The Bard's Guild

[zeroh13]

We're back! Or maybe we never left, and just took a much needed nap in that corner over there. 

 

The Bard's Guild welcomes anyone and everyone with a desire to write. You do not need to have a writing goal! This is a place to learn, share ideas and experiences, complain, critique, laugh, and have fun. There will be resources, prompts, and more. Feel free to post your own!

 

 

Please introduce yourself! What do you like to write? How do you like to write? What's your favorite story (in any medium)? Additionally, if you have any resources, share and I'll add them to the list.

 

(If you'd like to be a card carrying member of the guild, let me know and I'll add you to the list in the second post. And please tag anyone you think might be interested!)

 

@Wobbegong, @Akira Kurusu, @IAmInfinite, @Plazmotic, @SeekingCassandra, @J3NN, @Dagger, @PollyannaAgain

[zeroh13]

Resources:

 

[work in progress]

 

Members:

@zeroh13

[J3NN]

@juliebarkley Here's another place for you to post your daily post.

[Akira Kurusu]

Heyo, 

Currently, I'm taking theater classes and my instructor is one of a kind. He made me understand a lot about the emotions of humanity rather than techniques for drama. Which is why I'm revisiting some of the most iconic characters and stories and finding out where my own voice lies. Recently, I've been drawn to the likes of Tyler Durden (Fight Club), Light Yagami (Death Note) and Johan Liebert (Monster). What makes me attracted to these people is the amount of conviction they have in what they speak. Despite their questionable character, their actions line up with their beliefs (not so much for Light ... which is again what makes him so interesting)... So I'm interested in such grey characters and what makes them tick.

I really like writing things that contain a lot of humour but have dark overtones. I'm more keen on the emotions and the behaviour of character rather than the story. Eitherways, I'm still a novice at the end of the day, and look to push my interests into my strengths and hope to write characters as great as those mentioned above someday.

[Wobbegong]

39 minutes ago, zeroh13 said:

Please introduce yourself! What do you like to write? How do you like to write? What's your favorite story (in any medium)?

Hi! I'm Wobbegong. I mostly write fanfiction (and lately Mini Challenges I guess?). I actually like to write with a pen in a notebook best, but typing on a keyboard (not a typewriter) is fine too. Someplace quiet and comfortable (in bed at home) or loud and busy (in a coffeeshop) is best for concentration. In-between spaces are no good. 

 

Favorite story... hmmmm. I've been reflecting on what type of story I like recently, because anime, and there it usually comes down to either super pure things (yowamushi pedal) or super shady/morally ambiguous things (shin sekai yori). I guess my overall favorite story is V for Vendetta? V is both very pure and very shady. 

[Plazmotic]

1 hour ago, zeroh13 said:

Please introduce yourself! What do you like to write? How do you like to write? What's your favorite story (in any medium)? Additionally, if you have any resources, share and I'll add them to the list.

Hi everyone! I’m on hiatus from writing until mid October but I still want to be a part of the conversation. Been writing fanfic for ages now but I’ve been attempting to write a novel for the last 7 years or so. Didn’t quite get my act together until last year though. My preferred method of writing is on my laptop, away from home either at the library or a local coffee shop I enjoy. It’s hard to pick my favourite story but right now it’s a tie between Seveneves by Neal Stephenson and Lilith’s Brood by Octavia Butler.

[Akira Kurusu]

32 minutes ago, Plazmotic said:

Hi everyone! I’m on hiatus from writing until mid October but I still want to be a part of the conversation. Been writing fanfic for ages now but I’ve been attempting to write a novel for the last 7 years or so. Didn’t quite get my act together until last year though. My preferred method of writing is on my laptop, away from home either at the library or a local coffee shop I enjoy. It’s hard to pick my favourite story but right now it’s a tie between Seveneves by Neal Stephenson and Lilith’s Brood by Octavia Butler.

 

Interesting picks. I must say I've never heard of either of the two. What are they about?

[SeekingCassandra]

2 hours ago, zeroh13 said:

(If you'd like to be a card carrying member of the guild, let me know and I'll add you to the list in the second post. And please tag anyone you think might be interested!)

 

I don't think I've been a card carrying member of anything, really. Quite exciting, methinks. . . 

 

Anyhoo, Hi! 

