Join The Resistance- the lonelygirl15 Universe

I have to admit I was blown away by Lonelygirl.15, which puts an unique twist on storytelling. The site combines, acting, writing, and film to create live action stories. The creators put a real effort in trying to mold stories that have concrete plots and fully developed characters. For example in the story I viewed called "The Resistance" the story is about these possible alien or government cult whose leader a guy named Jonas, who finds girls, whose blood is the key to helping save lives, and makes them his disciples.The main goal is for "the Resistance" to protect the girls from those who want to harm them. Like books the stories are part of a series, that are labeled by chapters.

Last week in our Writing For New Media Class, we discussed the elements that make up traditional storytelling: Narrator,characters,settings,message,diction. lonelygirl15 uses these elements in creating their stories. I compared "Resistance" with other digital stories we have viewed.

Voice:

In books there is usually a narrator, whose voice is consistent throughout the story. Stories can be written in 1st "I" or third person "They, she, he." In Resistance it incorporates different points of views from characters, that are used by authors as devices to keep the story moving, and to give back story; which sheds a light on the past leading up to the present situation (plot).


But the tricky part about so many Pov's is that you have to keep the essence of the characters intact. The story has to flow, so as not to confuse the readers. In my own Fiction Writing experience, not all stories have to start at the beginning, it could be the end/middle/beginning or middle/beginning/end, however the story is told there has to be a pattern, a anchor to keep the story grounded and audience focused.

For example in the story we looked at in class called "An Untimely Raven," which has vignettes written by different members. though each part of the story goes back and forth in time, they are linked through the voice of the main character Raven. For Resistance it does the same thing, each different setting is connected to the lives of the characters.






Characters:

In novels and book series characters have their own personalities and history. In Resistance Ch.1 there is Jonas, mysterious girl, the Resistance themselves and Jonas's disciple.The disciple stood out to me because of her quirky, valley girl persona and bubbly dialogue that's entertaining, giving some comic relief to the nerve wrecking story. The girl in the hospital, seems childlike, naive, she tells the audience her life, by making it seem like a fairytale.

In lonelygirl15 the voice/personality of each character is continuously presented in the story. As a viewer I can tell that the creators sat together, talked and collaborated on their own visions for the story. This shows the downside of traditional storytelling, where the authors doesn't have comments from readers that can spark new ideas for the story, like in digital storytelling.


In the wiki novel "A Million Penguins" there were so many members writing stories for the the main characters, that the characters personalities were lost. Due to lack of communication between the members,the characters only reflect the personalities of the writers, and not those presented in the first story.






Imagery:

In traditional writing the author has to paint the settings and physically descriptions of characters with words; which is not easy. It takes patience and scraping your brain to find the right words that woven together create an image. For Resistance this is not a problem. Like in the film genre colors or lack of colors are used to set up each scene of the chapter. For example whenever the audience sees the girl at the hospital, everything is in black and white, showing the sterile, unhappy environment she lives in. Bright colors are featured in scenes with Jonas and his disciple.



I believe lonleygirl 15 is worthy of being considered a true story. It carries the elements of traditional storytelling, but also stands out by getting the audience to participate in the story. The characters talk directly to the viewers, making it seem that they are part of the experience. By watching chapters of lonelygirl 15 makes me think about my own style of storytelling, it would be interesting to seem story come to life and reach a boarder audience.










Check out: http://www.lg15.com/lonelygirl15/?p=695

I Don't Cry, I Create- Digitcal Storytelling

"I don't cry, I create," is a quote from the digital story Don't You Dare created by Vanessa Wolfe.It's a beautiful story about a girl struggling with death, art, and identity. I found it on the website called "Stories For Change," where members can submit there video stories, and some even allow viewers to download them.


Narrator's Voice:

Vanessa's voice breaths life into her story; giving the tone to the piece: sad, yet hopeful. Oral telling may be an old story technique, but its still effective.In books the narrator has to build a relationship with the audience, by expressing emotions and thoughts through words. By hearing Vanessa's voice, me, the viewer am able to actually experience what she feels, and get inside her head, to understand the events that shaped the person she is today.

In my previous blog I mentioned how a character should have their own history, dialogue, and personality.In lonelygirl 15 the viewers get many characters point's of views; which helped in figuring out their personas. In "Don't You Dare," through Vanessa's voice the audience can sense what type of person she is: insightful, dreamy "I lost myself in the sunshine and soap bubbles, and lost sight of the world of my own happiness."

Through the writing device called Model telling (a story within a story) the audience gets to learn about other characters: Vanessa's grandmother and her father who are the inspirations behind this piece. They are mentioned in important events, that have changed Vanessa's life.



Imagery:

The photos of Vanessa's dad, objects of her childhood, makes her world come alive before the viewer's eyes. The images also offer transitions for each part of the story: the tear drop clinging to the edge of the eye lash starts the beginning of Vanessa's story, the glittering soap bubbles is the middle, and the painting of two people holding each other marks the end.

In lonelygirl 15's Resistance, the images in the story connects with its atmosphere. For example in chapter 1 of Resistance the black and white pictures of regular people walking down the street, shows how the "resistance" sees mankind as just objects to be controlled, but reflect the eerie nature of the setting: a city with hidden danger. In "Don't You Dare," photos show the colorful yet non- nurturing world Vanessa had lived in as a child.





Sounds:


In Vanessa's story she has music playing in the background while she speaks. The gentle playing of the guitar, emphasises the emotions, thoughts, and images, like an elaborate cover of a book. Combining the two senses sight and hearing creates a window for different interpretations for the story and its message.

Its amazing how sounds can add such depth to stories. In traditional storytelling the audience has to imagine the voices of the characters and the sounds that surround them. But in digital storytelling everything seems heightened: in lonelygirl 15 there is the pounding sound of drums and static from a T.V. For "Don't You Dare," there's guitar strings, and the faint echoing sound of flutes.


Digital Storytelling gives writers the freedom to present their stories in any format. To "go outside the lines," instead of sticking in the concrete boundaries of books, where you have no decisions of what images are used on your book cover; at the mercy of illustrators who might disregard the physical appearances of your characters, described in the book.

The story "Don't You Dare," gives me new ideas about how I interpret my own stories from paper to video. Questions pop in my head would I have to leave details out, to fit a time limit? Could I tell my story with just words and images on the screen, without my voice?




