The INKsters Celebrate December (with a spicy typewriter)
Come Join Us!
The contest rules and submission requirements are on the bottom of the notecard. Please read them to prevent driving me crazy.
MOST IMPORTANT THING OF ALL: Please hit SEARCH on the bottom of your screen, select the "Groups" tab, and join the INKsters. This is how we communicate and we're positively indulgent with telling you about literary events we like.
This month we're going to be wandering through our real lives with Christmas music being piped into our ears everywhere we go. As writers, we question the value of each word being brought forth into existence, and we're going to have a little fun with a few of the songs we know (and love?).
Each day in December, you have a song title. You can write a MAXIMUM of 500 words on a theme related to the song title. You can make a funny parody of the song, you can write a poem in praise of the writer of the song, you can tell the story of how your mother played that song every year on her reel-to-reel tape, you can research Killarney and write of its Celtic ancestry, or you can go in any direction your mind will take you. Don't forget we're living a second life here, so concepts that bring our favorite metaverse into the picture are always encouraged. If you're Muslim, or Jewish, or Wiccan, we know you're sitting on years of angst over Frosty the Snowman and now is the time to let it out. Be funny, be poignant, be sexy, be Second.
Make Second Life your nightly stop to cut and paste before going to bed. A half hour a day is all we ask.
Here are your daily topics:
Saturday, December 01, 2007: All I Want For Christmas Is…
Sunday, December 02, 2007: Blue Christmas
Monday, December 03, 2007: Christmas For Cowboys
Tuesday, December 04, 2007: Christmas In Killarney
Wednesday, December 05, 2007: Deck the Halls
Thursday, December 06, 2007: First Christmas
Friday, December 07, 2007: Frosty the Snow Man
Saturday, December 08, 2007: Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer
Sunday, December 09, 2007: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Monday, December 10, 2007: Here Comes Santa Claus
Tuesday, December 11, 2007: Holly Jolly Christmas
Wednesday, December 12, 2007: I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Thursday, December 13, 2007: I'll Be Home For Christmas
Friday, December 14, 2007: It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Saturday, December 15, 2007: Jingle Bells
Sunday, December 16, 2007: Jolly Old Saint Nicholas
Monday, December 17, 2007: Let It Snow!
Tuesday, December 18, 2007: Mary, Did You Know?
Wednesday, December 19, 2007: Christmas Tree
Thursday, December 20, 2007: Rocking Around the Christmas Tree
Friday, December 21, 2007: Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
Saturday, December 22, 2007: Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Sunday, December 23, 2007: Silver Bells
Monday, December 24, 2007: Tennessee Christmas
Tuesday, December 25, 2007: The Christmas Song
Wednesday, December 26, 2007: The Little Drummer Boy
Thursday, December 27, 2007: The Night Before Christmas
Friday, December 28, 2007: The Twelve Days of Christmas
Saturday, December 29, 2007: Up On the Housetop
Sunday, December 30, 2007: We Wish You A Merry Christmas
Monday, December 31, 2007: White Christmas
HOW TO ENTER:
1. From your Inventory, select the Create menu and then begin a New Note. Write your entry onto the notecard (or Control-V to paste it onto the card from your word processor). Your entry should have your name at the bottom. Rename the description on the notecard to be the same as the competition name and date. Save your notecard in your inventory and you MUST rename the notecard with your name first, then the title of the competition, then the due date.
2. Next, from your saved notecard in your inventory you MUST right-click on the notecard select Properties. Make sure the toggle boxes at the bottom are checked to allow future owners to modify, copy, AND give/transfer. I must have full permissions from you to place the notecard in our anthologies.
3. Teleport to the INKsters Headquarters:
(SLurl located on right column of the page)
and drag and drop your finished notecard into our mailbox. Then send me an IM to let me know you've completed your entry. If you have any technical difficulties, please let me know and I will help you.
AND NOW FOR THE RULES:
1. You have until 11:59 p.m. Second Life time on each day to write one entry in English related to the topic. I reserve the right in my sole discretion to grant a wee bit of wiggle room when necessary for late entries (but don't count on it bub!).
2. Your entry must be no more than 500 words. If it's a little over, I won't disqualify you; if it's a lot over, I will.
3. An illustration, photo or texture usable in Second Life to accompany the story is strongly encouraged, but not required. Please drop your illustration onto your notecard (make sure the properties are set to full permissions).
PRIZES:
I award L$25 to the best entry as judged by me (ItsNaughtKnotty Cannned) after consultation with my secret inner circle or smart people who live in real life. If I decide none of the entries are a winner, I reserve the right not to award a prize on a given day. I also reserve the right to award more than one prize if I have ants in my pants.
I am occasionally asked, "What are you looking for?" Short answer: Quality writing. I don't care if it's poetry, prose, fiction, essays, journalism, or alleged non-fiction. If your writing is the best today, you'll win. Please take the topics as starting points only. They're designed to expand your mind and suggest a possible direction for you today, rather than being a specific task for you to complete. Please think divergently and create something beautiful, funny, poignant, interesting or informative. Also, please note the vagaries of competition: Sometimes your most beautiful work ever is overlooked by the judges, and sometimes a total piece of poop wins, and those of us who've been writers for a long time are so used to this we don't even notice it anymore. We hope you understand completing and submitting your writing makes you a champion, and the judging and competition portion of our group is a motivational tactic to help you AND us AND me get off our collective keisters and create something beautiful from nothingness.
PROCEDURAL MUMBO JUMBO:
I publish the writing prompts monthly. William Shakespeare in the INKsters Headquarters will always know what's what. Touch him, like he's touched you.
There is no fee to compete. All times are Second Life time. By entering, you grant me the permanent right to use your story in our Second Life anthologies and on our blog related to Second Life on the internet. http://slinksters.blogspot.com/
You retain all other rights. I encourage you to submit your writing to other people and places in the real world and in Second Life.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Saturday, November 10, 2007
NEW WRITER'S COMMUNITY VENUE OPENS TODAY ON COOKIE SIM
"Cookie" sim is a haven for the written and performing arts in SL, thanks to the patronage of Thinkerer studios. Today a new venue opens on Cookie called the Writer's Community, managed by the INKsters, the largest and most active writing group in SL.
The venue is intended to foster a sense of cameraderie and shared knowledge amongst all SL writers from the struggling hobbyist to the published professional novelist. The most active writers will be awarded individual work/display space and prims on the centerpiece of the build, a huge treehouse called The Perches at Writer's Community Aerie. All writers will enjoy the Beach/Dance Club, Rose Garden, and other provided community areas and activities. Special events will be hosted by the venue from time to time.
For more information, please contact the Writer's Community proprietors, Nebbisk Oh or ItsNaughtKnotty Cannned.
The venue is intended to foster a sense of cameraderie and shared knowledge amongst all SL writers from the struggling hobbyist to the published professional novelist. The most active writers will be awarded individual work/display space and prims on the centerpiece of the build, a huge treehouse called The Perches at Writer's Community Aerie. All writers will enjoy the Beach/Dance Club, Rose Garden, and other provided community areas and activities. Special events will be hosted by the venue from time to time.
For more information, please contact the Writer's Community proprietors, Nebbisk Oh or ItsNaughtKnotty Cannned.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
November Topics
WELCOME TO THE INKsters SUPERLATIVE NOVEMBER
As always, I apologize for the length of this notecard, but I'm wordy and you do need to read it to be successful in our contests.
The contest rules and submission requirements are on the bottom of the notecard. Please read them to prevent driving me crazy.
MOST IMPORTANT THING OF ALL: Please hit SEARCH on the bottom of your screen, select the "Groups" tab, and join the INKsters. This is how we communicate and we're positively indulgent with telling you about literary events we like.
And now we prepare to write! This month some of us are participating in the NaNoWriMo project and some of us are doing other writing projects. The game this month will be wide open on your choice of topic, BUT you must have written it THAT VERY DAY. No digging around in the cardboard box underneath your stairway for your high school haiku notebook. This month you can turn in anything that fits the daily topic as long as it is NO LONGER than 500 words AND you wrote it on the day it's due. Make Second Life your nightly stop to cut and paste before going to bed.
Here are your daily topics:
November 1, 2007: The most absorbing thing I wrote today is:
November 2, 2007: The most beguiling thing I wrote today is:
November 3, 2007: The most charming thing I wrote today is:
November 4, 2007: The most disturbed thing I wrote today is:
November 5, 2007: The most enchanting thing I wrote today is:
November 6, 2007: The most fascinating thing I wrote today is:
November 7, 2007: The most glorious thing I wrote today is:
November 8, 2007: The most humorous thing I wrote today is:
November 9, 2007: The most impassioned thing I wrote today is:
November 10, 2007: The most impressive thing I wrote today is:
November 11, 2007: The most interesting thing I wrote today is:
November 12, 2007: The most irrational thing I wrote today is:
November 13, 2007: The most lovely thing I wrote today is:
November 14, 2007: The most moving thing I wrote today is:
November 15, 2007: The most nervous thing I wrote today is:
November 16, 2007: The most outstanding thing I wrote today is:
November 17, 2007: The most pathetic thing I wrote today is:
November 18, 2007: The most perfect thing I wrote today is:
November 19, 2007: The most poignant thing I wrote today is:
November 20, 2007: The most relaxing thing I wrote today is:
November 21, 2007: The most seductive thing I wrote today is:
November 22, 2007: The most sentimental thing I wrote today is:
November 23, 2007: The most spontaneous thing I wrote today is:
November 24, 2007: The most terrific thing I wrote today is:
November 25, 2007: The most thrilling thing I wrote today is:
November 26, 2007: The most transcendent thing I wrote today is:
November 27, 2007: The most unrivaled thing I wrote today is:
November 28, 2007: The most winsome thing I wrote today is:
November 29, 2007: The most witching thing I wrote today is:
November 30, 2007: The most witty thing I wrote today is:
HOW TO ENTER:
1. From your Inventory, select the Create menu and then begin a New Note. Write your entry onto the notecard (or Control-V to paste it onto the card from your word processor). Your entry should have your name at the bottom. Rename the description on the notecard to be the same as the competition name and date. Save your notecard in your inventory and you MUST rename the notecard with your name first, then the title of the competition, then the due date.
2. Next, from your saved notecard in your inventory you MUST right-click on the notecard select Properties. Make sure the toggle boxes at the bottom are checked to allow future owners to modify, copy, AND give/transfer. I must have full permissions from you to place the notecard in our anthologies.
3. Teleport to the INKsters Headquarters and drag and drop your finished notecard into our mailbox. Then send me an IM to let me know you've completed your entry. If you have any technical difficulties, please let me know and I will help you.
AND NOW FOR THE RULES:
1. You have until 11:59 p.m. Second Life time on each day to write one entry in English related to the topic. I reserve the right in my sole discretion to grant a wee bit of wiggle room when necessary for late entries (but don't count on it bub!).
2. Your entry must be no more than 500 words. If it's a little over, I won't disqualify you; if it's a lot over, I will.
3. An illustration, photo or texture usable in Second Life to accompany the story is strongly encouraged, but not required. Please drop your illustration onto your notecard (make sure the properties are set to full permissions).
PRIZES:
I award L$25 to the best entry as judged by me (ItsNaughtKnotty Cannned) after consultation with my secret inner circle or smart people who live in real life. If I decide none of the entries are a winner, I reserve the right not to award a prize on a given day. I also reserve the right to award more than one prize if I have ants in my pants.
I am occasionally asked, "What are you looking for?" Short answer: Quality writing. I don't care if it's poetry, prose, fiction, essays, journalism, or alleged non-fiction. If your writing is the best today, you'll win. Please take the topics as starting points only. They're designed to expand your mind and suggest a possible direction for you today, rather than being a specific task for you to complete. Please think divergently and create something beautiful, funny, poignant, interesting or informative. Also, please note the vagaries of competition: Sometimes your most beautiful work ever is overlooked by the judges, and sometimes a total piece of poop wins, and those of us who've been writers for a long time are so used to this we don't even notice it anymore. We hope you understand completing and submitting your writing makes you a champion, and the judging and competition portion of our group is a motivational tactic to help you AND us AND me get off our collective keisters and create something beautiful from nothingness.
PROCEDURAL MUMBO JUMBO:
I publish the writing prompts monthly. William Shakespeare in the INKsters Headquarters will always know what's what. Touch him, like he's touched you.
There is no fee to compete. All times are Second Life time. By entering, you grant me the permanent right to use your story in our Second Life anthologies and on our blog related to Second Life on the internet. http://slinksters.blogspot.com/
You retain all other rights. I encourage you to submit your writing to other people and places in the real world and in Second Life.
As always, I apologize for the length of this notecard, but I'm wordy and you do need to read it to be successful in our contests.
The contest rules and submission requirements are on the bottom of the notecard. Please read them to prevent driving me crazy.
MOST IMPORTANT THING OF ALL: Please hit SEARCH on the bottom of your screen, select the "Groups" tab, and join the INKsters. This is how we communicate and we're positively indulgent with telling you about literary events we like.
And now we prepare to write! This month some of us are participating in the NaNoWriMo project and some of us are doing other writing projects. The game this month will be wide open on your choice of topic, BUT you must have written it THAT VERY DAY. No digging around in the cardboard box underneath your stairway for your high school haiku notebook. This month you can turn in anything that fits the daily topic as long as it is NO LONGER than 500 words AND you wrote it on the day it's due. Make Second Life your nightly stop to cut and paste before going to bed.
