therealljidol | Green Room - Week 0

The deadline is coming up in slightly less time than it will take for the internet to, once again, turn on the Onion! http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/649689.html So make sure you claim someone, and write their introduction!

I know that some people love intersections (working with someone else) and some hate them. But this isn’t a traditional intersection. It’s literally you writing something completely on your own. It just so happens that it is about someone else. (and given how many times your work is about “someone else”, it’s really not all that different) You don’t have to even contact the person, if you really don’t want to – just claim someone, who hasn’t already been claimed, and write something about them!

I know the bigger issue though isn’t about the specific topic. It’s about being an introvert, or just being uncomfortable in general meeting new people.

Believe me, I know the world of the introvert. In real life, I’m much more of one – and my girlfriend makes me look like an extrovert working on commission! In the last two years, I’ve been forced outside of my comfort zone as a result!

But I also know what social interaction can do for your writing. Not just in the realm of publishing, where it’s pretty much a necessity, but just in terms of getting and receiving the constructive criticism people need to get better. Heck, reaching out and working with someone is a built-in audience, and I don’t think there is anyone who would sign up for something like this and *not* want an audience! :D

The Green Room is a great way for you to get your metaphorical feet wet, by joining into conversations at your own pace. Most of the people don’t bite…. Um… OK… they do. Almost all of the people here bite. But many of them are on meds, so they are getting better!! Um… ok… a few of them remember to take those meds… ;)

It’s also a good excuse to grab someone you already know, and force them to sign up! http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/648417.html Sign Ups are still open for the next few days, so I would go get them now! Blindside them when they aren’t paying attention, and when they wake up, they will be one of us!!

***

Happy Birthday to

porn_this_way! If you asked me, a few years ago, if I would ever say those particular words in a Green Room, I would have said “No”, but hey, that’s her name!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ooh, I actually got that topical reference. Go me! :P

Concrit is the best thing that has ever happened to me, both here in Idol and in general on my writing journal (the one I'm commenting with in here). I am always open to concrit. If you want to friend me solely for the purpose of ripping my writing to shreds, I am okay with that.

I've been through it already and I won't lie -- it hurt like hell. But it's made me a better writer and I still have plenty of room for improvement. I wish I could be as good at giving crit as some of the people who have read my work, but I'm trying to get better at it.

Also, I both bite and am on meds.

I'd love to friend you, but not for ripping you to shreds. :|

Friending me for any purpose would be awesome. I'll add you on here (writing journal) and my main one. I'm pretty boring on my main journal lately, but I'm better at actually looking at the friends list on that one. :)

Wow, I'm dumb. I think I already friended you on my main journal the other day. But you're added on this one now, too, so if you want to read my writing and my writing about writing, add away! :D

Edited 2013-05-08 14:26 (UTC)

(deleted comment)

I've been waiting for this for a long time. :)

And I learned concrit isn't that painful to give either, especially if you're working with a serious writer who doesn't have a hissy fit if you tear their work apart to try and make it better. It's been so worth reaching out of my comfort zone to make a new friend. :)

And I swear you are on the list of things to do today. I will get some comments done!

Dying with excitement at being called a "serious writer". Our writerly relationship and actual friendship are so worth it for me, too. :D

I know you'll get to it when you can. I always get so behind, too. You can send me more stuff, by the way. Even though I know I have at least two things I still haven't commented on, augh. I'm shirking all my crit duties so badly lately!

You take the craft of writing seriously, therefore you are a serious writer.

Someone who isn't serious about it would have taken my concrit and throw a fit. But you took me seriously and I think your writing shows that. Your latest chapters are so much fuller and detailed. Good work!

It just feels ridiculously awesome to hear that, so thanks. :)

And yeah, I try really hard not to be too butthurt. I won't lie, some concrit is painful. Your questions about my last email weren't, but they did make me think a lot and realize there are some glaring holes in my relationship-building for the next part. Poor Kalen always gets the short end of the stick because he kind of fades into the background. So I always need the reminder of WHERE THE HECK DID HE GO, ha.

The one time that was embarrassingly painful was that one Calla chapter where you know what happened. And the funny thing is that I already knew it was awful and desperately needed all that crit. And it was still the hardest crit for me to take. The one you thought I was going to hate you for? Nah.

If it shows in my rewrite, then that's the best thing I can ask for and really speaks to your abilities, too. :D

I'm just glad I can help. Maybe my real talent is editing and not writing (except my SG-1 fanfic which I rather enjoy and think is pretty good).

Gives me ideas of going back to college to get that elusive English degree (would rather it be a linguistics degree but don't think the college around here offers that).

And I really enjoy the process (well I did with you because you took it seriously and didn't get all butthurt about stuff). I keep wanting to help more people and have to remind myself there are only so many hours in a day.

I think you have a talent for writing (and it's clear that it's a thing you need/want/love to do). Your characters pull me in. I think it's hard being character-driven in some ways because the balance between feeling the character in the moment and things like plot and arcs is just so hard to find.

You've seen that (and pointed it out) with my stuff, too. It's just that I don't think I have quite the talent for editing and crit that you do. I'll keep trying, though, if any of it ever helps. It's interesting for me to do and I think it helps me notice some of my own mistakes more easily, too. :)

(but yes, you DEFINITELY have a talent for editing)

Edited 2013-05-08 21:05 (UTC)

"You take the craft of writing seriously, therefore you are a serious writer."

This is the best definition EVER.

lol I desperately need a person like you to rip apart MY shit. I've loved the crit you've left on Sarah's stuff because it's made me think more about my own stuff and how a cold reader might approach it. Also, I suffer from same of the issues as she does -- so seeing her flaws makes me notice mine, too. :)

Bwahaha, occasionally her crit also leads to me noticing your flaws now, too. Too bad I'm always like 30 million chapters behind. :\

I'm glad you said that because there were times I posted stuff and was worried her friends would come back and read it and things, "what a bitch," and I was really trying to be as helpful as I could.

I could help you if I want. Don't know how helpful I'd be because it really depends on my mood which has been crappy lately. But I'd try. :)

No, I completely understood where you were coming from. Really, I don't notice things like lack of world building at all because I latch so ferociously to characters that world building comes second -- even as a reader.

Aw, you don't gotta worry about it. I totally get being busy. :)

Well if I ever get not so busy I'll be happy to help. Apparently I really enjoy editing other people's stuff. Just not my own, lol.

Green Room - Week 0 - Day 2

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject