18 January 2014 - 2:48 pm

Writers’ Asylum: Altered Perspectives

Last year, I ran the first ever Writers’ Asylum. It was a crazy day: 6 challenges in 6 hours, each one to write 1,000 words on the prompt that was given.

Afterwards, I solicited feedback, and got loads of useful input. Big thanks to everyone who chipped in their 2 cents! You help me make this event better and I’m always willing to try something out to see how it works.

I don’t do this stuff for me. I do these events so that people will come and have a good time, and hopefully get something useful or positive out of it. That’s what I like to do. I can take a guess at what people will enjoy but input is always useful.

This year’s Asylum is coming along great. I have most of the details sorted out now! Check out the page for the full run-down.

In brief: it’s going to be on Saturday 12th April, running from 11am to 5:30pm (Brisbane / Australian EST time), at the same on- and offline locations as before.

Changes made for this year’s Asylum:

• It has a theme: Altered Perspectives. Last year was all about a broad spectrum of challenges and subjects. This year, following an attendee’s suggestion, we’re focussing on a single theme: point of view. Each challenge will involve a different kind of POV character, and again the aim is to go for something you probably haven’t tried before. Get out of your comfort zone. Get out of your own head.
• There are 5 challenges, not 6. Last year, the schedule was very tight and very hectic. This was partly on purpose, but it got tiring towards the end of the day. This year, there is a 10-minute break between each back-to-back challenge.
• You’re allowed some lunch. Again, to help our poor, challenged writers, I’ve inserted a lunch break into the schedule. You’re welcome!

And that’s it! Everything else is the same. Listen to/read the prompt, then write 1,000 words within an hour on it.

The page is updated with all the info (including the schedule). The Coffee Club tables are booked. The challenges are drafted (I write the challenges myself).

All that’s left to do is polish up the challenges, get the posts scheduled up and ready to go, and finish off some advertising/coordinating tasks.

We’re almost there. Soon, the Asylum doors will open… and eat you.