The MLP Arena
Pony Talk => Off Topic => Topic started by: Katika on June 02, 2015, 08:06:04 PM
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I had a question about my novel series over in WYP and discovered there are quite a few of us that are pretty serious about word smithing and story crafting and mentioned an idea in that thread of starting an Arena members only writing group. Why? Because I've found that quite a few writing groups seem to attract people that have hmm... abrasive personalities. I get that as writers we need to grow thick skins, but there's a way to be *nice* about that sort of thing, and I feel safer with talking to other Arena members than almost any other group that I'm part of. So I thought that it might be a beneficial idea for like-minded folks here to start our own, supportive writing group :)
Would anyone be interested in doing this? I'm not sure the best way to officially arrange this sort of thing (through emails? Facebook? Suggestions? lol!), or even if it's allowed to pitch this sort of idea here, but thought I'd ask. Pony people are so fun and positive and I think a lot of writers could benefit from that sort of atmosphere.
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I'm not currently writing anything since reading everything the kids write burns me out a little sometimes. I would be up for joining something like this though, and it might get my creativity flowing a little better again. :lol:
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I mostly write fanfictions, which are usually pokemon or some kind of fandom related. xD I'm all for it though!
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i'd love to join!
facebook, even a invitation only type of members, makes it easier for people to come and go as they please and makes it less pressure, but not everyone has facebook, so you might lose a few people there.
email is all inclusive, but if someone has had time to write, or are feeling discouraged a weekly/monthly email might be more daunting than a facebook entry.
either way, i'm in.
what do you think the group would entail?
i know most authors are pretty protective of their work and characters. so bouncing ideas might be difficult. i've got about 7 stories i jump between for writing/drawing. (i started as a storyteller then comic writer/illustrator) i've got dyslexia and have a tendency to jump around when i write things down, so i'm not very confident in my writing abilities at this point. but would love the encouragement a group will provide.
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This might be interesting. We could always use FictionPress or SparkATale for sharing stories (both sites are free to join and you don't even have to sign in to comment on FictionPress) and just post here when we've updated them. I'm absolutely horrible about remembering to check my email. I don't think I've checked it in over a month.
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facebook, even a invitation only type of members, makes it easier for people to come and go as they please and makes it less pressure, but not everyone has facebook, so you might lose a few people there.
either way, i'm in.
what do you think the group would entail?
Facebook was my first thought because that would mean that we could ensure that only the people who were supportive and part of the community could get in through a closed group. I think that would help with the feeling of confidentiality (I know it would for me). I do know that there are some people (rightfully) opposed to Facebook, though, and would hate for them to feel excluded through it.
My thought was to sort of screen members a little bit, based on the reputation that they already have (or are building) here at the forums. Typically, trustworthy folk are trustworthy folk, so that way we could feel comfortable sharing plot problems or excerpts or even asking about beta readers. I am extremely protective over my works, so I understand what you're saying about not wanting to share, but at the same time, it's very important for writers to have a circle of trusted people that they can share stuff with in order for them to build it to its best.
ETA: I am ALL about supporting writers writing. I don't want to limit this to genre or current writing ability or anything like that. I want to offer helpful writers a safe place to get better at and more confident in their writing :)
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Count me all-in! Would love to have more reasons to exercise my writing.
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ok i say we go for it and start bringing in people that fit.
katika your the lead on this.
any ideas about a name for the group?
i think you should be the main lead for now and after a few months gauge people's activeness and comments then chose one or two people to be subheads. depending on how big it is.
just an idea. that way it's not, oh this person was here from the beginning, but is never online etc.
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I would be really interested in this. I know I need motivation to sit down and write, plus I love reading and learning about other's stories. Though I tend to shy away from posting thoughtful/critical opinions(I was lurking your WYP thread but couldn't bring myself to post) so I feel I'd end up being one of those inactive members you all wouldn't want. :blush:
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I would be really interested in this. I know I need motivation to sit down and write, plus I love reading and learning about other's stories. Though I tend to shy away from posting thoughtful/critical opinions(I was lurking your WYP thread but couldn't bring myself to post) so I feel I'd end up being one of those inactive members you all wouldn't want. :blush:
i think would need both active and passive members.
i was just stating that passive members wouldn't be best as co-what ever they're called. :)
that's why i think facebook would be an idea place for it. people can post ideas or comments if they want to, but can easily be involved without having to post everyday or even once.
makes it cozier too.
