The Writing Workshop 5-18-18

Writing Workshop

Welcome to The Writing Workshop! =D My name is Carolyn, and I'm the Creative Writing Assistant and soon-to-be Creative Writing Overseer (#rememberingmorgan T_T).

The Writing Workshop is a special corner of the Navigator set aside for NorthStar Academy's lovely writers! Here, you can find prompts, writing tips, and a story/poem each month written by our own Creative Writing members! Start reading! Be inspired!

If you have any suggestions or comments, be sure to leave them in the Navigator Jabber so I can see them! You can also email me via FirstClass and tell me what you want to see in the next article!

Announcements

Permanently Tacked Up:

• If you want a Creative Writing folder of your own to post your stories in, just email me (Carolyn) or Morgan Raines and we'll get yours set up. =D I hope to see a lot of new stories this school year!

• If you and some of your friends would like to start a storyline, email me or Morgan and we'll set one up for you. Remember, it can be about anything!

• Make sure that you check out your friends' CrWr folders! They'd really appreciate your encouragement and feedback. =)

• Tell the newbies about our Creative Writing community! I know a lot of them are writers, and can't wait to get out there and share their stories with us!

New Creative Writing Folders/Storylines!

• Out with the old, in with the new. Check out the new CrWr conferences, and if you want to you can re-live the old stories too. =D Our newest member is Rhianna! Go check her folder out. ^_^

Other Announcements/Reminders:

• A Picture's Worth 1000 Words is OFFICIALLY RELEASED. Go check it out in the Creative Writing area!

Quote:

"Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go."

- E.L. Doctorow

Prompt 1:

"Is this really a good idea?"

"We picked the first one off the list you made, so it should be good."

Prompt 2:

"This is not what I meant when I said to fight back."

Prompt 3:

"So... I just push this button and the building will explode? Okay."

Prompt 4:

"They're very well-mannered."

"They robbed a bank!"

"Yeah, but they were polite about it."

Prompt 5:

"Your twin brother just waved at me."

"My what? I don't have a twin."

Prompt 6:

[image missing]

Prompt 7:

You're a gardener. You just dug a hole, and there's something glowing deep inside it.

Prompt 8:

It's been raining for 48 hours and the power is out. What's happening?

Prompt 9:

Re-tell a familiar story you know, but this time, add monsters.

Prompt 10:

I forgot this was only just a dream.

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Camp NaNoWrimo is coming up for our avid writers! =D If you didn't do it during April, you can still do it in July. And it can be tough. Really tough. And sometimes, you need to do very early prepping. <_> So this month, here's some tips for preparing you on how to survive Camp NaNoWriMo. U_U Good luck you guys. @_@

My Camp NaNoWriMo Survival Kit

Hello everyone, it’s that time of year again! We are quickly approaching July, which means we are just over a month away from Camp NaNoWriMo. If you don’t already know, Camp NaNoWriMo is a virtual writing retreat in which writers are able to set a writing goal during the months of April and July. It was created by the NaNoWriMo (National Writing Month), a nonprofit that seeks to share the love of writing with the world. It’s known for their November event in which writers from around the world race against the clock

1. Laptop

The first item in my survival kit would have to be my laptop. I enjoy being able to just type in a blank page and not having to worry about writing my novel longhand only to type it later. Additionally, I feel that typing allows me to keep up with the rapid pace of my thoughts in a way that I can’t while writing with pencil and paper, but never fear lovers of longhand, I do enjoy putting pencil to paper for the next item on my list.

2. Writer’s Journal

This wonderful notebook holds key information for my current WIP along with guides to reference when I get stuck. I frequently use its pages to block out scenes as I approach each story point within Saving Grace.

3. Outlines

As I mentioned in last week’s blog, I would be lost without my combined outline using Harmon’s Embryo and the Story Beats structure. Each have a designated page within my Writer’s Journal and I frequently refer to them throughout my writing process.

4. Scrivener

I can not praise this program enough! If you are a writer, Scrivener is almost a must have. I has several tools that have helped me along the way with my writing career and I love that I am able to go straight from outlining to drafting within the same place without having to sift through multiple documents.

