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I'd like to become a professional writer in the next decade.

7 (29.2%)

Less than videogames.

6 (25%)

I am a professional writer.

3 (12.5%)

More than my health.

2 (8.3%)

I'm not sure.

5 (20.8%)

More than videogames.

0 (0%)

Not at all.

1 (4.2%)

Total Members Voted: 24

Voting closed: April 23, 2012, 11:42:36 pm

[Supermikhail]

Writing Prompt Contest

<...>One of the things I credit the most with improving my writing is the writing prompt--a word or phrase someone else comes up with, and about which you write a few hundred words over the course of 15 or 20 minutes. It's a great way to practice, since it gets you outside your comfort zone, and it would give this thread more of a purpose beyond just advertising.

Also, it's much, much easier, in my experience, to accept negative criticism on something you've banged out in 20 minutes, as opposed to something you've poured your soul into, and it's an important step to realize that the critics aren't always wrong.<...>

I'd suggest the following as more-like-guidelines:
1. Keep responses to about 500-750 words.
2. Don't agonize over them. Hammer out something quick; you can always refine it and expand it later.
3. Don't be afraid to tell other people which parts you don't like. We have rule #2 so that we can appreciate bluntness in criticism.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY OF BAY12 WRITERS GUILD! ANYONE CAN PARTICIPATE! A WRITING COMPETION! A SINGLE PHRASE! 500 WORDS TO VICTORY!

Current Prompt: N/A. Post your suggestions in the thread.

Spoiler: Past Winners (click to show/hide)

Results of round "Joyfully Mutinies"

mendonca - "Firecracker"

Supermikhail - "No."

Little - "Mutiny On 25698"

Quarr - "The man and the world"

Results of round "Unexpected Twist"

Supermikhail - "Jeffrey Thomson's Lunch Break"

Results of round "Prescient Protagonist

Supermikhail - "Mr. Quay Li's Antique Shop"

bjlong - "Shorter Than It Looks"

Fishbreath - "On Second Thought"

Results of round "Multiple Viewpoints"

Supermikhail - "The rain"

bjlong - "Man Walks Into Manhole. Details at 8"

Little - "Peace And War"

Krelos - "Vylena's End"

Results of round "Factual Landscape Description"

Vector - "Things Illuminated by Broken Street Lamps"

Results of round "Sneaky Exposition"

Supermikhail - "A study of colours"

Iituem - It's a girl

So, this is the idea:

In the view of lack of interest to writing threads, but quite constant influx of writing itself, I think it'd be useful to make one big consolidated thread for it, to save space 

Main goal here is to bring more attention to writing efforts of Bay12 forumites. To achieve it, first I'm going to make a neat little post to collect the stories in via links. But that's not going to do much, is it? Well, I believe that for pleasant viewing the stories are going to need something to advertise them. I propose several options: a synopsis, a meaningful quote from the work, or praise from the critics, if we get there - a blurb, in short. That I'm going to place as a quote next to the link to the story. I feel it's a good way to attract readers. If there are a lot of participants, I may organize the stories by genres, or catalog them alphabetically, although that's a lot of effort, so that readers can find what they like easier.

Now, collecting stories is good, but we can do more. Aspiring writers and writers insecure about their works are welcome here if they want criticism. You see, it's this kind of guild, more like a club. There's a library to collect past works, then there is a place for apprentices to learn the craft, and then there is a place where writers gather to discuss their ongoing works. If anyone has a favourite piece on the forums that they think deserves more notice, submit it here.

So, that's the lofty goals. There is space for more, but it's enough for now.

If you write a blurb for a story that you like, or have submitted, it'll be greatly appreciated.

Since October 6, 2010, we're qualified to criticise your musical works!

BLURB TIPS

First, it shouldn't be generic. But you kind of want to make it sound big, so there are going to be "generic" words. Everyone is unique, so there must be something unique about what they've written. Try finding it and incorporating it into the blurb.

Second, if it's long genre, like a novel, or serial fiction, try not to spoil the story. Don't write what it's about, but rather describe the set-up, with little licks to lead the reader into the middle.

It could be useful to add from which authors you've drawn influence, if you have, so that the reader, if otherwise not touched by the blurb, may be attracted by the expected style.




"The Good Karma Feedback Check List:

• Do it often; develop a support system with peers you respect.
• Don't promise to read a script and give feedback if you really don't have time.
• Do read the script promptly once you have it.
• Do ask your friend what they want out of this read. You'd be surprised at the different answers. Tailor your notes to the needs and wants of the writer.
• Do start on a positive note. If you can only think of one thing - stress it.
• Don't throw out your own suggestions - this is not your script; you'll derail the creative process.
• Do frame concerns in a "what if" question. (What if you tried this? What if you tried that? I wonder what would happen if this?)
• Do understand what the writing is going for or trying to achieve.
• Don't chide the writer for failing to execute the idea well; that's why you're reading it, ding-dong. If they thought it was perfect, they wouldn't ask.
• Do limit your comments to things like: logic, characters, stakes, ticking clock, and pacing; don't go all McKee/Campbell on your friend. I feel the subplot doesn't connect to the inner need of the protagonist and this is not reflected thematically in the arc of the dynamic character who has reached statis but must find Euclydian balance before the elixir can motivate the shapeshifter. Very annoying.
• Do write your notes down and summarize them.
• Don't do page edits and correct typos unless requested. This is also muy annoying."

Continue reading at http://www.moviebytes.com/ContestDetail.cfm?StoryID=3912&ContestNumber=2258&NewsTab=TRUE




For everybody:

The Art Of Dramatic Writing: Its Basis in the Creative Interpretation of Human Motives by Lajos Egri

On Writing by Stephen King

How to Write A Damn Good Novel by James N. Frey

How to Write A Damn Good Novel, II by James N. Frey

For fantasy writers:

The Language Construction Kit

limyaael's Fantasy Rants Warning! Rant heavy! Naturally.

For sci-fi writers (maybe):

Fortean Times

Mysterious Britain & Ireland

For ambitious (novel) writers:

National Novel Writing Month

Storybook - Open Source Novel Writing Software for Novelists, Authors and Creative Writers

yWriter5 - Free novel writing software to help you write a book Editor's note: Proceed with caution. I managed to freeze my system in an attempt to bring this program and Mono, installed on my computer, to a common denominator.

Random:

The Pathology Guy - everything your private investigators and police officers need to know about the dead.

Editor's note on 24th of March 2012: Removed links that you ought to be lazy to not find yourself if you search the Internet

[Supermikhail]

THE LIBRARY

Spoiler: "The Initiation", story in made-up WWII setting by Supermikhail (on request of Acanthus117) (click to show/hide)

As war crashes down on her home city, a lone girl has to face the loss of her fiancé, the death around her and the morality of killing when a weapon comes into her hands and she turns from a victim into attacker.

Scribd

Spoiler: "Cold Chase", short story set in Medieval Scandinavia by Dwarf (click to show/hide)

Hunter and hunted. Traitor and avenger. They become equals, lost in a snow storm, and only the wrathful Norse gods can decide who is right and who is wrong, who will prevail and who will perish.