Check out: http://storiesforchange.net/stories

Under Contruction: The Storyteller's Audience

Hi Writing For New Media Class! Whenever I write short stories or poems I always imagine who I'm telling them to. I'm not just "aiming my writing into the ether," as Jeff says in class. The reason why writers create stories is to get a chance for them to be read. This means that an artist has to "build" a story carefully in order to put it on the Internet world, and deemed as worthy to read. Your basically advertising to the public, but who are you creating art for? There are millions of people on the Internet, how can you make some of them stop and view your work?

My main passion in my writing is magical realism. I take it upon myself to continue this theme, making sure I stay in the realm of magical realism, and not stray from the subject.My work is geared towards others who have an interest in this genre. Writers have to be reliable, since they are forming relationships with their readers through words. In blogs posting work that doesn't fit with your blog's topic, can lead to your audiences thinking you are unreliable,they will no longer read it, thus lowering the popularity of your blog. In Digital Storytelling the same thing goes for posting your stories, stick to the originally blue print (theme), and the product (story) will sell. People will continue reading.

For example, I looked at the web site Lustbites, which clearly says in blood red letter:Talking sexy and smart with erotica writers from Black Lace and Cheek.
Adults only, please: we don't hold back. All commenter's welcome.




The participants post text that follows the beginning of a story, until it reaches its completion. The site is for those who are drawn to the Romance genre, having chat rooms, recommended books, and blog post on the subject. There are even financial contributors to Lustbites. I believe that the site does well because not only does the audience have a chance to be apart of this realm, but the writing itself reflects the ingredients that make up romance:Lust, passion, sex, love. The writing is strong, due to the site creating a quirky atmosphere for the audience to feel free to express themselves.

In Jonathan Harris website We Feel Fine, he collects pictures and one sentence from bloggers; expressing each emotion with bright colors. Then the whole web page becomes a collage of stories. Harris is trying to reach a boarder audience by focusing on people of different cultures, but share similar experiences and emotions.





I believe artists professional or amateur should consider in digital story telling is, putting themselves in their audience's shoes; Look at your work as if seeing it for the first time, what do you except from it, is it clear and understandable, does the writing or images intrigue you?

By molding your work to your standard of perfection, and taking the audiences needs into account, can allow any artist to have an amazing piece of art.






Links to check out:http://lustbites.blogspot.com/2008/05/group-sex-pirates.html and www.wefeelfine.org/

Building Bridges: 2.0 Storytelling

"We don't have to detach ourselves from each other. Knowing the cultural awareness is essential for creating a healthy community ~ Luciana Padilla

Stories create bridges for people's different points of view that cause a evolution of new ideas. The web is a window into the lives of others; and through digital storytelling the separate paths are now made one. In the past stories were told orally around campfires, caves,or taverns, until these tales were put onto paper. Now we can access any form of writing on the Internet with a click of a mouse.

I admit as a Fiction Writer I was not excited about amateur writers creating stories on the web; believing that they were destroying the craft of writing. But recently I have viewed many types of storytelling on the web that have allowed me to be open to the idea of sharing stories online.

Canvas of Creativity:

The quote above comes from Luciana Padilla who created a video titled "My Shoes" on the site Center For Digital Story Telling. Luciana told her story about being a Peru refugee, crossing the border to America, escaping civil war in her home country. She talks about being a lesbian and immigrant suffering from the inequalities she faces everyday from a society that advertises "freedom." Luciana voice brings her story to life, which expresses her pain; the photos of her past, give the video depth and credibility. As a viewer I feel as if I actually know Luciana, since I know the feeling of being discriminated. http://www.storycenter.org/stories/

Collaborating the old craft of oral storytelling with modern day digital video tools, creates an inspiring piece of art. "My Shoes" is an example of how digital storytelling can connect people through experience or common interests.

Sacred Space:

Some Digital Storytelling Websites offer Privacy, but also want members to accept discussions and comments about their stories. Writers who need feedback on their work, want others to respond, to see if they are intriguing the readers. The downside of digital storytelling is that some sites only allow you a set number,a limit of how many characters you can use. For example on twitter, the Alice In Wonderland in Tweets page (Alice in Wonderland ), you can only add one line, then someone else continues.





I remember having to do a similar thing in my middle school Creative Writing Class. One kid started off the story, and everyone else had to give one line until the last kid reached the ending of their own design. Of course this lead to a messed up story that had loop holes, shady-non-descriptive characters, and a middle that didn't fit the conclusion. Writers love the freedom of releasing a river of text, full of imagery, and vivid diction. Except, the American Society today, doesn't want a bunch of text, we simply DON'T HAVE TIME to read it all. Everything has to be quick and to the point.

This need for "Speed" has called some online stories to lack texture, details that fill the gaps and old a completed story that readers can understand. The voice of the writer is very important, though the characters have their own points of views, the writer adds his own personality through the way the words flow on the page. This gives the text substance. The personality of the story teller can't be expressed in tweets, jumbled with other user's voices.


Balance:


You can't go forward into the future, unless you look back at the past. The same philosophy goes for writing. Through digital story telling is wide spread yet, its popularity is rising. More amateurs are interested in posting stories; but some seem to push aside crucial writing techniques. There has to be a balance between old and new forms of storytelling.

An example of this balance is the storytelling site: A Timely Raven created by Amber Simmons. The site has vignettes (short chapters), 4 parts that are supposed to spin off from one another; Amber started the story, then other uses are supposed to continue it. I noticed that there were transitions between each part of the Raven's Story, which flowed easily with together. The setting and characters' descriptions were vivid; the vignettes were full of imagery. Though the users have their own personality's and styles, the story line continued, there were no loose ends. As the reader, I could see that the users took pride in their work, and worked hard at keeping the story's theme intact. http://www.technicalpoet.com/raven/



I wish that beginning writers on these storytelling sites respect the craft of writing. By typing the first line of a story, you have to be dedicated to the piece, and see it through. By amateurs looking at stories from different authors can help them critique their own work.Then they can have a polished work of art to share.

