The Writers Bloc

Welcome to The Writers Bloc, the home base for theOtaku.com's beta-readers and a place for writers to come with questions and learn some new tricks and methods of storytelling, writing, or pretty much anything involving this mutt of a language we call Modern English.

Our Current Pool of Editors and Beta-Readers Includes:

Andromeda Spira
Anomaly
cutepresea (*Doesn't do fanfics*)
Ichigo (Anime Pulse)
Kastom (*Doesn't do fanfics*)
Katana (*Doesn't do fanfics*)
Kimmeh
Lady Katana
Mimmi
Miss Anonymous
Nehszriah
NightBeck
Red Tigress
Sangome (*Doesn't do fanfics*)
sesshy.uber.rad
Starscream
Timber (*Doesn't do fanfics*)
Timechaser
TwistedCyberChick
waywardwarrior

If you have a story, essay, or any written work that you feel could use the assistance of a beta reader or editor, choose a beta-reader from the above list and PM them for availability.

As well, be sure to come visit every now and then to take part in writing workshops and discussions. And of course, if you have your own questions, don't be afraid to ask them here; we're neither teachers nor betters, but peers hoping to help.

The Weekly Schedule:

Monday: SomeGuy's Workshop (SomeGuy)
Tuesday: Rotating Guest Post (Various)
Wednesday: The Wednesday Word (SomeGuy)
Thursday: Beck's Workshop (NightBeck)
Friday: Updates and Open Questions (All)
Sunday: Becky's Writers' Block Busters (NightBeck)

So once again... welcome to The Bloc.

(Banner Design Courtesy of Red Tigress - thanks Red!)

Created By SomeGuy

And now for something completely different: book recommendations!

Hey guys! Sorry the Bloc has been so quiet lately - SomeGuy's been busy with a lot of stuff. Unfortunately, things are a bit hectic here too, so my workshop on Young Adult fiction will have to wait for another week. But I did think of something else that might be fun.

Finding good reading material at this time of year is a difficult process. It's not really summer anymore, so it's time to trade in fluff for something more meaty. But with many of us going back to school and therefore back to required reading, we still need something fun and exciting to break the monotony. So how hard is it to find something that's both of those things? Really hard, actually.

So let me ask you this, guys: what are you reading right now?

As for me, I've been poking around at the Temeraire series, which someone bought me the first two books of as a gift. I'm not really sucked in by dragon stories, but the setting (an alternate-universe version of the Napoleonic wars) and the rules of the universe have me intrigued. There's as much loving description paid to nautical life as there is to the fantasy aspects of the story, which makes for an interesting combination. Of course, I've only read through two chapters of the first book, so I'll have to see how it goes.

Your turn! What are you reading to ease you back into this busy time of year?

Becky's Writers' Block Busters, Session Thirteen

Making this post a bit early, because I'm getting on a plane in the morning. Looks like everyone's lives were as hectic as mine this week, because only Shinmaru and Sangome managed to write something. I totally cannot wait to read their of...

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Beck's Writing Workshop, Session Thirteen

Hey, y'all. It's going to have to be another discussion post this week - Tropical Storm Fay blew out my electricity, so I'm running on my laptop's battery power and my inexplicably still-running internet.

Your discussion question is:

What is the difference between tragedy and angst in fiction? Do you think there's a certain point where the line can be drawn, or does it run on a case-by-case basis? Do you think realism should be strictly adhered to, or is it okay to be a little unrealistic to bring the melodrama levels down?

SomeGuy's Workshop, Session Fourteen

Welcome to week two of SomeGuy's combat writing. I hope this can give a bit of a leg up for anyone who deems it necessary to stab a character in their stories. Swords, Steel, and Other Sharp Things...

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Becky's Writers' Block Busters, Session Twelve

Hi everyone! We had another very productive week, it seems. I read pieces from CoLoR Me EviL, SomeGuy, Shimaru, Nehszriah, and Katana, and they were all - dare I say it? - awesome. If you'd like to experience the awesome too, as always, links to t...

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