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  1. Lauriam
    So, people overall seem to like the April Fool's Day DARKNESS skin. I'm glad! I liked it too. In fact, I liked it so much that we already decided to let you all keep it (because when we made it, we all decided we wanted to use it ourselves, lol) so I'm happy to inform you all that DARKNESS is going to stay as a new Skin option for everyone! I do have a few adjustments to make and a couple glitches to work out with the header as seen on mobile, lol, but yeah! It should be all worked out sometime by the end of this month, depending on when I have time to fix it all, but in the meantime, enjoy DARKNESS!

    In addition to this new skin, I'd like to announce that we're planning on releasing a total of FOUR new skins later this year! Some of them will only be available to certain usergroups, but they're all gonna be fun, and I can't wait to give them to you! Here's the current release schedule, subject to change:

    1st new Skin: Contributors Only, this skin will have a light and dark version and I hope to launch it in June this year!

    2nd new Skin: Premiums Only, this skin will have a light and dark version and I hope to launch it in August this year!

    3rd new Skin: Contributors and Premiums Only, this skin is going to be Final Fantasy themed, but only a dark version, and I hope to launch it in October this year!

    4th new Skin: This is going to be a special skin, created to celebrate the 13th Anniversary of KH-Vids.net, and will have a light and dark version. The skin is going to be released early to Contributors and Premiums on December 19th (the day KHV was originally created) and then will be released to regular members on December 28th (the day the site became open to public.)

    So keep your eyes open during those months, I'm going to have a lot of fun making these skins and I hope you'll all enjoy them when they're finished! <3
    Thread by: Lauriam, Apr 3, 2018, 2 replies, in forum: Community News & Projects
  2. Lauriam
    View attachment 48860
    Thread by: Lauriam, Apr 1, 2018, 10 replies, in forum: The Spam Zone
  3. Lauriam
    Hey guys! As you might recall, I've been talking a lot lately about the plans for our new Youtube channel. Well, I'm proud to say it's officially been launched! Technically, we've already been using it for our Choruses, but we're also going to be featuring the winners of our AMV battles there each month! In addition, this channel will house our upcoming monthly Newscast series, and a few other ideas in the works for the future. It's gonna be a little bare-bones for awhile until we can get things really rolling, but feel free to check it out and subscribe to get updates on our new projects as they come out!


    And if you guys have ideas or suggestions for another series, feel free to either post it here or send it to me in a Private Message if you want to remain anonymous. I can't make any promises that each idea will be used, but we'd love to get some feedback on what you'd all like to see!
    Thread by: Lauriam, Mar 8, 2018, 0 replies, in forum: Community News & Projects
  4. Lauriam
    Question: how do people get around the worlds?

    1. A Gummi Ship
    2. A dark portal
    3. The Lanes Between

    Question: How does Pluto get around the worlds?

    1. ???

    Seriously, Pluto just pops up wherever the heck he wants, but he has no Gummi Ship and no Keyblade Glider... Does... does this mean Pluto can open dark portals?! He's been seen using them before, but... is he the one opening them? Sometimes he uses them when an Org. 13 member opens one, but sometimes...

    I wonder. XD

    My theory is that Pluto is actually a creature of Darkness. Not that he always was, mind you. But if I were Xehanort, I'd want to keep an eye on the goings ons of people important to my evil scheme. And like, King Mickey's been pretty involved, so he'd likely want to keep tabs on him. Plus with that Cornerstone of Light thing right there (and also, time travel, which we know he's into these days) I'd want to keep an eye on things.

    What if Pluto is already half Xehanort?!

    Possible KHIII Final Boss concept:
    View attachment 48749
    Thread by: Lauriam, Mar 7, 2018, 8 replies, in forum: The Spam Zone
  5. Lauriam
    This is an interesting topic, one that, oddly enough, I hadn’t planned on covering. But two things happened that made me decide on this subject: First, I was recently approached by someone asking for advice on what to do when you feel obligated to write something you really don’t want to, and second; I have a different half-written topic I was going to post here in the Tips and Tricks section last month but isn't finished yet because I don’t want to write it. XD

    As a writer, this happens sometimes, for many different reasons. I still get messages from former fanfiction.net followers asking me if I intend to finish five-to-ten-year-old stories that I stopped writing, some of them because my interest in the base material dwindled, some of them because I didn’t have time for them, and some because a very bad experience with a toxic member left me with a sour taste for the whole fandom. I’ve also dropped stories because I disliked the work I’d already done and realized I didn’t care enough about the story to re-write it, I’ve dropped stories because I just didn’t have enough of a plot to make anything of it, heck, I’ve even dropped solid stories with good plot simply because I got bored of them.

    My stance is and has always been that if you don’t love what you’re writing, there’s no point in writing it. Writing, like many creative pursuits, is a reflection of the writer’s emotions. This isn’t to say that writers always write about what they’re feeling, like if someone writes a sad scene, that must mean they were sad when they penned it. But it means that when a writer loves their stories, when a writer cares about their work, they pour their heart into it - whether they meant to or not. We feel when we write, it reaches us in a way that other things don’t. That’s what makes our work come alive. It’s like… It’s like Sauron’s ring, lol. Writing is like Sauron’s ring: We pour our souls into this thing, these words, and that gives it life.

    When you don’t love what you’re writing… There’s no life in it. It’s just words. And the readers can tell, too. When you’re writing just because you’re supposed to, it falls flat, it’s emotionless, or dry. Loving your work is perhaps the single most important aspect to being a writer, even above actually being able to write. I’ve read books that, from a technical point of view, are just plain garbage. Bad writing, bad plot, bad characters… and yet, they stuck in my memory because I could just tell the author really loved this story they were trying to write. Whereas on the other end of things, I’ve read stories that were technically very well written and had no outstanding flaws, yet I don’t recall what happened in them because it all felt like it was written by a third party. It felt… distant. Cold, almost. I found myself skimming over the work, because the emotion the writer poured into it - obligation to finish something he didn’t care for - translated to me, the reader. And more often than not, I dropped the book before I read the ending.

    If you don't love what you're writing, there's no point in writing it.

    But what about that aforementioned obligation? What if the work you’re trying to write is something you can’t just drop, what if you’re obligated to complete it for some reason? Or what if you’ve taken a leap of faith and have left the traditional workforce, and are relying on your writing to get you through the month? Sometimes we can’t just drop a story because we’re not ‘feeling it anymore.’ That’s not always an option…

    But if you don’t like it, it’s going to turn out inferior. What are we supposed to do then?

    Well, if dropping it isn’t an option, but you don’t want to churn out subpar work, here are a couple of tricks that have helped me get through a writer’s block over the years:
    1. Listen to music. Music is a great way to get creative juices flowing, especially if you know the genre you need to finish a difficult section or even a less-than-liked plotline. Need to channel your inner angst? The band ‘Red’ is my favorite for writing angst. Are you writing a Fantasy novel? The Lord of the Rings soundtrack is a classic, though I’ll also listen to Youtube musicians Adrian von Ziegler or Peter Gundry, especially for that Celtic flair. What if you’re writing a fight scene? I usually just search for ‘epic anime battle music’ and put on a playlist. And of course, I listen to the TWEWY ost almost constantly, lol. If you find the right music, you can get your creativity flowing in no time. In fact, several of my personal favorite stories I’ve ever written have been completely inspired by songs.

    2. Watch inspiring and/or plot-heavy movies. Again, Lord of the Rings is a classic, especially if you have the Extended versions. Nothing makes me feel as much as LotR Extended does. They are easily my favorite movies of all time. I also watch the Star Wars original trilogy, the Bourne trilogy, Mary Poppins, the Secret Life of Walter Mitty… Heck, even the classic Muppets’ movies are surprisingly deep and inspiring if you pay attention. I also highly recommend the first four seasons of Doctor Who, maybe five and six if you’re in the right mood. Those first four seasons are some of the most inspiring stories I’ve ever seen. In addition, there's a little known but well-loved television series from the 90's called Due South, which restores my faith in humanity like nothing else, lol. These movies and shows I listed are big for a reason, (most of them at least, though Walter Mitty and Due South are just my personal recommendations) and watching them can help to give you the emotional boost you need to get back into your own work.

    3. Go for a walk. Seriously, this one is so simple, but it really helps. Find a park or a pretty sort of wilderness nearby or even an urban area you just find really cool, and take a walk. No music this time, no distractions, nowhere to be. Just you and your thoughts and the fresh air. *Works best in early morning, foggy days, or during a sunset, lol.

    4. Talk to someone. If you’re like me, talking out loud is a surefire way to figure out what to do next. The amount of times I’ve sought out my sister to be a listening ear while I talk about my stories is vast, lol, and then in turn, I’ve listened to her talk about her stories. Sometimes, someone can give you really good advice or can make the key suggestion to turn your work around, but even if they have nothing to offer, you’d be surprised how fast you can realize the problem on your own after accidentally saying it out loud. And if you have no one to talk to, either go all Sherlock and talk to yourself (or a skull lol) or even open up a blank document and write about your block as if you were sending it in an email. We’re writers, after all; wordsmiths. Sometimes it isn’t until we’ve laid out the problem in a tangible sentence that we even realize what it is.
    So there are a couple of my tips and tricks for what to do when you don’t want to write but you have to.

    But I still hold to my stance that, if you don’t love what you’re writing, there’s no point in writing it. If those tips don’t work and you simply cannot feel for your work, it might be time to cut it loose. After all, if you’re obsessing with trying to fix a subpar story you can’t love, you might be missing out on new ideas worthy of your devotion.

