We are having some technical issues with commenting. If you have commented, we have received it, even if it does not show up here. Our huge brains are working on figuring out what's up.
One quick piece of business: We've sent 25 invitations to join The Red Dress Blog. We apologize a million times over for the inexcusable delay in getting back to many of you. The change in personel and exploring options for a move to WordPress has resulted in a really awful backlog.
Anyway. If you have applied and did NOT receive an invitation in your email, please let us know as soon as possible.
Thanks again for your patience!
And now, a message from Nichole:
So it occurs to me that aside from reading the posts you have linked up here, I know so little about most of you.
You learned a lot about me from my introduction post. You know about my background and my goals.
But I don't know much about you.
What brings you to The Red Dress Club? Do you come here for the camaraderie? For the encouragement? To expand and to grow? To showcase your writing?
Tell me how I can best help you with your writing. Are there any specific areas that you'd like to work on? About what part of the writing process do you want to learn more?
Nothing is too small or too large to mention here. Do commas plague you? Do you want more information about how to get published?
This is my chance to get to know each of you. Tell me about your stumbling blocks.
I want to hear your thoughts.
I want to help you reach your goals. I want to use my experience to help you in any way I can.
We're all in this together.
Okay...your turn. I'm listening...
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Logging you in...
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More publishing info for sure. Also how to hone a storyline. I tend to be all over the place and can't quite seem to focus on the first A should happen, then B, then C. I end up with unconnected pieces.
ReplyDeleteSara - I friend once to told me to write a story in "scenes." Don't worry about yet how it fits together, just get the scenes on paper and then figure out how to join them. Just a thought
ReplyDeleteI am on a mission to become a better writer in every respect. What I really want is a friendly place to work on my craft and share with others.
ReplyDeleteI also want to connect with a community of like-minded bloggers.
I am more a lurker here on the Red Dress Club but I LOVE what I read and I love the weekly challenging prompts. :)
ReplyDeleteHey there! As the featured blogger yesterday, I don't think need to tell you anything more about myself. ;)
ReplyDeleteWhat I love about this group is the critiques. It is incredibly valuable to have my own work critiqued, and also to have the opportunity to read and comment on others' work. I love the interaction and learning that takes place with that process. So I want to see that continue and have more opportunities.
I have plenty of resources on the publishing industry. So I tend to just skim those here. I always like to read about people's writing approach/process. And read success stories. They motivate me. And a chance to get to know the group's other members better is always welcome...
Two topics of interest for me:
ReplyDelete* Making the time to write everyday - or at least every week.
* Writing stronger beginnings and endings.
I find it very helpful to see the comments and critiques on the work of fellow writers. It is a wonderful opportunity to learn and improve my writing.
I agree with more publishing in general. I'm personally interested in ideas about breaking in, and the need or use of developing a social media platform. I would love some grammar/punctuation stuff too. I cannot, for the life of me, where to put quotation marks with different punctuation. (always inside, commas inside, periods outside? I just don't know) and apostrophes. A little refresher on the things like what exactly is a participle and a gerund form? It's in my brain somewhere, but I can't locate it.
ReplyDeleteI've only been following for a short period of time and haven't linked up yet {out of pure intimidation}. But having read what others write, I'm hoping to learn how to tell my story with better descriptions and detail. I tend to tell it just like I would tell you in person, which is fine, but it makes tends to make it mundane. I do look forward to reading more and I'm hoping to link up soon!
ReplyDeleteStacey - that's a great thought. I've been really focused on there always being a narrative thread present that I sometimes lose the trees for the forest. I'm absolutely going to give that a try...
ReplyDeleteAnd right there is another reason I love TRDC!
I am a confessed lurker. I come to RDC to click on the icons and get the best reading on the internet.
ReplyDeleteI know, I know...but, please, don't kick a groupie out.
Thank you so much....
I have a hard time knowing exactly what tense to write it. I think you are supposed to write in present tense, but between that and if I should use the word I or she (as the perspective the story is being told from) is something I don't quite get.
ReplyDeleteI also would love some pointers on writing dialog between characters.
I am a new follower and am so excited about this blog. I can't wait to read more!
Glad to be here! I guess I'm here because I need the periodic kick in the butt, want to gain inspiration from other writers, and get back into scheduled writing of fiction again.
ReplyDeleteMostly lurk -- but love the inspiration, love finding great writers to read, and like others...helps motivate my own pursuits with a good swift kick in the buttola!
