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Original PlagiaristsWelcome to `OfOneSoul's first issue of...
How To Be
:iconoplz::iconrplz::iconiplz::icongplz::iconiplz::iconnplz::iconaplz::iconlplz:
... and for the Hell of it, the fictional fiction writer himself,
Richard Castle, will be hosting this article's .gifs.
:iconwooooplz:
o·rig·i·nal [uh-rij-uh-nl]
adjective

belonging or pertaining to the origin or beginning of something.

new; fresh; inventive; novel.

arising or proceeding independently of anything else.

capable of thinking or acting in an independent, creative, or individual manner.

created, undertaken, or presented for the first time.
Issue #1
We're gonna be honest here, you guys. As touchy as the subject may be - it needs to be brought up, and [even more], it n

Sing Me A Swan Song ContestMy very first Literature Only contest...
Sing Me A
:iconsplz::iconwplz::iconaplz::iconnplz: :iconsplz::iconoplz::iconnplz::icongplz:

Wanna hear about it? :icontrollface:

Okay... calm the fuck down.

For those who don't know, allow me to explain...

What is a Swan Song?

"Swan song" is a metaphorical phrase for a final gesture, effort, or performance given just before death or retirement. The phrase refers to an ancient belief that the Mute Swan is completely silent during its lifetime until the moment just before death, when it sings one beautiful song.

What I'm looking for...

First of all, a Swan Song does not mean that your entry must be strictly related to Swans. Swan Song in itself

Dear Daddy's GirlDear Naive 15,

You're ignorant as Hell.

You dress in baggy blue jeans, wear an oversized hoodie every day, and never let your hair down. Students at school, and even your mom, think you're gay… and you don't even know.

All of your classmates blame you for a burn book that circulated after that Mean Girls movie. Everyone thinks you're a jealous bitch and secretly they mock you. How can you not see that?

Your teachers are all positive that you cut yourself and that you're always on drugs. Even now you have no idea why they ask you to take your jacket off during class. Could it be that you always wear long sleeves?

It's okay, sweetheart.

Disillusioned

"You girls need a ride?"

October looked up, letting her eyes stray from the gravel beneath her feet. She had been walking along the highway for so long she had started counting her steps to pass the time, hoping that when she finally looked up she would see civilization. Abigail ran to the truck driver's passenger door, haphazardly pushing past October as if she had never ridden in a vehicle before.

October glared at the driver's soiled clothes, greasy hair, and crooked teeth. She imagined his smell which made her gag uncontrollably. It was as if his unkemptness was setting off red flags in her head: "Never talk to strangers. And never acce

The Doctors In"He's probably dead," Roger exclaimed as the two kittens giggled mischievously behind him.

Krystal and Amanda had arrived at Coleman Park appropriately attired for the evening. Their previously decided-upon costumes seemed much sexier in person than when Roger was helping them choose outfits at Wal-Mart. Being the edgy person that he was, he had politely declined their offer of buying a disguise for him. He had never celebrated the holiday, and instead purchased a t-shirt that furthered his rebelliousness with bright yellow text that read, 'I don't do costumes.'

His head down and his hands in his pockets, he paced himself up the paved hill

It's the ApocalypseRed sensors rotated and his gears resonated within him.
He could hear the mass silence that echoed endlessly;
no wind wafting through trees or horns blaring…

- only ghosts.

He sensed the crunch of metal and rust grinding
and the clank of disused limbs popping into place.
The mechanics of his body had forgotten basic processes…

- and he felt ancient.

Saved recordings worked through his hard-drive like memories
reminding him of times with oceans of cities, flocks of humans,
and towers so tall he could stand next to them and be called…

- brother.

The lenses of his eyes fluttered and a new world was upon him;
the sun

Submerged in Swan Lake

Swans and wings are floating by
on a breeze imbued with jasmine and
willows outstretching their arms in welcome.

Through deep breaths he arrives
plunged in murky, pungent water.
A quiet whisper, and he prays -

"Please... may I linger here?"

