Member update

[lit-gal.livejournal.com]

Since we're talking about making changes (letting people 'cash in' their weeks just by saying so without having to stop), I thought I would give everyone an update on where we all stood.  Oh, and welcome to our three newest members: dangerous_47, persephone_20 and asharia

[Unknown site tag]

apsik-current run 4, Calliope award
artemis_rain-current run 21
articulatedream- Missing in Action
authoressnebula-current run 25
c_woodhaven-current run 25
dangerous_47-current run 1 (Welcome to the madness, my dear!!!)
fan_spagle-missing in action, 2 Calliope awards
frk_werewolf-current run 8, Erato award
jitkajaylor-missing in action, Erato award
lilithbint-current run 25
lit_gal-current run 5, Polyhymnia award
meredevachon-current run 25
persephone_20-current run 3 (Welcome to another newbie)
piksa-current run 25
qamratala-current run 11, Clio award
rachel2205-missing in action, Calliope award
salustra-missing in action
sexymermaid-current run 22
shadow_in_eden-missing in action, 2 Calliope awards
skeeter451-missing in action, Calliope award
sparrow2000-current run 9
spikespetslayer-current run 25
stillrose-missing in action, Erato and Clio awards
strickens_girl-current run 3, Euterpe and Calliope awards
sunnyd_lite-current run 25
swweeks-current run 25
thismaz-current run 18
tommyboybbi-missing in action
asharia-current run 2 (Weee, welcome to yet another new face!

Comments

[authoressnebula.livejournal.com]

SQUEE! I'm one of 8 that's only five weeks away! *does happy gleeful dance* Almost there...

Then, of course, I'm starting over again. I hope you know that. ^_____________^ I'm one of the insane types who wants 'em all. The type you outlined in the award summary in the way beginning that made you say "Oy." *giggles*

~Nebula

[jans-intentions.livejournal.com]

Thanks, that is helpful. It looks like I have seven more weeks to go for the goddess level then, since I have done this week's prompt early (thank God.)

[sunnyd-lite.livejournal.com]

I was just thinking about how great a statistics list would be and LO, it is provided!

Thank you!!!

Questions from the Uninitiated

[catw00man.livejournal.com]

I really wasn't sure where to post this...so I hope I'm not breaking any rules, but I have a *lot* of questions I wanted to get straight before I tried to join you all on your fic quest. ;)

Ok, I guess the first question I have to ask is if you accept Real Person Fic. I write in the NASCAR genre and before I even try to post here I wanted to know if that was acceptable. I'm not just a fangirl writer however and if you'd like a sample of my work you can find it here:

Cat's Fic (http://www.cryptoffic.com/catw00man.html)

My next question is concerning the prompts themselves. Do these need to appear quoted in the fic or is it the feeling of the piece that needs to meet the prompt.

Also I saw that you allow WIPs and have a 500 word minimum. One of the reasons I'm interested in this community is that I have a ton of unfinished series that I'd like to get myself going on again. The only problem is fics for me average over 5000 words (usually much more) and that's not something I could crank out on a weekly basis...at least not right now. So, I guess my question, since I've never written with chapters, how does this work? How do you break up your fics? I mean does it have to be an entire fic with a complete scene or can you break a scene if it runs too long?

Sorry for all the questions. I apologize if these are answered somewhere and I missed it.

Thanks so much.

~Cat

Re: Questions from the Uninitiated

[authoressnebula.livejournal.com]

Hello! *waves* I've been here since day 1 (I'm not a mod, just an eager fan of the comm), but hopefully I can help you out a bit.

I think that, on the subject of Real Person Fic, you should be okay. There's slash and het here in all sorts of fandoms, but I'll leave that to lit_gal to decide.

The second question I actually asked about on a friend's behalf not that long ago, and was told that so long as the meaning of the term was understood, it didn't even really have to have the actual word/phrase in there.

I break my fics up into chapter, and post them bit by bit. I'm doing that with my Spike/Fred story called Her Saving Grace, which is completely based off of the prompts in this comm. I think someone here has a series that just has little bits posted now and then, though. I think breaking the scene up would be just fine.

