United States :: Illinois :: DeKalb

Critique Circle Discussion Thread

Apollo16 — Sun, 4 Jan 2009 16:32:38 -0800

Two things to discuss:

1) Rules for pieces with a visual component (i.e. comic, graphic novel) or poetry.
2) Best online community for the critique circle.

I do not do comics, graphic novels etc. so I will open the floor for suggestions. We will need questions about the visual or symbolic nature of these types of pieces. If you intend to upload one of these types of writing, what information are you looking for in a critique?

Best online communities:

Some choices so far:

1. LiveJournal (no ability to upload files... will be a problem for all visually-based pieces)
2. wordpress (same limits but does have a better privacy and widget control than LJ, less obnoxious ads)
3. google docs (up to 200 people can view document collection so we won't run into that wall but feature poor)

Requirements

1. privacy/password protection
2. comments/blogging
3. ability to upload documents for visual pieces

I do not know of an ideal site. Please speak up if you do!! (I do not have the time to deal with actually setting up a real site with what we need. Plus, I want this site's address to remain stable no matter who moves where!)

Apollo16
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United States :: Illinois :: DeKalb

Meeting Notes for 1-4-09

Apollo16 — Sun, 4 Jan 2009 16:12:22 -0800

There were nine people in attendance. We socialized, had a business meeting and did writing prompts. (We did a prompt from Natalie Goldberg’s Wild Mind where you call out a word and someone else does a word association. Then, everyone takes a couple of the word pairs generated and uses them in a new metaphor. Some of our examples included: carpet and roly polies (sp?), stick shift and “ow” and sapphires and coffee. There were some really nice metaphors generated.)

Business portion:

1. We will continue to meet the first and third Sundays at B and N noon to three.

2. The first Sunday will be socializing then writing prompts/timed writing. (The JanNoWriMos are very interested in the timed writings given their success during Nov.)

3. The third Sunday will be socializing then Publishing Goal Round Table (see below) and then writing prompts/timed writing.

4. Apollo16, with Julie’s help, will start an online critique circle (see rules below). Trie_squid has volunteered to be first. It will start Feb. 1.

5. Apollo16 will start a thread so we can set up the rules for writing pieces that are not covered by the general rules below (i.e. visual poetry, comics, graphic novels etc.).

6. Apollo16 had an excel spreadsheet that can be used for submission tracking. PM her if you want a copy with a real email address so she can forward it to you.

7. We discussed writing software. Here are the ones people like so far:

• Scrivener (mac): http://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener.html
• Aeon Time (mac): http://aeontimeline.wordpress.com/about/
• Excel timeline (all): http://www.vertex42.com/ExcelArticles/create-a-timeline.html
• Liquid Story Builder (pc): http://www.blackobelisksoftware.com/index.html

Publishing Goal Round Table

On the third Sunday, people, in turn, will state their publishing goal for the month. It can be as simple as finding an address to as complicated as the final preparation and printing of the submission. The next time, all will go around and show proof that they have met their goal (i.e. the address or the postal receipt). The point is to say it out loud and catch all kinds of grief for not following through. It’s because we love you!

Rules for Online Critique Circle

1. Participants will sign up online and upload their piece on the date they select. It cannot be longer that 20 double-spaced pages and can be a short story, chapter from a novel, scene from a screenplay, a comic, a graphic novel or a poem or arc of poems.
2. The reviewers will answer the questions below during the next week.
3. The author may ask follow-up questions or discuss comments but not until the review week has passed. The discussion stays open for one week then the next person on the calendar uploads their piece and the cycle repeats.
4. This means that there will be a maximum of two pieces per month for critiquing.
5. The person up for critique may ask one additional question but only ONE. Additionally, participants are limited to only ONE paragraph of explanation. The point is to tell the story in the piece not in the set-up.
6. In order to be a member of good standing, you must critique at least one piece per month (two is preferred) and you cannot upload a piece if you are not in good standing.
7. There will be no critiquing during the month of Nov. due to noveling.

