So, while I'm tiring of the blogosphere in general, I still find blogs to be extremely useful. And even though this blog will take a step back after the New Year (some have noticed the redesign/strip-down already), I'll be sticking around The Tenth Daughter of Memory and lurking on a couple of private blogs. One of those private blogs is a writer's group that welcomes any aspiring writer who wants to hone their skills with the assistance of honest critiques (some amateur, some professional). The other is the home of my unedited, unabashed creative writing.
The Tenth Daughter of Memory Muses On...
The Tenth Daughter of Memory started its second year of existence this past September and it's a wild ride. The talent keeps improving, the competition keeps stiffening, and the Muses keep getting... weirder. Many participants have even submitted their entries for publication in a variety of places and it appears a few of them will see legitimate print (and even get made into short films).
Personally, I can't wait until February and the next River of Mnemosyne Challenge. That's a royal butt-kicker. Cowards and hacks need not apply, if you know what I mean.
The Infanticide Exchange Revisited
On September 1st of this year, a group of us launched The Infanticide Exchange, an online writer's group for aspiring writers who wanted to share and receive honest criticisms with other aspiring writers. It got off to a great start, then languished a bit, but now seems to be leveling out at a steady pace. It's been a useful tool for me, and I know several of the other members will claim the same.
Anyone interested, feel free to contact an admin (Baino, JeffScape, Krys, Not for Jellyfish, and Tom) and check it out. Admin email addresses are available at their profiles.
Announcing: Panoramic Mindscapes
Most of my regular readers know that I have a strange rule concerning creative writing here at IrreX2: I don't post complete stories. This is done for a variety of reasons, copyright issues being one of them. But I do continue to work on stories that appear here piecemeal. And, so, for my close friends and certain people who I want to see published themselves (read: potential clients... cough, cough), I've started a private blog where those who want to see the rest of those stories unfold can go to do so. I call it "Panoramic Mindscapes" and if you'd like an invite, shoot me an email. Just be forewarned that I'm being ludicrously picky as to who gets access, so please don't take offense if I don't respond.
Showing posts with label Infanticide Exchange. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Infanticide Exchange. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Friday, September 3, 2010
The Infanticide Exchange: A Correspondence
There have been some very thoughtful questions and concerns about The Infanticide Exchange and it's probably a good idea to address those publicly. I'll do this again, I'm sure, but for now I'm just posting an email response (heavily edited... along with some extra snippets) I sent to an inquirer.
***
1. There are rules on The Infanticide Exchange concerning the difference between being "blunt" and being "insulting." Trust me, we'll come down on "dicks for dicks sake."
2. Artists of any genre (and you know this... just repeating for posterity) have thick skins. Back when I was actually pursuing writing as a career (and despite popular belief, I gave up on that about 3 years ago), I ran the gamut... got notes from everything stating "go back to school" to "blockbuster." Since I've moved to the other side of that fence, I often dole out similar notes. In short, if someone's even half-serious about attempting publication, they need to get used to it. Otherwise, they shouldn't even bother (a good friend of mine has one of his... more colorful... rejection letters framed on his mantle. It's quite insulting and hilarious... but he keeps submitting!).
3. The Infanticide Exchange is private because it's not for "bloggers." Exclusivity is not an issue, it's simply for people who want to get published and have a desire to protect their copyright without plots and characters flying around the Internet. We're not interested in helping out with The Tenth Daughter of Memory, Theme Thursday, Magpie Tales, or other creative meme entries. This is to review works that authors plan on sending out for print and paycheck. In fact, I'll be REALLY PISSED if someone submits on The Infanticide Exchange and I read the submission on their blog later.
4. The Infanticide Exchange is NOT a competitive site.
5. The way it's set up, you "try it for a day" before making any final decision. If it's not for you, then don't ask for an author invite. But there's no harm in looking.
6. And, by the way, nobody gets to sign up just to critique others. Put your stuff up, or shut your stuff up. Hence, "exchange."
Any other questions? Just ask!
Don't know what The Infanticide Exchange is? Read this.
***
1. There are rules on The Infanticide Exchange concerning the difference between being "blunt" and being "insulting." Trust me, we'll come down on "dicks for dicks sake."
2. Artists of any genre (and you know this... just repeating for posterity) have thick skins. Back when I was actually pursuing writing as a career (and despite popular belief, I gave up on that about 3 years ago), I ran the gamut... got notes from everything stating "go back to school" to "blockbuster." Since I've moved to the other side of that fence, I often dole out similar notes. In short, if someone's even half-serious about attempting publication, they need to get used to it. Otherwise, they shouldn't even bother (a good friend of mine has one of his... more colorful... rejection letters framed on his mantle. It's quite insulting and hilarious... but he keeps submitting!).