    [​IMG]
    Thread by: Lauriam, Mar 3, 2018, 0 replies, in forum: Tips and Tricks
  6. Lauriam

    As I've mentioned recently, we here at KH-Vids.net are planning to expand our influence over to the Youtube half of the internet, starting with the creation of a new 'Community Channel' in addition to our 'Cutscene Hub' channel. This means that our Community Channel needs projects - and the Newscast is going to be one such project.

    ~ What is this?

    The Newscast is going to be a monthly ten-minute series, hosted by myself and Heart, featuring site, community, and KH news. Each month, we're going to be joined by a guest star, open to community members who'd like to participate. The video will be animated with Avatar Sprites for each of us, and we have several segments planned for each episode:
    • What's Happening on KHV? - Forum and site news regarding Events and Projects going on that month
    • Something Cool - A sort of 'human interest' segment, varying month by month. This would be a short discussion about something going on that month on the forums or Discord, a fun fad or a new user-run game in the Playground that looks interesting
    • Kingdom Hearts News - A recap of all the cool Kingdom Hearts news released that month
    • Twitter Q&A - Users can submit questions to us via Twitter, and the hosts (myself, Heart, and our guest host for that month) will all select our favorites and answer them on the show
    ~ How do I apply to be a guest star?

    Right now, applications are only going to be open to Contributors first, and Premiums second. Applications are going to open sometime in early April, and will include a short questionnaire and a 'build your avatar' section for the guest slot sprite. The selected guest star will be announced around a month before the video is posted, to give users plenty of time to submit questions.

    ~ What's the schedule for this project?

    The Newscast will be uploaded to Youtube on the last Sunday of every month. The guest star will be selected on the first Sunday of the month, immediately followed by writing the episode outline and picking our Q&A questions. After everything's written, we'll find a time where we can all three record the episode, sometime between the second and third Sundays, and then we'll give the audio and avatars to our wonderful producer - Aelin - so she can put the video together in time and upload it to the channel on, you guessed it, the last Sunday of the month.

    ~ Why are you telling us all this now?

    Well, with such a big project in the works, we're gonna need some help to get it off the ground! And that's where you guys come in: We're going to be running a contest - or rather, two contests - to let you guys be a part of this and contribute to the KHV Newscast!

    ~ Theme Music Contest!

    We're gonna need some music, you guys! We'll need a short, five-to-ten second Intro Theme to play along with our logo at the beginning of the video, a background loop track to play in the background during the video, and a twenty-to-thirty second Credits track to play at the end. If you want to compose music that's Kingdom Hearts-y or even just a remix of some Kingdom Hearts tracks, that's fine, but you're also free to submit any style of music you wish. You're also free to submit as many tracks as you want! After the deadline, a public thread will be posted with all the track submissions, and users (including staff) will be able to vote for the tracks they like best!

    In order to submit your tracks, please upload them via Discord DM's with me (Marushi#6324) in .mp3 format. Submissions are due by April 2nd. Note: ALL submissions must comply with the KHV Content Rules.

    ~ Logo Contest!

    In addition to the music, we're also opening up Logo Design to our art lovers here on KHV! What we need is an eye-catching, professional looking logo for the Newscast! It must include the words "KHV" OR "KH-Vids," "Community," and "Newscast," and it's recommended to use our official KHV Logo, though not required. Other than that, express your creativity and just, make something nice! You can submit as many logos as you want, and after the deadline, a public thread will be posted with all the art submissions, and users (including staff) will be able to vote for the logos they like best!

    In order to submit your logos, please upload them via Discord DM's with me (Marushi#6324) in .png format. All submissions must have a resolution of at least 1280x720, with an aspect ratio of 16:9. Submissions are due by April 2nd. Note: ALL submissions must comply with the KHV Content Rules.

    ~ I have an idea for another segment you could use on the show!

    Great! I would love to hear it! Anyone who has an idea for another segment is welcome to post it either here in this thread, or in Discord DM's or Private Messaging here on the site if you wish to remain anonymous. We really want this project to be a reflection of our community and a series we can all look at as something we helped to make happen. Ideas for it are always going to be welcome, and I look forward to seeing what we all come up with!
    Thread by: Lauriam, Mar 2, 2018, 3 replies, in forum: Community News & Projects
  7. Lauriam
    Because when I log on to facebook, I see articles upon articles about death and violence and tragedy and social issues, and then I see comments upon comments from people about how all of that doesn't matter and people should stop talking about it and blowing up their feed.

    And then, wedged in between all that negative, I'll see something like this and it just - it pushes me over the edge.

    OVER THE EDGE, MAN
    Thread by: Lauriam, Feb 23, 2018, 14 replies, in forum: The Spam Zone
  8. Lauriam
    Hello everyone! Just wanted to steal a moment of your time and go over a recent change that you miiiight have noticed, what with the sudden appearance of pink and teal usernames, lol. Basically, we’re shuffling things around and changing the way we do staff, and part of that includes New Staff Usergroups! Right now, we’re introducing two new Staff Positions: Event Coordinators, and Media Managers! I’m sure you all have some questions, so let’s try to answer some of them straight off the bat, ‘kay?

    Q. What the heck is an Event Coordinator and Media Manager anyway?
    A. These new positions are designed with the purpose of supervising all work related specifically to Events or External Media Sites. See, we’re trying to grow, to change, and to create a great, fun environment for people to just make friends and love KH. This means events and lots of ‘em, and a greater presence on social media.

    Event Coordinators are tasked with planning, scheduling, and managing all events on the site, delegating responsibilities to those who volunteer and making sure that all the little details are taken care of and each and every event runs smoothly. Media Managers are tasked with managing all work related to Youtube and Social Media; overseeing the staff members who have volunteered to run the facebook, twitter, and tumblr page, and being in charge of the Youtube Account (oh and fyi, some really fun changes are coming to our Youtube over the next couple of months, so keep an eye on the front page for more updates!)

    Q. So, what, you and Aelin aren’t going to be moderators anymore?
    A. No, we’re still going to do moderating work, it’s just our main focus is on executing events. We’ll still be around to move threads and delete posts and all that fun stuff, as well as we’ve both got our own subsections we’re in charge of moderating, but we’ve also got a full year of events scheduled for this year, and with all the work that’s going into them, we’re going to be making that our main focus.

    Q. Does this mean Explode has been demoted??? ‘Cause that ain’t cool!
    A. No, don’t worry, Explode hasn’t been demoted, lol. These new positions are Supervisor positions, and as such, are going to be treated on par with Supermods. That said, we won’t all have the same powers, otherwise why create new positions in the first place? Each position has its own work-specific set of powers, and the Supermods and Media Managers don’t share the same ones, so Explode is pulling double shifts as both a Supermod and Media Manager, because seriously who would want to demote this guy? He’s awesome. XD

    Q. Are there going to be more new Usergroups in the future?
    A. As a matter of fact, there are! In around a year, perhaps, we plan to implement three more Usergroups among staff: Party Planners, Editors, and News Director! Party Planners are going to be moderators who work under the Event Coordinators and volunteer to help with as many events as they possibly can, while Editors are going to be moderators who work under the Media Manager to help run the Social Media sites as well as take an active role running our Youtube channel and helping with the projects we’re going to start up over there. The News Director, meanwhile, is going to be a new Supervisor position in charge of overseeing all the work done by Reporters and coordinating with the Events and Media groups to provide adequate news coverage over all forms of social media. We don’t need one of these yet, but we’re looking to the future! You know, when KH3 wins Game of the Year and then all sorts of cool merch will come out for sale and the voice actors will be attending cons and all that fun stuff, lol. XD

    Q. So… what does this mean for us, exactly?
    A. Don’t worry, this change isn’t going to overthrow the delicate balance that is KHV. (At least, I sure hope it doesn’t, lol.) There’s nothing new or different you guys have to do, and like I said earlier, Aelin, Explode and I will still be doing all the stuff we normally do. We just have different colors now, basically, and wanted to let you all know why. XD

    If you are interested in applying for staff because of any of these new positions, please apply as a Moderator or Reporter first. We'd like new people to get their feet wet before tackling something more specialized.

    So, have a great day, see you all around, and seriously we’ve got a great year planned for everyone, so stick around and keep an eye on things, it’s gonna be awesome. ^.^
    Thread by: Lauriam, Feb 7, 2018, 0 replies, in forum: Community News & Projects
  9. Lauriam
    I've got a full house
    View attachment 48536
    Thread by: Lauriam, Feb 1, 2018, 6 replies, in forum: The Spam Zone
  10. Lauriam
    Hey there, and welcome to the After Party! This thread is where we can comment on the action happening in the Valentine's Day Dance, talk about the challenges, discuss everyone's entries, and make bets (non-material of course lol) on who we think is gonna win. XD

    Just a couple quick rules:

    1. No fighting
    2. No trash-talking the couples - It's okay to discuss things you like/dislike about their entries, but any insulting or inappropriate comments made towards the participants in the dance won't be tolerated, so don't even try.
    3. Go easy on me, lol XD This is my first big event, so there are proooobably gonna be a few hiccoughs here and there. I'll try my best to keep things fun and fair, but if something happens that you don't like, please don't yell at me okay thanks have fun XD

    Now then! Our couples for the dance have been chosen! Competing for the title of KHV's Power Couple of the Year are:


    Heart ❤ and Calxiyn
    Maka Albarn and Vladek515
    Midnight Star and Fearless
    CrownMoksha and LadyAzura
    Swordsman_John and Jin
    GarrettFinch and tamale
    Zimmy and Arch

    ~cstar✰ and Aelin~
    Give 'em a hand, everybody! Now let's all judge them from the sidelines >:D
    Thread by: Lauriam, Feb 1, 2018, 39 replies, in forum: The Spam Zone
  11. Lauriam

    Hello everyone and welcome to the first round of the First Ever Valentine’s Day Dance! Before we begin, I’ll announce the couples, which were determined with a Random Matching Generator.


