by Naomi L. | April 30, 2014 | Blog, Creative Writing |
Show of hands: who wants to be part of a writing community that offers a friendly network of fellow writers, insightful critique from peers, cash-prize contests, sorted lists of writing prompts, and helpful resources on how to improve your craft all in one place? Then you’re in luck, because today’s post is about an awesome website that offers all of that and more! Introducing Writer’s Carnival, your new one-stop shop for all your writing wants and needs! Let’s take a quick look together, shall we? (You can put your hand down now.)
What is Writer’s Carnival?
Writer’s Carnival is an online community where writers can post original stories/poetry and review each other’s work. It’s a place for them to connect and share in their love of all types of creative writing from poetry to novels, be it through forums, group discussions or status updates. The site functions on the honor system policy: members are expected to write at least three reviews for each piece they upload themselves. This system is what has kept the community thriving for over a year. But you don’t have to take my word for it: just read what the administrators have to say. Speaking of whom, the staff are constantly active and willing to help out, so why not make some new friends while you’re there?
What does Writer’s Carnival have to offer?
Aside from friendly critique and networking opportunities, Writer’s Carnival offers plenty of useful resources and social events that keep the community active. Here’s what you get access to with a free membership:
- Writing resources, including prose/poetry tips and links to other writing sites
- Writing prompts (updated monthly)
- Social events such as Power Hour, Bust Out Your Blog and Post-a-Palooza
- Weekly Wednesday Challenge for a chance at publication
- Social networking through group discussions, status updates and private messaging
You also have the option to upgrade your account for access to even more awesome features:
- Post writing for feedback from peers
- Enter monthly contests for cash prizes and publication
- Submit writing to Reader’s Carnival, an e-zine that showcases the work of Writer’s Carnival members
- Submit a publication to Member Success Stories and spread the word about your work
And that’s just what’s available now. There are also classes and writing services coming soon!
Why join Writer’s Carnival today?
I’ve been a member of Writer’s Carnival for over a year now, and my experience on the site so far has been great. The community is friendly and insightful; many of the reviews I’ve received have helped me improve my craft, and these in turn inspire me to write reviews that can help other writers develop their own creative skills. I’ve come to understand the true value of feedback and networking, as well as the importance of giving as much as, if not more than, you get. I’ve even found plenty of inspiration for new pieces through social events on the site. Overall, it’s a welcoming community that continues to be a part of my growth as a writer.
So become a member of Writer’s Carnival and join in the fun today! See you on the fairgrounds!
by Naomi L. | April 28, 2014 | Blog, Word of the Week |
Word: euphemism
Pronunciation: YOO-fə-mi-zəm
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing
Source: Oxford Dictionaries
“Euphemism” is a word that every writer should know because it’s a useful tool for any type of writing. Instances will occur where we need to avoid writing something too blunt or even offensive for the sake of our readers. That’s where this handy device comes in. Simply substitute your unwanted word or phrase with an indirect variant of the same meaning, and problem solved. Pretty useful, right?
A “euphemism” is a word or expression that serves as a replacement for a harsh one by being milder or indirect. The word arose in the late 16th century from the Greek noun euphēmismos, which can be traced back to the adjective euphēmos, meaning “uttering sound of good omen”. This word is made up of two roots: the adverb eu “well” and the noun phēmē “speaking”.
I’ve always liked the word “euphemism”, both for the way it sounds and for its use in writing. I often implement substitutions in my stories in the form of metaphors and symbolism, so this is a useful device for me. If you have a tendency to write about unpleasant ideas or vulgar themes that you don’t want unsettling your readers, the “euphemism” is definitely good for you to know about. With this helpful tool, you’ll be able to write stories that a wider audience can enjoy!
What are your thoughts on this word? Any suggestions for future “Word of the Week” featured words?
by Naomi L. | April 25, 2014 | Flash Fiction, J.C. Wolfe's Writing |
“What’s that?”
“Nothing! Nothing at all.”
“Hey, don’t hide it! I wanna see!”
“No, you don’t. You really, really don’t.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I know you. Trust me, you’d freak out.”
“What do you take me for?”
“Honestly? …A prude.”
“What?! Now I have to know!”
“Ow! Let go! No, give it back!”
“Why? What’s- Oh my god…”
“I can explain…”
“Please don’t. You were right; I didn’t wanna know.”
“…Can I have it back?”
“…Fine. Just promise you’ll never let me find it again.”
