writing thoughts and challenges

[cornerofmadness]

I had two thoughts.

Thought one - I really want to read and critique more genre fiction

Thought two - I really want to finish my wips and see my friends do the same.


As for thought two, I know there are various comms and whatnot dedicated to getting us moving but sometimes you just end up lost in the crowd. I was thinking more of a flist support group to just give each other a poke, whoever is interested in playing along (maybe even a writing challenge via IM as some of my friends already do)


As for thought one, nanomowhinging used to be many things. Right now it sits fallow. We had been using it as a critique group for a while. Was wondering if people were interested in doing that again. I'm still up for moderating that. (when I say genre I mostly mean Urban fantasy/fantasy/SF/Mystery with a side of whatever as opposed to mainstream fiction or chick fic etc)

Jut something to think about


ETA - I was thinking of ways of fixing up the issues with my fmabigbang (i.e. why this thing never got finished) I know I need to do more with Royai since their upcoming engagement announcement is a big part of the story and almost totally unseen. Anyhow, Rebecca, Havoc, Breda, Fuery & Falman are all running around Central what could they be getting up to? THoughts people?

Comments

[enemytosleep]

I like poking people.

Oh, wait.

I'l prod you on your stories if you'd like. :D

Becky/Jean, Breda, Fuery & Falman all together on the job? Or off the clock hanging around? It is my thought that Breda plays guitar and sings silly, made-up-on-the-spot songs with Havoc while drinking. Becky would laugh and hang off of Jean while Falman made notes and Fuery drank and observed quietly like a puppy. I assume they must know about the engagement? Are they planning something stupid/a party for them?

[wildrider.livejournal.com]

I liked Nanomowhinging all right, but I felt out of place with original work vs. fanfic (which I have nothing against, but more people seemed interested in it), and when there was original stuff, I didn't think I was giving it the attention I should because I wanted to focus on writing my own work -- it's an annoying catch 22 with writer's groups, that "giving" as well as "taking" part...

But I wouldn't mind TRYING.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

actually there wasn't any fanfiction at Nanomowhinging except I think for one person. It was all original work.

However the give and take part really is an issue I think for all of us. There's almost no way of getting something ready for an agent without having other eyes on it but getting those eyes is like impoissble

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

hahah thanks

mostly off the clock hanging around. it's the Ice Festival in town.

Yes they know about the engagement. Roy is planning a formal party. As for something dumb his men might do (it's rather AU in some respects, it was started like 2 years ago, before the info on Chris came out among other things and it won't work with her actually being related to Roy so yeah, AU)

[hierath.livejournal.com]

I need all the poking I can get, and I'm happy to provide pokes for others *pokes CoM* See? Though I don;t really read fanfic, but in anyone wants to lob some original fiction my way, I'll take a look at it. And in return... I do have a rather massive WiP which is approaching a conclusion ;)

[bob_fish.livejournal.com]

You're happy with poking and with prodding? *runs away*

It is too early in the morning for me to reply coherently to the writing critique stuff, which all sounds very cool, so of course I clicked to bunny you for the tachi being ridiculous. Then I saw enemy had already done it better than me and of course gone automatically to Havoc/Rebecca because she's good like that. I support this bunny. *waves flag*

[winters-queen.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I need to be poked constantly sometimes. Just to keep going. The 15 min is working for me so far. Definitely can say that it's good exercise.

[wildrider.livejournal.com]

I'm probably thinking of something else, then...

But yeah, it's hard to beg for beta readers without giving something in return, and yet... Evil Kathy wants just that! :)

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

could be. Now when it was a prompt comm then we had all sorts of stuff but outside of one Buffy thing I don't think there was anything else but it's been a couple years...

Well Evil Dana wants that too. Evil Dana is also thinking after last night, one less to worry about in the group now and she knows that's mean.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

yes i've noticed that. it was finals this past week so i haven't had time to read any of it but I have seen it working for you

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

hahaha well Havoc is wheelchair bound but he IS dating Rebecca in this (and actually being more intelligent than Becky on the whole engagement gift thing though Roy APPROVES of Rebecca's gift)

and are we surprised Enemy likes poking people?

