Work Room - Week 25

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

The new topic is up. Or rather, the new topic choices are up: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/793590.html

Once again, you have choices to make, that will end up impacting choices you will have further down the road.

How does it differ - having more than one topic idea in front of you instead of just one thing?

Is it easier? Because you can pick and choose? More difficult? Because you need to make a decision?

Different folks react in different ways to that sort of thing - would you rather have the structure of YOU MUST WRITE THIS or the freedom to pick and choose?

When you get right down to it, all topics are a form of "Open Topic", in that the only one that you are answerable to is yourself, and the votes of the readership. But sometimes that can be enough to sabotage your brain, and trip you up.

What techniques have you developed that have proven successful in approaching a new writing situation?

Comments

[karmasoup.livejournal.com]

Erk. Wasn't fond of these the first time around. Barely understood most of them. Will have to rack the brain this week. At least we have plenty of time.


(Also, frist!)

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

Overwatch wasn't part of the original group IIRC.

...I've never heard of it.

:dashes off to Google:


ETA:

From Urban Dictionary: "elite soldiers trained for controlling and support of an administration or occupation, ex. The American and British overwatch currently is in Iraq trying to keep the peace. I'm reading this as overwatch = peacekeepers

NYT's "On Language" column discusses more here (http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9901E6DE163DF937A25753C1A9619C8B63).

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

You're frist!!!

[zhent.livejournal.com]

yeah, I didn't think Overwatch was a part of the original intersection topic list, but I'll take it...

[jem0000000.livejournal.com]

I'm just glad that my gut, "Oh, we're writing four entries this week," was wrong. ;)

Decisions are not my strong point. And I have a thing I'm only half done with due tomorrow, and it's a combination of fiction and a research project, so wheeeee. But I've poked at these before, and I think I'll be okay.

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

It wasn't one of the original four, it's the "+1" mentioned in the topic thread.

[anyonesghost.livejournal.com]

I step away from the situation, honestly, and let my mind cast about in odd directions. Without fail, something comes to mind. And if it's not the right thing, then at least I'm writing, and I can put it into the "spare parts" folder for future use. It means that a forced topic and an open topic are pretty much the same thing for me ... biggest difference is how many guiding lights I have to steer by.

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... I dunno. I think it's a little easier having an option of topics, to help inspire the entry, but overall as you said, they are all technically a form of "open topic".

Not sure which one I'll choose as yet, but I'm hedging towards either Shibusa or possibly Overwatch...

[ellakite.livejournal.com]

I can help explain/give suggestions regarding all the topics (except OVERWATCH). Drop me a line if you need input/suggestions.

PS: YOU'RE DEAD TO ME!

[karmasoup.livejournal.com]

And you're dead to ellakite! (Have a cookie!)

[dmousey.livejournal.com]

Does this mean the topic our partners took is out also? I actually combined two with intersubjectivity (such a mouthful!) And captcha the flag.

Just trying to figure out if I've two or three options to pick from, and choice is always good. :)

[dmousey.livejournal.com]

::nods in agreement::

[kehlen-crow.livejournal.com]

HAHAHA. This.

[kehlen-crow.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean. Your partner's topic seems almost as used as your own, does it not?

[kehlen-crow.livejournal.com]

Hmm, apparently 'overwatch' is not limited to the military term. It can mean 'watch over' as well as 'weary someone with long wait or lack of sleep'.

Yet I have I have never encountered it in any of these contexts.

Which of them seems the most common? The military one?

[eternal-ot.livejournal.com]

I have this doubt too...can I use the topic my partner used ..or is it counted as already done with?

[jem0000000.livejournal.com]

Yep! First thing I thought of. ;)

Done with the project, though!

[jem0000000.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking of it as a thing you do when you're kind of surveying a lot of ground, for whatever reason -- "the tower squatted on the rise, seeming to overwatch the town with bristling stone brows" or something. But I might have it confused with "overlook", honestly.

[n3m3sis43.livejournal.com]

I don't like open topics, because I like to have a jumping-off point for my ideas. However, I really love turning the definition of a given topic around. I've noticed more gravitation toward the literal interpretations in this season (I think). Which means I've had a harder time getting inspired by the topics because I start off thinking my topic connection won't be perceived as "right."

tl;dr: I am neurotic. :)

I thought I was going to be really unhappy with seeing these topics again but I am currently sort of inspired by them, so that's nice.

[n3m3sis43.livejournal.com]

Personally, I got the first definition out of the military one. The military one is (I think, if I read it right - I was super sleepy when the topics came out last night) pretty much a way of covering someone while they are in a vulnerable position, right? So I got "to have someone's back" from it.

And the second definition, to me, is kind of just a twist on that. Looking out for someone taken to the extreme (whether it's by your own choice or because the person you're watching out for is taking forever) is hypervigilance, right? So... draining and a long wait and... yeah.

I think they are all equally valid interpretations, but you should probably ask someone other than me. I can usually convince myself the topic means a hundred different things, and half the time, people don't agree with me. XD

[n3m3sis43.livejournal.com]

Same here. Unfortunately, it takes a while for me to form new ideas, so in a deadline situation, I prefer some guidance. :)

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

:takes cookie:

Oh, I've been dead to him for so long another frist isn't going to faze him ;)

[witchwife.livejournal.com]

I personally enjoy the structure of the prompts. Although, that being said, having a few to choose from is a bit refreshing. I probably won't be going with "Captcha the flag".. partly because the slang makes it seem a bit less approachable to me. You'd have to write a very specific kind of story or character (or both) to fit the prompt. (Anyone else have any thoughts on this?)

I'll probably go for Shibusa or Overwatch. I really like Intersubjectivity as well, but it's a bit daunting. I feel like it's something that D.H Lawrence does particularly well in his writing and I'd be scared to even begin to approach it.

[ryl.livejournal.com]

Thank you sweet baby Jesus, the due date isn't until Monday! That gives me enough time to get my Behemoth Tower hooked back up to the Infernal Machine. I know that a major piece of hardware has gone bad and I haven't heard back from the Fixin' Shop yet. Getting a bit antsy here.

On a different note, I laughed my evil laugh when I saw the Return of the Topics. I hereby promise I will not write another disturbing suicide story. Roy Rogers' horse can stay in the stable this week.

[medleymisty.livejournal.com]

Oh man, I missed that! Thanks for pointing it out! Yay we get the weekend!