Work Room - Week 19

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

Language.

It can build you up. It can knock you down.

It can spin you round like a record, baby.

What are you going to do with it today?

I was going somewhere with that, but missed my train of thought and had to sit in the station for awhile. It's not so bad though, I had Doom to keep me company!

What stops are you planning on getting off during your ride toward this topic: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/544766.html

What masked bandits do you see standing in your way of getting enough steam to power through? (and where are we anyway, with coal powered trains and highwayman???)

Comments

[pixiebelle.livejournal.com]

I think I have an idea right away.

It's nonfiction, and it's something I almost wrote about earlier this season and decided it was too personal. Will the story come out again? It almost scares me to think that perhaps it will.

Unless I get a fiction idea before then... but the nonfiction idea does fit perfectly.

Hey, at least I have an idea, right? :)

Sometimes at least having a fall back plan clears my brain to chill out and for cool ideas to move on in when I least expect it.

[jem0000000.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

[pixiebelle.livejournal.com]

That's probably where he found his inspiration. The Ides of March... The Doom. It seems like a fitting theme :)

[cosmolinguist]

Man, this one is going to be tough, I think. Lots of betrayal entries this week!

Yep. This is what I was thinking as soon as I read the prompt.

I'd really rather not do that -- and I can't think of any obvious non-fiction (which is what I'm happiest writing) ideas on that subject anyway. This is going to be tricky.

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

Well, seeing as I'm out of the running, I'd like to offer up my services as a Beta reader, if anyone wants me. I think I'm a good editor - I've Beta'd for quite a few contestants here, and have a BA in English besides 5 seasons (*cough* 99 weeks *cough*) of Idol under my belt...

If anyone wants me, I'll be sulking pouting eating large amounts of chocolate over here in the corner.

If anyone wants my editorial services, just email me at Pandria@aol.com.

[pixiebelle.livejournal.com]

I highly recommend Ro as an awesome beta reader. She's been a great help to me this season and I plan on utilizing her services some more if I can :)

I'm not doin' the language thing...

[ellakite.livejournal.com]

... at least not right now.

In the last 24 hours, my hectic life got a lot more hectic. Way too much agita. I'm going to have a hard time getting a good night's sleep. But I'm going to try to relax and sleep, rather than let it get to me.

Re: I'm not doin' the language thing...

[jacq22.livejournal.com]

Hope life gets easier, sometimes it all conspires against us...good luck with it. Will get my wishbone at the ready.

[caile.livejournal.com]

The first thing I thought of was this: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rR_5h8CzRcI but that is pretty much the definitive hardboiled detective retelling.

[nyxocity.livejournal.com]

Man, I must've written dozens of betrayal stories in my time. How to make this one a little bit different? *ponders*

[alien-infinity.livejournal.com]

I may have an idea. Possibly. Or my brain could be betraying me by giving me a bad idea. My brain, it is sometimes wonky and not always trustworthy. As you can tell, my language is not in top form at the moment. :/

[sweeny-todd.livejournal.com]

dammit, the only thing I have is a young Ceasar casting a hurt expression at his friend Brutus in the playground...

but that isn't what I want to do. I will just let it ruminate a bit, at least until I get rid of this awful headache...

[n3m3sis42.livejournal.com]

Lol Caesar fanfic. :)

[jacq22.livejournal.com]

Mulling over some stupid ideas.... not sure wher they will take me. But nearly finished my painting while I waited today!

[choco112.livejournal.com]

Thats right!

[jem0000000.livejournal.com]

Highwaymen!

*singing (probably badly but I really can't tell)* Stand and deliver! I'll take your money or your knife! Stand and deliver! *gets threatened by accidentally-awakened kitty-cat*

Um. So, it's in Latin, right? I should probably not write my entry in Latin. That would make it difficult to read and also spell-check doesn't like dead languages. Plus I'm not real positive Shakespeare was trying for historical accuracy?

And I have to work a co-worker's friend into it somehow. Because I said I would.

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

How about Pig Latin? ;)

(Sorry, had to change icons!)

[alycewilson.livejournal.com]

Of course, the first thing I think of is just Shakespeare in general. Hmm. Don't know exactly where to go with that angle, though.

[ecosopher.livejournal.com]

I don't know enough about Shakespeare to do anything on him. So I for one would find it interesting.

[michikatinski.livejournal.com]

Step 1: Read Julius Caesar.
Step 1.5: Ask self, "Self, how have you never before read Julius Caesar?"
Step 2: Let play percolate in subconscious.
Step 3: Write whatever comes to mind at moment inspiration strikes.
Steps 4-13: Edit.
Step 14: Beware the Ides of March.
Step 15: Post and cross-link entry.

[ecosopher.livejournal.com]

I love how "Edit" takes 10 steps :D

Beta, please?

[ecosopher.livejournal.com]

I have the festering disease of an idea here with some notes I wrote a couple of weeks ago which would fit in quite well.

I should have something readable by around 0500 PDT/0800 EDT/ 1200 GMT if anyone has a free moment?

Re: Beta, please?

[michikatinski.livejournal.com]

Happy to help if needed! Just let me know. <3

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

I'm not feeling this prompt at the moment. Usually I have ideas fighting in my head. I'm looking at this and going, "Huh?!?"

I blame it on this week's work schedule. And if hellacious was yesterday, today promises to serve even more. Plus I had to have something for breakfast that it entirely out of my comfort zone, which doesn't sit well with me :p

I'm rambling. I'll stop.

[cosmolinguist]

Well, I don't even have a hectic week and I'm having exactly the same reaction. Oh well; at least I have an extra day to not think of something, this week :)

[unmowngrass.livejournal.com]

What's this Ides of March thing all the cool kids seems to know about?

[n3m3sis42.livejournal.com]

It's from Julius Caesar - he was told to beware the ides of March. It's the 15th of March, so, um, beware? :)

[dblicher.livejournal.com]

Hunh. Trying to get my idea generator ticking. What excites it most is that this prompt is in Latin. Thanks, Generator. What am I supposed to do with that? Are you going to tell me next to write about Caesar salad?

[muchtooarrogant.livejournal.com]

"Are you going to tell me next to write about Caesar salad?"

LOL Now there's a unique idea.

All I'm getting though is a packaged salad with the expiration date of March 15. This needs more thought I think, hahaha.

Dan

[n3m3sis42.livejournal.com]

I have an idea right off the bat, but it would involve writing in a genre I don't normally do two weeks a in a row. It worked well for me this week, but I'm not sure I want to push my luck.

Still, it's definitely nice to have an immediate inspiration.

Edit: If anyone wants to weigh in with opinions, feel free. What do you want to see from me this week? Another attempt at creepyfic (my first and so far only inspiration for this topic)? A nonfiction essay of some sort? More stuff about being a mom (LOL)?

Of course, "I don't care" is a perfectly valid response, too. :)

[muchtooarrogant.livejournal.com]

I don't ... LOL Nah, I would never say that to you.

Personally, I'd go with your inspiration, and see where it takes you. There's enough time that, if you and your beta/betas don't like it, you could always start over.

Dan

[rattsu.livejournal.com]

Brain tired, language breaking, slowly drifting apart like logs in the river.

Ugh. Fever. Headache. Should write, but all ideas are unformed, unborn.

Entertaining thoughts, a tea-party in my mind for notions. With crumpets.

Delicious.

Maybe gender-bender noir. Dames in smart dresses with guns in their coats. Fellas with tight pants and problems that needs solving. Dunno.

We'll see.

[medleymisty.livejournal.com]

Oooh. I like the noir idea.

[medleymisty.livejournal.com]

My first thought is fiction, with Seth (the dude in my icon) as the main character. In full text form, though, not a Sims story.

Hmmm.

Last topic I went outside of my comfort zone and tried worldbuilding, which is not my usual thing. So it could be cool to go with Seth this time, because I've been writing him for over two years and he definitely is my usual thing and I'd be all up in my comfort zone. :) Also writing Seth tends to bring out my most literary and lyrical language.

I mean, I can think of a quite a few possibilities for a nonfiction entry, but I don't feel like revisiting drama and also I'd have to get way too personal and reveal way too much, considering the Sims trolls that patrol my LJ looking for things to go off and have drama about (always without me around, which it's kind of weird to know that people are having flame wars about you that you never show up for).

[lrig-rorrim.livejournal.com]

I think if you've got an idea for fiction and a character who works for you, you should go for it. This is definitely a good time for reveling in your comfort zones!

Also, what's up with patrolling trolls? That's... I don't even know. With stuff like that I just wonder how and why people don't have better things to do with their time.

[lilycobalt.livejournal.com]

Masked bandits = Gretchen Weiners.

[imafarmgirl.livejournal.com]

Whoa, I am way stuck right off the bat even after looking it up. Yes, I'm not a lit person so I had never heard the term before and am probably like the only one. But whatever, what to write? Wow that was a badly formed sentence.

[pixiebelle.livejournal.com]

You could write about betrayel, which is an easier way to go. Or you could take it the way some read it, as seeing that you're being betrayed and saying "you'll get yours one day".

If you go that route, you could show someone who has done wrong and is now paying for it in some way.

That's just my interpretation.

[lrig-rorrim.livejournal.com]

I'm feeling pretty glum about this week's prompt. I just don't know. I certainly get the reference - the things I focused on in college were dead civilizations and English literature, so between the two I've got it covered, but... meh.

Oddly, if the topic were just "betrayal", I think I'd feel better about it and probably be percolating on something by now. Because it's this particular Latin phrase from a Shakespeare play about Julius Caesar's big oh noes moment, I'm kind of tangled up in the specificity of it.

[pixiebelle.livejournal.com]

I also got tangled up in the specifics it too. I studied Shakespeare in high school at a nerd camp and everything. I go back and forth on how to really take the prompt and that's confusing me a bit.

[caile.livejournal.com]

Would anyone like to beta my entry? It's at http://caile.livejournal.com/393993.html. I like it, but I'm worried it's a bit scattered.

[vaudy.livejournal.com]

No ideas yet, at least, no idea that I'm sure about. I have a nonfiction story I could go with, but I don't know that I can work it into something really compelling. I could go the Shakespeare angle, and revisit my "boy" actors from Week 8 (holy crap!), but I know I'm going to want to do more research for that, and I don't know that I'll have time. But it's kinda nice having an extra day to mull it over.