    Congratulations, Couples! D’awww, aren’t they all so cute together? <3

    Now then, onto the first round!


    1. CUTESY COUPLES PROFILE THEME

    The challenge is simple; each couple must work together and coordinate your profiles to make a matching profile! There are no restrictions (as long as it complies with the site’s PG-13 content rules) and no required themes. You can do any video game, television series, movie, book series, whatever you want to do. As long as your avatars and signatures match in a theme, you qualify!

    Once you’ve got your profiles synced,
    take screenshots of your profiles and send them both to me in one PM so that I can post them here after the deadline. All entries are due by 6PM EST on February 3rd, and then the poll will go up for everyone to vote!

    You all are allowed to vote too, not just the spectators, but of course you’re not allowed to vote for your own theme, lol.

    The two teams with the least amount of votes will be
    eliminated, so try your best and give us all a great show! (If more than two teams tie for the least amount of votes, I’ll just use my powers as your overlord and judge the last-place themes myself, and will pick the couples for elimination out of them, based on the quality of your images and the overall coordination showed by each couple.)

    Now get out there and put on a great show!

    Everyone participating as a member of the contest, please
    post here to show that you've read the challenge and haven't dropped off the face of the earth, lol, and then go ahead and get working!

    Spectators, please refrain from posting in this thread. If you want to comment on the action, we've provided an After Party thread in the Spam Zone for commentary, which will eventually serve as the base for the final vote, so head on over and let's talk!
    Thread by: Lauriam, Feb 1, 2018, 37 replies, in forum: The Playground
  12. Lauriam
    Ahhh, love…

    It’s that time of the year again. Romance is in the air; you see hearts wherever you go, music is playing, and the scent of a dozen red roses mixes with the smell of chocolates and fine perfume. Those with special-someones are planning their sweet surprises and others are taking this opportunity as a chance to ask out their secret crushes. It’s a time of hope, joy, and sweet, shy love.

    Also, fierce and deadly competition.

    As such, you are cordially invited to join our first ever
    Valentine’s Day Dance, an Elimination Competition to discover who would make the best couple on KHV. Now, before you ask out your dates, I’ll just throw a wrench right into your plans straight off here:

    All participants will be assigned a random partner.

    I know this might not seem like fun for all you people with significant others on the site, but this really is the best way to make the competition fair and fun for everybody, and hey, give it a shot! You might find new friends, and if you end up competing against your significant other, well, a little healthy competition might just bring a fun new spark to your relationship. ;D

    The competition will take place over
    three rounds, with a percentage of couples eliminated each round, two couples surviving the final round and moving on to a final stage of elimination; popular vote! The rounds will all consist of various challenges, testing your strength as a ‘couple.’ The first two challenges will be simple. Challenge one will be to coordinate with your partner and create a cutesy, matching couples profile theme, while challenge two will be a short questionnaire that will test how well you’ve gotten to know your partner. Those who survive to round three will be in for a real treat, as the third challenge is going to be a collaboration project with your partner, and will be your choice between a work of art or a short story featuring you and your partner at the Valentine’s Day Dance, or a love song duet you sing together.

    There will also be an
    After Party thread in the spamzone, for spectators and eliminated couples to comment on the action and talk about their favorite challenges. This thread will also serve as the base of the final popular vote. Once the third round is complete and the two survivors determined, a poll will go up in the After Party thread, and all spectators and eliminated couples may vote for which of the two couples they liked best, the winner of this vote named the KHV Power Couple of the year!

    It’s not just gonna be fame and glory, though, because as prizes, we have three brand new pins just to launch off this event!

    This pin will be awarded to everyone who signs up and participates in the competition.
    View attachment 48520
    This pin will be awarded to all four members who survive the third and final challenge with their partners.

    View attachment 48523
    This pin will be awarded to both halves of the KHV Power Couple, the winners of the Popular Vote!
    View attachment 48522
    Signing up for this event is easy; you just have to
    post in this thread that you want to join, and your name will be added to the roster!