Here are your daily topics:
November 1, 2007: The most absorbing thing I wrote today is:
November 2, 2007: The most beguiling thing I wrote today is:
November 3, 2007: The most charming thing I wrote today is:
November 4, 2007: The most disturbed thing I wrote today is:
November 5, 2007: The most enchanting thing I wrote today is:
November 6, 2007: The most fascinating thing I wrote today is:
November 7, 2007: The most glorious thing I wrote today is:
November 8, 2007: The most humorous thing I wrote today is:
November 9, 2007: The most impassioned thing I wrote today is:
November 10, 2007: The most impressive thing I wrote today is:
November 11, 2007: The most interesting thing I wrote today is:
November 12, 2007: The most irrational thing I wrote today is:
November 13, 2007: The most lovely thing I wrote today is:
November 14, 2007: The most moving thing I wrote today is:
November 15, 2007: The most nervous thing I wrote today is:
November 16, 2007: The most outstanding thing I wrote today is:
November 17, 2007: The most pathetic thing I wrote today is:
November 18, 2007: The most perfect thing I wrote today is:
November 19, 2007: The most poignant thing I wrote today is:
November 20, 2007: The most relaxing thing I wrote today is:
November 21, 2007: The most seductive thing I wrote today is:
November 22, 2007: The most sentimental thing I wrote today is:
November 23, 2007: The most spontaneous thing I wrote today is:
November 24, 2007: The most terrific thing I wrote today is:
November 25, 2007: The most thrilling thing I wrote today is:
November 26, 2007: The most transcendent thing I wrote today is:
November 27, 2007: The most unrivaled thing I wrote today is:
November 28, 2007: The most winsome thing I wrote today is:
November 29, 2007: The most witching thing I wrote today is:
November 30, 2007: The most witty thing I wrote today is:
HOW TO ENTER:
1. From your Inventory, select the Create menu and then begin a New Note. Write your entry onto the notecard (or Control-V to paste it onto the card from your word processor). Your entry should have your name at the bottom. Rename the description on the notecard to be the same as the competition name and date. Save your notecard in your inventory and you MUST rename the notecard with your name first, then the title of the competition, then the due date.
2. Next, from your saved notecard in your inventory you MUST right-click on the notecard select Properties. Make sure the toggle boxes at the bottom are checked to allow future owners to modify, copy, AND give/transfer. I must have full permissions from you to place the notecard in our anthologies.
3. Teleport to the INKsters Headquarters and drag and drop your finished notecard into our mailbox. Then send me an IM to let me know you've completed your entry. If you have any technical difficulties, please let me know and I will help you.
AND NOW FOR THE RULES:
1. You have until 11:59 p.m. Second Life time on each day to write one entry in English related to the topic. I reserve the right in my sole discretion to grant a wee bit of wiggle room when necessary for late entries (but don't count on it bub!).
2. Your entry must be no more than 500 words. If it's a little over, I won't disqualify you; if it's a lot over, I will.
3. An illustration, photo or texture usable in Second Life to accompany the story is strongly encouraged, but not required. Please drop your illustration onto your notecard (make sure the properties are set to full permissions).
PRIZES:
I award L$25 to the best entry as judged by me (ItsNaughtKnotty Cannned) after consultation with my secret inner circle or smart people who live in real life. If I decide none of the entries are a winner, I reserve the right not to award a prize on a given day. I also reserve the right to award more than one prize if I have ants in my pants.
I am occasionally asked, "What are you looking for?" Short answer: Quality writing. I don't care if it's poetry, prose, fiction, essays, journalism, or alleged non-fiction. If your writing is the best today, you'll win. Please take the topics as starting points only. They're designed to expand your mind and suggest a possible direction for you today, rather than being a specific task for you to complete. Please think divergently and create something beautiful, funny, poignant, interesting or informative. Also, please note the vagaries of competition: Sometimes your most beautiful work ever is overlooked by the judges, and sometimes a total piece of poop wins, and those of us who've been writers for a long time are so used to this we don't even notice it anymore. We hope you understand completing and submitting your writing makes you a champion, and the judging and competition portion of our group is a motivational tactic to help you AND us AND me get off our collective keisters and create something beautiful from nothingness.
PROCEDURAL MUMBO JUMBO:
I publish the writing prompts monthly. William Shakespeare in the INKsters Headquarters will always know what's what. Touch him, like he's touched you.
There is no fee to compete. All times are Second Life time. By entering, you grant me the permanent right to use your story in our Second Life anthologies and on our blog related to Second Life on the internet. http://slinksters.blogspot.com/
You retain all other rights. I encourage you to submit your writing to other people and places in the real world and in Second Life.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Happy Birthday Knotty!
It's Knotty's birthday today! Yay! Everyone wish her a very happy birthday. And ask her how old she is. :D
Monday, October 1, 2007
October Topics
The rules and topics below are available in notecard form in-world. Good luck this month!
************************************************************************************
As always, I apologize for the length of this notecard, but you do need to read it to be successful in our contests. Really guys, just print this out and take it with you. You'll need this one in your back pocket this month.
SCARY SCARY CHANGE (for me)
I'm putting the rules for submitting your entries to the contest at the bottom of this notecard. If you haven't turned in anything yet (or for awhile, ehem) you must read and follow the rules at the bottom of the card to ensure you're not driving me crazy. First Rule: Please hit SEARCH on the bottom of your screen, select the "Groups" tab, and join the INKsters. This is how we communicate with you.
October will be remembered as the month Knotty got preachy and YOU MADE THE DECISION to write your first good novel. During October, we will lay the groundwork for November, when some of you will write novels, and some of you will write surprisingly long short stories. At Christmas time, you'll have something you built with your heart, your mind, and your bloody fingers ready to give to your family and friends.
If you haven't already done so, you need to go to http://www.nanowrimo.org/ and sign up as a novelist. If you're a poet, don't be ashamed to go slumming with the novelists for thirty days. Think of it as an epic poem. Then, you need to go tell your family and friends what you're doing because you'll be unbearable until December 1st (in the afternoon).
For the writing topics this month, you will NOT begin writing your NaNoWriMo novel because that would be cheating. You will however assemble all of the pieces and parts, the "elements of fiction" for those of you English majors out there, so your mind is focused and ready to go when we arrive in November. Here's another benefit to being a Second Lifer ... I'm going to pay you the daily winner's fee if you do the best work on a given day to prepare for NaNoWriMo. If you take time now to do the October topics, I promise your novel will be much better (dare I say publishable?) when you start working on it in November. Even if you only complete a few of the October assignments, your final product will be better. And by the way, I expect these daily assignments to be working papers, not your usual gorgeous prose, so give yourself permission to get the meat on the table and worry about the napkin rings later.
One note: My approach to preparing for a novel is very old school and doggedly pragmatic. I believe the main reason you write a novel is so you can ask somebody else to read it. Even the most experimental fiction will still require the "basics" if you hope to make any sense to your reader. In this month's assignments, I've tried to recognize the many different ways you might approach novel writing, but I still rely on the notion you'll need characters, plot and setting to make a novel readable. I know it's terribly colloquial, but I have faith y'all city folk can work around this limitation.
And now we prepare to write the best novels we've ever written:
October 1, 2007: Protagonist Description
Let's name a few: Odysseus, Jesus, Hamlet, Holden Caulfield, Harry Potter. You just have to say their names and you know all about them. In 500 words or less, tell us about your protagonist for your new novel. A physical description, an emotional description, and a little bit of history will help you understand who you're going to be following around for the next two months.
October 2, 2007: Protagonist Support
Even Gregor Samsa, who woke up one day as a cockroach, needed his family, music and friends. Who are the people that love your protagonist and why do they want the best for him or her or it?
October 3, 2007: Protagonist Today
One day, King Lear asked his daughters to say how much they each loved him. It turned out to be a bad idea and a very bad day. But the day BEFORE was pretty good. He taxed the tenants, he had a lovely breakfast, his stroll in the gardens seemed particularly refreshing. What does your protagonist do on an ordinary day ... the day before all the things in your novel turned into a story.
October 4, 2007: Supporting Cast: Round
You may have the need for one, or two, or three other characters with fully developed appearances, personalities, histories, and support systems of their own. Who are the other characters you intend to build full blown lives around? Why are they important?
October 5, 2007: Supporting Cast: Dynamic
Maybe it's your protagonist, maybe it's somebody else, but you're very likely to need somebody to change in an important way during the course of your novel. Who will be your dynamic characters? Why do they need to evolve? How will they change? What will make them change?
October 6, 2007: Supporting Cast: Flat
Ahhhh, the much maligned flat character. You need them! Your point of view in your novel means you're not going to spend time fully developing the funny boy at the coffee shop, the gay cowboys' boss, the surprisingly pretty girl on the subway. Take a moment to imagine and share some of the people in your protagonist's life who might be necessary, but won't play a leading role.
October 7, 2007: Supporting Cast: Static
Second Lifers may understand this character type better than others since we deal with inanimate objects seeming to be alive all the time. Take a moment to picture the big scary house in the movie Psycho. Or Hogwartz. Maybe the Death Star in Star Wars. Blood on Lady Macbeth. Or maybe Little Stinky the INKsters bear. Sometimes things grow in importance to the point of being characters themselves. What stuff in your protagonist's life is so important it becomes a character in itself. Describe those things and explain why they are important.
October 8, 2007: Supporting Cast: Antagonist
Our favorite character. Who will be the troublemaker in your little world? Lovingly describe your antagonist. Maybe try speaking in the antagonist's voice so you can come to know the inner soul of the person we love to hate. A word of caution here, if your antagonists are 100% evil with no redeeming qualities at all, and even you as the author don't like them, you've probably created flat characters and you'll have a difficult time making us care what happens to them.
October 9, 2007: Genre
We've spent over a week thinking about our characters because they (not you!) drive the novel. Once you know your characters and how they will react in any situation, you ... the writer ... become the observer recording the salient points of their drama. So now let's give our characters something to do and a place to do it. If you took the genre challenge in August, you already know you have the skills to write across the spectrum. If you didn't take the challenge I'll spank you when I see you. So now, let's pick. Will your characters ride a horse and sing? Will your characters play baseball with ghosts? Will you spend time with unicorns and sorcerers? Will your character find meaning in her kitchen making toast for her gardener? If you haven't been in awhile, go to a book store, buy a cappuccino, and wander the aisles until you find the shelf where you want your novel to be sitting this time next year, and then tell us why this will be your genre this year. Don't tell us the plot in today's assignment, but tell us why you love science fiction, or romance, or epic poetry? What is it in you that drives you to want to be on that shelf?
October 10, 2007: Story
Finally! Ten days later I finally ask you what the story is. Picture yourself on an elevator. The editor-in-chief from Random House steps onto the trolley car (see, I can talk British!) and pushes the 23rd floor button. Your palms get sweaty, your voice shakes, you find yourself inexplicably standing on your toes. You know you have exactly one minute (or 500 words) to tell her what your novel is about in the hope you can convince her to look at it. Go!
October 11, 2007: Plot
You're sitting in New York City (the not so good part) in your agent's ratty office surrounded by stacks and stacks of paper, dusty furniture, and Taco Bell cups. She's smoking and speaking to you in that condescending accent of hers. She peeks up at you over the top of her half-framed glasses, ashes fall onto her desk from her Marlboro, and she says, "I know, I know, you told me they're in love, but it's a video game, this Second World whatever thingy of yours. You tell me right h'yere on page seven how two avatahs go about falling in love. But sweethawt, I need to know WHY they're in love." Why why why. You have your characters, you have a sense of what happens to them, but tell us about the bottom of the iceberg. Why are the events significant to the characters?
October 12, 2007: The Big Conflict
There's a school of thought in the literary world that conflict is the only plot line. It drives a storyline conveniently for the author. There's a reason why conflict happens (and someday I'm going to write my deconstructionist treatise on this very notion) and you as the writer need to understand the one big problem making your protagonist's life cumbersome. You love your protagonist, you even love your antagonist (if you have one), you hate to see troubles come their way, but go ahead and send it in. What's the big problem in your novel and how will they ever set things right?
October 13, 2007: Little Conflicts
It might be Hannibal Lecter's annoying brilliance, it might be a fender bender on the 405, it might be phonies, it might be your skull just turned into a donkey's head. If you watch Seinfeld, you know about millions of little funny conflicts, and if you watch CSI you know about millions of un-funny conflicts. Examine your storyline and describe the bumps along the road your characters will face.
October 14, 2007: Style
When I write, I start out trying to be flowery and literary. This usually gives way to me trying to stay on the topic. In the end, I'm telling jokes and being sarcastic. Imagine you're being interviewed for 60 Minutes tonight and Mike Wallace asks you, "How would you characterize your writing style in this novel?" And you smile quirkishly, and say....
October 15, 2007: Tone
You're writing a horror novel and you have a choice between "Scary Movie" or "Halloween." Your science fiction novel could be J.R.R. Tolkien or Douglas Adams. Your readers want to have a certain "feeling" as they make their way through your work. You'll be in charge of setting the mood and atmosphere for your protagonist to endure. What is the final feeling you'd like the tone of your novel to leave?
October 16, 2007: Language
Now we get down to the evil part of writing. We write our daily shorts to work on our weak spots, but we undertake novels to celebrate our abilities. Do some self analysis and identify your strengths and weaknesses as a writer. What things go well for you, and what things give you a struggle? How can you focus on your strengths and avoid your weaknesses?
October 17, 2007: Language Models
If we can't write like William Shakespeare, we can try to be Earnest Hemingway. If we can't write like William S. Boroughs, we could try our hand at William Carlos Williams. We all want to write like J.K. Rowling so we can get one billion dollars. None of us want to write like Stephen King, but we sure want his success. Who is the writer you want to emulate as you begin your journey on this novel. What makes their use of the English language the model you admire?
October 18, 2007: Point of View
Pesky pesky. Readers don't care who tells the story, but editors and critics get all high and mighty about shifts in point of view. You can speak from an omniscient all-knowing god-like point of view, you can be Spartan and self-righteous and allow only a first-person view of the action, or you can jump into the action too, just as you've done in Second Life, and celebrate us and our and we, in the fun and exciting world of participatory second person viewpoint. All of these points of view have benefits and limitations, but if you switch from one to the other, you better have a good reason! Who will tell your story and why?
October 19, 2007: First Person
You settled into your narrator's voice yesterday, now let's question that decision. What if Helen of Troy wrote her own version of the Iliad? What would Oedipus's mom write? Pick one of your flat or static characters and have them describe the plot of your story from their own point of view. We know they're not going to be a big deal in the story, but for just a moment, let them speak in their own authentic voice about what they've seen and done to be a part of your novel.
October 20, 2007: Parody
Twenty straight days of obsession over your new project. You don't eat right, you don't sleep well, you daydream about the day your character will finally set ablaze the antagonist with your loving verbs. Then you get a telephone call. Fox's MadTV plans to do a parody version of your award winning novel and they've managed to talk George Clooney and Angelina Jolie into playing the lead roles. They want you to toss together a funny little skit to poke a little fun at your novel. Can you write it down real quick? It's due today.
October 21, 2007: Un-Parody
Harvard and Oxford contacted their benefactors and they've agreed to provide you with a substantial honorarium if you'll come to a hoity-toity literary conference in Sydney and speak (oh say, 500 words) on the subject: "My novel: The real story." Can you drop your rough draft of your speech into the mailbox today so we can look it over?
