Young Writers Society

Merry Christmas, all!! Already working on New Year's Resolutions for writing!

short video with some very simple, basic things to think about when creating a world! Also thoughts about how to help your reader accept the fictional world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQTQSbjecLg

I started out trying to design some characters for a storyboard pitch I'm working on, but then I got bored and just started to play. Faces are my favorite to draw!

Today is my first telling in my storytelling class. Wish me luck!

It's cold

"As students in elementary school we are taught that the difference between nonfiction and fiction is that nonfiction is "true" and fiction is "made-up." The aspiring writer must overcome the inadequacy of this elementary definition in order to take advantage of his or her personal experiences and knowledge in creating fiction."
-Donald Davis

How important are beta readers? They give you the basics of how your (hopefully) thousands of readers are going to think and feel. They tell you their first impressions, what was exciting, what characters are annoying, what made them cry and what jokes fell flat. Story is a language, a way to communicate. If you want to make sure that communication is working, listen to your beta readers. They are everything right now.

My friend and I were talking about our old stories today. XD You know...the kind of "old stories" that make you cringe when you think about them?

Friend: "I pulled out my old dream story, and realized I had a character that was basically just Kelsiar from Mistborn."
Me: "That's not so bad, Kelsiar's a clump of tropes already. You can have a smiled-masked, charismatic rebel leader with a bitter past. That's fine."
Friend: "No, you don't understand....he even had scars on his hands."
Me: "Oh...."

I laugh, but I'd be a big fat liar if I tried to say that never happened to me. Anyone else?

One of the coolest things about snow-covered mountains? When the sun rises, the snow starts to evaporate. And when the wind is blowing, it just trails off into the sky. It looks like the whole mountain is starting to disappear into mist.

Had quite the adventure. It was meant to be an 8 hour drive. 10 hours later we have to hole up somewhere in the middle of nowhere, still about 3 hours away from our journey's end. But an Adventure is an adventure. I'll take it.

I am super bummed that I won't be able to do review day this month. We will be heading out on a road trip early. I'll try to get at least one in; I was really looking forward to it. In any case, good luck!

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas, or whatever you wish to celebrate! It's a good time of year. <3

And the "Most Organized Story Planning Method" award goes to....

This is the best writing podcast I've come across. It's called Writing Excuses, and they discuss everything from characters and structure to selling a story to injuries from writing. They know what they're talking about. It's awesome!

I was going to delete all the really old stuff I'm embarrassed about, but I decided not. I think it's important. ....but I am going to post something recent.