Got the time and raring to rhyme? 'Aving a little art attack? Looking for
a place to let your creative energies flow? One place that often gets left out
on a guided tour of Neopia Central is the Arts and Literature Centre, located
in the deep and ancient catacombs under the town.
Think it's a little off the beaten track? Hmm… why don't you come with me
for a few minutes and find out?
Art Gallery
One of the main attractions of the Deep
Catacombs is its famous Art Gallery, home to hundreds of works from
budding artists all over Neopia.
Just submit your art to pics@neopets.com. It doesn't have to be a specific
size or format; .bmp, .jpg, and .gif are accepted. It also doesn't have to be
made with a specific medium. No one's stopping you from sending your oil on
canvas rendition of your favourite Kougra, but pencils and pastels are often
seen here, along with drawings made on computer programs. Just remember, your
pictures have to be related to NeoPets - and they have to be your own creation!
You can't submit a picture of the Negg Faerie that you just downloaded off the
site!
If your creation is chosen, you won't just win 1000 NP, a rare item and a
trophy - you'll also get the chance to see your masterpiece on the gallery,
where millions of NeoPet owners can bring their pets to see and learn more about
Neopia. Who knows? Your colourful water-colour of your (once!) Glass Shoyru
may someday be considered a valuable lesson in Neopian history.
How to Draw
This part of the Catacombs is dedicated to would-be artists who want tips on
how to draw their favourite NeoPets. So far, these only include directions on
how to draw twenty-three NeoPets, like Scorchios, Unis, and Kacheeks. But those
who want instructions on drawing NeoPets like Zafaras and Lupes will have to
wait in line. But don't worry, I'm sure the NeoPets Team will be coming out
with these much-awaited tips soon.
Camp Fire
This isn't your ordinary campfire by the lake where you toast hot-dogs and smores.
After all, this is NeoPets, and Camp Fire really means that there are loads
of great stories just waiting for you!
Browse through volume after volume of Neopian literature. Read about the Shoyru
who's a doorman at the Presidential Palace by day and a crime-fighting samurai
by night. Or find yourself in the middle of the brewing competition between
the Training School and Krawk Academy that isn't all that it seems. Or see how
stern Dr. Death's life changes when he adopts a charming red Poogle. But that's
not all. You can get your name printed on one of these chapters, plus win yourself
a trophy, 2000 NP, and a rare item along the way. How? It's simple. The NeoPets
Team begins every story. You just have to stretch your imagine, flex your fingers,
and write down what you think comes next. Click on the Submit Query button,
and wait for the next day. That's when the NeoPets Team will post the best entry
for the day. If it's your paragraph, then congratulations! If it's not, you
still have a fighting chance at that trophy until the story is finished.
Poetry Contest
It won't hurt for you to see
If poetry is your cup of tea.
Just write a few verses down,
And you may soon be the talk of the town.
Uh, I think that needs a lot more work…
If stories can't get your fingers flying over the keyboard, then maybe poems
can. You can earn 1000 NP, plus a trophy and a rare item, just by sending in
your original poem about anything related to NeoPets to poems@neopets.com.
Poems have been written about the Trading Post, Usuki-mania, even the now
destroyed kingdom of Maraqua - just about anything under the Neopian sun. There
are also short verses about NeoPets and their owners, so feel free to write
about your Neopian family. Read through the poems and see if you can come up
with something about Neopia that no one has ever written of before. In fact,
you can even try sharpening your hunting skills by looking for the shortest
poem ever written in Neopia (hint: it contains only two words)!
Ye Olde Coffee
Shoppe A little tired from touring the Arts and Literature Centre? In the middle
of it all stands a little coffee shop run by a friendly Yellow Shoyru. Try relaxing
with a cup of Earl Grey Tea. If you're in a hurry, perk your NeoPets up with
a quick drink of the traditional House Blend topped with a dollop of cream.
Or if you're feeling more adventurous, try a warm mug of Snowberry Tea. Some
of my NeoPets' favourites are Thornberry Java with Cream and Kaubuggle Mocha.
It brightens their day in a flash!
The shop also serves delicious and exotic desserts like Tigersquash Ice Cream,
Thornberry Jelly and Sour Melon Pie. Yummm!
Neopian Times
Our final stop is the home of Neopia's most popular weekly paper, the Neopian
Times. It features articles, stories, mini-series, and comic strips from contributors
like you and me. It also has a guild spotlight, an editorial section that answers
your frequently-asked questions, and even a report on the Neo Market. You can
also be a contributor to this widely-read paper by sending your work to neopiantimes@neopets.com.
But since you're reading this, you already know that, don't you?
So what are you waiting for? Now's your chance to write an article praising
the underrated Health Food Shop or a mini-series on the grand battle between
the Snow Faerie and Edna the Witch (over the number of loyal volunteers that
flock to them daily) or a comic on a little Quiggle that found his precious…
Been There and Back
A few words to the wise, though: When submitting something, always include your
username. Otherwise, the NeoPets Team won't be able to tell who submitted it.
If you're using an e-mail address other than the one in your account, be sure
to also include the e-mail address in your account.
Don't plagiarise (that means passing off someone else's work as your own)!
That's a form of stealing. Try to make your stories and poems as original as
possible. After all, there's no limit to your imagination.
There's also no limit to how many times you want to participate so just keep
on sending in those original works.
Now that you've realised what you've been missing, isn't it about time that
you make your stay at Neopia more than just a get-rich quick scheme, or a game
to find out who's toughest NeoPet at Battledome? NeoPets also gives you a chance
to express yourself in different ways. So whether you're seeing your latest
work posted in the Art Gallery or presenting your original story for Creative
Writing class, you'll be glad you took the journey to freeing your imagination
right here in Neopia. | 
