CHAT ARCHIVE - 5-6-00, Dual Duty Description

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ICQ Chat Save file
Started on Sun May 07 00:33:21 2000

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<Casey> Tonight's discussion topic is Description.
<Lee> ok description
<Casey> Description: It's not just about trees anymore.
<BeckyB> Or the weather.
<BeckyB> The night was dark & stormy...
<Lee> lol
<Lee> it was a dark and stormy night
<BeckyB> Thank you lee. I do try for a laugh.
<Lee> you will almost always get one with me
<Casey> When creating description, it's better if it's not all cut and dry:
simply a description of something anyone might see.
<Casey> Description, as much as your story, should have a purpose. A reason
for being included.
<Lee> right
<Lee> no random descriptions then huh
<Lee> isn't description supposed to help set the mood, the setting
<Casey> Yes, Lee.
<Lee> describe the person etc.
<Casey> You should know what that mood is.
<BeckyB> My purpose is usually a little vague. I just am trying to show
what it is that I'm seeing in my mind as I write, but I have been known to
ramble on the trivial.
<BeckyB> Witchy, your English colloquialisms are cute.
<Casey> Everyone is in class now, instructions have been passed, so I'm
continuing the topic. You guys and gals talk around me.
<Casey> Okay. Dual duty description. Make your description perform more
than mere description.
<Casey> What does dual duty mean? It means that you incorporate mood or
background information into your description.
<Lee> ok let's get intro over with
<Lee> I am a 30 year old female. Mother of six.
<Lee> I have 2 sets of twin girls and 2 boys
<Casey> References used in description can either be character specific, or
story general.
<Lee> I live in Colorado and have been writing since I was about 8.
<Lee> I have been published in local newspapers, a few magazines and some
school papers
<Casey> By character specific, I mean, seen through a specific character's
frame of reference.
<Wwombat> So descriptions can either be in the 'voice' of the current POV
character, or omniscient ?
<Casey> Yes, Richard.
<Casey> You have a character who's a seafarer. He might describe what he's
seen in nautical terms, or linked to nautical frames of reference.
<Lee> so it is almost like first person description
<Lee> rather than a detached description it is personal
<Casey> Yes, Lee.
<Sea Witch> The decks were awash with supper and rum. The Captain's mate
had gotten seasick again
<Sea Witch> Evil laff
<Wwombat> Current POV character would be in keeping with the style of the
chapter
<Lee> because it is personal, you see what they see, but also information
about them as well
<Casey> Nice, Witchie.
<kissfan> OOOOOOOOOOO YUMMY
<Lee> POV?
<Casey> Exactly, Lee. It also permits you to expand a character's
characterization without simply stating information about the character.
<Casey> POV = point of view.
<Lee> it is less boring to learn of the character through his first person
views than just describing him is the point here right
<Sea Witch> The bosun simply couldn't find his sea legs. The cabin boy had
hidden them for a joke
<Casey> Right, Lee.
<BeckyB> That is an interesting idea, but I'd have to really work at it in
order for it to work, when you have a lot of characters it can be difficult
to have a different style of writing for each.
<Casey> Story related, description is linked to the overall mood or tone of
your story.
<Wwombat> If your using an omniscient POV, all descriptions should be
omniscient ?
<Casey> You don't have a different style of writing for each character,
Becky, only different frames of reference.
<Sea Witch> God mode. I like that. heh heh
<Wwombat> One of my more endearing characters
<Casey> You would not really want to do that for minor characters, Becky.
That elevates them to a prominence you probably don't want in your story.
<BeckyB> What is the difference between a different style of writing and a
different frame of reference.
<Sea Witch> You don't change your style, just your description
<BeckyB> that is part of my problem. I tend toward the cast of thousands
epic stories.
<Sea Witch> I solve it by killing some of 'em off
<Wwombat> So Becky, you must also have a God complex
<Casey> Changing style would be something like: Gawl dangit! That there
boy's gonna be the death of me.
<Wwombat> SW, blood thirsty as usual
<shorty103> LOL
<BeckyB> Yes, Lots of death, but every new city has at least 10 interesting
characters who appear.
<Sea Witch> Can't have the little extraneous buggers running around loose
can I?
<Sea Witch> Never know when they'll pop up again
<Casey> Let's try an exercise using a particular frame of reference.
<Casey> Someone give me a profession.
<BeckyB> I must. I always like to play with my characters like toy soldiers
on a table.
