The 500 Word Snatch

By Grease Coakes

I was upset that the micro writing event at Book Island was gone when Jackson Arthur left Second Life. I always wrote things about my characters or made random nonsense in 100 words or so. However I lucked out as I found another writing event. In Second Life you can find a writing event here or there. Looking at my notices one day, I happened to see a writing event. I warped in and found out about a writing area at http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Milk%20Wood/77/64/22

The event I found on Saturday afternoon happened to be helping authors with their writing and plot and story. I remember helping a lady with her story about a woman who committed suicide and the police who were looking to solve her murder. I offered a suggestion that a janitor good be the POV or point of view she needed.

But what the host told me was that the 500 word snatch was held Monday through Friday 6am and 6pm SLT hosted by different hosts and hostesses throughout the week. In 15 minutes or so you have to write 500 words or so with a word in mind. I cheated and didn’t use peel for the time I stopped by but the other writers such as Artemis Danube enjoyed my short story nonetheless. I explained it was a backstory for one my characters and why he did nefarious things. Here’s part of Ranger’s backstory.

“You deserve it! But somehow deep in my heart I know there’s a way to get the money and to give you a second chance. I saw an email from my friend that maybe be able to save you. That is if the casino agrees.”

The Casino boss a black wolf in an Italian suit nodded. “We’d much rather have the money back instead of ending his life. Much better business that way. Tell you what Ranger right?” Ranger nodded yes. “We’ll spare Jimmy’s life and instead you owe us the money. You’re right no way Jimmy will get $100,000. But be warned if you don’t get the money now your life is in jeopardy. Since you’re putting the life on the line for your brother I’ll give you extra time. If today is August 22nd you have until October 22nd.”

Gwen’s story was fantasy in a woodland setting where the character Abigail strolled through a forest every night.

His strides were easily half again as long as her own; Reynardine had no trouble catching up with Abigail. He took her arm. “My lovely Abigail,” he said. “I’ve brought you a gift.”

“Oh?” Abigail stopped in one of the many small clearings ahead of the meadow. “What kind of gift?” 
 

The Hunter reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a red apple. “Shall I peel it for you?”

Abigail shook her head. “No— and why on earth did you bring me an apple?"

Another story by Deva was about a pirate close to death.

The Surgeon placed his hands on the edge of the table, exhausted. The Captain was a very unhealthy colour and he had no idea if he would survive. Blood seemed to be everywhere, the table, the floor and even himself. He let his eyes wander to the severed leg on the floor and he managed to find his voice to order one of the men “Throw that overboard! He will not want to see it.”

For readers who use twitter you can follow the writing events at @virtualwriters and learn more about the various events that happen at the small writing area by visiting this website

http://virtualwritersworld.virtualwritersinc.com/

Even if you’re not a writer and just want to hang out and read other stories feel free to stop by. Perhaps it may inspire your inner writer for you to create characters and to write short stories or the like. Stop by the 500 word snatch and give it a shot. It couldn’t hurt and it’s doubtful you’ll run into a bad situation like Ranger, The Pirate Captain or Abigail. The writers I hung out with were pretty nice but they were pretty malicious towards their characters.

Grease Coakes

Book Island Discussion

By Grease Coakes

 

At 10am SL Jackson Arthur at book Island he hosts his own event Office hours every Saturday. When I got back from real things he mentioned he was practicing micro fiction. Micro fiction is a whole story into 100 or 500 words. I said that’s easy to do as 500 words is a mere page. Then he said next week is supposed to be 100 words!

 

“What!" I said in voice chat “How the hell am I supposed to do that?” Jackson laughed at my response and he said he wondered the same thing.

 

 As Jackson was talking in voice chat other Book Islanders showed up like Danger Dave as a pink bunny Nicole and Olivia along with Silver and Relish. Wearing green I reminded everyone that St Patrick’s Day was tomorrow. Jackson Arthur said “Oh no! I don’t have anything green!” I saved his ham and I sent him a green shirt I made.

 

Jackson said today’s topic would be flash fiction. Relish was saying Micro 500 or less and flash is 1,000 or less. 100 or drabble fiction even Steven. Nano fiction is 55 exactly! Everyone agreed that writing so little would be a major challenge.

 

Jackson Arthur pointed out that only 5% of your time is writing and correcting your book as the rest is promoting your book which is very much the case. Tome wise it didn’t take long to type out my book but getting it published and continuing to promote that’s a pain in the butt and it takes a lot of time.

 

Cale came in saying she was late, but I said she was fashionably late.

 

Jackson Arthur asked “Is it better to promote your first book or write a second book?” I said I’d rather promote my first book then worry about a second book. Cale was talking about writing salons and live reading. I said myself I was looking to look for real life book stores to read my story at. Jackson and I both agree Facebook isn’t a good tool to sell my book.

