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How to Stop Planning and Use What You've GotArticle cowritten by *ShadowedAcolyte and ^neurotype.
We've chosen to present this in bullets. The first few are ways to tell when your planning has gone too far; the rest are how to get past that.
Featured literature was chosen for its ability to present exposition: good pacing, tantalizing hints, etc.
How do I know I've planned too much?
When you can't hold it all in your head.When you can't explain it without a long-winded summary."So you've planned X. How will you reveal X to the reader?" If you can't immediately think of a good idea, it's probably overplanned.
Volume: how much of your story is world-building/backstory?
Properly spaced, you could get up to 10% world into a story without ruining the book (e.g. for an epic fantasy or something else not set in a place readers will immediately recognize). The rest should be happening now.If the setting is much more familiar—like, Everytown, USA, it could easily be 1% backstory.
Wh
Prompt 14: The Beginning!Yes, it's us again. We reincarnate more often than Kenny.
This time is going to be different, though. And you can trust me on that, because it's not me who'll be ensuring it. =futilitarian, a long-time contributor and judge for #transliterations and someone whom I'm sure you all know if only by reputation, is stepping into the breach and making sure this dead horse keeps getting whipped. The one major change you should be aware of is that prompts will now go up on the 15th of each month and end on the 10th. Of course, this ending date is purely arbitrary and only influences who gets into the news feature; you can continue to submit whenever you want. We'll also be introducing a new category into our prompt cycle, but you'll find out more about that a little later on. And these changes pale in comparison to the fact that things will actually be happening.
She's a good influence on me, you see. She's the rod up my arse that keeps the clockwork turning. 
On that note:
PE: Story Planning Round-upGreetings all!
WHAT AN AWESOME WEEK!
So last week we had a fantastic event based on Story Planning; a week that was slightly relaxed for a PE week, but full of good advice. These articles haven't just been written for the sake of filling a week, we genuinely hope there is something in them that is useful to you as a writer, to help you with your journey. There's a flash fiction month around the corner, as well as a camp NaNoWriMo and then a full NaNoWrimo in November. There are the times to get planning- don't leave it too close to the deadline!

Article round-up
Here is a list of all the articles we posted in the past week! Please favourite, share the love, comment and express gratitude- especially to our article writers who took the personal time to write these articles and share a little of their own writin
Dialogue WorkshopI want this workshop to be somewhat different from other workshops -- I'm going to break this down into two categories:  technical elements and personal advice.
And I hate to say this, but the following information in this workshop only works if applied.  Osmosis and good intentions do not work.  Sorry.
Clap PRE-EMPTIVE TLDR NUTSHELL
To write effective dialogue, there has to be a basic understanding of what communication is.  Wikipedia sums it up nicely:  the meaningful exchange of information between two or more people.  It's easy but not at the same time.
Eyepopping TECHNICAL
This has to do with actual concepts for crafting effective dialogue.  For the most part, I had to research the details but you'll be able to pick out what I added on my own.  You know how I get and if you don't, you soon will.  No apologies for that.
Links to the websites I used will follow.
Some of the worst advice I've seen and that I'm s
Love dA Lit: Issue 132Welcome to the one-hundred thirty-second issue of Love dA Lit! :manhug: Every Sunday this article will aim to promote volunteer opportunities, various resources, prompts, challenges, and workshops, as well as highlighting various contests, and spotlighting a specific group or project for two weeks. This is by no means a complete list of all the literature going-ons, merely a tool to help you get involved and stay informed.
Note: It's another PE week at #projecteducate! As usual it gets its own nice little section for the next two weeks. :eyes: Oh yes, and I've moved over most of the resources exclusively to #LITplease's Community Portal, but labeled it with a nice big heading and link to the current one. Hope everything is clear enough! ♥
#LITplease's Community Portal
:new:
Fantastic Feature Tuesday #47Please this news article so it will reach a larger audience!
This is a weekly feature of amazing literature that I come by during my
travels across deviantART. This is only a small sample of a vast amount
of wonderful pieces of literature written by absolutely fantastic
writers. Each deviation was carefully selected from a writer's gallery
based on structure, impact and word usage. I will never feature the
same person twice (though this gets harder to keep track of
now that we can change usernames), so check out these lovely writers now while you can!