The Soap Box Man: Let's Complain Review

For my second peer review I'm still going to use my Top Five Blog Tips as a guide. My first impression of Alex's blog "Let's Complain," was that I felt a kinship with the blog. Being a opinionated Taurus I love to complain, and always back them up with facts. The same goes for this blog, which is not just rants, but posts that express thoughts and emotions from Alex, which give it depth, but also shines a light on different forms of media. Alex's film background really gives the blog creditability; since his writing comes from experience. Let's Complain is geared towards anyone who stands on their "soapbox" and dish out what they consider to be their own truth.

Tip 5: A blog post needs an interesting title.

Alex has interesting titles, laced with humor. For example: silent Hill 2 Audiences 0,I guess the Predator Director Reads My Blog, and They Lost Me Somewhere. These titles lures me the reader into the web of complaints; they are blunt and to the point. Alex doesn't sugar code anything.

Tip 4: You need to have creative header and blog description. What's the theme of your blog? This is the question you need to answer.

"Let's Complain" says its all, its a blog about complaining. But that's the beauty of the header, everyone have something that bothers them, and by seeing this blog shows them they are not the alone. The Blog's description is icing on the cake: In Which I Have Nothing Positive To Say. The reader knows that this is a blog that focuses on the negative, and anything positive goes against the foundation of the blog.




Tip 3: Your Template design should express your personality.

Alex chose a black template for his blog. Its emphasises the images he uses, making them pop. The color black gives an air of mystery and rebellion, which is the foundation of "Let's Complain". Most people like to engage in the dangerous or unknown; bloggers would stop, see the black template, and be drawn to its eeriness.

Tip 2: The information you present in a post should be related to the images you use and the theme of your overall blog.

Alex's post and images go hand and hand. The images reflect the subject of the text, and the theme of the blog. For example in his post:I know I Shouldn't Care About Remakes This Much, Alex complains about the remaking of the Karate Kid Movie. Not only does he give links to info about the actors; but shows a trailer of the older film. He takes into consideration that some people aren't familiar with the movie or the actors.
A few of the blog post though were on made of links to articles not text, such as: I Can't Do This Anymore, which lead me to an article about Yogi bear becoming a movie. I would have liked for Alex to elaborate on why he was upset on the issue.





Tip 1: Don't be Afraid to add Images or Videos.

There is a balance between videos, images, and text. Alex uses the videos to his advantage, that emphasis the zinger points he makes. Most of his recent blogs are about films, so adding the video gives me the reader insight of the film genre and its expectations for directors.

Advice:Maybe Alex can have posts that leave it open for readers to respond and see if they share the same opinions + complaints as himself.

Reviewing "Let's Review" makes me take a close look at my own blog. Since its about self-expression through art, I could show not just the positive but the negative aspects of the art World. Also I could elaborate more on the different genre's of writing, and combine it with my own experience in Fiction Writing.

Love is a Gamble: Fingers(+)Crossed Review

I decided for my peer reviews to use my Top 5 Blog Tips to help me. The numero uno blog I checked out was Kristy's personal blog:Finger(+)Crossed. My first impression of Fingers(+)Crossed was Kristy's voice; her words flowed on the screen, full of depth about her experience with love and the men in her life. The blog is about the struggles and happiness of relationships, from the point of view a young college girl. Fingers(+) would draw in teens and young adults, who are dealing with the issues of first love or who want insight on how to deal with their current relationships.

Tip 5: A blog post needs an interesting title.

Kristy has creative titles for her blogs. They reflect the down-to-earth tone of the text. For example one of her blog post is titled: Chicken Noodle Soup for My Confidence. Kristy learns to cook from her friends grandmothers, and is "Forced" to cook for her musician boyfriend, who is broke. But eventually learns to love the art of cooking, that expresses her love for him.




Tip 4: You need to have creative header and blog description. What's the theme of your blog? This is the question you need to answer.

Fingers(+)Crossed is the prefect header for this blog, relationships can be complicated, having their ups and downs. So when you find the right person and the relationship is running smoothly, you'll do anything to keep things as they are, like crossing your fingers for good luck. The Blogs description is simple,just one sentence, yet its intriguing:One Girl's Struggle to Live in Love. The Blog's description made me want to dive in and read the posts.


Tip 3: Your Template design should express your personality.

White is such a tricky color to use, it could either be considered boring or seen as creative like a canvas before an artist's gives it life. But if I was a blogger just scanning through thousands of blogs, I would have passed Kristy's by, at first sight it seems impersonal, sterile. Since the blog is about Love, I had expect it to have colors; not just lovely dovey red and pink but maybe colors, that represent the different ranges of emotions experienced in her relationships.


Tip 2: The information you present in a post should be related to the images you use and the theme of your overall blog.



Kristy only used only a few images in her post, but they make her text come alive. In one of the post: #5 Cohabitation there is a picture of Kristy and her boyfriend smiling, which highlights the honest conversation she has with her readers. If feels as if she is hanging out with her readers and chatting like they're friends. This allows her audience to feel apart of her experiences in the post.

"I mean who doesn't secretly want to be the vomit-inducing cutesy couple weighing their half-pint ice cream options in the late-night lonely hearts club that is the grocery store after the super moms have put their kids to bed."



Tip 1: Don't be Afraid to add Images or Videos.


Kristy should use more pictures related to her posts, that can make her blog stand out. I saw that there were only three post, but if she continues Fingers(+)Crossed their are many avenues she could take. For instance maybe she could post love quotes, or songs that connect with her experiences. Kristy could also give advice for her readers, or leave opening at the end of the post that allows readers to respond, and post their opinions.

Reviewing Fingers(+)Crossed blog, make me want to used more of my own life experiences that ties into my post. The key to a personal blog is to make it "personal", I don't think I have done so for my own blog. I should make myself vulnerable, and let my readers into my psyche, so they can connect and feel comfortable enough to respond to my posts.

When the Bees Attack: Yahoo Local Users

I believe that reviews are like the blogs we create for class. Though we post our opinions about a particular subject, the information we present has to be backed up. On Yahoo Local the reviews are short and to the point, yet they need to have vivid details, so the readers can feel as if they are experiencing what the user faced, when entering the Establishment. What makes a excellent review is to not only state the negative, put positive points as well,and explaining what needs to be improved. This not only leaves it up for the reader to decide whether or not to check the business out, but gives insight to the owner who wants to polish his/her business.

