Meijii Inn OCC club

[Honey_B]

I noticed two of the responses to the question allude to food. It made me think of something. I think writing is at its most engaging when all of the senses are invoked. Take describing a woman. Would it more effective to describe how she looked or to include details about how she sounded, smelled, tasted, and felt. The sensory detail a writer uses to round out a picture helps to draw in the reader.

And Lillie, I don't know how to advise you as far as your writing. I know that your work is very engaging so you must be doing something right. I'll just tell you what I do. I write my first draft out. Force myself not to edit as I go. Just try to get the words down on paper. I always write my first drafts longhand. On a computer, it's too hard to edit and second-guess during that first draft and that interrupts the flow of ideas. After I've gotten it all out, I leave it alone. Either work on something else, or I just let some time pass. When I go back, I have somewhat of a fresher outlook and I edit. This is were I organize and reword if I need to. Hope that helps.

 

[faith]

A moment of your time....

Laying a folded card in his lap, I return to my tea.


Dearest Tmuyo,
I owe you a very public thank you for giving us this place where we can come together and share who and what we are among friends knowing our hearts are safe in your keeping. A place where lives are touched and souls are healed. A place where we can expose our weakness and be shown our strengths. A place of quiet thoughts and retrospect. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your dream.
Sincerely yours,
faith


"Thank you Lillie, between you Swash, CG, Honey, Kit, Tmuyo just to name a few, Iam beginning to see I just might fit the bill of a writer after all... and it feels wonderful

 

[Cutie Lillie]

Oooo good points!!

I like that.. making sure to 'read' what the others have posted so you keep consistancy and build off of what has gone before...

and'

Honey...that is exactly what I do too! Most of the time I sit quiety and get into the head of my character, see what's going on, and let it 'flow'...

I want to remember your point about the senses. That is where I want to learn more.... cause as a reader I do relate and am more effected by those other descriptions.

Its the effect of reader's imagination. I want to get that knack. I don't know if its just a natural thing or not..but I'm a very vivid reader..so the writers that can literally create a world for me tend to be my favorites.

I'm trying my hand at that..but its new.. thanks for that tip Honey!

 

[Swashbuckler]

Nodding in total agreement with CG's suggestion, nay unwritten commandment, to READ the posts previous to yours. "We must keep the story moving, and flowing like a river, not a series of seperate locks," I say quietly in agreement.

Turning quietly to Lillie, "You say that you are a very vivid reader," I say looking deep into her eyes, "then you should write that way. Choose your words to shape that imagery that is in your mind and spill it out on the page for others to experience with you. If that is how you are engaged in reading, it should be easier for you to write, you are already comfortable with it." Sipping some tea, "Put your imagination to work on the sights, sounds, textures, on everything in the scene and let your character live it."

Pausing and sipping some more tea, "Lillie, by writing vividly, it will not only bring your character to life, but it can inject life into all of the charcters around yours as well," I say sipping my tea. "It is perfectly natural to be vivid, it shows imagination," adding a quote by Einstein, with a roguish grin, "Knowledge is nothing. Imagination is everything!" With a sigh, "Having said that I would be a hypocrite if I were to give you any advice other than this with reguards to balance, don't worry about the reader. Writing has to be from your heart. Don't worry about anyone else, or anything else. Let your heart guide your pen. Do what you want with your words. Just remeber that critics are those who can not. You can. So do. I think that alot of good things never go anywhere because there are people who are too worried about others views on things to let go completely and just submit thier stuff. Doing endless rewrites and fiddling takes away from the joy of the initial spark of imagination. Besides, that stuff is too much like work." I say with a shrug.

Getting myself some more tea, I glance over the note that is on Master Tmyo's lap, I wink at Faith, saying softly, "See luv, there you have it. You can write, perhaps we are getting through. There is the heart of a sklad in your sweet chest, and I am determined that you let it hatch out and soar.

Let it carry you
On soft wings of words
Across the Rainbow Bridge
To Paradise
To sail away over Paper Seas
On Quillish Ships
to Asgard
Valkyrie,
Come and join us,
At the table of the Gods

Your feast awaits..