<Sea Witch> dung shoveller
<Wwombat> Poofta
<Casey> What is a Poofta, Richard?
<Sea Witch> That ain't a profession Wwombat it's a persuasion
<Wwombat> One who is sexually undecided
<BeckyB> how about a screen writer.
<Sea Witch> or, as is the usual case, a cause
<kissfan> or a doctor
<Casey> Ahhhh. I don't think one makes money at that. SW's right.
<Sea Witch> too ordinary
<kissfan> A rock star?
<Wwombat> You try persuading 'em
<kissfan> LOL
<Sea Witch> getting better
<Casey> Okay, let's go with Rock Star.
<kissfan> YES!
<Sea Witch> They don't need any encouragement from what I can see
<Casey> Everyone have your rock star describe a forest. Just a sentence or
two.
<Wwombat> My next album will be :Granit Gratings
<kissfan> lol
<Sea Witch> Whaaaaaaang. Staggered thru the trees, my head smacked out on
dope! Gotta take a leak then gotta take a toke!
<Wwombat> Trees like fans swaying to the rhythm of the gale.
<Sea Witch> Rock star blinks eyes wearily. Hey, why do them trees look like
penguins?
<BeckyB> As she stepped out of the car, it was like standing on a broadway
stage, but instead of people watching, it was an audience of trees.
<Casey> The trees, like a shoulder-to-shoulder press of fans, reached out
their limbs to suffocate him.
<shorty103> Ha man! dig that long thing with funny looking things sticking
out! One just wacked me in the head!
<Sea Witch> Becky put us to shame
<BeckyB> Thanks.
<Wwombat> Not difficult
<Casey> LOL, Rose. I love it.
<BeckyB> I like Casey's
<shorty103> LOL
<Wwombat> Interesting; same metaphor from 3 of us
<Sea Witch> better than semaphore Wwombat
<Casey> Should our rock star describe a chair instead?
<BeckyB> Sure.
<Wwombat> I tried that, but only my cat saw it -- and she went and hid !
<shorty103> LOL
<Sea Witch> LOL
<BeckyB> LOL
<BeckyB> How about. "Sigh, why doesn't every chair have my name on it?"
<kissfan> Looking from the window of the bus as it moved down the highway,
all that could be seen was trees surrounding them like a crowd of fans. The
branches moving in the wind like arms swaying to the beat of the music.
<Casey> A hard, straight, ladder-backed wooden seat devoid of a body. So
unlike the padded seats full of screaming fans.
<BeckyB> Not bad kiss.
<Sea Witch> Rock star to props manager. Hey, I wanted the chair yea big and
yea wide. (holds up miniscule prop) What's this?
<Wwombat> This seat. Groovy on my bum. But wild, man. Tipped me out when
I learned on it. Like, Bang, man
<kissfan> thanks, Becky
<Casey> I love the stereotypes we've got going here.
<Sea Witch> You mean he actually grabbed the REAL chair Wwombat? Come
on!!!!
<BeckyB> Some rock stars are a little more stoned than others. :-)
<Sea Witch> Only some?
<Wwombat> When you're spaced out, everything looks like a chair or a chic
<Casey> You sit on both?
<Casey> (Ohhhhhh, bad, bad Casey)
<kissfan> OK LOL
<shorty103> Can't get any harder on the butt! Pass me that pillow! It's
either the chair's hard, or my butt gone num!
<Sea Witch> I'm amazed they can tell the difference. Or maybe they
can't......
<Casey> You guys seem to have the idea of personal frame of reference in
description.
<Wwombat> Now let's describe the chic
<Casey> Let's try story mood in description.
<Casey> Or, let's describe the chic.
<Casey> First.
<BeckyB> It was a drak & stormy night...... :-)
<Sea Witch> Doesn't he mean chick?
<BeckyB> dark.
<Sea Witch> I liked the first one Becky. heh heh
<Wwombat> The chicken peered into the dark depths, pushing its beak
tentatively round the corner
<Sea Witch> To get it bitten off by Wile E Coyote!
<Lee> first person or not
<Casey> Either.
<Wwombat> I knew you blood thirsty lot would spoil my romantic beginning
<kissfan> LOL
<Lee> Ricki saw her from across the smoke filled lounge. Her soft smile and
shy look made it clear she wasn't another one of his groopies. Thank God,
maybe for once he could be the aggressor here.
<Sea Witch> Look the Coyote's gotta eat some time ya know
<Casey> She had the curves of a guitar, and he ached to run his hands down
her side as lovingly.
<Sea Witch> You didn't say we could do that Casey
<Wwombat> She had intelligent eyes that could read, a clear brow that had
been washed, and new neat clothes that spoilt he figure ..
<Casey> Do what, SW?
<Lee> Her classic style contradicted his leather and metal.
<shorty103> Did you see that man! Did you see that babe! So kwel! Legs up
to her armpits! Man! What legs!
<Sea Witch> She walked up to Big Rod Buckfaster and said, "Hi Sweetie.
Wanna pluck my G string?"
<BeckyB> Click, click, hum. The metallic clicking and humming sounds echoed
getting louder and harsher as the old echos mearged with the new noises.
One moments she heard a hum, then a click, then a whir, but always
deafening.
<Casey> LOL! Maybe Casey's not so bad after all. Thanks, SW.
<Sea Witch> Wish Gosh was here. I can just imagine him at work on this one.
BIG GRIN
<shorty103> Casey, so have you stopped laughing yet?
<Casey> I'm in control again (of myself).
<kissfan> LOL me too
<shorty103> LOL
<BeckyB> Sorry trying for story mood, not a description of a woman, (that
would be an odd decription of a woman.)
<Sea Witch> Zen's offering would have been X rated
<Lee> lol
<BeckyB> Yes, big Grin.
<kissfan> he couldn't keep his eyes of her. as he moved toward her side of
the stage and pointed in her direction
<Sea Witch> Where is Big Z these days?
<Casey> Absolutely, SW.
<Casey> Still earning a real living.
<Casey> He hasn't gotten home yet.
<Sea Witch> So, why isn't he here with us then? <g>
<Casey> He doesn't have access to a computer he can play on.
<BeckyB> Lee, I would be interested in seeing some from your book.
<Casey> Okay, on to story mood and description.
<Lee> sooo are we done with that description?
<Lee> ok hang on Becky
<BeckyB> Small amounts at first though because my time is so short I can
hardly find the time for my own.
<Sea Witch> Aw...Marsupial pal going 'way?
<Casey> We understand you have to go, Richard.
<Lee> this description thing has the real possibilty of changing my
descriptions, at least I hope improving them
<Lee> well, I can't really break it down right now
<Lee> I will send what I have and then you can read at leisure
<BeckyB> Thanks Lee.
<Casey> Okay, a murderer is loose in your book. Describe a lake without
mentioning the murderer.
<Sea Witch> So, now there's nobody here but us chick.......ens
<kissfan> LOL ya I saw that
<Casey> Work in the fear that is rampant.
<Sea Witch> A naked man with an axe?
<Lee> hmmmm
<Casey> The water lilies trembled in the coldly lapping water.
<Lee> going blank on this one
<shorty103> at the waters edge, a shadow could be seen a few feet away.
<Casey> He can be naked, SW. Just don't use a pronoun.
<Sea Witch> The sunset turned the lake red with blood. Red as Dave's
severed throat.
<Casey> Nice violence, SW.
<Sea Witch> You want murder you get murder
<Casey> I knew you've like the opportunity for violence.
<Lee> The foul smell of death hung in the air surrounding the lake.
<Casey> The rotting corpse of weeds.
<kissfan> Tasha screamed as she saw Dave fall at her feet she raised her
hands as she backed away, then turned to run
<Sea Witch> Yeah, my last short story expired on the banks
<Casey> I like the aroma description. Too many writers overlook that sense
in writing description.
<Casey> Good work, Lee.
<shorty103> Kathy, your not suppose to use people in this one, remember!
<BeckyB> The clover and water lilies seemed to lean away, into the same
silent direction the birds had fled too.
<Casey> That's action, Kathy. Go with description alone. Describe the lake
only.
<kissfan> I didn't describe the murderer
<Lee> Flies buzzed annoyingly in the air around the lake. They hovered over
the half submerged body of a once beautiful woman.
<kissfan> ok
<Sea Witch> Nice one Lee!!!!
<Lee> thanks
<shorty103> yeah, put my thinking to shame! Lee
<Lee> not
<Lee> just takes me a while to get warmed up
<Casey> Great! Flies and death. Excellent connection. You're very good
with death, Lee.
<Lee> really I have never done it before
<Lee> not my subject
<Lee> ok try this one
<Lee> I like this one
<Sea Witch> You'll get lots of practice here heh heh heh
<Lee> describe a woman who has just lost her abusive husband without saying
he abused her
<Casey> The bruises would now heal.