The names and Avatars of the members seem to be windows into their personalities. The flashiest flower gets the most bees. Here are a few users that stood out to me on Yahoo Local.



TateziF review is crowned credible; she describes her emotions of sadness she experienced when she brought her dying pigeon, than the burst of relief and gratitude when the the owner of Belmont & Seeds, helped restore the bird to health. TateziF's review is full of depth; by sharing her story, she tells the readers why she recommends the shop.



Checker Pleaser states that he didn't like the Old Fashioned Donuts Shop. But instead of giving the readers reasons why the donuts suck, he talks about the neighborhood instead, insinuating that only blacks could fit in with the violent atmosphere. As I read his others reviews, all he had was negative things to say about every restaurant he has ever been to. This makes me the reader think that nothing can satisfy this Check Pleaser, since not all restaurants are crummy, so maybe he is the problem. His name is a give away, showing how difficult he is because he always asks for his check right away.





By just looking at at her avatar, I can tell that Mojopo has a funny side, and is real laid back. The avatar is dressed in a robe, holding a coffee mug, and her PJ's with tissue falling from the pockets. I love Mojopo's review, she paints a picture of the restaurant, by describing the scenery, each special dishes she was served, and stating the prices of the meals.

After viewing the Yahoo Local it seems that some people are attacking the businesses, without giving full critiques and expanding or backing up their opinions. I think that Yahoo Local should have give advice or methods for writing a review. I have noticed that the users are not getting many visitors or comments. I believe this due to the fact that the reviews lack enough information and creativity.

Though I don't recommend Yahoo Local, I believe it has potential. There is room for improvment as long as it stays on the straight path, and monitor the quality of writing that is posted on its site.

Check out this website:
www.ehow.com- How to Write a Restuarant Review

The Hive: Yahoo Local

Its seems like the American Society is a large bee hive; everyone is flying at warp speed, consumed in the rituals of their lives: Collecting nectar from flowers (jobs,careers)and taking care of the larvae (kids,school drama). When you actually have time to rest your wings, you want to do something relaxing, or go somewhere exciting. This is when Yahoo Local comes in, luring us busy bees with the fragrant scents of knowledge and Communication.

My first impression of Yahoo Local was that it was a clean cut review site, where members are free to voice their own opinions about a business. They have different categories for reviews, the most popular seem to be Beauty Salon, Health Care and Restaurants. Every reviewer uses the star method to critique a business, ranking from 1-5 stars, 5 being awesome and 1 being just plain terrible.

The Perks

Members have their own profiles, and are able to collect reviews from other users. Yahoo Local also lets member get updates of new events on twitter. But what makes Yahoo Local interesting is that Visitors to the site like myself who are searching for guidance in deciding where to go for entertainment, can rank the members articles; deciding if it was helpful or not. Visitors can give a thumbs up or thumbs down. So not only do businesses get judged but the users as well, on their credibility. Plus Yahoo Local offers a "Weekend Guide" to help visitors plan their weekends, by listing interesting events for Fri-Sun.


Spoiled Honey

As I was flying deeper into the site, my antennas stood up, something did not seem right. Yahoo Local offers people to sign up an have their business listed to be reviewed.

See your business in big bright lights on the Web.
Everything offered with an Enhanced Listing, plus:
• Guaranteed placement on the 1st or 2nd search results page2
• Premium placement at the top or bottom of the page
• Broader exposure because your listing is shown across larger geography

But since so many people would be competing to have their business shown first, not everyone will be featured. This goes against Yahoo's promise, which means that extra money must be used on the side to put the business in "the Spot light" Also I came across a review that really wasn't a review at all but an advertisement.




The user called," DJ C Hustler' works for Tattoo Warehouse aka Reaper Tattoo, which he has raved about the excellent prices and practically admits he's promoting the store. If Yahoo Local is allowing this to go on, can it really be labeled a trustworthy site? By completely pushing reviews aside, your telling the public you don't care about their views only the money, and not improving your business.

Since Yahoo Local has flaws, its hard to determine who is really a amateur reviewer or just an employee or owner trying to boost business. Negativity seems to sale, one bad comment can destroy a business. In a swarm of negative reviews the positive ones become lost.

The soul purpose of the site should be about the users taking a break from the hive, and try to help others not waste their time or money on places that aren't up to a high standard.

The Elftown Citizens

I have decided that after taking a tour through elftown, to register in being an "Elfwooder," which is what the citizens call themselves. I would like to have my own house with all the perks. But being a member is not that easy, every application is considered thoroughly, which is why I'm still waiting for a reply. Though it seems like a lovely town, I feel it to be strict, when trying to find your own identity; they seem to give you particular options that you can't stray away from.

When I registered under the name crowwoman, they had a list of jobs and personas:

Jobs:

*Building Worker
*Inspector
*Fast Food Worker

Personas:

*Interpreter
*Travelling Bard
*Town Drunk
*Beggar
*street child
*Adventurer

Not only do they have jobs and personas, the races of creatures to choose from is limited:Duck, Orc, Elf, Halfling, Human, Dwarf

I really didn't want to be any of these, but settled for the interpreter since I wanted to be a human who could understand the language of the crows. I don't feel as if I have the freedom to be what I truly want to be on this site. I would have liked to be a wood nymph or a pixie. But the other Elfwooders seem to be content with these options.

Every Elwooder's house represents their how they see themselves and the world around them. They rely heavily on pictures posted on their profiles to draw people into the house, to possibly make a connection. The Colorful the House, the popular for Elfwooders soars. Houses are the first impression, to other members who scan from a long list of fellow Elfwooders. Having an interesting user name causes viewers to be intigued and want to find out more about you. The members who stood out to me were Sirwanka and Blackbirdkate.

SirWanka: Orc from the Netherlands. An orc is a large warrior like creature, who rides on animals such as wolves or boars. Sirwanka's house is filled with photos of nature, his drawings show creatures holding pieces of soil and plants. By just looking at the images of his house, I could sense that he was in tuned with the earth, and respects her. An interesting fact that causes me the viewer to linger, is that he owns 4 boa constrictors and a Dutch Shepherd dog. Sirwanka's house would lure other Bohemian, Green peace members who values nature as mush as he does.

