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DEAR TEEN ME: The Contest. (Warning: EPIC prizes!)This journal comes to you from `PinkyMcCoversong!

So you might have heard of this little book I co-edited called DEAR TEEN ME. It's an anthology of letters from authors to their teen selves. The authors in the anthology range from best-selling and award-winning authors to some fabulous up and comers. I know that no matter what, if you pick up the book, you'll find a letter or two (at least!) that speaks to you.

This is our fancy Amazon/Goodreads/B&N/Book Depository/Pick-your-bookseller blurb:

DEAR TEEN ME includes advice from over 70 YA authors to their teenage selves. The letters cover a wide range of topics, including physical abuse, body issues, bullying, friendship, love, and enough insecurities to fill an audit

Gourmet Novel RecipeRecipe for Writing a Novel
Serves: 1. If you’re J K Rowling, billions.
Ingredients
- 1 Tin standard cat food
- 1 Laptop/Computer
- 250g cat biscuits
- Paper
- 5 Pens, various colours.
- 1 stuffed cat toy with bell
- 1 pouch slightly fussier cat food
- 1 sachet gourmet cat food
- 1 bottle of wine, red or white
- 1 Wine glass (Large)
- 1 300g Tin of tuna
Cooking time: 2-5 years
Preparation
(Preparation time approximately 10-60 minutes depending on condition of desk and computer speed)
1. Clear space on desk. If you do not have respective space for junk, throw on floor. Place paper and pens in clear space.
2. Turn on computer and allow 10 minutes for slow loading time. Add 2-3 sighs as windows update informs to restart computer. Restart computer and allow a further 10 minutes.
3. Once computer is ready, open up new document.

Cooking

1. Begin with your plot. Open internet to several pages, use pens and paper to mix r

PE: Literature Critique TipsAs part of Project Educate Critique week, the Community Volunteers would like to share more art specific elements to consider whilst giving good critique.
Today we are looking at the Literature gallery, with our Top Tips.

Before you start

READ the piece all the way through.

Read it again, making notes of what you would like to point out in your critique.

Stay Objective- you are critiquing the piece not the person.
The Tips!
These tips are areas which aren't just necessary in critiquing others' work, but also when self-critiquing your own writing. This is one person's suggestions and I welcome any further tips in addition.

A good opening. The opening to any form of writing doesn't necessarily need to involve a physical explosion, but it needs to have an initial hook; something to entice the reader in. It needs to be clear, something that

Writing Opportunities (Publishing)

Last updated 9th May 2013

We would love to hear feedback from people if they are using this! Have you entered something listed here? Have you won something? Are you actively using this? We want to ensure we are giving the community something worthwhile here- and please don't forget to add opportunities you find to the list too- the more people adding things, the better!
Hello all!
As writers, we always talk about “getting that piece published sometime” or “maybe submitting to a few places”, but how many of us actually eat our words and get on with it?
It was suggested that perhaps we could help nudge you guys by sharing with you the opportunities we know of. Personally, I'm not well explored, but what I do know is that the community is! Therefore this journal is a chance to share the opportunities you find.
How this is going to work?

If you find an opportunity, add a com

Cup of Tea Promise

A cup of tea promise
starts, watered down
lies and coffee
depression.

We take a breath,
inhale the aroma of the mug,
accept what we find,
we drink to our own distaste.

Between bitter sips
warmed chests, clutched hands,
we sit in comfort of this liquid--
as if an elixir of life
snuck into the drink.

Despite cups with cracks and chips
we grip our mugs for comfort
and smile.

First Lovei.

Our bench:
rows of fairy lights rope
towards the turbulent city

Warm evenings, playing in the park,
till your mam came shouting .
Every night of summer.

You never cared how different we were.

ii.

Toilet paper decorates leafless trees and
your lungs fill with newly discovered smoke as
You admire your handiwork.
The sexes split. You tease
the girls for attention.

iii.

Those amber lights merely rows
upon rows of ugly terraces all designed by the same architect.

We never talk.

iv.

You were seen
with your hands
down her trousers

tomorrow you will blame intoxication.

v.

Under the red skies, we exchanged memories like

Poetry enthusiasts and experts wanted!

Still a plenty of room for articles if you interested! Please drop a note to #CRLiterature ASAP

Hello all!
In the first week of March (4th-10th), we are hosting a week at #projecteducate based on poetry forms. During this week, we would like to invite members of the community to come write informative/ educational articles to contribute to this week.
You can write articles:
- About specific poetry forms (with featured examples)
- "How to" guides on writing specific forms.
- Interviews with dA poets who focus on specific forms
- Art features (i.e. A collection of concrete poetry)
- Famous form poems/poets
- Workshops/ Prompts/ contests based on a form
These are just suggestions!
If you are interested in writing an article, please drop a note entitled "PE Week" to #CRLiterature with an outline of what you intend to write. We are planning this in advance; giving you the chance for you to draft an article- which we are more than happy to review prior to

PE: Finding Critique on dAWhere to find Critique on deviantART?
So, you just uploaded your latest image/writing onto deviantART and featured it in your gallery with a slight satisfaction you have achieved something. Fantastic, that is step one and now you can sit back and watch everyone's responses come pouring in and showing you everything you need to do to make your work even more fabulous.
If only?
The fact is; getting someone to critique your work isn't as easy as that. If you want critique, you need to seek critique and put in the good effort to get it. It won't always work, no plan is fool proof, but here are some places and advice that could help you find the feedback you desire. Not every place on this list will be your cup of tea, but try and see what works for you.
Step one: Make sure people know you want a critique!
If you are a subscriber, make use of the critique function that deviantART provides. You can do this my selecting "Request Critiques" when submitting an

Cristian Rosas

Mediterranean breeze warmed my dreams;
cappuccino mornings blended
into Bacardi sunsets.
Tobacco smoulders and I remember-
his name was Cristian Rosas.

Sunset passed. Spirits poured
European measures- unlike tight English twenty-five mil,
relieving the throbs of snow white turned red queen.
The glow led our intoxicated journey. Sambuca fused.
We invaded the dance floor.

yellow lanterns,
blue, red, green
blue,
yellow, red,
green merged with smiles.
Freedom spun me to his arms.

Giggles blushed sunburn. Cristian Rosas
whispered his name.
Fingers caressed my shoulder;
pulses shot down my back.
Lights,
music people blurre

PE: The Basics of Giving CritiqueA lot of people seem to think that giving a critique requires you to have an art degree and a lifetime of experience. This is merely an excuse barrier to stop you from trusting yourself in the art of delivering a fine critique. Today's Project Educate guide is an aid to help you consider the basics of critique, and in particular critique on dA.
This article has been written as a guideline overview only and one persons advice. There are hundreds of existing "how to" guides for critique already existing on dA, so if this one doesn't suit you, take a browse and see what else you can find!
The key rules to critique
1. Keep in mind you are writing a CRITIQUE not a CRITICISM. Be wary of your word choices and make sure you keep in mind you are helping the artist for improvement. Be Constructive, not Destructive.
2. Consider you audience- who is the artist reading this critique? How may they react to your words? Be wary of patronising the person you are c

PE: Do You Really Want Critique?As part of #projecteducate’s Critique Week, we thought it’d be a good idea to take into consideration when you should and shouldn’t ask for critique on a work you post to deviantART.
Before I get any further into the article, I would like to address the fact that the things I say here will not always apply. In fact, they may not even apply most of the time. As with all guides to art and feedback, your mileage may vary, and it’s always best to learn things for yourself. So, without further ado, here’s a few things to consider before you request critique:
Personal work: The most common issue with critique that I’ve personally encountered around dA is the critique of personal work, and a lot of the time this is because the artist requests critique on a work that they are not ready to receive critique on. A few examples of this could be work done as a result of a person’s passing, a difficult change in life, or a work based

My Prompt Journal (Lit Community Experiment cont.)Hello All and Welcome to 2013!

Not that many people have picked up on this yet! Come on guys, lets get involved

(Original Gif too trippy for words!)
I hope everyone had a lovely break and are fully in the swing of the New Year!
Now this journal isn't a personal one, despite the title- in fact it is a journal I am challenging all of you to write and all of you to help others write. At this time of year, we've made resolutions and I expect half of you have included "write more" as one of those resolutions. This experiment is to help you fulfil that resolution so by 2014 you are sat here feeling achieved.
The Experiment
Prompts. Prompts are awesome. Why are they so awesome- because they get you writing! There are times when you feel unmotivated, wanting to write but not sure what to writ

