WEbook Blog: A Writer's Resource

So the WEbooker of the WEek and the Devil Walk into a Bar…

Once again, I have to thank a WEbook intern for bringing this WEek’s WEbooker to my attention. Saraelizabeth gave me the head’s up on a great new WEbook project, So God and the Devil Walk into a Bar. After reading a few installments of this absurd, well-written, and ridiculously entertaining serial fiction, I thought: Bingo! This guy is definitely WEbooker of the WEek material.

I wrote to project leader Danahi to congratulate him on this honor and ask him a few questions about himself. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that the author of this mature, assured collection is only eighteen years old, and a junior at the University of Texas at Austin, majoring in Rhetoric and Writing. Now, that’s impressive! We have a prodigy on our hands, WEbookers.

Says Danahi , “I've lived in Texas most of my life, though I did do a brief appearance in Providence, Rhode Island from eleven to almost-thirteen.  I've been writing off and on since I was about seven, but I didn't really think to myself, ‘Oh, I really want to be a writer’ until I was twelve. (Blogger’s note: Practically an old man!)  I wrote my first ever novel inside of a notebook, and I just haven't been able to stop.”

I asked Danahi the tough, revealing questions that this blog is known for, and here are his answers:

Q: What is your hidden talent?

A: My weirdest hidden talent is probably my ability to tell what the ingredients of desserts are – I’m really good at it! 

Q: What’s the worst lie you’ve ever told?

A: The worst lie I've ever told would have to be this time when I apologized to this girl because of something I said for the sole purpose of appeasing the teacher, not really because I was sorry; I've also told a few people who aren't my friends that they are my friends.

Q: What five words would the person who loves you most in the world use to describe you?

A: Thoughtful, prudent, reliable, witty, and amiable.

Q: How about the person who hates you the most?

A: Arrogant, proud, pompous, selfish, and boring.

Danahi has started three projects on WEbook, and participated in three more. The bulk of his writing is in So God and the Devil Walk into a Bar, which tells the story of Amato. According to the project overview, “Amato is a hardworking guy: he has two jobs to help his mom out with the bills, and he goes to school full time at the community college. While at work, he notices two people obviously talking about him: a man in an Armani suit, and a girl with dirt in her hair.  What Amato will soon realize is that the world acts as a playground for Divine beings – and beings not so divine.  Angels come here to dance and talk; demons do much the same, and soon, the entire host of heaven – and hell – is talking about the human boy whom God did not know about.”

So God and the Devil Walk into a Bar is a rare treat. But don’t take my word for it. Get over there and start reading. I guarantee that you’ll be hooked after the first paragraph.

-- Melissa

Creative Writing Advice #1: The Punchline

Confucius says:  "A single conversation across a table with a wise man is worth a month's study of books."  Well, I'm no wise man, but I have conversed across my fair share of tables (and studied more than my fair share of books). So I feel sort of qualified to offer you my WEbook Writing Secrets: Tips on writing better, stronger, faster, and longer.

Today’s WEbook Writing Secret: The Punchline

In any list, put the most important item last. This is what your reader will notice and remember. This rule works especially well with humor. You can create a list of ordinary things, and surprise the reader with something unexpected, funny, or absurd at the end. Example: “After a good tumble in the sack, Ted likes nothing better than to smoke a cigarette, drink a glass of orange juice, and polish his lightsaber collection.”

Okay, maybe not the funniest sentence in the world, but it’s a heck of a lot funnier than: “After a good tumble in the sack, Ted likes nothing better than to polish his lightsaber collection, smoke a cigarette, and drink a glass of orange juice.

Bonus: This is a great rule for job applications and resumes. When listing all the things that make you excellent, put the absolutely, totally, most excellent thing at the end. “Melissa has published stories in numerous literary magazines and contributed two chapters to WEbook’s first collaborative novel, Pandora, and last summer she saved the world from imminent attack by hostile aliens, using only a spatula and three slices of cheese.”

And every word of it is true!

