JNC Writing Support Group
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@jazzyjeoff Which Fruits Basket? The original or the recent remake? It might get me condemned but I actually prefer the remake.
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@Damon-Cavalchini Oh wow! I just noticed there are two. The one I am watching is the remake.
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@Damon-Cavalchini said in JNC Writing Support Group:
@jazzyjeoff Which Fruits Basket? The original or the recent remake? It might get me condemned but I actually prefer the remake.
I meant the original. I didn't know there was a remake.
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@admin Would it be a problem for writers to make their own threads about their stories when they want to request feedback? Or should we keep all of the feedback discussion contained to one or two threads?
Edit: As per the suggestion made by @morbelek below, would it be possible to create a sub-forum dedicated to writing discussion?
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@Alfaerin said in JNC Writing Support Group:
@admin Would it be a problem for writers to make their own threads about their stories when they want to request feedback? Or should we keep all of the feedback discussion contained to one or two threads?
Not sure what admin will say, but It might be good to have separate threads that you can link to when needed. It could get confusing otherwise. Maybe whoever is in charge of the master thread can have list of stories to be reviewed at the top of the master thread and update it as needed. Folks can mention their stuff occasionally on the master thread, but detailed discussions could be on separate threads. Anyway—it’s an idea.
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@jazzyjeoff That's what I was thinking too, but Damon Cavalchini was concerned the moderators might not be happy with it if too many threads get made. So I thought it would be best to get permission in advance if possible ^^
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@jazzyjeoff @Alfaerin See if the moderators can make a dedicated sub-forum in the other discussion. Like how Manga Discussion, Prepub Corrections, and Ascendance of a Bookworm are their own category because of how big they are.
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@Alfaerin said in JNC Writing Support Group:
@jazzyjeoff That's what I was thinking too, but Damon Cavalchini was concerned the moderators might not be happy with it if too many threads get made. So I thought it would be best to get permission in advance if possible ^^
I doubt they care. It’s not contaminating any of their important threads and it keeps paid eyeballs on the forums—it’s a cheap win for them. Anyway, we will hear from them if they are upset (don’t ask me how I know! 🤪)
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@jazzyjeoff @Alfaerin and everyone else
Great points. Maybe we can keep this thread for general discussion and encouragement (especially for next week) and the forum (great idea) dedicated to actual stories, reviews and feedback. That way we can a specific thread for a work (e.g. all the chapters in the same thread or a standalone short story or similar).
I am nervous about the potential proliferation of threads but if we can contain them then that would be great.
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Alright, the review thread is officially live! As mentioned in the new topic, please wait for @Damon-Cavalchini to post the first response. That post will be edited to include a list of works awaiting review. Let me know if anyone has any questions, corrections, or suggestions!
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@Alfaerin Thanks. I've made the reply and added something to test this works. I suspect the main push will come next week after the first round announcements are made (even though everyone here will get through).
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Linky-dink to review thread—Click Me!
@Alfaerin said in [https://forums.j-novel.club/topic/7938/jnc-writing-group-feedback-thread):
Alright, the review thread is officially live! As mentioned in the new topic, please wait for @Damon-Cavalchini to post the first response. That post will be edited to include a list of works awaiting review. Let me know if anyone has any questions, corrections, or suggestions!
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Welcome to announcement weekend everyone. Although, given the Easter holidays around the world, I wouldn’t be surprised if the announcement was delayed by a week or so.
Still, fingers crossed and hopes for everyone here.
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@Damon-Cavalchini said in JNC Writing Support Group:
I wouldn’t be surprised if the announcement was delayed by a week or so.
On that note, Sam mentioned on Discord (link if you partake) that they're a little behind on where they want to be on the judging.
I will however promise an email by the end of the month
MAYBE that email will explain how we need some more time
and give a progress report
But I dunno maybe I will finish perfecting my hyperbolic time chamberSo don't be surprised Pikachu if you have to wait a bit longer. Its good in my opinion that they take whatever time they need to give everyone a proper shot.
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@Hylebos - I completely agree. I’d prefer every story was fairly and equally considered.
It is not as though there is anything I can do about it anyway.
Won’t stop me regularly checking my email this weekend though :)
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I am not sure if there is a good way to do this: Spoiled ten-year-old girl, who is essentially a princess, would sneak out of a castle/estate to see what life is like in her maid’s home in a shantytown. She needs to get out of the walled estate and back without being missed and not be discovered a s princess during her trip.
I am playing this straight—not for humor—it needs to be believable for her age and no magic.
Ideas:- Feigning illness and pretending to be a maid on leave. Guessing that the maid that she is visiting would also be sneaking out. Folks would have to believe her maid is taking care of her room.
- Going on an outing with castle’s one female knight and convincing her to go with her. The female knight is rather large —would she be less conspicuous in the shantytown dressed as a maid or a man?
- sneak out in a provisions cart—this was done in the previous volume to sneak to a market—but I would think she would have to hop out of the cart in transit—which might be a bit much. Would need a cover for the time she is gone. How would you make her not be missed.
Also, would a maid on leave wear a maid uniform or street clothes? Does it matter? Would it make sense to have a male relative to meet her to take her to the shantytown or would she walk unattended? How much of this do I have to explain to be believable?