 

Current WIP is a Historical Drama set someh where around 1720s in the West Indies. Yes there are pirates. No there isn't Johnny Depp. First, insanely, stupidly rough draft is finished, and working on first coat of polish as I try and transcribe my chicken-scratch handwritten draft into text format. Yes, I am still working on this monster. 

 

Also have had some moderate success with a fanfic or two. Mainly my HP fanfic novel length WIP . . . someday it will be finished, and hopefully it won't take another decade. It seems  some Dragon Age fanfiction is in my destined future as well.

 

I am a dialogue heavy, super heavy on characterization, super light on actual description or plot kind of writer. Hoping to mentally beat myself out of that by reading some of the kings of detailed description and am about 62% through Leo Tolstoy's "The Cossacks"

 

 

Top 5 fave books would have to be: Warlord Chronicles by Bernard Cornwell, Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, Good Omens by Gaimain/Prachett, Tie between Harry Potter Series and Artemis Fowl series, and fifth place to some crummy romance novels . . ..  I wish I could give a rank to some heavy, bleak Russian Lit or something, but as much as I love the stories, gosh darn it are they a tough read. 

 

 

[Akira Kurusu]

2 minutes ago, SeekingCassandra said:

I don't think I've been a card carrying member of anything, really. Quite exciting, methinks. . . 

 

Anyhoo, Hi! 

 

Current WIP is a Historical Drama set someh where around 1720s in the West Indies. Yes there are pirates. No there isn't Johnny Depp. First, insanely, stupidly rough draft is finished, and working on first coat of polish as I try and transcribe my chicken-scratch handwritten draft into text format. Yes, I am still working on this monster. 

 

Also have had some moderate success with a fanfic or two. Mainly my HP fanfic novel length WIP . . . someday it will be finished, and hopefully it won't take another decade. It seems  some Dragon Age fanfiction is in my destined future as well.

 

I am a dialogue heavy, super heavy on characterization, super light on actual description or plot kind of writer. Hoping to mentally beat myself out of that by reading some of the kings of detailed description and am about 62% through Leo Tolstoy's "The Cossacks"

 

 

Top 5 fave books would have to be: Warlord Chronicles by Bernard Cornwell, Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, Good Omens by Gaimain/Prachett, Tie between Harry Potter Series and Artemis Fowl series, and fifth place to some crummy romance novels . . ..  I wish I could give a rank to some heavy, bleak Russian Lit or something, but as much as I love the stories, gosh darn it are they a tough read. 

 

 

Yo, what'd you think of the Dragon Age series post Origins? Origins is one of my favourite games of all time. (love love LOVE Alistair), but I felt it went downhill from there. Inquisition didn't really do it for me. I mean, it was a solid game from all fronts but just so... unmemorable, except for revelation of Solas... which has me very intrigued for the sequel.

I'm one of the few people who is really excited about DA:4. Patrick Weekes is easily one of the best writers at BioWare and the fact that he's heading the writing team for the next game gives me high hopes. Also, Alexis Kennedy is involved, he's f***ing awesome!

[SeekingCassandra]

5 minutes ago, Akira Kurusu said:

Yo, what'd you think of the Dragon Age series post Origins? Origins is one of my favourite games of all time. (love love LOVE Alistair), but I felt it went downhill from there. Inquisition didn't really do it for me. I mean, it was a solid game from all fronts but just so... unmemorable, except for revelation of Solas... which has me very intrigued for the sequel.

I'm one of the few people who is really excited about DA:4. Patrick Weekes is easily one of the best writers at BioWare and the fact that he's heading the writing team for the next game gives me high hopes. Also, Alexis Kennedy is involved, he's f***ing awesome!

 

 

I came at the series backwards - I played Inquistion first, so as it was my first love, I love it well. I think the story telling with Inquisition is so huge and nuanced compared to Orgins and 2. It could be argued that very fact makes Orgins better, story wise, because it is a more complete focused story rather then a million little details twisted together into a complicated braid like Inquisition was. I think the reason that many found Inquisition 'less' then Orgins was that you had to go find the story where as Orgins was much more linear and obvious - devil really is in the details in Inquisition.

