What's the best writing advice you've received/read about, and actually applied to your writing?

I recently read an interview with *I think* Alice Hoffman(?) Sorry, I don't remember for sure, but I remember the advice. She said that every time she finishes a story, she goes back and reads the first chapter to make sure that even though the characters have grown, she hasn't deviated too much and keeps the original tone of the story.

It seems pretty simple and obvious, but I thought it was awesome advice. Now, even if my head is off a little when it comes to my characters/plot, or I feel like they're starting to be written a little ooc, I go back and read early chapters. It's so helpful!

Also, I have to say that Ernest Hemingway on Writing is full of the greatest writing tips/advice ever! (Just don't do what he did in the end, please!)

http://www.amazon.com/Ernest-Hemingway-Writing-Larry-Phillips/dp/0684854295/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330104276&sr=8-1

The forest is always full of love for the big Twilight stars, but what about the rest? 

Lets pretend Rob, Kristen, Taylor, Peter, Jackson and all the Cullen lot don't exist.... who would you love to meet? Who ahve you met? Have you seen any in other roles and thought they were awesome? Anyone you're excited to see in BD part 2?

Personally I am loving a lot of the nomads for Breaking Dawn and i hope they get tons of lines because they are so nice! 

this is Toni Trucks and she is playing Mary and she is soooo lovely and sweet! I notice a lot of the lesser known cast members make time for their fans and treat them so much better than the bigger ones do (not saying they treat us badly or anything though) But yeah, the other wolves, the volturi, those nomads, i have met so many of them now! lmao And they are so nice!

Daniel Cudmore is pretty damn hot in person.... so is Noel Fisher (bd part 2) and there is no one sweeter than Booboo, seriously! (he is growing up so fast!) Oh! and Myana Buring, she is funny and sassy and cool lol. 

But yeah, is there anyone in the cast you love but don't get to gush about often? Any other roles you've seen people in that you think others should see? I know Charlie Bewley had a new film come out, any one seen that yet? Booboo also has a new film coming out that looks like a bit of a tear jerker. 

I saw the request for some crazy Esme stories earlier but I am feeling some crazy Carlisle stories personally. Hmmm, any rich boy with the rich father who unapproved stories? Or just some wacky Carlisle at all. Throw them all at me!

My rec:

A Rough Start By ItzMegan73

Overnight irresponsible Edward goes from bachelor to father of a 5 yr old. Meanwhile responsible, prepared Bella begins her first job as Kindergarten teacher at Forks Elementary. When irresponsible meets the epitome of responsible, sparks will fly!Twilight - Rated: M - English - Angst/Romance - Chapters: 41 - Words: 256,434 - Reviews: 22094 - Updated: 8-31-11 - Published: 8-20-09 - Bella & Edward - Complete

(It also as a bonus has a not so sane Carlisle in it)

free for all weekend is here

well, hello.

it's free for all! post whatcha want (just no n00dz or words that american television would bleep on the front page, please).

support your local forest rangers and click an ad while you're at it, eh?

i thought we'd use this campfire for two reasons- 

1) tell me what it was that brought you here to ADF

and/or

2) share music you've recently discovered

brand new gorillaz/andre 3000/james murphy (from lcd soundsystem) that is also available as a free, LEGAL download by clicking on this link fyt:

eta: adding a gif for my time because the song is making me shake mah ace, but it's also for tor's time:

Please help a girl out.  Our computer is jacked and I THOUGHT that I had all of my stories on my NOOK, but it looks like I'm missing one.  Does ANYONE have a copy of "The Best Man"? 

Pleasepleasepleaseplease?!

FYT:

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3530499/1/An_Unexpected_Life

An Unexpected Life » by tekhne

Jacob stopped Bella from jumping. Edward eventually returns, but has some trouble finding Bella. AU, BxJ

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7770738/10/Tender_is_the_Night

http://www.adifferentforest.com/Fiction/Title/920/Tender_is_the_Night/10

NO! The END! Sigh...come on in and let's chat about it...

There ARE spoilers...

So, in general, Thursday nights/ Friday mornings here are quiet. I say we salute the people who keep the site running.

For the next 11 weeks, I think we should give some love to the rangers. They probably get paged more than we know, have to deal with more than we realize, carry on outside lives but still  try to make this a cool site for fun people to hang out on. So let's give some love to the rangers:

Let's start with the first ranger from the Contanct Us tab: Tor (or torsstupidbigmouth? I think)

Tor is an alpha ranger, one of the people who started ADF. I believe she has a thing for Henry Cavill and I think she and Billy Burke (Charlie from the Twilight movies) have an on-going thing. 

So, let's give some love to this week's highlighted Ranger and say Thank You Tor!

Pocket Change epilogue just posted - FF isn't being the best with alerts!

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7122044/32/Pocket_Change

So sad to see this one end! What did you think?

Again, by Erika Christakis

What Do Women Want: The Cinematic Wasteland of Female Fantasy (Part One)

I think the pic is beautiful, but if it's too ew let me know and I'll remove it. Soon though 'cause I'm going to bed! Rangers, feel free to remove/replace it

ETA: Her part TWO is here

ETA II: HER EVEN MORE INTERESTING PART THREE IS HERE

Just going to leave this here ready...

Come back and discuss once you've read!

XOXO

This is the campfire of Self Promotion: THE PIMP CAMPFIRE.

Tell us about what you or a friend write. 

If you beta something fantastic, let us know. 

If you are hosting a contest, tell us about it.

Don't be shy!

This week, try something a little different.

Instead of just posting a regular pimp with your summary and a link, tell us about your two main characters. Are they smart and funny? Dark and cranky? Hot and smoldering? Give us a peek into what your characters are all about. 

Remember to link it as well!

I want to read the stories where Esme is kind of crazu or evil, not a usual nice one. Please tell me fics like those..

My recommendation..

The procrustean bed

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6991264/1

So i was on tumblr and this popped up in my feed. I swear I stared at it for like 20 mins trying to figure out what the heck rob is doing? So I've been coming up with the most outrageous answer this is my best one.

He's doing his annual mating dance.

What do you think he's doing?

To make this more interactive have you seen any pic's or gif's of any twi cast members and wondered what the heck is going on? Post them too. Let's figure it out with the craziest answer we can up with.

So Snapdragon updated!

I need someone to read this chapter first because I don't know if my heart can take it! Please read and lets discuss!

I asked for ranger permission so I hope this is okay.

I am sure many of you have read Guardian by Champagne Anyone and know that she has been ill for awhile. I did not realize how sick she was. I found out tonight that she is losing her battle with cancer. SheViking notified people on FB and asked us to keep Ally in our prayers. We are part of a wonderful fandom. We donate thousands of dollars through FGB and other causes.

Please lets keep Ally in our prayers. The power of prayer can work miracles. It can heal when doctors can not.

REC is Ally's story. She hasn't updated since September but it is still a good read.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5744663/1/Guardian

Orphaned at 8, Bella Swan is placed in the care of her God Mother Esme Cullen. Heiress to Cullen Swan Enterprises, Bella grows up hero worshipping 17 year old joint heir, pseudo step brother and self appointed guardian Edward. ROMANCE ANGST DRAMA

There is also a blog called Wishes for Ally. You can leave her some love and support.

www.wishesforally.blogspot.com

Thank you

There have been a lot of amnesia campfires this week so I figure this weekly help desk is just in time!

As always, the weekly help desk is your place to ask questions:

Did you forget the name of a fanfic?

Do you have a request for a special kind of fanfic?

Do you want to know what happened to an author or a story?

Do you have a question about ADF and how it works?

In addition to this, you can ask questions about pretty much anything at all this week.

Want to know how to deal with your boyfriend's mother?

Not sure of the proper way to groom a standard poodle?

Want to make an souffle but don't know anything besides the main ingredient?

This is your campfire. Ask away! Many people like to answer!

let's have a sexual frustration CF

aka post stuff that turns you on

or vent out your own real life/internet life UST stories here

and we will respond appropriately with advice, gifs, or a;sldkfj;aslkdfj;slakjdf

lol already this post is DEFINITELY nsfw/l/c 

Why are people saying it's going to replace it or be the next big thing? I don't know much about THG, but I can't see that happening. I'm guessing the writing is better, and it is possible that it will attract more men. However, I highly doubt women of all ages will go crazy over it, or even go to see it, like we they did with Twilight.

is it just me? Am I missing something?

BEAT THAT THG (and look at her mouth in the second picture lol) for your time

We've heard about your username in rpattzbaby's cf below....

But what about your avatar??

Tell us the how, why or wtf that makes your avi, you.

This has been on my mind since Halawia melted my computer with the clip explaining her previous avi!

Lately I've been noticing a lot of fics that are linking to images where the author shows what the characters are wearing. IN. EVERY. SCENE. 

I found one the other day where it showed a dress Bella wore out for a date, complete with the thong she was wearing underneath. Is this really necessary? Does showing the stroller she uses every time she takes her son out add to the plot? Doesn't that kind of take away from the story telling, almost like making it a picture book? If authors can't find the descriptive words, maybe they should let people use their imaginations instead.

I've seen pictures authors have posted of engagement rings, cars, lingerie, house layouts, you name it. All are, of course, way out of the characters' price range. (Bella works at Walmart but wears $200 dresses every day? I don't think so.)

To me, this distracts from the story the authors are trying to tell. I don't care about every detail of the outfit a character is wearing. Tell me "short, red dress" and I'm good to go. If I see a long paragraph seemingly all about someone's appearance, I skip it.

So maybe these polyvore pictures are making things easier. By taking away the unnecessary exposition relating to physical appearance in the story (and leaving it somewhere else) I can ignore much more easily. 

So for the interactive portion, do you look when authors link to outfits and such? Do you find outfits for your characters? Am I just over-reacting? I'll post an image inside so you can see what I'm talking about.