Want to be as popular as Jaen, Harpy and Flawnt and reach a wide variety of readers? Do you have a talent for the written word?  Perhaps you have an idea for a column? Either way, if you want to offer your writerly services for the betterment of our wonderful community blog then drop me a line at  harriet.gausman@googlemail.com. You never know, YOU might be our next ‘STAR’.

In my first posting, “Welcome to Jaen’s World!” I described how picking out a name is the first writing exercise one does when becoming a Second Life® citizen. The second, I suppose, is putting together your profile. I have spent a large amount of time composing my profile; writing information and changing pictures. Also, I have read other peoples profiles —some are very detailed.

A phrase that has caught my attention is “Not Interested in Drama” or something of that nature. This phrase has always puzzled me.

Often an individual with “no drama” stated is also a member of one or several clubs that seem pretty dramatic, as evidenced by titles that include the following: “BDSM, Sex or Nude.” You can tell the resident has put significant thought into their profile since their picture is artfully posed and usually, a very “intense” quote  inserted somewhere. Yet, this person specifically states that they are not interested in drama?

Second Life® is very dramatic. It is a cartoon environment filled with artists from all around the world interacting with one another behind glass plated masks.

Communication is compromised daily in this situation; without being able to look at someone’s face and read their body language, it takes much more effort to interpret meaning. Without important behavioral cues, perception is often incorrect and consequently, situations are often mishandled, therefore, leading to both conflict and yes—drama.

I consider myself fairly intelligent but I believe my emotional IQ drops once I log on to Second Life®. I have found myself in ridiculous “fights” with people I don’t even know and have gotten upset over matters I would be too embarrassed to tell family members about. Maybe, it is the fact of putting yourself in a cartoon world that makes one regress to a younger stage? If you’re playing with Barbie’s or pretending you’re a superhero how can you possibly think that drama will not occur? Isn’t that why we play anyway?

Often, I ponder the thought process behind the individual that prompts them to write “no drama,” probably due to my analytic background. If someone is truly not interested in drama, there is plenty of other activities for them to pursue: scrapbooking, cleaning the bathroom and cutting coupons holds very little drama—trust me—VERY little drama; unless of course, the coupon leads to a heated argument with the Waldbaums check-out clerk regarding expiration dates.

Exciting and dramatic possibilities mixed with a surreal quality is what encourages people to continue with Second Life®, without it, they might as well just play…“first life.”

Once again I would like to thank you for joining me. As always, I look forward to hearing about you and your experiences.

-Jaen

This week is a big week for me because it means I will be working to a deadline set by myself. The NaNoWriMo challenge really helped me write to a goal but now I need to take the baton and continue with the initiative.

One of the most difficult things for me is getting the motivation to sit and write to a set daily challenge. That is part of the reason I do the daily Writers’ Dash at Milk Wood. That and knowing if I don’t write something every day I won’t improve my craft. Sharing my ideas and work with others also seems to gives it an added legitimacy.

If you are like me and just need that extra push then join our Novelists at Work group. It consists of other NaNoWriMos who have finished their novel (or equally didn’t quite make it) and who want to continue to work to a steady goal aided by several whip wielding writing hounds. We will work with each other, encourage each other and lend literary support when needed until each of us has our work sitting on an agent’s desk.

Join us inworld Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1pm (PST) and check in daily at the Novelists at Work group on our ning. There is a place for you to set your long term goal and also a weekly one. You can display your goal at the Gyspy Camp or on the Novelists at Work titler available at the camp inworld.

So…what are you waiting for? Get writing!

We would like to send our congratulations to the eight NaNoWriMo winners at Milk Wood – Raina Anatra, Huckleberry Hax, Flawnt Alchemi, Harriet Gausman, Hedda Hazelnut, Tiana Writer, Camilla Delvalle and Klannex Northmead. You all worked so hard to achieve the challenge which required SUPER HUMAN STRENGTH and deserve a BIG SHOUT OUT.

Well done to all of those who attempted the challenge. We hope you continue to work on your novel and who knows perhaps we will see a few published pieces very soon.

Recently, I was given rent free space on the Second Life® grid; prior to that, I was Second Life® homeless. Not really understanding the need for closet space in Second Life®, I never purchased land. Since my Linden’s are limited, I usually use them for clothes, jewelry and tips. However, a well-known man, Thinkerer Melville, did buy land, a huge island, “Cookies,” which he developed into a Second Life® mecca for artists. He established a welcoming point for actors, vocalists, musicians and writers to get information about casting calls and events. “Cookies” is the unspoiled area for artists to gather; hold workshops; watch performances and display their work.

Since, I am active in the writing community, I was lucky enough to acquire my own “perch” which overlooks the beach at the INKsters Annex. Being somewhat in awe of the concept and very proud of my new space, I met with Thinkerer to thank him and to find out more about this intriguing and generous person.