2 was . .  I mean I love it, don't get me wrong, but it was kinda crap, wasn't is? It really was just a transitory story line spliced in to set the scene/bridge the gap between Orgins and Inquisition. I mean, I really do love it - named my dog after one of the characters and all, but it just felt super lackluster sandwhiched between the 2 tour de forces of O and I. I mean, I love Varric's storytelling, but the whole recounting of events gimmick didn't quite do it for me. Felt a little forced, I guess?

 

Yeah, I am pretty anxious for whatever they put out next. I folllow Patrick Weeks specifically on Twitter precisely for any commentary on the new DA project. He's also just funny, but mainly there for any commentary lol.

 

PS. Yes! That Solas revelation was such a curve ball! But then when you go back and play through again with the knowledge it's like . ..  so obvious! They left clues and Easter eggs about it all over the place!

[Plazmotic]

2 hours ago, Akira Kurusu said:

Interesting picks. I must say I've never heard of either of the two. What are they about?

 

Both are science fiction novels. The premise of Seveneves is: what if the moon exploded and we fled to space stations while the earth was destroyed? The premise of Lilith's Brood is: what if civilization collapsed but aliens came to save us albeit under a condition that would change the face of humanity? I've simplified both a lot but that's basically how they go!

[theophilus]

Checking in!

 

I love reading and writing, but have not taken writing seriously in a while. I've never pursued writing outside of my academic and professional pursuits, and I really want to start. I'm struggling to find an outlet for non-fiction writing, as I'm trying to avoid being just another guy with a blog. For the time being, I'm just trying to get back into writing at all, and have consistent journaling as a goal this challenge.

 

I'm also really itching to try my hand at fiction. I did some creative writing in college and adore reading good fiction. But I'm really struggling where to start. Any tips?

[SeekingCassandra]

3 minutes ago, theophilus said:

I'm also really itching to try my hand at fiction. I did some creative writing in college and adore reading good fiction. But I'm really struggling where to start. Any tips?

 

Find one thing that fascinates you and weave around it - it can be a setting, a person, an event, an artifact, and idea. My pirate story started with - well, love of piracy, and I started to weave ideas of women surviving in that kind of setting - what they would have to be like, what they would go through, etc.

 

It can be as complicated or simple as you like. Other flufier pieces I am working on are based of well tropes - modern day adaptions of fairy tale dynamics of prince charming or the classic person displaced in time/hilarity ensues idea. I love those concepts (even if they are overplayed) and want to tell a story with them. 

 

Additional detail falls into place, but that is the first step. Find something, anything, you want to tell a story about. . . 

[Dagger]

Hi! Dagger here. I write all kinds of fiction with a focus on fantasy and mystery. I write both short and long. I currently have 8 short stories published and will indie publish two short novels sometime this fall/winter. I also hope to indie publish a few more short stories that have made the main rounds with magazines.

 

How I like to write? Into the dark as one of my main writing mentor/teacher puts it. (In common writer language that would be pantsing.) I do it in such a way as I more or less edit as I go (although I/my teacher calls it cycling and it isn't editing in the common sense of the word). You can check my teacher out at DeanWesleySmith.com, he has multiple blog posts on Writing into the Dark and one or two on cycling, actually I know he blogged his book Writing into the Dark and if those posts are still up, you'll find info about cycling if you are interested. (My second main writing mentor/teacher is Kristine Kathryn Rusch, she has a lot of good business blog posts on her website.)

 

If I had to pick ONE favorite book, it is: The Deeds of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon. It is technically a trilogy but it is basically mostly sold as one book nowadays so I'll still claim it.

 

Another book that always shows up on my top five list is:

2 hours ago, SeekingCassandra said:

Good Omens by Gaimain/Prachett

[Infinity.Creates]

What do you like to write? How do you like to write? What's your favorite story (in any medium)? Additionally, if you have any resources, share and I'll add them to the list.

 

I HAVE ARRIVED (said as I slink in 15 hours late without a starbucks)

 

Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, writing, geesh, it's a hard thing isn't it. Words, letters, putting them into an order so that they mean something. Eesh, who would ever want that as a hobby? Or even a job (that mythical thing)

 

I like to write things. What things? Well, right now I'm part of a RP (Leverage based, some awesome event ideas going on there right now), so writing everyday with a specific POV. 

