This Week: And the award goes to....

Hello Jordan, Bec, Kassie and anyone else who ends up joining. :)

So this week was the Acadamy Awards. And the film "The Artist" ended up taking away best picture. The reason is pretty obvious, though here's the trailer in case you haven't seen it yet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OK7pfLlsUQM

The Artist pays homage to classical Hollywood in many ways, the lack of sound. The ratio it was presented in and the speed of the film's frames. Even the music at one point is actually the love score from Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo. It is meant as a love letter to Hollywood, according to the Director.

So, for this week's writing, try making your own version of a love letter to classical writing. And you can interpret that anyway you want. For example, you could try your hand at epic poetry, in the style of Homer or Tolkien set in the heroic hexameter. Or you could try writing a fable, like Aesop or Mother Goose. You could write a scene of an episode for one of your favorite TV shows (maybe there's more going on at Downton Abbey then anyone knows). You might want to try doing a scene from a book (like Pride and Prejudice) adapted into our modern time, or you could try taking an event from our lives and placing it in the Regency Era of Jane Austen. No this isn't like "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies". This isn't meant to exploit what we love. It's meant to pay homage to it by allowing ourselves to really appreciate the finer elements of the work we are honoring by placing ourselves in the mindset of that writer.

Remember, this is less about perfection and more just to help us all keep writing.

Mine will be up in a few days... once I figure out what to write and then get to writing it :)

Scarlet

I'm not a writer. Not yet. I aspire.

I think in colours and pictures; I've told myself tales for as long as I can remember. Every so often I try to make more room in my head by moving something out onto paper. Sometimes it works. Sometimes the idea dies in transit.

I see the world in a way that makes most people tip their heads and say "what?". Fortunately, there are some who understand. I'm glad to have found a group that not only understands, but can contribute as well.

Also, I'm shy. Or "slow to warm up", as a few friends insist. I think they think "shy" is too harsh a word. I roll my eyes at their quaint but misguided notions, yet I am content to remain silent. For now.

-Kassie

In Processu

In introduction...
I am a work in progress. Or rather In Processu.

I have built my own TARDIS and see worlds that no one else sees and voices that no one else hears. I’m not crazy. My parents had me tested.

I am driven like a golden retriever running after a toy and have recognized that Life is a mere dream, a fleeting shadow on a cloudy day. I love metaphors like…like…like…

I have conversations with Hobbits, debate consistently with a particular raven, and wear old keys around my neck. My wardrobe leads to Narnia and am a member of the VFD. I know Who the Doctor is.

My fingers are sticky from honey and rosin from a cello bow. If a monster would devour me he would inform you that I tasted like cinnamon and vanilla Chai. And macaroni and cheese sharp cheddar style.

My favorite place is the House of a mouse and I left my soul in the town of knowledge and beautiful spires that looks like Castles.

My dreams are in two languages and my life is narrated by a British accent.

I’m in no rush, but one day I’ll meet a man who will help me conquer the fire swamp and will inform me that defeat is inconceivable. (And he will even know the meaning of the word.)

I problem solve like Sherlock but as friends I would get along much better with Dr. Watson.

I spend my money on books, tea, and traveling. I have no regrets… except when hauling my broken rolling bag up and down a London train station.

I can hardly wait until the curtain rises on “The Hunger Games” and most importantly “The Hobbit.”

One day I will publish my book and work for the BBC. They just don’t know how much they want me yet.

I am a firm believer in the One who holds my future in the palm of a strong hand and constantly wish that I was privy to that information.

I am a life student who endeavors to learn every day until I’m Pushing Daisies and will finally make my Trek into the Stars.

Seriously though, thanks for letting me join even though I'm currently nine hours ahead of you all. I look forward to skyping in soon.

Jordy

Hi friends.

I've been writing about other people for so long- imaginary people, granted, but ones that lead remarkably demanding lives- that I find I'm at a loss as to how to describe myself. But I'll give this my best shot.

I'm the love child of amino acids and honeyed tea, kept alive on divine hope and repressed romance. Most of my favorite people are dead, but the live ones I dote on with enthusiasm. So much, in fact, that the characters of my biggest project find their muses in some friends I had 5 years ago.

I'm hard-pressed to let any of my passions go. I made Charlotte Bronte my Muhammad when I was twelve, and she's stayed that way ever since. I heard my first Bizet aria when I was nine. Now I cloister myself in the university practice rooms, merely to warble for a precious five minutes between classes. I've been a slave of literature and writing for as long as my happily biased memory allows. But that is, of course, a love that doesn't require a tendency to enthusiasm, even one as easily provoked as mine. That love takes only a taste of true storytelling, which commands a life-binding magic of its own. I hope to capture just a bit of that magic, bottling it up my bedside to keep me company on chilly nights, for now, but some day letting it loose, a hard-bound friend to people I'll never meet.

And you know. Some money would be nice.

I love you all. So for goodness sake, do let's get started.

~ J

This Week: Orientation

Hello All,

My name's Jean and I'm a writer.

This is how a proper introduction aught to begin. Please feel free everyone to post a post introducing yourselves.

No not a comment. A proper post.

In said post please feel free to tell us something about yourself. For example, I personally love rainy weather, am learning the violin right now, and have a severe caffeine addiction.

Of course, your personal post may contain whatever you like. Maybe mention one of your favorite films (mine would be "The Prestige" and "Agora") or a book you're currently reading ( again for me that would be "Moby Dick" by Herman Melville). If you want you may include a picture/video/drawing of yourself. For mine see the panel to the left. It really is just all up to each and every individual.

It would also be a good space and beneficial to the group to mention your specific field of interest. For example, I'm currently working on several projects. A children's series. A young adult graphical novel. And I would like to expand into screenwriting, but I have no idea where to begin.

Hopefully this will not feel like homework but rather will serve as inspiration for what to put in your post. Remember, we are all artists. WE ARE CREATIVE. So please, be creative.

Thank you very much and good evening to all,

Jean

Midway upon the journey of our life...

This is the official first post of the official blog of The Order of the Schwa.

My reasons for starting this blog is to enable all of the wide spread writers in our community of writers to be able to connect even when we are not able to make it to the "weekly" meetings.

However, this blog is not meant to replace said meetings and all members who fail to make it to said meetings with repeat infractions may be drawn and quartered, hung by the neck till dead, and finally flailed alive.

Other than that, we are glad to welcome all who enter here with the time old saying,

"Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate"