Topic Suggestions From Guests

[Tundra]

Sometimes our members have trouble thinking of ideas of what to write. If you'd like to help them out by suggesting article and review topics, you may reply to this thread, and maybe someone will end up writing about it! Of course, there are no guarantees, as writers and inspiration have minds of their own, but keep checking back. It may show up.

[MeMe]

An article on 'how not to write plot driven webcomics'.

[Aimless]

I'm not sure if this is the right place for me to ask, but, MeMe, could you explain what you mean?? :)

[MeMe]

Like a rant about what techniques of story telling via pictures, are really annoying.

[Aimless]

Okay, I feel like I should know exactly what kind of comics you're talking about, but I can't for the life of me think of any examples...! >_<

I think this is something you should tell us about first :P may I be so bold as to suggest you register and post a thread about it? In one of the other forums I mean, I don't wanna hijack this thread just to satisfy my own curiosity...!

[Tundra]

I've been asking around, and here are some things people said: (obviously it won't do any good to discuss these with me, as I have no real contact with these people, also I'd like to keep this section on topic. But if this inspires you, great!)

"I always enjoy behind-the-scenes info and "where are they now?" type stories about offbeat "celebrities" such as folks that have appeared in commercials for many years (like Madge the Manicurist), the people on famous album covers or in famous photographs, and 15-minutes-of-famers (like that guy who tried to catch the fly ball at the Chicago Cubs game during the playoffs, or the spelling bee "potato" kid). http://www.bigbadbabynames.net/forum/images/smilies/cheesy.gif "

So... from that, I took that something you could do (Not sure if she really got what I was asking) is behind the scenes stuff for stories you've written or art you've done. Or creative related events you've been to.

"i'm a fan of "day in the life of" stuff. Always cool and interesting... I did an article "a day in the life of a chef" you'd be surprised how much goes into certain jobs. Lots of fun to write too."

[Tundra]

"A lot of people suffer from writer's block, or the equivalent. Plenty of folks would like to be more creative, but procrastinate or are too busy or were told as children that they had no talent. Articles telling how people overcame these problems and managed to unlock their creativity would be helpful to many, I think.

Interviews with artists, writers, actors and so on (I don't mean the most famous ones, but accessible people, local artists, and amateurs), going into detail about the creative process, could be interesting. I like reading interviews with artists, writers and directors that talk about their ideas and how they realise specific pieces of work. Actors, not so much because interviews tend to be all about their personal lives, which is a shame because people don't talk about the techniques of acting enough and it has to be interesting!

Reviews of smaller local art exhibitions might be fun, though they might suffer from a lack of pictures, if you weren't allowed to post any images from the show.

Articles about some local piece of public art that not many people would have the opportunity to see. For example, Scotland's millennium clock, situated in Edinburgh, made by a collaborative team including an amazing maker of mechanical figures (who exhibits in Glasgow) that move and ring bells, but that also reflect the maker's sufferings under Communism, and are grotesque and haunting; and an astonishing man, now sadly deceased, who filled his home with his stunning wooden pieces, including furniture. The artists' stories and history of this work are mesmerising. Perhaps contributors could seek out things like this in their own communities?"

[Tundra]

"How to break through writer's block."
"12 Things to Write About before you die."
"How to self publish."
"Common cliches and how to avoid them."
"Self limiting behaviors - you are your worst enemy."
"10 signs you should be a writer (and 5 signs you shouldn't)"
"Inspiration from Nature - a personal story."
"Co-authors: pros and cons of writing with someone else."
"Proper body mechanics for sitting at a desk."
"The Graphic Novel: bubblegum for the mind?"

[cat_lover_4113]

'How to Build the Foundations of a Story'

I have an idea for a story, and for some of the characters, but no real idea of how to plan the characters or settings. I have written a story before for school that included a new character, but that was based on a new adventure using the characters from the BeastMaster TV show, so all the planning was done.

An article that helps with the planning of characters and settings and anything else needed would be good, especially with the amount of writers we have as members.

[QueenBoadicea]

:confused: I'm writing a story based on "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." It was written in 1820 so naturally I can't use anything that's based much later than that date. I've found books and articles that are very helpful when it comes to style of dress, slang, food, etc.

But I want one of the main characters to suffer a loss through a devastating and then incurable disease and the internet searches I've gone through for the last few days don't help. Maybe I'm using the wrong search engine.

Anyone have thoughts on early 19th-century diseases in Northern America? Don't suggest cholera; that was my first choice but it didn't make it to American until 1832.

[Shona]

Queen Boadicea: I'll write you that one. It'll take me a half-hour to pour all I know onto paper and reference to the Encyclopedia Britannica!

[Tundra]

oh so that's why you wrote that. Okay, that makes it seem a little less random...

[Tundra]

Guests are still very welcome to add to this!

[Dwiesel McAllister]

I think the fantasy writers should pool together and share world-building techniques. I don't know how feasible that would be, though. I don't know if it would be one article or many, or if that idea would be better left to the writing forum.

I'd also like to see an article on how to colour things digitally.

[Unregistered]

Okay, here's what my writing group often does. The facilitator of the week will provide the rest of us with random objects and we pick three to include in our story. The prompt has more variations, but that's it in a nutshell.

Here's some objects for you:

safety pin
red die with white spots
minature bronze statue of a small boy taking a whiz
an 2 x 3 inch indoor-outdoor thermometer
a glass dolphin with a blue glaze
one of those tiny saucers that children make in school with clay
a set of noise-reduction headphones
a digital recorder with an adaptor so that it can be played over the radio
an address book
a brown stapler
magazines
opened and unopened mail
business cards for: Roberto D. Fonts--President/CEO; the Rake rakemag.com, therapist Sandra at Associated Clinic of Psychology, Sundee K. Independent Distributor of High Fashion Jewelry

These are the things on my desk at the moment. Pick three and write for ten minutes, keep your pencil moving, even if you have to write "um, blah, um, blah.." do not stop writing

Post it in a new thread titled: Prompts for writing (this thread has not been created, yet).

C'est tout!

[Tundra]

Only just found that someone had posted something as a guest. :) Thanks!