Based on a writing prompt from Writer’s Carnival: Keep It Secret!
Using dialogue only, and no more than 15 lines, write a scene between two people. One is keeping a secret from the other. Don’t mention the secret.
As you can imagine, I had a lot of fun with this one! I hope you enjoy what I’ve written. Thanks for reading!
by Naomi L. | April 23, 2014 | Blog, Creative Writing |
At last, the time has come for the final chapter of my story. Wondering what you’ve missed? For the past several weeks, I’ve been telling the story behind a “novel” I recently published online: a fanfiction titled Chaos and Control. Part 1 is about the idea for the story, Part 2 is about the planning, Part 3 is about the writing, Part 4 is about the editing, Part 5 is about the publishing, and Part 6 is about the feedback. Have fun reading the last part of the story!
Part VII: The Lessons
In the interest of keeping this post brief, today’s topic will simply be a review of the lessons taken from my fanfiction that I believe can apply to the experience of writing a real novel. Enjoy!
What I learned from Chaos and Control:
1) When an idea grows in your mind to the point where it starts to consume you, chances are it’s worth turning into a story. Don’t ignore it; embrace it, shape it, bring it to life.
2) Planning is important, but it isn’t everything. The skeleton of a plot and a handful of ideas are great to start with. After that, just write, and let the story surprise you as you flesh it out.
3) Serious writing takes serious commitment. If you ever want to finish that novel, work on it every single day. No excuses; just do it.
4) Well-developed characters will write themselves. When stuck, start writing purely from instinct and see where the characters go on their own. They’ll probably take the story in the right direction.
5) Editing takes just as much effort as writing, if not more. Do not assume your first drafts are perfect; it’s more than likely they’ll require a lot of polishing before they’re worthy of publication.
6) Your technique may change over the course of the writing process. Don’t neglect to revise the entire novel to make sure the style of the first chapters matches that of the last ones.
7) Details and tropes are fun to place, but they’re worthless without a strong storyline to hang on. The most important parts of the story should be the core elements of plot and character development.
8) Never underestimate the importance of marketing and networking. Your novel isn’t likely to draw many readers if nobody knows it exists.
9) Don’t be surprised if your novel doesn’t get as much attention as you’d like, but don’t be discouraged either. If your story can inspire one reader, then it was worth writing.
10) Not everyone will notice the details in your story, but don’t let that get you down. As long as you placed them well, someone is bound to appreciate them.
11) Know your audience and trust their opinions. Feedback from readers is invaluable not only for the current piece, but for any future pieces you may write.
12) The type of story doesn’t make it more or less special than the others you write. As long as you pour your heart and soul into it and receive a valuable experience in return, any story is worth writing.
This concludes the story behind my fanfiction. I hope you’ve enjoyed following my experience with Chaos and Control, and that you’ve found the story behind it as enlightening as I did. If you haven’t yet, feel free to comment with your thoughts. Otherwise, have fun applying these lessons in your writing, and best of luck with your own novels! Thank you for reading!
Note: If you’re interested, you’re more than welcome to read my story and even leave some reviews. I promise you don’t need to know too much about the Sonic universe to appreciate it. Reviews are positive, but contain spoilers! Thank you!
by Naomi L. | April 21, 2014 | Blog, Word of the Week |
Word: pervade
Pronunciation: pər-VAYD
Part of Speech: verb
Definition: be present and apparent throughout
Source: Oxford Dictionaries
This is a word I tend to use a lot in my writing. I often need verbs and adjectives to indicate what exists throughout a place or thing, so “pervade” is a good word to keep on my list. Interestingly, I only discovered it recently while studying vocabulary, but I liked it immediately, and I’ve been making good use of it ever since.
Anything that “pervades” somewhere or something is present and apparent in every part of it. The word comes from the Latin verb pervadere, meaning “to spread through”. This verb is comprised of two roots: the preposition per “through” and the verb vadere “to go”.
Note that the dictionary actually gives two separate definitions for “pervade”, one being literal and the other being figurative. When referring to something more perceptible, such as a smell, the word means “spread through and be perceived in every part of”. The slightly different meaning posted above, however, refers more to abstract nouns such as influence, feelings and qualities. Personally, I prefer to use the figurative definition in my writing (usually in the adjective form “pervasive”), though the definitions are so similar that it really doesn’t matter what you use this word for. All that matters is that high quality writing “pervades” your stories!
What are your thoughts on this word? Any suggestions for future “Word of the Week” featured words?
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