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Printed from https://p15.writing.com/main/books/item_id/1808259-Starting-to-Write/sort_by/entry_order DESC, entry_creation_time DESC/page/10
Rated: 18+ · Book · Personal · #1808259
"I could eat alphabet soup and crap better lyrics then that." - Johny Mercer.
From June 2016 entries are entered into "The Bard's Hall Contest"   by StephBee - House Targaryen

From May 2017 entries are entered into "Invalid Item"   by A Guest Visitor /right}
From June 2017 entries are entered into "Invalid Item"   by A Guest Visitor

From June 2016 entries are entered into "Blogging Circle of Friends "   by Lyn's a sly fox



** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only **

I'm a writer, who doesn't write.
An artist, who doesn't paint.
I'm a blogger, who doesn't blog.
I'm a dreamer. And all I do is dream
.


I was born a donkey, but lived as a man. My parents sent me out from the paddock so that I could learn the secrets of corned bread. Seeing for myself the world of men made me curious because that was my weakness. Always my weakness. My hind-legs were strong and so began my masquerade. I became a man and walked the world of men.

I tasted many delights, and many disasters. But soon I found that I needed a thing called money. To continue my quest I would need to work. A courier seemed the most obvious thing. Although, was I not a man now and not a pack-mule? No. No couriers work for me. I chose a trade and worked in a factory.

I had not forgotten my quest for the secret of corned bread. Every night, while printing the newspaper on the night shift, I would see the grand old culinary designs in the food and drink section. There was so much more to food then corned bread.

Continue My Memoir of Magic and Dreams

This is my blog documenting my experiences on http://www.writing.com. In it, I will include my reviews of others works, links to offsite writings, and importantly, I think, moan and complain constantly about the machinations of this beautiful, sexy, inspiring and fearsome beast of a writing community.

I didn't do anything about my desire to write for over 20 years and I have a lot of catching up to do. I'm a little worried that I've left it all too late and I won't have enough time to become a good writer.

I'm always up for joining in on blogging groups and challenges, so if you have one - let me know here.

Previous ... 6 7 8 9 -10- 11 12 13 ... Next
March 8, 2012 at 5:21am
March 8, 2012 at 5:21am
#748560
Yup.

"JAN PRIZE POOL FROM EARL --- 2011"  

All prizes have been awarded now.

For the record, January 2012 prizes & winners:

1st. Prosperous Snow celebrating received a 25000 awardicon, a "job well done" merit badge, and a 28000 package from "Showering Acts of Joy Group.
2nd. sunnystarr received a 10000 awardicon, a "job well done" merit badge, and a 23000 package from "Showering Acts of Joy Group.
3rd. Brother Nature received a 10000 awardicon,a "job well done" merit badge, anda 12000 package from "Showering Acts of Joy Group.

February 2012 prizes & winners:
1st. Prosperous Snow celebrating received a 25000 awardicon.
2nd. BIG BAD WOLF is hopping received a 10000 awardicon.

Those Showering Acts of Joy packages are pretty sweet. They will definately be back for April (donations permitting). Donations permitting also, I'd be pushing for a 50,000 awardicon for 1st place, 25000 awardicon for 2nd place, and a 10000 awardicon for 3rd place. And of course, just an honorable mention for honorable mentions.

The awardicon's are awarded to the blog itself, of course.

Now that the prizes are sorted for Jan/Feb, I can finish sorting out the Detailed Writing Prompt Comp details for Feb. Still haven't announced the winner for that one. Got distracted by Troy's funeral and my Wife's sickness. Has been a pretty shitty month to tell you the truth.

Got a heap of donations sent to the Detailed Writing Prompt Comp after my whinge-fest - and I still have to send out the thank you's, merit badges and shoot the GPS over to the donation fund.

Which, by the way, is: "Invalid Item

In final news, I also found time to rearrange my portfolio into snazzy folders with snazzy names. You know, instead of doing the /really/ important stuff like catching up on my New Horizons course "Reeling In Your Readers". If anything, this course has dented my confidence. I had felt like I was getting somewhere in my writing, but now I realise that I wrong. The bright side is at least now I know where I've been going wrong.



March 1, 2012 at 1:03am
March 1, 2012 at 1:03am
#748083
I think in the 5 months I've been running the Detailed Writing Prompt Comp I've had at most 3 entries. Most months, I've had just the 1.

