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!)
Hey guys! Since most of us (me included) seem too busy to handle prompts at the moment, I thought we'd do something a little less taxing on the creativity this week. Of course, it's no less useful, and I've found it's a good lesson in revision.
I would like you to take one of the responses you've written thus far, and rewrite it, but this time, use a different perspective. Did you write in third person? Try first person! Or, if you're feeling brave, try second! And don't just switch around the pronouns - try to use the tools that the new perspective grants you.
Even if you decide in the end that your original perspective was better, you may find that you stumbled across things in your new draft that you might want to incorporate in the story for good, and maybe another draft will follow. Either way, when you finish your new draft, comment here with a link to it, and link to your original draft so the readers here can compare.
Enjoy!
Sorry, guys. My Japanese Student Association meeting went long, and I am again too wiped to write up the workshop I've been planning. Discussion question it is!
This is something I've been thinking about since a conversation I had with one of my teachers yesterday. Like many college writing programs, my Creative Writing department has a preference for what they consider "academic" or "literary" fiction, and frowns upon handing in works of what they call "commercial" or "popular" fiction for assignments. This distinction is made in the publishing world as well, although there, "commercial/popular" fiction is seen to have the advantage.
So I'm curious: how would you define these terms? Do you think they're useful, or problematic? Have you seen any books that you think successfully fused the two? I'd love to hear your opinions.
Hey, folks. Ace here once again with your Tuesday Guest Post. Guess what? School is once again back in session! What's that? Your teacher just gave you an essay? Well that's fine. You're a capable writer. Solve the problem yourself. Wait, they als...
Read the full post »
I'm so sorry I didn't get around to posting prompts today. Some personal issues came up, and I'm not really in a frame of mind to come up with proper prompts for you all.
Since no one got around to doing last week's prompts, you're more than welcome to take a second look at them here. Otherwise, you can take a look at this site that always makes the smile, the Seventh Sanctum Story Generator. Have fun! We'll be back on a normal schedule next week.
Hello everyone. I know things have been pretty slow around here this week since Becky and I have been going through some busy times. I think we should be okay now, though, and can get back into the swing of things starting now. I also wanna thank Becky for holding down the fort while I was out - you rock, Beck'!
I'm gonna guess that in general people are kinda freaking out, getting back into the swing of school and stuff. Heh, it's a pain, eh? On the plus side, though, as assignments and projects start rolling in, we might be able to have some fun little school-based writing stuff too? Alright, maybe "fun" isn't the right word. But y'know, same difference.
Anyway, Fan Words are all cleared out and I'm back on top of my workload! So let's get back on top of things!
So who has questions? As always, in case you need '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.
