Calliope's Board

[estepheia]

I created a community for the creative writing workshop and sent out invites to join. I don't want drive-by members, the whole thing will be private and friendslocked. So in order to join, people will have to ask me to authorize them. The name of the community is calliopes_board. I have absolutely no clue whatsoever about customizing LJs, so if anyone feels like helping out or creating a nice mod icon for me, well, let's just say that would be really neat.

Also, timing seems to be a problem. I have therefore decided to run the workshop over the the course of 5 days or so. Meaning for the duration of 5 days I will be available to comment either via AIM or in the comments on your results, or answer your questions. The exercises themselves won't be too time sensitive. I will post one exercise (or group of related exercises) every day, starting on Sunday the 29th, early in the morning (European time) or maybe even Saturday late at night. People who are busy on Sunday can always do the earlier exercises at a later date, but the exercises should be done in the right order.

Most exercises will be small, involving about half an hour of work. But they are supposed to kick-start people's imagination, so that hopefully at at the end of the workshop you'll have up to four characters you're itching to write about.
At the end of the course I'd like participants to write a scene, dialogue or diary entry that features their characteer(s).

Give me three days to finish my translation job (only 9 pages to go), and a few more to plan the workshop. Afterwards I can be more specific. :-)
It will be fun.

Comments

[astarte99.livejournal.com]

I'm trying not to be intimidated by the expertise of the various writers here. (I tend to do more betaing that fan-fic writing, so I am considerably less experienced at off-the-cuff writing than most of the other ppl currently signed up.) Are you looking for only very experienced/prolific fanfic writers for this (I won't take offence if that is what you want, since they tend to be better at short turnaround and bit benefit best from a workshop like this), or is it open to a variety of levels of experience? (I wouldn't want to bog things down.) Just wanted to know your honest opinion.

Re:

[estepheia.livejournal.com]

It's a workshop about characterization - not a fanfic workshop. Anyone can join, there is no exam, no fee. We're in it for the fun.

People are NOT allowed to write about canon characters of the Jossverse but I do permit original characters that are part of the Jossverse, meaning you can't write about Nikki or even the Chinese Slayer, but you could write about a Zulu Slayer during Chaka Zulu's time who is fighting against the British...

There's no need to be intimidated. I'm not looking for people who think they know it all but for people who are interested in doing something new. the workshop is not about style or metaphor, it's about creating a credible and rounded character.

Does that sound like you might enjoy the 'course'? Then give it a shot.

[sarashina-nikki.livejournal.com]

Will you authorize me? ^^

Re:

[estepheia.livejournal.com]

Already did. Unless I spelled your name wrong? You should have an email notification. :-)

[mahaliem.livejournal.com]

I would love to participate. May I?

Re:

[estepheia.livejournal.com]

Absolutely. I will sign you up!

[liliaeth]

oh I'd definitely be interested, can I join?

Re:

[estepheia.livejournal.com]

yup. I'm sending you an authorization. Glad to have you. :-)

[yin-again.livejournal.com]

Este - will you re-invite me? I deleted your email by accident. Because I am sometimes dumb.

Re:

[estepheia.livejournal.com]

done. :-)

[hesadevil.livejournal.com]

Looks like I'm going to be able to participate after all, though I may be a little later than everyone else as I'll not be able to start until the Wednesday.

But still - looking forward to it. (She lied unconvincingly, never having created an original character before.)

Lay on, MacDuff, and damn'd be him that first cries, 'Hold, Enough!'"

[twistingflame.livejournal.com]

Ok, this is me being very nervous about joining in with such talented people, but the idea is wonderfully intriguing. I haven't written fiction of any kind in years, except for the occasional spoof, so I'm woefully out of practice, but nonetheless I'd like to try. How, exactly does one go about signing up? Can I just ask you here?

Re:

[estepheia.livejournal.com]

Sorry, for some reason I never got the notification mail. I am authorizing you now.

[krichira.livejournal.com]

'ello!
I came upon this and thought it was a pretty good idea. And fun too. ^_^ My creative juices haven't been exactly dry, but most definitely have passed their expiry date... I need a freshen up!
But being a student, I'm not sure if I have tests and assignments due then. Can I tentatively sign up? Tentatively?

Re:

[estepheia.livejournal.com]

Yes, of course. You won't be required to put in a lot of time, don't worry. Only at the end of the course people should try to write something. The earlier stages are mostly exercises that can be done anywhere you like, even in a cafeteria between classes. :-)

[parmalat.livejournal.com]

can people you don't know participate? i'd be interested.

Re:

[estepheia.livejournal.com]

Sure you can. I will authorize you now.
Sorry, I overlooked your request because LJ didn't send me the update mails...

[libco.livejournal.com]

authorize me baby!