I'm determined to produce a saleable ebook each year from this contest BUT I just can't seem to entice enough writers!

How can I get more people to enter? I'm offering 10 000 gift points for a win, plus publication in an actual ebook to be sold on Amazon. I use the bidclick system to promote it, I have the comp in my sig, I personally invite writers that I like by email, and I get a lot of folks saying that they are going to enter. Still, I can't get enough actual entries by the end of the month to make a competition.

About the only thing I haven't done, that I can think of, is offer 2nd or 3rd placings. But, seeing as I can't get that many writers to enter any offer seems a tad redundant!

Any suggestions?


What Else I got? Subject: Thundersbeard's Grade for Lesson #6 & Final Grade!

** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only **


,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Writing Assignment

I enjoyed reading the stories of this volatile cowboy, Drane, which you have shared throughout your writing assignments. I really like your writing style. You have come a long way with your knowledge of proper comma placement. There were some errors, but not many.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

It has been an honor and a pleasure to have you in my class this term, Mike.
You have obviously worked hard these past six weeks. Thank you for being so attentive. Your delightful personality added a special charm to the forum, and your spirit of helpfulness toward your fellow classmates was a great encouragement to us all.

Don’t forget to copy the pages from the lessons before I close them so you will have them to refer to in the future. If you paste these pages into your portfolio, please set them to Private Access. And please know I will be here for you if you ever have a question about punctuation or grammar. As a matter of fact, as a graduate of Comma Sense, you will be enrolled into the Grammar & Punctuation Alumni Forum where you can stay in touch with your classmates and all of those who have gone before you in this class. Drop by this forum any time you have a question or comment about your writing.

===========================================
Break-down of your grade for this lesson:
13.61 ---Writing Assign. - Grammar/Wd Count (15% of total grade)
76.22 ---Writing Assignment - Comma Usage (85% of total grade)
00 -------Extra Credit

Overall Grade for This Lesson:
89.83%
B+
*Star**Star**Star**Star*

===========================================

Final Grade for Comma Sense Class:
Lesson #1-----81.21
Lesson #2-----88.72
Lesson #3-----95.23
Lesson #4-----85.00
Lesson #5-----95.00
Lesson #6-----89.83

Average of all 6 Lessons
89.165%
B+

============================================
February 29, 2012 at 7:10am
February 29, 2012 at 7:10am
#748030
I'm overdue for bed but I wanted to get the new 30-Day Blog Challenge page up. My main priority was neatening it up, but still keeping Earl's style intact.

But, I know some of you would like to keep going and going and going, just like the Energizer Blogger (tm). Hence, the unofficial list of prompts for March on the page intro.

In a nutshell:

Mondays will be an Earl Prompt. For march these are good, pre-loved prompts by Earl. Earl's prompts are great, and usually one-of-a-kind, I'm sure you'll agree. I hope that in the future, Earl will give us some fresh prompts in his own inimitable style.
Tuesdays and Wednesdays will be general blog prompts. In an official challenge, these will come from the challengers. I will only pick the best prompts.
Thursdays wlll always be an opinion piece prompt. You can call them "Opinion Thursdays". In an official challenge, these will also come from the challengers. And, I will only pick the best opinion piece prompts.
Fridays & Saturdays will be "traditional blog days". Where you get to, you know, blog. A weekday and a weekend day, to keep things fresh.
Sundays will always be a "my favourite blog entry of the week was..." day. I blatantly stole this idea from Brother Nature, from the January Challenge. It was my favourite prompt and inspired me to offer my services as admin - before Teff returned.

Hopefully I haven't structured the hell out of the challenge and it will all blend in like a good, strong backbone.

In other news ... I got diagnosed with narcolepsy yesterday.


The Detailed Writing Prompt Comp  (E)
Multiple, Big Prizes plus PUBLICATION. Every entry wins Gift Points. JULY Prompt up!
#1814391 by Thundersbeard 30DBC JULY HOST

---
 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#1808259 by Not Available.

---
 No Rest   (18+)
Horror novella featuring zombies and steam trains. Starring Stacey & Grits.
#1835198 by Thundersbeard 30DBC JULY HOST

---
Michael Thundersbeard
Artist, Writer, Father, Factory Worker.
http://www.lifeandothertragedies.com
February 26, 2012 at 7:13pm
February 26, 2012 at 7:13pm
#747882
 Success!
     
Thank you for submitting feedback about "A New Republic"  (#1849439).

Your reviews are stored within your My Feedback area for viewing at any time. This review's ID #3672048. WritingML Review of "A New Republic" yields: Review of "A New Republic"
February 26, 2012 at 7:13pm
February 26, 2012 at 7:13pm
#747881
 Success!
     
Thank you for submitting feedback about "A New Republic"  (#1849439).

Your reviews are stored within your My Feedback area for viewing at any time. This review's ID #3672048. WritingML Review of "A New Republic" yields: Review of "A New Republic"
February 26, 2012 at 5:35am
February 26, 2012 at 5:35am
#747842
Well, you all said I could never do it. But, yes, I just finished the New Horizon's Comma Sense Class! A little late, Winnie was about to shut down the lesson pages, but I made it.

This is a work progress that I've developed from the lessons. It's not complete, or very well edited, but I think I'll try and finish it off. I'm not going to put it in my portfolio until I have finished the first draft.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When Ethan Drane Shot and Killed David Karnak.


The town of Baton lay flat between two hills like a snake run over by a wagon train. The valley was wide and Baton twisted it’s way, not sprawling or compact like other towns, in a long array of buildings along some imaginary line. Further away from the valley a smattering of homesteads and farms opened up into a plateau and the plains that the old west was famous for.
The two hills were called Macrae’s Hill and Duncan’s Hill. Named after the founding fathers John Duncan and Paul Macrae, who had long been buried in the soil of said hills.
Baton was a beauty, and purple flowers were known to emblazon the hills on either side for months at a time. Spring and summer were beautiful here. There were no flowers the year that Ethan Drane rode into town and shot and killed the schoolmaster David Karnak. Not even any flowers for his grave.

Drane was an imposing man. He had the wide, sloping shoulders of the perenial horseman. He had big, meaty hands that were gnarled and scarred. At home holding a rein, a hammer, or a pistol. His brow was always sweaty and he was usually unshaven, the shadows on his cheek shifting, shifting with the pull and tug of his jaw on the tobacco plug. That mouth seldom cracked for a smile.
Still, he was not a cruel man, or an evil man, he was just a dangerous man. He couldn’t help it that where ever he lay his boots, danger would be sure to follow on his footsteps. Even on those rare occasions when Drane would hang up his six-shooters for a more peaceful life, some affront, or crime, or vengeful man from his sinful past would come to repercuss themselves in his life. Peace never lasted long for Drane.
After a time, Drane gave up trying to go straight. After a time, Drane just held the notion of living in the moment, and moralising and repenting and remorsing be damned right to hell along with him.

The morning that Drane shot Karnak was a cold one. It was a wintry time in the valley, and much of Baton was slow and unmoving. The bank had not opened yet, but that was okay because Drane wasn’t much for robbing banks. Too much planning involved. The saloon’s doors were still closed and bolted. It wouldn’t open again until late afternoon when the farm hands and roustabouts came in from toiling at the surrounding homesteads. The hotel was open, as it always was, and the school was open, as it mostly was, and Drane had business at the hotel and Karnak at the school and although those two establisments were at opposite ends of Baton, the two men would soon meet and their fates would soon entwine.

Drane led his horse to the stables. Sharp cracks of frozen dirt surrounded them, the horse's hooves breaking frozen ground. Drane's fingers were sore from the early morning frost, and his workmans gloves did nothing to keep out the cold. They only made his fingers more numb.
The horse slipped on a section of road made into sludge by dew and overnight rain. Cursing, Drane stumbled. The horse found it's balance and so did Drane, but any semblance of good humour was now gone. Cold and sore and a little embarrassed, Drane grumbled at his horse, he grumbled at the town, and he grumbled at himself. A man like Drane, it didn't take much to put him in a bad mood.

He tied his horse up on the rail out the front of the general store so that he could get a bite to eat and maybe a mug of hot coffee. After the night he'd had out on the praerie, he could do with some warmth. Maybe they would have a news sheet for him to peruse. He'd been on the trail so long, he wasn't exactly sure of the date. Was it November 28, 1867? Or could it even be December 1867? His old, leathery boots stomped on the wooden floorboards of the porch as he approached the entrance. Each footstep was like a knock on the door. A sound behind him took his attention away from the stained wooden door. It was his horse fidgeting. Drane turned just in time to see his horse, mangy cur, flick it's head and snap the loosely tied reins from the rail. Drane's fingers had been too numb to tie a proper knot and now his horse was free.

"Dang-it, You wily, cheatin', cunning-as-an-outhouse-dunny-thief. You no-good, pecker-eatin', flea-ridden dust-bag," He yelled, the menace in his voice enough to send the horse trotting away from it's source. "Hey! Come back here!"
Drane jogged after his slowly-retreating horse, stumbling again in the sludge. If his mood was bad before, now his temper was foul. Ethan Drane was seeing red.

The horse, head held high and neighing nervously, trotted away from the tired cowboy and rounded the corner of the general store. Drane shambled after it, still cursing (and in effect, scaring it further away from him). As he ,too , rounded the corner he became aware of shadowy figures under the framework of the building and a little girl, her skirts dirty, skittered out from near the back stumps and raced away. This was actually fortunate for Ethan Drane in his quest to recapture his horse, as his horse did not particularly like little girls any more then Drane himself did. As the girl ran past the horse, it shied away and twisted it's body back towards Drane. Seizing the opportunity, Drane grabbed at the reigns, snaring them in his strong hands.

"You bloody beast," Drane snarled. The reigns were now entangled in one meaty hand. This left his other hand free. He duly raised it above his head, preparing to deal a mighty blow to his horse. "I'll discipline you, beast."
"Sir!"
Drane reeled to the interjector, and spied a tall young man dusting off his breeches. A finely cut pair of pants, made of a poor material from the look of them. Drane knew all about poor material. Those pants wouldn't last a week on the range, and would soon end their days cut for shorts.
"Sir - what manner of man are you, that you would hit a defenceless pack animal?"
Drane glowered at the tall young man. Every town there ever was, was filled with namby shit-heels like the one before him. If Drane could be gaoled, for every one he had put in his place, well, he would not be a free man today.
"What manner of man are you," Drane did not bother with returning the honorific, " that I find you under a building with a wee girl-child."
The tall young man bristled.
"I am her school teacher! And that is one recalcitrant school girl. If I did not hunt her down each morning, she would never come to my classroom to learn."
Drane snarled, "A crying shame, that would be."
It was the schoolmaster’s turn to glower now. Schoolteachers were usually the worst, Drane knew. Living their lives couped up in four walls, dictating their small views on young children. They often looked down on the men and women those boys and girls would become. Men like Ethan Drane. Workers. Survivors. Free men.
"That horse is obviously of smarter ilk then you, Cowboy, to turn tail and flee your presence," snapped David Karnak, for that was indeed who the schoolteacher was. A learned man, still unaware of the destiny about to enfold two men.
"I know my letters. I know my numbers," Drane said to wipe the condescension from Karnak's mouth. "I know it's my right to discipline my horse how I see fit. A working man’s only as good as the horse under his ass."
"Sitting on your ass more like it, if not on a horse, then in a saloon!" Karnak laughed.
Drane, still holding the reigns tight in one hand, reached for his horses neck with the other. The horse shifted uncertainly in the laneway but did not bow away. Drane ran his gloved hand up the horses neck. Roughly, yet with a certain grace. The horse lowered it's head and snorted. Drane sized Karnak up, his ponderous frame dwarving the leaner man in the morning light.
“I will sit /you/ on /your/ ass, if you keep this line of jabber, schoolmaster.”
Said in the overly jocular language of cowboys on the range, the repartee would entice more insults of a similar vein. Said in the quiet tones of Ethan Drane in a laneway on a freezing winter morning after his horse had made a fool of him on the main street, was a much more serious matter.

February 24, 2012 at 5:55pm
February 24, 2012 at 5:55pm
#747772
I have one more assignment and then I am done. Man, I really thought I had got a handle on this procrastination thing when it came to study. I have been a shocker the past week. Assuming I am able to knock off this assignment today then only leaves the Reeling in Your Readers lessons. I have 2 weeks left on that one, but I'm two weeks behind. Last minute dash to the finish line anyone?

In other news, my daughter and my oldest son and I are writing a story about a hero called "Doctor Boat" and my daughter is writing her own story about a group of Octonauts who find things in outer space and bring them back to Earth for study. Once we get into it a big more, I'm going to post them in my portfolio.