What makes him stand out are the badges he owes, which showcase him as an interpreter, and donor of the arts. Elfwooders respect those who serve the community. A high status shows that you are deepily dedicated to the site.




Blackbirdkate is an amazing artist. Her work is breathtaking, and makes her house come alive. The drawings reflects Blackbirdkate's quirky, yet sensitive side. The art pieces are usually about birds, but also realistic images of people, and mythical beings who are eerily beautiful.



Blackbirdkate is a Halfling, which means is that she is part human and part elf, fairy, or troll. I have noticed that there are many halflings in Elftown. Being a halfling gives you an edge, you can bond with humans and other creatures. Blackbird kate has badges that express her achievements while on the site: Patroller, Donor of Funds, Featured Painter, and Donor of the Arts.


I still think the site needs a little more tweaking. Itwould be more affective if memebrs have a sense of choice, and able to be whatever creature they wish to embody.This means expanding profile options, and information about different species in both writing genres. Also I would like to see more forums about science fiction, to create balance among the Fantasy. Despite its small flaws, I believe that Elftown is an awesome place were memebers can share and collabrate on ideas about Science fiction and Fantasy.


*The image above is by Kate Staines aka Blackbirdkate.

Through the Woods: Road to Elftown

I was lost in the woods for days; my feet blistering, stomach growling from hunger, throat burning from thirst. I thought my fate was sealed, until I came upon a cobble stone road. I was soon welcomed by a silver haired elf woman, with dark blue eyes; a white guy was hiding in the bushes behind her. "Welcome to Elftown" she sang in a sweet voice. "Well Joy," I said to myself, "You're defiantly not in Chicago anymore."

The Elftown social website is a paradise for lovers of Fantasy and Science fiction. Every member who is welcomed into this fair town is given a house (web page)where they can post their own drawings, poems, and short stories about these two writing genres. This surreal world offers you wiki pages to show off your artwork, but also where other members can edit or add information.

As I was lead throughout the town by the elf woman I discovered forums where members can chat and comment about each others work, this is not place to be scorn or judgemented harshly. Everyone is praised for their drawings, stories, and new discoveries in the Fantasy and Sci-Fi fields. Members even have their own diary, to share there thoughts with only their friends or present it publicly. Elftown also has awesome drawing and writing contest. Like a real town there are rules that must be followed and people to uphold them.

Rules

1. All images in your house must have something to do with you.
2. Images in your house must be made by you or for you.

3. Pornographic images and images depicting extreme violence are not allowed in your house. Almost nude and nude images of minors and pictures of self mutilation are not allowed anywhere on Elftown. So no showing of breasts before you're 18 in the photo!
Note 2: The "nudity of minor"-rule is demanded by (a pretty badly defined Swedish) law, and it doesn't matter if Elftown thinks the image is "harmless" or "artistic".

4. Images that contain other images that break the rules are not allowed in your house.

5. No random copied writings in (descriptions of) houses.

Law and Order

The Elftown site emphasises that they are not a fantasy dating site (though flirting is allowed) This site is a haven where people can connect through there interest, which is producing creative art.

Since the site has so many members, there has to be people who will be willing to look after the sanctity of this town. There are guards members who are appointed to search all the houses, to see if anyone is going against the rules. Patrollers are members that have respected the rules and Elftown Guide of Conduct; they assist the guards by squealing on whoever is disrespecting the site. Every memebr has an equal chance of gaining high positions.


Council Badge


Mayor Badge


The Elftown Council plays an important role in Elftown, appointed by the people, they make sure the site's programs are up to date, information is given out, and wiki pages are organized. The also council helps create the contest and events. The mayor like leader has to makes sure that every department is running smoothly. The site keeps its fantasy flavor going by picking members who have been deemed worthy to become magicians and spiritual guides.

But what surprised me the most was the fact that Elftown has a school; where members create classes, choosing the tutors and translators to run the school.

Elftown seems to be a site that truly wants to keep a sense of community and friendship among its members. But wants to have a strong sense of discipline and stability.

Links:Elfwood

Children of the Utopia: Members of Live Journal

The members of Live Journal range from many unique backgrounds and personalities. Their journals are windows into their souls. Some use actual photos of themselves while others create a web of mystery, using avatars and pictures to express their identities. Like the regular blogs we post on the "Blogger" for class, the journals follow the same goal: To Creatively lure people into our world. I will use my top 5 blog tips to describe the posts on Live Journal.


Tip 1: Don't be Afraid to add Images or Videos.

Tip 2: The information you present in a post should be related to the images you use and the theme of your overall blog.

Tip 3: Your Template design should express your personality

Tip 4: You need to have creative header and blog description. What's the theme of your blog? This is the question you need to answer.

Tip 5: A blog post needs an interesting title.



The blog above belongs to hailandquill and is called "Ink and Thunder." The blog's theme centers on different forms of art, but also show cases the blogger's own work, a comic strip: Comics Attack. A series involving the artist's characters and their weird adventures. hailandquill's blog uses bright images to emphasis her text,that also go with the theme of her blog. She uses creative titles for her comic strip posts to entice her readers:UPS Saga, Handsome Fighters Never Lose Battles, and Lawful Evil.

Hailandqull's template speaks volumes, the bitten green and red apples symbolize the forbidden fruit of knowledge which Eve ate in the garden of Eden. I believe without realizing it, the blogger advertises her work as secretive, dangerous which makes readers want to read it even more.



This blogger called durabeer, fits perfectly with my tips above. He uses a interesting header title: From the Deep End of the Pool, that intrigued as well as caused me to continue viewing his journal. His template flows beautifully with his header, the squids are an awesome touch; catching the eye of the reader; but gives the impression that he is deep and tranquil like the ocean.

Unlike a blog the journal entries online do not always need an interesting title. The authors rely on vivid tags words, that create almost a tiny haiku, which tells the reader what the entry is going to be about. Plus snippets of the entry are given so the readers have a taste of entree (the story), and are willing to finish the main course.

Though the Journals of the members are personal thoughts, the same rules apply with any other blog. In order to have friends on Live Journal, image and presentation is key to popularity; a chance to have your voice heard. Consistency with the journal post, so your readers can that you are dedicated not just to the site, but your own journal, which is a representation of you.