Questions for Critique Circle

Each reviewer must answer the following questions in their review:

1) Author:
2) Scene:
3) Critiqued by:
4) Protagonist:
5) Protagonist’s goal:
6) Antagonist:
7) Antagonist’s goal:
8) What I think happens next:
9) Must keep:
10) Needs work/stopper (stopper = place where reader falls out of the story for whatever reason):
11) Comments:
12) Additional participant question if one exists:

Note the discussion in the other thread where we discuss how to review writing pieces with graphics, song lyrics or poems.

Apollo16

(Thanks to Sunne who found the link for Liquid Story Builder.)

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United States :: Illinois :: DeKalb

Janowrimo

americanwritergal — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 12:10:31 -0800

I know we talked quite a bit in early December end of November about a possible Janowrimo, I am going to do it, who is with me?
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United States :: Illinois :: DeKalb

Happy New Year!!

Apollo16 — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 16:25:47 -0800

Happy New Year all!

I am also reminding you that the first meeting to set-up our Master Plan for 2009 is scheduled for Sunday Jan. 4 at B and N from noon to three. (The Barnes and Noble on 23 next to Target.) The plan is to eat and socialize for the first hour and then do business and then write.

http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:offi...

2439 Sycamore Rd
DeKalb, IL 60115
(815) 787-3234

See this thread for our previous discussions.

http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3143237

Apollo16

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United States :: Illinois :: DeKalb

Woohoo! We are the small region #1 fundraiser!!

Apollo16 — Mon, 8 Dec 2008 16:22:32 -0800

Mary and I got the official email today. DeKalb is the number 1 small region in fundraising. (Small is <100 homed participants.)

We get to have a web badge! We will get a trophy later!!

You can download the web badge here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/nanowrimoKathy/DeKalbWrimo2007#

We really did blind Perth with all our halos!!

Apollo16
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United States :: Illinois :: DeKalb

On way a critique group might be structured

julieb8rib — Sun, 7 Dec 2008 08:29:21 -0800

Hi all. Sorry I forgot to bring this information last night. It was really fun seeing everyone though.

The critique group I am currently working with is based on this structure suggested by author Jenny Crusie here:

http://www.arghink.com/2007/05/17/getting-your-glinda-on-how-to-start-a-...

Our group is set up on a private blog. We have two critiques a month, and at this point, we have not run any writing prompts or short story analyses (sp??) because we've all been busy enough with our own work that we're happy just with the critque schedule as is. The scene(s) to be critiqued (roughly 12-20 pp or a chapter, but we've had shorter ones) is posted on Monday. All critiques are due by Sunday night. Critiquers answer the set list of 7 questions (I'll re-post them below), and post their critique in the comment section of the blog before reading other critiques. Then the critiquers can chat amongst themselves for the rest of the two weeks.

The author can't comment until all the critiques are in or until the following Monday morning, at which point they can ask/answer questions, thank the criqiuers, have their "ah-ha!" comments etc.

If a person skips three critiques they get a polite reminder of the posting schedule. Four skips (two months) is a dismissal from the group (One women who just had a baby has asked to be on "leave of absence", and we all joyously agreed. We all know life happens and really haven't had once we got rolling.)

There are a few differences though. Jenny's group has 25, and my group has 10 people, and all of us are writers. We all met at a weekend writers conference she hosted and so we were familiar with her terminology and had all participated in the same classes etc. We talk about whatever we want. A few of us are ready to submit stuff and have been in contests and others have not but we don't have a publishing talk ban. (Crusie's group has several published authors, so I think they want the break.)

Having 10 people means that everyone posts a scene at least once a year. We have not met for an entire year yet. We decided we would vote on asking others in at the one year point, when we have run a full year. I would not reccommend a group of less than 9 (although I know 5 is a good "group" number) since the pressure to post a polished scene might leave some people scrambling, and you really don''t want to have a skipped week if you can avoid it. Also, it's nice to have a variety of comments, especially when there are disagreements on whether something is working or not. I'm not sure how my group will feel about opening up for more people. I suspect some of us will not want to wait longer to be able to post scenes, so we might end up staying closed.

