Young Writers Society

...I couldn't help writing something. I was referred over here by a seemingly perspicacious individual, who claimed a fellow fencer had posted...

Anyhow, as far as a bio goes...I fence. Main point. No pun intended. When I'm not fencing, I read - rather a lot; and when I'm not reading (or writing) I am avoiding college classes and work...or coaching. And yes, lefties, for some odd reason, irritate the devil out of the poor right-handers. So, to irritate everyone more, I like to switch.

I will write nothing more for now. As I'm afraid it's late enough to make my typing weave towards incoherence.

Any more fencers here? (Foilist, by the way - too many bruises in epee for my taste; and sabre is, well...sabre. )

(Purely superficial details: My name's CJ. I'm 18. I'm the oldest of six. ...and I can think of naught else.)

Fencing, something I always wanted to do but never had the chance. Welcome.

I suppose I ought to go on. (Thanks, by the way, for the welcome, Doe.) A note on fencing isn't really a biography, auto or otherwise.

I've told stories since before I have rational recollection (that would be fiction and tall-tales). I began writing them down when I was ten, as I didn't really read before nine. Yes, I was capable - merely disinterested. Contemporary writing (as such) I despise. Not much in recent history of a 'literary' sort that I like.

Fantasy, or the fantastic - that's what I prefer to read. As life itself is extraordinary, that's not held to fantasy fiction. But then, not many authors have a proper sense of wonder about their prose. Things look so dull... Tolkien is brilliant, more so than anything but his stories can tell. I won't try to tell it. Dickens and Dumas are involving, near without fail. Dostoyevsky is a genius of character and conflict. Lloyd Alexander could be described as a Tolkien younger sibling - no diminutive offence intended.

I don't like criticism. It's cutting rather than building and deserves a place in the back seat to almost anything else. Constructive criticism is scarcely free of being a misnomer. Or would you say oxymoron? No, not entirely. But besides all that vehement expression, I do think exchanging thoughts, tips, wonders about writing is important. It's difficult when structural and grammatical errors haven't been edited. Even so, that's the sort of thing simply amended. The bulk and import of a story (not a dissertation) is its spirit, its characters...and I suppose conflict.

All right. I'm 18...I fence, as noted. I write. Clever banter and bland acting are brilliant ways to deflect attention. In other words, lies, yes? ...That is an example.

I take fencing lessons! (Foil.) I'm not good, (I just started) but I want to get better.

You sound busy. Nice to meet you, and I hope to see you around!

I like your avatar, by the way. Hehe.

J. Haux fences, and I would like to some day learn to fence.

I've got a pile of pickets in my backyard that should function quite nicely.

I agree with your thoughts on authors, and I agree with your thoughts on criticism, to a degree. Criticism by definition is a questionable method to ensure friendships, however I think if one enters into a "positive" critical relationship, such as an author and a very good editor, benefits may arise once the people understand that they really mean nothing personally, but are attempting to help develop the written work.

But perhaps that is not true criticism. To share ideas, previous literary knowledge...what would that be called? Another problem with criticism that is written, such as on this site where the writers go back and forth, is that the human voice is lost in all of these attempts at true communication. Written words can easily be misinterpreted and taken as insult.

On a lighter subject, I love humour as a defence mechanism. For a time I had this ability, but it has since diminshed into a continuous stream of poor puns and one-liners. I think J. Haux will agree...

By the way, I think your avatar is great. And...I'm a lefty.

Welcome to the YWS!

Welcome! A fencer, eh? Very nice to have you here. I wanted to learn how to fence a while ago. I even went as far as looking into lessons downtown. But sadly my schedule has prevented me from taking those lovely Thursday night lessons... Ah well. I was looking into foil - it looked like a good place to start.

Hey, before I forget (sheesh, you already distracted me. I admit that's not hard to do, but...), feel free to contact the admins or mods (preferably the latter - the former have enough to deal with as it is) if you need any help or just have a question. That's what we're here for! Big Brother loves you. We swear.

Anyway... If you post on this site, you're going to get criticism, although hopefully it's constructive. That's what we strive for, anyway. If you tell people to be gentle, people like Snoink and me will back off a bit. *grins* Just let us know how you want people to reply to your work and I think most will respect that. *glares at troublemakers*

I hope you have a great time here! I'm mainly a righty, but I've taught myself to be somewhat ambidextrous. My writing is just a little shaky, but it's better than some of my friends' regular handwriting. Well, I've blathered on long enough - precalc calls. Have fun!

That's awesome that you're a fencer, but I'm not sure how lefties irritate people(Ima lefty^^)

Azrael:: think about how you'd have to stand if you used right and left, or right and right. With Poor Imp's avvie, the two smilies are both using right arm.

Anyway, WELCOME Poor Imp (even though you have been here a while now..)

Fencing is very cool; my boyfriend fences and I know he has an epee, but I'm not sure whether he uses a foil or not...

Anyway... yeah... welcome again!

...Thanks for all the convivial comments - I feel terribly welcome - even after having been around a few weeks.

And, Azrael: I have nothing against lefties, as people. But they can be bewildering in a fencing bout; though I've managed ambidexterity myself. I'd explain; but I'm afraid it would be a bewildering mess of blatantly specialised terms. KayJuran puts it simply. (There's always the old superstition too, over lefties and luck. It used to be in some places - and still is - that being left-handed gets you labeled cursed, or demonic.)

Thanks David, as well...your post made me grin. ...Especially the remark about pickets and fencing (THAT would be something I would have to film - fencing with pickets!).

Jennafina: By the way - where do you fence/take lessons (out of curiosity)?

I may have mentioned this before - I think it's awesome that you fence.

I know you've been on here for a while and we've already passed a few messages back and forth, but I just have to say this - I completely love the way you write. It really cracks me up. _/)_

I'm left handed to and i'm sure you got left handed knights anyway i'll stay hand. Heh welcome this is very late but better late than never

Siegfried wrote:I'm left handed to and i'm sure you got left handed knights anyway i'll stay hand. Heh welcome this is very late but better late than never

...Forgot about this. ^_^ Lefts annihilate righties, all in all - so of course, ambidexterity is the ideal.

Hehe, I'm a leftie fencer too! (Foil) The thing is, even lefties annoy lefties, just because we're not used to fencing them.

Skye wrote:Hehe, I'm a leftie fencer too! (Foil) The thing is, even lefties annoy lefties, just because we're not used to fencing them.

Oy, too true. (An acquaintance of mine at at tournament nearly had a nervous break-down - he'd found he'd got the two other lefties in his pool. ^_^'')

You fence! ...I'd forgotten - or didn't know. How long?

Haha, only about a year. I hope to maybe try out for JOs this year, but I dunno if I'll be ready.

You went to Nationals this summer, didn't you? How did that go?