MAKE ME YOUR SLAVE.

I've come up with an idea. So, some of you have noticed that my site is almost at 100,000 hits. That's amazing. Seriously, that blows my mind. And so, because I am grateful to everyone who visits and reads my stuff, and because I know that this site has been somewhat dormant for awhile, I've decided to have a contest of sorts. I've seen similar contests on other sites, so I'm taking a cue from them.

Here's the premise: I will write a short story (max: 10 pages) for my 100,000 visitor. The visitor chooses their main fanfic characters, the type of story they want (i.e., humor, romance, drama, etc), and I will attempt to write them their own commissioned story. Does that make sense? Since I'm limiting it to 10 pages, it can't be a big epic or anything, but that should be enough length to fill out a nice little short piece or extended vignette.

So, here's how it's going to work. Since I'll need proof that you're really the 100,000 visitor (to be fair and all, not that I don't trust you guys ;)), I'm asking that you take a screen capture of this page, showing the counter below. There are two ways to do this (I've just been informed by a friend that there is an easier way to take caps without software).

First, you can use the PrntScrn (print screen) button on your computer. You go to the page you want to take a picture of, then you either press the PrntScrn button, or you press Shift-Ctrl-PrntScrn at the same time (it varies from computer to computer, I think). Then, you open up a Word document, go to 'edit', and choose 'paste special'. Your picture will appear in the Word doc, and then you just save the document and send it to me. Pretty easy, although make sure that the counter can be seen in your picture. :) You'll probably have to scroll down before you take the cap.

However, if that method doesn't work for whatever reason, never fear. I've found a FREE download of AndySnap, a simple, screencap program that's easy to use. It's at download.com, and you can click on this little box below to go download it. And again, it's FREE. :D

And here's how you use it, for the less computer-savvy -- click on the box to go to the download site. Then click on 'download now', then save it to your desktop. Once it's downloaded, double-click the desktop icon to start installing it. Choose where to install it and start up the program. This takes, like, thirty seconds to do. Pretty easy.

Now, when you have AndySnap started up, take note of where it saves your screencaps. It automatically saves them to the AndySnap folder where the program is (I changed mine to have screencaps saved in a different folder in My Pictures). Where it says 'image type', choose JPG from the pull-down menu.

To take a screen capture: go find whatever you're wanting to take a screencap of. For example, to take a screencap of Imagine's home page with the counter, you would open up your browser, go to the site, and then scroll down however much you need to until the counter is showing. Leave the browser up like that, and then open up AndySnap. When the AndySnap program is up, you'll see a button at the top that says 'SNAP NOW!' Click on it. (Note: once you click on 'Snap Now', you cannot go back to your browser and do any scrolling, etc. So you have to make sure that what you want to take a cap of is clearly visible before you click on 'Snap Now'.)

Your entire screen will go dark -- don't panic, haha (or, if you've already used the program, a box the size of your previous cap will appear -- you can ignore that and click anywhere you want). Just take your mouse, click and hold, and then start dragging. A box will appear, and just make the box as big as it needs to be to include everything you want in the capture. Once you've selected the area you want to capture, hit the Enter key. You'll hear a little clicky noise, and then in your AndySnap program, your screencap will appear. And there you go. Here's an example of a cap I took. I suggest messing with the program some now, so you get used to using it. :) It's easy once you know what you're doing.

Now that you have your screencap, just email it to make_room_for_the_prey@yahoo.com as an attachment. Include your name, the time of day, and the date that you took your cap, please. :)

And another thing -- even if you're the 100,001 or 100,002 visitor, whatever, go ahead and take a cap and send it to me. Just in case someone who couldn't give a damn about fanfic accidentally stumbles onto my site and ends up being #100,000. :) Basically, if no one speaks up with a screencap for 100K, I will take the next closest person after that. :)

And by the way... please do not visit the home page and refresh it a billion times to make the counter go up. If I notice that the counter starts going up excessively and I suspect that's what's happening, I'll change the settings on it to only go up one for every unique visitor per day. Which means that it'll take a lot longer to get to 100,000, but it will be more fair to everyone.

Okay... I think I have covered everything. Once I start getting emails with caps (hopefully someone will do this, or I will look stupid, haha), I will respond to everyone who sent one and announce the winner on here. And then get their story request, and write it. :) Should be fun.

Any questions? Something unclear? Let me know at make_room_for_the_prey@yahoo.com.

Thanks! :D