Here are the questions we took directly from her group:

1)Author:
2)Scene:
3)Critiqued by:
4)Protagonist:
5)Protagonist’s goal:
6)Antagonist::
7)Antagonist’s goal:
8)What do I think happens next:
9)Must keep:
10)Needs work:
11)Comments:

Aside from the fact that we don't see each other face to face as we might like, this has been a great way for us to take our writing to a more polished level.

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United States :: Illinois :: DeKalb

DeKalb Frenziers: Script Frenzy Livejournal Community, or I Swear I'm Not Spam

trie_squid — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 11:16:41 -0800

Hello my fellow DeKalb/Northern Illinois area Script Frenzy possible participants!

We have an El-Jay community! It's called DeKalb Frenziers and is located here http://community.livejournal.com/dekalbfrenziers/

Modius13 and I are co-moding, and y'all know how horrible we are.

For those of you with journals, come join! For those of you without journals, create a journal and join.

Or not. It's up to you really.

No pressure.

None, I assure you.

*PRESSURES!!!!*

Now, back to your regularly scheduled crazy.
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United States :: Illinois :: DeKalb

Happy Holidays All!

Apollo16 — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 20:40:06 -0800

I will be leaving for AZ tomorrow (in theory considering the weather) and won't have internet access. Mary will be in Mexico (poor baby!!). So... I wanted to wish everyone Happy Holidays before we all disappeared! See you next year!

Apollo16
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United States :: Illinois :: DeKalb

Script Frenzy

trie_squid — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 17:43:58 -0800

I know it's a bit early considering NaNoWriMo is two days from ending, but is anyone considering participating in Script Frenzy?
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United States :: Illinois :: DeKalb

headdesk

Kyronae — Mon, 8 Dec 2008 08:45:46 -0800

Graah... so, the Young Writer's Program is dead right now and I seriously need advice.

ISo, yeah. I have a problem. My middle schoolers and I are having our pizza party today, after school and I decided now to have a really inopportune realization...

I suck at party planning.

I need to come up with some writing games or silly activities that we can do to add to our pizza, our excerpts and our hanging out. Because other wise we'll just be staring at walls, and that's never fun. Any ideas?

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United States :: Illinois :: DeKalb

Continuation into the next year

Apollo16 — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 15:35:29 -0800

This is the thread where we are going to discuss what people would like to do to keep the nanowrimo noveling going.

Please post your thoughts before the TGIO part next Sat. Dec. 6, 2008 so we can discuss it then.

Some random thoughts to get you started:

1. viewtiful_justin suggested that we go with something like the first and third Sunday of every month making it easy to figure out when there is a meeting and when there isn't.
2. Kyronae has to travel a great distance and would like to have one of the meetings closer to her end of the Universe which is only fair. Suggestions so far include Barnes and Noble in Tinley Park or somewhere else around the I-88 and I-355 intersection.
3. u6crash, dalecoz and Apollo16 would like to get a critique circle started but not everyone wants to share. Perhaps, one meeting per month could be critique and one writing prompts etc. like this past year.
4. u6crash and others who work third shift want to know if anyone would be willing to meet say at 9 pm on a Sat. (B and N stays open until 11 pm.)
5. Some people (don't remember who... maybe Sunnoah) have suggested doing our own JaNoWriMo.
6. Apollo16 would also like to get a group going whose sole purpose is to get people in print. This would not necessarily be part of the critique group. (I personally need help making myself revise and submit. After six wins, it's time to put my money where my mouth is.)

This should be enough to get the conversation going.

Things to think about:

1. where?
2. when?
3. how often?
4. what?

Apollo16
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United States :: Illinois :: DeKalb

Page 56, Fifth Sentence

Mary Kowalski — Wed, 3 Dec 2008 20:16:39 -0800

This is going around Facebook with people picking up the nearest book and turning to page 56 and transcribing the 5th sentence into their Status so I thought we should all turn to page 56 of our own novels and post sentence #5 on that page.