    Just a couple quick rules:

    1. No fighting, especially not with your partner. If you are assigned a partner that you just can’t work with, please calmly send me a private message explaining the problem within 24 hours of the assignment, so that I can try and find volunteers for a trade. If no trade can be arranged, just try to work together as best you can, and who knows? You might just end up friends by the end of it.
    2. All entries for the challenges must comply with KHV’s content rules, which means keep everything under PG-13.
    3. Really give it your all! If you sign up, your partner is relying on you, so don’t come at this half-heartedly. This is your chance to shine in the Elimination-Round-Spotlight, give us all a show we can enjoy!
    4. If you miss your deadline, you won’t get an extension, so don’t ask for one. You’ve got one shot at each round, and if you miss out, that’s it. Them’s the breaks.
    Sign ups are gonna close on February First, when partners will be assigned and the first challenge starts.

    Now then, who’s in? We need at least ten sign-ups in order for this event to work, but the more people we have, the more fun it’ll be!

    Game roster:
    1. Aelin Fireheart
    2. GarrettFinch
    3. Arch
    4. Heart
    5. tamale
    6. KHGrl15
    7. CrownMoksha
    8. Swordsman_John
    9. cstar
    10. Maka
    11. VladeK515
    12. Calxiyn
    13. Midnight Star
    14. Jin
    15. Fearless
    16. Zimmy
    Thread by: Lauriam, Jan 25, 2018, 18 replies, in forum: The Spam Zone
  13. Lauriam
    Hello class, my name is Marushi and I'll be your substitute Aelin for the day. XD

    No really, she's still in charge, lol, she just asked me to post this song-suggestion thread for February's chorus, as it's going to be a themed month and she couldn't get to it today lol. XD


    [​IMG]

    So then! Soon we will be doing a Valentine's Day special for KHVC, so here is where you can nominate what songs that you want to see done. The theme? Love songs, of course! Like the Halloween and Christmas special, all nominated songs will be put up for the vote and we will do one. You have one week to Nominate, and then the poll will be put up on Sunday January 28th.

    As a reminder of the rules for nominating a song:
    1. The song must be appropriate, including no swearing
    2. You must provide a full instrumental track to sing to
    3. The song can’t be one that we have already done

    Suggested Songs:
    Love Stinks - J. Geils Band
    Original - Karaoke
    I Would Do Anything For Love - Meat Loaf
    Original - Karaoke
    Rewrite the Stars - The Greatest Showman
    Original - Karaoke
    My Heart Will Go On

    original - karaoke
    Time After Time
    original - karaoke
    I Just Wanna Be Your Everything
    original - karaoke
    The Power of Love - Huey Lewis and the News
    Original - Karaoke
    Thread by: Lauriam, Jan 21, 2018, 8 replies, in forum: KHV Chorus
  14. Lauriam
    That the entire group of KHV users were actually students at Hogwarts instead, so we were all wizards. And the teachers were running a Castle Oblivion, and so we were all running around the castle solving riddles and searching for clues for the scavenger hunts. And I don't remember any specific riddle or clue, but I remember Gabi and I were working together and we found the last clue before anyone else did, and McGonagall was impressed with us and we totally won like fifty house points each. XD
    Thread by: Lauriam, Jan 15, 2018, 9 replies, in forum: The Spam Zone
  15. Lauriam
    Hello everyone and happy new year! 2018 is upon us, and along with it, the chance for a fresh start and new ideas. So, we thought we'd ask all of you what kind of fun events you would like to see this year!

    All suggestions are welcome, but naturally, we can't make any promises that every idea will be used. In addition to the questions about events, there are also a few general questions about you; what brought you to our community, what you like about us, what sections interest you the most, etc. This is so that we can find out what our members want to get out of this site, and what we should focus on to help you get what you want. As such, I'd like you to answer as many questions as you can, but you're also allowed to leave any of the questions blank if you want to.

    In order to submit your survey, please copy the questions below, start a conversation with me in private messaging, and send me the survey with as many questions filled out as you can. I'm going to take the information you give me and post it in the staff section where we can discuss how best to meet everyone's needs. Because of this set up, you'll be allowed to post anonymously by leaving the Username blank. I'll know who submitted the answer, but the rest of the staff won't. However, this isn't recommended, so if you're comfortable leaving your name, I highly suggest you do so. :)

    Username:
    Age:
    Join date:
    How did you find KHV?
    What made you decide to join KHV?
    How active are you on the site?
    What section or subsection are you most comfortable posting in?
    What KHV event, either discontinued or still running, do you like the most?
    What event do you dislike the most?
    What is one event idea that you would like to see implemented on KHV?
    What are some of your hobbies?
    Do you think you’d like to stay on KHV for awhile?
    Why or why not?
    Extra comments:
    Thread by: Lauriam, Jan 7, 2018, 5 replies, in forum: Feedback & Assistance
  16. Lauriam
    ~CLOSED~​
    Thread by: Lauriam, Jan 2, 2018, 0 replies, in forum: Networking
  17. Lauriam
    Dialogue is perhaps one of the most important aspects of a story. You can have an amazing plot, beautiful characters, the plot twist of a lifetime, and the perfect ending, but if your characters can’t talk to each other, it’s going to fall flat. Dialogue is used to set moods and tones, to develop characters, to relay information integral to the plot, and to give a sense of realism to your story. As such, it’s going to be crucial that you learn the ins and outs of character dialogue. If the readers can’t follow what your characters are saying, they’re not going to enjoy your book.

