A Writing Poll for All Houses

[keristars.livejournal.com]

I am posting a poll because I've noticed that a LOT of people list writing as a hobby or ambition in their HiH applications. After the discussion on Slytherin the other day, which brought up points of the Jungian type (someone mentioned that respondants to certain Internet polls tend to be INFJ or INFP through self-selection), I was wondering if that sort of idea might apply to our community. At the very least, if there are a LOT of people who like to write, perhaps we could tailor more activities for writing - prose or poetry.

[Poll #575089]

Comments

[tangerinesidhe.livejournal.com]

I figured on the wanting to be a published author bit it required a bit of clarity.

My plans are to remain in academia. Currently I'm working towards a bachelor's degree in English Literature, with the intention of continuing on to PhD in either Anglo-Saxon/Medeival Literature or Medeival Studies. This means that my aspirations are not toward creative writing, but rather toward scholarly writing, and possibly criticism.

The reason I feel the need to clarify is that about half of the people in the Harry Potter fan community seem to fancy themselves future writers. Generally I don't like to be clumped into such categories, because my focus is completely different.

Destiny//Gryffindor

[keristars.livejournal.com]

The reason I feel the need to clarify is that about half of the people in the Harry Potter fan community seem to fancy themselves future writers.

*grins* That's why I put this poll up. It's like how everyone mentions "I like to read," but the intensity is different. I probably should have thought of more options, but it was very much a yes/no when I started wondering.

And then I posted without thinking that the answer might have relevance.

Also: I am SO with you on the Medieval Literature or Medieval Studies thing! I want to research folklore and folkcustoms of the Middle Ages and how they stem from Pagan customs but transform into Christian ones and affect religion and politics and, well, create new lore and customs. The Medieval period is simply fascinating. So much development in such a short span, yet without the sorts of technology we have today that expedites the development...
Except next week, I'll probably shift my focus to the Roman Empire and Norman Invasion and how folklore/customs are affected by conquerings and forced language changes. I can never decide which one is more fascinating, but were I to write professionally, it would probably be to expound on what I conclude, or to introduce those eras to chidlren.

[atalantapendrag.livejournal.com]

I've had some poetry, a non-fiction article (on snakes, no less), and a short story published. I'm more about the fanfic, though.

[keristars.livejournal.com]

Ack, another comment that makes me think I should redo the poll!


You're very prolific with the fanfiction, I think. In a good way.

[binka-boo.livejournal.com]

A great idea that we had at a forum I was on was a 30 word challenge. You are given 30 random words and you have to write a short (say 500 word) story including as many of those words as possible. The challenge of course is to include them all.
They were great fun and didn't really take up too much time but could still be really inspiring.

Jen//Gryff

[harl.livejournal.com]

I've had graphic novels published. But the writing is on a hiatus right now as I persue a masters in studio art.

[amarettolime.livejournal.com]

Does role playing count as writing as a serious hobby?

[keristars.livejournal.com]

You know, that's a good point.

I think yes. You don't intend to get published with it, but it's something you do regularly and intend to keep up.

Role playing is awesome. I learned a lot about writing from my seven years MOOing.

[britin.livejournal.com]

I've had some poetry published in high school and junior college and am currently working on a young adult novel that falls under drama/horror/romance... My goal is to be published by the time I'm thirty so I've got five more years and eighteen more chapters to finish.

Britin/Hufflepuff

[keristars.livejournal.com]

*grins*

I'm agreeing with you. I have fifteen stories rattling in my brain and I'm wary of writing them down, because they're my babies and I don't want people messing with them (except for editing, I suppose).

Luckily, I'm really lazy and I never get around to actually writing things down because I prefer to read. But, man, if I were to finish my Alien Detective children's novel, I'm positive that kids would love it. They like it when I tell the story during storytime, at least.


(yay English degrees!)

[arrivee.livejournal.com]

At the very least, if there are a LOT of people who like to write, perhaps we could tailor more activities for writing - prose or poetry.

I was actually thinking about bringing this up for hh_sugarquill. However, they'd still need to in some way relate to Harry Potter, character, or essay studies on it would still relate to it, and of course poetry is easily worked around that.

Katie // Ravenclaw

Quill & Parchment Club?

[keristars.livejournal.com]

What if it were a writing club, instead? Like with the art or reading club, I'm thinking -
Activities could be more constrained than for hh_sugarquill challenges, which may in turn help develop writing habits, like the writing club at my university (and I think there was one at my high school like that). It would make those who normally write prose to practice poetry, or vice versa, and perhaps introduce new styles, such as the Baudelaire-esque paragraph poetry.

Example: Write a five line poem using alliteration and end rhyme about Quidditch. OR Write a descriptive paragraph (no more than ten sentences, no less than three, when one sentence is ten to fifteen words) about a Quidditch play.

And before each challenge, whatever's being used could be explained with examples, such as the alliteration or end rhyme.

I would totally participate. Like right now, I'm working on a sonnet for the Herbology activity.


Keri // Hufflepuff

[hxcpunkchick.livejournal.com]

You should probably specify which type of writing one does.
I personally write poetry. But I only write it when the mood strikes me because that's when poetry is the best...it comes from the heart. (I was taught stream-of-consciousness poetry...where you don't think about what you're writing, you just write it from a prompt or from your heart) So when a mood strikes me, I'm seriously into it. Like write several poems a day for a few months at a time. But I haven't written any in about a year. Plus, because poetry is so personal to me, I rarely share it with others. Mostly only with close friends. Because I'm a private person and most of my writing is deeply personal. Except my crack writings. Like the one I wrote while watching a video in my college bio lab class. It was about plants and the music in the background sounded like it should have been in a porno. It was begging to be written about.

[hxcpunkchick.livejournal.com]

I must also mention that I have done some research work that was oh-so-close to being published. It was a Psych. experiment that I helped do on false memories. The paper seriously ate my brain for an entire semester. But I have never worked so hard on something in my life. Pretty dang good for a 19, almost 20 year old (at the time).

I also do personal research on period costuming (specifically British medieval, American Victorian, and the mid 60's) for females because I adore period fashion (some of my fave theatre classes...almost more so than the acting). And combined it with my love of Social Psychology and History...basically Social History (not so big on the military history though I excel at remembering the dates). I love seeing social change and it's effects on an individual, and how fashion may cause change first, or be an after-effect of a change. I really could care less if I get published on that anyways, because then I'd have to change my notes into something that'd be intelligible to someone that isn't me. It's a personal love of mine though.

Side Note: Halloween is my favourite holiday because of doing costumes/make-up. I plan so far in advance for it.