I also really like to write poetry, did some open mic nights with it to a good reception, hope to one day to actually make a collection.

I like to write fiction, often fantasy based, with a focus on character. The themes change, the mood changes, etc, depending on what I'm writing. 

 

I like to write on my laptop, because then I can get the words out nearly as fast as I can think them. 

It's best when I'm out of my room, put some music in, and then I can just focus on getting the words out. (Tricky things, they hate being pinned down)

 

My favourite story has got to be Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson. Or the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett. They're both so innovative and well characterised.

 

As for resources, I'm currently listening to Sanderson's series on Creative Writing : 

 

[zeroh13]

Hi everyone, welcome!

 

I'm going to open up the activities with something fun, a collaborative writing challenge. (At least I hope it will be fun.) This will run for the duration of the current challenge, at which time we'll vote on continuing it or starting a new story. Or ditching the idea if it turns out to be unpopular.

 

The rules are pretty simple. The first person will begin the story using the picture I've provided as inspiration (max 200 words). The next person will continue the story (again, max 200 words). And the story continues to pass between writers. There's no set genre or tone (though it is quite common for there to be some silliness to this type of activity). I do ask that everyone keeps it "safe for work". Once you contribute, you must wait for one other person to write before you can take another turn. Aside from that, participate as little or as much as you want. This is the sort of activity where you can jump in at any time.

 

Post your contributions here, just make sure it's clearly labeled. You do not need to quote or copy the previous posts. I'll be copying everything into a google doc as we go along. You can reference/read it as often as you'd like.

 

Let me know if you have any questions!

 

Image:

Spoiler

 

Google doc: The Bard's Guild Collaborative Writing Challenge #1

[Plazmotic]

22 hours ago, zeroh13 said:

Image:

  Reveal hidden contents

 

I guess I'll start?!

 

--------------------------------

 

When they took my blindfold off, I was shocked. We had to have been less than two minutes away from my house, but the sight before me was wholly unfamiliar. The purple flowers were a strange addition; I had never seen them once during my wanderings across the marshes and bogs. But even stranger were the old train tracks, knocked askew and buried under leaves and dirt, a near impossibility given how remote and rural the surrounding area was. Trains didn’t run here, not on the island.

 

I turned away from the view and looked back and forth at the women holding either of my hand. Dark haired Oak on one side, tall and strong with determination in her eyes. Light haired Ash on the other, willowy and delicate with a grin on her face. Weird names. Although I didn’t think that at the time; things that feel strange when you’re grown are a matter-of-fact when you’re only eleven years old.

[Infinity.Creates]

(I'm taking this as someone talking in past tense about an experience they had as a child?)

 

And somehow I had found my way back here, stumbling along the train tracks in the morning light (it was only ever morning light here), though this time Ash and Oak weren't standing by my side any longer. But for now, I needed to keep going, staying away from the shadows that had now inhabited my home. I needed to get to the end of the tracks.

[J3NN]

I'm very late to the game here, but I'm here and ready to introduce myself I guess.

 

I'm J3nn. I like to write, period. I consider myself more about non-fiction, blogging, journalistic, business communications, and journaling but I'm trying my hand at short fiction. I've tried writing a couple novel's, but I have lost myself along the way and never finished a story. I thought short fiction might be a better way to go. I use a computer to save myself the time to transcribe it, but I have paper journals full too. I can't possibly pick a favorite story, but I can say that a few have more impact than others, The Mermaid Chair, Sue Monk Kidd; The Art Elizabeth Gilbert. Have read and loved Deed of Paksenarrion, but it was so  long ago and so many stories have come since then, that while I definitely recommend it to all, I don't generally fall back to saying it's a favorite, even though it was at the time. Perhaps I should reread it with these new eyes and this new brain.

 

I don't tend to reread stories, there are so many stories out there, I like to see what I'm missing. I'm exploring the world of short fiction through Fiction River anthologies and The Starship Sofa and Podcastle podcasts right now. It's a different experience and at first I really wasn't sure, but it's growing on me.

[J3NN]

Continuing from @IAmInfinite

 

The morning light cast long shadows where it peeked through the canopy. I started to remember little details I thought I would never need again. The end of the tracks beckoned to me, calling me forward in spite of my reluctance to be here. Inhaling the aroma of the fallen leaves, grounding myself, I took the first of many steps.

