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Pikesville finished 2nd in the Story in a Poem site contest for May 9, 2019!!!
Meeting Cody - Part Two nominated for Story of the Month for December 2017!!!
Unwanted Dog finished 3rd in the July 2017 Book of the Month Contest!!!
I Had My Chance finished 2nd in the This Sentence Starts The Story site-sponsored contest on June 6, 2018.
Pastrami finished 2nd in the Share A Story In A Poem site-sponsored contest on July 24, 2018
I am well pleased that you have discovered reading my writing is a wonderful way to spend quality time!!!
If you can not give my writing an honest review, instead of a FanStory good ole boy, I'll give you a five star review and in return you give me one no matter how atrocious the writing is, I would much rather you gave me no review at all as I do not have any intention of playing that game. Don't like that, get over it!
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BRETT MATTHEW WEST IS FOLLOWING |
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Brett Matthew West:
Prose writers, are you aware there is daily discussion occurring in the Story Writing Forum? Why not join in?
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 October 15, 2019 at 6:38AM
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Brett Matthew West:
What would you tell a newbie writer writing description for their first book/story?
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October 6, 2019 at 9:05AM
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Brett Matthew West:
If you had one character you have created that you would be remembered for as a writer, who would it be and how would you sum them up in a couple sentences? For me, I believe everyone on this site knows it's Cody Schroder from my Astatula series. He's everything I always wanted to be as a kid..and wasn't.
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October 5, 2019 at 6:08AM
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Brett Matthew West:
I just created a new contest for prose writers called Six Word Story that has two simple rules:
NO POETRY. Automatic DQ! and must tell a complete story.
Couldn't make it an easier than that.
Why not check it out?
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October 3, 2019 at 5:34AM
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DragonSkulls: It's a shame most people can't seem to grasp the concept of 'complete story' and that it's most likely doubtful that the committee will actually DQ any that aren't. What can you do?
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October 3, 2019 at 12:22PM
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| nor84: What's so hard? A complete story has a beginning, middle and ending. Main character has a problem (beginning) Main character tries to solve problem (middle) Main character either solves problem or he can't (ending.)
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October 3, 2019 at 2:28PM
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| Iza Deleanu: Can you open more spots?
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October 3, 2019 at 6:18PM
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| Brett Matthew West: WOW! Didn't expect this much support. Thanks to all who entered. Good luck to all!
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October 3, 2019 at 6:34PM
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Brett Matthew West:
Why isn't there a club dedicated to prose writers? Would prose writers support such a club?
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October 2, 2019 at 9:17AM
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| nor84: I was the first to start a club for prose writers. I wanted prose writers to share techniques, perhaps do a bit of teaching for those wanting to improve their craft. Nothing happened. People joined, but the only thing the clubs were doing was having 'events.' After a while, it was as if I were talking and not being heard. I gave up. For one thing, I didn't understand 'events' and no one seemed to want to share techniques.
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October 2, 2019 at 11:49AM
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| Brett Matthew West: Would like to see more interest generated on this site for and by prose writers. Just not sure how to go about helping to create that interest. Ideas from prose writers welcomed.
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October 2, 2019 at 11:56AM
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| Jannypan (Jan) : The clubs are designed for 'events'. One cannot do much in the way of teaching. . . unless... you use the discussions tab to post Then to respond, one has to locate that, add their response, then wait for any reply--if any. The club active participation is waaaay down.
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October 2, 2019 at 2:31PM
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giraffmang: I also had one running where we were looking at various aspects of writing but I let it run down due to a lack of interest....
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October 2, 2019 at 6:48PM
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Brett Matthew West:
Do you ever generate a character profile before you create a new character?
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September 29, 2019 at 9:28AM
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| nor84: No. Sometimes characters seem to grow. I've read it is wrong when they do that, but I disagree. It's wrong when you let them take over the story but not if it is the Lead character who sees the new changes in what he thought was just his nurse. Nurse became best friend and a knife-carrying psycho when Lead was threatened.
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September 29, 2019 at 4:17PM
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Brett Matthew West:
Have you ever been writing something, then when you almost finish the piece, realise the horrible monster you have created? What did you do? Keep going? Burn it? Or what?
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September 28, 2019 at 7:39AM
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| mrsmajor: I've spent hours writing a poem, using a difficult form, and when its completed, I don't even know what the hell I was trying to say...No choice but to junk it..
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September 28, 2019 at 5:37PM
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| giraffmang: Tuck it away. It's amazing how much time can change your view on something. there may just be some really great bits in it which can be recycled.
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September 29, 2019 at 11:53AM
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Brett Matthew West:
The biggest assassin of creativity is to ponder if we are good enough.
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September 26, 2019 at 10:44AM
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Brett Matthew West:
I attended a writers' seminar today presented by Harper's Magazine. The Editor who presented the material offered several insights into how to improve one's writing. There is no need to answer this question in this forum, but it is something to consider. One example he used was when you write do you write "The chicken crossed the road" or do you write "The chicken crossed the road that led to my dead Grandmother's house which brought back fond memories of my childhood"? The point he was making to better improve one's writing is that one action should lead into another and then another and then another and so on.
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February 23, 2019 at 6:15PM
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| damommy: Good point. Thanks for sharing this.
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February 23, 2019 at 8:38PM
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| jlsavell: Awesome! Thank you! Have a great day!
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February 24, 2019 at 9:42AM
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| Randa Dayle: That is so true...we need to expand our thoughts!! Thanks for sharing!!
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March 4, 2019 at 8:55PM
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| Possummagic: I like that suggestion. It?s so easily done. PM
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April 17, 2019 at 7:41PM
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| Stephen Force: Thanks for sharing, sounds logical great tip.