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I would be really interested in this. I know I need motivation to sit down and write, plus I love reading and learning about other's stories. Though I tend to shy away from posting thoughtful/critical opinions(I was lurking your WYP thread but couldn't bring myself to post) so I feel I'd end up being one of those inactive members you all wouldn't want. :blush:
The best way to start feeling comfortable offering constructive criticism is to be exposed to it in a safe environment, though :) This is the sort of reason that I think a "safe" writing group ought to be created, so people can actually feel comfortable expressing themselves instead of expecting everyone to get up in a huff if things don't go as the OP wants, you know?
I think there should be some rules of conduct laid out for this reason, and am open to ideas/suggestions about those as well :) I'm absolutely fine heading this thing up to begin with, but will have to look in to the mechanics of starting a FB group (I've only ever had my personal page... been tinkering around with the idea of an author page for about a year now, but haven't found the nerve to boot one up yet :blush: )
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I might be interested...I have been trying to coerce myself into writing again without much success but this could be a much-needed boost.
I used to write fanfiction (and would still like to dabble in that) but I do have some original stuff I've been thinking about for YEARS now that just has never gone anywhere.
Will keep an eye on this thread!
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Looks like you have a few that are interested :)
I need to get off my butt and write some major rp world things..but its more a solo act for me.
Have fun <3
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I might be interested in this. Although I'm a little awkward when it comes to sharing my work, it might be fun.
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I'd possibly be up for joining. I've been doing some writing but only on my own to seeing how other people do things and maybe getting some advice would be great.
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let me know if you need help with the set up. i've started two pages, one for my senior class, and one as an artist page, but i'm far from an expert. so excited to see this going!
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let me know if you need help with the set up. i've started two pages, one for my senior class, and one as an artist page, but i'm far from an expert. so excited to see this going!
Is it seriously as simple as clicking "create group", naming it, setting it to closed and hitting create? Seems pretty straight forward :) Does anyone have any requests on what we should name it?
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Sounds like fun! I wish you luck!
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let me know if you need help with the set up. i've started two pages, one for my senior class, and one as an artist page, but i'm far from an expert. so excited to see this going!
Is it seriously as simple as clicking "create group", naming it, setting it to closed and hitting create? Seems pretty straight forward :) Does anyone have any requests on what we should name it?
yeah not hard to make one at all.
how about something simple like arena writers?
then it tags to the arena, without pulling that its pony fanfic.
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I thought this was a great idea in your other thread. Glad to see that you've started a discussion about it here as well. In the interest of fun and excitement, here's what I'm working on:
visitors can't see pics , please register or login
Blurb:
Some promises are meant to be broken.
After witnessing a murder where only a skeleton is left behind, Sarenna Lengton knows it will take more than police to catch the killer. The Kindred, magic wielding beings who came to Earth five years ago, must be told that one of their people have gone rogue.
The plan is simple: go in, hand over the evidence, and get out.
When a mix up shows that Sarenna has the potential to use magic, her simple plan spirals out of control. The daughter of an infamous anti-Kindred assassin, the last thing she wants is to be anything other than human. Even if her new powers come with the bonus of being around handsome, mysterious Kesyl Veradayne.
But if Sarenna wants her normal life back, there is only one man willing to give it to her. Zakariah, the Lord of Judgement, is desperate to obtain a physical form. He will free Sarenna of her powers and bring her family together again--if she will give him Kesyl to use for his new body.
Sarenna thought she would do anything to be normal again. Now she has to make a choice: between the life she had and the man she loves. The future that could have been, or the one happening right now.
And she must hurry, because Zakariah won't wait forever.
The book is half way through it's third (and hopefully final!) major re-write. After that, hopefully a polish and some minor corrections from beta readers will be all that stands between it and Amazon's KDP services / Createspace. I've been working on this for almost five years and I am looking forward to holding it in my hands!