Willows lower their arms
and jasmine falls to the Earth
where the wind dies and finally rests.

The crows are cawing hymns,
begging to be swans.
But only the duck submerged in Swan Lake
has delved the desired shore.

Its waters dangerous and plagued
by monsters baring their teeth;
most ghastly and putrid they are
that no crow may ripple its surface
nor any songbird seeking beauty fair.

The Swan M

The Bride of AtlasShe met him when the world was new;
when wars were fought in the cosmos
and celestial beings deigned expose
and visit themselves upon the mortals.

In darkness he came to her;
somewhere between fantasy and the real,
disguised as a human, burly and firm
with want of a lover and yearning for release.

She knew him as a man
and he loved her as his wife.

A Titan he had always been
at battle with Olympians
who garnered all of humanity's love
and chose war over peace to keep it.

As lightning struck, thunder roared,
and waves destroyed the earth,
all grew quiet as Olympus rejoiced
and she knew that he had lost.

Zeus then rest upon

Writing Opportunities (Publishing)

Last updated 9th May 2013

We would love to hear feedback from people if they are using this! Have you entered something listed here? Have you won something? Are you actively using this? We want to ensure we are giving the community something worthwhile here- and please don't forget to add opportunities you find to the list too- the more people adding things, the better!
Hello all!
As writers, we always talk about “getting that piece published sometime” or “maybe submitting to a few places”, but how many of us actually eat our words and get on with it?
It was suggested that perhaps we could help nudge you guys by sharing with you the opportunities we know of. Personally, I'm not well explored, but what I do know is that the community is! Therefore this journal is a chance to share the opportunities you find.
How this is going to work?

If you find an opportunity, add a com

[CLOSED] The Alternate Universe Contestthis contest is now closed.
do NOT note me!
I will have to tell you it's not valid, and that'll make me sad.

With a tip of the hat to all the people who came up with alternate universes as a way to explore awesome, impossible ideas...I bring you the alternate universe contest for original literature!
This contest is open from January 18-February 18 (PST, aka dA time). No extensions.
The process is simple.
Start with one of your own stories. It doesn't have to be super-fleshed out, but it does need to be written down in some form, even if it's as simple as a series of character sketches and the world they live in.Change something important. There's a lot of options. Ask yourself 'what if X had happened differently' and go from there. Aside from changing key plot points, you may want to significantly alter a character (yes, genderbending is acceptable).
Write it down! Not completely willy-nilly; there will be guidelines, of course. Oh my stars and gart

Feedback For Favorites Contest

Created for `thorns' Complaint Challenge.
Feedback Generated As Of February 1st: 4,085
The Inspiration:
The +Fav and Run Phenomenon.
Have you ever received Favorites on your deviations, but did not receive any comments or critiques? Have you added a user's work to your Favorites, but never left them any comments or feedback on those pieces? Many would agree that while views and favorites are great, that comments and critiques are the most valuable. This contest aims to fill that void, by giving deviants a chance to return to the artwork they collected and provide feedback for it.
The Mission:
To leave Comments, Feedback, and Critiques on Deviations in your Favorites Collection.
Go through your Favorites Gallery, and comment on the deviations you find there that you did not leave a comment on. You may also

Winter Storms"I know I shouldn't."

Thor stared at the metal grates beneath his feet. His armor had grown heavy since the Avengers' victory against the alien invasion. Now that a war was prevented, he had to face his inner battle. Would he risk losing his brother again?

He sat in the back of the armored hummer provided by S.H.I.E.L.D, ignoring the trace blonde hairs that fell around his face. In a way, he hoped they hid his indecision. He brushed his hand against the side of his chin, relishing in the familiar sound of his stubble scratching his callused palms.

A low, muffled scoff resonated from the other side of the vehicle. Thor leaned back against t

Colors ContestPick a color, any color and write about it. Prose, poetry or stream of consciousness; it doesn't matter.
Guidelines

You must use only one color when writing your piece

Entries must include a link to this journal in the comments section

Prose can be no more than 2000 words and no less than 250 words.

