Talescape Originals

Talescape Originals are officially commissioned stories produced in collaboration with selected authors and published under the Talescape Originals account. They serve as flagship releases that demonstrate Talescape’s creative and technical potential.

This page explains how Talescape Originals are selected, produced, and distributed.

Who Can Apply

Any experienced writer or small studio with a background in narrative design, interactive fiction, or visual novels. Applications are open globally but conducted in English.

What to Submit

Authors must provide:

1. A Story Pitch (1–2 pages) – describing the premise, tone, and structure.
2. Writing Sample – preferably an excerpt from an existing interactive or narrative project.
3. Estimated Scope – projected word count, branching complexity, and desired art style.
4. Short Bio – relevant background and past works. Optional: visual moodboard or script fragment.
5. Estimated Quote (Required)
   Please include a non-binding estimate of your requested commission fee in EUR. This quote should reflect the intended scope, production effort, and creative ambition of your project. Talescape Originals are independently conceived stories: you define the vision, and Talescape decides which ones to fund. The quote helps us evaluate feasibility and plan the 2026 funding round. Quotes are not binding and may be renegotiated after selection based on available funding and project complexity.

Budget Range (for 2026 Slate)

Talescape is a small independent studio. The 2026 Talescape Originals program will operate within an estimated total funding pool of €20,000 – €50,000, divided across multiple projects.

For individual stories, we expect most commissions to fall between €5,000 and €15,000, depending on length, complexity, and artistic scope.

Applicants are encouraged to propose realistic budgets within this range. Exceptionally strong or smaller-scale pitches outside this band may still be considered, but proposals exceeding the total yearly funding capacity cannot be accepted.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Funding Disclaimer

The Talescape Originals program depends on external public funding. While applications are open now, no commissions or payments can be guaranteed until the funding for 2026 is officially approved.

Applicants whose stories are selected will be notified once the funding is secured, and contracts will only be issued at that stage.

You are welcome to apply and prepare your pitch in advance. Early submissions help us plan and demonstrate interest to funding institutions.

Talescape Originals should focus on timeless, broadly relatable themes that can resonate across cultures and years. Stories can be emotional, introspective, hopeful, tragic, or mysterious, but they should avoid content that ages poorly or creates unnecessary division.

Recommended:

• Human emotions, memory, connection, loss, wonder, exploration, identity.
• Morally challenging but empathetic narratives.
• Symbolic or philosophical subjects that invite reflection.

Discouraged:

• Current political or religious conflicts.
• Partisan messages or inflammatory real-world commentary.
• Purely shock-oriented or exploitative content.

Talescape Originals should endure. Write the kind of story people will still talk about ten years from now.

Submissions are evaluated on:

• Narrative strength and clarity of voice.
• Emotional depth and thematic coherence.
• Feasibility within available budget and timeline.
• Alignment with Talescape’s tone and audience.

• Promising authors will be contacted for a short discussion.
• Selected applicants receive an invite code in Q1 2026 to access the Talescape Editor and learn its workflow.
• Commissioning and production begin once Talescape’s funding is approved.
• Authors will be added as collaborators to a project hosted inside the official Talescape Originals account.

The production of each Original is divided into four stages:

Talescape provides creative and technical feedback at each stage to ensure consistency and accessibility.

Standard Model (Commission)

Talescape Originals are produced as fixed-fee commissions. Authors are paid for their creative work, not through ongoing revenue sharing.

Payment schedule:

• 25 % on contract signing (Concept Approval)
• 25 % after Vertical Slice delivery
• 25 % after Content Lock
• 25 % on final delivery and acceptance

Payments are made via invoice within 14 days of milestone approval. All payments are handled by Aureola / Talescape Originals, outside the regular Bard revenue system.

• All Talescape Originals are published from the Talescape Originals Bard account.
• The commissioned author is invited as a collaborator with full editing access.
• The author retains full IP rights.
• Talescape receives a non-exclusive license for global distribution, marketing, and archival.
• After an agreed exclusivity period (usually 12 months), the author may distribute elsewhere while maintaining the Talescape Original credit.

Credit Format

Published by Talescape Originals
Written by [Author Name]

• Only human-created stories are eligible (no AI-generated text, art, or audio).
• All stories undergo automated checks and manual review before release.
• Talescape provides editorial feedback to maintain consistency with its creative vision.

All Talescape Originals are preserved permanently within the platform archive. Even if the author’s account is removed or the project ends, Originals remain playable for future generations of Dreamers.

Questions, pitches, or partnership inquiries:

• 📩 contact@talescape.com
• 💬 or message Christian (Aureola) directly via Discord