I got side tracked.
Hey there Culties.
So I probably should have done this a few weeks ago but I got to reading some threads and was completely side tracked. I just kinda jumped in head first and didn't look back till now. So...
I'm a 27 year old Canadian who's self-diagnosed as 'total junky of the written word'. I always make sure to have a book handy for a quick fix. I've been reading Palahnuik for a few years now... What do I think of his work? Allow me to quote myself from the 'My First' thread - "Survivor was my first and I've been addicted to Chucks stuff ever since that day. I was absolutely enthralled. It will always be my favorite. The other books are kinda hard to put in order of preference, they all twist my brain in ways that make shiver. The stories and characters are all so fascinating. My Favorite thing about Chucks stories is that I find he writes his characters as emotional beings more so than physical characters. I love the intensity of truly feeling the characters rather than visualizing them. I love it!"
Writing is also a big deal to me. Wanting to write seriously is actually the reason I'm here in the first place. My fiance (the wonderful man who introduced me to CP) told me that this site has a really good writers workshop. (so he's heard) I have absolutely no technical training in the art of writing but I want to learn. I want to add skill to my instinct. Would any of you be so kind as to tell me a little about the workshop?....
Or is the first rule of The Workshop
Not to talk about the Workshop?
*smiles*
"Spend the afternoon, you can't take it with you" Annie Dilard
odd, also:
i started writing at approx. the age of twenty-seven, just a couple of weeks before that birthday.
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play hard, like it's work to be done.
Cool and Thanks Kabol. Maybe 27 is a lucky number, you never know! I certainly like that idea! Did you write anything at all before you joined up? Personally I've written a lot of poetry in my teens (typical), as well as, occasional contributions to the school paper back in the day. In the last decade though I really haven't written much. Honestly I believe that general contentment with life had taken my voice. I was simply at a loss on what to write, but now I'm determined and no amount of contentment is going to beat me down! hahaha.
"Spend the afternoon, you can't take it with you" Annie Dilard
I read Chucks review of your story and I can definitely see how that kind of feedback would be extremely valuable. His comments seem as though they are truly meant to build story telling skills. I am intrigued.
"Spend the afternoon, you can't take it with you" Annie Dilard
The great thing about the Workshop for me is that not only has it made me much more comfortable with my writing, but it also, as J. said about himself, has me thinking about writing in a different way. I tend to have a fixed idea in my head, and then I write it without thinking about the logic behind the choices the character makes, or sometimes I leave holes or contradict.
The workshop is helping me get into the mindset of thinking about these things when I go into it, rather than later after the reviews come back. Granted, I still do it quite often and I've only submitted a couple of things, but even that little bit helps a lot. I've only read about 8 of Chuck's essays, and I don't consider myself a minimalist like the workshop is based off of, but they are still amazingly helpful, especially with things like Authority, Burnt Tongue, and On the body sensations, all of which can really make or break a story if you think about it.
I hope this is helpful, and I hope to see you in the Workshop. Welcome and enjoy!
WELCOME!
thanks for sharing.blackhawk tactical pants.
— Spambot
"I could have done worse!" exultantly cried the murderer Lebret, sentenced at Rouen to hard labor for life. — Félix Fénéon
It's good to hear that someone who isn't necessarily a minimalist writer can benefit from the workshop. I don't think I really have developed a writing style. One of the MANY things I want to figure out. *smiles*
"Spend the afternoon, you can't take it with you" Annie Dilard
...her curiosity having been aroused, she is tempted to venture into this enticing new world. She furtively looks at that ominous financial document, that was so innocently delivered by the postman. Suddenly two angry words slip from her sweet mouth.... DAMN IT!
Hopefully, I can join you folks in the workshop soon. Until then, I'll be kickin' around in the forums
"Spend the afternoon, you can't take it with you" Annie Dilard
honestly, i havent really come across any workshop member i would consider a minimalist writer. maybe charles before he took off. (odd tittle, i wonder if gayle has met him, being that theyve both been involved in this workshop as well as tom's?)
but, chuck's distinction essays go over elements of writing inherent in most written works, including turgenev's haHA
anyway, look forward to working with you *smiles back*
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the workshop is mirrored off of chuck's experiences with workshopping, most particularly tom spanbauer's workshop for dangerous writing. that was where chuck learned to write in a minimalist style. chuck's work has also been labeled as dangerous writing. obviously haha
ive been a member of the workshop since december of oh-four. when i came here, i knew nothing of writing. i needed an outlet and had no idea where to even begin. chuck's essays on the craft helped me to understand where to begin and they are still available in the workshop--all thirty-six of them. they kind of put writing into perspective. like, hell, i can string a narrative along with "head" authority--though, before the first essay, thinking along those lines was not something i did haha
and here we are, almost six years later. the workshop has changed. now, we submit full stories via files. back when i started, you had to cut and past the story into the board and there was no formatting. now you submit the doc file and other members open it on their computer and can even do a line-by-line edit and resubmit it back to you that way too. it works well.
you can find in my profile a blog i created after i received feedback from chuck on one of my stories. i created the blog to plug what chuck actually goes after when he crafts reviews. the man has been doing workshops forever and you can tell.
welcome to the cult and i hope this place is right what you need. because that's how it was for me. i couldnt have asked for anything better..
-kabol
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play hard, like it's work to be done.