    “Woah…” Marushi smiled, reading over the introduction she’d just written and feeling a sense of accomplishment. “That’s a good start. Hey, Jo, come read this!”

    Calling over to her sister, Marushi pointed at the computer screen, smiling proudly. “Isn’t that a great beginning?”

    Jo walked over to stand behind Marushi, leaning over and reading the introduction before nodding. “Sounds good,” she agreed. “What are you going to follow it up with?”

    “Well, I haven’t quite decided,” Marushi admitted. “I was thinking about writing up some actual dialogue, to give an example of what I’m talking about, but I don’t really feel like making up characters and setting a scene for it or anything.”

    “Hmm…” Jo looked over the introduction for a moment longer before standing. “Why don’t you just write a conversation with us? Like, looking over the introduction. Like what we’re doing right now.”

    “Dude, that’s actually a really good idea,” Marushi blinked up at her sister, letting out a slight chuckle. “See, this is why I keep you around.”

    “Gee, thanks,” Jo rolled her eyes, though Marushi could tell by the smirk on her sister’s face that Jo knew she was teasing. “Love you too, Mar.”

    ~~~

    Plot twist: My sister isn’t here. XD But reading through that, you thought I was just writing down something that actually happened, didn’t you? That’s the goal when it comes to writing dialogue. It should flow naturally, it should feel like you’re actually reading a real life conversation. Here are some of my tips when it comes to writing dialogue:

    1. Don’t use the word ‘said’ when there’s another way to say what you mean. I won’t say not to use it at all, because honestly, I do feel like there are times when it’s alright to simply add a ‘she said’ onto the end of a sentence, just not very often.

    “I just don’t understand,” she said, pinching the bridge of her nose in irritation.

    See? That looks just fine. But, it’s not a good idea to use the word ‘said’ more than you need to, and as you can tell from the conversation I ‘had’ with my sister, there are plenty of ways to get your meaning across without using the word ‘said’ at all. I’ve found that a lot of times, if you describe what the character is doing in lieu of the word said, you’ll not only avoid the trap, you’ll also let your readers know what your characters are feeling about what’s being said. This will make your characters seem more real, and will make your writing read more like a story and less like a script.

    2. Try not to use the same word too many times.

    This applies in any aspect of writing, but it’s still important to remember when approaching dialogue. Using the same word over and over will make your writing seem stale, so it’s important to keep things fresh and not to become redundant. One thing that’s important to keep in mind is that it’s important not to use words like ‘important’ four times in an important sentence. XD

    3. Don’t worry too much about grammar when you’re writing the actual dialogue itself - unless the character would worry about grammar. Most of the time, people don’t talk in proper, structured sentences. The rest of your writing should all be written correctly, obviously, but don’t be afraid to drop a preposition here and there if the character would do so. Also, contractions are your friends here. XD People do not don’t usually talk without using contractions, or at least, I have not haven’t met anyone who would not wouldn’t use contractions. That just does not doesn’t sound natural and is not isn’t something you would find in everyday conversation. XD

    4. If you’re stuck, talk to someone.

    I guess, this one might be harder if you don’t have a writer for a sister like I do, but a lot of the time, if you can’t figure out how to write a conversation, you just have to step back and talk to someone. Talking out loud about the problems you’re facing helps you see things from a different angle, and gets your creative juices flowing so that you can figure out what’s got you stuck in the first place. Sometimes, when my sister is too busy to come to our chat and talk to me, and I’m stuck, I’ll actually start typing out the responses she might have said, and I’ll write both halves of the conversation, responding as my sister until I’ve figured out what I need to. And then I usually send her a picture of the conversation and she replies “lol sounds about right.” XD So yes. Marushi talks to herself. XD

    So there, just a couple tips and tricks I have for writing dialogue. Obviously, everyone’s going to have different tricks that help them with this tricky, but important part in the writing process.

    What are some tricks you’ve come up with?
    Thread by: Lauriam, Jan 1, 2018, 0 replies, in forum: Tips and Tricks
  18. Lauriam
    Hey guys! As you can see, the Writer’s Nook has been given a makeover! We’ve worked hard to try and create an awesome new place for everyone to post their stories, make new friends, hire out help, and get writing advice for when you face the dreaded block. But there’s a lot of new stuff, so let’s take a quick peek at two of the new sections, hmm?