Then, I'm going to try and finish transcribing "Heart & Soul". It's harder then it sounds turning the machinations of an online D&D game into a workable story. Sometimes, all the good stuff is in those behind the scene machinations.

Lastly, I love my wife.
February 24, 2012 at 2:14am
February 24, 2012 at 2:14am
#747718
Well, it's official. I'm taking over the 30 Day Blog Challenge. (pause for effect) I mean, I've officially been named administrator AND (this is the important part folks) my list of demands has been met. I mean suggestions.

I'm not going to touch the official page just yet as I don't want to distract from the currently running challenge.

But, here are the unofficial changes to the 30 Day Blog Challenge.

I haven't actually received exact word on this one yet, but it's now item no. 1 on my agenda: access to the voice over bank so I can disperse the awards.

Now, onto the stuff I have confirmed.

The challenge will be bi-monthly. This means a month on, month off format. It's best for everyone.

Next, I think a more firmly structured event would keep things running smoothly and controversy free.

- To encourage blog to blog interaction every Sunday should be a "discuss/review your fave fellow challengers blog entry this week". Yes, exactly like Brother Natures prompt in January. Just every week. Every Sunday to be exact. This prompt is going to be an integral part of the judging process under my reign.

- There will be two open blog prompts a week under the guise of "tell us how your day went". These will be Friday and Saturday. For most people this will give us a snapshot of bloggers working life and their weekend life. If they work of course. Snapshots of bloggers lives are going to be integral to the judging process under my by will. Showing independent thought will be integral to the judging process.

 - Every Thursday should be "opinion day" where challengers put forth their opinion on a prompted issue. This prompt could come from the war chest mentioned below.

- an Earl prompt day each week, in the event that Earl could not be with us I Will recycle one of his prompts from a previous challenge. Earl is, and always will be, the face of the 30 Day Blog Challenge. This will be the same day each week.

- The other two prompt days would b taken semi-randomly from a war chest of prompts supplied by challengers as entry into the challenge before it even begins. Not all of these prompts would be used, and they may only form a basis of a prompt too. This process would weed out controversial prompts that are not deemed to be blog prompts. Not everybody is as skilled as Fivesixer at turning strange prompts into life experience stories.

- The serial story would stay, 3-5 days towards the end. Most likely 3 but maybe 5. Run by Teff. The final couple of days being reflection prompts based around people's lives and fellow challengers blog entries. .

So far Teff and myself would be the only judges. And extra notice wilnori stake of those commenting on other challengers entries.
February 23, 2012 at 5:13pm
February 23, 2012 at 5:13pm
#747678
Hello Bloggers!

It's actually me Michael Aka Thundersbeard who is taking on the role of administrator and co-judge of the 30 Day Blog Challenge.

I think Fivesixer just had a heart attack when he read Earls email!

Anyway, I am hoping to bring some structure to the contest. In future, if there is any controversy it will be in the bloggers entries theirslves (where it belongs!).

The biggest change, and the most important I think, is still under discussion between Earl, Teff and myself, and that is that I want to make the Challenge a bi-monthly event starting from April. The month off, month on format will give everyone a chance to relax, reflect and feel renewed. Including the administrators/judges. My involvement really hinges on that.

I'm also going to be changing the prompt structure to make for a more reliable process. As a prerequisite of entry, bloggers will have to send me, privately, their prompts for inclusion in a warchest. There will be no guarantee that a prompt will be used. But no guarantee that it won't haha.

There are other changes I have in mind, but I need to discuss these further with Earl and Teff.

And lastly, the serial story will stay. 3-5 days towards the end of the challenge.

The Detailed Writing Prompt Comp  (E)
Multiple, Big Prizes plus PUBLICATION. Every entry wins Gift Points. JULY Prompt up!
#1814391 by Thundersbeard 30DBC JULY HOST

---
 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#1808259 by Not Available.

---
 No Rest   (18+)
Horror novella featuring zombies and steam trains. Starring Stacey & Grits.
#1835198 by Thundersbeard 30DBC JULY HOST

---
Michael Thundersbeard
Artist, Writer, Father, Factory Worker.
http://www.lifeandothertragedies.com
February 22, 2012 at 10:46pm
February 22, 2012 at 10:46pm
#747637
What noise does a pigeon make?
Coo. Coo.