October 22, 2007: Setting
We're two-thirds of the way through the month and we've never talked about setting. Here we are in beautiful Second Life and we know the importance of the environment and how it affects the life we lead. In novels, only Jane Austin can get away with one setting ... the parlor. Now that you know almost everything you need to know about your novel and the creatures inhabiting it. Describe in excruciating detail ONE of the principal locations where you anticipate an important piece of action will happen to your characters.
October 23, 2007: Locations
Review your story line and imagine all the locations you'll need to make this novel happen. Your evil character will need a demon's lair, your happy housewife needs a yellow kitchen, your pilot needs his spaceship, and your teenager needs the back seat of the Oldsmobile. You might not need to flesh out every detail of these locations, but you'll need to be able to help your readers find their way around. Write an overview of the many other places you'll need in your novel and the key descriptions you'll need to make them come alive.
October 24, 2007: Era
You know that guy who does the movie trailers with the deep voice? He always begins every trailer with the same phrase: "In a world where...." Whether it's a galaxy far far away, a Grecian amphitheatre with Euripides underway, a boxing match on the streets in the late 1920s, or Second Life last month, your novel will be set in at least one era and you should know a little bit about the zeitgeist of the age. Take some time to capture the reasons why you've selected one of these eras. Remind us (and yourself) of the key aspects of the era you're bringing to life.
October 25, 2007: Socio-Economics
Rich or poor? Fitzgerald or Hemingway? Consider the impact affluence will play in your drama. Poor people have one kind of problem; rich people have another kind of problem. Somebody climbing their way through the ranks has yet another type of problem. Describe your vision of the economic status of your characters and how that affects the way they think and act.
October 26, 2007: Furries Dilemma
It's not the same from country to country, from land to land, from this world and that world, but it seems like everywhere you go, somebody is discriminating against somebody else. I won't let any furries buy my scooters for example. (Just kidding … I'd sell a scooter to Osama Bin Laden.) Do any of your characters have racial biases? Sexual-orientation biases? Does one of your characters really truly hate a class of people? How will you build a world of love and light if your readers are used to bigotry? Take a moment to analyze your plans and discuss how embedded social stigmas might affect your novel, both for you as the author and for your rag tag band of merry ones.
October 27, 2007: Symbolism
Black is scary, red is mean, yellow is happy, white is virginal. A pencil means you draw. A typewriter means you're way the coolest. An orange sunset stands for hope. Edible underwear stands for, uh, well, it means you won't be writing much. If you're writing about vampires, you have an inherited set of symbols at your disposal. If you're writing about Second Life, you know what a boy in a white T-shirt, blue jeans and flip flops means. Sometimes a symbol becomes symbolic only after repeated appearances within a literary work, as classical music does in A Clockwork Orange, or the Virgin Mary does in the Bible. As you make final preparations to dive into your masterpiece, what existing symbols do you imagine will be useful in your work? What things within the body of your work will end up with symbolic meaning?
October 28, 2007: Theme
We now must tread carefully. Nothing will ruin a book faster than an author dead set on cramming a thematic message down the reader's brain. Less competent writers don't have faith in their readers' intelligence. Those authors feel like they need to spell out the moral of the story. If you believe in your protagonist's ability to run the show and live through the complications of the storyline, you'll let the theme evolve naturally from the actions of your own characters. Nobody needs to tell us that Oscar the Grouch really isn't all that grouchy. When we hold our Second Life book club for your novel, and we all sit around and talk about what your book meant to us, what will we say? What message will we have taken away from your efforts?
October 29, 2007: My Life
The last three days of October is a time to remember yourself. You've done the pre-planning. You know what you're going to write. There's no way you're not going to be successful. So you need to write your "About the Author" biography for the back page of your book. Who are you? What makes you the right person to write this story? This is the part that will be quoted in high school book reports for all eternity, so it wouldn't be a bad idea to find yourself utterly fascinating.
October 30, 2007: My Goals
The goal of NaNoWriMo is 50,000 words by November 30th. That's 1667 words per day. Take a moment to jot down your other goals. Maybe you need to write a little more to feel a sense of accomplishment. Maybe you need to call your mom, your high school teacher, your agent, and let them know what you're doing. Maybe you owe it to yourself to spend a night in a fancy local hotel on November 29th and your lazy ass husband needs to watch the kids. Maybe you need to promise yourself that you'll rent the big space on Ina Centaur's sim to display your novel for sale. Whatever your goals for the next month are, share them! Writing them down will make them happen, and where else do you have the opportunity to win a dime for recording your plans for making history?
October 31, 2007: The Commitment
"I, (name), take the Second Life version of the NaNoWriMo challenge, to be my obsessive commitment for the next month, to have and to drive me and my family and my acquaintances completely crazy from this day until December 1st in the afternoon when I wake up from a nap; for better or for worse but hopefully better because I sure don't want a crummy novel after all this work; for richer (ah yeah!), for poorer (no way! I'm the next Sidney Sheldon), in the mental sickness bordering on derangement for undertaking this insane idea, to love and to cherish and to write my little fanny off from this day forward until I write the best novel of my life." You can write better vows than this one. Do it now and go to bed. You have a busy day tomorrow.
***************
HOW TO ENTER:
1. From your Inventory, select the Create menu and then begin a New Note. Write your entry onto the notecard (or Control-V to paste it onto the card). Your entry should have your name at the bottom. Rename the description on the notecard to be the same as the competition name and date. Save your notecard in your inventory and you MUST rename the notecard with your name first, then the title of the competition, then the due date.
2. Next, from your saved notecard in your inventory you MUST right-click on the notecard select Properties. Make sure the toggle boxes at the bottom are checked to allow future owners to modify, copy, AND give/transfer. I must have full permissions from you to place the notecard in our anthologies.
3. Teleport to the INKsters Headquarters:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/sLiterary/97/81/26
and drag and drop your finished notecard into our mailbox. Then send me an IM to let me know you've completed your entry. If you have any technical difficulties, please let me know and I will help you.
AND NOW FOR THE RULES:
1. You have until 11:59 p.m. Second Life time on each day to write one entry in English related to the topic. I reserve the right in my sole discretion to grant a wee bit of wiggle room when necessary for late entries (but don't count on it bub!).
2. Your entry must be no more than 500 words. If it's a little over, I won't disqualify you; if it's a lot over, I will.
3. An illustration, photo or texture usable in Second Life to accompany the story is strongly encouraged, but not required. Please drop your illustration onto your notecard (make sure the properties are set to full permissions).
PRIZES:
I award L$25 to the best entry as judged by me (ItsNaughtKnotty Cannned) after consultation with my secret inner circle or smart people who live in real life. If I decide none of the entries are a winner, I reserve the right not to award a prize on a given day. I also reserve the right to award more than one prize if I have ants in my pants.
I am occasionally asked, "What are you looking for?" Short answer: Quality writing. I don't care if it's poetry, prose, fiction, essays, journalism, or alleged non-fiction. If your writing is the best today, you'll win. Please take the topics as starting points only. They're designed to expand your mind and suggest a possible direction for you today, rather than being a specific task for you to complete. Please think divergently and create something beautiful, funny, poignant, interesting or informative.
PROCEDURAL MUMBO JUMBO:
I publish the writing prompts monthly. William Shakespeare in the INKsters Headquarters will always know what's what. Touch him, like he's touched you.
There is no fee to compete. All times are Second Life time. By entering, you grant me the permanent right to use your story in our Second Life anthologies and on our blog related to Second Life on the internet. http://slinksters.blogspot.com/
You retain all other rights. I encourage you to submit your writing to other people and places in the real world and in Second Life.
************************************************************************************
As always, I apologize for the length of this notecard, but you do need to read it to be successful in our contests. Really guys, just print this out and take it with you. You'll need this one in your back pocket this month.
SCARY SCARY CHANGE (for me)
I'm putting the rules for submitting your entries to the contest at the bottom of this notecard. If you haven't turned in anything yet (or for awhile, ehem) you must read and follow the rules at the bottom of the card to ensure you're not driving me crazy. First Rule: Please hit SEARCH on the bottom of your screen, select the "Groups" tab, and join the INKsters. This is how we communicate with you.
October will be remembered as the month Knotty got preachy and YOU MADE THE DECISION to write your first good novel. During October, we will lay the groundwork for November, when some of you will write novels, and some of you will write surprisingly long short stories. At Christmas time, you'll have something you built with your heart, your mind, and your bloody fingers ready to give to your family and friends.
If you haven't already done so, you need to go to http://www.nanowrimo.org/ and sign up as a novelist. If you're a poet, don't be ashamed to go slumming with the novelists for thirty days. Think of it as an epic poem. Then, you need to go tell your family and friends what you're doing because you'll be unbearable until December 1st (in the afternoon).
For the writing topics this month, you will NOT begin writing your NaNoWriMo novel because that would be cheating. You will however assemble all of the pieces and parts, the "elements of fiction" for those of you English majors out there, so your mind is focused and ready to go when we arrive in November. Here's another benefit to being a Second Lifer ... I'm going to pay you the daily winner's fee if you do the best work on a given day to prepare for NaNoWriMo. If you take time now to do the October topics, I promise your novel will be much better (dare I say publishable?) when you start working on it in November. Even if you only complete a few of the October assignments, your final product will be better. And by the way, I expect these daily assignments to be working papers, not your usual gorgeous prose, so give yourself permission to get the meat on the table and worry about the napkin rings later.
One note: My approach to preparing for a novel is very old school and doggedly pragmatic. I believe the main reason you write a novel is so you can ask somebody else to read it. Even the most experimental fiction will still require the "basics" if you hope to make any sense to your reader. In this month's assignments, I've tried to recognize the many different ways you might approach novel writing, but I still rely on the notion you'll need characters, plot and setting to make a novel readable. I know it's terribly colloquial, but I have faith y'all city folk can work around this limitation.
And now we prepare to write the best novels we've ever written:
October 1, 2007: Protagonist Description
Let's name a few: Odysseus, Jesus, Hamlet, Holden Caulfield, Harry Potter. You just have to say their names and you know all about them. In 500 words or less, tell us about your protagonist for your new novel. A physical description, an emotional description, and a little bit of history will help you understand who you're going to be following around for the next two months.
October 2, 2007: Protagonist Support
Even Gregor Samsa, who woke up one day as a cockroach, needed his family, music and friends. Who are the people that love your protagonist and why do they want the best for him or her or it?
October 3, 2007: Protagonist Today
One day, King Lear asked his daughters to say how much they each loved him. It turned out to be a bad idea and a very bad day. But the day BEFORE was pretty good. He taxed the tenants, he had a lovely breakfast, his stroll in the gardens seemed particularly refreshing. What does your protagonist do on an ordinary day ... the day before all the things in your novel turned into a story.
October 4, 2007: Supporting Cast: Round
You may have the need for one, or two, or three other characters with fully developed appearances, personalities, histories, and support systems of their own. Who are the other characters you intend to build full blown lives around? Why are they important?
October 5, 2007: Supporting Cast: Dynamic
Maybe it's your protagonist, maybe it's somebody else, but you're very likely to need somebody to change in an important way during the course of your novel. Who will be your dynamic characters? Why do they need to evolve? How will they change? What will make them change?
October 6, 2007: Supporting Cast: Flat
Ahhhh, the much maligned flat character. You need them! Your point of view in your novel means you're not going to spend time fully developing the funny boy at the coffee shop, the gay cowboys' boss, the surprisingly pretty girl on the subway. Take a moment to imagine and share some of the people in your protagonist's life who might be necessary, but won't play a leading role.
October 7, 2007: Supporting Cast: Static
Second Lifers may understand this character type better than others since we deal with inanimate objects seeming to be alive all the time. Take a moment to picture the big scary house in the movie Psycho. Or Hogwartz. Maybe the Death Star in Star Wars. Blood on Lady Macbeth. Or maybe Little Stinky the INKsters bear. Sometimes things grow in importance to the point of being characters themselves. What stuff in your protagonist's life is so important it becomes a character in itself. Describe those things and explain why they are important.
October 8, 2007: Supporting Cast: Antagonist
Our favorite character. Who will be the troublemaker in your little world? Lovingly describe your antagonist. Maybe try speaking in the antagonist's voice so you can come to know the inner soul of the person we love to hate. A word of caution here, if your antagonists are 100% evil with no redeeming qualities at all, and even you as the author don't like them, you've probably created flat characters and you'll have a difficult time making us care what happens to them.
October 9, 2007: Genre
We've spent over a week thinking about our characters because they (not you!) drive the novel. Once you know your characters and how they will react in any situation, you ... the writer ... become the observer recording the salient points of their drama. So now let's give our characters something to do and a place to do it. If you took the genre challenge in August, you already know you have the skills to write across the spectrum. If you didn't take the challenge I'll spank you when I see you. So now, let's pick. Will your characters ride a horse and sing? Will your characters play baseball with ghosts? Will you spend time with unicorns and sorcerers? Will your character find meaning in her kitchen making toast for her gardener? If you haven't been in awhile, go to a book store, buy a cappuccino, and wander the aisles until you find the shelf where you want your novel to be sitting this time next year, and then tell us why this will be your genre this year. Don't tell us the plot in today's assignment, but tell us why you love science fiction, or romance, or epic poetry? What is it in you that drives you to want to be on that shelf?
October 10, 2007: Story
Finally! Ten days later I finally ask you what the story is. Picture yourself on an elevator. The editor-in-chief from Random House steps onto the trolley car (see, I can talk British!) and pushes the 23rd floor button. Your palms get sweaty, your voice shakes, you find yourself inexplicably standing on your toes. You know you have exactly one minute (or 500 words) to tell her what your novel is about in the hope you can convince her to look at it. Go!
October 11, 2007: Plot
You're sitting in New York City (the not so good part) in your agent's ratty office surrounded by stacks and stacks of paper, dusty furniture, and Taco Bell cups. She's smoking and speaking to you in that condescending accent of hers. She peeks up at you over the top of her half-framed glasses, ashes fall onto her desk from her Marlboro, and she says, "I know, I know, you told me they're in love, but it's a video game, this Second World whatever thingy of yours. You tell me right h'yere on page seven how two avatahs go about falling in love. But sweethawt, I need to know WHY they're in love." Why why why. You have your characters, you have a sense of what happens to them, but tell us about the bottom of the iceberg. Why are the events significant to the characters?
October 12, 2007: The Big Conflict
There's a school of thought in the literary world that conflict is the only plot line. It drives a storyline conveniently for the author. There's a reason why conflict happens (and someday I'm going to write my deconstructionist treatise on this very notion) and you as the writer need to understand the one big problem making your protagonist's life cumbersome. You love your protagonist, you even love your antagonist (if you have one), you hate to see troubles come their way, but go ahead and send it in. What's the big problem in your novel and how will they ever set things right?
October 13, 2007: Little Conflicts
It might be Hannibal Lecter's annoying brilliance, it might be a fender bender on the 405, it might be phonies, it might be your skull just turned into a donkey's head. If you watch Seinfeld, you know about millions of little funny conflicts, and if you watch CSI you know about millions of un-funny conflicts. Examine your storyline and describe the bumps along the road your characters will face.
October 14, 2007: Style
When I write, I start out trying to be flowery and literary. This usually gives way to me trying to stay on the topic. In the end, I'm telling jokes and being sarcastic. Imagine you're being interviewed for 60 Minutes tonight and Mike Wallace asks you, "How would you characterize your writing style in this novel?" And you smile quirkishly, and say....
October 15, 2007: Tone
You're writing a horror novel and you have a choice between "Scary Movie" or "Halloween." Your science fiction novel could be J.R.R. Tolkien or Douglas Adams. Your readers want to have a certain "feeling" as they make their way through your work. You'll be in charge of setting the mood and atmosphere for your protagonist to endure. What is the final feeling you'd like the tone of your novel to leave?
October 16, 2007: Language
Now we get down to the evil part of writing. We write our daily shorts to work on our weak spots, but we undertake novels to celebrate our abilities. Do some self analysis and identify your strengths and weaknesses as a writer. What things go well for you, and what things give you a struggle? How can you focus on your strengths and avoid your weaknesses?
October 17, 2007: Language Models
If we can't write like William Shakespeare, we can try to be Earnest Hemingway. If we can't write like William S. Boroughs, we could try our hand at William Carlos Williams. We all want to write like J.K. Rowling so we can get one billion dollars. None of us want to write like Stephen King, but we sure want his success. Who is the writer you want to emulate as you begin your journey on this novel. What makes their use of the English language the model you admire?
October 18, 2007: Point of View
Pesky pesky. Readers don't care who tells the story, but editors and critics get all high and mighty about shifts in point of view. You can speak from an omniscient all-knowing god-like point of view, you can be Spartan and self-righteous and allow only a first-person view of the action, or you can jump into the action too, just as you've done in Second Life, and celebrate us and our and we, in the fun and exciting world of participatory second person viewpoint. All of these points of view have benefits and limitations, but if you switch from one to the other, you better have a good reason! Who will tell your story and why?
October 19, 2007: First Person
You settled into your narrator's voice yesterday, now let's question that decision. What if Helen of Troy wrote her own version of the Iliad? What would Oedipus's mom write? Pick one of your flat or static characters and have them describe the plot of your story from their own point of view. We know they're not going to be a big deal in the story, but for just a moment, let them speak in their own authentic voice about what they've seen and done to be a part of your novel.
October 20, 2007: Parody
Twenty straight days of obsession over your new project. You don't eat right, you don't sleep well, you daydream about the day your character will finally set ablaze the antagonist with your loving verbs. Then you get a telephone call. Fox's MadTV plans to do a parody version of your award winning novel and they've managed to talk George Clooney and Angelina Jolie into playing the lead roles. They want you to toss together a funny little skit to poke a little fun at your novel. Can you write it down real quick? It's due today.
October 21, 2007: Un-Parody
Harvard and Oxford contacted their benefactors and they've agreed to provide you with a substantial honorarium if you'll come to a hoity-toity literary conference in Sydney and speak (oh say, 500 words) on the subject: "My novel: The real story." Can you drop your rough draft of your speech into the mailbox today so we can look it over?
October 22, 2007: Setting
We're two-thirds of the way through the month and we've never talked about setting. Here we are in beautiful Second Life and we know the importance of the environment and how it affects the life we lead. In novels, only Jane Austin can get away with one setting ... the parlor. Now that you know almost everything you need to know about your novel and the creatures inhabiting it. Describe in excruciating detail ONE of the principal locations where you anticipate an important piece of action will happen to your characters.
October 23, 2007: Locations
Review your story line and imagine all the locations you'll need to make this novel happen. Your evil character will need a demon's lair, your happy housewife needs a yellow kitchen, your pilot needs his spaceship, and your teenager needs the back seat of the Oldsmobile. You might not need to flesh out every detail of these locations, but you'll need to be able to help your readers find their way around. Write an overview of the many other places you'll need in your novel and the key descriptions you'll need to make them come alive.
October 24, 2007: Era
You know that guy who does the movie trailers with the deep voice? He always begins every trailer with the same phrase: "In a world where...." Whether it's a galaxy far far away, a Grecian amphitheatre with Euripides underway, a boxing match on the streets in the late 1920s, or Second Life last month, your novel will be set in at least one era and you should know a little bit about the zeitgeist of the age. Take some time to capture the reasons why you've selected one of these eras. Remind us (and yourself) of the key aspects of the era you're bringing to life.
October 25, 2007: Socio-Economics
Rich or poor? Fitzgerald or Hemingway? Consider the impact affluence will play in your drama. Poor people have one kind of problem; rich people have another kind of problem. Somebody climbing their way through the ranks has yet another type of problem. Describe your vision of the economic status of your characters and how that affects the way they think and act.
October 26, 2007: Furries Dilemma
It's not the same from country to country, from land to land, from this world and that world, but it seems like everywhere you go, somebody is discriminating against somebody else. I won't let any furries buy my scooters for example. (Just kidding … I'd sell a scooter to Osama Bin Laden.) Do any of your characters have racial biases? Sexual-orientation biases? Does one of your characters really truly hate a class of people? How will you build a world of love and light if your readers are used to bigotry? Take a moment to analyze your plans and discuss how embedded social stigmas might affect your novel, both for you as the author and for your rag tag band of merry ones.
October 27, 2007: Symbolism
Black is scary, red is mean, yellow is happy, white is virginal. A pencil means you draw. A typewriter means you're way the coolest. An orange sunset stands for hope. Edible underwear stands for, uh, well, it means you won't be writing much. If you're writing about vampires, you have an inherited set of symbols at your disposal. If you're writing about Second Life, you know what a boy in a white T-shirt, blue jeans and flip flops means. Sometimes a symbol becomes symbolic only after repeated appearances within a literary work, as classical music does in A Clockwork Orange, or the Virgin Mary does in the Bible. As you make final preparations to dive into your masterpiece, what existing symbols do you imagine will be useful in your work? What things within the body of your work will end up with symbolic meaning?
October 28, 2007: Theme
We now must tread carefully. Nothing will ruin a book faster than an author dead set on cramming a thematic message down the reader's brain. Less competent writers don't have faith in their readers' intelligence. Those authors feel like they need to spell out the moral of the story. If you believe in your protagonist's ability to run the show and live through the complications of the storyline, you'll let the theme evolve naturally from the actions of your own characters. Nobody needs to tell us that Oscar the Grouch really isn't all that grouchy. When we hold our Second Life book club for your novel, and we all sit around and talk about what your book meant to us, what will we say? What message will we have taken away from your efforts?
October 29, 2007: My Life
The last three days of October is a time to remember yourself. You've done the pre-planning. You know what you're going to write. There's no way you're not going to be successful. So you need to write your "About the Author" biography for the back page of your book. Who are you? What makes you the right person to write this story? This is the part that will be quoted in high school book reports for all eternity, so it wouldn't be a bad idea to find yourself utterly fascinating.
October 30, 2007: My Goals
The goal of NaNoWriMo is 50,000 words by November 30th. That's 1667 words per day. Take a moment to jot down your other goals. Maybe you need to write a little more to feel a sense of accomplishment. Maybe you need to call your mom, your high school teacher, your agent, and let them know what you're doing. Maybe you owe it to yourself to spend a night in a fancy local hotel on November 29th and your lazy ass husband needs to watch the kids. Maybe you need to promise yourself that you'll rent the big space on Ina Centaur's sim to display your novel for sale. Whatever your goals for the next month are, share them! Writing them down will make them happen, and where else do you have the opportunity to win a dime for recording your plans for making history?
October 31, 2007: The Commitment
"I, (name), take the Second Life version of the NaNoWriMo challenge, to be my obsessive commitment for the next month, to have and to drive me and my family and my acquaintances completely crazy from this day until December 1st in the afternoon when I wake up from a nap; for better or for worse but hopefully better because I sure don't want a crummy novel after all this work; for richer (ah yeah!), for poorer (no way! I'm the next Sidney Sheldon), in the mental sickness bordering on derangement for undertaking this insane idea, to love and to cherish and to write my little fanny off from this day forward until I write the best novel of my life." You can write better vows than this one. Do it now and go to bed. You have a busy day tomorrow.
***************
HOW TO ENTER:
1. From your Inventory, select the Create menu and then begin a New Note. Write your entry onto the notecard (or Control-V to paste it onto the card). Your entry should have your name at the bottom. Rename the description on the notecard to be the same as the competition name and date. Save your notecard in your inventory and you MUST rename the notecard with your name first, then the title of the competition, then the due date.
2. Next, from your saved notecard in your inventory you MUST right-click on the notecard select Properties. Make sure the toggle boxes at the bottom are checked to allow future owners to modify, copy, AND give/transfer. I must have full permissions from you to place the notecard in our anthologies.
3. Teleport to the INKsters Headquarters:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/sLiterary/97/81/26
and drag and drop your finished notecard into our mailbox. Then send me an IM to let me know you've completed your entry. If you have any technical difficulties, please let me know and I will help you.
AND NOW FOR THE RULES:
1. You have until 11:59 p.m. Second Life time on each day to write one entry in English related to the topic. I reserve the right in my sole discretion to grant a wee bit of wiggle room when necessary for late entries (but don't count on it bub!).
2. Your entry must be no more than 500 words. If it's a little over, I won't disqualify you; if it's a lot over, I will.
3. An illustration, photo or texture usable in Second Life to accompany the story is strongly encouraged, but not required. Please drop your illustration onto your notecard (make sure the properties are set to full permissions).
PRIZES:
I award L$25 to the best entry as judged by me (ItsNaughtKnotty Cannned) after consultation with my secret inner circle or smart people who live in real life. If I decide none of the entries are a winner, I reserve the right not to award a prize on a given day. I also reserve the right to award more than one prize if I have ants in my pants.
I am occasionally asked, "What are you looking for?" Short answer: Quality writing. I don't care if it's poetry, prose, fiction, essays, journalism, or alleged non-fiction. If your writing is the best today, you'll win. Please take the topics as starting points only. They're designed to expand your mind and suggest a possible direction for you today, rather than being a specific task for you to complete. Please think divergently and create something beautiful, funny, poignant, interesting or informative.
PROCEDURAL MUMBO JUMBO:
I publish the writing prompts monthly. William Shakespeare in the INKsters Headquarters will always know what's what. Touch him, like he's touched you.
There is no fee to compete. All times are Second Life time. By entering, you grant me the permanent right to use your story in our Second Life anthologies and on our blog related to Second Life on the internet. http://slinksters.blogspot.com/
You retain all other rights. I encourage you to submit your writing to other people and places in the real world and in Second Life.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
September Topics
INKsters Daily Writing Competition
First Rule: Please hit Search on the bottom of your screen, select the Group tab, and join the INKsters. This is how I communicate with you. Sorry for all the rules that follow, but it makes it easier for all of us in the long run. Please read and follow them carefully.
TOPICS and DUE DATES:
You have until 11:59 p.m. Second Life time on each day to write one entry in English. Daily topics are on the bottom of this notecard.
PRIZES:
I award L$25 to the best entry as judged by me (ItsNaughtKnotty Cannned) after consultation with my secret inner circle or smart people. If I decide none of the entries are a winner, I reserve the right not to award a prize on a given day, I also reserve the right to award more than one prize if I have ants in my pants.
I am occasionally asked, "What are you looking for?" Short answer: Quality writing. I don't care if it's poetry, prose, fiction, essays, journalism, or alleged non-fiction. If your writing is the best today, you'll win. Please take the topics as starting points only. They're designed to expand your mind and suggest a possible direction for you today, rather than being a specific task for you to complete. Please think divergently and create something beautiful, funny, poignant, interesting or informative.
RULES:
1. Your notecard must be submitted on or before the due date to be eligible. I reserve the right in my sole discretion to grant a wee bit of wiggle room when necessary.
2. Your entry must be no more than 500 words. If it's a little over, I won't disqualify you; if it's a lot over, I will.
3. An illustration, photo or texture usable in Second Life to accompany the story is strongly encouraged, but not required. Please drop your illustration onto your notecard (make sure the properties are set to full permissions -- see below).
HOW TO ENTER:
1. From your Inventory, select the Create menu and then begin a New Note. Write your entry onto the notecard. Your entry should have your name at the bottom. Rename the description on the notecard to be the same as the competition name and date. Save your notecard in your inventory and you MUST rename the notecard with your name first, then the title of the competition, then the due date.
2. Create an image to illustrate your writing and load it into your inventory. (Not required, but way more fun!)
3. Next, you MUST click on both the image and the notecard one at a time and select Properties. Make sure the toggle boxes are checked to allow future owners to modify, copy, AND give/transfer. In order to appear in our anthologies we must have full permissions from you.
4. When you have everything named correctly, and full permissions granted, open your notecard and drag-and-drop your photo (if you have one) onto your notecard. Now you're ready to submit!
5. Please note we may be changing locations, so keep an eye on the group notices. But until then, stop by the INKsters Lounge
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cookie/86/114/35/
and drag and drop your finished notecard into our mailbox. Then send me an IM to let me know you've completed your entry. If you have any technical difficulties, please let me know and I will help you.
PROCEDURAL MUMBO JUMBO:
I publish the writing prompts monthly. William Shakespeare in the INKsters Lounge will always know what's what. Touch him, like he's touched you.
There is no fee to compete. All times are Second Life time. By entering, you grant me the permanent right to use your story in our Second Life anthologies and on our blog related to Second Life on the internet. http://slinksters.blogspot.com/
You retain all other rights. I encourage you to submit your writing to other people and places in the real world and in Second Life.
