An innovative platform for writers has emerged on Daily Kos, offering a space for authors to share their work and receive feedback. The new initiative, titled “Fiction Works-in-Progress,” encourages writers to showcase microfiction, serialized stories, and excerpts from larger projects. This weekly community diary aims to foster collaboration and support among fiction writers.
Participants are invited to post their chapters and excerpts in the comments section of the Fiction Works-in-Progress diaries. Writers can highlight their contributions by using a specific header format, ensuring that readers can easily track their work week by week. To facilitate constructive feedback, authors are encouraged to indicate their desire for critique in bold text. The initiative promotes actionable advice, steering clear of vague comments, and emphasizing sincerity in responses.
The community aims to create a positive environment where writers feel comfortable sharing their progress. Authors are advised to consider their readiness for feedback before making requests. This collaborative spirit extends to the diary’s organization, with contributors taking turns to lead the discussions.
Structure and Participation Guidelines
Writers wishing to participate must follow a few straightforward steps. First, they should copy the necessary boilerplate text from the previous week’s diary into a blockquote in their draft. Next, they must apply relevant tags to their submissions, including the series tag “FictionWIP” and additional tags pertinent to their work. On their scheduled date and time, they can publish their diary, transforming it from a draft into a fully interactive post.
For those looking to expand their readership, sharing the diary’s URL within the community is encouraged, allowing others to reblog and amplify their work. Participants are also reminded of the potential risks involved in sharing unpublished manuscripts online, as many publishers and agents may decline submissions previously available in any form.
Writers who do not intend to publish elsewhere may find less concern in sharing their work publicly. This new initiative is part of the broader “Readers & Book Lovers” series, which includes a variety of themed discussions and events throughout the week.
Schedule of Events
The “Readers & Book Lovers” series offers a structured schedule for engaging discussions. Events are held regularly, with a diverse range of topics. Notable sessions include “Let’s Talk BOOKS” hosted by Angela Marx on Sundays at 16:00 EST, and “The Language of the Night” led by DrLori on Mondays at 20:00 EST. The series also features sessions dedicated to genres such as LGBTQ literature, contemporary fiction, and classic poetry among others.
The “Write On!” diary, which takes place on Thursdays at 20:00 EST, serves as a key platform for writers to share their work. Interested participants can sign up for future diary slots by commenting on the latest entries.
This initiative promises to support writers in their creative endeavors while building a community that values constructive critique and collaboration. As participation grows, the platform is poised to become a vital resource for fiction writers looking to refine their craft and connect with fellow authors.