What noise does a pigeon in a banana republic make?
Coup. Coup.

Some thoughts about this site The numbers. Those community numbers things. Now, I understand why you get 5 points for each year you are a member - it's meant to be a loyalty thing. But I don't think it works. It doesn't work because people who don't come back still get the 5 points. It should only be awarded if that person has logged in in that year. Because let's face it 5 points is a hell of a lot of points for doing nothing. And really, it shouldn't be 5! 5 is just too much. It should only be 2 or maybe 3. You'd still reward loyalty with 3 points!

On the other end of the spectrum - you only get 1 point per 100 reviews you do. 1 point. For 100 reviews. 100 reviews is a lot! You'll get there, it's something to acheive. But then you've got to get to 200! And all you get is another measly community point! When if you just hang out and do no reviewing at all, just wait until your anniversary date, you'll get 5 points!

Reviews are the bread and butter of WDC and I really think they should be rewarded better. A point at every 50 reviews at least. 50 reviews is a lot, and sustaining 50 reviews after that to gain more Review Recognition Points is not a walk in the park. But it's attainable.

February 21, 2012 at 7:16pm
February 21, 2012 at 7:16pm
#747574
*cut and pasted from the 30 Day Blog Challenge Forum*

I duly stand corrected on your credentials to judge Teff. I thought you were just being needlessly impatient and a trifle rude to boot, and it appears I was wrong.

So, without further ado - or adieu -

Congratulations to Prosperous Snow! Definitely, a deserving winner!

I had fun while it lasted, and got to partake in some of that WDC community that I had been hearing so much about since I joined up.

Good luck to everyone still competing! I can't wait to see who wins this time!

http://www.Writing.Com/main/forums/action/view/message_id/2360854/thread/1

Suggestion Box for a Blog Comment Request Box on front page! Post your support!

The Detailed Writing Prompt Comp  (E)
Multiple, Big Prizes plus PUBLICATION. Every entry wins Gift Points. JULY Prompt up!
#1814391 by Thundersbeard 30DBC JULY HOST

---
 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#1808259 by Not Available.

---
 No Rest   (18+)
Horror novella featuring zombies and steam trains. Starring Stacey & Grits.
#1835198 by Thundersbeard 30DBC JULY HOST

---
Michael Thundersbeard
Artist, Writer, Father, Factory Worker.
http://www.lifeandothertragedies.com
February 18, 2012 at 4:42am
February 18, 2012 at 4:42am
#747297
Putting the latest 30-Day Blogging Challenge Controversy behind me and getting on with this, my writing blog.

It's always a mystery when you find a great writer, and they've only posted one or two things and they haven't logged in for years.

http://www.writing.com/main/books/action/view/entry_id/429164

And my review,

That was incredibly well-written and realised. I don't know many writers who could pull off the imagery in the final paragraphs after a deceptively straight-forward narrative through-out. Really inspiring stuff.

I'm currently finalising my plans for this blog by choosing a writing exercises book that I am going to follow here in it's pages. I figure I'll do an entry a week, summarise the chapter, and attempt the exercises. That way you can see for yourself if some of these writing handbooks are for you. I have quite a few, it became a bit of a procrastination obsession for a couple of years there. Buy a writing textbook and never read it. I just finished a book I've had for 20 years on short story writing. And it was only 100 pages! Like I say, I suffer from nerves!

And just for giggles, here is today's comment prompt...

http://www.taste.com.au/images/articles/potatoes11251432.jpg

Does anyone know if it is possible to link to outside images? Pain in the arse to add every image to my portfolio. Hey now my blog is 18+ I can swear whenever I want right? I'm a fan of swearing, you may have noticed. Which is funny because I'm not much of a cusser in my everyday language. I really do find that sometimes it just gets your point across so much more emphatically. The funny thing about my Dear Me entry (that I forgot to enter) is that I had my rating for my intro description changed on me from E because I used the dastardly word "Beer". So far no one has picked up on the fact that all the french words in the actual piece are graphic swear words. Oops, I guess the cat is out of the fucking bag. haha.


February 17, 2012 at 6:18pm
February 17, 2012 at 6:18pm
#747277
Now, I know that Teff had something to do with the challenges a while back but to my mind, that last announcement is just not acceptable. It's Earl's competition, and we should wait until he's ready to announce the winners himself.