5. Google Docs

For on the go writing, I love the google docs app on my phone. It allows me to work on my novel even if I don’t have my laptop available with me. Therefore, Google Docs is an essential part of my survival kit.

to complete a 50,000 word novel in 30 days! Camp NaNoWriMo was created as a more flexible option and allows writers to pick their own word count goal and work on whatever project they can imagine (anything from poetry to graphic novels)!

If you haven’t already registered for Camp, you can do so, here, but today, I would like to share with survival kit I hope will get me through July’s Camp NaNoWriMo.

6. Twitter / Youtube

Okay, these might seem like I plan to procrastinate, but I can assure you that there is a different reason as to why I put these two websites on the list! In fact, I believe Twitter and Youtube will be essential to helping me get in my daily wordcount. Twitter is a great hub to reach out to other writers and engage in writing sprints and over on Youtube, NaNoWriMo’s official channel has already scheduled live, virtual-write in videos. Thus, even if I am unable to attend a write-in in my area, I will still have several ways to stay motivated throughout the month of July.

7. My Cabin

One of the best parts of the Camp NaNoWriMo experience, a cabin is a virtual space you are assigned to based off of your selected preferences (or lack of) in which you are paired with a group of other writers to help you stay motivated and to chat without through the camp experience. This time I have been invited to a cabin with a few individuals I know over on twitter and I am super excited to chat with them during the month of July and help keep one another accountable so we can reach our goals.

8. Caffeine

Unlike most writers, I am not a fan of coffee, and though I love tea, July is hot enough as it is for me without the addition of a hot beverage. Therefore, I will be depending on pop (or soda, if you prefer) to get me through long nights of word sprints.

9. Food

An easily forgotten necessity in the heat of writing, probably one of the most important items in my survival kit to make sure I remain healthy mentally and physically during camp are some of my favorite recipes. At the moment, some fast meals I like to make are onigiri and onigirazu. Both are perfect for the summer weather and are absolutely delicious!

10. Reading Material

Last but not least in my survival kit is is reading material to keep me inspired. I’m currently reading Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman and, as I work at a library, I will be referring to our fiction collection as I need more inspiration throughout the month. I have a firm belief that reading other fiction novels both similar and different than my own is an essential part of being a writer, as you can learn much about the craft by observing how other writers write.

And that is it for my survival kit. Are you going to be participating in Camp NaNoWriMo? Let me know in the comments or shoot me a message on Twitter @heybluewrites to let me know what items are in your survival kit. As always, thank you for taking the time to read my blog and I hope you have a wonderful day!

Happy Writing!

-Tsuki

Taken from here.

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We have a really cool story written by Jie Ling for this month! Go to The Creative Writers of NSA > Jie Ling > Freewrites > The Silent Assassin to check her story out!

The Silent Assassin

by Jie Ling

Gleaming up in the quickly darkening sky, the softly glowing moon shed a dim light onto the rocky paths of Peace Town. All was quiet except for the soft creaks of windows shutters being closed and locks sliding into place. As the moon reached its peak, the town fell deathly silent…but not for long.

~~

I slipped silently into my dark, bare room. As I was one of the best assassins in the Shadow Corps, a group which specialized in the discreet disposal of unwanted persons for a high price, I was the proud owner of my own tiny room. It gave me a little privacy and quiet unlike the noisy dormitories two floors below.

I sat onto my hard, straw filled mattress and stared gloomily at the yellowed-brown tattered sheet of paper in my hand. Looking back to a time six years ago, I remembered my young fourteen-year old self eagerly awaiting a similar letter to fall into my hands. Now, I dreaded receiving them…I wanted to stop and retire, not wanting to kill more people. Unfortunately, the only way out of the Shadow Corps was by death. A few times, I admit, I considered of faking my death but the SC (Shadow Corps) burned every single dead assassin as was their custom. Upon faking my death, I would then suffer through the burning flames before finally reaching the end of my life.

These letters contained the mission details for fully-trained assassins. Quickly unfolding the document, I read the instructions and orders and felt my chest grow tight with growing excitement.

Assassin (Sh),

Your job is to silently rid the world of Senator McWalters. He is scheduled to pass through the mountain ravine along the Qualite River and will arrive at the small village of Peace Town before sundown. Approximately 50 men will accompany him on his journey. Assassin (Cl) will lead a group of 5 people. They will be the diversion team while you focus on removing the Senator permanently as is your primary mission. Obey your orders and do not die.

Commander

Folding the letter back into its original shape, I took out my lighter and quickly set the slender sheet of paper alight. Thus, ensuring that no spy or enemy would gain the letter and possibly endanger our mission. Slumping wearily, I stared at the dancing orange flames and wished my current life had not turned out in this way. Before, I had thought it was such an honour and privilege of living this special life until on one of my missions, I had seen an “ordinary” family.

I met this family – unintentionally – during one of my missions. While spying on the house of a powerful diplomat, a family of four passed by my hiding spot, high up in an oak tree. Studying the approaching family, I noticed that the father, mother, boy and girl were happily laughing and chasing each other across the emerald green grass.

Assassins in the Shadow Corps never laughed and hardly ever cracked a single smile. Fascinated with this seemingly new relationship these people had with each other, I diverted my concentration to their little group. I watched with great interest as the family continued to play with each other with great joy. Seeing the easiness that they interacted with each other made me wish to live in that happy environment. My thoughts were interrupted by the voice in my ear demanding information on my mission.

Ever since that day, I continuously compared my life to that of the family I had seen. Approaching the head of the Shadow Corps a few weeks later, I begged and pleaded to be released from my current life and allowed to leave the premises. Unfortunately, all my pleas fell onto deaf ears and I was warned that if such things came out of my mouth again or if I attempted to escape, I would be severely punished.

Thus, I continued unwillingly receiving different mission orders and secretly killing people. Standing up, I dusted the black remains of the letter from my lap and strode to the door. I quietly slipped out into the corridor and headed towards one of the secret doors leading outside.

Silently scooting up a tree, I nimbly jumped from branch to branch and made my way towards Peace Town. A brief twenty minutes later, I donned my black mask and noiselessly leaped onto a tiled roof. I swiftly crossed from one roof top to another and soon arrived at my destination.

Glancing down onto the ground several feet below, I spotted 5 black shapes dash across and disappear into the shadows. Ducking down onto the rough tiles, I awaited my signal to launch my attack. The peacefulness of the night was broken suddenly by loud cries, yells and clanging of metal onto metal.

Taking my cue, I briskly jumped up towards the roof of the inn where the Senator was residing for the time being. Peering into each window I came across, I searched for the private room of the Senator. Finally finding the largest, most luxurious room in the inn, I dropped through the open window. To my dismay, I realised I had not fallen into the bedroom but into the small but extravagant lounge area.

Biting my lip in agitation, I dashed towards the door where I assumed the bedroom was. Pressing my ear to the darkened wood, I listened for signs that Senator McWalters was awake. All was quiet in the room.

I opened the door and stepped into the room, my booted feet making not a single sound. My eyes quickly zoned into the heaving shape on the four-poster bed. I strode towards the man and slapped my hand across his mouth to keep him quiet. His eyes flew open and he stared up into my expressionless face with horror and dawning fear.

I dragged him onto his feet with my other unoccupied hand and proceeded to drag him out of the room. Besides removing people from the world, we also efficiently disposed of the body, never leaving the corpse lying at the scene. Yanking him with me, I pulled him out of the door and towards the window.

Suddenly, the main door burst open and guards burst into the room. The armed men were quickly followed by the rest of my team. Briefly pausing to wonder how these guards had gotten by the assassins, I flicked out my short silver blade.

“Release him!” yelled the head of the guards. “If you do so, you shall not be harmed.”

“I am sorry but I can’t,” I replied before letting my blade fly.

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That's all for this month! Hope you enjoyed reading, and don't forget to leave feedback. =D

So long, farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, goodnight U_U

- Carolyn Sie