Internet Utopia: Live Journal

"We strive to create an environment where you can connect with others, share your thoughts, and be yourself," this is the hook that baits viewers to the website Live Journal, a free social network for people to converse with others who have similar interests, goals, and ideas. Viewing this website has allowed me to see that a blog can evolve into a Utopia of ideas for self-expression. The site offers these aspects to viewers that stand out in bold: Diversity, Creativity, Community, and Privacy

Live Journal has a laid back atmosphere. There are tiny cliques within this large community, where members can join and post blogs about a particular subject, for example, I came across a group titled unsentletters, where members rant out their frustrations in letters to people in there lives, but never send them. Another group such as Soildersheart is a group for veterans and their loved ones who talk how wars had affected them through in photos, pictures,poetry, and narratives. There are groups geared towards culture, Music, Politics, Technology; so no one can feel left out. For the online journals, members can show their entries to the public, or can keep their content to themselves.

The site also gives members free blog template layouts and software to upload photos, and a link to a site that they have to pay for themselves, in order to receive a full range of colorful layouts that fit their personalities. Live Journals gives you options such as being able to access the website from your cell phone and actually turn your blog or journal into a book. The site even lets you make some cash, by posting ad's from goggle.



But like every Utopia, Garden of Eden, and social society there are rules that must be followed. In a previous blog of mine I mentioned about the terms of use page going on from more than two pages, causing the viewer to agree to anything, due to lack of patience. Well LiveJournals term's of use page is long but I have listed points that stood out to me.

Terms of Service:

*All Content posted to Live Journal in any way, is the responsibility and property of the author. Live Journal is committed to maintaining the Service in a manner reasonably acceptable to all audiences but is not responsible for the monitoring or filtering of any journal Content. Within the confines of international and local law, Live Journal will generally not place a limit on the type or appropriateness of user content within journals. Those users posting material not suitable for all audiences must agree that they are fully responsible for all the Content they have posted anywhere on the Service. Should Content be deemed illegal by such law having jurisdiction over the user, you agree that Live Journal may submit all necessary information to, and cooperate with, the proper authorities.

•The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act ("COPPA") requires that we inform parents and legal guardians about how we collect, use, and disclose personal information from children under 13 years of age. Live Journal is not directed at children under 13 years of age but, we recognize that with proper adult supervision some parents might permit their children to visit Live Journal and use our Service. COPPA requires that we obtain the consent of parents and guardians in order for children under 13 years of age to use certain features of Live Journal.

*Don't Upload, post or otherwise transmit any unsolicited or unauthorized advertising, promotional materials, "junk mail," "spam," "chain letters," "pyramid schemes," or any other form of solicitation;

I believe these terms are fair, considering the awesome options Live Journal gives members for creating their journals. The blogger's work is copyrighted and protected by Live Journal. They don't have to worry about censoring there words and ideas; because the site honors freedom of expression.

Live Journal gives the impression that you can bond with strangers in a secure environment. That these strangers will become your friends, who you can send virtual gifts to their profiles, and become like a large family. This site wants to be a artistic haven where stories can be told; members forming relationships without physical or visual contact, but the linking of the minds.

I consider Live Journal a worthy site to consider if you are interested in sharing, callborating, and connecting with other artist.

*Link to Live Journal: www.livejournal.com/

Copyright Dilemma

What I found interesting from the Owl website was that it mentions section 107 of the Congress of Copyright Act, which I didn't know about. Owl states that- “teachers and students are more protected when using the copyrighted works for classroom assignments, lessons, projects, criticism, comments, news, reporting, teaching scholarship or research.” This gives teachers and students options for exploring different copyrighted material, but what about everyone else? Don’t individuals who want to use copyright materials for expansion of ideas and knowledge have the right to have further understanding of a particular subject?

"Courts often favor uses that transform the copyrighted work into something new by adding criticism or commentary to change the meaning or message of the original. Educational use is protected to allow creativity and intellectual expression," (quote from owl) On YouTube I have seen videos that do the exact same thing. People post the original movies adding their own commentary, and allowing others to comment on the film. There are also blogs where individuals criticize a piece of writing, adding their own interpretations about the text. If these "amateurs" are following the same guideline as students and teachers, then they shouldn't be penalized.

Owl gives advice, saying that Internet users should stay on the safe side by only using a small chunk (10%) of any media. I do believe this is fair, considering that the artists are sharing their work with the Internet Universe. But here comes the tricky part, though the available pieces can be used, sometimes you can only have them for a short period of time. This makes me think about the Terms of Use page that appears when you want to install software or download a copyrighted image. It seems to be presented in small font, and the sentences are so close together and go on for 2-3 pages.

Living in such a fast paced society where time is limited, individuals are so eager to use the copyrighted work that they automatically agree to the terms, not noticing the “temporary use,” phrase. Maybe if the ‘Terms of Use’ should specify the important details earlier on in a shorter format, so the conditions can be presented clear to the user. I know that there are probably bloggers out there who have images posted beyond the time limit permitted, due to the lack of information.

It seems like a catch 22, that only one group of people have access to materials when others don’t. As long as amateurs use the copyrighted media for non-profit purposes and don’t exploit the artist’s work, is it necessary for individuals to go through such a grueling process?

There seems to be so many rules and regulations when dealing with the issue of copyrighted work. Yet, it does protect artists and their assets, from those who make it tough on everyone, when using other’s art for self-gain.

Collision of Creativity

I used to preach about people respecting artist, musicians and writers, by giving credit to their talent; by not exploiting their work. Though I still believe this, I'm guilty myself. Viewing the videos and information from the websites Creative Commons and Owl, has allowed me to see my own creativity in a different light. In the past I have used images from google, sometimes not worrying about if the image was available for free use from the artists. I blindly believed that since the pictures were presented on google images then it was OK to use for my own inspiration.

As I kid my grade school teachers allowed us to cut out images from magazines and make a collages to reflect out own personalities. My little hands would cut into the magazines and paste them on construction paper. But I didn't realize where these pictures came from, or the time spent by the artists who put their hearts and souls into the piece. Even now as an adult, I take images from magazines, or the web and make collages to grace the covers of my journals, thinking I'm actually being creative. But since I didn't create these pictures myself, am I still being original by tearing them apart and rearranging them? There is no easy answer.

