This isn't quite on topic, but this is still the only people this is going to effect.

I'm going to spare you all the guilt trip/rally and just say that I can't keep up with everything happening in the O-Lit, and my moral's been shot to hell lately because of it. I don't know, I just feel like we hardly support each other after someone new posts a new character, it's just a ghost town there, and there's where people are pouring out their hearts into their stories. Every event I hosted I hoped to just spur a small sense of unity, I was hoping to lead by example with the CnCs there and I was even hoping the Mod Poll could make us all come together when we unified for an upset. I don't know where it went wrong or why, but apparently it didn't.

I'm sorry I failed you guys, but I need to go before I leave and never come back, just to recover a little of the gas in my tank.

I'll see you in maybe a month. Take care.

Azure though, this doesn't effect our battle. I'll still be checking the Google Doc.

Well, if it means anything, I'll make it my mission to log on every day, and get to critiquing, voting, and helping people in any way I can. I'm a little disappointed that it took you leaving, Hewitt stepping down, and the lounge caving in on itself a bit for me to finally step up to the plate on this one, but I'll be dropping a few projects in favor of helping folks out, at least until I can plant both feet on the ground and balance things out again. Good luck, mate.

The wheel of time turns, ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legends fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten as the age that gave its birth comes again.

My favourite quote from my favourite book series. Why do I say this? There has been times that this section went cold, but it always has a way of eventually getting heat again. Thus we can do our best for rebirth, but it will inevitably get going anyway

Things don't heat up by themselves, mate. Someone has to stick around and rub their hands together. But not a bad quote, Saul.

Hey Chrome, long time no see. Been keeping well?

Wasn't quite sure where to put this, so I thought this would be the best option...

I have a question. Everytime I try and start writing something, I'm immediately stuck. On what, you ask? The intro.

I've always been [extremely] uncomfortable with the way I start my stories, and even as I've progressed in my writing abilities, it still bothers me. I don't seem to be able to word correctly, or things just start abnormally. I just don't know how to start. I've asked a few people from the forums for help, and they've graciously given me their insight, but I still don't seem to get the hang of it.

I thought it might be a good idea to put here, in the discussion and help section, because I want it to help newer writers as well. So I guess the question is:

How do you start a story?

Hmm, I always start it with a line of dialogue from some person other than the protagonist and then the protagonist engaging in some typical activity responds in some way.
So for example, they wake up to their girlfriend berating them for constantly leaving the house to go do soldiering stuff and then I detail the house he's in and proceed to have him break up with the girl and never mention the house again.
More a personal style of mine, either that or I start off describing a cataclysmic event.

Whenever I begin writing, I think of the themes that I want to convey and what I want the end result of the story to be. From there, I throw in the characters, specifically how they will go about their goals given their unique capabilities and personalities, and how they will mesh together. For me, it tends to develop naturally from there.

My personal preference? I like beginning at the end. And then build events up to the point it ended. Man has revolver in hand and blood spilled across the kitchen floor. Then cuts to where he's all happy and stuff and thus build expectations which are great to fulfill.

Just don't use something like "once upon a time" unless it is really epic. XD (Just joking here)

Remind me to do something stupid with seven-hundred words later.

Quote from SaulMurphy

The wheel of time turns, ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legends fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten as the age that gave its birth comes again.

My favourite quote from my favourite book series. Why do I say this? There has been times that this section went cold, but it always has a way of eventually getting heat again. Thus we can do our best for rebirth, but it will inevitably get going anyway

Wheel of Time. *nods in approval*

You finished reading A Memory of Light?

So I'm considering writing a short [probably not so short] story thing for Kodi to see if I can get any character development done with her outside of battle, and maybe have her get a power or something. If I get it done, I'll add it to her stuff and post it here for you guys.

I like her how she is, if she got a power or something I'd prefer it to not be something magical or whimsical. Could just deck her out with some cooler kit.

Nah. Personally, in considering light manipulation, sorta like Artemis and the moonlight thing. It'd be cool to mess with light barriers.