-- Melissa

Now Live at a WEbook Near You

If you’ve been around WEbook for a while (even a very little while), you’ve probably noticed some big changes on the site today. That’s right, WEbookers – it’s WEbook redesign time! The new look and feel of the site includes a streamlined top navigation, where you’ll find all your handy avenues to people, projects, and profiles. The redesign also includes an improved header to notify you of new messages and new project, friend, and group requests. 

Project leaders will find an exciting new tool in the MY tools box in their projects – Submit for Publication. If you think your project is ready for the big time, starting July 4, you’ll be able to use this option to do…well, just what it says: Submit for publication. WEbookers have a two-week window to get their projects in the mix. Voting will begin July 18, and community votes will determine the next published WEbooks. That’s democracy at work, people.

On top of all this, WEbookers everywhere can now search projects by keyword using advanced search. If you’re a project leader who started a project more than a few weeks ago, you might want to edit your project settings (you can do this using the MY tools menu) and add some keywords, to make sure your fellow WEbookers can find you when they need you.

We think this is all pretty fantastic, but we want to hear from you. Let us know what you think by leaving a comment here, or visiting the WEbook feedback forum. More improvements are coming soon, so keep your eyes open for regular updates. 

Happy writing!

-- Melissa

A Portrait is Worth a Thousand Words

por·trait

1. a likeness of a person, esp. of the face, as a painting, drawing, or photograph: a gallery of family portraits.

2. a verbal picture or description, usually of a person: a biography that provides a fascinating portrait of an 18th-century rogue.

Today’s featured WEbook project, Collecting People, contains portraits of all kinds, both visual and verbal. Collecting People is led by WEbooker of the WEek emeritus anowalk, and it offers an intimate look at the human animal in all its forms. Current submissions include anowalk’s “This Thing She Was That Didn’t Love a Wall,” a heart-rending sketch of unrequited love, and WEbooker MoeBe97’s black and white image of maternity in “up & up.”

Whether you’re a photographer, an artist, a writer, or all three, your work is welcome in Collecting People. This project is open to all WEbookers. According to the project overview, “Successful submissions will create depth and range that speaks to the human condition or to personal or group identity.” Collecting People is accepting submissions on these themes: Face as Portrait, Body as Portrait, Family as Portrait, Thing as Portrait, Memory or Past as Portrait, Place as Portrait, Companion as Portrait, and, of course, the catch-all “Other.” 

If you want to submit a photograph or illustration, be sure to check out the FAQ on how to use images in a WEbook submission. If you don’t feel like creating a portrait of your own, visit Collecting People to rate the existing submissions, and help anowalk identify the cream of the people-collecting crop.

-- Melissa

Quick Tip of the Day: Submit to Active Projects

Lately, lots of WEbookers have been asking me:  Is it better to submit to projects that are already in progress, or should I start my own project? My answer: It depends on what you’re writing, and what your goals are – but if you want more readers sooner, submit to one of WEbook’s many active projects.

Active projects come with a big bonus: A built-in audience. If you’re looking to get feedback and improve your writing, there’s no better way to do it than to get involved with a project where WEbookers are already working hard to create something great. You can read the other submissions, get to know the other writers, and give feedback.  Other project participants are bound to return the favor. Active projects are also more likely to have interested readers who are already engaged with other submissions – and ready and waiting to read yours.

To tell if a project is accepting submissions from WEbookers far and wide, take a look at the “Book Info” box for the project. If it says, “Participants: The WEbook Community” and “Who can write: All Participants,” you’re good to go. For regular tips on my personal favorite active projects, visit the Featured WEbook Projects section of this blog.

Of course, if you’re writing a book all by yourself – say, The Great American Novel, or a how-to guide for left-handed chess players, or a complete history of pre-modern Bavaria – you’ll probably need to start your own project.  Even then, it’s a good idea to get involved with some active projects, either by writing or giving feedback. If people like your writing, they might visit your other projects.  Before you know it, you’ll have more feedback for that Great American Novel than you know what to do with.

-- Melissa

Mr. Man Tip Scores WEbook of the WEek Honors

There’s a new voice over at 101 Things Every Man Should Know How to Do – WEbook’s hilarious “manthology” of dude do’s and don’ts – and that voice belongs to Mr. Man Tip, resident expert in all things guy. (Sort of.)