Deviant Art
old thread

Spoiler: Unnamed story in the fairy tale genre by lordnincompoop (click to show/hide)

Bringing back the tradition of fairy tales, the author considers the issue of perfectionism in this educational and humorous story.

post

Spoiler: "Tomato People", very short story from the Halo universe by Karnewarrior (click to show/hide)

A humorous look at the life of the Covenant.

post

Spoiler: "The Final Memorandum Daniel Blake" by Max "Splendiferous" Arnold (click to show/hide)

A tale rooted in the Christian mythos, from a perspective you might not expect.

thread

Spoiler: "The Legend of Captain Drake", short sci-fi story by Little (click to show/hide)

"This is a story told a thousand times, mostly to small children. Most would call it just a scare story, but it is not. Andrew Drake did exist. He did mysteriously go missing. And no one knows why. Many claimed mutiny. Some claimed insanity. More still claimed navigation errors. But the thing that really made them disappear was another legend, which also turned out to be all too real…"

Deviant Art

Spoiler: "The Robespierre" and other stories, collection by Little (click to show/hide)

Among students of a university, in an appartment of a writer going bankrupt, in a cubicle at an accounting office, human evil, demons lurk, and the author is prepared to show them to you with excruciating credibility and truthfulness.

thread

Spoiler: "Flash Fiction", short story collection, by Awayfarer, Mendonca, bjlong, Psycho Jelly and Little (click to show/hide)

Eeriness, akin to works of Poe...  On a verge between parable and impressionism, authors take you where you weren't even aware you could go.

thread

Spoiler: "Can you hear their voices?", poem by Dakk (click to show/hide)

A somewhat mad tale, conveyed in an appropriate staccato rhythm. What comes as a personal tragedy, suddenly makes you freeze in your tracks as you start seeing between the lines.

post

Spoiler: "At a Glance", short story by Chris "Urist McNewb" (click to show/hide)

Several hours in the life of an ordinary man, fed up with the works and deeds of "civilization", but prepared to live out the rest of his life amid it... not aware that his grudge may soon come to an end.

post

Spoiler: Random short story by shadow_archmagi (click to show/hide)

A random take on coup d'etat.

thread

Spoiler: Unnamed DF-inspired story by SolarShado (click to show/hide)

Placeholder blurb: Well-flowing narrative, somewhat in the spirit of ThreeToe's stories.

thread

Spoiler: Untitled humorous story by Cthulhu (click to show/hide)

Placeholder blurb: I found it very funny. Based on Cthulhu mythos, naturally, and around some classical works of fiction. Nor really finished, but I don't expect it'll ever be.

thread

Spoiler: "Siege of Tecaknazom, year 230", DF-fiction by ProfessorA (click to show/hide)

A blood-painted episode in the life of a dwarven settlement.

thread

Spoiler: "Ad Infinitum", a story by TheDarkJay (click to show/hide)

A poem in prose on the nature of love.

thread

Spoiler: Unnamed micro story in "What if we had Dwarf Fortress instead of Dark Ages?" setting by Sensei (click to show/hide)

A lone adventurer stumbles on the remains of a mining expedition that tried to bite off more than they could swallow.
And whatever the author says, the story certainly isn't bad.

thread

Spoiler: "Jonnybell", DF-inspired short story by Cuddlefish (click to show/hide)

Placeholder: A random story that makes me feel kind of nostalgic.

Word Press

Spoiler: "Patatas No Verso" and "Poemtato", about potatoes by shadow_archmagi and Fishbreath (click to show/hide)

It strives to imitate a potato.

thread

Spoiler: "Chains Of Loss", a sci-fi/fantasy serial novel by Talanic (click to show/hide)

The prophet Sheralys has had a finger in every pot for the last five hundred years. Things are now coming to a boil; it looks bad but she’s finally in position to summon the right hero to straighten things out.

Enter Derek Kazenushi, cyborg. Derek's unsure of how he got a ship, and is confused about the possibly tragic fate of his home planet.  Now he's stuck on a warped world of fantasy creatures, magic, and ruins.

He doesn't have much time to sit around, though, because Sheralys dropped him in an area owned by hostile aliens. Fortunately, she also sent him a human companion – a young woman named Mycah. He's as strange to her as she is to him, but the two forge a careful friendship as they dodge orcs, fight vampires, and deal with the disastrous consequences of Derek's naivety.