I create play list for my mp3 player, collecting songs from famous and independent singers. I use them as the soundtrack for my each scene in my stories; which inspires me to finish them. I believe I'm molding the play list into something unique. But in reality, though I carefully rearrange and place each song in a particular order, I'm not being creative. The artists are the ones making my play list come to life, not me. I had no part in the music's production or lyrics.

By surfing the web, I have came across people who take images, music lyrics or pieces of writing to make what they believe a unique art work. This makes me ponder whether if I ever get published to allow my writing available for the public to use for artistic purposes. Though the result from a collision of amateurs ideas and artists work can create something beautiful, it can also turn into one big mess. In some cases this collision can lead to disrespecting the artist.






The first video is a spoof of Taylor’s Swift’s Song –You Belong With Me by Venetian Princess. Though VPrincess video is hilarious (I admit it I love all her videos) the spoof took a song that Taylor wrote herself, the music video created by the director and turned into a horrible, creepy persona of the artist. The second video is the official video, which is quirky and disgustingly cute, which has a positive message: Don’t judge a book by its cover. See the true beauty and soul within. The spoof disregards this message, VPrincess changing it by replying that if I change myself I can get the guy I want. Does this mean that every time an artist allows his/her work to be used, they are at risk for the meaning behind their work to fade.


Though the Internet is a place for freedom of speech, space, and ideas, does this give us the right to recreate a piece of art that doesn't need further alterations? If the amateurs themselves made a artwork that was mutilated and left to the devices of others on the web, they would feel the exact anguish felt by many artists.

The Liquid Dream: Future Destruction of the Writing Culture

After reading an excerpt of Andrew Keen's book Cult of the Amateur, one of his passages stood out to me in a profound way: The Liquid Libary. In this passsage Kenn mentions Kevin Kelly who in 2006 wrote a article in New York Times, that described his veiws about creating Liquid Libraries on the web, that anyone can have access to books of all genre's and time periods. Pages of books can be carved into segments, rearranged, and words cut out; combining broken paragraphs, forming a craptacular version of the story.

"Should I be allowed to annotate and remix Moby-Dick so that Ahab spots the whale at the beginning of the journey? Is Plato's Republic still the same book if it contains a chapter from Locke paragraph from Kant. A finished book is not a box of Lego's, to be recombined and reconstructed at whim," (pg. 58)

As a writer myself, I'm deeply connected to my stories and poems. If someone were to disemember my words; it would be as if a part of my soul was ripped my from body. No one has the write to take art and destroy it because their bored or not fully able to grasp a work's meaning. These Liquid libraries would lead to the destruction of the writing culture: The artistic technique of weaving words, images, and ideas into a story will dissappear. Diction woould have no place in a society, were as longs as a work is quick and entertaining to read, its considered true literature.

There is already a decline in the popularity of newspapers, and literary magazines due to the internet. Though amateur reviewers and bloggers have the power to break or make a piece of writing, they should give books the respect they deserve, since they are the foundation of our world: Spreading Knowledge. If Kevin Kelly's idoic idea comes to pass, then future generations will never understand the messages of such classics as "Wuthering Heights" or "East of Eden," because they will be stripped and formatted to create a ball of confussion. How can new writers be born if all they have for inspiration is a puzzle of missing pieces?

Hopefully more writers will protest to keep physical copies of their books, and not allowing them to be exploited on the web. This will not only secure the next generation, but make others in our time see how our society will crumple if ideas of the past and present are shattered.

Mirror, Mirror: The Vanity Among Self Publishers

I’m a Fiction Writing Major who is struggling to complete a novel. Most writers like myself dream of having there books be number one on the bestseller list; or a short story grace the glossy surface of a magazine. There are many trials that writers must take, to have their work published: Query letters sent to different publishing houses to promote your manuscript, nails bitten to the nubs trying to find an agent. Then there’s the waiting game next to the mail box for the golden ticket of approval or letter of rejection. Every writer dreads this process, but the rough patches in the journey to become published, builds character, sparks determination, and reveals the dedication you have for your work.

But, what if this process could be by passed all together? This where self-publishing presses arise; they serve those writers who don’t want to face the grueling process and become published on their own terms. Others think that by getting a book out there, they will catch the attention of an agent or high ranking publishing company. There are advantages of self publishing, you gain control of the book’s design as well as setting its price, and where it is sold. The author gets full rights to the book, instead of the publishing company owning a large chuck of it. Through companies the writer might see only 5% to 15 % royalty of each book, while dealing with the self press gets them 50 % to 200 %. If you leave money out of the equation, what happens to the integrity of your novel?

According to Andrew Keen, author of The Cult of the Amateur, “Today’s digital print-on-demand services are turning amateur novelists into modern day Gutenberg’s, enabling anyone to publish anything, regardless of quality, for a fee,” (pg. 56). He mentions a software website called blurb.com that hooks people in by advertising technology that can turn blogs, photos, and stories on the web into physical books. A book is supposed to be a reflection, a mirror image into the soul of the writer. By self publishing, writers are being robbed of the chance to get their work critiqued by editors not only to fix misspellings, but give ideas to fully expand the work, and mold the story until it’s a polished piece ready for the public’s hungry eyes.

I believe every artist deserves a chance to have their work showcased, but the easy route is not helpful. I have found a website called, Instantpublisher.com, that only mentions the positive sides of self-publishing, never the negative. It hooks the desprite writers by claiming that "publishing companies take months to complete to complete the book and sale in stores, instantpublisher.com completes the finish product in only a few days." It fools the writer into believing that this is the only way to get their writing published since it's hard to find a company to publish spealized books and fiction.

Yet the site doesn't reveal that you can spend up to $3000-$5,000 paying for the disruption of your books to different locations, producing more copies, and fund advertising to promote your book; which would have been taken care of by a Professional Publishing Company. Also agents and companies don’t think highly of self published work, and consider them not really “published.” Book reviewers will even take a second glance at your book because it wasn't properly proofread or organized by an editor.

I have submitted a few stories to magazines and have been rejected. But I consider it a learning process; I will only get better as a writer if I evolve from my mistakes. When I finish my novel I will take the bumpy road, until I find an agent and company that accepts my writing style, while gaining the benifits of having a professional published book.