<Sea Witch> The bruises on Pam's body would fade but not those hammered into
her heart.
<BeckyB> That is the basic direction I was going too Casey.
<Lee> The old woman gazed fixedly through the cracked glass window in her
kitchen. Her shoulders shook as she cried deep tears of relief and joy.
<Casey> That's the most obvious. Let's go less obvious now.
<shorty103> thinking, and drawn a blank!
<Lee> Today she was alone in this house. Alone, and free. On the bed behind
her, her husband lay dead.
<Lee> But abuse isn't just about bruises, it is about feeling
<Lee> it is about self worth
<Casey> There were no tears of relief. Maybe there'd be tears of guilt
later.
<Lee> uh huh
<Lee> why guilt
<Casey> For feeling relief, happy he's gone.
<Lee> depends on the person you are portraying
<Casey> Exactly.
<Sea Witch> The blood tasted bitter in her mouth as the car sped away from
home. She vowed never to taste blood again.
<kissfan> she laughed as she realized she would never have to go through the
horrors she had faced.
<BeckyB> As the tail lights faded into the night, she climbed back up the
porch steps. High and higher until she felt she could soar.
<Casey> Good one, Becky.
<BeckyB> thanks.
<Lee> The silence in the house was welcome. No harsh words, no angry
demands for ale. Just the soft whir of the clock above the mantel. Today
there was silence, today there was peace.
<Sea Witch> The night was silent. His screams had stopped. She was free
<BeckyB> Well, they don't always have to be vengful or hopeless. Lots of
possible moods.
<Lee> Yes lots of moods
<shorty103> sorry Casey, not very good tonight at thinking of them quickly
at all. I drawn a blank all of sudden.
<Lee> poor shorty
<kissfan> freedom had felt so far away a few hours before. Now silence
filled the house as he wiped the blood from the cut on her forehead
<BeckyB> there goes witchy murdering her screaming husband!!!!!
<Sea Witch> Don't worry Rose. We all suffer from writers block from time to
time
<Casey> There was nothing to fear from the dark anymore. She stood in the
night-filled room and savored its shadows.
<Lee> nice casey
<shorty103> thanks everyone for understanding,
<Casey> Thanks, Lee.
<Lee> you bet
<BeckyB> How about if we each write something and then the rest of us try to
interpret what they meant.
<Casey> That would be fun, Becky.
<Sea Witch> The frozen bitterness melted with the rising of the sun.
<BeckyB> Maybe I do need a grammar lesson :-)
<Sea Witch> Interesting.
<shorty103> well, I did write something last night, can I share it
<Casey> Tell me not to lose my grammar book again!
<Lee> sure go for it
<shorty103> With head half way out the port hole. Different color lights
could be seen dancing on the water like shimmering poles. Above, the moon
cast a shadow ,a sky full of stars so close, but so far away.
<Lee> nice
<Casey> That reminds me, uncomfortably, of a guillotine, Rose--the head in
the portal.
<kissfan> I like it Rose
<Lee> ship scene
<shorty103> LOL, Casey
<Casey> Definite nautical references.
<kissfan> yep
<BeckyB> He sat alone on the pew, listening to the whispers of his wife and
kids next to him.
<Sea Witch> The sky flared into brilliance and I watched as all my hopes
receded into the endless night.
<Casey> How can he be alone on the pew with people beside him?
<shorty103> yes, but I was looking out my window last night and that's what
I saw with the lights on the water
<Casey> Someone alienated, Becky?
<BeckyB> Sort of. Just trying for an alone even when not feeling.
<Lee> Her face twisted with rage as she whirled quickly, bringing the lash
down upon the unsuspecting gnolls back.
<Sea Witch> Lashings of violence. Gimme more!
<Lee> lol
<Casey> That's action rather than description, Lee.
<Lee> How about something like...
<Lee> Oh I am sorry, I thought we were just writing whatever
<Casey> You're making Witchie happy!
<Sea Witch> evil laff
<kissfan> Suddenly a shadow came up behind her covering her in a blanket of
darkness. It was the shape of a man. The smell of his cologne mingled with
the smell of cut grass. He was too close for comfort. Jumping up form the
bench, dropping the pad and pencil on the ground, her walkman dangling form
the cord that was attached to the headphones that were still on her head.