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

I was more worried about my original stuff finding betas. (fanfic is usually never a problem)

and don't tempt me on the novel exchange. I might say yes (though I must admit I'm better at a chapter at a time)

[bob_fish.livejournal.com]

It takes Rebecca to make Havoc look like the voice of reason. I'm delighted to see you're writing them again. I like them, did I mention that?

No, we're really not. XD

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

hahah let me put on my surprise face that you like Havoc and Rebecca.

Actually she's not made an appearance yet so maybe that has to change. I'm not sure how much Havoc's gonna like the ice festival

[bob_fish.livejournal.com]

XD XD Rebecca must appear! She can just pop up from basically nowhere then sit in his lap and give him a deliberate eyeful of cleavage.

Wait, does this involve actual snow? If so I can see hating it with a fiery passion, grumbling a lot and goading Roy into clearing ice off sidewalks WITH ALCHEMY for him.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

there is plenty of snow and ice. Havoc is probably not too happy about this (he's bunking at Breda's place) Roy is probably rolling his eyes at that request (but doing it anyhow)

[silvrethorn.livejournal.com]

I see that several people have brought up the same issue that I have with the idea of re-starting the critique group--how to beta other people's chapters (we're not talking drabbles here) without cutting into our own writing time, which for most of us is severely limited and hard to come by. I would think the solution is to pretty severely limit the number of people participating, and make the participants swear a blood oath that they're working on a novel-length manuscript _for publication_, not just a hobby.

If the above were put into force, I would definitely be interested in posting chapters for critique on Nanomowhinging again. I've had little to no incentive to write since last year's NaNo, and have left Fox and Shadow gasping on the dock as a result (interference from the novel I started for NaNo hasn't helped matters). I'll be watching to see how your proposal plays out.

[enemytosleep]

Ice festival sounds like a great time for shenanigans. Does Havo try to set up Breda with someone form the office/in town? Are they having to perform annoying festival duty. Those cops always seem ultra bored to me.

Roy is getting engaged. Sounds like he needs the Ultimate Bachelor's Party (That Riza Won't Kill Them For). Could be all talk, but a great time to rag on Roy for shit.

[enemytosleep]

You knew this, surely? Where do you think Sook Joo came from?

And to COM, I support the Becky/Jean silly stuff and snow griping. Does Havoc request cool gloves with grips for the outdoor stuff?

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Havoc may already come equipped with those. He might be whining for a heavier coat when Riza won't let him smoke in the house

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Breda and Falman could end up on duty. Havoc is still medically retired in this AU.

However the Bachelor Party of Doom might need to happen. (if for no other reason than to see Ed and Al in a burlesque show)

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

definitely those are things I would want to do. Recently a story that's been in front ofanother writers group off and on for 15 freaking years is now going to be just printed for friends and family.

I was more than a little furious. It's one thing to not get published then do that in the end after you gave up but I'm thinking of all the hours I wasted on that...

but yes that is ALWAYS teh issue, reading great googling gobs of stuff. I would also be pretty strict on the word count too.

[wildrider.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I have trouble with prompts (not with writing, no, but coming up with something on command when the muse ain't there? Not so much).

Heh. Same here.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

On the other hand I do much better when i have a prompt. I think it's why i do so well with these open calls.

glad i'm not alone

[wildrider.livejournal.com]

I probably would do all right with them if I forced myself, but mostly I get a prompt just when I'm involved in something else. Now, if I was struggling with block, I could see how a prompt would be very useful!

(What I'm struggling with now is "I've never been there"-itis...)

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

i know how that itis goes

[silvrethorn.livejournal.com]

In that case, maybe making it a "I'm having trouble with this section" or "Is this descriptive passage as great as I think it is?" forum would be preferable to posting entire chapters. The caveat being that we have to post _something_ from our _new_ chapter that we wrote that month, along with a quick summary of the chapter so the entries won't seem like random WTF.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

that might be one way to go. thanks

[bob_fish.livejournal.com]

Hahaha I knew this but I like teasing you in public.