Originally, I planned to write a little something about relaxing and just taking it easy, but yesterday, during one of my writing group’s drop-in writing days, the topic of games -like Second Life- just being a distraction to writing came up. So, this morning, I tossed on some shoes and grabbed my exploring gear for a trip around Second Life’s various writing locales. First a little background for my real world writing buddies: sure, it’s a game where people go and play around and hang out and all that stuff, but it certainly cannot be compare to things like World of Warcraft or Ultima Online or Skyrim. Those games have “a point”… Second Life really doesn’t, it’s whatever you want it to be. Which is why: many real life businesses hold meetings and such in-world, musicians and DJ’s host live concerts, many run their own businesses in-world and make their real world living off of them (people can get jobs too), there are too-numerous-to-count art exhibits and galleries, many live theater events take place, numerous groups for -say- genealogy get together weekly for meetings and events, modeling and design in-world is big business, the American Cancer Society has raised more than $1.6 million US in Second Life since first joining in 2004, and on and on. And, since Second Life is largely user-created content, it hosts many games and environments for role play within itself which could easily rival most other major gaming communities out there. Basically, Second Life is a literal second life. So what exactly does Second Life offer for the would-be writer? Here’s a few spots to check out!

Milk Wood NaNoWriMo Writers’ Camp & Daily Dash
Writing, writers, authors, poetry, poets, Virtual Writers, Inc.. Library, literary events, short stories, readings, authors, books, publishers, writing prompts and exercises, poetry & writing workshops. Private writers’ cottages available for rent.

Book Island Publishing Village for books, authors and writers
For books, magazines, publishers, publishing, agents, editors, printers, writers, poetry, blogs, bloggers, media, authors, writing, events, literary discussion, hangout, book printing, writer help and support and community. Hot air balloon rides too!

COOKIE Writers and Performers Hub
Community center for writers, journalist, storytellers, videographers, improv, actors, and other performers. Written Word, Inksters, Lauren LIve, Avatar Repertory Theater.

Bookstacks: where book lovers meet
book, books, events, discussions, book discussions, quizzes, authors, writers, stories, readings, fiction, poetry tales, art. Music, coffee, dance. Selbyword. Tinies welcome. Bookstacks, Pub, Celestial Jazz

There are plenty of other libraries and centers and gathering places and so on but that will at least get you started 😀

My week 10 “Wooley Cinnamon” entry for the Twisted Color Challenge. My desire for a nice, sunny image outshone the colors just a tad (pun intended) so here’s a quick pic just for them 🙂

Wearing:
Shape: Nova by -*delogikal*- – 100L
Skin: *Cupcakes – Nina – Nutmeg – Big Brown – Old gift
Hair: [e] Vivid – Red 06 – 66L per colorpack but hurry! All of Elikatira’s old hairs will be retired very soon!
Eyes: .ID. January Gift – Medium Brown – Old group gift
Lashes: .:Furore:. Lashes – Store gone
Lips: **NaCrS** – Mah’ Sexy Lips – Store gone
Nails: FN- French WHITE – 299L, comes in different colors
Hud: AnyPose Expression HUD v1.0 – Freebie
Facelight: ::Loa:: Face light White (Gift) – Freebie
Alpha: – DAMNED – Lashes ALPHA – 50L, Part of set
Poncho/Pants: [YC]AutumnBliss – Outfit is old hunt gift, but the poncho is available for 150L per color
Undershirt: jane.intrinsic.tank.br chocolate [full] – Freebie, comes in tons of other colors
Shoes: [ SAKIDE ] Acorn Clogs – Old hunt gift
Earrings: .:ellabella:. Befeathered 1 – Old hunt gift
Monocle: Air_Tide_Gold_R_CM – Old gift
Watch: Braided watch-textured – Old hunt gift
Compass: ~*HA*~ Steampunk Compass V2 (wear/add) [T] – Old hunt gift
Pose 1: *~*HopScotch*~* Free*Style Dollarbie -4 – 1L, set of 5 poses
Pose 2: *~*HopScotch*~* Free*Style Dollarbie -5 – Included in pose pack above
Location 1: Milk Wood
Location 2: Sn@tch – I was fishing and didn’t want to stop for just one photo so I strolled over to the little photo studio they have set up in the store – thanks Ivey 😀