Thinkerer Melville (a.k.a Selby Evans,) is a retired Professor of Psychology at Texas Christian University. He has conducted research in pattern perception and studies of cognitive systems,supported by U. S. Military organizations, NASA, and National Institutes of Health. This accomplished man has published more than 80 technical papers both in professional books and journals. He is a true lover of the arts and has developed the “Cookie’s Hub” to attract new artistic talent “creating the environment for artists to work.” Also, he is managing the gateway at Rockcliffe University, to guide Second Life® newcomers interested in education and the arts. Thinkerer is a true visionary and working with JWheels Carver to develop the next level of Second Life® entertainment — “Virtual Outworlding.”

“Virtual Outworlding,” in essence, is one step closer to virtual reality. It combines a real life event with a Second Life® event. Hook your computer up to your TV, watch the performance through a feed and interact with the entertainers. Sounds interesting and has already been initiated. Quoted from Thinkerers blog:

http://rezzable.com/blog/thinkerer-melville/outworld-tools-promoting-inworld-events

“Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, sponsored a symposium on innovation in healthcare, starting with a reception on Sunday evening 9/13. In the opening event, the goal was to have a casual interaction between participants. Mayo Clinic particularly wanted to highlight their efforts to integrate Second Life® into their education, patient care and research activities.

They converted a conference room to a coffee-house atmosphere, with a 50 inch screen and sound system. They wanted people to see how a Second Life® interaction can work, so they made arrangement with Jwheels to have PhoebeAnn Theas (Seasoned singer in Second Life®) perform in this time period.”

Many people come in and out of Second Life® to explore, establish goals and get certain needs met. But Selby Evans has not only created an avi, he has helped others develop their talents, fulfill their dreams and is helping bring virtual reality a little bit closer—can’t wait to see what he does next!

-Jaen Wirefly

I read this book years ago and enjoyed it, so I thought I’d read it again with my Second Life book club. I had forgotten much about the book since I last read it.

Jasper Fforde weaves a tale about a police detective, Thursday Next, who specializes in literary crime. Most of the time it is a very dull job, at least for most of the LiteraTecs. Thursday seems to attract adventure. Before becoming a police officer, she fought in the Crimean War. In this war, she lost her brother, and the love of her life. One to death, the other to the trauma of war.

The world of Thursday Next is a world of time travel, cloned extinct pets, and characters being kidnapped out of famous books. England and Russia have been fighting a war off and on for over a century. Her father is a time traveling fugitive that is trying to fix the past, so she rarely sees him.

Thursday’s nemesis in this book is Acheron Hades. He is probably my second favorite character of the whole book. Thursday is drawn into this adventure because Hades was her professor in college, so she can identify him. He has the strange ability to locate people when they speak his name, seems to be invulnerable to any physical harm, and apparently has the ability to teleport and cause others to hallucinate. He commits evil acts for the pure pleasure and feels that to robbery for the sake of financial gain is low, common, and in poor taste.

Fforde combines adventure and comedy together very well. As an American, I know there are some references to parts of London and England that I missed completely. There are many puns, some good, some come with a groan factor. I really enjoyed the book, it was a fun read. I’m actually in the mood to read the rest of the series.

The miracle in question was only performed to hasten the operation, under circumstances of present necessity, which required it. -Ben Franklin

Finished that belated, beloved, beleaguering NaNoWriMo contest at 50,267 words. What can I say: thanks to the divine. Amen to my mom and dad. Blessings to the organisers. Yiiipppeeehs and Yaya-cries to the other writers and GoGoGoGo to those who’re still slaving away at it! Exclamation mark time! Now I need to shake it all off and wipe my boots clean. A winner all the same.

Actually, I can’t believe I am writing again already! Worse: I am already thinking about the next novel! It happened in the car as I was listening to the intoxicating Jim Norton reading Ulysses…and I have plans for video and podcasts – on the last day, I even managed to record a novel excerpt as a podcast – you know how much I like La Voce. Divas. Verdi. La Callas. Aww.

What it meant: I am now estranged from Ms Flawnt. Fortunate for me, she is the forgiving type (though she doesn’t know it – that’s even better). Our daughter has begun to call me ‘mummy’ because, evidently, she has suppressed all memory that she has a father (that used to be me before nano). I haven’t been around much in SecondLife®…the chat’s too good there, too many distractions, and, as Mark Twain says, only swiftness in banging the keys counts. Hence, not much remains of this writer’s virtuality…one of the many things to be picked up again in December, and also, there is Black Friday to consider (less of a tragic, torturous event on the Old Continent, but still, who are we without regular, life-affirming, mind-numbing consumption).

Banging builds muscle, but...

‘Banging’ was my original title for this piece, but it’s perhaps not as relevant as its current title, ‘manifesting’. In previous reviews of my path through NaNoWriMo jungle, machete in hand, rubber boots on my feet, a turban slung around my head (aching from plot twisters), I have discussed gathering yer wits, digesting yer innards, listening to yerself…in the last week, I found that the hour of manifestion had come: I see manifestation as the ability to make something happen by drawing on all your resources, not just that clever little brain of ours, caffeine and nicotine drenched as it is in my case.

...only manifestation can make miracles happen.