She turned to face the man behind her. "What do you want." She said through
clenched teeth as she grabbed for the walkman before it was able to crash
onto the pavement.
<Sea Witch> He wasn't wearing Impulse then?
<kissfan> LOL
<Casey> brb. Doggie break.
<Sea Witch> You're gonna break your doggie? Not even Witchie likes that
much violence
<Lee> The road twisted away out of sight. The walls of the canyon rose ever
upward, trapping the mists from the river below. Droplets of water formed
on the broad leaves of the ferns, then hung momentarily on the tips of the
fuzzy green forms, before dropping soundlessly to the water below.
<Sea Witch> Good imagery Lee
<Sea Witch> I can see why you're published
<Lee> thanks
<Lee> how nice of you
<Sea Witch> Not at all. <g>
<BeckyB> Good job kissfan & Lee.
<shorty103> wow! Lee, I could really picture that!
<Lee> thanks
<Lee> nice job kiss
<Casey> Can't break something that's already broken, Witchie. My dog's a
kay-eight. One "kay" short of a nine.
<Sea Witch> heh heh heh
<shorty103> and I like yours too Kathy
<Sea Witch> bet he doesn't fart as good as mine though
<Sea Witch> Yeah, Kathy's ominous shadow is very evocative
<Casey> Not at all. Yours are still the champions.
<Lee> did you get a chance to read kissfan's stuff casey nice work
<kissfan> LOL I have another
<Sea Witch> What? Another ominous shadow?
<Casey> Yes. Good. The startlement comes through loud and clear.
<kissfan> LOL
<Lee> how about mine?
<Casey> Yours is good.
<kissfan> no just another one
<Lee> but?
<Casey> You write well, but then I knew that.
<Casey> :-)
<kissfan> Skye pulled into a parking place at the hotel. His home away from
home for the next 3 days, then, he would move on to the next town, and into
a different hotel, always the same until the tour ended. Soon every hotel
and town seemed to blur into one. The short time that he had spent in
Tasha's home felt so good to him. It had been so long since he could just
sit back and relax in a real home, away from everyone. Something about her
was so different than the others he had spent nights with, just to fill the
loneliness that filled him every day since his career had started. Most
women would have chosen a very expensive restraunt for them to have lunch
at, in full view of everyone. He knew that, he expected that from everyone
that he had met. In the back of his mind he wondered what Tasha wanted from
him. He expected that sooner or later she would show her true colors, like
all the women had.
<Sea Witch> Witchie manages to keep violence out of hers and what happens?
No one notices. Waaaaaaaahhh
<Lee> you did good witchie
<Casey> Personal knowledge came through well in that last para, Kathy.
<Casey> Good work.
<shorty103> that was good Kathy
<BeckyB> Very good kissfan.
<Sea Witch> Well done Kathy.
<Lee> nice job
<kissfan> thanks this is part of another one of my projects
<Casey> How would you combine history and description?
<Lee> family history
<Lee> story of history?
<Casey> Family history, story history, background history.
<Casey> How would that be handled? Any ideas?
<Lee> shouldn't be too hard
<Lee> could describe family home, or past history of town and how it has
changed now
<Casey> Yep.
<Lee> or just do story during historical period
<Casey> Let's describe a location that was the scene of a battle. An
ex-battlefield.
<shorty103> sorry, I'm really not with it tonight, I don't know why.
<Lee> too much cat petting
<Sea Witch> Ben looked down upon the angry mob surrounding his house. It
brought his dissertation on the Siege of Thermopyle to horrible life.
<shorty103> LOL Lee
<Casey> Not a problem, Rose. You're permitted to be here without actively
participating.
<Sea Witch> Cat petting apart that is <g>
<Lee> Thomas stumbled over the uneven surface of the field. Deep furrows in
the grass still showed the path worn by the heavy wheels of the cannons. To
his left a tree lay on its side, notches cut into its trunk to support the
rifles of tired soldiers.
<shorty103> that is good Lee
<Casey> Standing at the base of the cliff looking up, it was easy to
understand Ranglin victory. Warriors were ineffectual against archers on
those heights.
<Lee> Even though it had been 50 years since the last shot had been fired,
he could close his eyes and still imagine the yells of war, the screams of
agony.
<Lee> He sat down slowly in the spot his grandfather had died on. He ran
his hands slowly over the damp grass. His thoughts were a prayer, a
whispered longing. It was always this way in the place where his grandpa
died.
