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!)

Open Questions

I take it everyone's doin' alright question-wise. Awesome. But, if anyone needs to ask 'em, here ya go:

  • 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.

Beck's Writing Workshop, Session Five

Well, I didn't get any suggestions for topics to cover, so tonight, I'll just talk about something that's very important to me when I write: characters! Now, I'm not going to tell you how to write characters, or how to create better charac...

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The Wednesday Word: Sadist

sadist. noun. Someone who gains pleasure from inflicting pain on others. Hehe... I know, bringing out the big, dirty guns... so yes, the word comes from sadism which is traditionally the act of gaining se...

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SomeGuy's Workshop, Session Seven

No subject requests yet, so I guess I'll just pick something for the heck of it... even if this workshop is probably too late for most of the students on the site... The SomeGuy Essay Method(TM)...

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Becky's Writers' Block Busters, Session Five

Good morning/afternoon/whathaveyou, everyone! I'm in a very good mood today. You know why? Because of the amazing turnout last week! I got lovely offerings from Flint, jomz, SomeGuy, Red Tigress, SabrinaM, Shinmaru, and Katana. Hit the comments of...

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