PE: Critique Week Roundup!Hello All
Today concludes our project educate week here at #communityrelations on Critique.
I would like to start by saying a huge thank you to all of you who have supported throughout the week, whether you have contributed to articles, commented, faved and passed the message on. It has been very much appreciated and made this week feel very worthwhile!
The purpose of Project Educate doesn’t just rely on one week of information. The articles are for reference whenever you feel like reading them, so please feel free to save them where necessary.
Week opener

General Critique Articles

Gallery Specific Articles

:iconbigheartplz: Thank you everyone! Keep an eye out next week when Projec

(Updated)DD suggestion guidelines!Hello all
Firstly, I would like to say I am truly grateful for every DD suggestion I receive. It makes me feel reassured that the pieces featured are community decisions, not just my own subjective thoughts and findings. There are millions of writings out there and I can’t see every single one. I rely on good spots of others in hope of continuing to share a variety of good quality and unique literature. Thank you to those who suggest and those who continue to make the time to share their findings.
Please note

I prefer 1 DD suggestion per note.

Please always try to tell me why you are suggesting this piece. A bit of enthusiasm from the suggester can help make me feel enthused about the piece too. Plus it helps add a description to the DD

What I look for in Daily Deviations

For those who know me as a writer, you will know I write

Little Paper UmbrellaLittle pink paper umbrella
dances in glass;
prancing, dodging bubbles.
It toys with each spin between
suitors of fruit. The lime,
lemon and cherry all compete
to partner whilst the ice cube
audience watch in awe.

How they all cried in shock
as pink paper umbrella was
yanked from the ballroom
and tucked into the hair
of a passing cocktail waitress.

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Shopping and Wizards.A thousand bags
shuffle down the high street between
clasped hands, scrunched with new purchase.
They’re buggy-dodging the determined mothers,
leftward stepping
the rushed businessmen-- a pinball
machine shopping centre.
A green-robed man, tall with wand and hood
must be a wizard. He’s happily
procuring sushi and sparkling water
whilst his companion;
short with her piercings and jeans treats him
as if he wore the same.
Down the high street,
two track-suited parents
zoom past on their children’s scooters—
half-smoked fags between fingers yell
how fucking amazing this is.
and a
spotted teen raps
his love for Jesus on a muffled
microphone.
He raps for the Father,
He raps for the Son
and Holy Spirit.
He raps for peace, for hope, for you.
In a corner,
Brown eyes, hefty tears,
a snot-ridden face--
four years old.
A train runs through the mall toot-tooting
as grumpy shoppers move out of the way.
A

Napo 8- SusanWhy did you lock her out of heaven
and throw the key
into the lions land?
A beautiful girl enjoying
youths ignorance;
a new fantasy to live.
She'd stopped believing, but
faith stays in a heart longer
than a head.
"She wasted all her school time wanting to be the age she is now,
and she'll waste all the rest of her life trying to stay that age"

Napo 7- Teen of the 90'sI wanted to be Posh Spice because my
hair was brown bobbed and she dated David
Beckham; I wanted to marry him. I
had no internet and recorded songs
on the radio to tape, daring to
pause and knock out the DJ’s droll. I sang
to S Club and thought I was the coolest
in my smiley faced top and my yingyang
friendship necklaces. You had to know the
Macarena not just for weddings but
school discos too and then every steps routine
to fit in. Slow dances with boys made me
wish again that they were David Beckham
and not greasy teens with bad curtains for
hair. They pressed themselves against you before
travelling to the next girl in leopard
print skirt. Viva forever was merely
a fantasy ; one I’d dream the whole of
the nineties, hoping my teenage self could
find her inner strength, her true girl power.

Napo 6- IreneShe left you a letter
outwitting at last the greatest.
A photograph, filched;
a King’s humiliation.
In your eyes she
holds the highest.

Napo 5- In the ParkWe can’t forget the
sunglasses. If we do,
we’ll be conspicuous.

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Threadbare Doll

by ^Beccalicious, May 1, 2009, 9:21:29 AM
Literature / Poetry / Narrative / Free Verse

Playing with threadbare doll,
Hestia waits
along a dusty path of rubble and dim lights.
The child hums, sweetly,
her own rhythmic fantasy adhered;
absent from the night of gunfire and blood.

High above on waning clouds
the Goddess is weeping;
she reaches for the girl--
the hearth of home is extinguished.
And the threadbare doll
has pleasure as she dances
between little grey pebbles
and the hands of the child.