Mr. Man Tip is the brainchild of WEbooker infynitemonkeys, our newest WEbooker of the WEek. Infynitemonkeys has been knocking around WEbook for a while, writing about how to properly wear a Speedo and how to escape an alien abduction. He also gives fantastic feedback, and he’s an invaluable member of forum discussions to help shape the direction of 101 Things Every Man Should Know How to Do.

Infynitemonkeys hit gold with the invention of Mr. Man Tip, prompting fellow WEbooker SeaUrchin to ask: “Did you ever think this would be your true calling, Mr. Heloise?” Visit 101 Things Every Man Should Know How to Do to read Mr. Man Tip’s tips on drinking milk at bars, convincing your wife to let you keep your old junk, and fixing absolutely anything around the house. When you’re done reading, hop over to the forums to suggest new topics for Mr. Man Tip to cover.

But before you go anywhere, let’s get to know Mr. Man Tip himself, a.k.a. infynitemonkeys, a.k.a. WEbooker of the WEek.

Infynitemonkeys has a B.S. in Ocean Engineering from Florida Tech, and his professional experience falls into the “much-heralded, but less-than-literary field of deep sea diving.”   In his own words, “My interest in writing stems from years of technical writing in this field, and an active imagination on long plane rides.”  Infynitemonkeys  currently lives in Vienna, Austria, where he is busy studying German and “failing at the art of homemaking.”  You can read more in his blog, www.misterhausfrau.com.

In keeping with WEbooker of the WEek tradition, I asked infynitemonkeys a few random questions:

Q:  What was the last truly horrible book you picked up?  Did you finish it? 

Undaunted Courage, by Steven Ambrose.  No, I didn't finish it.  I can't remember why I didn't like it.  I do remember that hitting myself over the head with it didn't help.

Q:  What was the first concert you ever attended? 

Pink Floyd's The Wall, 1990, in Berlin shortly after the wall came down.  Five hundred thousand people.  Haven't seen a better concert since. 

Q:  What is your favorite joke?

A piece of string walks into a bar.  Bartender says, "We don't serve strings in here."  The string goes outside and sits on the curb.  He gets an idea.  He takes his top half and ties it into a knot, then frays the ends.  Inside, the bartender sees him. "Aren't you that string I just got rid of?"  Strings says, "Nope, I'm a frayed knot."

Infynitemonkeys plans to submit his first novel, The Legend of Vinny Whiskers, to the inaugural WEbook voting cycle on July 4^th. The story? In a few words: “ Zoo gone wrong, animals attacked in their own cages, one prairie dog to save them all.” Keep your eyes open.

-- Melissa

Does Hockey Suck? Apparently, Yes.

The oh-so-lovely Melissa is still on vacation, so once again avid WEbook Blog readers will have to settle for a lowly intern...

This morning, I put my marketing responsibilites to the side and jumped into the pool, reading some of the hundreds of projects in progress at WEbook.

One instantly caught my eye.  As a sports fan and true cynic (I'm still dealing day-to-day with the highly evolved mentality of the college man, after all), it is no surprise that my favorite read du jour on WEbook would be one that sheds light on three fascinating topics: the perpetually happy, men, and hockey.

Why Hockey Sucks and Other Random Thoughts is a collection of ramblings (humorous, insightful, and all-too-accurate) by a man who, it is safe to say from his nearly instant replies to my numerous WEbook messages, has too much time on his hands.  Although this may be his employer's loss, it is definitely my gain.

WEbooker Balaspa tells it like it is and, even if you disagree with his views (which you more than likely will, especially when he dares to touch on basketball), Why Hockey Sucks and Other Random Thoughts is an engaging light read that will elicit a laugh or two after a long day at the office (or in the middle, as is my good fortune).

Now, as a self-published author three-times over, Balaspa has high hopes for this project and plans to submit the whole collection to WEbook's inaugural voting cycle on July 4.

Help Balaspa convince the world that hockey sucks by reviewing and rating this entertaining project! Or spam his WEbook inbox with angry messages (which he would probably find very amusing). Either way, enjoy!