    Networking

    Here, you’ll be able to officially hire Betas, Editors, and Critiquing Partners to help you in the various stages of story writing! Authors looking for Betas will be able to post advertisements, so that Betas can (hopefully) apply for the chance to review earlier drafts of your book, while Editors and Critiquing Partners will be able to create a page all for themselves, so that authors looking for a little extra help can come find you!

    Tips and Tricks

    In the Tips and Tricks section, you’ll be able to find or post threads containing advice about anything writing related! How to write a plot twist, tips on overcoming writer’s block, the best methods for outlining stories… If you have some know-how, go ahead and share! And if you’re looking for help and can’t find a thread already, we even have a Q&A board for you to ask your questions and get answers directly!

    In addition to these two new sections, we’ve reorganized the Writer’s Nook, so let’s look at what’s changed:
    • Original Works and Fanfiction have been merged into one Written Works subsection, with new Prefixes added to accommodate
    • Archives have been moved into the Written Works subsection
    • The main ‘Writer’s Nook’ page is now free to contain all news and updates about the WN, without being lost among the fanfics
    • The Workshops and Recreation subsection and the Poetry and Lyrics subsection are still here for your enjoyment, though be sure to check out the new rules in the Workshops area to understand what belongs there and what belongs in the new Networking section.
    I know the place is gonna look a little bare in there for awhile, but with all these new changes, I hope we’ll be able to get it up and running in a little while, so that we all have a place to share our creativity and grow together as a real writing community!

    Happy New Year!
    Thread by: Lauriam, Jan 1, 2018, 5 replies, in forum: Writers' Nook
  19. Lauriam
    Thread

    Rules


    1. All works posted in this section must follow site Content rules, which means nothing over PG13 or T may be posted here. All works in the romance genre must also follow these guidelines, with no graphic sexual scenes posted on-site. Works in the Erotica genre are not allowed. Swearing and cursing will not be censored or moderated, however, but please keep in mind that this site is for a game targeting a mostly young audience, so if your work leans on the mature side, please indicate it in the OP.

    2. Make use of the prefixes! They’re here to make your work easier for your target audience to find, so don’t be afraid of them. XD

    3. Post all updates of a story to the same thread. Don’t post new chapters in separate threads, as this will clutter the section and make your work hard to follow. All updates to a story must be posted in the original thread the story was first posted in.

    4. Do not leave flame comments on people’s stories. Not only is this rude, but this section counts towards posts, so spam, flaming, and unhelpful comments will be deleted. If you want to leave a review to a writer’s work, please, do so! But be careful to leave reviews that are respectful and thoughtful, and don’t just post a single sentence like “this was good, can’t wait for more.” Put some heart into it, sometimes those reviews are what keeps a story alive. XD

    5. Don’t post Networking Adverts, Prompts, Workshops, or Guides in this section. There are other sections for such things, this section is only for posting actual written works.

    6. Only an author may bump their stories, and you may only bump when adding new content to an OP. Don't post small comments just to bring your story back to the forefront of the page.
    Thread by: Lauriam, Jan 1, 2018, 0 replies, in forum: Written Works
  20. Lauriam
    Found a prompt and want to challenge your friends with it? Got a hankering to write but not a, you know, actual story in mind? Or maybe you fancy yourself a sort of freelance writer, a drifter, and you don’t wanna settle down to a boring job in the Networking section (Critiquing Partner? Please, I’m a Loner) and you need a place for people to come to you when they need a one-shot written but can’t figure out how to words for smarterest sentencing.

    If so, this is your subsection! Here, you can post those prompts, and make those workshops, and challenge anyone to anything you can dream of!

    Er, within the KHV rules, of course. Here are a couple more just for this section; stick with ‘em and everything should go fine. Probably.
    1. Only one Workshop thread per member. There’s really no need to have more than one.

    2. No bumping threads, please. If you posted a prompt and it just doesn’t take off, try not to force it. There’s gonna be another prompt for another day, you’ll have your chance to shine.

    3. Don’t spam these threads, please. Remember, posts count in this section, so while feedback and conversation are certainly welcome, posting one-sentence remarks or gifs isn’t the best idea. If you don’t have anything of note to say, don’t say anything at all.

    4. We will allow users to exchange Munny for projects, following these simple guidelines: Always pay what you promise, and always deliver the goods you offered in exchange. KHV is not responsible for any Munny transactions between members, and won't be offering official 'refunds' if something goes wrong, but please everyone, act in good faith. If any sort of agreement is reached regarding "Munny for Written Work," both parties should follow through with their ends of the bargain. If you're cheated out of Munny and believe you have a legitimate claim, contact a staff member about it and strikes may be issued, but again, we aren't going to be offering 'Munnetary" refunds.
    Thread by: Lauriam, Jan 1, 2018, 0 replies, in forum: Workshops & Recreation