When All Was Said and Done...

Florida Still Could not Make a Decision

Welcome to another weekly installment of the Valucre Blog, and unlike the Florida, you can be sure that we know what we want and how we're going to get it! What we want is some more Valucre, right?

Alright, let's leave Florida alone. At least this year their indecisiveness has not had any effect on the election nor has it has it in anyway delayed you getting your blog. So, without further ado, let's get this thing going!

What's Happening Valucre?

Spinal Chills Contest Results- Hey, the first annual Spinal Chills contest ended in a four way tie, if you can believe it. The winning works were: "Armin's Dead Lullaby" by Armin, "Spinal Chills" by Acies, "The Tragedy of Venus" by Phoenix Afire, and "Getting Her Back" by Blue Shoelaces. Congratulations to the winners, and a BIG thank you to everyone who participated. This contest went well, and you can bet more will come down in the future. :D

NaNoWriMo- Hey, were you aware that this is National Novel Writing Month? Did you know that some of your fellow Valucreans are doing just that? Well now, if you want to get involved, it certainly isn't too late- you are just going to have to write at a good pace. If you start today, you'll need to average 2,174 words per day- which is achievable! If you know someone is working at it, cut them some slack and give them your encouragement, its a tough challenge! And if you want to do it and feel like some support might help, we do have a little group put together, found here. 

Looking for Leadership- As I am sure many of you are aware, Terrenus and Genesaris allow for you to have some leadership over certain lands, so long as you meet certain criteria. Well, one of Genesaris' subboards- the land of Gesen- is looking to do the same. If you'd like to contribute in some leadership direction with somewhere a little more down-scaled, with plenty of lore to work with- this might be the right place for you to come try it out and get your feet wet! Gesen Seeks Leadership

Help Wanted in Shrine City- Shrine City, a Southern Genesaris Capital suffering from growing pains, is in pursuit of committed writers who enjoy fleshing out roles and have the time to make some regular posting. A myriad of roles are available, and nearly every one is in some way guaranteed to get interaction from the main canon events affecting the city. If you want to be a part of the developing history, come see if something tickles your fancy. :) Help Wanted

Hunters' Guild- The Islyer's Gladiator beasts were set free from some unknown rebel group. This is creating quite the problem for the major entertainment group, and they need the help of some capable people to go and retrieve (or replace) creatures used in the pit fighting. Posts for this grouping should show some effort in tracking down and obtaining the creatures, but once you have done so, you can get some good VB payout. The amount varies based on the creature and the demand for the creature at the time. Come check it out. Monster Hunting

Blood tide on the SG Carrigan- Hey, someone tying the Dark Festival into actual canon- I love it! Anyway, this individual is chronicling his character's departure from Genesaris and his subsequent trip to Terrenus. This is intended to be a dark and thrilling ride across the seas, on a supernatural path where destinies may intertwine and fates can be determined. How will your character shape his own future, the future of this dark being, or the world itself? Sounds like there's some good and gritty potential, folks should take a look at the thread and contact the author. Alter the Future

Question of the Week!

Another week, and another round of sadness for me. I thought my question was clever, but alas, I only had one person who rose up to the question. So, I thank that person for giving their answer and with all their reasoning behind it. I did have one person lend me a suggestion for a question, and this week I am going to use it, because I thought it was great. If you have suggestions or thoughts, PLEASE send them in to me. I just might use it! 

The Question: Which character of any fictional media (comics, stories, movies, etc) would you elect as leader of your country?

Answer: 

Superman- Because he's super strong and an intrinsically good guy, and nobody would fuck with him, so he could take care of all crime everywhere, and with the prez out of the way, the rest of us could focus on running the country.

Let's see if we can do better next week. I know things have been busy, but keep in mind- every response is an entry for a $5 e-card to a place of your choice from previous places listed, or one of your suggestion, assuming it's feasible. 

Question for the Week:

What is your writing music? I think we've had a thread on this at some point, but I like it nonetheless. What are some things you like to listen to while writing? Is it one song, one band, one genre? Give us your examples. :)

Say Hello to Our New and Returning Friends!

Must be the time of year, but we have a pretty short list of new faces for this week. As it is the month of thankfulness, let us be thankful for the new members we have, and extend our deepest and warmest welcomes to them. Hello newcomers, we hope you enjoy your new home. :D

Welcome, Zorthul

Welcome, Whatthethundersaid

Welcome, Thorne

Welcome, Green_Rave

Welcome, Bosty23

And, let's give a hearty welcome back to one of well known members, who had to take a brief bit of time off to settle some real life events prior to returning. 

