What the...

[susurrus]

Maybe I've been away from the Author's Hangout for too long, but what do some of these threads have to do with the actual writing?

I may be whining here, but this section of the board used to be a place - and I see that a few people are still using it as such - where people would look for help with writing and the technicalities of doing so. Some of the headings I'm seeing here appear to have nothing to do with the craft of writing and should be in a more general part of the board.

Just my two cents on the subject, but...

I'll get off my soapbox now...

 

[damppanties]

I've always thought it's a place where authors hang out. In the middle of writing to talk or swap stories or just banter with a few other like-minded folks. It doesn't always have to be about writing.

That said, the petty issues and rivalries got to me and I agree, that stuff gets old real fast. But other than that, this is a good enough place to be.

If you think we need more writerly threads, start some.

God, I miss Charley.

 

[PennLady]

I think people do talk about writing, just not always. I often start threads regarding articles I've read that touch on sexual subjects. I figure those may be of interest to people who write stories about sex, sexuality, erotica, etc.

 

[rot_teufel]

I'm new, but I have been trying to interact and make some contacts here.

 

[topace]

I just ignore threads that look boring to me. I suggest you do the same.

 

[rot_teufel]

I just ignore threads that look boring to me. I suggest you do the same.

I try to avoid the political threads and the name calling ones, I like the word games and such.

 

[SamScribble]

Hey, it’s a writer’s clubhouse. It’s where some of us hang out. Sometimes we talk about writing; sometimes we just talk. Pretty simple really.

 

[susurrus]

Yeah, I know. It's been a few years since I poked my head in here. Maybe it's always been like this, I don't remember.

What I do remember from the last time I was in here: there were a lot of threads with writers complaining about their scores, and asking people how to get readers to score their stories higher...

 

[SamScribble]

What I do remember from the last time I was in here: there were a lot of threads with writers complaining about their scores, and asking people how to get readers to score their stories higher...

Oh, yeah. That still happens.

 

[PayDay]

Maybe I've been away from the Author's Hangout for too long, but what do some of these threads have to do with the actual writing?

Boo.

Hiss.

Down in front!

 

[TxRad]

A place for writers and readers to socialize and discuss the craft of writing.

That is what it says above the door to the AH.

Back when i joined it was a transition period it seemed. The old grammar and spelling perfectionist were howling about the new crop of people showing up. I was one of them there people that wrote like people talk. Totally unacceptable by the old guard standards.

The problem was my scores were great and that wasn't right in their eyes either. In the end about 20 of us newbies stayed and most of the perfectionist left. It was a great place for a while and then the American elections came along. Where there had been discussion before, there was ranting, raving, yelling and screaming. That ran some of the best people off.

Then we got our own personal trolls and that ran even more off.

So that should bring you fairly up to date. We still have the trolls and can't get rid of them since the AH has no monitor except Laurel and she's up to her eyebrows in stories each day. She might put a post in once ever few months but not much more.

There are some fine writers here but a lot of them have left for the e-book market. Some now have novels out with major publishers.

In my opinion and that's all I have, things have been pretty good over all. I miss a lot of the peop0le that were here a few years ago but we have some that have filled the gaps. Some gaps are still open.

 

[damppanties]

So that should bring you fairly up to date.

Wow. That was like history of the AH in 300 words or less.

 

[susurrus]

I recognize some of the names here from when I lurked around before, throwing in my opinion where it wasn't wanted, trying to help out when somebody threw out the white flag and that kind of thing.

I'm not really surprised some of the folks high-tailed it out to try and make buck. Hell, if I was more ambitious - and didn't have so many damn irons in the fire already - I might have tried the same thing. As it is, I just fool around with the words that bounce around my brain and hope that there's somebody out there who cares to read it when I finally get around to finishing something...

 

[TxRad]

Wow. That was like history of the AH in 300 words or less.

Who says I can't be concise.

Now if I could just do stories that way.

 

[lovecraft68]

You're not whining. In fact I thought this the other day when scrolling through and seeing threads about cars and movies and politics and current events.

This should be a forum for just writing. But....

I think the problem is people want to discuss random stuff as well, it's human nature.

Now lit technically has a catch all forum, it's the General Board, which by definition is stuff that does not fit anywhere esle like the AH or story or fetish threads.

The GB is the problem. It is such a cesspool of malice and hostility and bullshit most people don't want to go there, so they post here where for the most part it's decently received.

 

[damppanties]

Who says I can't be concise.

Now if I could just do stories that way.

Lesser is not always better.

 

[TxRad]

I recognize some of the names here from when I lurked around before, throwing in my opinion where it wasn't wanted, trying to help out when somebody threw out the white flag and that kind of thing.

I'm not really surprised some of the folks high-tailed it out to try and make buck. Hell, if I was more ambitious - and didn't have so many damn irons in the fire already - I might have tried the same thing. As it is, I just fool around with the words that bounce around my brain and hope that there's somebody out there who cares to read it when I finally get around to finishing something...

Lit, once again in my opinion for what that's worth, has been one hell of a training ground for a lot of good writers over the years. I just hope that continues.

 

[TxRad]

Lesser is not always better.

In that case, I'm damned near perfect.

 

[damppanties]

In that case, I'm damned near perfect.

Bwahaha.

 

[TxRad]

You're not whining. In fact I thought this the other day when scrolling through and seeing threads about cars and movies and politics and current events.

This should be a forum for just writing. But....

I think the problem is people want to discuss random stuff as well, it's human nature.

Now lit technically has a catch all forum, it's the General Board, which by definition is stuff that does not fit anywhere esle like the AH or story or fetish threads.

The GB is the problem. It is such a cesspool of malice and hostility and bullshit most people don't want to go there, so they post here where for the most part it's decently received.

A place for writers and readers to socialize and discuss the craft of writing.

What part of this did you not understand. This is what the AH is for according to what is written at the entrance to this forum.

"to socialize " covers those car threads and randoms stuff you are talking about. Just writing threads would get so boring after a very little while.

 

[Dianthus]

In that case, I'm damned near perfect.

Well, yes. Was there a point?

 

[damppanties]

Well, yes. Was there a point?

I think we should ask for pictures.

 

[lovecraft68]

A place for writers and readers to socialize and discuss the craft of writing.

What part of this did you not understand. This is what the AH is for according to what is written at the entrance to this forum.

Semantics. Socialize and discuss the craft of writing. Socialize while discussing the craft of writing is how I, and apparently some others, take that.

Don't get me wrong, it doesn't bother me what threads people start(unless it's the 100th 50 shades thread) if I am uninterested in the topic I move on.

But I do see the Op's point, This forum was not quite what I expected it to be. And you mentioned elections and you're right.

Any political thread started here turns us into the Junior GB.

 

[TxRad]

Well, yes. Was there a point?

Yes. Yes, there was

The top of my head mostly.

 

[TxRad]

I think we should ask for pictures.

Be very careful what you ask for. I'm a nudist remember. and an old nudist at that.