*Q: What is Scratchtober?* Scratchtober is an annual event inspired by Inktober in which Scratchers can create projects based on specific "themes". The themes are: October 14: Doodle October 15: Rainbow October 16: Bubbles October 17: Fall October 18: Popcorn October 19: Island October 20: Shadow October 21: Holiday October 22: Fast October 23: Supernatural October 24: Groovy October 25: Spell October 26: Tomorrow October 27: Halloween You can interpret those prompts in any way you like. For example, "fall" could be autumn, or it could be "falling down". "spell" could be a magic spell, or it could be how to spell a really complex word. As long as you make a project based on one of the words shown here, you're participating in Scratchtober! And if you come later in and see a prompt for a previous day that you liked, that's fine too! Up until October 27th, both the prompt for the current day *and all previous days* are being accepted. *Q: How do I add a project?* Just post a link to the project in the comments! To do this, find the project in your My Stuff page, right-click on the project name, and press "Copy Link Address". It also helps if you explain which theme the project was meant for, as this will help curators decide faster. *Q: Do I have to commit to making a project for all the prompts every day?* No! Feel free to participate for just a single day, for every day, for only certain ones, or for none at all. It's entirely up to you. *Q: Can I submit more than one project?* Yes, you can! Even if it's multiple projects for the same theme. Feel free to make and submit as many as you like. It's a great idea for prompts that have multiple meanings or if you just have lots of ideas. If you can't decide which project to make, you can always make both. But of course, just a single project is fine too. It's up to you. *Q: Can I submit projects for previous days' prompts?* Yes. The prompt doesn't "change", but rather, the "list of prompts" grows. You don't miss an opportunity to submit a prompt on any particular day. Scratchtober as a whole has its last day around October 27th. *Q: Can I submit projects for future days' prompts?* Unfortunately, they will not be added. At that point, the prompts of any particular day would lose their meaning, and it would just be a giant list of 14 prompts! So, prompts for a future day will not be added. But that's OK, because you can still share the project now, and once the prompt becomes active, send the link then! *Q: Can I submit projects I made before Scratchtober started?* Maybe! It's in the spirit of Scratchtober to imagine, program, and share new projects for Scratchtober based around the theme. It's less fun to use an already existing project. But if you do happen to already have a project that goes along with the theme, you can still send it and it *might* be added if it's a great example of the theme. But if it's an old project and is only partially related, then it might not be added. Of course, you always have the opportunity to update it, remix it, or make a brand new project for Scratchtober! After all, the purpose of such events is to encourage creation. *Q: By _____ theme, do you mean X or Y?* The prompts may often be worded to have multiple meanings and you are welcome to choose any reasonable interpretation you want. That's what makes Scratchtober interesting. There are lots of different paths to go down. For example, "fall" could be autumn, or it could be "falling down". "spell" could be a magic spell, or it could be how to spell a really complex word. You can come up with anything else you want even if it's not listed here. One person submitted for the "rainbow" prompt a bow-and-arrow that was firing outside in the rain. Rain...bow. Yeah :P *Q: When will projects be added?* Indeterminate. Curators are volunteers, many of whom have real-life obligations or might simply not see a comment. There is no need to repeatedly post a comment. If it has been more than 24 hours since you posted a project, then at that point it may be safe to assume it has been missed and repost it.
--- CURATOR FAQ--- *Q: May I be a curator?* Maybe! Only the Scratch Team can add new curators, no single curator can invite others. You don't have to be a curator to add your own project, but if you are interested in adding others' projects that follow the theme, then being active and providing feedback on others' projects is a great thing to do. Try to open up their project, say something specific about that project (so not just "Nice! A curator should add this soon!"), saying what you like about it, what makes it unique, and possibly offering some suggestions on things to add, and the Scratch Team *may* send you an invitation to curate, but there is no guarantee. If you are not selected as a curator, that's OK-- there are always future studios, are you are still welcome to participate in the studio by discussing others' projects and creating your own project. *Q: Should I add a project for a prompt that has already passed?* Yes. The prompts do not expire, they "stack". This means that projects for any previous days are allowed. *Q: Should I add a project for a prompt that hasn't happened yet?* Projects for future prompts should not be added, because it goes against the "growing list" idea. When someone submits a project for a future prompt, I personally copy the project URL into a text file and make a note to myself to add it then, but you do not have to do this if you don't want to. You may also simply just ask the creator to comment it again once it's active. *Q: Should I add a project that was made before Scratchtober started?* Possibly. It's up to you. A project made before Scratchtober can be added if it is definitely a great fit for a specific prompt-- but if a project only somewhat meets the theme (i.e. they are just looking for a connection) and was made before Scratchtober, then you can choose not to add it. But be a lot more liberal with projects made specifically for Scratchtober-- there, any project made specifically for Scratchtober should be added, both because creating is the spirit of the event and because we encourage users to interpret the prompts in weird/unexpected/creative ways. It would be really disappointing for someone to spend hours working on a project just to be told "Not related!" -- so try to be a lot more liberal with new projects. *Q: Is a project related if it only vaguely contains the prompt?* Any project made specifically for Scratchtober should be added, both because creating is the spirit of the event and because we encourage users to interpret the prompts in weird/unexpected/creative ways. But if a project was made way before Scratchtober and only somewhat meets the theme (i.e. they are just looking for a connection) then you can choose not to add it. It would be really disappointing for someone to spend hours working on a project just to be told "Not related!" -- so try to be a lot more liberal with new projects. *Q: Should I add a project a user submitted that someone else made?* In general, no. There can be exceptions such as a user's alt account, or reposting a project made specifically for Scratchtober that was sent in earlier. But just simply a user linking someone else's project saying that it meets the theme shouldn't be added. The owner might not want it to be, and it doesn't encourage the creativity that Scratchtober is meant to. *Q: May I add my own projects or should I ask another curator to add them?* It's up to you. There is no rule against adding making projects related to the prompt and adding them yourself-- I add my own projects, and so do many other curators, including ceebee the studio host. But, some people feel that adding their own project is either a conflict of interest or simply unfair to others who have to wait, and choose not to and instead let another curator add it. It's entirely your choice. *Q: How should I decide whether or not a project is related?* Any project made specifically for Scratchtober should be added, both because creating is the spirit of the event and because we encourage users to interpret the prompts in weird/unexpected/creative ways. But if a project was made way before Scratchtober and only somewhat meets the theme (i.e. they are just looking for a connection) then you can choose not to add it. It would be really disappointing for someone to spend hours working on a project just to be told "Not related!" -- so try to be a lot more liberal with new projects. *Q: How do I know if a prompt is active?* Scratchers are across a variety of timezones, and ScratchCat's project always uses the local time for whoever's playing it and not the absolute "Scratch Time". Therefore there is a consensus among curators to go by the studio description-- the top of the studio description always says what the most recent prompt is, and the bottom of the description has a full list of all the prompts. If a prompt isn't listed there (yet), then it shouldn't be added yet, but it can be once it's listed.
