Initial Writers Class

[Heather]

Many of us have been looking foward to a possible writer's forum on our favorite site and it is on its way. Brent and I have discussed what we would like to see happen and have decided that we will start of with one initial writers' class that will last six weeks. We're capping the class at 8 members. There will be an application for those interested to fill out and must be sent back to me by April 4th and we will get back to you by April 11th and launch that day with discussion of when we want the weekly deadline for submissions to be.

The Parameters may change a little after the initial class but here are what we have for the first class!

Each week, you will be responsible for writing 500-2000 words. (At least one finished scene, chapter, or story.) You will email what you write to the whole group. All writing will be kept confidential within the group.
Each week, you will be responsible for commenting on two other people's work (assigned weekly by the moderator). You will post your comments in the writers group discussion forum, which will only be open for comments by members of the class. If you have additional comments for other writers beyond the two you were assigned to, feel free to add to their discussion post, too. Ditto if you wish to respond to someone else's comment.
If a member of the group is writing a continuing story, please keep up on the reading so that when it's your turn to comment on her work, you'll be up to date on the story.
Critique Guidelines: Keep it civil, even if you think the story was awful. Use specific statements. "The story was confusing" is a general, unhelpful statement. "I read sentence X five times and still don't understand it" is specific and helpful.
Each critique you make should note at least one positive thing and one thing you think could use work. More is better.
Each class will get to choose a few writing-oriented questions for Brent to discuss with them, either online in the chat, or on their discussion board, or possibly in a Skype conversation.
The class will vote at the end on who was the best critic, and that person will receive something cool.
This is experimental for us, and the point is for it to be helpful to you, so at the end of the class, we'll ask you for ideas on how to make the class better, and possibly if you'd be willing to join or lead a future class.
Suggested reading: Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass, On Writing by Stephen King, How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy by Orson Scott Card.

To get the application please send me a message with your email address and I will send you the application that needs to be filled out 100% and sent back to me by April 4th by midnight west coast time.

[Heather]

Judge is correct...Please use your real name on application. This is a document stating you will not sharing copyrighted work and or use it for your own purpose. Thank you. I know I have to send out more applications later tonight.

[Wolfhound]

This is a really good idea.I hope i can write a book as good as Brent Weeks.Now i sound like a ass kisser lol [e-mail]

[Keith Williams]

Excellent idea. This type of format will let aspiring authors work with one another and even have the opportunity to speak with someone who already has their foot in the door. Regardless of acceptance, I look forward to the end result.

[[e]LiFaN[t]™©]

a friend of mine is yet in the process of reading BtS, but she's an AWESOME writer i feel... so i told her about this and she will be signing up as well :) she doesnt have an account here though, so i'll send you her details via mail Heather, if thats ok....

she should be joining us on Ning soon as well :D she's waiting till she finishes the series...

[Judge]

I still have to get my application in. I have been quite busy, but I will get it in before the deadline. Having to deal with some POS who hit my parked car and drove off, and did enough damage to write it off. Should be dealt with by the time the writing starts if my application is successful. Though it will be a very busy two weeks for me.

[ROBERT]

Im new to writing my grammer sucks puctuation sucks and story is laking visual detail and may be ths class can help

[Sarah]

I would absolutely love to do this even though I'm going to be swamped with term papers and the like for the next month...So if I don't do this now, I definitely would be interested in participating in the next one if it comes about.

[Keith Williams]

Heather - Did you receive my application? I filled it out and sent it back to you, but a few days later received another email with a copy of the application attached. Would you like me to re-send it?

[Keith Williams]

quick question in regards to the writing class.... If a person were to email a work to the whole group, would that make it ineligible to ever be published professionally? i seem to recall a stipulation like this somewhere, but i cannot find where.

[Judge]

I believe the way it would works is if you were to release it over the internet where anyone could access it, you will not be able to publish it without letting the publisher know, as many contracts include eletronic publishing rights. However if it was a closed critique group then I wouldn't see how that would effect any publishing contracts. I am sure someone who knows for sure will correct me if I am wrong.

[Lost Angel]

I am interested in the Writer's Forum. Please send me an application.

Thank you.
Lost Angel

[Brynweir]

April 4th at last. Time is running out. Dunn dunn dunn. Who will get in and who will have to wait? Can't wait to find out :-D