Howdy - Writers Forum

Elphaba · 08-27-2003, 09:37 AM

Howdy all. Been lurking for a few weeks, but decided to take the plunge today and introduce myself.

I think I'm slowly becoming addicted to lit.org. I know it's certainly piqued my love of writing again, which has been waning over the past few months (you know the drill: writing for a looong time, nothing's getting published, getting discouraged, blah blah), and I'm getting back into it. Really like it around here.

So... howdy from the South! (should've put a 'ya'll' in there somewhere)

Spudley · 08-27-2003, 11:29 AM

Hullo Elphaba. Nice to meet you

I spotted some of your comments over on Lit.org as well.

And I know what you mean - without Lit.org, I doubt I'd have written even half as much as I have over the last year or so; being a member here has been encouraging, constructive, friendly, educational and above all great fun.

Here's hoping you enjoy yourself here as much as I have. (I'm sure you will

)

SinamonAngel · 08-28-2003, 11:16 AM

Welcome!

Elphaba · 08-28-2003, 03:32 PM

Thanks, SinamonAngel and Spudley (whoops, wrote "Studley" there for a second!)!

Spudley, I've seen your comments around Lit.org, too. I need to read the write-off stories between you and Washer. *That*-- the Write-Off-- is something I could never handle, since I apparently have a problem with keeping my stuff short.

Like the past two days, trying to write a *short* story, and ending up with over 9,000 words.

Spudley · 08-28-2003, 06:06 PM

Oooh. "Studley", eh?

I'm almost tempted to change my nickname for that!

Seriously though, I don't think there's anything wrong with writing too much - I wish I could come up with a 9000 word story over a weekend. The fact is that I battle to get my stories up over two or three thousand words most of the time.

I'm working on a novel as well, which is a different sort of thing entirely, but short stories usually stay short for me.

If you can churn out 9000 word stories that easily, I take my hat off to you.

All the same, I suspect they might not get read much on Lit.org if you post them that length; the attention span of most readers here tends to fall away after about two thousand words.

The Write Off.... yes. It's a great challenge. I've done two of them now, and I found both story starters really difficult to get to grips with. But it's a great motivator knowing you've got to get a story out by the end of the day - it really helps kick my brain into gear, and somehow I've managed to come up with what I thought were pretty good stories both times. (sure they could use some tidying up, but they were written to a tight deadline)

If you ever feel up to the challenge, I'd love to see you give it a try. It'd be interesting to see what you come up with

And all that reminds me... wasn't there supposed to be another poetry write off this weekend...? I wonder what happened to it?

Kurkurrage · 08-28-2003, 06:57 PM

not just a poetry writeoff, f00l!

we clash this sunday. we'll knock 'em dead. we'll take the gloves off and maybe, if we're lucky, draw blood. i can't wait, man. counting down now ..

don't forget, amigo.

Elphaba · 08-28-2003, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Oooh. "Studley", eh? I'm almost tempted to change my nickname for that!

Hee. I'm infamous with myself for misspelling names when writing emails and the like. "Studley" will certainly get you noticed, though!

I hope I didn't sound arrogant when I talked about 9,000 words-- I really have been after myself for the last year or so to cut down on the size of my stories (because it seems most of the zines and magazines that I've looked into just won't take longer stories), but rarely has it worked. The ones that have been really short, well... I'll just keep how bad they were to myself.

Back when I submitted my first story, Washer told me that stories over 10,000 words aren't commented on much, so is chopping a long story into parts worth it? Or do readers see "Part 1" "Part 2" "Part 3" and balk at that? I have a longer story that I wanted criticism for, since it's not written in my usual style, but wonder if the "parts" will put people off.

Hey, good luck with your novel! I've written one, too. Now comes the hard part-- finding an agent.

SinamonAngel · 08-28-2003, 07:18 PM

thats so weird, cuz I just made the same error typing studley instead of spudley on another post! lol maybe its a sign!! hehehehe

Spudley · 08-29-2003, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elphaba

Back when I submitted my first story, Washer told me that stories over 10,000 words aren't commented on much, so is chopping a long story into parts worth it? Or do readers see "Part 1" "Part 2" "Part 3" and balk at that? I have a longer story that I wanted criticism for, since it's not written in my usual style, but wonder if the "parts" will put people off.

There are quite a few serials on the site, and they do get read. Maybe not as much as individual stories, but people do read them.

I guess they might not bother if they see part 2 or 3 but miss part 1, of course.

The biggest reason I haven't commented on many serials is simply because a large proportion of the serials on the site seem to be in the horror category, which just isn't my thing really. But I did comment regularly on one serial (still waiting for the next installment!).

Elphaba · 08-29-2003, 08:07 AM

Don't like horror??? Uh-oh... then I guess you won't be reading most of my stuff (absolute horror NUT here).

Heh, that's okay. Thanks for the info, Spudley.