Writers' Corner Discussion

[tweezers 1,034]

My parents thought creative writing was trash cause most stories my writing teacher likes have people die in them.

The thing is that usually morbid creative writing is likely to resonate with an audience, which is why a lot of people write so much of it. Despair is something that's universal, and it's usually the same things that are likely to make someone sad, like death or loneliness which makes it easier to relate to. However, reasons for happiness are much more varied, and nailing happiness without sounding cheesy is a tad harder, but getting it right makes for amazing stories.

 

Also, it sounds like your teacher is just a wee bit biased in their rating of stories. There's no cure for that but to keep writing quality stories that have more positive themes. 

 

As for creative writing being trash, that's probably because they've read trash creative writing. Again, no core for that but to keep writing quality stories, and it doesn't hurt to write about things that they're likely to relate to.  

[Person_Random 4,991]

The thing is that usually morbid creative writing is likely to resonate with an audience, which is why a lot of people write so much of it. Despair is something that's universal, and it's usually the same things that are likely to make someone sad, like death or loneliness which makes it easier to relate to. However, reasons for happiness are much more varied, and nailing happiness without sounding cheesy is a tad harder, but getting it right makes for amazing stories.

 

Also, it sounds like your teacher is just a wee bit biased in their rating of stories. There's no cure for that but to keep writing quality stories that have more positive themes. 

 

As for creative writing being trash, that's probably because they've read trash creative writing. Again, no core for that but to keep writing quality stories, and it doesn't hurt to write about things that they're likely to relate to.  

Lol @tweezers your style is awesome!  "just a wee bit biased" makes me think very biased but then i might be biased...

[thethiefofvictory 339]

Someone requested a timeline of Peace. So here it is. Alongside the name of each story is the precise time when it begins, and the day in which it is set in Peace timeline.

War:

The War Palace (1500 / 3 PM, November 18, 20 War)

Red and Blue, Black and White (1800 / 6 PM, November 18, 20 War)

Peace:

An Attempt on Her Life (1200 / 12 PM, December 7, 1081 Peace)

 

[issue 78] The Controlled Assassin (1300 / 1 PM, August 30, 1104 Peace)

[issue 77] The City of Peace (0630 / 6:30 AM, November 4, 1104 Peace)
Her Wish (1300 / 1 PM, November 4, 1104 Peace)

Guests and Suspects (1400 / 2 PM, December 17, 1104 Peace)

Interrogation (1500 / 3 PM, December 19, 1104 Peace)

 

The Corrupt Hand of Law (December 24, 1104 Peace)

 

In order of publishing:

 

 

 

[issue 77] The City of Peace

The War Palace

Her Wish

An Attempt on Her Life

Guests and Suspects

Red and Blue, Black and White

[issue 78] The Controlled Assassin

Interrogation

The Corrupt Hand of Law

 

 

Edited August 16, 2018 by thethiefofvictory

[Magenta 5,165]

I am not being impatient, but, is my story Lost To The Snow there? Just making sure  :unsure:.

[GrandExecutioner 1,403]

Good to see the sudden rise in French articles. :)

[Flexoo 6,980]

I am not being impatient, but, is my story Lost To The Snow there? Just making sure  :unsure:.

I'll contact you regarding that one soon.

[aqwzsxedc 699]

Maybe this question is... but i'm just wondering; Why there is no one writing in AR ? 

Is this one of the reasons the AR newspaper was closed?

and what if someone writes in arabic; who will approve his article ._.

[Flexoo 6,980]

Maybe this question is... but i'm just wondering; Why there is no one writing in AR ? 

Is this one of the reasons the AR newspaper was closed?

and what if someone writes in arabic; who will approve his article ._.

No one is writing in Arabic because we simply have no Arabic reporters at the moment. The applications for Arabic reporters are open, but unfortunately, it's hard to find any new writers as the applicants usually do not meet the writing requirements, or have a really bad karma or they behave overally really poorly. If someone posts Arabic article here, it will be reviewed by Arabic speaking helper from other helper team. Thus it might take longer before such article is reviewed.

[P.4.R.K.O.U.R 329]

overally

Lol

[aqwzsxedc 699]

 

ahh i see

[LOLKILLERTOTHEDEATH 1,921]

Usually how long does it take for a topic to get published?

Also, are we able to request a copy of what we submitted? Because I submitted a guide then lost my own copy :mellow:

It can vary wildly. Mostly it depends on which (if any) reporter is free. I cannot speak for the rest of us, but I have been very busy lately and so have not had much time to go through the AWS. Should I get the chance to edit yours, I will send you a copy first before I make my suggestions.

[Chronicle 164]

Hi guys.

 

Maybe this is a little off base, but I feel like part of why I never make any significant progress with my writing is because I only really ever write during sudden bursts of inspiration. When taking a stroll, hanging the laundry, preparing oatmeal... etc. My decision to write usually stems from a scientific baseline, I then hope my writing blossoms into something great. So do you guys have a daily writing routine? If so, mind sharing it with newbies like myself? 

[thethiefofvictory 339]

So do you guys have a daily writing routine? If so, mind sharing it with newbies like myself?

 

I write when I want to. I typically have a general plot in my mind for days before I type the first word (I'm lazy, unfortunately), but then someday I decide to play one hour less and write in that time. I'm not writing much nowadays because... reasons you'll know at the correct time.

 

I rarely ever come up with a good and original idea for a guide or review

[Chronicle 164]

 

Nicely put! Thanks! 

[Quarks 2,255]

Hi guys.

 

Maybe this is a little off base, but I feel like part of why I never make any significant progress with my writing is because I only really ever write during sudden bursts of inspiration. When taking a stroll, hanging the laundry, preparing oatmeal... etc. My decision to write usually stems from a scientific baseline, I then hope my writing blossoms into something great. So do you guys have a daily writing routine? If so, mind sharing it with newbies like myself? 