Welcome back Aleksei!

The amounts of new faces we get seems to flux with the events of the time and other factors, so I am not going to express disappointment in a shorter week, but rather focus on making sure that everyone here has a shot at getting the RP fix they need. Welcome to everyone, I hope we have what you are looking for- and if not, maybe we can create it together. ;)

Other Highlights?

One of these days, I'm going to remember to duck out of here right when this section rolls around. I just know that if I can time it right, no one will notice the missing highlights and jump straight onto other things. Right? RIGHT???

Anyway, here's your highlights, since yer twisting my arm about it. >_>

What's New- Well, with new styles and new setups, the What's New Tab is especially handy now. If you go to the What's New tab, you have an entire array of options laid out for you. First, it takes you to an activity stream that let's you see what is going on, at that time. Who recently posted where, what new threads are put up, who's been putting content into group sections, or perhaps new blogs? Of course, if this seems to broad for you, you also have easy access to the independent search features from here- New Posts, New Groups, New Blogs, etc. Handy stuff. :)

Additional Rep Info- Ever wonder who you might have repped most recently, or even how much rep you actually give? Well, with the new updates, you have access to it! If you go to your settings, where you see all the rep you have received, below this is a new section. It now shows your most recent rep giving history, as well as your total repping power. Now you have a good idea on your impact on others when you hand out some rep. Also- you'll note that you should get a notification when you receive rep- no more having to periodically check. ;)

What, a THIRD?- Yep, I am tacking on an extra just for today. I just want to remind you lovely folks that if you ever want to see something come up on the blog, you can submit it through the Forms Options in your General Tab. This works great for Highlights or What's Happening Valucre stuff, or even big announcements  I am also happy to take suggestions for Weekly Questions or closing thoughts if you have any, which can be shot to me via PM. In fact, if you have any kind of suggestions at all- feel free to let me know!

Closing Thoughts? 

Writing. 

It is one of those subjects where, even as I begin to organize my thoughts, I find I still have no idea where to begin, or even quite what I am looking to get after. Writing takes on different meanings for all of us, and how it influences our lives may have a unique relationship with you, or it might intertwine with the motives of many others. Perhaps the inconsistency is the only consistency, although I would venture to say there is at least one other: Those of us who do it regularly have relationships with our craft that sometimes surpass the depth and complexity of our relationships with other real people. 

The meaning of writing is unique to us all, and what words we use to describe this dynamic may resonate with one and not with another. To one person, writing may be very process in which they breathe, eat, and sleep. For others, it is merely an exercise in putting thoughts from chaos into order, binding them to reason through the bonds of words. 

It might be your lover; the presence that lies beside you on cold dreary nights while you’re alone and afraid, whispering soft and comforting words just to see you through the evening. It might be your passion; the force that sweeps you off your feet and fills you up inside, burning away old scars and dark memories, giving life to the dreams you thought you could never share. Perhaps it is neither of those, but simply an old friend, who comes around every now and then, giving words to things you could never say before. 

We devote a great deal of energy to writing, at least- any of us who do it beyond the times it’s required. Our reasons might intersect and intertwine, finding common cause and similar means, but to each of us, these reasons are our own, and what writing means to me is not necessarily going to resonate with you. Each of us see this exercise in our own ways, and some of us give more alliteration to the act than others. Some call their muse a living presence beyond themselves, others- perhaps only an extension from within. 

What does writing mean to you, and what is it you pursue as you bleed on every piece of paper? 

I ask not to achieve answers, but merely for the thoughts. In knowing what we are writing for, we can look at our process under new light, and perhaps pursue what it is that eludes us so often- the truth of what we really want. Expression? Validation? The reasons are uniquely yours, and they matter not to anyone else but you. Discover for yourself, what that reason is and what exactly writing means to you. 

In knowing what you pursue, you’ll know where to look. ;)

I hope that makes sense to some of you, at least have as much as it does to me. Have a great week folks. 

- Acies

“All writers are vain, selfish and lazy, and at the very bottom of their motives lies a mystery. Writing a book is a long, exhausting struggle, like a long bout of some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand.” 

 ~George Orwell