Looking for advice

So after a long while of not looking into Slenderman at all I decided to go back into reading things and such. After reading through Lake Reflections and looking at Marble Hornets updates that I hadn't been keeping up with I had some time to think about possibly becoming an active participant in the mythos. It'd certainly be something different for me to write and as such a sort of fun exercise. As well as escape from monotony.

The problem being, or first one, that I realized I had no idea how to get one's name out there. Like. At all. ...I wasn't even aware of this forum until very recently either. Mostly I had found things through friends of mine. That doesn't help in garnering readers though...So how does one do that exactly? With a blog. I mean I'd rather avoid going "OMG IT'S A SLENDY BLOG" in all the tags because that seems rather...off and lacking in immersion so I'm not sure what to do on that front. On the one hand tags mar the immersion and on the other I'm not sure how else people would run across the thing.

My next issue here being one of advice on how exactly to write the thing. While I can garner a sort of idea of the style from reading blogs myself pointers from those who do would be helpful. Particularly in terms of the ideas in specific.

Said ideas in specific: I have a great fondness for the beach and the ocean. Silly as it may be I thought that the beach might make a nice setting and backdrop for a story as a result. I haven't come across a blog that used a beachtown extensively yet, but who says Slendy can't show up at the beach. He could be on vacation after all. We can't always be wandering in the woods. Due to my familiarity with the location I feel I'd like to use San Onofre and its surf beach in particular. It has these spectacular cliffs with a variety of neat little nooks and crannies that are out of the way, a variety of hiking trails, and the ocean itself can often get in lovely moods. The surf beach itself is rather sparse and clear of people on certain days as well. Needless to say it's a very pretty area and has a lot of room for one to explore in. As well as get lost in. There are a great many other beaches in California I know, but San Onofre is the one freshest in mind and the one I feel with the most interesting location and feel to it.

The setting alone is not all that one needs though and so for characters I have thought on using a soul surfer for the main. The sort of person who has spiritualistic attachments to beaches and oceans. This one in particular running off an idea that the ocean is potentially a sentient being and possibly attempting to communicate with the things around it. Likely female and likely currently in school. The sort of person who visits the beach very often in general and has explored much of it. She also is part of a family with a history of mental illness. In particular anxiety disorders such as OCD, but no real history of dissociative disorders, schizophrenic class, or psychosis.

A secondary character is in creation as well. In the form of the more tech savvy friend. This is a person who actually knows how to use the internet and does so often. The main doesn't and is thus confused at how blogs work in general and knows nothing about the Slenderman. The secondary character however does know about Slendy but considers it a stupid joke. A sort of urban myth spread and kept up by a series of particularly silly roleplayers. He is something of a prideful douche as well and going to school to be a psychiatrist. He knows that Slendy is fake and he knows that his friend is just hallucinating. The being she sees can't be the Slenderman but is instead a visual representation of the individual's fear of "The Man" or funerals. He wears a suit after all and is faceless. They have a somewhat volatile friendship but that is what marks it as a strong one. The fact that they poke fun at one another constantly.

Moving away from characters and setting...We have plot. Our main is currently somewhat more stressed than normal due to something like testing season coming up or some manner of existential or faith crisis. I'd rather not make use of MY PARENTS ARE DEAAAAAD syndrome. She's been avoiding actually going into the ocean for some time due to an accident. While wandering around she begins to notice a tall being who seemingly lacks a face. One who becomes a regular if rather unpredictable part of her time at the beach. Something that begins to unnerve her more and more before things start to occur.

That's the general background info and things not too privy to the plot's specifics itself. I'd rather not divulge too much in that area due to preferring things not be spoiled. I will say that I intend to avoid use of proxies and a few such other sorts of conventions and imagery that is pervasive in the mythos. Like the Path of Black Leaves. As well as have a slightly more defined and active Slendy, ala Lake Reflections. As opposed to "STANDS OMINOUSLY AND MAKES YOU DOUBLE OVER IN PAIN". Which is fun but highly prevalent and not what I want to do.

The basic plan is to set up the blog, go through a bit of time presenting the various background details on the friend, location, blogger, and so on. With small mentions of Slendy occasionally after a certain point. Those growing in greater frequency and importance after a certain point. Feeling and tone wise I'd like to do something other than GROWING DOOM AND GLOOM, THE PERSON DISAPPEARS. Instead working with something more religious in tone, but the mostly undefined and casually presented faith of a soul surfer. The main's feelings on the ocean are highly important to them and they play into her general spiritual views on reality. The Slenderman mixes up in that and proceeds to fuck things up. More and more as time goes on.

Again specifics such as his given purpose, the main's reactions, and what happens I'd rather keep private. This though is generally what I would like to do.

You've already put more thought into this than a fair chunk of people who come here to show off their blogs. I'm already looking forward to it, honestly. (Also we need more stuff est in California, this is such a Slender-free state!)

As far as getting readers, as it's been said in another recent thread that the best way to do it is to advertise and make friends to spread the word. You're allowed to post your own works on this forum, once you're past the link limit anyways. Eventually when you get it going, you'll probably be able to find someone to post it to uF as well. From there it's just a matter of seeing who shows up, but good blogs do get recommended by word of mouth.

Good luck to you!

Ah yes...

I worry about not having things set up enough, but then I get caught in the realm of "PLANNING AND MORE PLANNING" or "HAS NOT WRITTEN NEW STUFF IN WEEKS BECAUSE MORE PLANNING."

...which is why when I start it I'm going to make sure to have a nice buffer set up post wise. Just in case I get behind on my posting schedule. Which isn't something I do with other works, but given the nature of the work in particular would be very helpful this time around...

I still do need to define more specific details first so I'm not walking blind (this is only fine if you're going the J.R.R. Tolkien route to writing and we don't show the endless drafts and self hate to the public, only our C.S. Lewises).

As for getting noticed by people...Yes. Thank you for that.

And your response in general.

One of the things they always say to writers is that they don't read enough. If you watch a few Slendervlogs or read a few blogs, you've already put more thought into this than most people.

Some advice:

Quote :

Moving away from characters and setting...We have plot. Our main is currently somewhat more stressed than normal due to something like testing season coming up or some manner of existential or faith crisis. I'd rather not make use of MY PARENTS ARE DEAAAAAD syndrome. She's been avoiding actually going into the ocean for some time due to an accident. While wandering around she begins to notice a tall being who seemingly lacks a face. One who becomes a regular if rather unpredictable part of her time at the beach. Something that begins to unnerve her more and more before things start to occur.

I like that you're already avoiding the shit cliché. Maybe think of a reason why your protagonist would have a sort of love-hate or fatal fascination with the ocean?

Quote :

The problem being, or first one, that I realized I had no idea how to get one's name out there. Like. At all. ...I wasn't even aware of this forum until very recently either. Mostly I had found things through friends of mine. That doesn't help in garnering readers though...So how does one do that exactly? With a blog. I mean I'd rather avoid going "OMG IT'S A SLENDY BLOG" in all the tags because that seems rather...off and lacking in immersion so I'm not sure what to do on that front. On the one hand tags mar the immersion and on the other I'm not sure how else people would run across the thing.

If you build it, they will come.

I know it's a pretty scary thing starting out with no audience, but you can[/i do it. If you're doing a diary, it's easy enough to build up a few entries where nothing significant (or nothing [i]obviously significant) happens. Personally, I posted my videos in a "I am new to vlogging, give me some tips" thread on a forum. It's a good way of getting some views which kind of helps.