cogknitivemind

2amtomorning
If you find yourself at the crossroads of insomnia and insanity, this is the place to channel those demons that keep you sleepless. Vivid pictures, poetry, ruminations, and confessions from the nether hours between dusk and dawn. Originally formed to celebrate the city at night, there's a strong urban theme.

green_future
Dedicated to promoting global sustainability, this community offers a forum for discussing current environmental news, research, and issues with tips on how to make positive, pro-active changes to reduce carbon impact. You'll also find information on how to get involved in eco-activism and learn about events near you (i.e., act local; think global). Offering a wealth of data on earth-friendly products and practices, you'll be inspired to don an organic bamboo cape and save the planet.

wtf_sexism
Self-described as "a little community with a lot of rage," you can soak up impassioned vibes and read blistering exposes detailing sexist attitudes in the news, pop culture, and science! A must-join community if you are, or love, a feminist. (NB: the topic of whether a "man" can be a feminist is outside the scope of this spotlight, but will probably wind up on the Writer's Block.)

I don't know how the moderators feel about providing software links, but over Christmas break I strayed across what looks like a pretty great open source application (free!) called Celtx 2.5. Its inspiration was Final Draft, a screenwriting program, but Celtx offers a full pre-production suite. You can write your project in different forms: comic book script, novel, film script, etc. There's a feature to load your sketches for storyboarding and even a calendar for your production schedule. This looks similar to Scrivener (another great writing program), but Celtx 2.5 presumably follows industry standard in film script formatting. I haven't yet had a chance to check that part out.

I see a lot of postings for comic book collaborations, and I figured this might be a good program for people to collaborate using that feature. Link is below. Apologies if this has been posted before or if I'm breaking some rules. But then, this community seems to be all about breaking the rules. : )

http://scriptmonster.wordpress.com/2006/11/18/who-needs-final-draft/

Hey everybody,

Well, another year has dawned, bright, fresh and shiny and ready to be filled up with amazing things (delicious, like a Moleskine that hasn't been written or drawn in yet :D ). So, what have you all got planned on the creativity front? Do you have any amazing new Sekrit Projects lined up? Going to take classes in something you always wanted to try but hadn't had the opportunity yet? Going to revisit something you haven't done for years?

Do come and tell, it'd be lovely to hear what you're all hoping to do creatively this year. :D

As for me, I'm halfway through the drawing and painting classes I always wanted to do, and I'm having a blast! I am in love with watercolours. Clumsily so, like the bashful kid thrusting a handful of wildflowers at you with the roots still attached, scattering soil onto your shoes, but hey, enthusiasm's a good place to start, right? And this year I want to (finally!) summon up the courage to send a story off somewhere, v. exciting but also terrifying.

I wish you all a most fabulous, creative and fulfilling 2010, and look forward to seeing some amazingly cool 2x projects this year!

http://www.withpaintedwords.com

December 2009’s edition of With Painted Words is now available. This bumper edition features the following:

'Anointed' ~ by Lena Judith Drake
'Les Danseuses' ~ by Joseph Hesch
'If Duncan Had Daughters' ~ by Holly Schwartz-Coignat
'When Elements Collide' ~ by Patricia La Barbera
'These Are Different Fates' ~ by George Moore
'The Yearning of the Lighthouse Fairies' ~ by Brenda Blakey
'To Keep the World Turning' ~ by Salena Casha

Submissions for the January 2010 edition are now open, and will close on 25th January 2010. The inspiration image, for this edition, comes from Christopher Woods - a writer, photographer and teacher who lives in Houston and in Chappell Hill, Texas.



Please check out http://www.withpaintedwords.com to read the December edition and find out more about January’s.

Ego Bruise, an e-zine (and hopefully available in print!), is looking for art and writing submissions. There's an optional—but encouraged—theme of "identity," but Ego Bruise will also accept open-ended personal work.

All styles and opinions are welcome, but if you'd like to see what's been included in the past, here's Issue 2: Basic Needs.

( guidelines on submitting work )

renaissance2010
Turning to photography as a creative outlet during a valiant fight with breast cancer at age 34, renaissance10 survived and set up a photo contest to help raise funds for the Lavender Trust, a nonprofit that provides information and support to younger women with breast cancer. In the first two years, the competition brought in over £65,000 (that's $107,260.73 U.S.!), with entries from 130 countries last year. Renaissance10 recently joined LiveJournal to meet other passionate photographers and find supportive friends.

curiouscupcakes
Holy buttercream frosting! If you have a sweet tooth for sugary goodness or a wandering eye for whimsical confection, this is pure ecstasy iced in deliciousness. Hailing the beloved cupcake as the artisinal canvas of choice, you'll enjoy recipes, photos, and bountiful tips to bake up a batch, whether your taste leans toward French classics or funky and flavorful.

mission101
With New Years in the offing, it's an ideal time to reflect on past accomplishments, make peace with disappointments, and refocus the lens on future goals. This community welcomes you to create a bucket list of 101 things you plan to accomplish in the next 1,001 days. Offering support, guidance, and inspiration, this is a great way to jumpstart those pesky resolutions.