Hobby Thread - November 30, 2024 [TRex]

Welcome hobbyists! Pull up a chair and sit a spell with the Horde in this little corner of the interweb for the last whispers of November. This is the mighty, mighty officially sanctioned Ace of Spades Hobby Thread.

We gave the Ace of Spades Wheel of Hobbies(TM) a spin and it landed on a theme of the written word for this week. Apparently the Wheel is interested in hearing about the talents of the Horde who are clever with the written word. This is NOT a book thread. Repeat. This is NOT a book thread where we debate the contents of our libraries, revel in recent finds, and share regrets of books not yet read. Perfessor Squirrel maintains a marvelous venue elsewhere for that (but check the policy on pants before participating).

This is a thread about a those among the Horde who enjoy writing stories, essays, scripts for the screen, stage or airwaves. This is a thread about those among the Horde who enjoy good poetry, haiku and limericks. Are you the one who comes up with the joke or the dinner toast? Are you silver tongued? Do you write for your own giggles or do you share? Do you keep a notebook with you at all times for random thoughts, rhymes, and sketches? Do you doodle? Do you have a daily writing routine? Do you write in a diary or journal (with instructions to destroy upon your death, no doubt)? Do you write longhand with pen or pencil or write on a computer? Does anyone write on a typewriter? When you write, does your cat need to be RIGHT ON TOP OF WHERE YOU ARE WORKING?

Have you written works that nobody else will ever see? Are you a published author? Are you self published? Have you gone direct to publishing on your own website or substack?

From the left sidebar: the AoSHQ Writers Group has a private online forum for members of the Horde to post their stories seeking beta readers, editing help, brainstorming, and story ideas. Also to share links to potential publishing outlets, writing help sites, and videos posting tips to get published. Contact OrangeEnt for an invite or more info: maildrop62 at proton dot me

TRex has a small dinosaur brain and short arms that make it difficult to come up with words or reach a pen and paper or keyboard. Content below to get the conversation started, but looking for participation from our gray box friends. If meaningful to you, it will be meaningful to the Horde. Do not be shy!

As per usual Hobby Thread etiquette, keep this thread limited to the written and spoken word. Politics, current events and religious debates can live in threads elsewhere. Even though it is arguably religion, college football is fair game. Play nice. Do not be a troll and do not feed the trolls.

I asked ChatGPT to write two limericks about AoSHQ.

There once was a site, Ace of Spades, Where humor and snark never fades. With a post or a meme, It reigns supreme, In the land of sharp wit and charades!

On the web there's a site full of plays,
It's the wild, witty Ace of Spades.
With gossip and flair,
They joke without care,
Keeping trolls in a perpetual daze!

Not bad.

What happens when a frog finds a typewriter?

Self publishing - random resources found on the interwebs. I have never done it but very curious and would like to explore at some point. Any Horde members have knowledge or experience?

A Half Dozen Lessons About Writing and Getting a Book Published

9 Steps to Self Publishing on Amazon: A Comprehensive Guide for 2024

Kindle Unlimited Publishing vs. Publishing Wide

How to Self-Publish a Book on Amazon

An Authors Technical Guide to Self-Publishing a Book

Amazon restricts authors from self-publishing more than three books a day after AI concerns

Horde poetry:

Thank you NorCal Sierra Foothills Lurker!

Writing desks from early American history:

Thomas Jeffersons portable writing desk (of his own design) where he wrote the Declaration of Independence

Alexander Hamiltons Traveling Writing Desk

George Washingtons Writing Desk

Do you know the but and therefore rule for storytelling? Trey Parker and Matt Stone, known for South Park and Team America explain here:

Read more: What is the But and Therefore Rule in Screenwriting?

What is a haiku?

A haiku is a type of Japanese poem that always uses the same number of syllables in a three-line format:

the first line is five syllables
the second line is seven syllables
the third line is five syllables

Unlike other poems, haikus usually do not rhyme.

I asked ChatGPT to write a haiku about the AoSHQ. The results were dreadful. Can the Horde do better?

James May Opens Up About The Time He Got Fired From Autocar

May was in charge of putting together the annual Road Test Year Book for the magazine, which included 100 condensed reviews of the cars they tested that year all in one place. The Grand Tour presenter had to edit those reviews down to 150 words each, in order to fit four of them per spread in the magazine.