We have occasional parties to release the anthologies and celebrate winners. All announcements are made through the INKsters group.
This month's topics are:
September 1, 2007: Haikus Gone Bad
Ya know you got 'em tucked away in your notebooks -- and they're even five seven five. Let's read a few (dozen).
September 2, 2007: Summer Festivals
My favorite summer festivals here in the western United States are the apple festivals. I drink so much cider I get a tummy ache. How do you party during the harvest?
September 3, 2007: Labor Day
What's a job you'd love to (hate to) have?
September 4, 2007: Vogon Poetry
According to Douglas Addams the alien race known as the Vogons wrote the worst poetry in the universe. Can you beat them?
September 5, 2007: Read the Label
Turn the ingredients on the back of a packet of your favorite junk food into an action packed thrill ride complete with car chase. Go on, you can do it.
September 6, 2007: NFL Opening Night
Are you ready for some football? I know, it's not soccer, and soccer isn't soccer anyway, but if you live in America, there's only one game you'll need to watch tonight. Are you ready? Well, are you?
September 7, 2007: Middle School Isn't Over
Sometimes you need to ooze frustration, lust, wanton desire, and puppy love in a dainty little poem or in 500 anguished words to help you wallow in that delicious middle-school-esque angst. Today is sappy day; writing embarrassing tomes to that blonde boy on the skateboard is okay today.
September 8, 2007: My Favorite Avatar Is...
Write about a fellow Second Lifer and how they enhance or detract from your experience here. Yeah, gossip away.
September 9, 2007: Yeah Right
Be Kind to Editors and Writers Month. It really is! Who are they kidding?
September 10, 2007: Classical Music Month
What music is classic to you? What would your favorite Kafka character load onto his IPod?
September 11, 2007: Patriot Day
Serious day for a serious topic. What are your memories of THAT day?
September 12, 2007: Rosh Hashanah
Happy New Year! How do you look wearing a kippah? What are your plans for your new year?
September 13, 2007: Dark and Stormy Nights
"Once upon a time and they lived happily ever after."
September 14, 2007: National Singles Week
You might not be single now, but you remember what it was like. You might have an SL "partner" or you might be on the prowl. Why don't they have National Doubles Week? Is it really okay to be running through life making it on your own?
September 15, 2007: Software Freedom Day
We all appreciate all the free things in Second Life with little scripts in them. Did you know there's a day dedicated to making more free software? Tell us about your favorite freebie, your favorite software designer, or the joy you feel at configuring your video card.
September 16, 2007: Bottled Water
Ever notice people carrying around bottles of water these days? We never used to do that! Did we get thirstier in the last decade? What should we do with all those plastic bottles?
September 17, 2007: Sobriety Checkpoint Week
You can't drink and drive in real life, but you can drink and type in the INKsters. Yay! Your favorite intoxication story please.
September 18, 2007: Fabulous Creatures
The unicorn, pegasus, dragons, Nessie of Loch Ness fame. Surely you have your favorite other-worldly creature. Do you love Godzilla the most. If you had a big pen behind your house in Second Life, who would you like to have living with you the most?
September 19, 2007: Aargh!
Talk Like a Pirate Day! FINALLY! Write whatever the hell you want, but by gum you better WRITE LIKE A PIRATE!
September 20, 2007: Tangled Webs
How many twists and turns can you fit in 500 words? Amaze us!
September 21, 2007: Yom Kippur/Atonement Day
The big one. Study up and share your experiences, or your non-experiences, or your view on organized religion.
September 22, 2007: Equinox
Today's a good day to get in touch with your pagan mysticism. How are you and the rotation of the Earth getting along?
September 23, 2007: UFOs
As promised, our monthly astronaut topic! Bright summer night skies invaded by little green men. Ever seen one? Perhaps it was a shooting star or perhaps not! Ever been abducted by aliens?
September 24, 2007: National Dog Week
Dogs are WAY better than cats. Discuss.
September 25, 2007: Pun-ish Me
Sigh. Bet you can guess who submitted this topic. How many puns can you pun-ish your readers with in a mere 500 words?
September 26, 2007: Playgrounds
They mean one thing to your kids, another thing to your adult life, and yet another thing in Second Life. Relate a monkey bars disaster, a slightly naughty story about someplace you like to "play," or tell us about playing in our favorite metaverse.
September 27, 2007: Mobile Phone Tales
You really can't talk on the phone and drive safely, but you do it anyway. Tell the story of your most exciting adventure where your cell phone played a key role ... but ... tell it from the phone's perspective.
September 28, 2007: Rainbows
Forget the pot of gold. What lies at rainbow's end in SL?
September 29, 2007: Banned Books Week
Heh heh heh. Those crazy wacky librarians! God love 'em. Tell us about your favorite book you shouldn't have read.
September 30, 2007: Oktoberfest
It always starts in September, but as long as they're serving beer, you can count me into the fun. Where is your favorite place to imbibe? Is dancing drunk in the street and throwing up in the bushes a cultural phenomenon everyone should enjoy? Do German's deserve a special thank you for thinking up such a grand concept? Wrap up September by writing about October.
Thanks to Skye Soderstrom, Deeter Decosta, Geaven Gall, Wille Messmer, and Nebbisk Oh for submitting some of the ideas for this month's topics.
First Rule: Please hit Search on the bottom of your screen, select the Group tab, and join the INKsters. This is how I communicate with you. Sorry for all the rules that follow, but it makes it easier for all of us in the long run. Please read and follow them carefully.
TOPICS and DUE DATES:
You have until 11:59 p.m. Second Life time on each day to write one entry in English. Daily topics are on the bottom of this notecard.
PRIZES:
I award L$25 to the best entry as judged by me (ItsNaughtKnotty Cannned) after consultation with my secret inner circle or smart people. If I decide none of the entries are a winner, I reserve the right not to award a prize on a given day, I also reserve the right to award more than one prize if I have ants in my pants.
I am occasionally asked, "What are you looking for?" Short answer: Quality writing. I don't care if it's poetry, prose, fiction, essays, journalism, or alleged non-fiction. If your writing is the best today, you'll win. Please take the topics as starting points only. They're designed to expand your mind and suggest a possible direction for you today, rather than being a specific task for you to complete. Please think divergently and create something beautiful, funny, poignant, interesting or informative.
RULES:
1. Your notecard must be submitted on or before the due date to be eligible. I reserve the right in my sole discretion to grant a wee bit of wiggle room when necessary.
2. Your entry must be no more than 500 words. If it's a little over, I won't disqualify you; if it's a lot over, I will.
3. An illustration, photo or texture usable in Second Life to accompany the story is strongly encouraged, but not required. Please drop your illustration onto your notecard (make sure the properties are set to full permissions -- see below).
HOW TO ENTER:
1. From your Inventory, select the Create menu and then begin a New Note. Write your entry onto the notecard. Your entry should have your name at the bottom. Rename the description on the notecard to be the same as the competition name and date. Save your notecard in your inventory and you MUST rename the notecard with your name first, then the title of the competition, then the due date.
2. Create an image to illustrate your writing and load it into your inventory. (Not required, but way more fun!)
3. Next, you MUST click on both the image and the notecard one at a time and select Properties. Make sure the toggle boxes are checked to allow future owners to modify, copy, AND give/transfer. In order to appear in our anthologies we must have full permissions from you.
4. When you have everything named correctly, and full permissions granted, open your notecard and drag-and-drop your photo (if you have one) onto your notecard. Now you're ready to submit!
5. Please note we may be changing locations, so keep an eye on the group notices. But until then, stop by the INKsters Lounge
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cookie/86/114/35/
and drag and drop your finished notecard into our mailbox. Then send me an IM to let me know you've completed your entry. If you have any technical difficulties, please let me know and I will help you.
PROCEDURAL MUMBO JUMBO:
I publish the writing prompts monthly. William Shakespeare in the INKsters Lounge will always know what's what. Touch him, like he's touched you.
There is no fee to compete. All times are Second Life time. By entering, you grant me the permanent right to use your story in our Second Life anthologies and on our blog related to Second Life on the internet. http://slinksters.blogspot.com/
You retain all other rights. I encourage you to submit your writing to other people and places in the real world and in Second Life.
We have occasional parties to release the anthologies and celebrate winners. All announcements are made through the INKsters group.
This month's topics are:
September 1, 2007: Haikus Gone Bad
Ya know you got 'em tucked away in your notebooks -- and they're even five seven five. Let's read a few (dozen).
September 2, 2007: Summer Festivals
My favorite summer festivals here in the western United States are the apple festivals. I drink so much cider I get a tummy ache. How do you party during the harvest?
September 3, 2007: Labor Day
What's a job you'd love to (hate to) have?
September 4, 2007: Vogon Poetry
According to Douglas Addams the alien race known as the Vogons wrote the worst poetry in the universe. Can you beat them?
September 5, 2007: Read the Label
Turn the ingredients on the back of a packet of your favorite junk food into an action packed thrill ride complete with car chase. Go on, you can do it.
September 6, 2007: NFL Opening Night
Are you ready for some football? I know, it's not soccer, and soccer isn't soccer anyway, but if you live in America, there's only one game you'll need to watch tonight. Are you ready? Well, are you?
September 7, 2007: Middle School Isn't Over
Sometimes you need to ooze frustration, lust, wanton desire, and puppy love in a dainty little poem or in 500 anguished words to help you wallow in that delicious middle-school-esque angst. Today is sappy day; writing embarrassing tomes to that blonde boy on the skateboard is okay today.
September 8, 2007: My Favorite Avatar Is...
Write about a fellow Second Lifer and how they enhance or detract from your experience here. Yeah, gossip away.
September 9, 2007: Yeah Right
Be Kind to Editors and Writers Month. It really is! Who are they kidding?
September 10, 2007: Classical Music Month
What music is classic to you? What would your favorite Kafka character load onto his IPod?
September 11, 2007: Patriot Day
Serious day for a serious topic. What are your memories of THAT day?
September 12, 2007: Rosh Hashanah
Happy New Year! How do you look wearing a kippah? What are your plans for your new year?
September 13, 2007: Dark and Stormy Nights
"Once upon a time
September 14, 2007: National Singles Week
You might not be single now, but you remember what it was like. You might have an SL "partner" or you might be on the prowl. Why don't they have National Doubles Week? Is it really okay to be running through life making it on your own?
September 15, 2007: Software Freedom Day
We all appreciate all the free things in Second Life with little scripts in them. Did you know there's a day dedicated to making more free software? Tell us about your favorite freebie, your favorite software designer, or the joy you feel at configuring your video card.
September 16, 2007: Bottled Water
Ever notice people carrying around bottles of water these days? We never used to do that! Did we get thirstier in the last decade? What should we do with all those plastic bottles?
September 17, 2007: Sobriety Checkpoint Week
You can't drink and drive in real life, but you can drink and type in the INKsters. Yay! Your favorite intoxication story please.
September 18, 2007: Fabulous Creatures
The unicorn, pegasus, dragons, Nessie of Loch Ness fame. Surely you have your favorite other-worldly creature. Do you love Godzilla the most. If you had a big pen behind your house in Second Life, who would you like to have living with you the most?
September 19, 2007: Aargh!
Talk Like a Pirate Day! FINALLY! Write whatever the hell you want, but by gum you better WRITE LIKE A PIRATE!
September 20, 2007: Tangled Webs
How many twists and turns can you fit in 500 words? Amaze us!
September 21, 2007: Yom Kippur/Atonement Day
The big one. Study up and share your experiences, or your non-experiences, or your view on organized religion.
September 22, 2007: Equinox
Today's a good day to get in touch with your pagan mysticism. How are you and the rotation of the Earth getting along?
September 23, 2007: UFOs
As promised, our monthly astronaut topic! Bright summer night skies invaded by little green men. Ever seen one? Perhaps it was a shooting star or perhaps not! Ever been abducted by aliens?
September 24, 2007: National Dog Week
Dogs are WAY better than cats. Discuss.
September 25, 2007: Pun-ish Me
Sigh. Bet you can guess who submitted this topic. How many puns can you pun-ish your readers with in a mere 500 words?
September 26, 2007: Playgrounds
They mean one thing to your kids, another thing to your adult life, and yet another thing in Second Life. Relate a monkey bars disaster, a slightly naughty story about someplace you like to "play," or tell us about playing in our favorite metaverse.
September 27, 2007: Mobile Phone Tales
You really can't talk on the phone and drive safely, but you do it anyway. Tell the story of your most exciting adventure where your cell phone played a key role ... but ... tell it from the phone's perspective.
September 28, 2007: Rainbows
Forget the pot of gold. What lies at rainbow's end in SL?
September 29, 2007: Banned Books Week
Heh heh heh. Those crazy wacky librarians! God love 'em. Tell us about your favorite book you shouldn't have read.
September 30, 2007: Oktoberfest
It always starts in September, but as long as they're serving beer, you can count me into the fun. Where is your favorite place to imbibe? Is dancing drunk in the street and throwing up in the bushes a cultural phenomenon everyone should enjoy? Do German's deserve a special thank you for thinking up such a grand concept? Wrap up September by writing about October.
Thanks to Skye Soderstrom, Deeter Decosta, Geaven Gall, Wille Messmer, and Nebbisk Oh for submitting some of the ideas for this month's topics.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Stinky's Baby Sister is Born!
For those of you who don't know Baby Stinky, he is our original INKsters bear that we gave away as a prize for our June contest winners. Stinky's baby sister is almost done. I would like to hear some of your ideas on what to name her and also what you want her to say in chat. Any ideas would be appreciated. You may leave your ideas here as a comment post, or you may IM me in-world.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
July PDF Anthology is Out
The PDF version of the July anthology can now be viewed. Just click on the link located on the right-hand column of this page.
Happy reading!
Happy reading!
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Critique Group Info
Thanks to Calliope Delgado for compiling the information for the INKsters critique group and for hosting it as well. Another thanks to Torylynn Writer for allowing us to use her message board. A BIG thanks to INK for all of her hard work in putting this together. And thank you to everyone who attended the 1st critique group information meeting! (Hope I didn't leave anyone out)
************************************************************************************
Our Next Meeting:
August 22, 2007 at 7 p.m. SLT
Location: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cookie/60/159/34
The purpose is to make our writing stronger.