<Casey> Very good, Lee. The notches are an interesting and unusual
addition. It makes me want to continue reading, to see what other surprises
are in store.
<Casey> Closing his eyes, he could imagine the dew as blood.
<Casey> (Your description sparked that image, Lee)
<kissfan> The smoke form the canon fire laid thikcly in the air as the smell
mingled with the scent of blood from the fallen soldiers the blue and grey
uniforms seemed to blend together as the medics caome to sort throught the
wounded and the dead.
<Lee> yeah something like that
<Lee> thanks casey
<Sea Witch> Giles guided the plough around the long barrow. Mist clung to
the grassy slopes like a host of wraiths and he shivered with fear. Not for
the first time did the dead eyes of the Old People look upon him with
jealous longing.
<Lee> only a note Kathy, but you use seemed alot, it takes away from the
sureness of your story
<Lee> leaves the reader questioning
<BeckyB> Sarah moved quickly from the corner of Baseline to Main Street.
She always wondered what made her feel so morbidly sick as she crossed that
street. Like death was reaching it's chilly fingers up from its grave,
reaching for her. Best to avoid that corner altogether. She would if she
could.
<shorty103> wow! Lee that is good! I can picture it in my mind so easy,
now for me to do the same thing with my own writing, I would be happy
<Lee> lol thanks shorty
<BeckyB> I like it witchy.
<Lee> that is nice becky
<kissfan> LOL ya I have a tendancy to do that alot Lee
<Sea Witch> We've got some real stars present tonight! GRIN
<kissfan> with all kinds of words
<Casey> Good, Witchie.
<Casey> It's got a very British feel to it, with the barrow.
<Lee> ok sorry, just noted it, one of my teachers said when you say seem, or
things like that it weakens your imagery
<Casey> Becky's updated her scene. I like it.
<Lee> I really like both of those last 2
<Lee> the wraiths and barrow, old people's eyes
<Lee> nice touch
<kissfan> Yes I know and I am trying to break myself from doing that too
<Lee> and the corner, and crossing, shiver, nice touch too
<Sea Witch> Thanks
<Casey> Lee's right. Whether you're sure or not, sound certain.
<Casey> Don't use indefinite words.
<Lee> thanks casey
<BeckyB> Well it's something from human nature. Don't we all have places
that give us the creeps. there is an entire town out here that I just get
quesy everytime I drive by. No known reason, but it feels like a graveyard.
<Lee> hmmm
<kissfan> LOL the last chapter I wrote was filled with ing words 12 in 3
paragraphs now I am trying to fix it.
<Casey> The more specific the word, the more exact the image that is created
in the reader's mind.
<Lee> yeah I guess there are places like that
<Sea Witch> Seems you got the right mix tonight Casey. We're all behaving
ourselves. Sort of. <g>
<Lee> all but the sea witch
<Lee> lol
<kissfan> LOL trying anyway HEHEE
<Casey> And a certain unnamed program is behaving itself! Amazing.
<Sea Witch> You noticed huh?
<kissfan> SHHHHHHHHHHHHHH you might jinx it
<Casey> Witchie is incredibly well behaved tonight.
<Sea Witch> Hush Casey or you'll jinx the whole damned thing
<Casey> That's why I didn't name it, Kathy.
<kissfan> LOL I noticed
<Lee> yes really amazing it was acting up all day today
<kissfan> It froze up on me about 5 minutes before class
<Casey> Our last meeting was a nightmare, Lee. Made us long for a web-side
chat interface.
<Casey> A lot of people around here prefer names other than their ICQ
handles.
<Sea Witch> 'Xept me!
<kissfan> I will answer to almost anything Lee
<Sea Witch> I prefer my handle coz it protects the guilty
<Casey> It's beginning to seem odd to be called by my given name, now.
<Casey> I'm so used to Casey.
<Sea Witch> Same here
<Sea Witch> But it's your initials anyway so I guess that's almost the same
as your name
<kissfan> what is weird was when I actually said to someone LOL and they
just stared at me I forgot I wasn’t online
<shorty103> fog was thick within the gullie. Hidden in the woods on either
side, soldiers lay in wait. A sound of a trump could be heard in the
distance, but no one moved! No one knew where the other fellow was.
<Casey> That's funny, Kathy.
<kissfan> LOL I couldn't believe I did it
<kissfan> good job Rose
<shorty103> it comes and goes!