 

Every was suggesting websites to promote their written works. I suggested promoting yourself around your local area is a big key too. Networking is the key everyone agreed to that to promote your writing.  Cale brought up how you could use photography in second life to create book covers. I said it wouldn’t work for my children’s book as a realistic virtual design wouldn’t really work. However for other books it may be just the ticket. She also said how she ran into someone who had a horrible cover picture for his book cover. Cale said she is a visual person as she is also an artist in real life. She told this rude person that his cover design was not going to work but he didn’t seem to listen. 

 

I walked over to the next event hosted by Relish the librarian who was a tiny tiger. He made me think of Hobbes from Calvin and Hobbes he was saying he collected dictionaries. For kicks I said I have some drum and bass records. And I asked everyone who wrote Mulder’s Theme? Nobody guessed so I told everyone Mulder. He asked did anyone want to get into a character’s head. I answered yes when I get purchased at a tail sale I want to get into my buyer’s head and make sure I get the character right for my buyer. Relish said I got it exactly right. I remember asking Dragon Heart what he wanted in his story and I’m not telling in this article.

 

Book Island seems like a great place to hang out and talk with aspiring or accomplished writers. The discussion seems laid back and laughs are always welcome along with gongs If you have any wish to see how other writers operate and you have a story you’re thinking about Book Island is the right place to go. I myself might try a micro fiction for kicks. It’s only 500 words anyway.

 

Grease Coakes

Marney Wolfhunter to Hold Reading Event Series at Book Island

Recently, I was invited to Book Island by Selina Greene and introduced to Marney Wolfhunter. Selina introduced Marney as a writer whom will be “starting a series of events on August 3rd and every Tuesday, reading chapters from her books, but also inviting other published authors along to talk about aspects of writing and reading their own work.”

Marney introduced herself as not only a writer but a publisher, “My company Diiarts (Dragon International Independent Arts) has been going nine months, and we have published seven novels and had a hand in a yoga DVD since. In the future, we have two novels to come out this year, and a varied list going forward into 2011.”

Of the upcoming event, “On Tuesdays I plan to read from my book Custard, Cats and Consequences, which I plan to launch for the Christmas market this year. But I want to invite my authors to come down and give us some readings.” The book is not about pets, “It’s a romantic comedy, ‘Dicklit’ if you will (referring to the old Dick and Jane jokes). I always wanted to know what goes on in the guy's head, and I was tired of heroines on sofas with boxes of tissues, so my ‘Chicklit’ is told from the guy’s point of view, hence ‘Dicklit.’ “

She also had several other works in progress, “Some gay romance, a gay thriller, and a couple of other works that are a little more mainstream ... I write quirky stuff ... my stuff is acknowledged to be very quirky indeed. My writing partner and business partner, Jason, is sometimes slightly unnerved by the overall weirdness of my imagination.”

“But the main event I really hope is going to be the monthly input from my published authors. Paul House (Common Places and Harbour) is particularly keen to take part, and he will do a very good talk on writing. MM Bennetts, who has written our Flagship Historical Fiction work, May 1812, is a critic and historian. ... May 1812 is the story of the home front at the time of the Peninsular War (Napoleon’s invasion of Spain). The Spencer Perceval assassination (the British Prime Minister) tips the government into crisis. M's second book ‘Of Honest Fame’ will be published at the end of the year, concentrating on the spy crisis leading up to Waterloo.” A notecard by MM Bennetts described the book as, “mainly a slice of life novel of historical fiction, a month in the life of a Foreign Office Codebreaker.”

”M's books are always impeccably researched, and she has a true love of the period and the places in the book. ... We also have a romance coming up, ‘Ask Me If I'm Happy,’ from Kimberley Menozzi.”

Of the books planed to be read from at the event, three are historical fictions, “two with a historical background, and two thrillers. Our authors come from all over the world.” Talking further, among the books she was working on was “Mutiny and the Bounty.” This had nothing to do with the incident on Captain Bligh’s ship, but was done in response to the recent movie “the Bounty Hunter,’” about a man on a mission to arrest his ex-wife, which she didn’t like, “In this story, the bounty hunter goes after his former brother in law.”

Marney’s publishing company Diiarts was launched last year on November 14, 2009. The website describes itself as a “farmers market” of the publishing industry. A note card from Marney stated, “I wanted to be able to offer an option to those writers who had a good story--which perhaps the mainstream publishing apparatus didn’t feel they could handle--but for whom self-publishing would be a dark and scary place. I also believe very strongly in the power of the multiple voice. One person alone can’t always do the job.”

The website of her company Diiarts is at: http://www.diiarts.com

Bixyl Shuftan