--Samantha

WEbooker of the WEek: The Father's Day Edition

Another week, another WEbooker of the WEek. Melissa is on vacation and that means you all get the pleasure of reading the work of WEterns (WEbook Interns) in lieu of her eloquent writing (though we hold our own).  Today’s WEbooker of the WEek post is brought to you by AndiJayne, working hard to tickle your fancy.

Once again, this week’s WEbooker of the WEek wasn’t pulled from the Top Writers or the Top Reviewers page.  I found out about KarlLee and his project "In Between" from Pinhigh, our lovely leader here in the WEbook office. 

Why, you may ask, has he been chosen to be our WEbooker of the WEek?  Spend a little time reading his work, and you’ll find the answer.  His writing is philosophical, honest, open, and follows the randomness of life itself.  I hope you find him as inspirational as I did. This is a truly exceptional project with a unique and touching intent that is both beautiful and painful:  He writes to his son in order to fill the void he will someday leave.

KarlLee’s writing does more than tell a story, it gives you a sense of a life.    In his own words, “This project is not a novel, a mystery or a biography. It is a bit of everything. It is the result of a desire to leave my son with more than memories, to leave him with something tangible beside pain. It is a collection of thoughts, perspectives, advice and hopes which will hopefully act as a guide for my son and all others in similar situations.”

I bet you’re just dying to know more about KarlLee now.  Here’s his nano-bio in his own words:

“I awoke in a hospital.  Breathed, Then began an existence in the suburbs of Alameda, California.  I found myself hitting tennis balls against a wall, but the wall always won.  Sooner, rather than later I found myself graduated from U.C. Berkeley, then it was off to the east coast where I thought I was going to perish from the extreme weather conditions.  Then my classmates told me it was only Autumn in Boston.  I survived only to move south to Maryland, hoping that the change would ensure a warmer clime.  It is here where I feel a great sense of balance, of family, work, personal effort and stillness.  I currently reside in a suburb of Washington, D.C. (Gaithersburg, MD), in a small section known as Kentlands.  I am the associate tennis pro in this development.  I coach my son, Bear, and miraculously, he actually listens to me. I met my wife, Kathy, while working on a construction crew in Great Falls, VA.  I was a miserable worker, as everything I touched fell apart.  She married me regardless.  Oh, yeah.  I am also a dentist.  Currently, I try very hard not to let things fall apart.”

After browsing both his profile and his posts, I couldn’t resist trying to learn more about him.  Who is this wonderful writer who, like me, loves Iron Man and Indiana Jones?

Q)  I see that if you had the choice to be a character for a day, you would be either Ironman or Indiana Jones.  First: Did you see the recently released movies devoted to these characters?  Second:  If you did, what would you have done differently in the stories?

A)  I was truly inspired by both movies, as the heroic figure in each movie is a flawed character who endeavors in spite of himself and strives to achieve his goal despite the daunting opposition.  The drive to "do the right thing" is a powerful tool.  I would like to imagine that we all have a bit of hero in all of us, despite being a slave to social conformity and proper manners.  Sometimes a subtle action, done without thought of compensation is a heroic deed.  It may be as simple as saying, “I am sorry".  I tend to take the movies on their own merit, seeing them as works of art. I enjoyed both Iron Man and Indy, as I grew up with Iron Man in the comics, and I must have seen Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom at least 20 times.  I love them for being larger than life, for transporting me into their dimensions and allowing me to glide with them for a brief time.  So much fun.

Q)  Pick a country and then use only four words to give it life.

A)  Mexico.

Orphan.  Ignorance.  Cajones.   Home.

Q)  How did you meet the most important person in your life?

A)  The vapor of sweat enclouded my body in the core of an August summer in DC.  I was digging an irrigation ditch with a post hole digger in Great Falls, VA.  The heat was brutally mean and uncompromising, like a tick that refuses to part with the juices of your body.  I looked up, and met my future wife.

Q)  When you sit alone thinking and a random, happy thought comes into your mind, What is that thought?

A)  Bear Hunter Lee

I say keep an eye on this one, I can’t wait to read more.

-AndiJayne

Today on WEbook: Genres, Keywords, Publication, and More!