Playing with threadbare doll,
Hestia waits
The child will soon see her.
The barefoot child with dirty
dress and dirty face crouched
over the ballroom floor
listening to invisible song.

Child, let me lift your head
and have a look at you.
Look into my ancient eyes,
take comfort in my smile.
Child, let me aid you
to find those you love
and reunite you.

She lifts her head as instructed
lets her doll descend to the ground
Hestia has brought her back
to the night of gunfire and blood.
The sadness inside her roars
whilst her pale face swells red.
Two blue eyes glance to the left.

Picking up her threadbare doll,
blue eyes simmer tears
she runs with anguished cry.

Under crushed wooden beams
Under broken glass and cracked bricks
bloodied burnt bodies lie limp.
the hearth of home is extinguished.

Threadbare Dollby ^Beccalicious

Literature / Poetry / Narrative / Free Verse

UPdated 13/09/09- Just a bit of tweaking and revisiting an old poem I have a fondness for. Probably needs a lot more work.

Did you know in mytholody Hestia never really ventured the world? Maybe this is why.

I know my poetry isn't that great and this time last week I was actually considering stopping writing poetry altogether. This one just seemed to slip out in quiet work time.

Critique welcome.

The Artist has requested Critique on this Artwork

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`Xerces Jul 12, 2010 Professional Artisan Crafter

Such a beautiful piece! Amazing imagery and with such emotional detail too. I love how you've likened the girl with the doll to the goddess

great job

^Beccalicious Jul 14, 2010 Professional Writer

Thank you very much! I love it when people discover older pieces of work and enjoy them

`Xerces Jul 14, 2010 Professional Artisan Crafter

i can understand that! especially since most of my work is now old

~PaperDart May 17, 2010 Writer

I really like the projection you create from the doll to the child to Hestia. It seems to suggest that the continuum could go on infinitely, with everybody watching somebody and in turn being watched by someone else.

That leads me to think that Hestia's attempt to help the child might be a distraction from a bigger problem, like the child's playing with the doll is a distraction. Neither of them seem to work though; just as the child is brought back to the fighting, Hestia is forced to face the reality of pain when she tries to help the child.

This speculation makes me curious about who the step above Hestia is. When the hearth of the home is extinguished, I think I could be reading that on several levels. It's very interesting.

I feel like this poem is showing us reflections of reality, each one exposing bitterness, but perhaps, beneath that, a little hope too. None of us are alone.

The only downside is that occasionally the words didn't strictly fit together in sentences. I'm surely it's at least partially a style issue, but if you ever do decide to revise further, it might be worth thinking about. (For instance, 'blue eyes simmer tears' isn't entirely correct, since 'simmer' is an intransitive verb. The image is lovely in spite of that, but it might be even lovelier revised.)

I enjoyed the description in the poem a lot. You don't tell us a lot, but the strokes you do paint are definitive enough that it's hard not to fill in the gaps. I have a very clear mental picture of this scene. It's certainly well written!

^Beccalicious May 18, 2010 Professional Writer

Thanks for such a thoughtful comment. I have a soft spot for this poem and the fact you drew so much insight makes me feel good about the content. It really does need a good polish soon though! Xxx

`CreativeJenn Jan 1, 2010 Professional Digital Artist

Poor small-minded girl.

Innocence has died now-a-days.. even a 2-year old has been stabbed with an image of parental fights, molestations, and murder... we try our best to keep them in their happy fantasy.. but conflict arises in the process of doing so.

Still..we can dream forever. Reality will always be here.

*msklystron Sep 29, 2009 Professional Digital Artist

I liked this even better on second reading. Playing (fantasy) is an escape mechanism we all have, but are closer to as children. Hestia had to learn this the hard way, I guess.

Very sad and lovely. Don't stop writing poetry. For prose writers it can be a good way to work out ideas with few words.

~erinyx Sep 27, 2009

^{FEATURED! [link]}

!undeniably Sep 21, 2009 Writer

This is beautiful......and I adore mythology, so you've won me lol.

~eldestmuse Sep 18, 2009

Hestia/Vesta is one of my favorite goddesses. In fact, my website is "Vestal Flame" and the first thing on there is the traditional prayer to Vesta.

That said, I loved this poem, not only because Hestia is so oft-ignored, but because it's an incredibly powerful piece that pulled me in and merited an emotional reaction--which is incredible, because I very rarely enjoy poetry at all.

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Threadbare Doll

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