Well, we've looked at some new faces, and we've looked at some old places in new ways, but now it's time to find new places to read and write on dA! And, as ^lovetodeviate showed us, Lit is a Grassroots project, so it's rather fitting.

First, I really have to mention ~Lit-Source. While it doesn't (yet) list every literature and writing club active on the site, it does have quite the list and quite the database to keep you informed. If you're looking for a new club or project to join, ~Lit-Source should be your first stop.

Take note: if you are just now starting a new club or project and would like to give it more exposure, be sure to note the ~Lit-Source account to have your club/project added to the listing.

In addition to ~Lit-Source, there is also *litNEWS. *litNEWS is your official source for all AR-related Literature news, including (but not limited to): project updates; AR happenings; contest news; projects, club, and chat features; and polls and questions from your GDs or AR leaders. As with ~Lit-Source, if you have news you'd like to see included in a *litNEWS update, please note the account.


I've checked ~Lit-Source and *litNEWS, and I haven't learned anything new.

My goodness! Way to be involved and informed! Feel free to refer to the small list below or go on your own hunt (it's almost Easter, anyway--should practice those egg-hunting skills, right?) for something new. If you find something great that we haven't listed (and so, probably, do not know about), please let us know! (This goes for those of you running projects/clubs that are no listed. We want to hear more about you!)



Week Three: New Places

If we truly want to be a community of writers, we have to start acting like one. Instead of new projets and clubs popping up every other day (many of which cater to cliques) that sound suspiciously close to projects that already exist, let's start joining together and making those pre-existing clubs and projects a dA force to contend with. Photographers and Digital Artists and Stock folks and Artisan Crafts (etc.) have some powerful, active clubs that manage to stand the test of time. Let's contend. Let's compete. Let's--is there a verb for community? Let's Community!

Your task this week, if you choose to accept it, is to find one new lit-oriented club or project to join (not create) and get involved in on dA. Start at ~Lit-Source and *litNEWS, or refer to the small (and in no way comprehensive list) of clubs and projects below. (If your Lit club/project is not on the list below, and has been active in the last 30 days, please note ^GeneratingHype to have it included.)

In addition, you can submit one of your pieces to a dA-related (loosely or otherwise) Lit magazine. Just note ^GeneratingHype with which magazine and which work you submitted.

Once you've joined or contributed/participated, please note ^GeneratingHype with a link to the club and a brief (1-3 sentence blurb) about why you joined and what you got (or want to get) out of it.



Lit Projects and Clubs that Have Been Active in the Last 30 Days (or so)




Also remember the Lit Workshop!


_{If your Lit club/project has been active in the last 30 days and is not on this list, please note ^GeneratingHype to have it included. I'm just one man, and I promise it wasn't a slight!}



The Forums

Folks, I can't tell you how incredibly pleased I was to see the intelligent, thoughtful, considerate discussions happening in the forums this week. I only hope that this trend continues. And now, for one last hoorah:


New Poetry and Prose Forum Threads

I don't really like fiction. Is this a bad thing? by ~Moonbeams
How have your writing methods changed? by *raspil
How do you deal with a change in thinking? by ~XxWreckoningxX
Do you model? by ~rozie-blue89
Literature Templates by =sd-stock
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (with those two dots) by ~TheCuddlyDevil
Are you ever finished writing? by =GaioumonBatou
Looking for poetry contests to enter on DA by *seriouspolitics
Do you ever feel like you're holding back? by *raspil
Can you write the worst poem ever written? by ~Moonbeams
Abstract - a way to convey feeling or just meaningless use of words? by =leoraigarath
what do you do when the "writer's block" hit you?!? by ~ivankahicban
Non-human Protagonists by *ThornyEnglishRose
Rev those engines, here's a challenge! by `PinkyMcCoversong
to the disillusioned: by ~root-kite
Transformations (Challenge) by =MSJames
Religion and fiction- is it really that controversial? by `Beccalicious
Wish I'd Known That Then! by ^GeneratingHype


New Fantasy Lit Forum Threads

Rogues and Thieves in Fantasy stories by ~Sevvy
Combining Fantasy and Industrial Tech? by *nordshee
If You Could Be a Fantasy Character... by *SilverFrostSenior
Are dreams considered fantasy? Does anyone write them? by =Shinigami-Shimai
How do you create your characters? by *Queen-of-Marigold
What do you do when you have writer's block? by ~bookfairy14



Don't forget our Month-long Contests!



