A Modest Proposal: An On-Topic Writing Subsection

[DragonflySciFi]

I'm relatively new here, and was excited to find this board. At first.

I quickly became confused and overwhelmed by the huge quantity of threads that have absolutely nothing to do with writing. I've even tried to come back and find threads I'd seen previously on important and relevant topics, but they had long since been pushed deep into the archives by joke threads, Osama bin Laden, world disasters, general goofing around, and so on.

I would very much like to see a subforum that is for topics relevant to writing only. These would be topics like general writing tips, current Amazon censorship issues, discussion of agents and publishers, information about self-publishing, story ideas, what is legally considered "porn" versus "erotica," and so on.

If others would like to see the same thing, please post here and help get the ball rolling. We would need to determine rules regarding what is on- or off-topic, a name for the new subforum, and 2/3 majority approval in a poll.

Thanks for your help.

 

[SamScribble]

Hello Dragonfly

I too am a reasonably new member of this curious community. And I must say that, generally, I enjoy it.

But, unless I have totally misunderstood what’s going on here, it is neither ‘the department’ nor ‘the union’. From what I have been able to work out, it’s more akin to a coffee shop. Writers (and more than a few would-be writers) hang out to chat about what writers chat about. Often that’s writing; but, just as often, it’s not.

There is nothing in this world that can’t be improved. But I wonder if banishing the serious stuff to a serious sub-board might reduce rather than expand the useful discussion.

Cheers, Sam

 

[DragonflySciFi]

I never said anything about a "department" or a "union." And I can't even find the useful discussions, let alone participate in them, hence this thread.

I asked a moderator what to do, and she advised that I needed to bring the issue up here for discussion and set up a poll, which I have done. If everybody hates the idea, so be it. But I hope it will be seen as how it was intended, simply to have an area where we can discuss business, as authors.

 

[SamScribble]

You seem a bit grumpy about my contribution, Dragonfly.

As someone who has earned his living as a writer for longer than I care to remember, I hope that I was just doing what I thought you had asked us to do: contribute to a discussion.

Cheers, Sam

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

AH is pretty much a place for also-ran writers to crow and strut about their affirmative action wares.

 

[TxRad]

You and a few others seem to have the wrong idea of what the AH is supposed to be. Above the door when you came in it says, and I quote: A place for writers and readers to socialize and discuss the craft of writing.

Writers, Reader, Socialize, Discuss.

Any other questions?

 

[SamScribble]

Gosh, guys, you're beginning to make me feel embarrassed that I was so polite.

 

[TxRad]

Gosh, guys, you're beginning to make me feel embarrassed that I was so polite.

Polite gets as polite gives. Of course that is ignoring JBJ's usual argumentative for the sake of argument crap.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Dont mind TEX, his best qualities ran down the crack of his momma's ass long ago.

Notice how he confuses argument with quarrel.

 

[TxRad]

Dont mind TEX, his best qualities ran down the crack of his momma's ass long ago.

Notice how he confuses argument with quarrel.

Most things confuse you, so what is new.

 

[LettersFromTatyana]

*slaps ruler against palm of hand several times*

Listen up, people. Absolutely no more "general goofing around" in these parts. Didn't you all get the memo instructing you to leave your sense of fun at the door once you submit a story to lit?


In all seriousness, I kind of get what you're saying about the lack of writerly/authorly/whateverly threads, Dragonfly, though it doesn't bother me. At all.

For the sake of argument, however, I don't think the answer is the creation of a subforum. I don't know how much traffic a subforum would get; I think I can count on one hand the number of times I've remembered that a "writers' challenges and exercises" thread exists and checked it out.

In my ideal world, I'd love if the WCE forum were folded into the broader AH, and if a few of the threads in SDC/SF/EF magically moved to the AH (there are some threads on those forums that are, imo, more AH than they are SDC/SF/EF). But that's just because I'm lazy.

It appears that you are, too, since all you have to do to solve your problem is bookmark pages or subscribe to a thread to solve your problem.

 

[jomar]

I agree with LFT. I was in on the agreement to move the writer's challenges to a subforum. I used to be active in them but now, the way I have my screen set, I forget it's even there. I'd welcome the challenges/exercises moved back to the main AH.

So I vote no subforum...writerly or political.

 

[_Lynn_]

I agree with LFT. I was in on the agreement to move the writer's challenges to a subforum. I used to be active in them but now, the way I have my screen set, I forget it's even there. I'd welcome the challenges/exercises moved back to the main AH.

So I vote no subforum...writerly or political.

Moving the threads back into the AH might sound good, but how long before they are on the third or fourth page and forgotten again?

 

[Stella_Omega]

Or, we could start posting our writerly threads in the exercises subforum, MistressLynn, what say you? it's not like there are so many they'd drown out the challenges...

 

[DragonflySciFi]

That would be great, Stella. I was just looking for a little place off to the side where more serious business/writing topics wouldn't get lost.

 

[Guest]

*deleted*

 

[CharleyH]

I'm relatively new here, and was excited to find this board. At first.

I quickly became confused and overwhelmed by the huge quantity of threads that have absolutely nothing to do with writing. I've even tried to come back and find threads I'd seen previously on important and relevant topics, but they had long since been pushed deep into the archives by joke threads, Osama bin Laden, world disasters, general goofing around, and so on.

I would very much like to see a subforum that is for topics relevant to writing only. These would be topics like general writing tips, current Amazon censorship issues, discussion of agents and publishers, information about self-publishing, story ideas, what is legally considered "porn" versus "erotica," and so on.

If others would like to see the same thing, please post here and help get the ball rolling. We would need to determine rules regarding what is on- or off-topic, a name for the new subforum, and 2/3 majority approval in a poll.

Thanks for your help.

Welcome to the choking stratosphere, friend. Sadly, the AH is un-monitored and as much as some of us have tried since 2004, it remains a hub of general board vomit. In the meantime, you might do well to post to the 'Story Discussion'. It's not as active, but there are good people there.

Added: Nevertheless. Tex has brought up something that we must keep reminding Laurel and Manu about: The AH is place for writers and readers to socialize and discuss the craft of writing.

 

[3113]

Maybe it is all about writing?

I quickly became confused and overwhelmed by the huge quantity of threads that have absolutely nothing to do with writing.

I always get confused by writers who say this. I get all kinds of writing and story ideas from what I read here. And when I'm otherwise blocked and unable to write my stories, coming here is the way I maintain my writing. This forum gives me my daily exercise in keeping my mind sharp and thinking, my writing active. It even sends me searching the internet for information, for correct spellings, for definitions of words, for punctuation help--all of which also tunes-up my writing.

This is certainly entering into sophistry, I know, but if there is the one, all important law for writers, it is, IMHO this: Writers cannot write in a vacuum.

Putting it another way, there is only so many times I can read or write to others things like "write what you know!" and "don't use the passive tense," and "second person is tricky," and even, "measurements don't make for good porn writing." That isn't talking about writing to me. Because none of that makes you write, it just helps you write a bit better. What makes me write, what sparks a story, are all those threads you seem to think have nothing to do with writing. For example, that political discussion over raw milk. What has that do with writing? Did you know that Amish romances are incredibly popular right now? Making money hand over fist? I read that in another thread here. Perhaps I shall write one--and lo and behold, that discussion just gave me all I need to do that: Amish girls meets FDA guy as she sells raw milk at the farmer's market in Maine. How do you like that? A thread that has nothing to do with writing might have just helped me write a whole novel.

My personal feeling is that anything writers talk about has to do with writing. It may not seem like it, because from the outside it looks the same as other people talking, arguing about/discussing politics, the best burgers, the weather. The difference isn't in what we're talking about, but how we're seeing it inside our minds, and what we're likely to do with it. That is what makes it all about writing even if it doesn't look like it. And, yes, that is splitting hairs in its way. But unless you're in a writer's circle with everyone reading everyone else's manuscripts and discussing the stories weekly, then this IS what real writers talking to other real writers talk about. This is how they make sure that they're not in a vacuum. That they are keeping alive that most important part of themselves that allows them to write. Seriously. Honestly.

It is all about writing

 

[LettersFromTatyana]

3113, I think you made great points. Two minor quibbles with this, though:

Amish girls meets FDA guy as she sells raw milk at the farmer's market in Maine.

[hijack]

First, they are farmers' markets, not farmer's markets. (I actually learned this when writing a story here; I'd said the words before but never written them, and I had to look them up. If that's a typo and I'm being obnoxious... sorry.)

Second, the FDA only regulates interstate raw milk sales (and by regulates, I mean bans). Individual states set raw milk policies for their own states, and the FDA, as far as I understand it, has no jurisdiction over these. So if you were going for an "FDA guy is on a sting operation at the farmers' market and meets hot Amish girl" kind of thing, he would only be interested if she had prearranged sales to people from other states. And that usually doesn't happen at farmers' markets.

I'm not trying to be snarky! I realize I mentioned this point in the other thread, but I thought I'd mention it again since I couldn't tell how serious you were about writing this. I'm sure most people wouldn't mind a bit of a stretch in terms of food policy governance, but plot inconsistencies get to me, and I couldn't help myself.

[/hijack]

 

[jomar]

Moving the threads back into the AH might sound good, but how long before they are on the third or fourth page and forgotten again?

I actually find it harder to remember/notice them the way it is now. If they were on the main AH board they'd be more visible and accessible. And interested people could bump them and keep them alive. Interested people can subscribe. It worked fine when the contests were on the main AH board.

This is not directed at you, ML....

I don't understand what with ignore and subscriptions just what the big deal is. If people want writerly threads make simply them, keep them active and up front. I suspect that by putting them in a subforum or in the contests/challenges forum they will get far less exposure, thereby generating less interest and I bet you'd find the pace become similar to the SDC.

 

[jomar]

Welcome to the choking stratosphere, friend. Sadly, the AH is un-monitored and as much as some of us have tried since 2004, it remains a hub of general board vomit...

Charley, Charley, CharleyH. I am disappointed. While I like the hub thought, especially in light of your SDC reference, as an AH, shall we say, elder (?), I totally thought you'd use a highfalutin word instead of the common term "vomit."

Though now that I cogitate on it, I suspect you deliberately chose to use "vomit" to reinforce the baseness and utter vulgarity of the GB.

Why yes, ChalieH, brilliant writing!

 

[jomar]

r....

 

[TE999]

I vote No.

Is it possible that the reason more socializing is done here than discussing 'the craft of writing' because the latter is deadly dull and boring? If you want to learn the 'craft of writing' take a class. IMO fiction writers are born, not made. You can continue to improve your craft, and sometimes a suggestion or two from another writer or an editor may help, but everyone is an individual and does it at their own pace.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I subscribe to the Make-over Theory: Beautiful women are born that way but everyone profits from a make-over.

 

[sr71plt]

I asked a moderator what to do, and she advised that I needed to bring the issue up here for discussion and set up a poll, which I have done. If everybody hates the idea, so be it. But I hope it will be seen as how it was intended, simply to have an area where we can discuss business, as authors.

And did the moderator indicate what would happen after a poll was taken? My experience here is that nothing happens--that no one who could do anything about it is even reading the threads.