<Sea Witch> I'm sorry Rose I'm trying hard not to laugh here. The word
trump means fart over here
<shorty103> LOL
<kissfan> LOL
<BeckyB> I can just see myself playing "Trump" with witchy and laying down
one of the trump cards.
<Sea Witch> I hope they don't make rude noises as they slap onto the table
<shorty103> it was the first word that popped in my head for that sentence
<Casey> Good, Rose.
<shorty103> better later than never! I'm just a slow thinker!
<Sea Witch> Got anymore unintentional double entendres Rose? My belly laugh
is just warming up
<shorty103> LOL, not at the moment! you'll know when it happens again!
hehehehe
<Sea Witch> The contect you used was perfect. I couldn't have done better
even if I was tryiung
<Lee> hmmm
<Casey> I love words with multiple meanings. They're often tricky to use,
but done right, they're great.
<Lee> context?
<Lee> I missed something
<BeckyB> Like wombat's "committed"
<Casey> Yep.
<Sea Witch> So did I. I missed the X
<shorty103> I'm lost! so don't feel bad Lee!
<Lee> ok grammar lesson
<Lee> which is correct
<Casey> I want to thank Rose, Kathy, and Jean-Marie Childe for the idea for
tonight's session.
<shorty103> LOL your welcome!
<Lee> It's mine. or Its mine.
<Sea Witch> Well I managed to mention at least one bodily function Casey.
Whither now?
<Casey> It's mine. It is is the contraction.
<Casey> It is mine is the way to test the grammatical correctness.
<Lee> And She looked at the cat's face. Its tongue licked a paw. Or It's
tongue licked a paw.
<Casey> Its tongue licked.
<Lee> yeppers
<Lee> lots of people miss that though
<Casey> It is tongue licked can't be correct.
<Sea Witch> Unless you are talking about your coffee cup
<Lee> But see it's can actually be a possesive form
<Sea Witch> Mine gets tongue licked on many occasions
<Lee> in my advanced composition class it is actually used both ways
<Casey> That might be part of the corruption of modern grammar. It makes me
crazy.
<Lee> yes I know, it is crazy, but it is actually correct form in some
circumstances
<Casey> I can see where the idea comes from. A pronoun immediately followed
by a noun. But it falls under the possessive form of yours and hers.
<Sea Witch> For once we are actually talking about writing. It's a bloody
miracle is what it is
<shorty103> just like I'm way out in la la land tonight! Casey
<Casey> I cheated. I got in a nap today.
<Lee> oh so I must be the good luck charm huh
<shorty103> LOL
<Lee> new on the scene and we talk about writing
<Lee> wish I had a nap
<BeckyB> I am curious, what kinds of projects are you each working on right
now.
<Lee> with 6 kids I need one
<Sea Witch> Yeah, I guess so BIG GRIN
<Lee> book and poetry
<Sea Witch> Ancient Egyptian art
<Casey> Good behavior will last tonight only, Lee. The next time you're
here, you'll be perceived as "known" and behavior will be its normally
degenerate self.
<shorty103> I'm glad it's you Lee, not me! A Bigger Grin!
<Lee> lol
<kissfan> LOL yep big time HEHEE be ready for it Lee
<Lee> well, I may have to ditch out for those meetings, I get enough of that
when i play euchre
<Lee> have to change my name to avoid crazies
<BeckyB> I'm still on my historical fiction project. Lee, is your book the
Lepracan story or is that separate?
<Lee> yes it is leprechaun story
<Casey> I'm working on the final (I hope) rewrite of Moons' Kiss. My
intention is to begin submitting it this year!
<Lee> that is great casey
<Sea Witch> I write fantasy and SF for pleasure though. Maybe one day I'll
get that book finished, huh Casey?
<shorty103> that's great Casey
<BeckyB> Way to go Casey.
<Casey> I hope so, SW! It's got a great start.
<Sea Witch> You finished it? When do I get to see it?
<kissfan> I'm stuck on my fantasies and ended up working on a romance story
that won't leave me alone
<Lee> I am in first write of Leprechaun story., have been doing it off and
on since 18 years old
<Lee> lol Kathy
<Sea Witch> Then kick it in the goolies and get on with the proper stuff
Kathy.
<Casey> It's been finished for 7 years, SW, and No, you don't get to see the
draft.
<BeckyB> Goolies??????
<kissfan> And I don't even like romance HEHEE
<Sea Witch> Awwwwwwwwww
<Lee> why do you not share drafts casey?