(I got my info from http://www.writingworld.com Article
“Self Publish FAQ’s" by. Moira Allen and http://www.
instantpublisher.com)

The Template Experiment

When I first created my personal blog, I saw "thisaway rose" template created by Dan Rubin; it spoke to me. The template has a mixture of different pinks on the margins and a cool, deep, yet vivid purple for the header and font color. "Thisaway Rose" Emphasises the pictures I post, making them pop out to the viewer. Though I love this template, I want to see what would happen if I actually change to a different one, would my blog still have the same impact?


Alternative Template 1: Mr. Moto created by Jeffrey Zeldman

*At first when I looked at this template the word that came to mind was dull. But as I looked deeper, I realized that the gray margins and header gave my blog a quiet strength. It brings out the colors in my video clips and photos; as well as heightens the intensity of my black and white drawings. Though the down side of this template is the fact that if this wasn't my blog I might by pass it. I would only consider reading the blog, because of its header: The Crow Speaks Her Own Truth.




Alternative Template 2: Dark Dots created by Douglas Bowan

* This template is too busy and all over the place. It clashes harshly with my images; which means that my viewers would spend most of there attention on the dots and not my text, that seems to disappear inside the dark blue background.




By experimenting with two different templates has allowed me to see that a blog depends on the style its framed in. "Thisaway Rose" fits my blog perfectly to me, it expresses my personality: sweet, intuitive, and determined. Though if my template wasn't available I would have to go with "Mr. Moto" that creates a bit of mystery, which is what I want my writing to convey.

Welcome to the Jungle: Top Five Tips to Help Conquer the Blog Beast

I have explored the dark depths of the Internet jungle, to discover the secret of taming the beasts called, "Blogs." I barely made it out alive with my mouse intact. By viewing different types of blogs and their masters, I now know what five tips can sooth such savage creatures. These tips I hope can help myself and others who wish to conquer their blogs, so they can be able to share them with the world.

Tip 1: Don't be Afraid to add Images or Videos.

Reason: Grooming your blog by adding images and videos can draw attention to it. I looked at different blogs and the first thing I noticed was the video clips and pictures the owners used. Images can create a first impression of what the blog post is going to be about before reading the text. Living in a fast paced society, where time is limited, images can speak volumes.

Ex.


Tip 2: The information you present in a post should be related to the images you use and the theme of your overall blog.

Reason: Readers expect your blog to be reliable, not straying from the point you want to prove in the post. By posting a picture or video that doesn't connect to your text, can cause the readers to be confused, and feel like you are "yanking their chains." This will make you loose your audience and their respect.

Ex.

Tip 3: Your Template design should express your personality.

Reason: Templates can emphasis the meaning of the images you use as well as your text. Your design can create the tone of your blog: Bright colors can stand for lively, energetic, outgoing, while dull colors such as gray or white means that the blog will be dull, boring, and straight laced.

Ex.


Tip 4: You need to have creative header and blog description. What's the theme of your blog? This is the question you need to answer.

Reason: Though some people post random blogs about anything, your blog can stand out if you have a interesting theme. This could be your hobbies, goals in life, or rants about particular issues.

Ex.

Tip 5: A blog post needs an interesting title.

Reason: For books a catchy title can cause the reader to be intrigued, turn to view the back cover summary, then read the whole text for themselves. A blog is similar to a book, except your readers don't have the option of a quick summary of the blog, so they rely on interesting titles to hook them into the post.

Ex.


Now that I have shared these tips, you no longer have to cower in fear of your Blog. Use this wisdom to stare it down, and become the master of your own domain.

Blog Review 2- Lagniappe- "The Special Ingredients'

Sophia Blog's background is a rusty yellow, that emphasis the images on the screen. She uses pictures of the band members performing, the people from the neighborhoods the band plays in. Sophia also uses old fashioned Photos as well as poster boards to draw people into Lagnippe's world. This gives the blog a laid back,vintage, atmosphere.The videos Sophia posts of Lagniappe allows the audience to listen to the band's music for themselves. So they will be able to hear the different types of instruments being played: Saxophones, accordions, banjos, fiddles.

By looking at Sophia's Blog design, make me think about posting videos of writers performing their work: Book readings and poetry slams; so my audience can see how writing has evolved from paper to the screen. Sophia's blog relies mostly on images and videos, but its fits with her theme: Music. Sometimes words can't fully express the raw intensity of a performance. The audience as to hear and see the band to truly understand them.

Sophia shows other young artists in Cincinnati the band's birth place. Kids create paint images on side walks, who believe one day they will reach their dreams as the members of Lagniappe, when they were struggling musicians. By seeing pictures from Cincinnati lets me the viewer understand why the band chose to start their careers in the heart of this city. It has many cultures and stories that are being told through the bands music.

Blog Review 2: Lagniappe- "A Taste of New Orleans"

I stumbled upon a blog that caught my eye:Lagniappe-Cincinnati's Only Cajun Orleans/Gypsy Band. A Blogger who goes by the name Sophia, created this blog to show the talent of the band Lagniappe which in French means, "a little something." The band plays down home Bayou flavor music that makes your blood dance. Sophia who is a lover of music as well as photography, follows this band as they play in different clubs across America.

Sophia is not a groupie, she books some of the band's gigs. In her blog Sophia describes the atmosphere of different places the band played or visited which includes local restaurants, bars, and clubs who are looking for a band to boost their business.The blog is geared towards other music junkies, but is open to other viewers who are interested in this style of music. The blog not only helps Sophia in her career, but allows her audience to interact, by posting Lagniappe's tour dates and locations for their performances.

Though I think Sophia's blog is awesome, I would like for her to add more of her point of view, so other people can experience the excitement and emotions faces her adventure with Lagniappe. She relies so much on photographs and videos that her voice becomes lost.

Sophia gives me new ideas about how to make my own blog stand out. I could add the history of different genres in writing:Fantasy, Science Fiction, Magical Realism etc.... Maybe I can post "The Author of the Month," who has inspired me and has made an impact in the Media. In the future, if I every create my own online magazine, I can advertise it by posting sneak peeks of it on my blog.

I recommended Sophia's Lagniappe Blog, which opens a window into a style of music (Bayou,Cajun/Gypsy) that's not widely shown.





Link: http://www.lagniappecincy.blogspot.com