my footing in the site, but sure I’ll get the hang of it.

Re: SCP Idea: Shakespeare's Writing Quill (V.2)

DolorousDoctor 04 Sep 2020 17:00

I like it. I think it's pretty unique and kind of funny that Shakespeare was a witch.

Just a suggestion though (take it or leave it, and this is a pretty meta idea anyway): Maybe the quill existed before Shakespeare, and William found it and everything he wrote down was Shakespearean. "William" isn't named William Shakespeare, but every time he writes his name, that name shows up. This could also work because there are many theories that Shakespeare didn't write all of his plays, and other people wrote some other ones. You could probably have some anomalous mumbo jumbo to fill in the gaps.

Anyway, that's just a suggestion. Your current article is fine, I could give a more in-depth review if you want, but not right now (I mean I can't green light things anyway). I do have several nitpicks: I think you've included too many details to the point were I believe it goes over the 400 word limit. Also (though I don't care personally) most people don't like reposting past threads unless you've made some major changes. I don't know, maybe you have, but just worth saying.

Last edited on 04 Sep 2020 17:01 by DolorousDoctor Show more

Re: SCP Idea: Shakespeare's Writing Quill (V.2)

Zyn 05 Sep 2020 04:13

I could give a more in-depth review if you want, but not right now (I mean I can't green light things anyway).

Side note, reviewers who greenlight oftentimes look at how an author responded to critique in a thread to determine if they will give feedback themselves. If an author responds well to critique, reviewers in general are more likely to want to review for them. Everyone who commits to giving good feedback in the forums helps out the authors, so please don't feel like not being able to greenlight prevents you from giving worthwhile feedback entirely. :)

Re: SCP Idea: Shakespeare's Writing Quill (V.2)

PosidenSon2002 05 Sep 2020 12:24

I would love to hear more of your thoughts on my SCP, any criticism I can get would be helpful!

Re: SCP Idea: Shakespeare's Writing Quill (V.2)

Marcelles_Raynes 24 Sep 2020 23:33

Noting a PM request, also on Behalf of the team of the Oinks!

Let's dive in, shall we?

Took me a while to find the actual article that this reminds me of, but this is it. Essentially it is the same concept, albeit with art instead of words or a conversation. That is all well and good if you can manage to put enough of your own take on the thing. There are a few SCPs that take inspiration from real life events on the wiki as well, but that shouldn't deter you from pursuing this as well.

I have two main issues with this: You say that Shakespear's coven is trying to kill him because of their pursuit for revenge, but what exactly they want revenge for is largely left unclear. There is also the issue of when this article is taking place, either before 1616 (when he actually died) or in the modern-day. I feel like having this take place in the modern-day with us kind of reflecting on actual historical fiction (oxymoron, I know lol), would do you well. But this is only a suggestion.

Honestly I'm really digging this idea. The cursed plays (which would explain why so many highschool renditions of them go poorly), Shakespear in a secret with coven, the revenge, the ties into actual history. It's all ridiculously interesting enough that I would like to see this on paper. Consider this a Greenlight. I'm very interested in this piece.

Good luck, author!

---

~ M.D.R.

Re: SCP Idea: Shakespeare's Writing Quill (V.2)

PosidenSon2002 25 Sep 2020 15:03

Thank you! I've been trying hard to get my 1st greenlight, so I'm overjoyed to finally get one. To comment on your two issues: The intent was for the story to take place in a 20th century foundation finding the quill and inquiring about its past. Also, Shakespeare betrays his coven by stealing a book of spells from them and then trying to kill them so they can't seek revenge. I would had mentioned this in the original article, but I was close to my 400 word limit so I left it out. Anyway, Thanks again for the Greenlight!

Re: SCP Idea: Shakespeare's Writing Quill (V.2)

Quadraginta 23 Oct 2020 16:12

Responding to PM request

Hello, there!

Let's have a look at this here quill idea, eh? :D

+Let us start the crit!

When picked up by an ungloved hang of a human, the person’s hand will start to autonomously write with it.

The quill writes sentences directed towards the writer, asking them to talk to it, which can be done by writing with the quill when it is not actively influencing the writer.

You have piqued my interest.

The quill claims to hold the soul of William Shakespeare and will write in a fashion (style, grammar, vocabulary, and penmanship) like William Shakespeare.

A quill possessed/inhabited by a famous old writer? My interest is now very piqued.

Also, I'm imagining a D-Class trying to communicate with it and they get frustrated because they don't understand Shakespearean English. That would be a funny scenario. As for whether or not you should actually include that, that's up to you.

And you've headcanoned all of the negativity in Shakepeare's life to a coven of witches.

This plot twist felt so Dr. Who-ish to me, it just put a smile on my face.

Alright. You want a greenlight? You got a GREENLIGHT, because a sapient pen possessed by the soul of Shakespeare that you talk to by writing with it is one of the coolest freakin' ideas I've seen in a while.

Now that you got two Greenlights, you can go ahead and use the draft forums and starting drafting it up.

Be sure to get critique along the way.

+A step by step guide to one's first SCP.

^
I recommend reading the Drafting portion of this guide since you made it past the greenlight phase.

Good luck, mate!

Have a lovely day!

o7

👍👍👍