Who, What, Why, Where, When, and How

Okay, this is just something to give you a rough idea of what the Writer's Cafe is all about, as well as some of the dos and don'ts. The best way to learn the ways of the Cafe is through the reading the stories and this FAQ.

Part I - What the heck is this place?
Part II - Is this a weird thing I see before me?
Part III - Umm.. I want to write a story...

Part I - What the heck is this place?

What's Subreality?
Refer to Kielle's Subreality Central.

What's this Subreality Cafe I've been hearing about?
There are several sources from which you can find out about our "big sister":

• Subreality Cafe FAQ
• The Original Subreality Cafe Archive

CFAN also houses the Subreality Cafe round robins, but they're a different breed unto themselves. ;) I suggest that you visit the other two sites first.

Okay, so what is the Writer's Cafe?
The Writer's Cafe (or WC for short) is a bar/pub/tavern/watering-hole-of-your-choice for fanfic Writers in Subreality. Just imagine a place where Writers can drink themselves into alcoholic oblivion, grumble about writer's block, and generally hang out without anybody telling them to move along. The concept is very similar to Subreality Cafe, except that WC caters solely to Writers and has a "fixed" staff. There are also other minor differences.

How does it look like?
Just as a Writer can alter his/her appearance in Subreality, the cafe looks the way the Writer wants it to be -- it's 100% powered by imagination. It can be a nice homey diner, or a seedy bar in the darker side of town. Heck, make it a fantasy-style tavern if you want. The most popular look seems to be that of an old English pub, an idea which took root during a round robin. However, there are a few consistencies: the bar, for one, and the kitchen.

Part II - Is this a weird thing I see before me?

Who are all these... people?
There are three categories of sentient beings you'll run into at the WC:

Writers
Yes, the "w" is capitalized. Usually. ;) Seeing as this is their Cafe, it stands to reason that they'll make up most of the clientele, yes? They can be recognized by their laptops, the glazed/desperate/manic look of creative processes taking place, and a certain undefinable aura. The Writers you meet in the Cafe are usually avatars, a writer's persona in the Cafe (to use Kielle's phrase). They can also be a favourite original character which has taken on a life of his/her own, but only the former are allowed in the WC.

Muses
Muses are inspiration personified. There used to be few of them around, as Writers don't usually feel compelled to give their inspiration a physical form. However, it looks as if their numbers are growing. The appearances of the Muses vary. For example, Acetal's Muse is a flock of tiny blue sheep. ;) They have a personality distinct from their Writers, though they tend to absorb small parts of the Writer's personality. The Queen of the Muses is Calliope, one of the original nine Muses. She's extremely powerful, almost a demi-goddess. She can be kindly described as autocratic and difficult to get along with. The unkind description is unprintable in Geocities and Marvel comics. Muses are assigned to different departments, Fan Fiction being one of them.

Note that much of this information on the Muses and their hierarchy was developed in the SC round robins. You don't have to acknowledge it outside the round robins if you don't want to. Personally I'd prefer you to, for the sake of continuity, but that's entirely up to you. ;)

The staff
They have their own page which you should read, but basically the Cafe employs a permanent staff of six: Peregrine, Manager; Hank McCoy, Assistant Manager; Mary Shiva, Bartender; Pinocchio, Bouncer; Makoto Kino, Cook; and Alfred Pennyworth, Janitor.

Why aren't there any fictives in the Cafe?
Just as a Writer is not supposed to enter the Subreality Cafe except on designated nights, fictives will be kicked out unceremoniously from the WC. However, that won't prevent them from trying to sneak in...

Part III - Umm.. I want to write a story...

Do I need to have permission?
No, you don't. However, if you're including other Writers in your story, please ask for their permission. A "mentioned" cameo doesn't seem to require permission, but if you're unsure, just ask.

Are there any rules I have to follow?
I'm glad you asked. ;) Here're a few basic rules:

• Don't mischaracterize/maim/kill/attack other Writers, unless with permission. Please, make sure you have the facts about them right. (Warning! In-joke ahead!) Mitai's faux pas comes to mind... ;)
• Writer's Cafe is not a battery to power your ego. That comes from how well you write. Making yourself lord/lady of the realm will only get you much-deserved scorn.
• Do NOT, ever, replace the staff with characters of your own creation.
• Feel free to ask around if you have doubts/questions. We don't bite. ;)
• Read the submission rules.

Ack! Do I have to write each and every one of the staff into my story?
Nope, you don't have to. The Writer's Cafe is about you. ;) If you do write them, however, don't have them acting out of character.

Okay, I've written one. What do I do with it?
Well, if you want it to be archived here, do either of these:

1. Post it to the OutsidetheLines (OTL) mailing list.

2. Submit it to me.

Either way, I'll get the story. No worries. ;) Please refer to the submission rules for more details.

Suggestions, comments, and questions can be directed to me at themuseandi@subreality.com.