Mentors: WTF

[Azlen]

Now I've been here for a while, and I haven't done to many threads. Not to mention my first thread I started ceased to exist once I started, although the writer seemed to still be around. This did not bother me, but it made me question how good I write.

I know I'm not a horrible writer, even though I get comments like, "Your writing is like shit smeared on a brick wall." I did not mind that either, as a matter of fact I asked the writer once he/she said that to help me.

That person replied saying "I've been RPing for so long, writing properly has become a habit for me, I don't remember the rules. Sorry."

Well, I wanted to say F* you, but being the polite gentle man I am, I said thank you and went on about my business.

I say all this to say, if Althanas is here to help writers write better, why aren't they doing that? in other forms other than: critique, writing tips, competitions. Why not set up a mentoring program?!

A new writer comes in, he/she isn't the greatest so that person signs up for the mentoring program. One of the mentors (volunteers) takes that writer under their guidance, and shows them the ropes of proper writing, does a quest with them, helps them get up to level one, and then their on their own! It would be called WTF.

Volunteers would of course be tested based on a rubric system made by....somebody.

WTF: Writers of The Future! For writer who don't know WTF they are doing.

Good Idea yay or nay?

[Godhand]

We had something like this once. It never took off.

[Azlen]

Does not mean it will not work this time, you don't need to have 500 people sign up.

[Veatrix]

The getting to Level One idea ain't bad though.
It's just a matter of activity, dear.

[Azlen]

Well if the person was serious about writing and they were sure they would have a partner in their quest (that would not falter in their posting), I'm pretty sure they would be active, Veatrix.

[Requiem of Insanity]

These ideas never take off because of one simple thing. The mentor or the mentee get life thrown at them and it never takes off. It's nothing to do with the player in question, just circumstances never let this happen.

If you want the advice and the critiques to get more detailed, just flag down a mod or even flag down another member and ask them to help. It's not hard. I also try to RP with people who write better than me so I can bring myself up to their level and barrate them with questions about how to improve my writing.

hope that helps, cause a mentorship is really just not practicle.

[Taskmienster]

This did not bother me, but it made me question how good I write.

"This did not bother me, but it made me question how [well] I write." :p


in other forms other than: critique, writing tips, competitions. Why not set up a mentoring program?!

Isn't critique, writing tips, and the judging/rubric itself to help people write better? I mean, I'm not trying to be a dick and say that you're wrong with what you're trying to convey, just that it seems strange to me. I've been on Althanas for 6 years, have a JC with one of my characters, but if you ever saw something of mine from the first year I was here you'd have probably told me much (MUCH) worse that the "shit on a brick wall" comment.

What did I do, and what I assume a lot of people did, to get where I am now? I took the comments that I was given by moderators who judged my threads to heart. I spent a lot of time and practiced everything that I was told would make my writing more enjoyable to read, and eventually got it all worked on. It's not about getting the scores quickly, its about working towards things as much as you can with each thread.


Mentoring will do nothing if it's not taken to heart in the long run. I've helped... who knows how many people, trying to do the same thing that you said. It NEVER works. I mean, it's always cool if you can get someone to help out, but for the most part (from my experience trying to do stuff like this at least) either the person drops the quest/battle or just ignores my advice. As a writer who could help others, it's more discouraging to me to see people ignore the advice or drop the quest then it is to get a lower score for writing with someone that's not "great".

If you would like help with your writing, I'd suggest that you just ask. Put something up in the recruiting forum asking for an experienced person to come do a few threads with you and help you out with what they can.

I'd be game if you'd like. Though I'm not the fastest of posters, I enjoy helping people with their writing whenever I can. Just send me a PM or AIM (TheTaskmienster) and we can try to work on things.

[Azlen]

[well] I write
I know, it was late.... -_-

Anyway thank you for your replies, if someone can close this thread I'd appreciate it, thank you.

[Shadowed]

I'm pretty sure I'm the person you asked to help you with your writing. People on this site might try to help, but they're still people, and they don't get paid for this; anything you get is a service, so I wouldn't put much stock in trying to make people pony up and help you when they have better things to be doing.