What I do is play around with an idea for a little while. I like to formulate what I want to do in my head and then try to write. Eventually, you'll get an idea of where you want to go, and the moment that happens, get it down immediately. Basically, my process boils down to rewriting, editing, rewriting, flash of inspiration, rewriting. I was a reporter though, so that says something (hopefully).

[Chronicle 164]

What I do is play around with an idea for a little while. I like to formulate what I want to do in my head and then try to write. Eventually, you'll get an idea of where you want to go, and the moment that happens, get it down immediately. Basically, my process boils down to rewriting, editing, rewriting, flash of inspiration, rewriting. I was a reporter though, so that says something (hopefully).

That's one way I look at it, Thanks! Ideally, how long do you spend tweaking around? 

[P.4.R.K.O.U.R 329]

Hi guys.

 

Maybe this is a little off base, but I feel like part of why I never make any significant progress with my writing is because I only really ever write during sudden bursts of inspiration. When taking a stroll, hanging the laundry, preparing oatmeal... etc. My decision to write usually stems from a scientific baseline, I then hope my writing blossoms into something great. So do you guys have a daily writing routine? If so, mind sharing it with newbies like myself?

 

How often do you get an inspiration? I get like thrice a day, be it a punch line that sends the toilet paper rolling down the hill... to get to the bottom I am so funny or some cliffhanger. I have had times when the only thing I knew was the end. But after I compile my thoughts, I think about the plot or base of the story. Be it days, but I won't start till I get that right. You probably understood how I got the idea of people being discontent with the President's policies...

Hopefully this was useful.

[Chronicle 164]

Hopefully this was useful.

Was indeed, thank you!

 

Edit: Hey! My 200th post! 

Edited July 29, 2018 by Chronicle

[Quarks 2,255]

That's one way I look at it, Thanks! Ideally, how long do you spend tweaking around? 

Honestly, it depends. Guides don't actually have as many tweaks (personally) as those are more informational, and once you get your basis to run off, it is pretty easy to complete. Stories take a much longer time, as they require different details and descriptions, and that is something I'm not as comfortable with writing. So for the crappy answer, it really depends. A word of warning though: don't spend too much time, else you will over tweak it, if you will, making it worse than it was. In my opinion, a good writer isn't determined by where and how they begin, but when they know to stop. I know that didn't completely answer your question, but I hope it helped.

[Chronicle 164]

Honestly, it depends. Guides don't actually have as many tweaks (personally) as those are more informational, and once you get your basis to run off, it is pretty easy to complete. Stories take a much longer time, as they require different details and descriptions, and that is something I'm not as comfortable with writing. So for the crappy answer, it really depends. A word of warning though: don't spend too much time, else you will over tweak it, if you will, making it worse than it was. In my opinion, a good writer isn't determined by where and how they begin, but when they know to stop. I know that didn't completely answer your question, but I hope it helped.

Well, maintaining consistency isn't really my strong suit. I typically wake up bombarded with ideas and end up losing them as the day goes by, or when I'm writing I get bogged down halfway in. I use the inspiration as activation energy. Nonetheless, thanks for the valuable advice! 

[Hippin_in_Hawaii 639]

Generally speaking, I have very little idea what I'm going to write when I sit down at a keyboard. With Molly's, for example, I specifically spent some time kicking around ideas for a new context. Once I settled on a small garage, I spent some time debating what perspective to take. As I was kicking these ideas around, several images popped into my head. The kid who loves tanks and shows up, ending up sweeping the floors just to hang around. The hidden city of gold. The underdog team. Showing up to scrub mechanical parts.  The gruff-yet-tender veteran. The dog. The posers building ridiculous tanks.

 

When I actually sit to start writing, I get possessed. Literally. My fingers move without my conscious awareness; I read the words appearing on my screen, but am not willfully putting them there. It's as if I am reading a story being written in real time. It's weird.

 

I can, by act of will, force the course of a story. I did that a few times in the General Fred series. I knew I needed a story to make the whisky bottles significant, so I engineered that one. I knew before I sat down the significant elements that had to be incorporated. I may even have had a phrase or two crafted in my mind. But the words that appeared between those pre-decided elements, and the order in which the elements were stacked, happened without my volition. 

 

It's literally like there's another person who hijacks my fine motor control to use my hands as a vehicle for typing their story. This entity, my muse, does listen to my conscious thoughts; anything I choose to put in appears, but the bulk of what you read was written by that force.

 

Most of the stories I've posted here were written in a single sitting, usually on the order of two pages per hour. 

 

Now, once the story has been written, I like to sit on it for a bit. I'll read it back over a few times during the following week, and in this way, I discover errors, tweak phrasing, etc. On rare occasions, I'll add or remove content, particularly in the "forging links between stories" area. But 90% of  what you read is that stream-of-consciousness, straight from my fingers content.

[Chronicle 164]

 

Oh yes, the paranormal ghostie type of stuff... tell me about it.  :P

[LOLKILLERTOTHEDEATH 1,921]

Not meaning to appear impatient - but its been a while since I submitted my article, and now I'm seeing ones published way past when I did mind. Is mine there...?

It is there, sorry to keep you waiting so long. We will try to get it done as soon as possible. 

[Magenta 5,165]

As you improve, your skills improve. As your skills improve, the more errors you will notices in your work. So, honestly, there's not end to how much you can revise your work. You should publish after a couple of revisions, then come back after a few months, revise it, then edit your article, whatever it is. As people has said before, this is not much of a case regarding guides.

[Person_Random 4,991]

I still think I need work... nobody reads my stuff enough.

Or maybe I have too high expectations.