Writers' Study Chat and Feedback - Ask all your questions here!

[Alwyn]

Would you like to know more about writing AARs? Perhaps you are considering writing your first AAR, returning to writing or raising the quality of your writing so that you can win Writers' Study competition medals? The Critic's Quill proudly present the AAR of the Year Interview 2015: Shankbot and Alwyn interview Caillagh about A Long Way from Home. You can read A Long Way from Home here and our interview here.

Meanwhile, don't forget to check the Advertising Board for news (here in the Writers' Lounge) and to find out about the Scriptorium Writing Competition (there's a link in my signature).

[Shankbot de Bodemloze]

Great job guys! Alwyn you asked far questions than I so thank-you for picking it up. Caillagh, thanks for the answers, in-depth and very interesting to read.

[Lortano]

Look who's back...

[Shankbot de Bodemloze]

How are you doing Lortano?

[Shankbot de Bodemloze]

double post

[Alwyn]

Welcome back, Lortano - and hi Shankbot! I hope that life is going well for both of you. Are you thinking of any new or revived Creative Writing/AAR projects? I have been enjoying Shankbot's contributions (as well as everyone else's contributions) to the group writing project in the Creative Writing sub-forum.

[Shankbot de Bodemloze]

It's a shame that has stalled for a bit, hopefully another update will kick-start it again. I enjoyed getting back into the writing, actually made me start penning up a few different Of Souls things, but nothing that has yet found its way to be finished sadly. How about you Alwyn, you doing much 'personal' writing (not for the CQ etc.) recently? I haven't been keeping a good eye on the scene recently so I'm not sure who is doing what.

[Owlparrot3]

• We have brought the entry requirements of the MCWC in-line with the MAARC, so now to enter the MCWC you need to have two updates within the submission period instead of having two updates as well as a word count requirement.
• please explain this line as i want to enroll

[Shankbot de Bodemloze]

Before the rule change to be eligible to enter the Monthly Creative Writing Competition your story would have to have had 2 updates, both of at least 500 words, within the specified submission period. Now however, following the rule change, to be eligible to enter the competition your story only needs to have been updated twice within the submission period, regardless of how many words each update is.

Hope this clears it up for you, I'll look forward to seeing you enter.

[Lugotorix]

Look who's back...

WB Lortano. How goes it?

[Alwyn]

It's a shame that has stalled for a bit, hopefully another update will kick-start it again. I enjoyed getting back into the writing, actually made me start penning up a few different Of Souls things, but nothing that has yet found its way to be finished sadly. How about you Alwyn, you doing much 'personal' writing (not for the CQ etc.) recently? I haven't been keeping a good eye on the scene recently so I'm not sure who is doing what.

Yes, it would be good to get the group writing project in Creative Writing going again. I wonder if it gets more difficult as there are more posts, since people feel that they need to read everything which has been posted so far in order to continue the story? Maybe an occasional 'the story so far' summing up post, providing enough information that people could write a contribution, would make it easier for people to add something?

You asked about personal writing. There are two of my older AARs which I'm tempted to revive. I have a clear image of the central event in the next chapter of each story. Before publishing anything, I'd like to get a few chapters ahead - and, sadly, RL is preventing me from doing that at the moment.

[Shankbot de Bodemloze]

Aye perhaps that is the case, I guess a lot of it also depends on momentum and having a core group of people keeping it going as well, because it's a group thing it can be quite easy for interest to die out if updates slow down etc.

Sorry to hear that Alwyn, it would be good to see your AARs continue - especially as you have a clear plot in mind! Here's to RL giving you a bit more TWC time.

[Alwyn]

Thanks, Shankbot - likewise, I hope that you will be able to continue Of Souls. I noticed your link to your behind-the-scenes blog, with some thought-provoking comments on the balance between world-building and story-writing. Hitai's suggestion of writing other short stories set in the same world, in addition to the main story-line, sounds like a useful idea both for creative writing and AARs.

[Caillagh de Bodemloze]

Great job guys! Alwyn you asked far questions than I so thank-you for picking it up. Caillagh, thanks for the answers, in-depth and very interesting to read.

Thank you, Shankbot. I agree - Alwyn seems to have a knack for asking questions. Don't underestimate your own contribution, though!

(I know your comment was posted ages ago, Shankbot - sorry I haven't been able to reply sooner.)

[Alwyn]

Thanks, Caillagh.

We have four submissions for the MAARC LXVII. If there are two more, this will become a full-sized competition - which would mean that we would have three winners rather than two, and there would be more Writers' Study competition points for the winners. If you have updated an AAR with two updates since 1 October, if you have not already entered (and if you did not come first in the MAARC LXVI) then your AAR qualifies to enter - please consider submitting your AAR today!

[Lugotorix]

Does anyone know what happened to the screens and pictures from A Wolf Among Dogs, by Radzeer?

[Shankbot de Bodemloze]

Are you getting a picture from a image hosting site instead, or just the error image (the tiny square with a picture sliced in half)?

[Lugotorix]

Are you getting a picture from a image hosting site instead, or just the error image (the tiny square with a picture sliced in half)?

I'm getting the error image for mobile devices, and literally nothing for my PC.

[Alwyn]

I'm sorry to hear that, Lugotorix. It sounds like the images have disappeared from a legendary AAR. I wonder if Radzeer still has the pictures.

Meanwhile, everyone is warmly invited to vote in the MAARC LXVII. Thanks to all six writers who submitted your AARs and good luck in the competition!

Also, I wonder if UK-based people are going to watch the new TV series of Time Commanders (BBC Four, from December 12)? (For people who don't know the series - in the previous series, members of the public played historical battles using a Total War game.) I used to really enjoy watching people try to re-create, or change, history. I hope that the episodes will be available to view outside the UK, for people who would like to see them. I wonder if the new series will inspire some viewers to discover TWC, visit the Writers' Study and write AARs.

[Shankbot de Bodemloze]

@Lugo, yeah it's the same for. Not sure what has happened there.

I didn't watch the initial series, and I didn't realise there was a new one on the way thanks for pointing it out - well certainly give it a watch! They mention the use of the N:TW engine which will be good to see.

The trailer: