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What The Heck is The Hundred and Four?

The ancient society of Khart Haddas (known commonly in later times as Carthage, located in modern day Tunisia) had a tribunal of judges known as The Hundred and Four, which stood apart from standard structures of government and regulation as a means of checks and balances over the generals and the military to insure that the needs of the people were being met.

In the twenty-first century and looking forward, no area is in need of oversight more than information. The data war is real, and most of its combatants are half armed and ill-trained. The Hundred and Four exists to do something about that.

Carefully selecting its apprentices on the basis of work ethic, raw talent and the beginnings of a stylistic voice, the two year curriculum of The Hundred and Four works on teaching the kinds of things writers need to know in order to work professionally. Journalism, copywriting, essays, fiction, technical writing, poetry and more -- the things that get writers paid, these are the areas in which The Hundred and Four focuses.

In addition, The Hundred and Four will publish a quarterly web journal of its writing, not only presenting the final product of the work, but showing the steps that each project takes in getting to completion. This will give each apprentice a chance to have their work seen publicly, create a system of peer review and publication, provide entertaining content for discriminating readers and allow potential employers to understand the development of each writer.

To supplement the course of instruction, a number of "grand master" instructors will be brought in on an irregular basis to provide the benefit of experience and skills not available to the apprentices otherwise. While the work is focused on giving skills, it also appreciates that these apprentices are not yet professional writers, and the schedule is created with the idea of not interfering with a normal working life, but giving additional opportunities for people who have the talent and desire to write professionally.

The Hundred and Four was founded by Hannibal Tabu, whose bio can be found on his writer page. As the lead editor and instructional voice for The Hundred and Four, he insists that the focus of the work stick to two main points: quality writing that people would want to read, and professional work that people would want to pay for.

Master instructors who have agreed to assist with this efforts include Dana Moreshead of Fishbrain Design LLC and comic book writer Jai Nitz, with more to be announced as the instructional period continues.

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