I shall await you there, Faith." I go quietly back to my tea after my soft song of promise.

 

[Cutie Lillie]

And there you go Swash..

I could feel the need to back away and the flush start as I read you looking deeply into my eyes..

That's not cause you are scary..its just the natural reaction I always get when someone looks that intently into my eyes in real life.. LOL

Thank you so much for that advice. That actually makes me 'want' to keep writing..and try out writing what I 'see'.. sometimes the challenge is finding the words to describe what is so clear in my mind's eye.. and the feelings they invoke.

I'll do that though.. I'll keep practicing..

Thanks!

 

[cgraven]

Rising from the secluded corner I take my travelers walking staff. I bow to my host.

"Master tmuyo? Thank you for the gracious hospitality you have shown me. I must go now with regret in my hart, but I will return.


So saying C G takes his leave for the long journey ahead.

 

[TXExpress]

A question from the Texas delgation

Despite the cool weather, I again remove my boots before entering

This is a question hinted at earlier, but one that might better illustrate the method behinds our collective madness:

What is your preferred writing style? (and why)

I write (or at least used to) for a living, and my style always has been very informal. Very stream-of-consciousness. No entertainer impresses me more than an artist of improvisation, whether it be a comedian or a jazz musician. What comes at you next? How do you react? What can you pitch to the next soloist? What is the rhythm at that moment?

Obviously, no creative person wants to be locked into a "formula"; otherwise, where is the creativity? I am eager to hear how others prefer to operate.

He bows, then returns across the way to the China Pearl

 

[cgraven]

C G reenters bowing to his host.

I believe the beauty of writing is responding to the other writer. It is a dance of words, Feelings, and emotions. They give, we give, and share with each other an the reader.

 

[Cutie Lillie]

Styles..

I think I'm still trying to figure out what my style is...

I know that some people are brilliant at dialog, some narrative...

Writing fiction is very new for me... so I don't know even how to describe what I do... and am trying out ways to describe in text what I see in my head.

I guess I write movies.. cause that's what goes on. I wait to see what would play out next, and then try to write what I 'see'...

Btw..I hope everyone had a good turkey day.. I accidently drugged myself with turkey, champange and benedryl... and fell asleep on the couch. *BLUSH* LOL

 

[felixdakat]

they guy in the funier hat

txe.... i must agree with you 100% on the stream of consioussness(sp?)thought. i find that it is the only way to write. and while grammar and puntuation are rules, they're meant to be broken. i have felt on many occasions that to go back and correct my spelling, punc., etc. would take away from the power of the piece. if something is written in such emotion and power that causes fault in your writing, that it only enhances the raw emotion you display. i have paddled may streams of consiousness in my lif, and it flows ever so gently from my mind, running down ontomthe paper like so many thoughts flowing effortless ly to the ink. it drowns in wallows and sinks deeper than that of the wail tooth shark careesing the bottom of the ocean floor carying down ward the thoughts that flowed into the river bed . we ride this thing to the end all the way down the lost highways and tractor set bi ways that run through our heads. the cartoons seem so much more vivid than real life and apply to the norms of a fictisious stream of thought threw our heads...........


some of my thoughts ......... how bout some of yours

 

[Cutie Lillie]

Good point, felix...

That made me remember that the guy who wrote Angela's Ashes didn't follow the 'normal' confines of punctuation...he used to slur dialog and narrative together...

and then there is e.e.cummings... the poet..

though I do think that at least knowing basic grammer and punctuation helps before breaking into the stream. at least my english professor said so.. LOL

 

[felixdakat]

knowing and obeying are two entirely diferent subjects... slur dialog is probably (in my opinion) the most powerfull of the naritives. it unleashes this certain knowledge of the speaker. the " i heard this man before" an imediate referance is drawn to compare the speaker with a known person, or generization. it gives you the whole spectrum of sences, because of the sterio types that fall under each generalization.

 

[Cutie Lillie]

that brings up another question...

though I dont want to drift from tex's questions of what is our prefered style of writing....


but how much do we draw on stereotypes and generalizations in our characters and plots?

