A StoriesSpace writers' group - SSWG for short

Following on from a thought that AaronArcher posted in Writer's Groups | Stories Space:

This is just a thread to gauge if there is interest, collect thoughts on how it might work, and so on. If there seems to be enough interest to give it a whirl, then we can move to actually doing it (based on answers to the second question below).

Questions to consider:

Do we have enough active members to make it worthwhile? I have never been in such a group, but I am betting we need at least half a dozen to eight regulars to really make it work.

How would we handle it within the current structure? There's no dedicated forum for it, so a thread(s) in Writers Resources?

What would be the format? People posting works in progress for discussion? People posting questions or problems they are dealing with and then discussing how others would approach them? Maybe one person posts a WIP or question per week, then designates who will take the next week. Other formats?

Rules? Is it open to all but we insist that people stay on topic and report people who consistently off-topic? I cannot see any other way in the current software and setup since there are no Groups on this site and no provision that I can see for a "private" forum of any kind (which is how I would do it on my site).

Are bears and apes allowed to participate? On this site, that seems almost mandatory, doesn't it? 😀

We would need a place to meet and also an elected leader. Limited to 5 or 6. What do you think?

I am assuming that this woukd be virtual, probably either a thread here or a Zoom meeting, given how scattered we are. So a place to meet is moot. As for a leader, I was thinking more of a collective with each person taking a turn at presentation. We don't really have the numbers for anything too formal here.

How would we share work? There's no file share capability here. I'm open to this...

Quote by verbal

How would we share work? There's no file share capability here. I'm open to this...

Cloud drive. I can set something up.

Well, my first contribution is a piece of advice. I was complaining to my writing group about how difficult outlining and plotting a novel was. Someone in my group said this: Let the first draft be your outline. Their point, I think, was not to slow your forward motion too much. Tell yourself the story in the first draft. Learn how to tell it to the reader in the second draft. Anyway, it's freed me up quite a bit.

This is exactly what I hoped for when I came in two months ago (I'm not normally a forum person on any site) but it looked like this would be the place where writers might talk about their work. So far, I have learned much about the value of pressure cookers, about caring for cats, how to produce magnificent cookies ( thank you Sara, indispensable ). And the weather in Canada and all points West.

If I may, Scott, a few queries of my own:

1) How possible would it be to tot-up the number of writers who might be interested?

2) How could it be any different from what is possible on the existing Writers stuff page?

3) As to the location, what is wrong with right here?

Quote by verbal

Let the first draft be your outline. Their point, I think, was not to slow your forward motion too much. Tell yourself the story in the first draft. Learn how to tell it to the reader in the second draft. Anyway, it's freed me up quite a bit.

This is a method I always use, Verbal-simply because I'm too dumb to plan and perspire. In fact I almost have ready a piece for SS that indicates the doubts and difficulties I have with a true family saga, which I have already begun on SS with two separate chapters.

Anyway, count me in. I don't know what time you stumble out of bed, Scott, but I'll put the kettle on, have a hot chocolate and a Sara cookie.

This raises one more point---disparity in times. Not a great difficulty.

Quote by redwriter
How could it be any different from what is possible on the existing Writers stuff page?

The idea would be that someone would be a "leader" and maybe post one of their drafts to critique or some other focused basis for discussion. Everyone would then commit to commenting within that week with CONSTRUCTIVE criticisms.

There could also be writing questions as the focus. Put forward an issue you're wrestling with in a story and get feedback and discussion it.

And, yes, this could be done with threads here but a more formal writing group, preferably in a forum here as you suggest, might get more activity and commitment. Most of the time, writing threads on here just sit undiscussed. We probably have more writing discussion in Inspirations than in any of the writing forums. Which is fine other than it makes it hard if you want to try to find a specific topic or discussion that was had down the road.

But if someone wants to just try doing it in a regular thread and not have it be so structured, I'd certainly join in.

Quote by verbal

Well, my first contribution is a piece of advice. I was complaining to my writing group about how difficult outlining and plotting a novel was. Someone in my group said this: Let the first draft be your outline. Their point, I think, was not to slow your forward motion too much. Tell yourself the story in the first draft. Learn how to tell it to the reader in the second draft. Anyway, it's freed me up quite a bit.