Because Derek's never had to work for anything in his life. He doesn't understand cruelty, neglect or starvation. He has to learn fast, and decide carefully: which of his ideals can be kept, and which will get him killed?

thread
Tumblr

Spoiler: "Birdwatchers", a cyberpunk short story by piecewise (click to show/hide)

"The man was walking alone, trudging through the knee-high snow of a disused street. He watched the man a little longer, letting him struggle another quarter mile before he opened the glass cover and pressed the signal button. Though he could not hear it-the cameras did not transmit audio- he knew that the camera let out three sharp squawks. He reclined in his chair, watching the monitor, and drumming his fingers against the armrests as the police arrived. He watched the man gesture wildly and assumed there was  yelling along with it. His eyes flicked lazily between the the man and the officers, his fingers still drumming away against the armrest until the first silent muzzle flashes began. The image on screen jerked wildly as the camera abandoned its roost, frightened by the noise. He stared blankly at the monitor for a moment before flicking the power switch and standing up."

thread

Spoiler: "The Apple", a sci-fi story by piecewise (click to show/hide)

An amateur genetic engineer conjures up a devious plan to murder... an apple tree.

thread

Spoiler: "The Adventurous Adventures of the Manly Captain-Man", a humorous story by shadow_archmagi (click to show/hide)

Captain-Man began to glow with shining holy light and his jet whooshed towards Doctor Doctor’s lair even faster, but it was not fast enough. The death ray was already beginning to fire, so Captain-Man flew directly in front of it.

   The blast hit him like a radioactive train, but instead of granting him the powers of a locomotive, it just hit him really hard. Bathed in colorful light, he clenched his jaw and shouted: “I WILL TAKE THIS BLAST SO THAT THE PEOPLE I PROTECT WILL BE PROTECTED”

thread

[Supermikhail]

ONGOING (?) WORKS

Spoiler: "The Spider's Crown", novel in original fantasy setting by Willfor (click to show/hide)

V.1 Hera's been called upon. But not the desire for a noble deed drives her forward - her feet are in the power of the caller. An old witch intends to use her in her plans for a vicious revenge. Will Hera find her way through the illusions of this world of decaying magic?

thread

V.2 Hera is about to be given the biggest job of her life, and while she anxiously anticipates it she is confronted by several close friends of hers.

thread

Spoiler: Unnamed story in fantasy setting by Libelnon (click to show/hide)

Two unlucky treasure hunters are trapped in an ancient temple when a loose stone brings down an avalanche blocking their exit and burying their friend, and find that besides starvation and wild bears their survival is threatened by their psychological differences.

post

Spoiler: "The Myth of Imik, Dungeon Master" in Dwarf Fortress setting by Karnewarrior (click to show/hide)

Imik, the Dungeon Master, won't stand for a miner selling his artifact axe! Travel a rich Dwarf Fortress world with dwarves and kobolds in this thrilling adventure.

thread

Spoiler:  "Zafalduthnur (Airguard)", serial fiction in Dwarf Fortress by Labs (click to show/hide)

Lor, a young dwarf, travels with his great uncle Rigoth to Kadolkirar, home of Zafalduthnur, the first dwarven air force. The story explores many aspects of fortress life from an interesting perspective. Megaforges included.
 
thread

Spoiler: "Many Words" (placeholder), original fantasy serial fiction by Jay "Fishbreath" Slater (click to show/hide)

Humanity is on the ropes after twenty years of war, pushed back to its ancestral home in the frozen Northlands by the unending hiisi tide. Use of magic is all that stands between the humans and their final defeat, but overuse of magic carries risks of its own.

