Confused Writers Camp!

Chatterbox: Inkwell

Confused Writers Camp!

Confused Writers Camp!

I love writing (hence my screen name), but I do not understand all the lingo used by some of the Chatterboxers.  Gasp, I know, but it probably has something to do with the fact that I have never attempted NaNoWriMo because of its age restrictions. What's a Mary Sue? or Gary Stu? What is a pacified protagnist (I saw in it a post by TNO)? What's a letter to your "charrie?" So, for the sake of me and other confused chatters, I have decided to start...

(drumroll)

 

CONFUSED WRITERS CAMP!

This is a thread on Inkwell where people who understand some of this language (TNO, Mary.W, ZNZ, etc.) to educate those of us who don't. If you want to join, please fill out this form.....

For confused writers:

Name:

What you need to learn:

For helpers:

Name:

What you want to teach:

 

That way, we can divide people up into groups, with different threads (Like TAPM!).

BYE!Laughing Keep writing!

 

WritingWarrior, this is what this Admin has picked up from various comments:

 

A Mary Sue (male, Gary Stu) is a character that is perfect in every way, always does the right thing, etc. And I believe "charrie" is short for "character."

Admin

submitted by WritingWarrior, age A good one, Nowheresville N
(December 5, 2010 - 12:01 pm)

A Mary Sue is, as Admin said, a character who is "practically perfect in every way," very prevalent in fanfiction. She is extremely beautiful (possibly with unusual hair/eye colour - and if she has, say, purple hair, rest assured that it is completely natural) and extremely intelligent. She has a cool and unusual name - if she's not named after the author. She's incredibly good at fighting/magic/sports/schoolwork/dancing/singing/art/whatever she puts her hand to, all without any apparent effort. She probably has special powers like talking to animals or flying. Depending on the setting and genre, she may not be all human, she could be, say, half-elf. She has no flaws or weaknesses and can do no wrong. She makes no mistakes. Any mistakes she does make will not adversely affect her plans and nobody will call her out on them. Or if they do, she will instantly feel guilty and she will be instantly forgiven. She will be very popular and all other characters will like her; if they do not, they are simply petty/jealous/mean-spirited/a bully/evil. She is Incredibly Important to the story, and may even be the Chosen One. In fanfiction, she will be far more important and powerful than any canon characters. Also in fanfiction, she is probably related somehow to a canon character and will definitely end up with a canon character, doubtless the one that the author has a crush on, EVEN IF said canon character already has a girlfriend. As you can see, she tends to be wish fulfillment for the author and a pain for the reader. Gary Stu, also known as Marty Stu or Larry Stu, is basically the male version of this, usually with added fighting skills. 

Charrie is short for character and a letter to one is exactly what it says on the tin. MC is the Main Character. FMC is the female main character, while MMC is the male one. 
Well, as I appear knowledgable, I'll sign up to be a helper, sure. 

For helpers:

Name: ZNZ

What you want to teach: Er, vocabulary and abbreviations about writing? I can also help people who have questions about NaNoWriMo. 

submitted by ZNZ, age Lucky 13, Death's Domain
(December 5, 2010 - 6:18 pm)

Thank you, ZNZ! :):)

TOP

submitted by WritngWarrior, age A good one, Nowheresville N
(December 8, 2010 - 4:46 pm)

No problem. ;) I'm compiling a dictionary of oft used CB words/abbreviations/phrases - if you have any other words you need just send them my way. 

submitted by ZNZ, age Lucky 13, Death's Domain
(December 9, 2010 - 1:27 pm)

I have sooooo many Mary Sues its unbelievable. And Gary Stus.

Inya says pybx. PIE BOX!!!! AAAHHHH1!!!PIE!!!! I love pie.

submitted by Mattie
(December 9, 2010 - 5:04 pm)

Top!

submitted by Top!
(December 6, 2010 - 11:28 am)

TOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

submitted by TOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(December 8, 2010 - 4:09 pm)

First of all, only 2 posts are up right now, so sorry if I answer questions that have been answered already or don't answer questions that have been asked.

Name: Ima

What you want to teach: If someone asks a question and I know the answer, I'll explain if no-one gets to it before me.

Also, CJ, NaNoWriMo has a Young Writers' Program (YWP for short). It's like NaNo, but you can choose your word count goal, and you have to be under 18, but you can be under 13 if you want! Screnzy has a YWP, too. There's also AugNoWriMo, which is about the same as NaNo, but it's in August, and there's no age restriction, and you can set any goal you want as long as it's at least 5,000 words. I just thought I should let you know. Anyway, you can always just write a 50,000-word novel in a month without signing up, right?

submitted by Ima, Planet Terra
(December 8, 2010 - 6:19 pm)

@Ima: Well, yeah, but then you don't get a proof copy and stuff.  It's not as fun.

submitted by Charlotte, age 12, Lost in my mind
(December 9, 2010 - 12:43 pm)

You get a proof copy for YWP NaNo, if you win! You don't for AugNo, though, unfortunately, and it probably isn't as fun, but I think it's better than doing nothing at all.

Aetc says Ga(r)ci(a). Who's that?

submitted by Ima
(December 10, 2010 - 6:44 pm)

For confused writers:

Name: Kat

What you need to learn: What's a cannon charachter? What's the difference between Role-Play, Round Robin, and any other -Plays there are? What is a Wri-Mo?

For helpers:

Name: Kat

What you want to teach: "Charrie" is, yes, short for "Charachter."

submitted by see post, age 0123456789, nowhereinpartic
(December 11, 2010 - 12:51 pm)

In fanfic, a canon character is a character that exsists in the original books; Harry Potter, for example, is a canon character. An OC, or Original Character, is one you made up yourself. 

A Role Play is when each person has a character whose point of view they write from. You are only allowed to control your own character - you can include other people's characters in what you write, but you can't kill them, for example, or have them make any really important decisions. In a Round Robin, everyone has equal control, and they are typically writing about the same character. 

"Wrimo" can refer to either of two things. It can be a Writing Month, as in NaNoWriMo or JulNoWriMo. It is also sometimes used to refer to someone who participates in a Writing Month.  

submitted by ZNZ, age Lucky 13, Death's Domain
(December 11, 2010 - 2:59 pm)

I will join as both:

 

Name: Emily L.

What you need to learn: Some lingo used by the more experienced people

For helpers:

Name: Emily L.

What you want to teach: How to sign up for YWP

 

Ywp stands for "Young writers program". It's a little-sister website to the NaNoWriMo main site; there should be a link to it on the home page. Once you are there, you can sign up no matter what grade you are in. You can set your own word-count goal, too, so you don't nessesarily need to make it to 50,000. (50K = 50,000.)

submitted by Emily L., age 15, WA
(December 11, 2010 - 9:09 pm)

For helper

Name: Analesia

Will teach. Waddya wanna know?

submitted by Analesia, age 12, wishes she coul
(December 13, 2010 - 6:36 pm)

I'll help!

 

For helpers:

 

Name: Ema

 

What you want to teach: I'll answer any questions that I know the answer to, and can help with NaNoWriMo-related comments/questions/concerns. :) I know most writing vocabulary, too, if you're confused. :)

submitted by Ema, age 13, NY
(December 23, 2010 - 8:10 pm)

Ema: TNO was talking about a pacified protagnist. I know what a protagnist is- so was he referring to a baby?

submitted by WritingWarrior, age A good one, Nowheresville N
(December 24, 2010 - 8:13 am)