Here goes:
Joe drove the unmarked squad car and Alfredo drove the other, a panel van marked with a construction company logo.
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United States :: Illinois :: DeKalb

Rockmos?

conjoined_kittens — Sat, 6 Dec 2008 18:54:35 -0800

We were thinking of forming our very own Rockford Wrimo Group. Since there are more people coming in from Rockford than there were last year, we thought that there would be enough interest to form our own group. With invitations extended to any DekalbMos who feel like traversing the frozen tundra that is our state highway. Is there any one who's interested?
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OBAMA IS NOT MY PRESIDENT

United States :: Illinois :: DeKalb

TGIO Saturday Dec. 6 from 6-8 pm at Rosita's in DeKalb

Apollo16 — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 15:38:59 -0800

Subject line says it all:

TGIO Saturday Dec. 6 from 6-8 pm at Rosita's in DeKalb.

http://www.rositas.com/

http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&q=Rosita%2...

Apollo16

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United States :: Illinois :: DeKalb

Candy from Perth

Apollo16 — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 19:45:44 -0800

The candy from Perth has finally arrived! Woohoo! Since it looks like we have stomped Perth yet again we will eat the candy and dedicate a really well fought month to Perth!

They dominated until the last week and we then we discovered Write or Die and WE wrote and PERTH... died.

To the Perthians!!

Apollo16
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United States :: Illinois :: DeKalb

Redpyre is bored

Redpyre — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 20:55:32 -0800

It's about 11pm, and I only have an hour left to write for today, and what am I doing?

Nothing.

I'm bored and trying to bash my way through another writer's block. So, in the meantime, here I am!

For those who missed it at the write-in, a something (poem? song?) that was co-written by several strange people:

Annie bananny
Tiny little fanny
Fry it in a panny
And feed it to homeless Danny
I'm off to find a manny
For my nanny named Franny

Also discovered during the last write-in: beating the heck out of your main character makes for great energetic word padding.

:D
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United States :: Illinois :: DeKalb

Bring Raffle Tickets to TGIO Party

Mary Kowalski — Fri, 5 Dec 2008 12:23:51 -0800

Don't forget to find all your happy blue tickets and your plastic name tag holder thing to bring to the TGIO party. If you have a dorky, I mean really great White Elephant prize to donate to the bottomless Prize Box, that would be awesome as well.

See you tomorrow at 6 PM at Rosita's!
Mary
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United States :: Illinois :: DeKalb

Get yourself a glowing halo

Mary Kowalski — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 04:32:37 -0700

Dear Wrimos - Before you get swamped by daily word counts, please send a donation (small, med or large) to the mother ship, the Office of Letters and Lights. They do great things for people all around the world and deserve to have our help. Look up and click on Donation/Store.

Plus, your taunting posts to Perth::North will look so much more...

sparkling ...

when you have your golden halo.

Thanks,
Mary
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United States :: Illinois :: DeKalb

Word War update

Apollo16 — Sat, 1 Nov 2008 20:47:02 -0700

Edit: Counter is working but posts at 2 am San Fran time. This means we will need to win the word war by 2 am Nov. 30. Ack!

Apollo16
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United States :: Illinois :: DeKalb

Green (now purple) is starting to break out everywhere!

Apollo16 — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 07:04:46 -0800

Congrats to the people who have broken 50K!! Here is the final list.