"Gripping adventure utilizing scene structure that makes you feel like watching a real series, with an obligatory cliffhanger at the end of each episode. " Supermikhail

Word Press

Spoiler: Unnamed zombie story by Immortal (click to show/hide)

"I know but I mean it will take on a more psychological view rather then just the normal slash and blood zombie story. It's only zombies because they are scary. It was that or a entirely empty world where a virus sweeps through. The main character will also carry my thoughts on society and government among other things in the book."

thread

Spoiler: "Snakes In The Garden", by bjlong (click to show/hide)

Peace's in Loda, thank the gods. Sure, the Hdal below us are muscling their way in, but it'll be a time afore they can declare war. The Proconcella, bless her heart, doesn't seem to want war any more. Sure, we know it's coming. Hell, Sir Renolds, the Protectorate, is leaning on some of his nobles to come up with some troops. You know how it is with them nobles. That ain't what concerns me.

Yeah, there's Garadesh's men, sure. He keeps pumping in the whores around here, takin' hard liquor and opiates up north, to the bigger cities. They'll cut your head off soon as blink, sure, but they ain't stupid--you're only in danger if you get in their way. They ain't what concerns me.

Huh? The circus? Well, I never heard of a problem from the circus. Ain't been, neither, but they seem fine enough. A little odd, maybe, but they mean well--keep sayin' somethin' about peace. They definitely ain't what concerns me.

What concerns me is the mercenaries down the road--you know, Nine Swords Tavern? Yeah, only really five of them to speak, but the name's stuck. They're out of work, and they got the look of desperate men. You know the type--hungry for somethin', lookin' ta make money 'cause they're goin' under. This peace ain't good for their business, no sir, an' they're dangerous men. You ask me, I think we oughta watch them real close. Stick 'em under a glass, like, cause they might just take down half the town when they get too desperate.

"...The genre is definitely a low fantasy epic, set in something half-Arabian, half-Southern US..."
post

Spoiler: Empty intrigue, sci-fi collection by Grakelin (click to show/hide)

"Sort of a space opera type thing I want to build in my spare time. Spacepeople fly around in a spaceship and partake in space adventure. I'm planning on giving NaNoWriMo a go, and will feature these characters and the setting, so I'm planning to write several short stories about their adventures and then my 50,000 word novel will be an epic climax or at least a large event.This one features two of the characters, before they meet any of the other space adventurers."

thread

Spoiler: Unnamed story in DF setting by mendonca (click to show/hide)

Placeholder: In a dark tower a young warrior is born - to steal, kidnap, and kill the hated dwarves!

post 1

Spoiler: "Constructs: To The City", a story in videogame fantasy setting by Willfor (click to show/hide)

Placeholder: A construct - a being created to satisfy the blood-thirst of the players - that went beyond its purpose.

post 1

Spoiler: "Lemonsnout: Story Of The Senator", fantasy by Karnewarrior (click to show/hide)

Placeholder: The misadventures of the unlucky senator - through a noose, a forest, a witch's kitchen.

post 1

Spoiler: "Jailbreak", DF-fantasy by Krelos (click to show/hide)

  "Meyers stood and turned back toward the door. As he took his first rushed step, a silent figure in black lunged from the darkness, swinging a blade at Bardens neck. He almost fell backward as he jumped clear of the blow. Meyers spun to attack the figure but Barden shouted at him, "Go, I'll hold him here! Lock the door behind you!"

post

Spoiler: Untitled sci-fi by Jay "Fishbreath" Slater (click to show/hide)

"NPAS Warspite and NPAS Hermes drifted along in what any halfway competent astrogator would have refused to call orbit above Jason, the largest moon of Threshold VI, which itself was locally known as Argo. Both ships showed signs of battle..."

post

Also, if some author sees his or her story in the post above and doesn't remember ever submitting it, don't be cross with me. I believe I'm doing it for the common good, but if you disagree, please speak up.

Editor's note on 24th of March 2012: It would be nice to verify the statuses but also require a lot of effort, so the works in this section should be considered definitely not finished, but not counted on to ever be completed.

[Dwarf]

Hey, it's alright.

Actually, now that you've brought it up, I'll probably fix a sentence here and there.
I'll contact you.