On that last day, I needed a small miracle to finish: word count was good, but my characters were fighting with each other for my attention, besides my original heroine, another one, her opposite in every way, had appeared and captured the heart of my main character (MC), and even the MC’s lofty priority position was threatened by a character, who, in the course of several chapters, had shown staying power and an uncanny ability to hold the story together by its very presence. Even the location was in serious jeopardy: I had started in London, but about half way through the novel, my main cast relocated to a castle in the Scottish Highlands – should I lure them away from there for the grand finish (which I always imagined in a trendy city venue, or trust them? To put it shortly: I did not count on miracles though I felt I needed one. I was planning a major military operation dominated by me as field marshal, and I envisioned myself on a hill, leaning on a cannon, mumbling phyrrically: „Another victory like this and we’re done for.”

OK. Lemme put all this behind me. Rumour has it, that I’m being missed under Milk Wood, which is where I live. It’s time to return for timeless chat, banter and a small, measured amount of words every day, but not 1,667 (the required daily amount for NaNoWriMo). I have vowed to put the manuscript in a drawer for at least one month while I rebuild relationships with Ms Flawnt and with Little Miss Flawnt. I am daunted by the task of editing the beast. If you do, too, write to me and we shall whine side by side.

Virtually yours,
Flawnt Alchemi

Well, only four more days to go until the end of the November writing challenge. It’s been quite a ride and one, if I’m to be totally honest,  I didn’t think I’d finish. You see, I’m very good at getting other people to where they want to go, I’m good at encouraging – give me a whip and the gift of gentle persuasion and I’ll get you on the next train to winnerville…but I am awful at doing it myself.

The first week found me eager and expectant. I was still at the stage of rereading and editing. I soon learned that I would probably never get to the end if I kept revising it – particularly as I would rework one small section then spend hours reading it over and over and changing minute detail after minute detail until I nearly went mad in the head. Just call me Ms. Obsessive; perfectionist is too weak a word

The second week I was determined not to fall into the infamous bored stage where folks would be complacent and lapse. I managed to overcome any desire to take a back-seat until the third week – I was always a late starter. Here, I struggled to sit still and write even a single paragraph. Anything and everything on the internet caught my eye from how to unplug a blocked sink to ways I could redecorate my living room in the nude.

And here we are in the middle of the fourth week and I am writing a blog post with 8k words yet to finish…geez, I’d better get a move on.

Tell me all about your process. How did you survive? Did you suffer the same complacency or were you fired on all cylinders throughout your journey? What have you learned for next time?

Is “Writer’s Block” a terrifying moment, or a hateful disease that doesn’t discriminate between new and seasoned writers?

Whatever it is, when it happens, the best thing to do is to figure how to overcome it, quickly. When I am writing about a subject often it helps to put myself in the subject’s environment; hence, go where your book takes you; often, this helps to stimulate fresh ideas and coax creativity. If you can’t get to your story’s setting in real life, Second Life® is great for “armchair travel,” and works well for fast inspiration. Below are a list of sims that may help “break the block.”

Sci-fi /Fantasy Writers

“Club E-co’s Air Lounge;” built by the extraordinary artist, Patch Tibaud, has a futuristic feel and seems like it could be straight out of the 1920’s silent film “Metropolis.”

“Ciudad de Mexico” (opening soon) also, built by Patch, has the exciting flavor of “Blade Runner.”

“Templum Ex Obscurum” by elusive builder, Baron Grayson. Crashing waves and dark mountains; I refer to this sim as: Tim Burton’s Maui.

“Milk Wood,” (Harriet’s haven) where Fairy greetings and rolling hills will magically transform your spirit—“A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

Specific Location

“Paris Eiffel Sim” is Paris in the 1900’s (evidenced by the lack of stalls selling postcards and overpriced candy.) Good to visit if you are doing a period piece.

 “Mao,” the perfect sim if your story incorporates “The Great Wall of China.”

“Manhattan Island,” a safe way to explore a dangerous scene; remember, you cannot finish your book if you are dead.

…and this is just weird. If you do visit “Manhattan Island” make sure you wander into the warehouse to see Robot Aliens removing Phillip Linden from the “Noob-a-tron 4000″ and placing him in a box.

Hope these very detailed and interactive sim’s help with your writing endeavors. If you have any suggestions on how to handle “Writers Block,” I would love to hear it!

-Jaen Wirefly

Can you imagine my surprise when I awoke to find dozens of people wandering around Milk Wood. Not to say we don’t get a good number during our events but with no events taking place, I was confused as to why they were there. After a few hours of wading through the crowds I asked one of the visitors how she had heard of us. “Oh,” she said, “You are on the Showcase, you’re number one right at the top of the list.”

Now, I have to admit I didn’t really know how to access this list and did feel silly asking, but eventually I pulled it up and there we were, right at the top as she had said! Somehow we have caught the Linden’s eye and I am thrilled and honoured. I’ve worked hard to grow our community which started in February 2008 but I have to say the honour should go to all our fabulous members, many of whom work so tirelessly for us. So, thank you to the most remarkable people, our community at Milk Wood.

http://secondlife.com/my/whatnext/destinations/category.php?c=arts

http://thebookstacks.org/2009/11/10/milk-wood-showcased/#comment-241