Welcome to The Writers Bloc, the home base for theOtaku.com's beta-readers and a place for writers to come with questions and learn some new tricks and methods of storytelling, writing, or pretty much anything involving this mutt of a language we call Modern English.

Our Current Pool of Editors and Beta-Readers Includes:


If you have a story, essay, or any written work that you feel could use the assistance of a beta reader or editor, choose a beta-reader from the above list and PM them for availability.

As well, be sure to come visit every now and then to take part in writing workshops and discussions. And of course, if you have your own questions, don't be afraid to ask them here; we're neither teachers nor betters, but peers hoping to help.

The Weekly Schedule:

  • Monday: SomeGuy's Workshop (SomeGuy)
  • Tuesday: Rotating Guest Post (Various)
  • Wednesday: The Wednesday Word (SomeGuy)
  • Thursday: Beck's Workshop (NightBeck)
  • Friday: Updates and Open Questions (All)
  • Sunday: Becky's Writers' Block Busters (NightBeck)

So once again... welcome to The Bloc.

(Banner Design Courtesy of Red Tigress - thanks Red!)

Beck's Writing Workshop, Session Seven

(Is it session seven? I lost track.) Anyways! I got the idea for today's session after watching a few awesome Spanish language horror movies, The Orphanage and The Devil's Backbone. And while I was thinking about how few g...

Read the full post »

The Wednesday Word: Chthonic

[b]chthonic[/b]. adjective. pertaining to the underworld or spirits of; hell-like. Another throwback to high school English, this may as well have been Mr. Mike Ireland's favourite word (it was a bonus word on a spelling quiz one time). ...

Read the full post »

SomeGuy's Workshop, Session Nine

(I've been writing a lot lately, most of it in forums, most of it trying to make points and get things done... this is gonna get a little ranty, be prepared for that...) Talking For Ages, Never Sayi...

Read the full post »

Becky's Writers' Block Busters, Session Seven

Happy Sunday, all! I received some awesome character sheets from some of you this week, and learned about some very awesome characters. Erzengel Weiss, Shimaru, SomeGuy, and Allamorph told us all about Celes, Eddie, Cream Filling, and Nathan, resp...

Read the full post »

Open Questions

As always, in case ya need to ask 'em:

  • Do you have a written work you'd like a beta-reader to look over? Comment below!
  • Do you have any specific writing questions you'd like to have answered? Comment below!
  • Can you answer any of those questions? Comment below!
  • You have a writing workshop idea and would like to do the upcoming week's Tuesday Guest Post? Comment below!

Don't be afraid of asking big questions, either. If a question would require more than just a comment answer, we can always use them as ideas for workshops over the next week.

Remember, none of us here are teachers, professors, or professionals (well... not just yet, anyway). We're all just members who love to write, hoping to help out other members and their own interests in writing.