Critique should be valuable and not personal. Constructive and not destructive.
A drop box is set up at the INKsters Lounge (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cookie/87/116/35); authors who want a critique can drop their article in the box. Submissions do not have to be limited to writing for INKsters. It's open to author's discretion, but please be reasonable. If you can attend the critique, stop by the lounge and grab copies of the submissions prior to the meeting and take time to read and consider comments. *In order to access the submissions, you must activate your INKsters group title.*
The submission notecards should be modifiable so those who want to critique can write notes, perhaps using brackets to set off their commentary from the work, and give them to the author so the author can create a folder of critiques in addition to comments gained from chat at the session. If an author does not attend a critique, his or her work will not be discussed.
The weekly meeting time and place is up to the discretion of the host/ess. Each session we will plan to critique 3-4 pieces, and will only critique pieces for authors who are present at the session. Use of voice at the session is up to the host/ess.
One does not need to attend every session, either as a writer or critiquer.
If you want to be a host/ess, send an IM to ItsNaughtKnotty Cannned or leave a note on ToryLynn's message board (in the space below the INKsters Lounge). The host/ess will select a place and time, and then the authors can decide if they can make it.
************************************************************************************
Our Next Meeting:
August 22, 2007 at 7 p.m. SLT
Location: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cookie/60/159/34
The purpose is to make our writing stronger.
Critique should be valuable and not personal. Constructive and not destructive.
A drop box is set up at the INKsters Lounge (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cookie/87/116/35); authors who want a critique can drop their article in the box. Submissions do not have to be limited to writing for INKsters. It's open to author's discretion, but please be reasonable. If you can attend the critique, stop by the lounge and grab copies of the submissions prior to the meeting and take time to read and consider comments. *In order to access the submissions, you must activate your INKsters group title.*
The submission notecards should be modifiable so those who want to critique can write notes, perhaps using brackets to set off their commentary from the work, and give them to the author so the author can create a folder of critiques in addition to comments gained from chat at the session. If an author does not attend a critique, his or her work will not be discussed.
The weekly meeting time and place is up to the discretion of the host/ess. Each session we will plan to critique 3-4 pieces, and will only critique pieces for authors who are present at the session. Use of voice at the session is up to the host/ess.
One does not need to attend every session, either as a writer or critiquer.
If you want to be a host/ess, send an IM to ItsNaughtKnotty Cannned or leave a note on ToryLynn's message board (in the space below the INKsters Lounge). The host/ess will select a place and time, and then the authors can decide if they can make it.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
June 2007 PDF Anthology is Out
So I've been slacking off this month......but the PDF version of the June Anthology is finally finished! You can view it by clicking on the link, "Monthly Anthologies", which is located on the side-column to the right of the page. This link will bring you to our archive of anthologies, which is slowly building up. :-)
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
August 2007 Topics Are Here!
For all the INKsters oldies, sorry for all the rules and procedures listed below, but it's necessary to re-post them every month for our newbies.
************************************************************************************
INKsters Daily Writing Competition
I run this competition to make ME do more writing and hopefully to inspire YOU to do more writing. We're developing a vibrant new writer's community here in the Second Life metaverse, and we're bringing along a little bit of our real selves to spice things up a bit.
Most important step: Please hit Search on the bottom of your screen, select the Group tab, and join the INKsters. This is how we communicate with you. Sorry for all the rules that follow, but it makes it easier for all of us in the long run. Please read and follow them carefully.
TOPICS and DUE DATES:
You have until 11:59 p.m. Second Life time on each day to write one entry in English. Daily topics are on the bottom of this notecard.
PRIZES:
I award L$25 to the best entry as judged by me (ItsNaughtKnotty Cannned) after consultation with my secret inner circle or smart people. If I decide none of the entries are a winner, I reserve the right not to award a prize on a given day.
I am occasionally asked, "What are you looking for?" Short answer: Quality writing. I don't care if it's poetry, prose, fiction, essays, journalism, or alleged non-fiction. If your writing is the best today, you'll win. Please take the topics as starting points only. They're designed to expand your mind and suggest a possible direction for you today, rather than being a specific task for you to complete. Please think divergently and create something beautiful, funny, poignant, interesting or informative.
RULES:
1. Your notecard must be submitted on or before the due date to be eligible. I reserve the right in my sole discretion to grant a wee bit of wiggle room when necessary.
2. Your entry must be no more than 500 words. If it's a little over, I won't disqualify you; if it's a lot over, I will.
3. An illustration, photo or texture usable in Second Life to accompany the story is strongly encouraged, but not required. Please drop your illustration onto your notecard (make sure the properties are set to full permissions -- see below).
HOW TO ENTER:
1. From your Inventory, select the Create menu and then begin a New Note. Write your entry onto the notecard. You entry should have your name at the bottom. Rename the description on the notecard to be the same as the competition name and date. Save your notecard in your inventory and you MUST rename the notecard with your name first, then the title of the competition, then the due date.
2. Create an image to illustrate your writing and load it into your inventory. (Not required, but way more fun!)
3. Next, you MUST click on both the image and the notecard one at a time and select Properties. Make sure the toggle boxes are checked to allow future owners to modify, copy, AND give/transfer. In order to appear in our anthologies we must have full permissions from you.
4. When you have everything named correctly, and full permissions granted, open your notecard and drag-and-drop your photo (if you have one) onto your notecard. Now you're ready to submit!
5. Stop by the INKsters Lounge
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cookie/87/116/35
and drag and drop your finished notecard into our mailbox. Then send me an IM to let me know you've completed your entry. If you have any technical difficulties, please let me know and I will help you.
PROCEDURAL MUMBO JUMBO:
I publish the writing prompts monthly. William Shakespeare in the INKsters Lounge will always know what's what. Touch him, like he's touched you.
There is no fee to compete. All times are Second Life time. By entering, you grant me the permanent right to use your story in our Second Life anthologies and on our blog related to Second Life on the internet.
http://slinksters.blogspot.com/
You retain all other rights. I encourage you to submit your writing to other people and places in the real world and in Second Life.
We have occasional parties to release the anthologies and celebrate winners. All announcements are made through the INKsters group.
This month's topics are:
August 1, 2007: Diet Disasters
There are saboteurs everywhere! Tell us about someone, something, or sometime when your "diet" turns from vegetables and chicken to cheese burgers and fries.
August 2, 2007: It Is Alive
At first you were just a bunch of pixels looking for better shoes, but now your Second Life avatar looks a wee-bit different because the computers have finally taken over and your little basket of ones and zeros is suddenly developing a soul. Take a deep breath and tell us how your own avatar became a sentient being and what it will do now that it no longer needs you. What will you do without your avatar?
August 3, 2007: It's So Hard
What is the most difficult thing you've ever learned to do? Why was it tough? What made you persevere? Did you master it?
August 4, 2007: Rental Blues
You're the tenant and things aren't going so well, right? OR, you're the landlord and things REALLY aren't going so well. You, your best friend, your favorite character, or your avatar, have all been through this thing we call life. How is the roof-for-money program working?
August 5, 2007: Beaches
They're pretty good in Second Life, they're even better in real life. Lying on the nice white sand sipping an umbrella drink while on vacation and watching the waves, the birds, the kids, and those bronzed bodies ain't a bad way to spend a day. Been to any nice beaches lately? Walking with your significant other hand in hand on a moonlit night?
August 6, 2007: The Big Bang
In 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima and ushered in the Cold War and the modern world. You take this topic anywhere you think it will go.
August 7, 2007: Smokey Bear
Smokey Bear's birthday is this month, and he still maintains only you can prevent forest fires. What do you smoke? Why are you such a bear? Couldn't God stop a few forest fires too?
August 8, 2007: Hotdogs
In the United States, when you attend a baseball game, you eat a hotdog. At the cinema, it's popcorn. In the bedroom, it's chocolates and strawberries or Cheese Nips depending on where you are on the romantic continuum. Pick a venue and pick a food and pick a narrative voice you haven't used before to tell the tale of your belly in space and time.
August 9, 2007: One for the Un-Indigenous
Today is International Day of the World's Indigenous People. Grab your didgeridoo and compose a song about being from the outback.
August 10, 2007: Rose Are ...
Against my better judgment, today's topic is about roses. Sure you could go Shakespearean and call them by another name, but isn't the phrase, "Roses are Red..." almost begging you to start there? Use the short form here and give us lots of "Roses are Red" takes.
August 11, 2007: Elvis Week
Elvis Week (and what week ISN'T Elvis week?) begins today at Graceland. What makes your suede shoes blue?
August 12, 2007: Science Fiction and Fantasy
For the next six days, try to investigate some of the major fictional genres. We start today (fittingly) with science fiction and fantasy. Create a short piece using characters, settings and story lines that rely on science or fantasy to make the story come alive.
August 13, 2007: Romance
We continue our six day investigation into literary genre with a romance story. Create a short piece using characters, settings and story lines that rely on romance to make the story come alive.
August 14, 2007: Horror
We continue our six day investigation into literary genre with a horror story. Create a short piece using characters, settings and story lines that rely on horror to make the story come alive.
August 15, 2007: Action Suspense Thriller
We continue our six day investigation into literary genre with an action suspense thriller. Create a short piece using characters, settings and story lines that rely on pure excitement to make the story come alive.
August 16, 2007: Western
We continue our six day investigation into literary genre with a cowboy story. Create a short piece using characters, settings and story lines that rely on the Marlboro man (or woman) to make the story come alive.
August 17, 2007: Sports
We continue our six day investigation into literary genre with the Johnny Come Lately genre of sports writing. Create a short piece using characters, settings and story lines that rely on some type of sporting event to make the story come alive.
August 18, 2007: Two Wheels
"The best (worst) experience I've ever had on two wheels was..."
August 19, 2007: Month of the Lefties
What do you do with your left hand? Are left handed people more creative? Should lefties be left behind for the wolves?
August 20, 2007: Ants in your Pants
Okay, so you've survived the Linden laboratories idea of metaverse maintenance, so we know you're tough, but a snake on a plane, ants in your pants, moths in your hair, a grasshopper in your mouth, or a spider in your sink turns you to a quivering bowl of jelly. What silly thing do you fear?
August 21, 2007: Tourists
What I did for my summer vacation.
August 22, 2007: Vacation from Hell
What I did for my WORST summer vacation ever.
August 23, 2007: Clouds
Soft billowy white ones drift by as you lie on the grass and stare up at them on a bright summer day with your best buddy in the whole world. Recreate your conversation. What do you see? What are you thinking?
August 24, 2007: Magic Bus
Where does it go? Why is it magic?
August 25, 2007: Beauty and the Beast
The dusty radio drones out another song from the 1970s while your hair dresser fusses with your mop. What's your beauty salon or barber shop story? Is your hair dresser or barber worthy of a first person narrative in their own voice?
August 26, 2007: Farmers
Last month you were Billy the Kid. This month you've settled down in a rural county to raise crops. How about a composition about a day in the life down on your farm? Or, how about the true life story of how you escaped the world of animal husbandry to wear those stylish shoes in your fancy downtown loft?
August 27, 2007: Office Supplies
I used to love going to work with my mom on Saturdays to her office supply store so I could play with all the gadgets we didn’t have at home or school. What are your favorite office supplies? Write about a day in the life of your favorite office gadget. A nice little opera would be fun to read.
August 28, 2007: The Lesson
What is the most important lesson you learned in an academic setting that had absolutely nothing to do with school?
August 29, 2007: Apologies
Saying you're sorry doesn't cut it anymore. Politicians these days are happy to apologize as long as there are no real consequences to doing so, and as long as they can restate their original position in the process. What are some of your worst (best) apologies you've given or received? Are you still sorry? Are they?
August 30, 2007: The Gambler
Nope, you can't do it in Second Life because it's against God or something. The federal police are standing outside of your door with a battering ram right now. They're going to begin enforcement in your local neighborhood against all your vices. How are you going to explain your arrest for all of your naughty habits to your mom?
August 31, 2007: The Piano
What is your "instrument" and why?
Thanks to Nebbisk Oh, ToryLynn Writer, Skye Soderstrom, Calliope Delgado, Deeter Decosta and a couple others who thought up inspirational topics but then I neglected to write down their names.
************************************************************************************
INKsters Daily Writing Competition
I run this competition to make ME do more writing and hopefully to inspire YOU to do more writing. We're developing a vibrant new writer's community here in the Second Life metaverse, and we're bringing along a little bit of our real selves to spice things up a bit.
Most important step: Please hit Search on the bottom of your screen, select the Group tab, and join the INKsters. This is how we communicate with you. Sorry for all the rules that follow, but it makes it easier for all of us in the long run. Please read and follow them carefully.
TOPICS and DUE DATES:
You have until 11:59 p.m. Second Life time on each day to write one entry in English. Daily topics are on the bottom of this notecard.
PRIZES:
I award L$25 to the best entry as judged by me (ItsNaughtKnotty Cannned) after consultation with my secret inner circle or smart people. If I decide none of the entries are a winner, I reserve the right not to award a prize on a given day.
I am occasionally asked, "What are you looking for?" Short answer: Quality writing. I don't care if it's poetry, prose, fiction, essays, journalism, or alleged non-fiction. If your writing is the best today, you'll win. Please take the topics as starting points only. They're designed to expand your mind and suggest a possible direction for you today, rather than being a specific task for you to complete. Please think divergently and create something beautiful, funny, poignant, interesting or informative.
RULES:
1. Your notecard must be submitted on or before the due date to be eligible. I reserve the right in my sole discretion to grant a wee bit of wiggle room when necessary.
2. Your entry must be no more than 500 words. If it's a little over, I won't disqualify you; if it's a lot over, I will.
3. An illustration, photo or texture usable in Second Life to accompany the story is strongly encouraged, but not required. Please drop your illustration onto your notecard (make sure the properties are set to full permissions -- see below).
HOW TO ENTER:
1. From your Inventory, select the Create menu and then begin a New Note. Write your entry onto the notecard. You entry should have your name at the bottom. Rename the description on the notecard to be the same as the competition name and date. Save your notecard in your inventory and you MUST rename the notecard with your name first, then the title of the competition, then the due date.
2. Create an image to illustrate your writing and load it into your inventory. (Not required, but way more fun!)
3. Next, you MUST click on both the image and the notecard one at a time and select Properties. Make sure the toggle boxes are checked to allow future owners to modify, copy, AND give/transfer. In order to appear in our anthologies we must have full permissions from you.