Once again, the WEbook developers have made some changes and improvements to the site – a lot of them based on real, live feedback from real, live WEbookers.  Some of the changes are cosmetic, like the new purple “Read it” button and the spiffy orange stars for ratings (they’re actually old-fashioned typewriter-font asterisks!).  Other highlights include:

New landing pages for genres! To see an example, check out the Travel page. You’ll find a host of projects offering opportunities for aspiring travel writers. To see more genres, go to Active Projects and use the genre pulldown menu.

Speaking of genres, we have a few new ones – you can now find short stories, novels, and poetry collections using the genre menu. (Note for poets: If you started your poetry collection more than a few weeks ago, check to make sure it’s labeled correctly. Go to your project and click on “Edit Project Settings” in the “My Tools” menu. If the poetry button isn’t clicked, click it! It’s that easy. Your project will now show up on the poetry genre page, and when a user does an advanced search for poetry.)

Project leaders can also choose not just one, but two genres for their project to be associated with! If you already have a project underway, use “Edit Project Settings” to add a second genre.

Project leaders can now label their projects with keywords. This is the only the first step in our quest to make it easier for writers, readers, and reviewers to find the projects they’re interested in. Keep your eyes open for many more improvements in tagging and searchability in the coming months!

Finally, if you’re the leader of a project, you may notice that “My Tools” has a new menu option – Submit for Publication! Starting July 4, you’ll be able to use this menu option to enter your completed WEbook project for community voting. WEbook will select its next published books from the projects voted in the top 10%.

To prepare your project for competition, you can now remove submissions. If a submission doesn’t cut the mustard, you can remove it from your project by clicking on “Manage Submissions” in the “My Tools” menu. You’ll be going into the WEbook vote with only the strongest project submissions.

WEbook is working tirelessly to improve the writing, reading, and reviewing experience for its users. We can’t do it without you, the dedicated WEbooker. Post your suggestions on the WEbook Feedback forum, and help us help you. (For bugs and other technical difficulties, give a holler to the Report Bugs forum.)

-- Melissa

Toxic Poop is Good Readin’

Maybe I’m squeamish, but the title Toxic Poop: Stories from the Other Side of the Bedpan doesn’t immediately make me think, “That sounds like some good readin’! Sign me up!” So I have to thank WEbook intern AndiJayne for bringing this one to my attention. AndiJayne is charged with reaching out to new project leaders and offering them the help and guidance they need to get their projects off the ground. When she came across Toxic Poop, she started ringing the big red bell we keep in the WEbook offices for use in the event of a tornado, flash flood, or fantastic new project. 

“Toxic Poop?” I exclaimed. “Seriously?” But WEbook gets its interns from the very best colleges in the country, so I decided to give AndiJayne the benefit of the doubt. I took a look at Toxic Poop: Stories from the Other Side of the Bedpan, and a few sentences in, I was converted.

Toxic Poop tells the true story of WEbooker KarenGibson’s life as a nurse. According to KarenGibson, the book is aimed at “nursing students making their way through nursing school, nurses currently sitting in the trenches, and patients who may have often wondered what a nurse actually does.” The writing is crisp and compelling, liberally peppered with lively phrases and entertaining anecdotes. I haven’t yet gotten to “Chapter 5: Getting to Know Bodily Fluids Up Close and Personal” – maybe some brave WEbooker will go where angels fear to tread, and bring back word to the rest of us.

Toxic Poop is currently accepting reviews and ratings, and I’m very excited to report that KarenGibson is planning on submitting the finished product to WEbook’s inaugural voting cycle on July 4! If the project gets enough votes from fellow WEbookers, KarenGibson could be WEbook’s next published author. KarenGibson is still looking for feedback to help her polish her manuscript. Visit Toxic Poop today – your comments could contribute to the success of this project.

I’d also love to hear from other WEbookers who are planning on submitting a project to the July 4 voting cycle. Leave a comment in this blog, or drop me a note from my profile.

-- Melissa

P.S. If reading about poop isn’t enough for you, you can contribute your own poop-related story to Poop Confessions, where WEbookers are sharing their “hilarious, entertaining, or embarrassing bathroom stories.” Meanwhile, I hope to win a prize for most liberal use of the word “poop” in a company blog.