Activity – Den of Writers

Hilary replied to the topic Lost my group! in the forum Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 3 months ago

Yes me too.
KazG replied to the topic Lost my group! in the forum Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 3 months ago

Well, its HIDDEN private groups anyway, it seems.
KazG replied to the topic Lost my group! in the forum Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 3 months ago

The Den is eating its private groups! I wonder why…
Athelstone replied to the topic Lost my group! in the forum Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 3 months ago

Yep – me too.

Also, I had a private hidden group to mess about with text formatting that seems to have disappeared.
KazG started the topic Lost my group! in the forum Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 3 months ago

Hi fellow DIY-ers! I seem to have lost my group – it’s not showing up in my groups at all anymore. The only way I can get here is to look at my notifications and activity and get in that way. Is anyone else having this problem?
Kate replied to the topic Mid grade 1st chapter in the forum Critiques 6 years, 3 months ago

Thanks @bella – it was fun to write.

Perfect @squidge, that’s great to know it’s about right. I was worrying it was a bit densely packed but maybe I just have to be careful of too heavy descriptions. I shall tweak as suggested.
Squidge replied to the topic Mid grade 1st chapter in the forum Critiques 6 years, 3 months ago

Hi Kate, it’s pitched about right, I think.

I wondered about the amount of description initially – and where it just touches on backstory/info dump when your MC says she’s never been there before. Can you rework something along the lines of ‘In all my sneaking around, I’d never managed to see inside, and I wasn’t disappointed on this, my first…[Read more]
Bella replied to the topic Mid grade 1st chapter in the forum Critiques 6 years, 3 months ago

I have no experience of writing MG, and it is a loooooong time since I was aged between 8 and 12 (that’s the MG target, right?) but I would say you are slap bang on the money. I’d certainly have gone for this at that age. It’s great fun.
Bella replied to the topic Class 3 Writing Exercise “I don’t remember” – Hilary in the forum Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 3 months ago

Oh, this packs a punch. The add-on sentences say so much, and the voice is great.
Kate started the topic Mid grade 1st chapter in the forum Critiques 6 years, 3 months ago

I’ve got a draft of what is meant to be an upper mid grade novel, but I have concerns I’ve written it in a too Young Adult style. I’m specifically looking for feedback from experienced MG writers on whether I need to adjust the language/structure, and how I might go about it.

All other comments also welcome.
Many thanks.

(As usual the…[Read more]
KazG replied to the topic Class 3 Writing Exercise “I don’t remember” – Hilary in the forum Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 3 months ago

Wow, this is so rich @hilary. So much there, so many hints and glimpses and twinges of pain and longing and sadness. There’s a sort of yearning behind of these lines that breaks my heart a bit. Such powerful fragments.
Hilary replied to the topic Class 3: Writing Exercise, Raine. in the forum Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 3 months ago

Amazing piece, Raine. A wonderful example of writing a character through the eyes of another one. Very sad.
Hilary replied to the topic Class 3 writing exercise "I don't remember", Sandra in the forum Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 3 months ago

I wonder if he will end up getting away with the misbehaviour? Interesting piece.
Hilary replied to the topic Class 3: Writing Exercise, Bella in the forum Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 3 months ago

Great contrast between the two letters, Bella. And yes – what is buried within – that’s the most interesting bit. Very clever.
Hilary replied to the topic Class 3 Writing Exercise "I Don't Remember" – KazG in the forum Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 3 months ago

An amazing piece of writing, Kaz. Very powerful. Strong imagery. Brilliant.
Hilary replied to the topic Class 3 Writing Exercise “I don’t remember” – Hilary in the forum Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 3 months ago

Oh, except the Dad drawing. That’s from a character in one of my stories.
Hilary replied to the topic Class 3 Writing Exercise “I don’t remember” – Hilary in the forum Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 3 months ago

I enjoyed doing this. I didn’t really think about the Burroway while I was writing – it was more a free-writing exercise. And it’s not in the voice of any character I’m already writing. Just came out of nowhere.
Hilary started the topic Class 3 Writing Exercise “I don’t remember” – Hilary in the forum Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 3 months ago

I don’t remember when my Dad stopped drawing. Or why.
I don’t remember my Mum ever being soft.
I don’t remember ever laughing while I was eating, or spluttering bits of cake. I saw other people do it though.
I don’t remember the taste of the wine. It didn’t really have a taste. But I remember it was too warm.
I don’t remember how I got the v-s…[Read more]
Hilary replied to the topic Craft Seminar Class 3: Character 2 – Inner Lives in the forum Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 3 months ago

Liking this: All good characters are created round, but some are created rounder than others.
Hilary replied to the topic Class 2 Writing Exercise Jane in the forum Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 3 months ago

Hello @JaneShuff
VERY late to this, but I’m trying to do a bit of a catch up with class 2 before I get on to class 3. I LOVED meeting Dipsy in the initial passage and then reading your questionnaire about her. I agree about not needing to answer al the questions, but they are great prompts.
Anyway, thanks for posting.
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