But again, I'm not a mod here. But I did want to quell any fears you might've felt concerning this topic. We're a really friendly, easy-going bunch who love to read fics and help others tame their pesky muse. (My muse and I have more of an understanding these days: she doesn't give me plots in the car, and I don't do anything stupid like lock her in the closet. ~_^)

I hope you join up with us! lit_gal is the founder and mod around here, and she's wonderful and sweet and always there to help you out. I know she'll be able to answer your questions fully and get you set! ^_^

~Nebula

Re: Questions from the Uninitiated

[catw00man.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for your reply!

You definitely put a lot of my reservations and concerns at rest. I don't usually like to have to include a word or phrase exactly because...what if my character wouldn't use it? But to write it as an idea, that I have no problem with.

I guess this means I have to start rounding up the wandering muses! They used to e so prolific but RP so killed them. Oh it spawned it's own muses that now want to be real but...that's another story!

Anyway, I thank you for taking the time to answer my question and I hope to join you all soon.

Re: Questions from the Uninitiated

[lit-gal.livejournal.com]

Looks like authoressnebula beat me here. Real Person fic is fine as long as you label it. We have all different kinds of readers here, so we just make sure that we warn people so we don't catch them with a squick. (like I won't read incest fic and I generally avoid real person, but since I don't know anyone in Nascar, I can just pretend they're characters). We also allow original fiction. And no sample is needed... we're an open community with the only rule being to meet the writing standards...
http://community.livejournal.com/tamingthemuse/653.html#cutid1

The prompt question got answered

The wip question got answered. A lot of times with WIP's, I just write enough to have either a problem solved or a new problem created. If you post a chapter, just give us links to the old chapters.

And you're more than welcome to ask as many questions as you like... we're a very laid back group around here!

Re: Questions from the Uninitiated

[catw00man.livejournal.com]

Thank you both so much for the replies. I've gotten away from my writing some but I want to get back into it. I have too many unfinished series and more that want to be developed.

As for the NASCAR, you don't have to follow it to read my work, and they have definitely become *my* characters. *shrugs* I have a history in archiving Buffy fic and I guess I just see it as much the same way. I just base my characters on...the drivers. :)

Anyway, more then you probably wanted to know and I'll see if I can start to gather the muses again. RP has so destroyed my writing, but this comm definitely looks like a savor. ;)

Thanks so much and I hope to join you all soon!

Re: Questions from the Uninitiated

[authoressnebula.livejournal.com]

As soon as I finished posting the comment, I winced and went, "I didn't want to step on lit_gal's toes..." So I really hope I didn't sweetie. And if I did, please let me know, okay? Just smack me. LOL ~_^

You have no idea how much I love this comm. I tell people at my college about it and how awesome it is and if they love to write to come sign up on LJ just to do this. This is one of the best ideas EVER done. *hugs you to death*

A lot of times with WIP's, I just write enough to have either a problem solved or a new problem created.

I KNEW it! ROFL ~_^

~Nebula

Re: Questions from the Uninitiated

[lit-gal.livejournal.com]

Oh please... step away... step all over them. I don't spend as much time here as I would like, and knowing that you'll jump in and help a newbie makes me feel all the better. When you're new, you just want a welcoming face in a new comm., and you're a sweetie for doing the welcome here. God, if you want to offend me or step on my toes, you're going to have to work much MUCH harder.

[dangerous-47.livejournal.com]

Hi. :D

Glad to be here. Heh.

*Goes back to her pondering on what to write this week.*

[lit-gal.livejournal.com]

That is always the dilemma, isn't it? I think I figured something out, so now I'm on to the OMG... when am I going to find time to write it stage of the panic.

[dangerous-47.livejournal.com]

Hehe.

Yeah, I was bored in class because I had finished my project and had nothing to do (lol) so I just sat in front of the computer with a notepad and scribbled stuff on it and chatted with people on MSN and now I think I have something. lol. :D