We weren’t really expecting the search for fanfic to exploit to include The Dark Crystal. But apparently the Jim Henson Company is ahead of the curve.
Yes, if you’ve desperately wanted to write a prequel to one of 1982’s cult classics, Penguin and The Jim Henson Company want you:
This new Dark Crystal novel will be a prequel story set at the time of the Gelfling Gathering, between the Second Great Conjunction and the creation of the Wall of Destiny. We will be placing all known lore from this era on DarkCrystal.com, the definitive home of The Dark Crystal. There you will find all the knowledge available for you to shape and build your story—and all we ask is that you share your stories with us.
To be fair, this is a bit more of a deal than Amazon’s attempt to get the next Fifty Shades of Grey for dirt; the winner, if there is one, will receive $10,000 as part of their contract. Of course, one doesn’t see the word “advance” anywhere in the official rules, so you might be forking over your writing ability for little more than a pat on the head, but at least they don’t put “valuable exposure” as a prize.
But, if you really want a crack at it, you can get started with this somewhat twee overview of the movie’s mythology. Just be sure to get any mention of royalties in writing.