This week's WEbooker of the Week changes her avatar so frequently, we're often left asking: Who's the real May_Birchcroft?
Here's what we know. May_Birchcroft lives in the UK. She's one of our youngest (13) and most active members (2,289 forum posts and counting). She can write. (She contributed to Jan 20: True Stories, Real People, One Day -- and is working on a Young Adult project titled "Acres of Moon.") And she changes her avatar more than airplanes change time zones!
To learn more about the ever-changing May, I did the logical thing: Asked her a few random and not-so-random questions.
1. How did the whole "Birchcrofting" thing get started?
“Birchcrofting” was something that came up waaay back last year when I first joined. I couldn’t find a picture of myself that I actually liked -- cue lots of avatar changing. Levimont noticed this and well, that was the birth of birchcrofting (or BCing, whatever floats your virtual boat). To "Birchcroft” is to change one’s avatar frequently for no apparent reason and I seem to do it a lot. At least once a day, methinks.
2. What are your tips for being a great WEbook community member?
I think that on the WEbook forums it pays off to be polite to the other members -- hey, it’s no fun once we’ve all pressed the “ignore user” button! I think being a little insane helps, too, and some tongue-in-cheekness never hurts. Oh, and the best way to get feedback is to review someone else’s work first; if you ask for it in the General Chat section, um, nothing happens. Spammers are lightly toasted to perfection, drizzled in Vaseline, and then consumed by the WEbook regulars.
3. Okay, you're 13. How do have time to do so much WEbooking? Are you posting to the General Chat forum during class? (We won't tell anyone.)
Yeah, 13 (but I turn 14 in July, if anyone wants to buy me a present). WEbook in school? I wish! Not only does my school come complete with internet safeguards that block everything from the BBC to the Teletubbies, but trying to use one of the laptops to get access is like gouging your eyes out with nothing but a hairbrush. I think I spend so much time on here because everyone’s awesome and everywhere oozes (fun word, no?) with awesomeness, plus I love the fact that you get free feedback on your work! I think my writing’s really improved since I joined (even if I only post a fraction of what I write), not to mention my expanding circle of “internet buddies."
4. Tell us about your project, "Acres of Moon."
"Acres of Moon" is something of a work in progress. It’s about a family who is “lucky” -- and when global warming gets so bad that Earth needs to be evacuated, they get an acre of moon to start their lives over on. However, they’re living with their extended-family-slash-arch-enemies, so naturally chaos ensues, with a few plot twists along the way. And, there’s much more to a farewell present than meets the eye. I actually have a lot more of the story written than I’ve posted, but I spend far too much time on the forums to post the next chapter. Oops.
5. Got a writing routine?
My writing “routine” consists of me eating sugary food and then typing what resembles someone rolling around on their keyboard in agony (i.e. it makes no sense whatsoever until it’s been edited.) Other than that, I don’t really have a routine, although I do always write in my bedroom, in the evenings whilst listening to Evanescence and eating polo mints.
6. Is middle school (is that what they call it in the UK?) as bad as I remember?
Middle school/Senior school/The Nunnery from Hell sucks quite a bit. I like it, but at the same time it sucks. Makes sense, huh? I go to a grammar school, so that means no boys, twice as much homework, and being forced to take thirteen GCSEs (important tests). That being said, my friends rock and I’d probably get bored if I didn’t go. I always thought schools in America looked much more exciting than English schools -- mainly because the students don’t have to wear uniforms and they all have fun accents. Or at least, that’s what I learned from South Park and The Simpsons.
Do you have a line on the wonderfullest writer on WEbook? The fantastickest feedbacker? Or anyone else who goes above and beyond to make WEbook the best writing, reading, and publishing community on the internet? Drop me an email, or visit my profile and send me a message with the title "WEbooker of the WEek" to nominate your favorite WEbooker and he or she will have a shot at joining the ranks of the immortals -- and getting a free WEbook T-shirt to boot.
Sign-up for WEbook to start reading, writing, feedbacking -- and "birchcrofting" -- today.
- TsungChi
This was a really awesome, funny read! Great information on May_Birchcroft!
Posted by: One_Ebbie | May 24, 2009 at 03:08 PM
She reminds me of myself when I was her age. I first started to write casually when I was 12. By the time I was 13, I got my first PC and began to type words that turn into poems and turn into stories. I would like to write my own stories too but as time goes by, my dream seems to fade away until now.
Posted by: Sarah | May 25, 2009 at 08:34 AM