50,000+ Final

Apollo16 59,525 October 30, 2003
Kyronae 50,224 October 19, 2004
Mary Kowalski 50,227 October 15, 2005
Simmons 53,000 October 23, 2005
oreo 51,089 November 1, 2005
Redpyre 50,123 October 1, 2006
sunne 50,139 October 4, 2006
viewtiful_justin 50,043 October 9, 2006
Sunnoah 52,889 October 25, 2006
LiteraryMary 52,287 October 15, 2007
conjoined_kittens 100,077 October 24, 2007
EveryDayArt 50,093 November 17, 2007
u6crash 50,062 October 5, 2008
pmacintyre 53,224 October 17, 2008
dalecoz 67,840 October 19, 2008
Tears_of_Steel 50,023 October 19, 2008
portiareigns 55,948 October 24, 2008
trie_squid 52,638 October 25, 2008
americanwritergal 50,247 October 28, 2008
rhondie7 50,056 November 13, 2008

20 author(s) found (Now includes joined on date.)

Note that there is a glitch in that none of the word count entered after noon on Sunday Nov. 30 was entered into this if you were already a winner. I have sent an email to the bugs thread. They might not bother to fix this. Your real score appears with your purple bar.

20/37 = a win percentage of 54% which is unheard of!

21683/119415 = 18% which is an all time high for nanowrimo as a whole

Woohoo!! We kick butt!!

Remember... if you write at all you are a winner!!

Apollo16

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United States :: Illinois :: DeKalb

Look at Today's Q&A, Look at Today's Q&A, Look at Today's Q&A!!!

julieb8rib — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:12:51 -0800

Um, check out the home page... :)
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United States :: Illinois :: DeKalb

Write-in on Black Friday?

Apollo16 — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 15:45:57 -0800

Several people were talking about a write-in on Black Friday as several of us have the day off work. However, we are mostly broke as well or chose simply not to participate in the spending orgy that is Black Friday.

Thus... we were talking about a write-in.

Our people who live in Tinley Park or Kankakee or other far away southern suburbs are tired of driving out here and don't want to have to do that both on Friday and on Sunday. This is only fair.

However, I know NOTHING about your areas and can't suggest a place to meet. If you want to declare a write-in somewhere in your part of the world, some of us DeKalbians might like a change of scenery and head in your direction or we could meet in the middle someplace.

Does anyone have suggestions or want to organize something?

Apollo16
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United States :: Illinois :: DeKalb

write or die

LiteraryMary — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 11:56:19 -0800

what is it?
it's getting great reviews--
if only I knew what it was!
please help a newbie.
Thanks,
Mary
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United States :: Illinois :: DeKalb

TGIO Party Gifts

Mary Kowalski — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 04:47:34 -0800

First, don't forget to RSVP on the thread for the party so we can plan for all of you and your muses.

Second, at yesterday's write-in (fabulous word wars by the way) LiteraryMary astounded us with her generosity and creativity. She has donated fantabulous gifts (a veritable Nanowrimo survival kit) with personalized labels that have the look of officialdom but which are personalized for DeKalb. Those flavored Tootsie Rolls had Justin drooling so that was another great prize, Mary!

Suggestion - search your rooms/apartments/houses for white elephants or books you no longer want and donate them to your MLs for raffle prizes for the TGIO party. Whenever you attend one of our events you and your muse receive a raffle ticket. Bring all those tickets to the party for a chance to win LiteraryMary's fabulous gift bag and other, as yet undiscovered, prizes.

And remember the gift that keeps on giving - a donation to the Office of Letters and Light. We want the glow from all of our halos to blind Perth so that we can continue to inch away from their early November domination.

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United States :: Illinois :: DeKalb

I am so behind...

KayKasper — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 22:40:35 -0800

So, as a college student, I have a lot of work to do and right now is no different; five papers due at the end of the semester.
...First one is due December 1.
*deskdeskdesk*
I really want to finish my NaNo this year, though. I'm almost a fifth of the way through and I've been working on writing out pieces when I have the time (usually in my English class because it is extremely boring and the professor doesn't listen to anyone else's opinion much ANYWAY; bad for me, I'm an English major). I type them out when I get back to my room and such but there is just not enough hours in the day. Nor is there enough caffeine (although those are horrible for my panick attacks).

Just wanted to complain/rant a little bit and ask if anyone else is as far behind as I am in the area. Hopefully I'll manage to get all my work done over the Thanksgiving break.

-Cat
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