[Andrees]

I would like to be an official member of the guild.  I enjoy writing here and there but I by no means label myself a writer.  The things I enjoy reading and writing the most are black comedies, deconstructions, and exploring the unanswered or unasked questions in popular fiction.  

 

A ridiculous example of this in my head is "Who's responsible for sewing the superhero's costume back together after it's all torn up and blasted apart?  He can't take it to a seamstress or even hire one, else he'll give his identity away.  Does he do it himself?  When did he take the time to get smart on sewing?  Did we miss that montage?"  So maybe in a story involving this hero he has to deal with this dilemma and ends up having to do an amateur job of it himself, and each time he ventures out to save the world his costume is just a bit more lopsided and shitty-looking.  There are patches and miscolored threads which people are quick to point out.  I am trying to piece together some kind of novel exploring these kinds of things in the superhero genre.

 

One of my favorite lines in literature comes from The Hound in A Game of Thrones:  "What do you think a knight is for girl?  You think it's all taking favors from ladies and looking fine in gold plate?  Knights are for killing."

 

I really like that line because some tend to think of knights in stories and legends as romantic, noble aristocrats in shining armor with a gleaming smile that save damsels from the fearsome dragon.  In reality knights were there so a king could point them down the field of battle and say "go kill those motherfuckers over there."  And they were just as human with faults and weren't all paragons of virtue.  Getting into the realistic (not necessarily gritty) version of fantastic tropes is what I really enjoy.

[zeroh13]

Welcome, @Andrees!

 

It's been really quiet here, and I haven't put as much energy into this as a probably should. (Sorry!)

 

45 minutes ago, Andrees said:

A ridiculous example of this in my head is "Who's responsible for sewing the superhero's costume back together after it's all torn up and blasted apart?  He can't take it to a seamstress or even hire one, else he'll give his identity away.  Does he do it himself?  When did he take the time to get smart on sewing?  Did we miss that montage?"  So maybe in a story involving this hero he has to deal with this dilemma and ends up having to do an amateur job of it himself, and each time he ventures out to save the world his costume is just a bit more lopsided and shitty-looking.  There are patches and miscolored threads which people are quick to point out.  I am trying to piece together some kind of novel exploring these kinds of things in the superhero genre.

I saw one movie that dealt with this, and the whole instantly changing in a phone booth thing. I wish I could remember the name of it.

[VellaMal]

Hey, all! Vella here, I write fantasy that I hope will make me money one day. I would like to be a card-carrying member

 

(Also yessss Brandon Sanderson's lectures! Really interesting talks!)

 

As for the story, continuing from @J3NN
In my memory, Ash and Oak are still beside me, not looking at me. My eleven-year-old face turns to them for guidance, for reassurance, but they are following the rules, not looking at me. My heart pounds as I get closer and closer to the end of the tracks, where there was a clearing. Last time I was here, the clearing was full of people. I still remember where they stood, as if they'd left footprints in the leaves. Here, and here, and here. And they'd led me to stand ... my footsteps make soft, crisp noises over the grass and leaves ...

Here.

[zeroh13]

1 hour ago, VellaMal said:

Hey, all! Vella here, I write fantasy that I hope will make me money one day. I would like to be a card-carrying member

 

(Also yessss Brandon Sanderson's lectures! Really interesting talks!)

 

As for the story, continuing from @J3NN
In my memory, Ash and Oak are still beside me, not looking at me. My eleven-year-old face turns to them for guidance, for reassurance, but they are following the rules, not looking at me. My heart pounds as I get closer and closer to the end of the tracks, where there was a clearing. Last time I was here, the clearing was full of people. I still remember where they stood, as if they'd left footprints in the leaves. Here, and here, and here. And they'd led me to stand ... my footsteps make soft, crisp noises over the grass and leaves ...

Here.

Hi Vella, welcome back!

[Akira Kurusu]

Hey, everyone! 

Sorry I've been off for a while. Was so engrossed with my new youtube channel I lost focus with everything else. If you're interested, you might like to check out some of my videos. I have combined my passion for human psychology with anime to produce something you might want to apply to your real life or stories. Here's an example:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZLm63VIZTY&t=2s

Looking to be more active here. Cheers!