 

[felixdakat]

how many diferent steriotypes are there...... i think it's infinous. but i'll have to think about the strengths and weaknesses associated with using large, or small numbers of steriotypes in my writing. it's not something i've put much thought into yet. my instinct says vear away from them, at least a little, and try to create individuals as opposed to redesigning broad ideas that already exist. it will give your writing more depth and stop it from becoming "run-of-the-mill" it's also more fun. but my question for every one is.... when we write we place emotions inside other people, what power do we envoke by painting images in other peoples minds?

 

[Swashbuckler]

"Tex," I say after a long moment of contemplation on his question, "I don;t exactly know how to answer your very vexing question. I just write what feels righ for the character and the story. Some characters are more introspective, some devious, some are but fools; you must write for them and for yourself. I can not say that I have a favorite, I would hate to have any other parts of my mind at war with one another. All those voices yelling at each other is just too much for my ears to handle."

 

[cgraven]

I tend to take a mid road. I write what I feel, but in relation to the Caracter i am playing. and to the other characters that I am interacting with. Within Caracter I try to respond as I would in the real world. Hopefuly this makes the writing beleivable.

 

[Swashbuckler]

A new question

William Shakespere once said, "The only difference from tradgedy and comedy is perspective"

Do you feel that this is a fair analysis?

Why?

Which do you prefer writing?

~Swash~

 

[TXExpress]

Dying is easy ...

... comedy is hard.

Well, I think it's fairly plain which I prefer, although underlying pathos resides in most things comedic.

Man slips on the proverbial banana peel. To those watching, it's funny. To the guy who did it ... embarrassment, perhaps even physical pain. Hardly the stuff of tragedy, unless the guy damages his spinal cord, but Shakespeare's point is well taken. I heard he could write a little, though I have not seen him on the site.

Nearly all comedy has a foil, one who is duped or wounded in some form or fashion. Take away the set-up for laughter, and you now have tragedy ... lives altered, people deceived, etc.

I prefer comedy in this specific forum because, frankly, there's not enough of it here. It is a niche I hope to carve. One does not wish to be typecast, of course, but often the sheer, silly, unbridled FUN of sex and human relations is lost amidst the context of serious drama or specific role play. To be sure, it all goes together; there are people here who write things I could not dream of writing — it's their style, their passion. Comedy is mine.

Now please excuse me while I attempt to dodge the pillow that caspai is swinging at my head.

 

[SexyChele]

Re: they guy in the funier hat

txe.... i must agree with you 100% on the stream of consioussness(sp?)thought. i find that it is the only way to write. and while grammar and puntuation are rules, they're meant to be broken. i have felt on many occasions that to go back and correct my spelling, punc., etc. would take away from the power of the piece. if something is written in such emotion and power that causes fault in your writing, that it only enhances the raw emotion you display. i have paddled may streams of consiousness in my lif, and it flows ever so gently from my mind, running down ontomthe paper like so many thoughts flowing effortless ly to the ink. it drowns in wallows and sinks deeper than that of the wail tooth shark careesing the bottom of the ocean floor carying down ward the thoughts that flowed into the river bed . we ride this thing to the end all the way down the lost highways and tractor set bi ways that run through our heads. the cartoons seem so much more vivid than real life and apply to the norms of a fictisious stream of thought threw our heads...........


some of my thoughts ......... how bout some of yours

On this, I must respectfully disagree. While in some instances, one is trying to set a mood by utilizing slang, there is never a good excuse not to go back, recheck one's work and fix any spellng and/or grammatical errors.

Not that any won't be made. It does happen. And I do understand that most people just want to get their thoughts down on the monitor. However, there are a couple of reasons for feeling as I do.

One, this is a writing site. Much as some would like to argue that it is purely social, the underlying basis is that of the written word. Many of us originally came here because of the writing and only later discovered the individual message boards.

Two, how you write reflects the kind of person you are. Typically, one who has a lot of spelling errors or gross grammatical errors, are not taken as seriously as those who do incorporate good spelling and/or grammar into their writing.