June, it's on. It is on.Hello everyone! ♥ We've been quiet, but we're still here and still eager to help out! :eager: Don't be afraid to ask questions! Everyone here is nice and happy to answer any questions you have. [Trust me, I know.]
#projecteducate and #CRLiterature are hosting a Story Planning Week and it is a fantastic way to learn from other deviants more about story planning. It really isn't as easy as it would seem, so be sure to look over these articles. :whisper: Oh, for you poets out there, there was even a Poetry Forms week a while back.
PE: Story Planning Articles




Questions? Comments? Excited? confused? Really unsure
Something FishyIt was a rainy day and Shimii was napping in her corner. Her companion, Splendor and his brothers were out hunting for the day. She woke up and got a little peckish, so she went into the kitchen for a snack. She decided to have her favorite, kitty treats with gravy. She sat on the spinney chair and poured gravy all over the treats. The doorknob turned and the door opened, revealing one soaked family. Slender threw a big bag full of corpses of the victims they killed onto the floor. Splendor had a little bag of the things he found to eat in his hands.
"Jesus guys, you left without knowing it was going to rain?" Shimii asked.
"We needed to hunt, no matter the condition of the environment." Slender sniffed.
"I'll be in my room with my findings!" Splendor said grinning as he walked to his room.
Shimii polished off her snack and decided to spend some time sitting on her companion's lap. She sassed walked through the hallway, only to see the dim light coming out of Splendor's bedroom door. A
Community Portal: June 16thCommunity Portal
Love dA Lit: Issue 132
News
:new: ^neurotype is looking for themed DD suggestions again. (by note only :ohnoes:)
:new: Farewell to JZlobo, the first Fan Fiction CV. Give him your thanks!
:new: Forums Discussion: Obligatory reading like a writer post: What was the last book you read?
:new: Dialogue Workshop [July 1st]
:new: Mini Criti
Benson's lament                                                                                                                               
  (Sang to Midna's lament)
 
  It all happened late that night
  My best friend was killed
 
Beheaded in front of me
 And its all my fault
 
Dave... I
The Hunter    My right arm was twisted behind my back, and the left of my face was pressed to a cold cement wall, it was hard to breath. My black dull hair fell in my face, I growled as my back began popping painfully.
    "Scream and I'll slit your throat." The man that was holding me to the wall growls.
    "Chase orders are no killing." The other guy's voice interrupts uneasily.
    "Fine, but he never said no harming." Chase growls once more. I gasped as he pulled my by my hair and threw me to the ground. "Get up." I stood slowly pain filling my body. My jean jacket was ripped where Chase had gotten ahold of me. I probably looked like a bloody mess because of the battle I'd put up, I was grabbed by the back of my neck.
    "Move." My movements were slow containing limps and grimaces from my face.
    "Act normal." He said slipping his arm around me, I tried to pull away but his arm was lo
40 HR FAMINE - PLZ SUPPORTHEY GUYS!! IM DOING THE WORLD VISION 40 HOUR FAMINE ON THE 16-18TH OF AUGUST. I AM GOING TO BE GOING WITHOUT FOOD FOR 40 HOURS TO RAISE MONEY TO HELP KIDSAROUND THE WORLD WHOM ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE OF CHRONIC HUNGER. IM GIVING UP FOR 30 HOURS SO I HOPE YOU CAN GIVE UP A LITTLE BUT OF HARD EARNED MONEY TO SUPPORT ME THROUGH. MY GOAL IS TO RAISE $500. YOU CAN DONATE EASILY VIA MY PAGEhttp://40hf.com.au/DEBBIEBLANCH THANK YOU TO ANYONE WHOM DOES KINDLY DONATE ANYTHING TO ME. IT MEANS A LOT FOR ME AND THESE CHILDREN WILL BE SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR GENEROSITY.
The Indie Pen Dance - Issue 4 - Robert Loyd WatsonGreetings, readers. Welcome to the Indie Pen Dance, a catalogue of DeviantART's independently published authors! Show our indies some love, like their pages, pick up copies of their books. 