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i hope you'll epub it on bn.com too. i work at barnes and noble, so i'm kinda loyal to them, but how awesome!! i know i'm on a beta reader sites, how fun if i got chosen to try it.
*drools at prospects of new books*
great cover by the way. that's the type that is really drawing readers in right now.
its really interesting to watch books sell based on the covers, that and i went to school for art, composition design and what not. :D
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I'm not 100% committed to being Amazon exclusive--that's generally not recommended for an author with only one book for sale. Whether I end up on b&n will depend on how hard / easy getting my book through SmashWords "meatgrinder" (the program they use to format a file for various platforms) ends up being. Since I'm from Canada, I cannot publish directly with b&n the way someone from the States can. (At least, not of last researching; that was a whole ago, though.)
Regardless, I would be happy to make a note that you may be interested in being a beta and could easily pm you to see whether you are still interested once I am at that stage. I'd let you have a look now, but the book is currently literally split between one half having major re-writes and the other half still needing them. Thanks for the feedback, though. :)
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I might be interested in this... I write and illustrate. I'm trying to get the motivation to put up a website featuring some of my work, maybe as a web comic type of thing, but I'm not really sure at this point. I have this fantastic character that I know people would love.
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I'd be interested :D I love writing, even if it's just for fun ^_^
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Oooh...Archer, is that Quatre I spy in your siggie?! I have some GW Fanfics I can point you in the direction of if you're interested...
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Yikes! Sorry for letting the ball drop on this, everyone! I've been neck-deep in line edits to get my novel ready for the first wave of beta readers :lookround:
Either way, I'm so excited to see how much interest is here! I'll hop on over and try to create the group, posthaste! I'll update a couple posts with the link to it once (I think) it's ready :)
ETA: Okay, it's not letting me create it without having other members to join... Is someone willing to PM me (or heck, I suppose you could blurt it all public-like if you're comfortable doing so) their FB account so I can get this started?
Post Merge: June 09, 2015, 01:57:14 PM
We should be up and running now as "Arena Writers!" Am I allowed to post a link to it here? Can't wait to get to know all of you and your wonderful stories!
Not much is up yet, but I've added a few rules that I think are safe and fair to the group description. If anyone has any concerns or things to add, please let me know :) Since this is in its very early days, I'm fully able and willing to modify :)
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Yikes! Sorry for letting the ball drop on this, everyone! I've been neck-deep in line edits to get my novel ready for the first wave of beta readers :lookround:
Either way, I'm so excited to see how much interest is here! I'll hop on over and try to create the group, posthaste! I'll update a couple posts with the link to it once (I think) it's ready :)
ETA: Okay, it's not letting me create it without having other members to join... Is someone willing to PM me (or heck, I suppose you could blurt it all public-like if you're comfortable doing so) their FB account so I can get this started?
Post Merge: June 09, 2015, 01:57:14 PM
We should be up and running now as "Arena Writers!" Am I allowed to post a link to it here? Can't wait to get to know all of you and your wonderful stories!
Not much is up yet, but I've added a few rules that I think are safe and fair to the group description. If anyone has any concerns or things to add, please let me know :) Since this is in its very early days, I'm fully able and willing to modify :)
I think you should be allowed to post the link here. :) A lot of us have our FB links over on the left side, under our avatars. :)
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I would appreciate if the link could be posted. When I searched for the group I got tons of different groups! >_<
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I managed to find it, but it was kinda hard. And now I can't find it again! :/
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Okie dokie! I just know that sometimes link posting is sticky, per Arena policy, and I didn't want to step over any boundaries :) Here's the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/855048201230446/
Please try to PM me here or drop another message or something - some way for me to be able to identify who you are here on the forums so I can make sure we're getting the right people in the group :)
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I asked to join - Ashley Evans :)
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Asked to join- Jessica H
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Just asked to join-Nikki G
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Yay! I'm signing up too: Emily G :)
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hope it's ok. i already asked for help writing a formal letter for story submission.
i'm feeling way over my head.
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Ask away! We're here to support each other :) I think that I have everyone accepted that has inquired so far... if I've missed anyone, please let me know!!