3. The Infanticide Exchange is private because it's not for "bloggers." Exclusivity is not an issue, it's simply for people who want to get published and have a desire to protect their copyright without plots and characters flying around the Internet. We're not interested in helping out with The Tenth Daughter of Memory, Theme Thursday, Magpie Tales, or other creative meme entries. This is to review works that authors plan on sending out for print and paycheck. In fact, I'll be REALLY PISSED if someone submits on The Infanticide Exchange and I read the submission on their blog later.
4. The Infanticide Exchange is NOT a competitive site.
5. The way it's set up, you "try it for a day" before making any final decision. If it's not for you, then don't ask for an author invite. But there's no harm in looking.
6. And, by the way, nobody gets to sign up just to critique others. Put your stuff up, or shut your stuff up. Hence, "exchange."
Any other questions? Just ask!
Don't know what The Infanticide Exchange is? Read this.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
The Infanticide Exchange
In an attempt to foster a bit more quality from Internet writers, bloggers Wings and JeffScape started The Tenth Daughter of Memory, a quasi-competitive collection of bored souls whose only prize for winning a Muse (the term for prompts there) is being able to pick a following Muse. And while the intention was not to concentrate on writing, it's sort of turned out that way (they've had non-writing entries and it's very much open to other types of creativity) and a general expectation has arisen concerning honest critical feedback.
Now, in an attempt not to scare off the scores of cowards lurking around The Tenth Daughter of Memory, a new blog is being created... one in which people who really want constructive criticism can come to get it: The Infanticide Exchange. Yes, your stories are your babies, and the intent is to try to kill them (because, you know, the ones that survive will only become stronger).
Anyone who already reads Creative Infanticide will know the philosophy behind the term, and anyone who wants in is welcome to join.
The blog is entirely private. It is invite only (so request an invitation), does not show up on search engines (nobody there is going to rip off anybody's work), and will be a great place for those who want to be writers to get honest, cold-hearted feedback (without the risk of dozens of "ooh, this is so good, you should be published" comments).
There are rules there, however. One is that your identity (name, age, email address, location, and phone number) must be shared with everyone else on the blog. Nothing within The Infanticide Exchange is anonymous, and everyone gets to follow everyone else's career aspirations and progress. Members will be activated as blog authors (we're limited to 100, but that shouldn't be an issue... and if it is, priority will be given to 10thDoM participants), and once something is posted, it cannot be removed. There are other rules, but you can learn about them there. Any violation (ANY) means you're kicked out of the group for good.
The Infanticide Exchange is up and running now, and the admins are Tom at Half-Moose with a Twist, Baino at Creative Infanticide, and JeffScape at Irreverent Irrelevance. Email one of them, and they'll get you started.
If you're willing to partake in a bit of baby-killing, that is.
Now, in an attempt not to scare off the scores of cowards lurking around The Tenth Daughter of Memory, a new blog is being created... one in which people who really want constructive criticism can come to get it: The Infanticide Exchange. Yes, your stories are your babies, and the intent is to try to kill them (because, you know, the ones that survive will only become stronger).
Anyone who already reads Creative Infanticide will know the philosophy behind the term, and anyone who wants in is welcome to join.
The blog is entirely private. It is invite only (so request an invitation), does not show up on search engines (nobody there is going to rip off anybody's work), and will be a great place for those who want to be writers to get honest, cold-hearted feedback (without the risk of dozens of "ooh, this is so good, you should be published" comments).
There are rules there, however. One is that your identity (name, age, email address, location, and phone number) must be shared with everyone else on the blog. Nothing within The Infanticide Exchange is anonymous, and everyone gets to follow everyone else's career aspirations and progress. Members will be activated as blog authors (we're limited to 100, but that shouldn't be an issue... and if it is, priority will be given to 10thDoM participants), and once something is posted, it cannot be removed. There are other rules, but you can learn about them there. Any violation (ANY) means you're kicked out of the group for good.
The Infanticide Exchange is up and running now, and the admins are Tom at Half-Moose with a Twist, Baino at Creative Infanticide, and JeffScape at Irreverent Irrelevance. Email one of them, and they'll get you started.
If you're willing to partake in a bit of baby-killing, that is.
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