TW Down

Just in case anyone’s still reading this :p TW is down. It appears admin’s server isn’t working, so it’ll probably just be a power meltdown somewhere. In the meantime, we have good ol’ backup TW. For those too desperate to wait.

Backup TW

What A Summer That Was!

Well What A Summer That Was…

I’d like to open the first post of the New TW Blog with some thanks and congratulations.

Thank you to anyone who voted for me during the elections, I probably wouldn’t be writing this blog without you. Thank you to everyone at TW for sticking with us and putting up with what has been a difficult period in the site’s history and finally thank you for reading this blog, if you don’t then it’s a bit pointless me writing one.

Congratulations to all the new mods and I wish them all a long and successful period in their respective posts. In particular I’d like to congratulate Espionette in reaching the “Story Mod” role where I believe her talents will be put to much better use.

And a goodbye to Calamire, Callamire or Andrew (whichever name he prefers nowadays) and the best of luck to him. His contribution to TW and effort will never be denied and I ask everyone to take a moment to remember his vast achievements. Whether liked or not, he was undeniably a huge part of TW and I believe his input to have been invaluable at times. I personally will sorely miss his help and wish him the best of luck wherever he finds himself.

The Old Fart also left and goodbye to him too.

Spotlight: September 9th

Ssh. The spotlight isn’t a day late. Of course not.
Fawkes’ story is an Anthology entry, so read it [and critique it!] while it’s still available online.

Poetry
sulk across the sky (the same flower that smile today)
by Tie Dye Tuxedo

The streetlights keep our faces warm
by blondiE

Prose
That Bears Thee Dead
by Saint Fawkes

Cherry Lane
by MT_Drivel

The Results Of The Novel Challenge

Here are the results of the Novel Challenge!

Reached Goal:
AsSubtleAsASplinter
Empress Artisan
The Old Fart

Congratulations to all three! They get the award in their profile, and a picture for their sigs if they want.

In addition, these others get a mention and an award:

AsSubtleAsASplinter completed his challenge before anyone else by the 8th August.

The Old Fart was the most prolific with 38,889 words.

Olea Laurifolia, while she didn’t actually win, was the closest of those who didn’t reach their goal. At 28,274/40,000 words, she completed 71% of her goal. Considering she started a long time after everyone else, she did extremely well!

Jenn and Tie Dye win the prize for over-stretching themselves. They both only completed 5% of their goal. Still, they did try to take part, so good on them.

In addition to those awards which can only really be given through statistics, there are more which will be voted on by the readers.

Most Committed
Most Believable Characters
Most Consistent Plot
Most Memorable Read
Most Original Plot Or Character
Favourite Character
Favourite Novel
Favourite Setting

The thread for nominations can be found here.

Thanks to everyone for taking part, and I hope to see you all next year.

Spotlight: September 2nd.

Back on track, this week; now that I’m back from vacation and the mad dash to get all summer work done in the last week before school, the spotlights should continue weekly.

A thread of note for poets: “stealing the muse” challenges prompts one and all for prompts and poems from them. Drop by to read the poetry thus far, add to it, or challenge residents.

Also, Hypo’s poetry recordings are not new, but they are noteworthy; most of his work reads like it should be sung or slammed or whispered. So here it is.

Poetry
They Say Hell Came In a Tablet That Day
by apeva

Poetry recordings
by Hypocrit

Prose
Equus Cruorem
by Carraka

The Oil Fields Are Burning
by Kylan

Fantasy Short Story Competition Results

Empress Artisan’s Fantasy Short Story Competition finished a short while ago. We now have the results!

Congratulations to Isis, who won first place.

Kudos also to Callamire, and Charlie, who won second and third respectively.

Thanks to all who entered, I enjoyed reading them all!

Imelda

The TW Podcast!

At last, we’ve completed the first episode of the TW podcast! You can subscribe to it through iTunes here:

Subscribe to Feed

Or, download the first episode directly here:

Download Episode 1

Podcast Notes:

The Team
Presenters: Joe (Ducksworthy), Imelda, Lexie (espionette)
“Big Muddy” Reader: Anonymous (Skippy’s Friend)
“Rounded With A Sleep” Reader: Skye
Interviewer: Andrew (Calamire)
Interviewee: Imelda
Content Finder: Isis
Tech Work: Andrew and Imelda
Special Thanks: Claudette and Hypocrit

Site News
Moderation strike is now over! Nobody got hurt or banned. Or even angry, really.
We’re slowly reaching our goal of world domination. Second to writing, of course.
The TW Blog: http://teenagewritersblog.wordpress.com/
TW @ Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/Teenage_Writers
TW @ Facebook: http://umd.facebook.com/group.php?gid=4129223324
TW @ Bebo: http://www.bebo.com/teenagewriters

Short Story Reading
“Big Muddy” by Adam (ADH093)
Winner of the first TW Short Story Contest.
Contains strong language.

The Weekly Spotlight
Link

Literature of Note
“The TW Enquirer”, by Willis: http://www.teenagewriters.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11771

Poetry Reading
“Rounded With A Sleep” by Ed (Pseudonym)

Contest Updates
Second TW Poetry Contest: Winner is Skye with “Between the Cracks”
Eva’s Fantasy Short Story Contest: Judging to Commence Soon
The Summer Novel Challenge Ends August 31! Reach your goal!
Don’t Forget to Submit to the first TW Anthology by 31st August.

The Interview
This podcast’s victim is Imelda, one of the most senior members of the site, with lots of novel-writing experience. Listen to her words of wisdom and chocolate.

Threads of Note
Willis’s Maps for Stories thread. View the maps, and add your own!
Stirly’s Process of the Cover. See the TW Anthology cover art in progress! Featuring many members!
Shaun (The Old Fart) has created a weekly chatroom meet. Check the calendar.
Word Wars! Meet in the chatroom, leave, write, come back, and see how everyone else did.

TW Novel Challenge 2007!

Just a quick poke to say that there are ten days left of the Novel Challenge! As of now, only Kelsey (SubtleAsASplinter) has reached his goal. Ten days is plenty of time to join him!

Please also note that the deadline has been pushed back to midnight (wherever that might be in your time zone) 1st September to allow a Saturday for that extra push to the end!

Awards:

Most Believable Characters
Most Consistent Plot
Most Memorable Read
Most Prolific
Most Committed

On the 2nd September, Critiquing Season sets in!

Please remember also that the deadline for submissions for the TW Anthology is the 31st August.

Spotlight: August 19

This week’s prose edition features a good story done two ways, and is interesting both as a story and as a study on rewriting.

Poetry
fever frosted
by Skye

Venice Journal entry
by Wanderer

Prose

Two Loonies and a Dime
by Olea Laurifolia

The Mansion’s secret (short story version) — (novel version)
by youngauthor

Spotlight: August 12 2007

The weekly spotlight aims to show some of the better work by members of TW. Anything is eligible, so long as it’s been posted or added to within a week of the coming spotlight. If you’ve read something great and you want to suggest it for a spotlight, please PM Isis with a link; I can’t read everything, though I’d like to, and good work can fall through the cracks. Please help make sure we’re highlighting the best of the site!

An archive of past spotlights can be found here.

August 12th

Poetry
I have faith
by _clementine

Summer Circle
by *Indigo Fox 33*

Prose
Tuba
by Calliope

The Winnower
by Calamire