looking to form a peer review furry writers group

[lunar_prodigy]

~Edited~ i was tired when i first posted this  ;)

I have absorbed a lot of random writing skills after 7 years of college, and many years of reading and analysis of story construction. I admit my weakness is always grammar as I have always groaned at those parts and i wish i had of paid better attention. I think everyone has skills in one aspect or another and no one less developed skill should detract from the whole. New things can be learned, old things can be relearned and improved upon, and things we know well can be shared to help teach others.

In the world of furry fiction, who better than furs to interpret the sometimes strange topics encountered in the fandom. If you are like me you may have a ton of ideas, many stories unfinished or some skills but no ideas to write. The purpose of this group would be to help everyone out to better ourselves.

I guess i could call this the "Vancouver Writers Group"

in short. i was thinking of doing a peer review meet up group once or twice a month to share new works, help each other construct and learn new skills and better our current understandings.

The group would:
talk talk about and share fiction.
-prepare for each session a short story, single chapter or other short work. (From scratch or part of a project already in the works?)
-we would review grammar and technical aspects and draw on everyone knowledge.
-improve our abilities to self edit, identify not just grammar but plot errors and other issues.
-talk about fiction crafting topics such as; plot devices, character development, story, characters, dialogue, and other such topics.
-we would then review the works given to us last time with critique and then read out some of the new work before taking it home to critique.


if this sounds like something you would be interested in, let me know and i can try to organize it. I am sure it will not be dry at all considering it is furry fiction. so it should be quite entertaining and open minded atmosphere.

[JestersKing]

Two sentences into your second paragraph and I couldn't continue to read due to grammar, spelling and syntax errors. I hope that's a pointed intention.
In any case, I might be interested; being a writer and everything.

[Tef]

Well, I've taken a course in creative writing last year, so I guess I could help to an extent.

[Gren]

This sounds like a good idea to me.

[lunar_prodigy]

Two sentences into your second paragraph and I couldn't continue to read due to grammar, spelling and syntax errors. I hope that's a pointed intention.
In any case, I might be interested; being a writer and everything.

i fixed the post, i wrote it in a rush. i sat on the topic for a week and decided what exactly i wanted in more detail.  my first post made it sound like i was asking for an editor for some finished work but i am trying to form a writing group for a couple writers to work constructively in for fun and improvement.

[lunar_prodigy]

Well, I've taken a course in creative writing last year, so I guess I could help to an extent.

cool, i added some more details above. ( edited the original post as it was vague at what i was asking about).

I have found in the past for art critique that a good size of a group is 4-8 people to review to many and its to much to review weekly and that means less meet ups. Wednesday nights, or Sunday nights i believe woudl work best for me as my schedule exists now but it may be changing.  id recommended doing it in a quiet apartment rather than a public place. i live in new west close to sky trains. where do all three of you live? and what is your free time during the week? i would start slow at twice a month and see how it progresses.

Oh one last note, i will be attending Rainfurrest and busy a bit until that time. So it would be sometime early October i would be trying to set something up. may even try to take minutes or general notes for each session i can email, or email any digital copies of works around.  Good news is i am sitting as i write this, waiting for chapters to open. I am getting a book on grammar recommended by Kyell Gold, to add to my collection. "Elements of style". I am planning to study the technical so that some of the rust should be gone by the time i actually get to do any peer review. I will be in a lot of the writing panels at Rainfurrest for the same reason.

[Gren]

Your updated first post is basically what I thought you meant from the original.

I'm out by Coquitlam Centre. Sundays (especially late morning) or Tuesdays would be the best days for me -- I can't really do much Wednesday through Saturday because of my work schedule. Twice a month sounds good to me.

I've a variety of books on writing that I'd be willing to bring along if anyone's interested; I'll produce a list later if people would like.

[Ember]

I have absorbed a lot of random writing skills after 7 years of collage, and many years of reading and analysis of story constriction.

:roll:

[Carthage]

I have absorbed a lot of random writing skills after 7 years of collage, and many years of reading and analysis of story constriction.