Third, by going back over one's writing, fixing spelling errors, using capitalization, using proper punctuation, incorporating paragraphs, the author is helping the reader to read and understand what they are saying. Many times if I stumble onto a paragraph written in a role play where there is nothing but spelling errors, no capitalization, poor punctuation, and grammar isn't followed, I bypass it entirely. It simply takes too long for me, as a reader, to try to attempt to follow what in the world the author is attempting to say.

He/she may have understood perfectly when they wrote it, but the reader wasn't with them then and certainly wasn't "in their head" at the time. So to try to follow along with poor spelling and/or grammar means making your reader have to wade through what you are attempting to say sometimes 3 or 4 times to try to understand exactly what you are trying to say. Personally, I do not have that kind of time. Rather, I will sweep through it once. If it is a person I am attempting to write with, I will try to read it again, though I will probably PM to ask exactly what is going on. If it is some one I am not writing against, I skip it.

So, while you might think that by just putting thoughts down on the monitor screen without thought to spelling and/or grammar, that somehow this is displaying a raw, uninhibited emotion, your reader may simply be bypassing all of what you are trying to say. Instead, by taking the extra few minutes to go back, reread what you said, correct spelling and grammar, you are helping your reader to understand that emotional power you are trying to convey.

 

[Ldy Tehari]

*Entering softly thru the doors, not having been here before, it's quite nice. Bowing in respect to the host, taking my shoes off and pulling up a cushion. Hearing the conversation around me for a moment.*

Chele, you have some valid points, however, while we're on the subject "proper punctuation" is actually two words, and spelling & grammer or spelling and/or grammer I can see, but putting spelling/grammar? They are two different subjects, and not pronouns.. *sigh*

I feel it is ~Very~ important to convey your feelings. The written word is a powerful thing. If people don't put themselves into their character then they aren't really writing. They are just wasting time. As for spelling and grammar, I use it a lot to emphasize, and I don't follow every rule in the book. You probably couldn't diagram my sentences, and gods save you if you would. *sigh*
Writing from the heart is why we are sharing here. Not to be in another english class behind another proffessor. Most of us left college a long time ago. I dont worry too much about spelling and grammar as long as the meaning gets thru

 

[SexyChele]

Lady T - my point about going back and re-reading what one has posted so that it makes sense is well made simply by your response. And I think it was a pretty good job, considering it was written around 6am, without coffee, and while I was almost late for work. However, I have corrected the mistakes.

And now, I will take my leave. For my host and other guests, please do not concern yourselves with seeing my presence here again. I must have wandered into the wrong establishment.

My apologies to all.

 

[felixdakat]

sexychele

have you ever written a story on a box of cherios in blue paint marker, have you ever written a poem in blue pen on a plain white piece of paper, shreded it and then glued it randomly to a vodka bottle? art does not follow the queens english. and sure, there are times when i feel it's important to go back and edit my work, papers for school, i do a quick check when posting here, but never, never, do i worry about it while i'm creating.

swashbuckler: i'd say that since shakespear was a play write, he probaly knows quite a bit about perspective. i'll take his word for it, since i don't worry about others perspective when i'm writing, only my own.

 

[caspai]

I only have six words for you, Felixdakat

"To thine own self be true."

 

[felixdakat]

thank you, i'll take that as a compliment

 

[cgraven]

C G rise from the secluded corner to speak[ /I]

Many things have been said here sense we first began to speak our views on writing. We have talked of difference between sex romps and Erotica, what is erotic, how to engage the mind, who we write for, and the technical.

But I believe that those each one has merit the most crucial is the content of what we write. In other words what we have to say. All else to me is a means to an end.

I am a storyteller and that is what is important to me. I prefer working one on one so that the story comes through. The large multi threads though fun I have a hard time with. I will write in response to my opposite. The next most often breaks the thread of their story.

For example:

"He tenderly kissed her as he unbuttoned her blouse."

and the next post starts.

" The car was an old jalopy a rusted hulk belching smoke."


The intimacy of the two characters is broken and lost in the general stream of the thread. The story broken.

My honored friends what are your thoughts?