4. When you have everything named correctly, and full permissions granted, open your notecard and drag-and-drop your photo (if you have one) onto your notecard. Now you're ready to submit!
5. Stop by the INKsters Lounge
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cookie/87/116/35
and drag and drop your finished notecard into our mailbox. Then send me an IM to let me know you've completed your entry. If you have any technical difficulties, please let me know and I will help you.
PROCEDURAL MUMBO JUMBO:
I publish the writing prompts monthly. William Shakespeare in the INKsters Lounge will always know what's what. Touch him, like he's touched you.
There is no fee to compete. All times are Second Life time. By entering, you grant me the permanent right to use your story in our Second Life anthologies and on our blog related to Second Life on the internet.
http://slinksters.blogspot.com/
You retain all other rights. I encourage you to submit your writing to other people and places in the real world and in Second Life.
We have occasional parties to release the anthologies and celebrate winners. All announcements are made through the INKsters group.
This month's topics are:
August 1, 2007: Diet Disasters
There are saboteurs everywhere! Tell us about someone, something, or sometime when your "diet" turns from vegetables and chicken to cheese burgers and fries.
August 2, 2007: It Is Alive
At first you were just a bunch of pixels looking for better shoes, but now your Second Life avatar looks a wee-bit different because the computers have finally taken over and your little basket of ones and zeros is suddenly developing a soul. Take a deep breath and tell us how your own avatar became a sentient being and what it will do now that it no longer needs you. What will you do without your avatar?
August 3, 2007: It's So Hard
What is the most difficult thing you've ever learned to do? Why was it tough? What made you persevere? Did you master it?
August 4, 2007: Rental Blues
You're the tenant and things aren't going so well, right? OR, you're the landlord and things REALLY aren't going so well. You, your best friend, your favorite character, or your avatar, have all been through this thing we call life. How is the roof-for-money program working?
August 5, 2007: Beaches
They're pretty good in Second Life, they're even better in real life. Lying on the nice white sand sipping an umbrella drink while on vacation and watching the waves, the birds, the kids, and those bronzed bodies ain't a bad way to spend a day. Been to any nice beaches lately? Walking with your significant other hand in hand on a moonlit night?
August 6, 2007: The Big Bang
In 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima and ushered in the Cold War and the modern world. You take this topic anywhere you think it will go.
August 7, 2007: Smokey Bear
Smokey Bear's birthday is this month, and he still maintains only you can prevent forest fires. What do you smoke? Why are you such a bear? Couldn't God stop a few forest fires too?
August 8, 2007: Hotdogs
In the United States, when you attend a baseball game, you eat a hotdog. At the cinema, it's popcorn. In the bedroom, it's chocolates and strawberries or Cheese Nips depending on where you are on the romantic continuum. Pick a venue and pick a food and pick a narrative voice you haven't used before to tell the tale of your belly in space and time.
August 9, 2007: One for the Un-Indigenous
Today is International Day of the World's Indigenous People. Grab your didgeridoo and compose a song about being from the outback.
August 10, 2007: Rose Are ...
Against my better judgment, today's topic is about roses. Sure you could go Shakespearean and call them by another name, but isn't the phrase, "Roses are Red..." almost begging you to start there? Use the short form here and give us lots of "Roses are Red" takes.
August 11, 2007: Elvis Week
Elvis Week (and what week ISN'T Elvis week?) begins today at Graceland. What makes your suede shoes blue?
August 12, 2007: Science Fiction and Fantasy
For the next six days, try to investigate some of the major fictional genres. We start today (fittingly) with science fiction and fantasy. Create a short piece using characters, settings and story lines that rely on science or fantasy to make the story come alive.
August 13, 2007: Romance
We continue our six day investigation into literary genre with a romance story. Create a short piece using characters, settings and story lines that rely on romance to make the story come alive.
August 14, 2007: Horror
We continue our six day investigation into literary genre with a horror story. Create a short piece using characters, settings and story lines that rely on horror to make the story come alive.
August 15, 2007: Action Suspense Thriller
We continue our six day investigation into literary genre with an action suspense thriller. Create a short piece using characters, settings and story lines that rely on pure excitement to make the story come alive.
August 16, 2007: Western
We continue our six day investigation into literary genre with a cowboy story. Create a short piece using characters, settings and story lines that rely on the Marlboro man (or woman) to make the story come alive.
August 17, 2007: Sports
We continue our six day investigation into literary genre with the Johnny Come Lately genre of sports writing. Create a short piece using characters, settings and story lines that rely on some type of sporting event to make the story come alive.
August 18, 2007: Two Wheels
"The best (worst) experience I've ever had on two wheels was..."
August 19, 2007: Month of the Lefties
What do you do with your left hand? Are left handed people more creative? Should lefties be left behind for the wolves?
August 20, 2007: Ants in your Pants
Okay, so you've survived the Linden laboratories idea of metaverse maintenance, so we know you're tough, but a snake on a plane, ants in your pants, moths in your hair, a grasshopper in your mouth, or a spider in your sink turns you to a quivering bowl of jelly. What silly thing do you fear?
August 21, 2007: Tourists
What I did for my summer vacation.
August 22, 2007: Vacation from Hell
What I did for my WORST summer vacation ever.
August 23, 2007: Clouds
Soft billowy white ones drift by as you lie on the grass and stare up at them on a bright summer day with your best buddy in the whole world. Recreate your conversation. What do you see? What are you thinking?
August 24, 2007: Magic Bus
Where does it go? Why is it magic?
August 25, 2007: Beauty and the Beast
The dusty radio drones out another song from the 1970s while your hair dresser fusses with your mop. What's your beauty salon or barber shop story? Is your hair dresser or barber worthy of a first person narrative in their own voice?
August 26, 2007: Farmers
Last month you were Billy the Kid. This month you've settled down in a rural county to raise crops. How about a composition about a day in the life down on your farm? Or, how about the true life story of how you escaped the world of animal husbandry to wear those stylish shoes in your fancy downtown loft?
August 27, 2007: Office Supplies
I used to love going to work with my mom on Saturdays to her office supply store so I could play with all the gadgets we didn’t have at home or school. What are your favorite office supplies? Write about a day in the life of your favorite office gadget. A nice little opera would be fun to read.
August 28, 2007: The Lesson
What is the most important lesson you learned in an academic setting that had absolutely nothing to do with school?
August 29, 2007: Apologies
Saying you're sorry doesn't cut it anymore. Politicians these days are happy to apologize as long as there are no real consequences to doing so, and as long as they can restate their original position in the process. What are some of your worst (best) apologies you've given or received? Are you still sorry? Are they?
August 30, 2007: The Gambler
Nope, you can't do it in Second Life because it's against God or something. The federal police are standing outside of your door with a battering ram right now. They're going to begin enforcement in your local neighborhood against all your vices. How are you going to explain your arrest for all of your naughty habits to your mom?
August 31, 2007: The Piano
What is your "instrument" and why?
Thanks to Nebbisk Oh, ToryLynn Writer, Skye Soderstrom, Calliope Delgado, Deeter Decosta and a couple others who thought up inspirational topics but then I neglected to write down their names.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
You're a Little Stinker!
In-world notice from INK:
HEY! Super Cool Totally New Perk of Being an INKster .... Nebbisk Oh, Sammie Pippen, and the stealthy Nelson Kelley teamed up to create the INKsters Teddy Bear "StINKy" ... I know the L$25 prize buys a lot of SL whisky, but keep an eye on your in-basket for the cuddliest benefit of being an award-winning writer. Scripted to hug, tickle and make you feel like a winner every day. All the June winners will receive a bear ... and I bet if you asked Sammie, she'd sneak you one even if you didn't win in June.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Secundo Dharma's Poetry Readings
Secundo Dharma is reading aloud various poems written by himself and others at the Globe on Cookie Island every Monday at approximately 3 to 5 pm SL time. Come join him if you can. Here are just a few photos that I took during Nebbisk Oh's reading. Way to go Neb! And thanks, Secundo for your regular poetry readings.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Televised Meet the Author Sarah Salway
Announcement from Jilly Kidd:
Sunday's Meet the Author show at 2pm SLT will be broadcast by SLCN TV so you can see yourselves on SL telly. You can also let your friends see you online even if they aren't on SL by going to www.slcn.tv to watch live or to see the show archived later.
Sunday 15th July will have author Sarah Salway - novelist, poet, journalist, children's writer and creative writing teacher. Published in the UK by Bloomsbury and bluechrome, and in the US by Ballantine. Sarah has written for national newspapers in Scotland and England and is writing this event up for the Guardian. Find her on www.sarahsalway.com
Come along and have your questions ready for Sarah. When you visit the show set come to see my beach home/office on the other side of the Joysco Convention Centre. Bring your swimming costumes!
"Meet the Author" at Joysco Convention Center: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Convention%20Center/109/63/34
Simulcast Location: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Amelia%20Island/150/225/24
Isla View, Convention Center: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Convention%20Center/204/8/23
Sunday's Meet the Author show at 2pm SLT will be broadcast by SLCN TV so you can see yourselves on SL telly. You can also let your friends see you online even if they aren't on SL by going to www.slcn.tv to watch live or to see the show archived later.
Sunday 15th July will have author Sarah Salway - novelist, poet, journalist, children's writer and creative writing teacher. Published in the UK by Bloomsbury and bluechrome, and in the US by Ballantine. Sarah has written for national newspapers in Scotland and England and is writing this event up for the Guardian. Find her on www.sarahsalway.com
Come along and have your questions ready for Sarah. When you visit the show set come to see my beach home/office on the other side of the Joysco Convention Centre. Bring your swimming costumes!
"Meet the Author" at Joysco Convention Center: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Convention%20Center/109/63/34
Simulcast Location: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Amelia%20Island/150/225/24
Isla View, Convention Center: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Convention%20Center/204/8/23
The Perm, a play by Zayante Hegel
Group Notice From: Nebbisk Oh
"The Perm," a one-act play by our own Zayante Hegel, published novelist and playwright, will be performed four times over the next two days. Check it out!
Friday, 7/13: 4:00pm & 7:00pm SL time; Saturday, 7/14: 10:00am & 1:00pm SL Time.
Use the attached landmark to teleport to Asim Zahra, then use the poster there to teleport to the performance space.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Asim%20Zahra/160/145/247
"The Perm," a one-act play by our own Zayante Hegel, published novelist and playwright, will be performed four times over the next two days. Check it out!
Friday, 7/13: 4:00pm & 7:00pm SL time; Saturday, 7/14: 10:00am & 1:00pm SL Time.
Use the attached landmark to teleport to Asim Zahra, then use the poster there to teleport to the performance space.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Asim%20Zahra/160/145/247
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Monday, July 2, 2007
July 2007 Info and Topics
The following information and topics for July was written by INK and is also available in notecard form in-world.
INKsters Daily Writing Competition:
I run this competition to make ME do more writing and hopefully to inspire YOU to do more writing. We're developing a vibrant new writer's community here in Second Life, so please join us and be a pioneer in recording what it is to be here in this world.
Most importantly: Please search the group tab and join the INKsters. This is how I communicate with you.
Sorry for all the rules that follow, but it makes it easier for all of us in the long run. Please read and follow them carefully. Daily topics are on the bottom of this notecard.
TOPICS and DUE DATES:
You have until 11:59 p.m. Second Life time on each day to write one entry in English.
PRIZES:
I award L$25 to the best entry as judged by me (ItsNaughtKnotty Cannned) after consultation with my secret inner circle. If I decide none of the entries are a winner, I reserve the right not to award a prize on a given day.
I am occasionally asked, "What are you looking for?" Short answer: Quality writing. I don't care if it's poetry, prose, fiction, essays, journalism, or alleged non-fiction. If your writing is the best today, you'll win.
RULES:
1. Your notecard must be submitted on or before the due date to be eligible. I reserve the right in my sole discretion to grant a wee bit of wiggle room when necessary.
2. Your entry must be no more than 500 words. If it's a little over, I won't disqualify you; if it's a lot over, I will.
3. An illustration, photo or texture usable in Second Life to accompany the story is strongly encouraged, but not required. Please drop your illustration onto your notecard (make sure the properties are set to full permissions -- see below).
HOW TO ENTER:
1. From your Inventory, select the Create menu and then begin a New Note. Write your entry onto the notecard. Your entry should have your name at the bottom. Rename the description on the notecard to be the same as the competition name and date. Save your notecard in your inventory and PLEASE rename the notecard with your name first, then the title of the competition, then the due date.
2. Create an image to illustrate your writing and load it into your inventory. (Not required, but way more fun!)
3. MOST IMPORTANT STEP: Click on both the image and the notecard one at a time and select Properties. Make sure the toggle boxes are checked to allow future owners to modify, copy, AND give/transfer. In order to appear in our anthologies we must have full permissions from you.
4. When you have everything named correctly, and full permissions granted, open your notecard and drag-and-drop your photo (if you have one) onto your notecard. Now you're ready to submit!
5. Stop by the INKsters Lounge and drag and drop your finished notecard into our mailbox. Then send me an IM to let me know you've completed your entry. If you have any technical difficulties, please let me know and I will help you.
PROCEDURAL MUMBO JUMBO:
I publish the writing prompts monthly. William Shakespeare in the INKsters Lounge will always know what's what. Touch him, like he's touched you.
There is no fee to compete. All times are Second Life time. By entering, you grant me the permanent right to use your story in our Second Life anthologies and on our blog related to Second Life on the internet. You retain all other rights. I will not publish anything outside of Second Life. I encourage you to submit your writing to other people and places in the real world and in Second Life.
We have occasional parties to release the anthologies and celebrate winners. All announcements are made through the INKsters group.
We're moving the lounge this month! The INKsters Lounge will now be located next to the Globe Theatre on Cookie Island in the SLiterary Writers Playground.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cookie/86/114/35/
This month's topics are:
July 1, 2007: Canada Day
You spin the globe, you point your finger, and something inside of you says, "Yes! I will live where it's really really really cold almost all of the time." What makes the maple leaf crowd just so darn loveable?
July 2, 2007: Amelia Earhart Disappears
Where did she go and what is she up to?
July 3, 2007: Riddler
If you were an animal, vegetable, plant, tool, building, element, mineral, weather phenomenon, or something else, what would you be? Without giving it away completely, describe yourself and let's see if we can guess!