 I meant to have this out on the 15th, but I'm sure it's starting to become obvious that scheduling is not my strong suit. Today, we pester Robert Loyd Watson, DeviantART's own =merrak 


Author: Robert Loyd Watson
Title: A Foundation in Wisdom
Genre: Fantasy / General
Length: 45,000 words
Availability: 
Amazon Print - http://www.amazon.com/dp/0988957205/ref=cm_sw_su_dp
Amazon Ebook - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CPQD6OE
B&N Print - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-foundation-in-wisdom-robert-loyd-watson/1115262803?ean=9780988957206
B&N Ebook - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-foundation-in-wisdom-robert-loyd-watson/1115262803?ean=2940016700953&itm=1&usri=
WHO TO LOVE?THOSE THOSE WHOM GOD PUT ON EARTH. HE DIDNT PUT THEM HERE TO BE HATED OR CRITISIED. HE PUT THEM HERE FOR A PURPOSE AND IT IS PEOPLES CHOICE WHETHER THEY WANT TO SEE THAT OR NOT. ~WOLF
Intervention: Chapter 45 part 1"So who is going to make the wish for your friend to return?" Mew asked.
            "I guess Diana could do it since she desperately wants Aaron back more than I do." Marcus answered.
            "Okay. I will do it." Diana declared. Mew handed Diana the Stone of Rebirth, and slowly floated back.
            "In order for this to work, you must have enough desire for what you want in order to get what you want. Otherwise, your wish won't come true." Mew said. Diana looked at the Stone of Rebirth, and tried to figure out what to do.
            *Do I just think about what I want, or is there some secret to this?* Diana thought to herself. She remember Aaron said that he just wanted to move from the side of the cliff, and it worked. So, Diana clutched the Stone of Rebirth tightly, and thought of Aaron being with her and Marcus instead of being
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"Lost Loves" lit competiton

:iconakarra:

:iconmayhematic: is hosting a poetry/literature competition around the theme of "lost loves." The deadline is the 18th of April; you can read more about the guidelines in her journal: [link]

I am helping judge the competition, along with :iconhirakuplz:. I'm pretty much judging poetry (I know. You didn't see that one coming). Please make my job hard and submit stuff and get others involved. The point is to meet people and get everyone more exposure. You'll notice the prizes are pretty much exposure-related.

Again, if you're wondering what my credentials are to judge anything, there's always this interview.
11 Comments
  • Listening to: Bach
  • Reading: Nietzsche, "Beyond Good and Evil"
  • Playing: Skyrim
  • Drinking: coffee

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"Lost Loves" lit competitonby *akarra

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©2012-2013 *akarra
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:icononewingangel1117:
~OneWingAngel1117 Apr 5, 2012
o0o0o0o how interesting.
I love Nietzsche by the way. Beyond Good and Evil is one of my faves from him.
I like Bach too :) random info alert: did you know his music is very mathematically complex?
Reply
:iconakarra:
*akarra Apr 5, 2012  Student Writer
In case you're curious, I've got this little write-up on one part of BG & E - [link]
Reply
:icononewingangel1117:
~OneWingAngel1117 Apr 5, 2012
I'm off to read this-sounds very interesting! I love reading articles like that. I read your analysis on Batman Begins. I was searching for maybe a follow up, interested on your ideas about the sequel but I couldn't find it on your blog. Did you make one?
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:iconakarra:
Mood: Joy *akarra Apr 6, 2012  Student Writer
It's here: On "The Dark Knight"
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:iconmrs-freestar-bul:
*Mrs-Freestar-Bul Apr 4, 2012   Writer
I'm in :eager:
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:iconcandrarose:
~CandraRose Apr 4, 2012  Student Traditional Artist
Looks like a lot of fun. I'll defineltey sign up for it (even though I'm not so good at poetry)
I also have a friend who is actually really good, can I invite her?
Reply
:iconhirakuplz:
~hirakuplz Apr 4, 2012  Hobbyist General Artist
Looks brilliant!
Reply
:iconakarra:
Mood: Joy *akarra Apr 4, 2012  Student Writer
Yeah, I hope people realize that neat, packed work will be valued highly. I'm not really in the mood for reading a version of the Iliad that is packed with bad rhymes and misspelling.
Reply
:iconmissmorticia:
*MissMorticia Apr 4, 2012  Professional General Artist
Don't tell anybody, but I never was able to get through the Iliad, just not for me I guess. :blush:
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:iconhirakuplz:
~hirakuplz Apr 4, 2012  Hobbyist General Artist
Yeah :)
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