What's the big deal with the big rush for a winner to be announced anyway?

We all knew Earl had some problems going in, we all covered for him, and rolled with it, and we all blogged on anyway.

When we signed up, we all read the Earl's note about the prizes. It's not about the prizes, it's about the challenge.

No offense to anyone meant, especially not to the unofficially announced winners.

In other news, another day, another merit badge (sigh). It's tough, being so meritous.
February 17, 2012 at 5:14am
February 17, 2012 at 5:14am
#747232
Have had a very funny week in the real world. Definately one for the memoirs.

But the real reason I'm here tonight (it's tonight for me) is to showcase this amazing piece of WDC wizardry that Wordsmitty ✍️ has put together.

This ladies and gents, is the bomb!

"OK, so I couldn't wait and started to come up with a kludge of sorts. Here's a link to it in my port:
 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#1848066 by Not Available.
The passcode is 12345

It makes the poster actually enter the entry in the description rather than just entering in a neat little box like the item ID. I was going to make the entry's title stick out with bold and another color or size, but didn't want the cut-and-paste to be too confusing.

It's only set to 10 entries per page right now and is set to Upgraded membership or better. Go ahead and enter something and feel free to have anyone else try it out. I will blog about it later. Smile

Thanks
WS"

Now everybody go tell Wordsmitty ✍️ what a legend he is, I have!

In Other News ... I've been promoted to Preferred Author. I can only assume it's to do with my "grassroots" campaign to bring blogging and bloggers to the forefront of WDC. Viva la revolution!

I'm also going to donate the gift points to my buddy Wyrm my co-author in "Invalid Item and "No Rest, so he can enrol in a few New Horizons courses.
February 13, 2012 at 7:17pm
February 13, 2012 at 7:17pm
#747002
Well, I managed to catch up on my Comma Sense assignments and even managed to score an A for one of the weeks, but I am surely struggling with the Reeling In Yer Readers class.

I just can't get my head around these what if scenarios. All of mine seem to kill the story. And seeing as the story is based on a true event, as directed, I am unsure how far to take the what ifs to get one that works.

Oh well, I haven't given up yet. Back to scratching my head.
February 12, 2012 at 6:16am
February 12, 2012 at 6:16am
#746884
Time for a career change! Who's with me! I'm only 36, I'm young enough to learn a new job. Who wants in on this industrial revolution! I'm thinking...I'm thinking...I'm thinking I'll be a best-selling novelist! Yeah! It's time for a career change! I'm gonna be a best-selling novelist! Who's with me!
February 11, 2012 at 7:04am
February 11, 2012 at 7:04am
#746818
Februarys Detailed Writing Prompt is an easy ride along a slow highway. Just watch out for that gang of bikies screaming up behind you, crowding your rear view mirror and breathing down your neck. Better hit the gas, cowboy!

The Big Bang – Start your story with a dramatic event that grabs the interest of your readers. For example a murder, a car crash, an explosion, a relationship break-up. The opening event will then provide a launching point for you to introduce your characters, who will go on to face new complications arising from the original event.

An advantage of this approach is that it is immediately captivating and it allows you to introduce your characters in a situation of high stress, which will reveal a great deal about who they are.

A challenge is that you may then face an early anti-climax if you are not careful.

If it helps you get started, here are some character prompts. You don't have to use all of these characters, or even any of them. This month I have given the character prompts a supernatural feel in keeping with much of the paranormal action-adventure/romance stories here on WDC.

THE CHARACTERS:

DEJUAN VILLEGAS. An undead baron, a locket with a commoner's picture on it gives Dejuan a mysterious appearance. His cold blue eyes scan the area from beneath messy black hair. He has a long scar over his eyes and a penchant for body bandages.
Dejuan uses brute force to protect what is important to him and cuts corners and commits small crimes whenever he can get away with it.

DIAMOND SWEET. Diamond has messy, combed back orange hair and shimmering hazel eyes. He has a haughty gaze and a frenzied look in his eyes. He wears a swashbuckers shirt and breeches and speaks plainly. Whenever the moon is waning, Diamonds vision begins rapidly failing. He is a werewolf. His drive to create a perfect society borders on madness but his good will is apparent in everything he does.