July 4, 2007: Unites States Independence Day
Frankly I'm still mad at England for that whole tax on tea thing. Just kidding. Let's make this a global topic and make it a little more serious. What does freedom and independence mean to you?
July 5, 2007: P.T. Barnum’s Birthday
The circus. Good? Bad? What is life like in a circus? Why should you run off and join the circus? Ever had a fantasy about the bearded lady? How about tossing in some of your most colorful characters ever?
July 6, 2007: The Door
You are standing in a void; there is emptiness all around. The only thing clearly visible to you is a door. You reach for the know, it slowly creeks open, and ....
July 7, 2007: Children
Children, love 'em, hate 'em. Isn't it time we went Sparta and nationalize all children at six months old? Wean 'em, send 'em off to "It Takes A Village" boarding schools, and raise them all up the right way. Good idea?
July 8, 2007: School Memoirs
Remember the girl you were too afraid to talk to; the boy who hurt your feelings; the nasty gash on your head from the bungled jungle gym stunt? Release the pain and suffering and give us the details.
July 9, 2007: Treasured Moments
This is the first day of our three day series on your personal treasures. What is your most treasured moment and why?
July 10, 2007: Treasured Things
What is your most treasured thing and why?
July 11, 2007: Treasured People
Who is your most treasured person and why?
July 12, 2007: OMG, I'm ME
The alarm goes off. You stumble into the bathroom. Bleary-eyed, you look into the mirror and discover you have been transformed into your avatar! Will anyone recognize you? Your day just became a whole lot more interesting. Whatever in the world will you do now?
July 13, 2007: Chocolate
I want to eat it, drink it, bathe in it, and use a bottle of it in my intimate encounters of the naughtiest kind. I've never met a bon-bon I couldn't think of as a friend. You know your secret chocolate moment that defines who the real inner you is. Do tell.
July 14, 2007: Bastille Day
The French way to get out of jail free! How about murdering a few thousand nobles in the process? If you were going to plot a revolution, where would you start?
July 15, 2007: Billy the Kid Shot
Your life has turned bad and you find yourself wearing a black cowboy hat. What will you do now?
July 16, 2007: HOT!
It's the middle of July. In the northern hemisphere, you should have had plenty of time at the beach, the pool, drinking iced drinks. How about a steamy report on the hot things going on in your underdressed life. If you're in the southern hemisphere, give us a freezy breezy report.
July 17, 2007: Your Hue
I think orange is the new black. I wear a lot of green. I've always wanted a bedroom with pinks and reds. People who wear all black often seem to be trying to hide a hole in their hearts. What color are you today?
July 18, 2007: Your Future Self
You log into Second Life, you have a plan. You're going to move into a whole new direction with your presence in-world. What are you going to do today, tomorrow, and in the future to make your experience here fantastic?
July 19, 2007: First Womens Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, NY
One hundred and fifty years later, there still may be room for improvement. How are girl-boy relations going in your world?
July 20, 2007: Neil Armstrong on the Moon
No month would ever be complete without an astronaut topic! Write something spaced out today.
July 21, 2007: Hemingway's Birthday
Going to the grocery store, picking up the kids from soccer, watching American Idol, life is full of grand adventures. In very short matter of fact sentences, report one of your bold expeditions in life.
July 22, 2007: Virtual Worlds
CNN included Second Life in a report on Virtual Worlds. "Will you be able to tell the difference?" Are you using Second Life to change your First Life? Or, are you keeping this place your own dirty little secret?
July 23, 2007: Dance Your Pixels Off
What is it with the popularity of dance clubs in Second Life? Where do you go? What do you do there? Why is it your favorite place to be? Oh, and don't forget to report the drama.
July 24, 2007: Summer (or Winter) Daydreams
In the summertime, yard work is as inevitable as shoveling snow in the winter (for those in snowy climates). You're outside with your shovel doing that move-it-over-there thing. Where do your thoughts drift?
July 25, 2007: Life in a Sandbox
It used to be a good place to try kissing. It was also a pretty good place to hit somebody with a plastic rake. Around these parts, it's a good place to build a giant wooden floppy penis that changes colors and sings the Banana Phone song when you touch it. What's your sandbox story?
July 26, 2007: Partner Repair
Good news, in Second Life version 1.19, they'll have a tool whereby you can repair the faults and foibles of your lover. What things do you need to fix first on your partner?
July 27, 2007: Pets
The longer I'm in Second Life, dogs, bears and dragons keep accumulating in my inventory. Tell us about your real, imagined, or virtual menagerie. Extra credit for using the word menagerie!
July 28, 2007: Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis Birthday
She set the style for a generation. What's your style?
July 29, 2007: Park Benches
Ice cream in hand, your little avatar finds a nice park bench under a shady tree in a pretty virtual garden. What do you see? hear? taste? feel? smell? imagine?
July 30, 2007: Henry Ford Birthday
His little idea to make a car worked out pretty well. Tell us about your best (or worst) car ever.
July 31, 2007: Grandma's House
What was your grandma's house like?
Thanks to Oboe Riederer, CeAire Decosta, Skye Soderstrom, Deeter Decosta, Lizybeth Henley, and probably a couple others I've forgotten who contributed to the topic list this month.
INKsters Daily Writing Competition:
I run this competition to make ME do more writing and hopefully to inspire YOU to do more writing. We're developing a vibrant new writer's community here in Second Life, so please join us and be a pioneer in recording what it is to be here in this world.
Most importantly: Please search the group tab and join the INKsters. This is how I communicate with you.
Sorry for all the rules that follow, but it makes it easier for all of us in the long run. Please read and follow them carefully. Daily topics are on the bottom of this notecard.
TOPICS and DUE DATES:
You have until 11:59 p.m. Second Life time on each day to write one entry in English.
PRIZES:
I award L$25 to the best entry as judged by me (ItsNaughtKnotty Cannned) after consultation with my secret inner circle. If I decide none of the entries are a winner, I reserve the right not to award a prize on a given day.
I am occasionally asked, "What are you looking for?" Short answer: Quality writing. I don't care if it's poetry, prose, fiction, essays, journalism, or alleged non-fiction. If your writing is the best today, you'll win.
RULES:
1. Your notecard must be submitted on or before the due date to be eligible. I reserve the right in my sole discretion to grant a wee bit of wiggle room when necessary.
2. Your entry must be no more than 500 words. If it's a little over, I won't disqualify you; if it's a lot over, I will.
3. An illustration, photo or texture usable in Second Life to accompany the story is strongly encouraged, but not required. Please drop your illustration onto your notecard (make sure the properties are set to full permissions -- see below).
HOW TO ENTER:
1. From your Inventory, select the Create menu and then begin a New Note. Write your entry onto the notecard. Your entry should have your name at the bottom. Rename the description on the notecard to be the same as the competition name and date. Save your notecard in your inventory and PLEASE rename the notecard with your name first, then the title of the competition, then the due date.
2. Create an image to illustrate your writing and load it into your inventory. (Not required, but way more fun!)
3. MOST IMPORTANT STEP: Click on both the image and the notecard one at a time and select Properties. Make sure the toggle boxes are checked to allow future owners to modify, copy, AND give/transfer. In order to appear in our anthologies we must have full permissions from you.
4. When you have everything named correctly, and full permissions granted, open your notecard and drag-and-drop your photo (if you have one) onto your notecard. Now you're ready to submit!
5. Stop by the INKsters Lounge and drag and drop your finished notecard into our mailbox. Then send me an IM to let me know you've completed your entry. If you have any technical difficulties, please let me know and I will help you.
PROCEDURAL MUMBO JUMBO:
I publish the writing prompts monthly. William Shakespeare in the INKsters Lounge will always know what's what. Touch him, like he's touched you.
There is no fee to compete. All times are Second Life time. By entering, you grant me the permanent right to use your story in our Second Life anthologies and on our blog related to Second Life on the internet. You retain all other rights. I will not publish anything outside of Second Life. I encourage you to submit your writing to other people and places in the real world and in Second Life.
We have occasional parties to release the anthologies and celebrate winners. All announcements are made through the INKsters group.
We're moving the lounge this month! The INKsters Lounge will now be located next to the Globe Theatre on Cookie Island in the SLiterary Writers Playground.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cookie/86/114/35/
This month's topics are:
July 1, 2007: Canada Day
You spin the globe, you point your finger, and something inside of you says, "Yes! I will live where it's really really really cold almost all of the time." What makes the maple leaf crowd just so darn loveable?
July 2, 2007: Amelia Earhart Disappears
Where did she go and what is she up to?
July 3, 2007: Riddler
If you were an animal, vegetable, plant, tool, building, element, mineral, weather phenomenon, or something else, what would you be? Without giving it away completely, describe yourself and let's see if we can guess!
July 4, 2007: Unites States Independence Day
Frankly I'm still mad at England for that whole tax on tea thing. Just kidding. Let's make this a global topic and make it a little more serious. What does freedom and independence mean to you?
July 5, 2007: P.T. Barnum’s Birthday
The circus. Good? Bad? What is life like in a circus? Why should you run off and join the circus? Ever had a fantasy about the bearded lady? How about tossing in some of your most colorful characters ever?
July 6, 2007: The Door
You are standing in a void; there is emptiness all around. The only thing clearly visible to you is a door. You reach for the know, it slowly creeks open, and ....
July 7, 2007: Children
Children, love 'em, hate 'em. Isn't it time we went Sparta and nationalize all children at six months old? Wean 'em, send 'em off to "It Takes A Village" boarding schools, and raise them all up the right way. Good idea?
July 8, 2007: School Memoirs
Remember the girl you were too afraid to talk to; the boy who hurt your feelings; the nasty gash on your head from the bungled jungle gym stunt? Release the pain and suffering and give us the details.
July 9, 2007: Treasured Moments
This is the first day of our three day series on your personal treasures. What is your most treasured moment and why?
July 10, 2007: Treasured Things
What is your most treasured thing and why?
July 11, 2007: Treasured People
Who is your most treasured person and why?
July 12, 2007: OMG, I'm ME
The alarm goes off. You stumble into the bathroom. Bleary-eyed, you look into the mirror and discover you have been transformed into your avatar! Will anyone recognize you? Your day just became a whole lot more interesting. Whatever in the world will you do now?
July 13, 2007: Chocolate
I want to eat it, drink it, bathe in it, and use a bottle of it in my intimate encounters of the naughtiest kind. I've never met a bon-bon I couldn't think of as a friend. You know your secret chocolate moment that defines who the real inner you is. Do tell.
July 14, 2007: Bastille Day
The French way to get out of jail free! How about murdering a few thousand nobles in the process? If you were going to plot a revolution, where would you start?
July 15, 2007: Billy the Kid Shot
Your life has turned bad and you find yourself wearing a black cowboy hat. What will you do now?
July 16, 2007: HOT!
It's the middle of July. In the northern hemisphere, you should have had plenty of time at the beach, the pool, drinking iced drinks. How about a steamy report on the hot things going on in your underdressed life. If you're in the southern hemisphere, give us a freezy breezy report.
July 17, 2007: Your Hue
I think orange is the new black. I wear a lot of green. I've always wanted a bedroom with pinks and reds. People who wear all black often seem to be trying to hide a hole in their hearts. What color are you today?
July 18, 2007: Your Future Self
You log into Second Life, you have a plan. You're going to move into a whole new direction with your presence in-world. What are you going to do today, tomorrow, and in the future to make your experience here fantastic?
July 19, 2007: First Womens Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, NY
One hundred and fifty years later, there still may be room for improvement. How are girl-boy relations going in your world?
July 20, 2007: Neil Armstrong on the Moon
No month would ever be complete without an astronaut topic! Write something spaced out today.
July 21, 2007: Hemingway's Birthday
Going to the grocery store, picking up the kids from soccer, watching American Idol, life is full of grand adventures. In very short matter of fact sentences, report one of your bold expeditions in life.
July 22, 2007: Virtual Worlds
CNN included Second Life in a report on Virtual Worlds. "Will you be able to tell the difference?" Are you using Second Life to change your First Life? Or, are you keeping this place your own dirty little secret?
July 23, 2007: Dance Your Pixels Off
What is it with the popularity of dance clubs in Second Life? Where do you go? What do you do there? Why is it your favorite place to be? Oh, and don't forget to report the drama.
July 24, 2007: Summer (or Winter) Daydreams
In the summertime, yard work is as inevitable as shoveling snow in the winter (for those in snowy climates). You're outside with your shovel doing that move-it-over-there thing. Where do your thoughts drift?
July 25, 2007: Life in a Sandbox
It used to be a good place to try kissing. It was also a pretty good place to hit somebody with a plastic rake. Around these parts, it's a good place to build a giant wooden floppy penis that changes colors and sings the Banana Phone song when you touch it. What's your sandbox story?
July 26, 2007: Partner Repair
Good news, in Second Life version 1.19, they'll have a tool whereby you can repair the faults and foibles of your lover. What things do you need to fix first on your partner?
July 27, 2007: Pets
The longer I'm in Second Life, dogs, bears and dragons keep accumulating in my inventory. Tell us about your real, imagined, or virtual menagerie. Extra credit for using the word menagerie!
July 28, 2007: Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis Birthday
She set the style for a generation. What's your style?
July 29, 2007: Park Benches
Ice cream in hand, your little avatar finds a nice park bench under a shady tree in a pretty virtual garden. What do you see? hear? taste? feel? smell? imagine?
July 30, 2007: Henry Ford Birthday
His little idea to make a car worked out pretty well. Tell us about your best (or worst) car ever.
July 31, 2007: Grandma's House
What was your grandma's house like?
Thanks to Oboe Riederer, CeAire Decosta, Skye Soderstrom, Deeter Decosta, Lizybeth Henley, and probably a couple others I've forgotten who contributed to the topic list this month.
The INKsters Blog Site is Up!!!
Hello INKsters,
Our official blog site is now up. Yay! We will be using this site as an alternative source for accessing announcements and monthly anthologies. All notices will still be made in-world, but it will also be listed here as well. So stay tuned!
Please utilize this blog site by leaving us comments, questions, suggestions, etc. We will try to respond to them asap.
Our official blog site is now up. Yay! We will be using this site as an alternative source for accessing announcements and monthly anthologies. All notices will still be made in-world, but it will also be listed here as well. So stay tuned!
Please utilize this blog site by leaving us comments, questions, suggestions, etc. We will try to respond to them asap.
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