Kelborn Posted December 11, 2016 Share Posted December 11, 2016 Glad to hear that as someone who's native language isn't english and who tries to keep it rather simple. ^^ Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/15/#findComment-4589974 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jarl Kjaran Coldheart Posted December 11, 2016 Share Posted December 11, 2016 reminds me of what Harrison Ford is claimed to have said while filming the original Star Wars: "George, you can type this kind of , but you cant say it" Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/15/#findComment-4590070 Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaurieJGoulding Posted December 11, 2016 Share Posted December 11, 2016 I *frequently* use that quote when we do the table-reads of audio scripts. It makes the point perfectly. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/15/#findComment-4590083 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kastor Krieg Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 Oh boy, Laurie and Rob in flesh. I love the new GW approach more and more. Cheers! :)Â Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/15/#findComment-4590139 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canadian_F_H Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 Quoting Harrison Ford on starwars makes my day... Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/15/#findComment-4590229 Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeritorA Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 Bluntblade - that's a very subjective thing. Normally, BL likes prose to be quite straightforward, but you have varying degrees across different author "voices". Â For example, Rob Sanders and Graham McNeill, I would say, are at the more descriptive and experimental in their writing, whereas ADB and Gav Thorpe are far more straightforward and conversational. Dan Abnett's writing tends to have a very pleasant middle-class English (almost aristocratic?) note to a lot of his characters and language, whereas Guy Haley has a lot more northern brusqueness to his. There's no right or wrong, and it's all subjective... Â ...but if I have trouble reading someone else's work out loud, that's usually a good sign that it's over-written. It certainly doesn't work for audio. Â === Â As for when the next submissions call will be, I reckon probably once the current batch is finished, maybe early-mid 2017? I don't know for sure. Â DEFINITELY DON'T wait around for it, though. If someone wants to be a writer, they are writing all the time whether or not they have been commissioned. Start working on ideas now. Post your stuff online. Get feedback. Set each other writing challenges. Offer critique beyond "I don't like this". Â And READ. Read as much as you can. Read all BL releases (especially mine, hur hur) and read outside of Warhammer fiction. Read the newspaper, read the BBC news app. Read journalism, read reviews, read fiction, non-fiction, everything. Listen to Radio 4 instead of music. Get a feel for language and speaking styles that aren't your own. Â Don't wait for the bus. Walk to where you want to be, and start now. That was just brilliant - thank you Laurie! Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/15/#findComment-4590410 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DukeLeto69 Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 Peter Fehervari (agreed, great writer) has some amazing, dark ideas. I don't think his prose is particularly complex, though. That's a good thing - it allows the ideas to be more easily communicated. Â If it sounds like someone trying to impress us with their use of language, it's not usually going to be easy to read. Â Can I just co-sign the Peter Fehevari big up! Based on Genestealer Cults, he is EXACTLY the kind of writer BL needs to encourage. Very mature storytelling and without doubt the highlight of 2016 for me. Â Laurie, I know you are leaving (big shame for BL but congrats on your new secret role in the US of A) but please do pass on the praise for Peter Fehevari and encouragement for more work by him getting commissioned. A quick scan of B&C and other forums will show that there are a lot of W40k customers who are older and want more mature work. People like me have not bought a miniature for over 20 years but are still here spending money because we love the IP. GW/BL just needs to make sure they cater for a more mature taste and not think their target market is always teenage boys (and us oldies have more spending power anyway!) Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/15/#findComment-4590555 Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeritorA Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 Â Peter Fehervari (agreed, great writer) has some amazing, dark ideas. I don't think his prose is particularly complex, though. That's a good thing - it allows the ideas to be more easily communicated. Â If it sounds like someone trying to impress us with their use of language, it's not usually going to be easy to read. Â Can I just co-sign the Peter Fehevari big up! Based on Genestealer Cults, he is EXACTLY the kind of writer BL needs to encourage. Very mature storytelling and without doubt the highlight of 2016 for me. Â Laurie, I know you are leaving (big shame for BL but congrats on your new secret role in the US of A) but please do pass on the praise for Peter Fehevari and encouragement for more work by him getting commissioned. A quick scan of B&C and other forums will show that