:roll:

While I generally like pointing out spelling and grammatical errors, I'd also like to make the observation that my father has been writing for major national and international publications for 40 years. He still makes spelling mistakes.

I think that's sort of the point of what Lunar is trying for here. A second pair of eyes can make all the difference in the world when you're writing something.

[Ember]

[MOD]No personal attacks.  :police:[/MOD]

[JestersKing]

Regardless of what "the best damn fox in creation" thinks, a peer review is always a good idea for aspiring writers. I'd be willing to take part, though I don't often write too much prose. :/

As long as we're looking at days to meet up, the only reliable day of the week I personally have off is Monday but I suppose if the meets were once or twice monthly I could work around that.

[lunar_prodigy]

While I generally like pointing out spelling and grammatical errors, I'd also like to make the observation that my father has been writing for major national and international publications for 40 years. He still makes spelling mistakes.

I think that's sort of the point of what Lunar is trying for here. A second pair of eyes can make all the difference in the world when you're writing something.

amen prose panther! ~bows with respect humbly~

[lunar_prodigy]

Well so far it looks like  we have four that seem interested.
1) Myself (Lunar),
2) JestersKing,
3) Gren,
4) CanucksSpitz.
and? were you also interested Carthage?

Again; i will be focusing on this after Rain Furrest. So i will be trying to figure out days off and peoples best days and all that jazz after RF. I have a whole con ahead of me, and the time before and at the con to practice writing. I did just pick up the elements of style and a few story structure books to help remind me the many things i am trying to draw from memory 8 years past. Which was the last time i actually was in an official writing class. It is amazing the knowledge you forget but how some of it is remembered the second you open up a grammar book and start reading rules of writing.  I was in military for two years, had two years of visual arts, two years of animation and now two years of post graduate employment.  

Simply put rusty wolf needs some oil; but that's why i am here. It is just as much my own responsibility to work hard in my spare time, and practice so i earn my seat in any critique group. In a month i should be ready to, listen, learn, and help out others with the puzzle pieces i already know. I am better with plot and story, i just suck at grammar and all the technical aspects. I grew up in small town hick ville, and learned to type by talking to furs online (who furs in general notoriously have bad, quick, or laziness with grammar). Stands to reason if you practice writing, like practicing art, you get better. I agree with Carthage that even the life time experience make mistakes, so no one is perfect but we get better a heck of a lot faster working together than working apart.

As far as online etiquette and protocol in online form posts, is regarded. Its pretty obvious mine sucks, as i would not be on this topic otherwise. Captain obvious is not welcome in the land of the novice. Not everyone is perfect C3P0 in grammar, or has Han solo's years of experience.  Sometimes we are like Luke; novices who are unsure of our own skills. All we can do is rely on our gut feelings until we learn the right path. Otherwise we never will become master Jedi; or published authors respectfully.



INQUIRY FOR ALL INTERESTED
what are a few of your writing strengths and weaknesses?
(To give everyone here an idea who is good at what. and what everyone would want from this.)
again i am good with story plot and structure. but horrible at actual grammar and technical skills.

i got that book i had mentioned earlier, elements of style, plus a few more... its all coming back to me slowly O_O... which scares me. I guess you never really forget.. now it will take me awhile to read, understand, memorize and apply.


THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO POSITIVELY REPLIED AND SHOWED GENUINE INTEREST
i shall contact you all in a month to try to set up a meet up. and anyone else interested is free to reply below

[lunar_prodigy]

[MOD]No personal attacks.  :police:[/MOD]

Every time you, or anyone else posts with obvious intent to troll on my post topics; i will report it to the moderator and let rainrat know personally.

The drama any troll provokes; will not be created, inflated, or go any father than this post.
Keep this distasteful behavior up and you will be banned.
Play nice or go away.

also editing your posts to delete evidence will do no good as i will quote it.

[Carthage]

Well so far it looks like  we have four that seem interested.
1) Myself (Lunar),
2) JestersKing,
3) Gren,
4) CanucksSpitz.
and? were you also interested Carthage?

Not particularly, no.

I just felt like pointing that one thing out.