Poetry can be no more than 75 lines including line breaks and no fewer than 3 lines

The piece must clearly define the color you have chosen, but does not have to name it directly

You must name the color you have chosen in the comments section

You do not have to be a member of the group #Daily-Lit-Deviations to enter, but we welcome you if you wish to join us

This contest is open to ever member of deviantART excluding judges.

Please post your entry at #Daily-Lit-Deviations in the Colors Contest folder.

This does n

The Dragon's HordeTales tell of the wretched beast who greedily hid his horde;
the wealth of his father's father lain deep in forgotten caves.
Many traveling bards grew weary of unfinished tales
of who would brave the mountain and the monster who guarded the gate.

He had never slain a dragon nor held a trace of gold,
but fables were born from truth and poor he should be no more.
The climb had left him bloody and scarred, but the cave was in his midst.
In his weary eyes could see a golden gleam of treasure assured.

He entered the fazing darkness on tremulous faith alone
with nothing but his dirty hands and subtly break

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The Bonds of Love

by `OfOneSoul, Dec 24, 2012, 1:51:25 PM
Literature / Poetry / Romantic / Erotic / Haiku & Eastern

Lover to lover,
but I am your prisoner;
chained up in the dark.

The Bonds of Loveby `OfOneSoul

Literature / Poetry / Romantic / Erotic / Haiku & Eastern

UPDATE:

Made it through round three of the tournament!

My fourth entry into the poetry tournament...

This is my entry for the third round of #poetry-book's Scratch That Poetry Tournament. As the rules stated, the participants could write about bondage... without including ~~overly depressing subject matter~~.

The theme for this round was bondage. It was meant to be a fun, easy one... and it was for someone like me.

In conjecture, the piece had to be written as a haiku as well.

By saying lover to lover I mean to say... I need to be punished - by saying but I am your prisoner I mean to say... I am yours to command.

And by saying chained up in the dark... well. I'm not the dominatrix here - am I?

Please let me know what you think. I'd love some feedback on this.

`OfOneSoul

, &

Critique by *shehrozeameen Dec 28, 2012, 11:42:18 PM

Your haiku was just as dark as you usually write, but was subtle enough to get the job done.

So as I found, the syllable count was correct. Appreciably so.

What I love most about this work wasn't the subtlety of it, but the opposite; this is a work which, if taken literally, is saddening...

I interpret it this way: the lover is locked up in the heart of her lover, as a result of which no matter how far she goes, she is always held back... because she is forever bound in the prison of that particular lover spoken thereof.

BUT, if taken subtly, it could mean a grieving loss for the particular person who is writing, keeping in mind that chained up in the dark could mean "your loss has left me without words to describe how I am".

The theme of bondage is clearly portrayed. And this haiku is good.

Well done

P.S. The emphasis on "your" and the italic on "lover" and the underline on "dark" are the reasons why I say that it could be taken at face value, subtly, or in any form (be it perverse or slightly inhumane). And they have been well used here.

What do you think?

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Critique by ~steverlfs Dec 26, 2012, 2:13:23 PM

The beauty of poetry is that it exists on its own, and really cannot be criticized. However, Haiku, with its rigid, unyielding form, forces you to place complex issues into a very small space. In my opinion, you have succeeded admirably. In this short space, you have captured the true feeling of love. True love is indeed a kind of binding, struggling in the darkness of doubt, fear and desire. It is both a frightening and wonderful experience. Oh yes, if you find yourself to be in this tempestuous state, you might as well get married. Trust me- it's the only cure.

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~SilverWynd Jan 24, 2013 Hobbyist General Artist

Your work has been featured here: [link]

`OfOneSoul Jan 24, 2013 Hobbyist Writer

Thank you for letting me know, darling!

`Infinite-Heart Jan 14, 2013 General Artist

Very powerful.
I love how short this poem is, and how much impact it has.

The use of italics and bold really add something.

Seems so sad! It really is beautiful though.