Holly
Lisle's Vision
Around
the Boards
at Forward Motion
By
James Mills
Contemporary/ Urban/ Gothic Fantasy Moderator
©2001,
James Mills
A lot has been
happening since the last issue of Vision.
Some of the boards have been changed, and the menu system at the tops of
the pages has changed.
The menu
changes: I was confused at first, but bear with it – once you
understand how it all works, it's really pretty neat.
Holly explains it all and answers questions:
http://network54.com/Hide/Forum/thread?forumid=64272&messageid=1001345107
Courses and
Classes and Workshops, oh my!
Check out all the great stuff being offered for free at
HollyLisle.com. Professional
quality courses, classes and workshops that might cost hundreds or even
thousands of dollars elsewhere are available here at little or no cost (you may
be asked to buy a book, but not from us). It's
all part of the pay it forward philosophy.
Reap the rewards:
Workshop and
Class Sign-Up board: http://network54.com/Hide/Forum/69772
Most classes
will be held in Conference Room One unless otherwise noted. See the Calendar for scheduling.
You can find a link to the calendar on all the menus.
There are lots
of different classes being offered, such as:
Holly Lisle's
classes : Courses and workshops on topics such as characters,
manuscript preparation, plotting, scenes and the very beneficial and popular
"Writing the Breakout Novel" course:
http://network54.com/Hide/Forum/thread?forumid=69772&messageid=999294889
Editing Theme
Anthologies with Robert A.
Sloan: Very
much a "Backstage" course on small press publishing and a mission
statement leading to a focus on pro publishing as well.
http://network54.com/Hide/Forum/thread?forumid=69772&messageid=999294592
Fight Scenes for the Untrained (WORKSHOP)
with Bryn Neuenschwander: This will not be a workshop on the specifics of combat
mechanics; it will cover how to write compelling fight scenes without that kind
of specialized knowledge or training. Workshop participants will go step-by-step
through the process of staging the scene, addressing questions of how the
details of the scene (such as character motivation, setting, tone, movement,
weaponry, injuries, etc.) can be used to affect the story.
http://network54.com/Hide/Forum/thread?forumid=69772&messageid=999294552
Headhopping
Hell with Anne Marble: This class is about the different types of viewpoints
writers can use. Also, we'll learn about juggling multiple viewpoints, avoiding
headhopping (bouncing viewpoints within a single scene), the pitfalls of some
POVs, and so forth.
Love Scenes in All Genre with Anne Marble: Also at
the same link: We'll talk about what to do if some of your characters suddenly
(gasp) become attracted to each other.
http://network54.com/Hide/Forum/thread?forumid=69772&messageid=999294625
Horses and
Writing with Mary
K. Wilson: This
class covers the basics for non-horsey people, breeds and types of horses, some
conformation issues, use issues (i.e. why a good carriage horse would not make a
good riding horse), tack (saddle, bridle, etc.), and other horse-related topics.
General
discussion:
http://network54.com/Hide/Forum/thread?forumid=64272&messageid=1000606960
Vampires in
Fiction with Jennifer St. Clair Bush: Are you thinking about
writing Vampire fiction? See what
Jen and others have to say. Sink
your teeth into it.
http://network54.com/Hide/Forum/thread?forumid=69772&messageid=999294513
Lunch at the
Library with Katherine: A daytime workshop on research and other
topics.
September
workshop and comments:
http://network54.com/Hide/Forum/thread?forumid=69772&messageid=1000768586
October
workshop:
http://network54.com/Hide/Forum/thread?forumid=69772&messageid=1001524935
Novel
Submission with Vicki McElfresh: Learn the basics of what should go
into a novel submission and how to properly present your material to an editor.
http://network54.com/Hide/Forum/thread?forumid=69772&messageid=999294820
Short Story
Submission Workshop with Ron Brown:
This
class focuses on researching markets, sources of information about markets and
how to use them, submission guidelines and formats, and using rejections to
build a relationship with an editor and to improve your work.
http://network54.com/Hide/Forum/thread?forumid=69772&messageid=999471467
Writing for
Children and Young Adults with Justin
Stanchfield: Writing for a younger
audience has its own problems and rewards.
Learn some of the techniques in this class.
http://network54.com/Hide/Forum/thread?forumid=69772&messageid=999294750
Writing
Workshop Series with S. L. Viehl: Sheila is the author of the StarDoc
series of novels (great reading -– buy her books!) and she's teaching how to
write. Check out her classes –
Sign-Up and Transcripts:
http://network54.com/Hide/Forum/thread?forumid=69772&messageid=999294860
Short Story
Classes with Lazette Gifford:
Zette's planning another series of classes on short story writing.
Let her know if you're interested.
Sign-Up here
(but scroll down for the latest news):
http://network54.com/Hide/Forum/thread?forumid=69772&messageid=999294717
World Building
Course- with Jim Mills: No sign-up necessary -– just show up.
We'll start the first one on Sunday Oct. 7th at 6pm Eastern
Time, which should make it 11pm British time.
At a later date, probably after the first of the year, we may run a
course at a 'daytime' time for the Asia and Australia area members.
This course will repeat.
http://network54.com/Hide/Forum/thread?forumid=69772&messageid=999294655
Did
you think that was a lot? There are
more that I haven't covered and others being added all the time.
Check out the Workshop & Class Sign-Up board for the latest
information:
http://network54.com/Hide/Forum/69772
The Round Robin board has disappeared and been replaced
by a Questions & Answers board with subsections for science, math,
manuscript submission, grammar, etc.
http://network54.com/Hide/Forum/68955
Crit Circle Classifieds: http://network54.com/Hide/Forum/70404
Check here often for people looking for crits and willing to
return same. Or post crit requests
of your own. Sometimes circle
moderators post notices that they are looking for new members. This is the place to get information.
Also, there's the Crit Circle Master Index, which lists all
the crit circles on-site, who runs them, where they are posted, etc.
http://network54.com/Hide/Forum/thread?forumid=70404&messageid=990341539
Interesting threads from the Writers' Discussion Board:
Embracing your
wickedness -- the secret
to better fiction
Holly and
others discuss how to write good villains that readers will remember.
http://network54.com/Hide/Forum/thread?forumid=64272&messageid=998413659
How do I find
information on a vague event in history?
This thread was
started Sept. 13, 2000 and has been periodically updated through Aug. 20, 2001,
with interesting comments and links to resources about comet impacts on Earth
(and/or volcanic eruptions) that threw dust into the air and caused winter-like
conditions to persist year-round in 1816, or links to arms and armor throughout
history, etc.
http://network54.com/Hide/Forum/thread?forumid=64272&messageid=968844608
Languages - this thread has interesting questions, and some
answers, relating to how to use languages of people in different areas as tools
in your writing, use of translators, 'common' languages in different eras
(English modern and Greek 2000 years ago), how to haggle and barter with someone
who doesn't speak the same language, etc.
http://network54.com/Hide/Forum/thread?forumid=64272&messageid=986060157
Alternative
first lines to various literature - this
one's a hoot!
http://network54.com/Hide/Forum/thread?forumid=64272&messageid=993615542
The World
Building Board: http://network54.com/Hide/Forum/90838
There is more
to world building than making a city, country or planet, drawing a map and
plunking your characters down. If
you want to maintain believability and keep your readers -- even in non-SF
writing -– then you have to get the science right (at least to a degree) and
be consistent in details. This is
the place to ask questions and get answers.
Quantum
Computing and FTL (Faster Than Light): Ready
for SF?
http://network54.com/Hide/Forum/thread?forumid=90838&messageid=999564057
Gravity
http://network54.com/Hide/Forum/thread?forumid=90838&messageid=1001616231
Military
Structure
http://network54.com/Hide/Forum/thread?forumid=90838&messageid=1001026480
Slitting your
wrists and scars: what has this
got to do with world building, you ask? Good
world building includes things like culture, customs, taboos and the
consequences of breaking them.
http://network54.com/Hide/Forum/thread?forumid=90838&messageid=999479531
Matriarchies
and other female-dominated societies:
http://network54.com/Hide/Forum/thread?forumid=90838&messageid=997852490
Paper: What were some ways of making paper before modern times?
Also, what would be some qualities a plant should have to make good paper?
http://network54.com/Hide/Forum/thread?forumid=90838&messageid=1001272788
There's more.
Come and browse the World Building Board:
http://network54.com/Hide/Forum/90838
The Moderator
Index is scheduled for an update with new information on the
moderators, some samples of their work, pictures, etc.
Come and meet your moderators:
http://hollylisle.com/community/moderator-index.html
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