<Sea Witch> Rocks, plums, you know...
<Lee> how much do you share
<Casey> The paragraph you gave us tonight is from your romance, Kathy?
<BeckyB> ???????
<kissfan> LOL yep
<Lee> afraid of stealing?
<Sea Witch> Balls, Becky. Testicles. You know.....goolies
<kissfan> both of them actually
<BeckyB> Just wanted to hear it from you. :-)
<Casey> Because it's a waste of other people's time. I know what needs to
be changed, so I'd rather make the changes and get feedback on the
"finished" product.
<Lee> ok I see that
<Lee> so you think sending your stuff to people is a waste of time
<Casey> Not at all.
<Casey> But i know how limited all our time is.
<Casey> Sharing is the most valuable way I know of finding flaws I've
overlooked.
<Casey> Getting others' interpretations of what I'm trying to achieve.
<Lee> ok just checking
<Casey> It's the closest way I know of getting into a fresh reader's mind
without being that reader.
<BeckyB> I'm afraid to send much out of the rough draft before I finish it
because I'll get bogged down on changes and lose what little momentum I
have.
<Sea Witch> Nice to meet you Lee. See ya next time. And come prepared!
<Casey> If I share drafts of a story along the way (through development), I
lose the fresh reader. My reader then anticipates what is happening, what
I'm trying to achieve, and I lose the new reader after a first read.
<Casey> Later, Lee. Glad you made it.
<Lee> thanks
<shorty103> she's really nice
<shorty103> and fun!
<kissfan> Ya she is
<Casey> She is.
<Casey> I'm very glad she finally made it to a workshop. She's been wanting
to for a long time now.
<Sea Witch> Lee has talent, Casey. She will be an asset to NW
<kissfan> Yes I know she has
<shorty103> yes, I agree, she's good!
<Casey> I'm curious to read what she sent. I critiqued her first two
chapters months ago. I'm curious to see if she has reworked any of it.
<Casey> Agree completely, SW.
<kissfan> I had never seen anything she had done before I am glad I told her
about our little group
<shorty103> yes, so am I!
<Casey> Casey bows to Kissfan.
<BeckyB> I'm just hoping that I can piece together what I got.
<Casey> I haven't tried to open her book yet.
<kissfan> LOL thanks Casey *blushing*
<kissfan> My copy opened fine. so if you need it let me know
<Casey> Rose, I have to send you a copy of Richard's work. He wrote out the
scene we talked about last meeting: of Jim's accident.
<shorty103> Oh okay, great
<Sea Witch> Witchie is missing out on a lot of things here. I really will
have to try and clear a little bit of time for myself and catch up. Problem
is we are totally committed to selling up and moving before September and
manyee
<kissfan> ok I will send it to you then
<Casey> I didn't have any trouble with Lee's earlier chapters, so I didn't
anticipate any trouble with this one either.
<BeckyB> Thanks.
<shorty103> are you going to send that thing from Richard tonight Casey
<Casey> Yes. I'll send it now.
<Casey> Just a second.
<shorty103> okay, thanks
<Casey> Anyone else want Richard's radio play segment?
<Sea Witch> Can you send it to me please Casey?
<Casey> Gladly.
<shorty103> Casey, so far, this is good!
<Casey> Richard is a delightful writer.
<Sea Witch> Hey, you're not going to believe this but I just posted a script
on WV. That's supposed to be funny too.
<Sea Witch> My very first attempt at one. Written in under an hour
<shorty103> cool! SW
<Casey> Wow, Witchie! Envious. I don't write that fast. At least, rarely.
<Casey> I'll check it out.
<Sea Witch> It ain't that big. I woke up at three am one morning with the
thing buzzing around inside my head. I couldn't get back to sleep until I
hade committed it to bytes
<Casey> That happens to me, too.
<Sea Witch> Night night everyone. Witchie's completely cabbaged so I'm
shuffling back to my patch
<Casey> There's something about 3 a.m. that's a magic hour for writers.
<kissfan> I think it is the silence no interruptions
<BeckyB> I need to run. I'll talk to you later. Do we have chat next week
or in 2 weeks.
<Casey> NW is every other week. Hopefully, Rebel Writers will meet next
Friday night.
<shorty103> Oh yeah! that will be good,
<Casey> If no one else wants to moderate, I'll moderate Friday night. I'd
intended to last night, but something came up.
<Casey> Whenever a meeting's scheduled and I know about it, I will send out
notices.
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