there are a lot of W40k customers who are older and want more mature work. People like me have not bought a miniature for over 20 years but are still here spending money because we love the IP. GW/BL just needs to make sure they cater for a more mature taste and not think their target market is always teenage boys (and us oldies have more spending power anyway!) Â We always need more Peter. He is truly grim dark. Â 'A quick scan of B&C and other forums will show that there are a lot of W40k customers who are older and want more mature work.' - exactly. The only one of that range was 'Deathwatch' from Steve Parker. We need more grimdark like 'Fire Caste', Genestealer Cults and 'Deathwatch'. Seconded that - Laurie give us grimdark please! Â Teenage boys could have their 'Legacy of crappy Russ' Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/15/#findComment-4590617 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mellow Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 I've written my story about an imperial guard chef that's found out he can commune with the Emperor by cooking squigs and breathing the aromas. Â I think it's a winner. When can I submit it? ;) Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/15/#findComment-4590683 Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaurieJGoulding Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 You all need not worry - I am pretty much the president of the Peter Fehervari Fan Club. Â If you liked 'Genestealer Cults', I hope you bought 'Casts a Hungry Shadow' and realised how the two fit together. Also his short story in 'Deathwatch: Overkill' was a real pleasure to edit, along with the links to his previous Space Marine stories... Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/15/#findComment-4590715 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkChaplain Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 I just hope he can really gun for an Angels Resplendent/Penitent story/novella/novel soon. The subject matter is just too tempting and interesting in all the right ways. I also found his ideas for the Brotherhood of a Thousand to be unique so I hope he can expand on them at some point. At the end of the day I am really happy he didn't get swallowed whole by the policy shift a couple years back and is still writing. Â I'm really looking forward to his interview for Combat Phase. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/15/#findComment-4590823 Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeritorA Posted December 13, 2016 Share Posted December 13, 2016 You all need not worry - I am pretty much the president of the Peter Fehervari Fan Club. Â If you liked 'Genestealer Cults', I hope you bought 'Casts a Hungry Shadow' and realised how the two fit together. Also his short story in 'Deathwatch: Overkill' was a real pleasure to edit, along with the links to his previous Space Marine stories... Yes we did everything Peter already - and we need more Laurie! Much Much more! Â I just hope he can really gun for an Angels Resplendent/Penitent story/novella/novel soon. The subject matter is just too tempting and interesting in all the right ways. I also found his ideas for the Brotherhood of a Thousand to be unique so I hope he can expand on them at some point. At the end of the day I am really happy he didn't get swallowed whole by the policy shift a couple years back and is still writing. Â I'm really looking forward to his interview for Combat Phase. Penitent short was one of the best shorts ever - true glory! Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/15/#findComment-4591485 Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluntblade Posted December 14, 2016 Share Posted December 14, 2016 Bluntblade - that's a very subjective thing. Normally, BL likes prose to be quite straightforward, but you have varying degrees across different author "voices". Â For example, Rob Sanders and Graham McNeill, I would say, are at the more descriptive and experimental in their writing, whereas ADB and Gav Thorpe are far more straightforward and conversational. Dan Abnett's writing tends to have a very pleasant middle-class English (almost aristocratic?) note to a lot of his characters and language, whereas Guy Haley has a lot more northern brusqueness to his. There's no right or wrong, and it's all subjective... Â ...but if I have trouble reading someone else's work out loud, that's usually a good sign that it's over-written. It certainly doesn't work for audio. Â === Â As for when the next submissions call will be, I reckon probably once the current batch is finished, maybe early-mid 2017? I don't know for sure. Â DEFINITELY DON'T wait around for it, though. If someone wants to be a writer, they are writing all the time whether or not they have been commissioned. Start working on ideas now. Post your stuff online. Get feedback. Set each other writing challenges. Offer critique beyond "I don't like this". Â And READ. Read as much as you can. Read all BL releases (especially mine, hur hur) and read outside of Warhammer fiction. Read the newspaper, read the BBC news app. Read journalism, read reviews, read fiction, non-fiction, everything. Listen to Radio 4 instead of music. Get a feel for language and speaking styles that aren't your own. Â Don't wait for the bus. Walk to where you want to be, and start now. Thanks, I was worried that you'd be put off by my vagueness. I've been writing a lot for a B&C project and reading shedloads of books in between bouts at work, so at least I'm doing right there. Gotta get critiqued a bit more, I guess. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/15/#findComment-4592462 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkChaplain Posted December 14, 2016 Share Posted December 14, 2016 Getting good critique and feedback is pretty tough I've found.  I organized writing projects for another, unrelated community a bunch (I think about 5 full themed rounds with 5-10 participants who actually handed stuff in by the end each time, depending on how much I kicked their backsides on site and skype), and the point I wished had worked better was the feedback section. You'd figure at least the participants would read the other submissions, eh? Especially when they're presented in neat ebooks that took me long enough to put together and fix formatting on...  But no matter what you try, people are generally lazy and often don't know at all how to properly critique or give feedback beyond "I liked it". Others who take the time to read your stuff often just tell you what they think you'd like to hear (e.g. praise) but don't know how to give more nuanced feedback. Usually that means that they're kinda wasting your time if you want to improve.  I've noticed a few Reddit boards offering opportunities for feedback, and what I saw wasn't bad. They also have a bunch of bouncing off of ideas going on. Whether that'll work well for tie-in fiction like 40k is questionable, but I'm sure there'll be at least *some* people on B&C who'd give it a try. Though neutral parties without potential prejudices or biases are still damn valuable regardless. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/15/#findComment-4592645 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc warhammer Posted December 14, 2016 Share Posted December 14, 2016 Getting good critique and feedback is pretty tough I've found.  I organized writing projects for another, unrelated community a bunch (I think about 5 full themed rounds with 5-10 participants who actually handed stuff in by the end each time, depending on how much I kicked their backsides on site and skype), and the point I wished had worked better was the feedback section. You'd figure at least the participants would read the other submissions, eh? Especially when they're presented in neat ebooks that took me long enough to put together and fix formatting on...  But no matter what you try, people are generally lazy and often don't know at all how to properly critique or give feedback beyond "I liked it". Others who take the time to read your stuff often just tell you what they think you'd like to hear (e.g. praise) but don't know how to give more nuanced feedback. Usually that means that they're kinda wasting your time if you want to improve.  I've noticed a few Reddit boards offering opportunities for feedback, and what I saw wasn't bad. They also have a bunch of bouncing off of ideas going on. Whether that'll work well for tie-in fiction like 40k is questionable, but I'm sure there'll be at least *some* people on B&C who'd give it a try. Though neutral parties without potential prejudices or biases are still damn valuable regardless. i write professionally in the entertainment industry (on other properties as well as my own). i'd be interested in a group like that, or giving "neutral" feedback. i've never played the game so i don't have particular prejudices (that i'm aware of). you could also consider becoming a member of the writer's guild/union in your country. membership costs a fair bit, but the support is valuable if you're serious. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/15/#findComment-4592823 Share on other sites More sharing options...
simison Posted December 14, 2016 Share Posted December 14, 2016 Ditto. Also, Blunt, if you want more feedback on the pieces you write for BotL, just let me know. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/15/#findComment-4592831 Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluntblade Posted December 15, 2016 Share Posted December 15, 2016 That would be appreciated, Sim. Â Just had an idea for a story about two Black Legion warbands wrestling with their differences whilst carrying out the will of their Warmaster. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/15/#findComment-4593603 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonestomper Posted March 5, 2017 Share Posted March 5, 2017 Hey, isn't it about that time of year? For a new submissions window? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/15/#findComment-4673319 Share on other sites More sharing options...
KramFoot Posted March 5, 2017 Share Posted March 5, 2017 I think that BL starts the new submissions once they've sorted through the entries for the previous one. My bet is for the next submission contest to start round summer time. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/15/#findComment-4674000 Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeritorA Posted March 9, 2017 Share Posted March 9, 2017 I think that BL starts the new submissions once they've sorted through the entries for the previous one. My bet is for the next submission contest to start round summer time. May-June it seems. Plus with the Gathering Storm story moving on we probably have a clue as to what they will want for the next 1-3 years for submission. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/320744-write-for-black-library/page/15/#findComment-4678035 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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