online writing classes

[lobelia321]

Has anyone here ever done an online writing class, for example, at the Long Story Short School of Writing?? Was it useful? Was it fun? Did it kick your bum to write? Or is LJ all-round better for kickstarting the writing?

I note that the same site invites submissions to their ezine. I also note that the very first sentence of their guidelines for submission includes the warning: No obscene language AT ALL, excessive violence and absolutely no pornography! We understand that fiction has to be realistic, but we won't consider graphic material.

Ooh, tut tut. How can I write without pron? What is this fear of the penis? I have been spoiled, I tell you, spoiled by five years of fandom romp.

Also: only their third point encourages spellcheck and editing. In other words: Do send bad!fic, as long as it's not (shock, horror) "pornographic".

The world of origfic is weird.

On another, more heartening note: surely this author, a certain Anne Brooke, is a wild closet slasher in her spare time?? I mean, how could she not be? The novels she has written are a comedy set in a north London transvestite nightclub and a gay crime novel, A Dangerous Man, a dark psychological thriller focusing on Michael Jones, talented artist and part-time prostitute.

1111 I ask you! Michael Jones, my foot. That is an Orli AU, if ever I saw one. *cackles*

P.S. Can you tell I'm in a state about this whole career change thing?

Comments

[sheldrake.livejournal.com]

No obscene language? I can't write without obscene language! I honestly find this bizarre! They want their fiction to be realistic, but you can't say fuck?

Iit's not online, and it's not a writing class, but I recommend Mslexia magazine for, um, making you feel like you're doing something even when you're not, you're just reading a magazine.

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

I meant to reply to my comments but what did I do instead, you evol woman? I surfed around that Mslexia for 20 minutes and then clicked my way through to various other writing sites and then ended up reading 300 word short stories at Fish and posting a link to you via del.icio.us. Evol!! First it's Goth detectives and now this! And yes, how to write novels by reading websites about it.

Hey, can we see each other at some point? I have Weds and Fris free this semester. It would be nice to 'catch up', as they say in the States, I believe. We can 'do lunch'.

[sheldrake.livejournal.com]

Lunch would be loveley - it's been far too long! Maybe I'll see if I can get a Friday off sometime this month or next? I could come and see you in Cambs!

[birdgerhl.livejournal.com]

if you were both available on 16th feb, i might be able to come too.

b.x :)

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Oh, fun! Let me check diary.

[sheldrake.livejournal.com]

Damn it, I can't do the 16th - it's right in the middle of production. Curse my stupid job!

[birdgerhl.livejournal.com]

poo. :(

i may also be (briefly) meeting kate'n'jube in london on sunday 18th if either of you are free then.

b.x :)

[sheldrake.livejournal.com]

I can't afford the evil expensive train to london again after only going last weekend. Bums! :( Say hi for me though.

[ios-pillow-book.livejournal.com]

No obscene language AT ALL, excessive violence and absolutely no pornography!

How. very. BORING.

And not boring in the good way your boring!Orli once was.

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Oh, boring!Orli! I must finish that series one of these days soon!! The ending is all mapped out in my head!

[thejennabides.livejournal.com]

I ran into this "no obscenity, no sexual content" thing at the writers association here in Georgia. I did not become a member.

As for writing classes - they seem to vary wildly, in terms of usefulness and satisfaction. I've been looking for a good one, myself, and have yet to find one I think would do the trick for me. So if you find a good one, please pass it on!

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Are you in Georgia now????

[thejennabides.livejournal.com]

Alas, yes. Just the latest in the line of mistakes I have made over the past couple of years...

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Why? Is Georgia awful? I was in Atlanta 2 years ago.

[thejennabides.livejournal.com]

I won't say it's awful per se, just that it isn't for me. I plan to be back in California by the end of the year.

[birdgerhl.livejournal.com]

call me a snob, but i wouldn't bother with anything that rates bilge like this. that was the first story i read, but i don't exactly feel inclined to read any others.

when i have more time i will post a longer comment about origfic etc (bet you can't wait...not).

b.x ;)

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

*bursts out laughing*

I guess I hadn't read the fine print (i.e. the actual stories). Oh dear.

Fanfic is, I have to say, by far the most literary and best fiction on the web. This astonishes me but possibly shouldn't. I realise I had just assumed that the high level of literature I am used to in my little niche of the www would be replicated in other walks o' the web. But no.

bet you can't wait...not
No, not not!! I really can't!

[birdgerhl.livejournal.com]

check out nerve.com for *good* (and porny) online fic.

more anon.

b.x :)

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Yes! More! And anon, too! :-)

I continue to be mega-impressed by your publication, btw.

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Nerve.com... oo lala.

[birdgerhl.livejournal.com]

ooh la la? meaning?

i like nerve.

b.x :)

[miso-no-tsuki.livejournal.com]

Oh... dear! So you can write really bad, unspellchecked, unbeta'ed, non grammatically correct Marysueism as long as it's *clean*?????
Hardly worth reading, then.
Gimme pron, or better yet *intelligent* pron where not only are canon characters *in character* for dialogue and responses are beleivable, but someone has gone to the trouble of adding a really good plot. Try "Pict nae Scot" by
inkscribe http://inkscribe.livejournal.com/13859.html
which combines Art and medicine with seriously brain-frying slash and I can think of another one on Wraithbait called, I think "Letters", where a series of interviews between Rodney and Heightmeyer are the link to some McShep hotness- and Rodney was written stonkeringly well- intelligent but evasive, snarky and downright *rude*, while Kate held her end up well against him, even to scoring a couple of direct hits on that ego.

Online writing classes never seemed to be catering to what *I* wanted, (No desire to be the next Jane Austin...) or seem to be too basic, so I 've never really bothered.

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Eeek! I never replied to this! Oh dear, oh dear. *smites self*

So! Am replying!! :-)