[mendonca]

Thanks for setting this up, Supermikhail. Posting to follow, and hopefully in the near future I will submit something.

[nbonaparte]

posting to follow. I'm working on something, I'll post it soon.

[Fishbreath]

Posting to follow, and also to remark that I'll come up with a blurb for my work after I'm done with work for the day.

[Willfor]

I'm actually in the midst of completely reworking the story that is posted there. I've been through three revisions though so far, getting better each time. The only real issue with me posting new chapters here is that Google seems to keep a permanent record in their cache, and I would like to see it published once I'm finished. I probably wouldn't have posted as much as I did had I known.

I'm probably going to put the first chapter of my revised edition up once I've finished it, at least. You guys were pretty helpful the first time around, so it seems only fair. It's going to be in its first draft so its pacing hasn't been looked at at all, but other than that it sets up the whole first part of the novel.

I'm hoping to start writing one-shots and such when I have writers block on my main thingy. Might throw one of those up if I ever actually stop using my writer's block to procrastinate.

[Labs]

I'm on and off writing a story in the community games and stories subforum. Link in my sig.

[Retro]

This is a good idea-- makes me want to get back into writing a bit myself, actually. Perhaps I'll post something in a while.

Following, in the meantime.

[Fishbreath]

For indexing in the 'ongoing works' part:

Spoiler: Many Words (placeholder title) - Original Fantasy (click to show/hide)

Humanity is on the ropes after twenty years of war, pushed back to its ancestral home in the frozen Northlands by the unending hiisi tide. Use of magic is all that stands between the humans and their final defeat, but overuse of magic carries risks of its own.

Many Words

[Supermikhail]

@Willfor: I think it's alright, actually, that it's only going to be the first chapter on the forums. I considered putting it in the OP that "people can't be expected to forever stay amateur writers and only post their works on the forums. Finally, and hopefully, they are going to publish something in print". But as long as it's been on the forums, it counts here, and when you publish your story, we can put a link to Amazon, or something, here.

@Fishbreath: Criticism to the submission.
        I kind of got lost on your page when I went to look from the original thread... And, "Lägraltvärld" means "Many Words" I assume. I think it would be better to link here instead. Edit: or here.
Also, in the end, everyone chooses his own blurb, and mine aren't perfect, and I'm probably going to put it in the OP, but I think it's better to work on the blurb a little. It seems to me too generic. Surely there is something that sets your work apart from the rest of the fantasy things about 20-years long desperate wars. With magic. I'll read through it, being kind of an editor here (and yesterday I started liking it - meaning reading - until my brain hurt), and see what I'll be able to come up with. I'm not being bossy, but bad blurbs kind of defeat the purpose of the thread.

@Labs: I need a blurb. I don't really know which category it goes in, or at what kind of reader it is aimed, so I'm at a loss.

[Libelnon]

Posting mainly to follow.

Cheers for putting my bit up here, I'll continue with that later when I finish what I'm doing here. Or I might write something else. I'm like that. Heh.

I also posted a link in that thread to one of my older stories, told in a dwarf fortress setting - feel free to add that up here too, although I won't be updating that one anymore.

[Fishbreath]

@Fishbreath: Criticism to the submission.
<snip>

This is probably a better landing, yes: http://many-words.com/archives/

As for blurbs, well, I've admittedly always been absolutely terrible at them, or any kind of summarizing at all, for that matter--either I'm far too generic or I give away important parts of the story. None of my friends ask me what my book of the week is about, because my answer usually boils down to "well, you'll just have to read it yourself to find out".

[Labs]

Oh, sorry.
 
Blurb:

Spoiler:  Zafalduthnur (Airguard) (click to show/hide)

 
Lor, a young dwarf, travels with his great uncle Rigoth to Kadolkirar, home of Zafalduthnur, the first dwarven air force. The story explores many aspects of fortress life from an interesting perspective. Megaforges included.
 
http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=48663.0