Welcome to the 25th writing club update! 😊

I hope you’ve all found some nice cozy spots in the shade, to do some creative thinking or writing. Or perhaps some of you have been taking a break, there’s nothing wrong with that either!

The usual info about how this writing club update works:

To anyone stumbling upon this post and wondering about the rules – there really aren’t any! This is a club for mostly the same regulars and semi-regulars, but visitors are encouraged to comment on writing updates or share their own. The main idea is to set a goal for yourself and try to achieve it by the next month’s update. :)

Feel free to comment and tell us how things are going for you, regarding writing, creative works, and everything related!

  • foxymochakitten ( foxymochakitten@slrpnk.net ) English
    4·
    2 months ago

    Thank you Ellie for putting up the new post and DMing me about it!

    I’m still easing back into my writing practice with some worldbuilding and loose character development now as well. Migraines/headaches have been holding me back a fair bit so last night I went back to an old trick of mine - using a screen reader to help me make notes so I don’t have to look at the bright screen and can keep a bag of ice over my face. I was shocked last night at how well it worked because it feels so silly, but I went from squinting at the screen and getting frustrated with how the pain was distracting me, to throwing notes and ideas on the page like a madman. Finally nailed down what the heck the “mysterious rock formations” actually are after using that phrase all through my document XD

    I’m very interested in that Lunarpunk anthology. It’s been a long while since I wrote something for a submission so I think my goal for August will be to write something for the anthology. I feel quite nervous about it honestly! I feel like shorter fiction requires you to have really, really tight prose, and honestly, tight prose isn’t something I’m good at and never has been. Maybe this is my chance to practice…?

    • grrgyle ( grrgyle@slrpnk.net ) English
      2·
      2 months ago

      Finally nailed down what the heck the “mysterious rock formations” actually are after using that phrase all through my document XD

      This is so relatable haha. So many story ideas revolve around some phrase or vague notion that can feel full of such emotional energy or potential. You could be tempted to think just saying the phrase like “mysterious rock formations” would conjure up the same feelings in someone else, but of course it’s not fully baked as far as ideas go so it can’t resonate with anyone who doesn’t share your brainspace.

      Good luck on your goal! That’s a great one. And I agree, longer format stories can be more of an endurance to write, but it’s true, in a short story each paragraph matters.

      But you know, conversely, I’ve enjoyed plenty of short stories that kind of whiffed the prose but had a cool concept or maybe just one really cool scene or bit of dialogue.

      So that’s another thing about shorter fiction: it’s easier to forgive a bit of roughness because it’s not such a time investment. Sometimes it can just be a personal experiment in Lunarpunk and that’s enough. :)