SAVANNA SARAH CRUZ. The untrustworthy-looking Savanna wears a pirate captains coat. Savanna's destructive spirit manifests in her tendency to use intimidation over diplomacy, and to solve problems with force rather then forethought. Savanna is a seer and by taking a deep swig of wine she can sense the locations of all nearby magical forces. Though sometimes coarse and harsh, Savanna truly has everyone's best interest at heart. The pirate captain's coat hides the effects of a curse where her skin has become repulsive to anyone who desires her.

DR ELDERS. The foppish looking Dr Elders wears a school uniform. He too is a bearer of much angst and is secretly responsible for the death of hundreds. His love of order is displayed by his stark organisational skills and in order to resurrect his dead brother, Dr Elders will literally do anything. When badly wounded, Dr Elder automatically invokes the secret force FLARECHILD'S GLORY and can speak, read and understand the language of light-aligned supernatural creatures.
February 10, 2012 at 7:51am
February 10, 2012 at 7:51am
#746751
"I have never known any distress that an hour's reading did not relieve." ~Baron de Montesquieu

Yeah, you're a fucking baron.

In other news, behind in my New Horizons coursii and I'm not sure I can catch up.

In regards to writing - is the struggle worth it? How's that for a prompt haha. That one prompt could last a whole month. Same prompt every day, every body giving a different answer every day I bet.

This is my latest facebook post that I feel is worthy of expanding into a blog post. It's about my buddy Troy and his determination to live. He's not going to, but he doesn't know that, that's his parents decision, and one I respect. Seeing him hold onto his life, I think it was the right choice. He wouldn't want to go out crying, he'd want to go out believing he is winning.

"Those nights when you're tired, and you want to go to sleep, but you just want to stay up that little bit more. Do that little bit more, anything. You're just not ready to end the day. That's death, and knowing it's coming. And fighting it off, like sleep."


The Detailed Writing Prompt Comp  (E)
Multiple, Big Prizes plus PUBLICATION. Every entry wins Gift Points. JULY Prompt up!
#1814391 by Thundersbeard 30DBC JULY HOST

---
 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#1808259 by Not Available.

---
 No Rest   (18+)
Horror novella featuring zombies and steam trains. Starring Stacey & Grits.
#1835198 by Thundersbeard 30DBC JULY HOST

---
Michael Thundersbeard
Artist, Writer, Father, Factory Worker.
http://www.lifeandothertragedies.com
February 5, 2012 at 5:06am
February 5, 2012 at 5:06am
#746412
On hiatus for a while. I just can't concentrate. Am a bit shell shocked. Thursday, my neighbour of 7 years didn't recognize me. His dementia has settled in. I haven't seen him since before Christmas and I had no idea he had deteriated to such an extent. I just thought he was having a lend of me, cheeky old bastard. Such a terrible, sinking feeling when I realized what was going on.

Then Friday my mum rang me to tell me that a good friend of ours is in the last stages of brain cancer. He's a few years older then me, but used to work with my mum. He was like a son to her, and older brother to me. He made friends everywhere and always looked after me, introducing me to girls and just being an all-round fun guy. We all lost contact the last ten years as he moved back to the country town we all come from. Next thing we know, he's dying. Flying in Tuesday to visit him in hospital, fly in, fly out in the one day. My wife is sick with her MS and it was a battle to even do this. I just don't want the next time I see him, or have anything to do with him, be his funeral.
Like I said, I'm having trouble concentrating and am feeling shell shocked by it all so I won't be continuing with the February blog challenge. I just can't fire up the motivation. Not sure how this month is going to pan out.


The Detailed Writing Prompt Comp  (E)
Multiple, Big Prizes plus PUBLICATION. Every entry wins Gift Points. JULY Prompt up!
#1814391 by Thundersbeard 30DBC JULY HOST

---
 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#1808259 by Not Available.

---
 No Rest   (18+)
Horror novella featuring zombies and steam trains. Starring Stacey & Grits.
#1835198 by Thundersbeard 30DBC JULY HOST

---
Michael Thundersbeard
Artist, Writer, Father, Factory Worker.
http://www.lifeandothertragedies.com
February 2, 2012 at 5:00am
February 2, 2012 at 5:00am
#746193
What the hell just happened to my blog post! I spent half an hour writing that sucker! You got to be kidding me!

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