This works great for short stories, I think, but a novel-length work, especially one requiring a lot of world-building, seems to me to require some advanced preparation. If you want the world to be consistently developed and coherent, I don't think making it all up as you go makes sense. For instance, you can certainly make up magic spells and effects on the go, but you want the underlying magic system worked out or you end up with inconsistencies in power level or capability and sf/f readers are great at picking up on that sort of inconsistency (sf moreso than fantasy, I suppose).

Here’s a cool exercise I recently read about but have never explored. Maybe you’ve heard about it.

Select a television episode you enjoy and write it as a story, dialogue and all. Describe the setting, characters, plot, etc. as if you were writing THAT story. Use the visual as your mind’s eye; the dialogue and narration as your own. Once you’re done, read your story, have others read the story, and then watch the show. Then discuss. It could prove to be an invaluable self-teaching tool, or a very f’n big waste of time. I think the former, by a humongous margin.

Quote by Ping

Here’s a cool exercise I recently read about but have never explored. Maybe you’ve heard about it.

Select a television episode you enjoy and write it as a story, dialogue and all. Describe the setting, characters, plot, etc. as if you were writing THAT story. Use the visual as your mind’s eye; the dialogue and narration as your own. Once you’re done, read your story, have others read the story, and then watch the show. Then discuss. It could prove to be an invaluable self-teaching tool, or a very f’n big waste of time. I think the former, by a humongous margin.

Cool idea, I think. Might give it a whirl to see if it breaks me out of my drought. There's some Star Trek, both classic and Next Generation, episodes that I have thoughts about.

Quote by Mendalla

Quote by verbal

Well, my first contribution is a piece of advice. I was complaining to my writing group about how difficult outlining and plotting a novel was. Someone in my group said this: Let the first draft be your outline. Their point, I think, was not to slow your forward motion too much. Tell yourself the story in the first draft. Learn how to tell it to the reader in the second draft. Anyway, it's freed me up quite a bit.

This works great for short stories, I think, but a novel-length work, especially one requiring a lot of world-building, seems to me to require some advanced preparation. If you want the world to be consistently developed and coherent, I don't think making it all up as you go makes sense. For instance, you can certainly make up magic spells and effects on the go, but you want the underlying magic system worked out or you end up with inconsistencies in power level or capability and sf/f readers are great at picking up on that sort of inconsistency (sf moreso than fantasy, I suppose).

Oh, it's certainly not "make it up as you go along," you need to know the rules of the world, and the direction things are going. I'm talking more about a chapter level outline, where you know in advance what happens in every chapter. Right now I know the world and generally where everything goes, but I'm outlining 10-ish chapter at a time, since I'm not good enough to see any further ahead. When I'm done, I'll tighten and cut and polish that draft, with a full outline in hand for my second try.

Here's a new tool, though I haven't tried these yet. It a list of sentence rewriters, useful mostly to avoid the passive voice, in my experience. Just shows you various options on playing with the structure of a sentence. https://www.jarvis.ai/blog/sentence-rewriter?fbclid=IwAR2kS8pygQOa6-8RCXx41r_NPabWurMxnk_jmstOnRVQh7k6HT3w4lNTljA

I'd be curious how people keep track of their thoughts when writing because I lost mine on the train, and the station office told me that I need to be able to cite exactly what those thoughts were or recall details unique to mine own without any hints or reminders or they can't guarantee finding them in the lost and found which is inconceivability at a station 30 minutes away because I couldn't remember what station I left them at or train car or exact time of departure, so they gathered all lost objects and pets there, and I don't know if anyone would want to steal my rubbish since I write it all like this or in incongruius biullet points anywaty with lots of tpyos.

sorry, was that a run-on?

Okay, since Molly kindly got the Groups feature turned on, maybe we'll take a swing at this. I am thinking of calling it The Story Circle and making it public. Can probably come up with a logo and cover image with a bit of work. I'm getting pretty adept at Paint 3D in Windows 10 and finding PD art and photos to use (unless someone here is artistically inclined).