ReplyDeleteWhile my blog per se is not about writing I love to write. I spent my college career honing my writing and then abandoned it. This place feeds the fuel and love to exercise my writing. I love to read well written stuff and there is an abundance of that. I come here to learn how to write better when it comes to my posts and essays where description and humor are in my forefront. I want to be more humurous that's my biggest hurdle.
ReplyDeleteI spent 30 years doing a business degree followed by a career in finance and business management. Then I had my daughter and started my blog earlier this year and rediscovered a love for writing I left behind when I left school. I want to write, not sure exactly where I am headed eventually but know I need to hone my skills. This site has been wonderful for me to use the writing prompts and test my skills, writing about topics I would not even think to write about. I'd like to better understand how to get started, what resources there are to assist, what I can do to hone my skills etc. I really liked the interview with the author last week, so more such interviews would be interesting to read. I think encouragement of participants in the prompts to read the stories of all others and to be brave and critique as opposed to being kind - I know that is not easy to do and I shy away from it myself but to be a better writer you need that kind of feedback.
ReplyDeleteWriting was my passion at one point, and I crushed it into submission getting an English degree instead of having the cajones to study creative writing.
ReplyDeleteI'm here to reawaken my passion and find out if I have any crumbs of talent left that might bring in some readers. I'd love to publish at some point, but right now I know I really need to work on just writing writing writing. This is a great place for me to immerse myself in inspiring writing, although my own falls short (in my eyes) more times than not!
I love to write and the weekly prompts really help me focus . I love reading the other pieces of work and I feel each time I participate I grow as a writer.
ReplyDeleteI am interested in getting a refresher on punctuation, my arch nemesis (because I can never remember where to put a period with quotations). Also, I have issues with tenses. Do I need to stay in the same tense throughout a story? Can I switch tenses? Will anybody even notice? And critiques. I can take it, and I need them!
ReplyDeleteI just need the encouragement to get my thoughts written! I tend to internalize and usually the only way to get it all out is through writing. I am working up the courage to send in a submission to the private blog :) The RDC is a place to give ideas, encouragement and prompt you to work on yourself and your writing.
ReplyDeleteFor me: story line. I can quickly lose focus so I'd like to hear feedback about that. And I'm so mad I couldn't do the prompt this week but we've been on the road - hopefully next week!
ReplyDeleteI am an aspiring author, having always entertained the notion of writing the next NY Times bestseller, but not really having the know-how, the patience to actually complete an entire novel, and the confidence. I am very self-critical, and it's been a long time since I was in an English class. I thoroughly enjoy the "Wow!! Great writing" comments, but am convinced that there is always something that could have been better, i.e. sentence structure, too much description, too little description, etc. I am always seeking for critical critique. I have not defined my "niche" yet, and am exploring writing outside of my comfort zone (Fantasy, love, poetry tends to come easy, the rest? not so much) and always looking to improve. I have gotten some great tips here on how to get published, but I am definitely interested in learning more. I would also love to know what defines a novel vs a short story, etc.
ReplyDeleteOh and I forgot that I joined TRDC becasue I love to write, and I started blogging with the intent to start writing again. I love the weekly prompts and reading the others stories that always challenge me to make mine more, bigger, better.
ReplyDeleteHi. I'm a wanna be writer, really. I have no background in writing and my grammar sucks more often than not! But reading has been my obsession even before I learned to read, and tortured my mother because I just HAD to know how! As a kid I loved writing stories but somehow that passion got lost.. Since starting my blog (which was supposed to be about my kids) I've rediscovered that passion and the RDC has really helped me with get back into it
ReplyDeleteI have always written but never seriously. I tell good stories verbally and everyone says I should write! There is a part of me who wants to write too but then there is the fear factor of actually declaring myself a writer! I have so many ideas and just need a push to get going so that's why I came here.
ReplyDeleteI try to keep up with RDC as much as I can but have been having a hard time keeping up with life in general lately. I love to write and wish I could write more. I have recently, this year, rediscovered my passion for writing. I like this forum and the challenges and support it presents. I respect it a lot. I am just plugging along, trying to practice, and along the way I will be more and more ready for critique. I am hoping that next year, I will carve out specific times (away from home for a couple weekends, for example) to begin the development of a book. Right now, I am playing, experimenting, and learning as much as I can in general. Thank you for having me.
ReplyDelete