The task was pretty boring and took several months to complete according to May, so in order to make it less tedious he decided to put in a secret message. Each review started with a big capital letter, a drop cap as it is called, and May edit them in such way that the initials would spell his message.

When punctuated, the message read: So you think its really good, yeah? You should try making the bloody thing up; its a real pain in the arse.

Have you ever planted easter eggs or other hidden messages in your writing?

If you are looking for a Christmas gift for your favorite Hordeling, try the Deplorable Gourmet! Contributions by the Horde and CBDs food thread, and assembly and publishing organized by Horde members like BlueBell and Weasel.

TRex wanted to include a few links to sites with gift suggestions for writers. Candidates were fussy, pretentious, trite, excessively expensive, or otherwise unsuitable, so no links here other than the Deplorable Gourmet.

What are you buying for your favorite writer? If you are a writer, what gifts would you suggest? What have others given you that was useful, novel, or meaningful?

TRex periodically reads a finance blog called A Wealth of Common Sense. The author, Ben Carlson, has shared thoughts on maintaining the blog and writing in general. Whether or not you are into finance, his thoughts an lessons learned are worth reading:

The Benefits of Writing

10 Years of A Wealth of Common Sense

How to Start a Newsletter

Collecting 101: Estimating a George Washington Autograph for Auction

Horde Hobby Adoption Idea:

From time to time, a commenter says something about a collection of treasures that need a new home. Usually a relative assembled a collection for passion rather than profit. Things with minimal or modest value are often unbearable to discard or blindly donate to a rummage sale. Examples: stamps, postcards, tools, dolls, matchbox cars, sports memorabilia (like baseball cards), militaria, cookbooks, license plates, etc.

There is a possibility that some among the Horde might want to adopt the collection. Knowing that someone else can handle and potentially enjoy feels a lot better than throwing something sentimental away. TRex is willing to feature one or two a week in the content if there is interest.

TRex can play matchmaker with contact info if otherwise unknown. Logistics for shipping or pickup would be for you to figure out. Parties can work something out privately (like an offering of a nice shrubbery or shipping costs).

Zero desire to create ebay or an estate auction site. Not interested in drama, creating a science project, or arbitrating negotiations or disputes. Life is too short.

Submitters would need to be prepared for the possibility that others may not have interest in their collection. Moderator privilege would apply if submissions or collections are not a good fit for the Hobby Thread. Some things work and some do not.

Yes? No? Great idea? Better in theory than practice?

Not writing related, but Matchbox cars qualify as a hobby and the Horde might like seeing this video from 1962 about show they were made:

Saw these articles and thought about the war gaming thread from a few weeks ago.

Educate the Educators: Institutionalizing Wargames in the Marine Corps Training Command

Progress and Perils: Educational Wargaming in the US Marine Corps By Damien OConnell

Did you miss the Hobby Thread last week with a theme of making music? The comments may be closed, but you can re-live the content.

Horde submission from JQ of a family heirloom. The drawer for calling cards is clever.

When Dad was in nursing home, an older family friend stopped by to give him an antique photo album. Said she wanted Dad to give it to one of his kids. Photos of Dads parents and grandparents are in it...

I am the proud owner of this slice of family history. Have never seen such a lovely old thing like it, before.

The book part folds up when not in use, revealing a tiny drawer that holds calling cards from visitors. The whole thing is covered in a velvety fabric & has a little painted ceramic cabochon on the front (some wilderness scene I do not recognize).

The photos inside it, are on thick pasteboard (?) and mostly date mid to late 19th century.

Thank you JQ!

Notable comments from last week:

Honorable mention:

Words of wisdom:

"Because despite all our troubles, when things are grim out in that wide round world of ours, that's when it's really important to have a good hobby." Posted by: tankascribe at June 22, 2024 07:41 PM (HWxAD).

If words are not your thing and you have trouble finding something in the content or comments that resonates with you, hijack the thread for your hobbying as you see fit. We will feature a different hobby next time. Send thoughts, suggestions and photos of your hobbying to moronhobbies at protonmail dot com Best wishes to all among the Horde adjusting to chilly temps and snow.

posted by Open Blogger at 05:30 PM

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