August 2024 Writer Support Thread

[JBento]

Pretty sure those are dress sleeves.

[Cat-Toes]

Editing has got to be my least favorite part of the writing process, but I actually have been having a good time finding some funny lines I forgot I wrote which cancels out the embarrassing number of typos and grammatical errors I’ve also found.

[Cataphrak]

I am not going to lie, one of the biggest advantages of writing for CoG directly is getting a copyeditor.

It is such a relief to know that I don’t have to worry about typos (of which I make many) because a professional will find them for me.

[Havenstone]

I’ve noticed one of the downsides of pushing 50 is that I make a lot more typos than I used to. Yay for attentive beta testers who catch most of them, and editors who’ll catch the rest…

[Cataphrak]

Given that you were the one who copyedited Sabres pro-bono, at what I am assuming is an age not much older than I am now, I feel like this post kinda gave me a glimpse into my own mortality there.

[LiliArch]

Makes me terrified too, I make typos enough already. Granted, I catch most of them when I give the text a read-through (grammar and vocabulary issues are another animal), but still.

[Niki_Christopherson]

@levviathan

Actually that goes for everyone: if anyone needs a hype man, I am here to hype.

Good advice, AND a hypeman? SIGN ME UP!!! (Imma dm you later.)

@Cataphrak

@Dan_Rasmussen

once all the decision trees are written in cside you just have to add the flavor text one chunk at a time.

I’m not going to lie, this is how I’ve writing my current project.

SAME, OMG. this is how I plan out the chapters ahead of writing the flavor text!

@HarrisPS

This is how I make my games I like getting the structure down first.

Now I feel vindicated that I do this too! Yay!

@latejack

Life’s been absurdly busy lately, but still carving out some time to write on night shifts and mornings on my own.

I feel this in my bones. I try and carve out a few minutes a day… And fail miserably. XD

@LiliArch

And

omg, me too, I am so glad someone else feels they’re super cookie cutter copy and paste.

@Gilbert_Gallo

little HG game called Last dream is scheduled for October! Time to celebrate!

OMG CONGRATULATIONS!!!

[leiatalon]

I am catching so many errors as I do this round of line edits. And this is after I’d polished each individual chapter up.

@Havenstone

Yay for attentive beta testers who catch most of them, and editors who’ll catch the rest…

So much this!

@Cataphrak

It is such a relief to know that I don’t have to worry about typos (of which I make many) because a professional will find them for me.

Yes.

[LiliArch]

@leiatalon

Yes.

My (un)favourite ones are when I accidentally have one hand off-key and I’ve written several paragraphs without noticing. Kinda wonder what a professional would say if I sent that… (I gave myself enough of a proofreading to not try with my professor at least. I hope.)

[Nessy_Lovegood]

So here I am again at the end of the month again lol. It seems to be when I like to check in. I have made very little progress on my story. But I am currently working on my own cover art and profile picture for here and on my Tumblr blog I have set up for my IF wip "Beneath a Blood Red Dawn. Although It’s pretty barren atm… but my idea is to have the RO’s povs before the actual story begins. I intend to call it “Before the Dawn.”

• Here is my introduction or I guess my hook to get people interested that I plan to use on my Tumblr and on the CoG forums:

"What would you do if you had the ability to wield all time and space? You were born as one of the few called with the chrono-gene. Born with the gift and destined to become a powerful chronomancer. Master of time and space. You’re destined to become the savior of your crumbling world of Solara. But will you prevail or give into the darkness known as the abyssal of stand still?

Will you follow the old ways of your ancient ancestors that worshiped the gods and goddesses of Sul? Or will you forsake your ancestor’s religious hold of Sul and carve your own path in thia role that destiny has cast onto your shoulder? Or will you succumb to the abyssal of stand still and its corruption to become the most dangerous chronomancer there is?

It is your time to shine, fellow guardian of Sul and protector of your world Solara. Will you be the savior and shine the light of Sul on this world Solara desperately needs or will you become one with the darkness of the abyssal of stand still and obliterate all that was or ever will be? It is your choice, young chronomancer. Will you let the light of Sul guide you or let the darkness of the abyss consume you?

It is time now, young chronomancer, to step into the portal to the time stream and let your journey in Solara begin. For the countdown until the Bloodred Dawn is ticking away.

[Eiwynn]

Glad to see you make progress, @Nessy_Lovegood – I went ahead and fixed the quote script in your post for you.

Edit:

@Nessy_Lovegood

what did I mess up? I apologize. I’m not used to the commands on here so I’m trying to learn ^^;

Nothing big:

The forum software uses [ quote ] and [ /quote ] to start and end the blockquote. (without the saces added in ofc).

[Nessy_Lovegood]

what did I mess up? I apologize. I’m not used to the commands on here so I’m trying to learn ^^;

[Nessy_Lovegood]

@Eiwynn ok is there a guide somewhere on here to learn how to properly learn the commands and use them correctly? And thank you!

[Eiwynn]

This should help:

Forum Formatting Commands

Hey everyone! Lately, a lot of people have asked me how I change the size of my text, among other things. And as giddy as I get seeing the green PM bubble show upon my icon, I think it’d be easier for everyone if I made a comprehensive and public list of all the techniques I’m certain work on the boards. Before you go trudging through this incredibly long post, consider checking out this incredibly easy to read and understand Markdown Reference Guide! It even comes with a super helpful (but…

I’ll highlight the link in next month’s support thread, since you are most likely not alone.

I’m just happy to help.

[Niki_Christopherson]

@Nessy_Lovegood

my Tumblr blog

Fellow tumblrina? Noice! Share yer link and I’ll share mine?

@Nessy_Lovegood

somewhere

No worries hun, I had to copy and paste the commands into a notepad doc that I keep up at all times so I can format shit right. You’re not alone.

[JBento]

@Nessy_Lovegood

I’m not used to the commands on here so I’m trying to learn

Not that the quote command (that Eiwynn pointed out) is a fickle little primadonna, who’ll sometimes work with the (quote)(/quote) commands in the same paragraph as the text you want to quote and sometimes it won’t because… Cthulhu, I guess?

I THINK it always works with the commands in different paragraphs as the text, but don’t (haha) quote me on that.

[abuhanzala]

Thanks for sharing these insightful resources and your personal reflections, Eiwynn! The articles sound like great reads, especially the ones on character arcs and the writer’s motivation during tough times. I can relate to the imposter syndrome you mentioned and appreciate the article on authorial responsibility. Good luck with your editing pass on the Patchwork’s project—sounds like you’re making significant progress!

[Eiwynn]

Hi @abuhanzala and welcome both to the writer support thread and the community in general.

Your post came at just the right time, so thank you!

.

Edit:

@JBento

I THINK it always works with the commands in different paragraphs as the text, but don’t (haha) quote me on that

The forum software developers specifically made changes to the [ quote] command, so it only works as a block quote … this despite our vocal opposition to them doing so. The Discourse people (in my opinion) are constantly trying to evolve the forum software into a social media platform… as if they are ashamed of being what they are and owning it.

ymmv

[Niki_Christopherson]

@abuhanzala

Thanks

Hey fresh meat! Just kidding, it’s nice to meet you! Welcome to the forum and to this chat in particular!

@Eiwynn

… as if they are ashamed of being what they are and owning it

Holy shit the shade in this made me snicker. Man I love you sometimes!

[poison_mara]

I feel really really stupid. I HATE WRITING