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April 28, 2019 at 8:59PM
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Brett Matthew West:
"We {writers} cannot replicate genius by copying another's idiosyncrasies-we need to cultivate our own." Robert Weibezahl, playwright and novelist
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February 16, 2019 at 8:49PM
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Brett Matthew West:
The best script characters attempt to achieve a goal, or avoid something, no matter what obstacles litter their way. (Think of your favorite television programs or movies.) A script formula that leads to success is characterization + desire = goal, and goal + conflict = story.
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February 15, 2019 at 5:04AM
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Brett Matthew West:
For those who may have any interest in learning some things about script writing, I have posted some information garnished from some of those in the industry, such as the Screenwriters Guild of America, and J. Michael Straczyski, who created the Hit TV show Babylon 5 (and worked on several other popular programs), that may be of interest to you in the Script Writing forum.
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February 14, 2019 at 5:43AM
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Brett Matthew West:
FanStory is a very fair system. All you have to do is work hard and you will achieve success. Who believes this?
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February 10, 2019 at 11:06AM
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| giraffmang: I guess it depends greatly on your definition of success
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February 10, 2019 at 12:01PM
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| mrsmajor: Exactly what do you mean by success?...What it is one expected from this site, and did they meet that goal...I've found that there are some here, that do enjoy my work, perhaps not many, but for me I've been successful...I worked hard creating works some may like, and so some have...that's success, at least it is for me...
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February 10, 2019 at 12:11PM
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| Brett Matthew West: Isn't success as a writer dependent on what the writer decides it is? Why would a writer allow somebody else to make that decision for them?
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February 10, 2019 at 1:19PM
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| giraffmang: yep, that's what I said...
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February 10, 2019 at 2:06PM
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| Gloria ....: This is a false dichotomy argument. If the writer decides their own success one need never to do anything but write for oneself making the assertion about FanStory irrelevant.
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February 10, 2019 at 2:12PM
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mrsmajor: To believe one's self to be a satisfied writer, and a success...isn't a matter of allowing someone else to decide whether you have been successful or not...the proof of success is that people enjoy your work, can identify with your thoughts, or just like the way you put pen to paper...I believe eecumming's was a success, and yet he was considered "different"...He certainly didn't allow those around him to make any decision ...but to be honest, people, at least those I've met along the way...don't write to store their work in a drawer somewhere, they write to be read...
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February 10, 2019 at 2:14PM
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| giraffmang: It's not really a false dichotomy at all. it's more about what goals one sets for oneself and what one wants out their writing, and/or their experience on a writing site such as FS. That doesn't mean the writer only writes from themselves. It just means they write for what they want to achieve, not what someone else tells them to achieve.
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February 10, 2019 at 3:02PM
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| Gloria ....: It all depends on how you're approaching the statement, G. As a purely logical assertion, or the finer nuance. I could answer this question in a completely different way. :))
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February 10, 2019 at 4:11PM
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| JanPerry: I like the positive encouragement I have received here and remember criticism as a way to improve. Its amazing how far we have come in such a short time.
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September 14, 2019 at 7:58AM
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Brett Matthew West:
I am well aware there were only 17 script writers last year, and only nine ranked this year. Tom had mentioned a desire to get more members involved in that arena. Curious as to how members feel about Tom creating a Script of the Month like there is for story, poem, and book as an added incentive for those considering writing scripts and as a means of perhaps enlarging the number of members who write them.
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February 10, 2019 at 5:11AM
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giraffmang: There are a couple of issues with scripts. Most of what is written on site isn't strictly a script. (I've done a few screenwriting and script courses, as well as sat in the writer's room at the BBC and what I saw there is vastly different to what is produced on site)
Secondly, they don't really receive that many reviews as because they are particularly stripped back and technical in nature, they're not exactly a lot of fun to actually read.
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February 10, 2019 at 6:08AM
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| Brett Matthew West: Thanks for weighing in. Appreciate the thoughts very much. A well written script can be a money maker. Any other members care to add to the discussion?
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February 10, 2019 at 6:52AM
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mrsmajor: I'm not a script writer but the idea of a script of the month could prove positive, and helpful...As I understand it, there are not many writer that do write these pieces, but perhaps the idea might encourage more writers...also it could be a learning experience for those that do
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February 10, 2019 at 7:59AM
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| Sarkems: It would make sense. But I'd also like to see, 'non-fiction' of the month as well.
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February 11, 2019 at 5:23AM
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| Brett Matthew West: Sarkems, I could support a non-fiction of the month. However, that probably has as much chance of actually happening as a script of the month does.
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February 11, 2019 at 5:49AM
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| JanPerry: I really enjoyed script writing. Unfortunately due to one bad review I gave it up for good.
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September 14, 2019 at 8:00AM
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| Review Stars |
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| Poetry |
266
| Short Works |
84
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| Novels |
55
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| Scripts |
5
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| Reviewing |
149
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 | Fortune Queen reached "Recognized" status. | September 29 at 10:08AM
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 | Cheater reached "All Time Best" status. | September 19 at 5:25AM
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| Swamp reached "All Time Best" status. | September 14 at 5:25AM
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| Swamp reached "Recognized" status. | September 11 at 10:08AM
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| Cheater reached "Recognized" status. | September 8 at 10:08AM
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 | Pikesville finished second in the contest "Share A Story In A Poem" | May 10 at 12:13AM
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| Pikesville reached "Recognized" status. | April 21 at 2:08AM
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 | Remembrance finished third in the contest "5-7-5" | February 5 at 5:10AM
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Up For ReviewStand Out WritingAdditional Reading
