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

End of the working week, so let's have another Q&A!

  • 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 Four

As requested, tonight's workshop will be covering tenses! This workshop was a little hard for me to write - tenses are simple enough once you understand them, but explaining it to others is surprisingly difficult. I'll do my best, though! And cred...

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The Wednesday Word: Antediluvian

antediluvian. adjective (and noun). Before the flood (Bible). Quick shout out to Allamorph who suggested this week's word - you rock, as always. So you take the Latin words for "before" (think of Poker wh...

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Substitute Scribe Stint: Session Four

Nehszriah here! Yup, I’m back again Brilliant, eh? Anyways, I want this one to be short, so please forgive if you were expecting some spectacular show. Getting the inspiration to write can be... well... less than simple when it comes to my ...

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SomeGuy's Workshop, Session Six

By special request... A First Crack At Commas: Commas are one of the most, if not the most, used piece of punctuation in many, many languages. It does a dozen diffe...

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