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@jazzyjeoff said in JNC Writing Support Group:
I am not sure if there is a good way to do this: Spoiled ten-year-old girl, who is essentially a princess, would sneak out of a castle/estate to see what life is like in her maid’s home in a shantytown. She needs to get out of the walled estate and back without being missed and not be discovered a s princess during her trip.
I am playing this straight—not for humor—it needs to be believable for her age and no magic.
Ideas:- Feigning illness and pretending to be a maid on leave. Guessing that the maid that she is visiting would also be sneaking out. Folks would have to believe her maid is taking care of her room.
- Going on an outing with castle’s one female knight and convincing her to go with her. The female knight is rather large —would she be less conspicuous in the shantytown dressed as a maid or a man?
- sneak out in a provisions cart—this was done in the previous volume to sneak to a market—but I would think she would have to hop out of the cart in transit—which might be a bit much. Would need a cover for the time she is gone. How would you make her not be missed.
Also, would a maid on leave wear a maid uniform or street clothes? Does it matter? Would it make sense to have a male relative to meet her to take her to the shantytown or would she walk unattended? How much of this do I have to explain to be believable?
With regards to 1) and your follow up questions, I don't know if a spoiled ten-year-old would have the knowhow to convincingly emulate a maid, unless the manners of the nobility and the maids are close enough. I feel as though a maid wearing maid clothes would be seen as on-business for the estate rather than being on leave, and procuring casual clothes for the outing would be an extra layer of difficulty. Whether or not a ten-year-old maid can walk unattended depends on the relative safety of your setting.
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seems the most likely, as you can lean on the knight being an adult and having a better idea of how to do things so it isn't purely the spoiled ten-year-old doing all the planning and leg work would lend whatever plan they come up with a lot more credence. Depends on the knight's background, of course.
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could work as long as it's clear to the reader she is casually using a mechanism she hopes to use repeatedly in the future rather than being disappointed that the author is repeating a plot that worked, though I can't think of any ideas for how to cover her absence in a way that works. Maybe this is the time she's finally caught?
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If you want to be realistic, I think option two with the guard dressed as a man would definitely be the most plausible. Having a cooperative adult who can help her navigate the obstacles massively increases her chances of success. When you say "maid," I assume you mean a lady's maid as opposed to say a scullery maid? A lady's maid is a much higher and better paid position, since it requires a great deal more knowledge and skill. They would be better dressed as well, and stick out like a sore thumb in a shanty town. It would be even harder for your princess convincingly pass herself off as one, too. Even if her face isn't recognizable, her mannerisms as a princess would likely give her away as not being a commoner. It's also difficult to imagine a ten year old possessing the skills and training needed to serve as a lady's maid. Anyone who met her should be suspicious and skeptical that she is who she's pretending to be, unless they're deliberately turning a blind eye. Another option for her sneaking out might be a secret passage used for emergency escape, though you might need to explain why she didn't consider this option before.
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@Alfaerin said in JNC Writing Support Group:
If you want to be realistic, I think option two with the guard dressed as a man would definitely be the most plausible. Having a cooperative adult who can help her navigate the obstacles massively increases her chances of success. When you say "maid," I assume you mean a lady's maid as opposed to say a scullery maid? A lady's maid is a much higher and better paid position, since it requires a great deal more knowledge and skill. They would be better dressed as well, and stick out like a sore thumb in a shanty town. It would be even harder for your princess convincingly pass herself off as one, too. Even if her face isn't recognizable, her mannerisms as a princess would likely give her away as not being a commoner. It's also difficult to imagine a ten year old possessing the skills and training needed to serve as a lady's maid. Anyone who met her should be suspicious and skeptical that she is who she's pretending to be, unless they're deliberately turning a blind eye. Another option for her sneaking out might be a secret passage used for emergency escape, though you might need to explain why she didn't consider this option before.
The way I wrote it is that since she is just ten, she doesn't have ladies in waiting—there is just a head maid (nanny) and junior maids who have no status. So the maid that she would be leaving with is a junior maid—and the “princess” would be pretending to be a junior maid-sculiry maid. (FWIW, she would not be a princess (duke’s daughter) until she is confirmed in the church at age 12). Other than distinctive looks—acting like a commoner won't be that hard (for reasons).
The downside of option 2 is a loss of drama and tedious logistics—part of the fun of having the protagonist be a child is that she does not have an adult’s appreciation of risk—and would go into a shantytown only accompanied by a junior maid. In other words, ten-year-olds do stupid things—and I want to embrace that! I just need a plausible way to get her out of the estate for 8ish hours disguised as a lower level maid—she can even fail spectacularly once she gets to the shantytown.
But I am not sure how I could even get the junior maid (and even the knight) to cooperate with the plan—since they are more aware that something bad can happen—and they could get in serious trouble with the duke. Even if she fakes an illness and the junior maid says she does not want to be disturbed in her room—is it plausible that she would not be caught for 8 hours? Maybe, I could have it discovered by the staff a few hours isn that she is gone but they are too terrified to do anything about it?
Anyway, if you are up for talking about this more—I would love to hear it. Sorry, if it sounds like I am being inconsistent or holding important things back—I am really working through this in my head—(I am not trying to be difficult). This is incredibly helpful and additional thoughts are super-appreciated!