Best Book Review


Projects such as *ClassicCrit and ~PoetryLibrary have long been encouraging dA writers to turn to more "academic" or formal ventures, asking folks to read and review books, analyze poems, and really get down to the nitty-gritty of deep literary discussions. In a similar vein, we'd like to introduce the Book Review Contest. That's right: we're charging you with writing an insightful, entertaining book review.

Deviants may choose any published book (nonfiction, fiction, old, new, poetry collections--you name it) and review it. Sick of hearing that Ulysses is the greatest book of the previous century? Think J. K. Rowling is under-appreciated? Want to tell other people just how awful (or wonderful) that novel from class was? Well, here's your chance!

For those of you who might be having some difficulty getting started, feel free to read a review or two at The New York Times Book Review. Websites such as Booktribes are also a great place to gain some perspective.

Entries will be judged on their craft and style, as well as for the insight they provide. A mastery of persuasive techniques will also be commended. Book Reviews should be no longer than 1,500 words and need not be excessively formal.

Please send a note entitled "REVIEW" to ^GeneratingHype with a link to your entry. Book Reviews should be uploaded to Prose-->Nonfiction-->Reviews. All entries must be received by Sunday, 30 March, 2008. The book review should be a new deviation in your gallery.


Entries So Far:

*lpowell's review of The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
*ThornyEnglishRose's review of Doing It by Melvin Burgess
*SilverFrostSenior's review of The Thousand Orcs by R.A. Salvatore
*FelixT's review of The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón



"How to Read..."


In the interest of promoting better reading, we'd like to see how you can finish that phrase. Consider this a guide, of sorts, for how to approach certain texts. It can be serious or satirical, or even a little silly; it can be broad like How to Read Poetry or specific like How to Read Moby Dick (as long as it doesn't "call out" specific deviants, of course), or it could even make a statement like How to Read About Blood Tears. Regardless, it should be designed as a "How To" that is both entertaining and helpful, whether tongue-in-cheek or sincere.

In 600 words or less, act as a guide for a newcomer to a certain type of literature by addressing the issue of "How to Read...".

Please send a note entitled "HOW TO" to ^GeneratingHype with a link to your entry. All entries must be received by Sunday, 30 March, 2008.


Entries So Far:

How to read The Chronicles of Narnia by *ThornyEnglishRose
How to Read Jane Eyre by ~panahama
How to Read a Romance Novel by *SilverFrostSenior
How to Read Harry Potter by ~bekkia
How to Read Bleak House by *twilight-apple



Show Your Inspiration

People find inspiration in all sorts of places, but it's no secret that many writers are inspired by--other writers! Have you found yourself rushing to get the words out after reading an excellent story or teeming with new ideas after a certain turn of phrase? Do words--others' words--inspire you? If so, this is the contest for you! It's your chance to pay homage, or even rebel, against that author who never (or always) lets you down.

Compose a poem, no longer than 30 lines, that is directly inspired by (or shows inspiration from) a published poet, author, or work of literature. The level of inspiration is up to you. Please mention which work you are working from in your artist's comments in order to be considered for the contest. (If you can provide a link to the original work, that would be helpful, too!)

Please send a note entitled "POETRY" to ^GeneratingHype with a link to your entry. All entries must be received by Sunday, 30 March, 2008.

"Every time I try to get out, they pull me back in!" And because a poetry competition wouldn't be anything without him, please thank `PoeticWar for agreeing to help judge the "Inspiration" contest. Our former poetry GD and resident genius is a busy, busy man--but he just might have a moment or two to spend on you. Be sure to thank him for his efforts!


Entries So Far

Ginsberg by *TheObviousChild
The Unreliable Narrator by =BornBlitzed
Show Your Inspiration by *SilverFrostSenior
This is Just to Eulogize by *batousaijin
Lament for the Eagles by ~pandorapandora
Frozen alone by *Lycoris4
Boules de Cheveux by ~bekkia
the small hands of rain by ~livingtoxic
Insomniac by ~wonderfulrachel



All deviants who suggest a poetry or prose deviation for a DD during the month of March will be entered for a drawing to win devWEAR, prints, and subs.

Who's Suggesting DDs?





For information and updates on these contests, please check this journal. Keep an eye out for "Week Four" activities beginning 23 March!