I haven't read the thread, but I'm looking for an unobtrusive place to post my gloss on like buttons. I have a situation on the Unacceptable Storylines thread in Purg where @Colin Smith did a service for me, in looking up an old song that I didn't want to look up. If there was a like button, I would have liked the post, indicating that I had seen what he'd done.
On this occasion I determined that I didn't want to interrupt the flow of the thread, which had moved on, just to say thanks. I appreciate that in other moods, I would have barged ahead and done that anyway.
So what I'm thinking is a button that doesn't say "like" but simply "I have read and understood your post and feel moved to click this button". Obviously it could have a snappier name.
Re: the OP, I think the idea of having a subforum dedicated to writers getting critiques, suggestions, and general feedback on works in progress is a great idea. I've seen such features at other religious fora. There are of course general writers' fora out there but someone looking for a range of particularly Christian perspectives might not have an easy time getting it.
My experience is mainly with other children's book writers, who are almost always very kind and courteous, sometimes to a fault if I'm looking for a detailed critique.
Sorry to rain on the parade, but copyright is the problem. Post works in progress here and the Ship gains a new and unwanted legal interest in your work, as well as all the headaches that pop up the first time some fool seems his or her ideas to be stolen...
Sorry to rain on the parade, but copyright is the problem. Post works in progress here and the Ship gains a new and unwanted legal interest in your work, as well as all the headaches that pop up the first time some fool seems his or her ideas to be stolen...
Good point. But writers can still be helpful (and otherwise) without getting into the copyright thing.
Just a small point: one of the points raised about me (in "my" Hell thread) was that I said, 'thank you' too much! This has not stopped me of course, but I have avoided it occasionally.
I engage in discussion on the Ship to share inner thoughts and beliefs with somewhat like minded individuals from differing back grounds. There is a richness in all that. My goal, and I like to think the goal of others here, is to deepen understanding, and to blow off steam from time to time, or have a good laugh.
What is requested vis-a-vis a book in progress seems to be the job of an editor at one's publisher, or a colleague up to the task of providing informal editorial insights. I feel that it makes me, and others here, utilitarian in supporting the author's work and the anticipated income that author may recieve from that work, and not equals in sharing thoughts, confusions or insights.
FYI there was "Write or Wrong" on the eight day and "Writers Bloc" which was a private board and lasted about six months. It sounds as if it should work; we have plenty of both professional and amateur writers on board and there are successful writing boards on the web. In actual practice, it has a fairly short life-span and then fades as people lose interest. I think the problem is that while there are plenty of writers who are on Ship of Fools there is not much commonality in the writing of different writers and being a member of ship of fools is not enough to create that.
Personally, though I have participated in both and with "Writers Bloc" was quite active[su]1[/sup], I. with respect to writing groups. tend to be a listener rather than an active participant. I am the same with the writers' group I attend in real life. There I rarely comment but I tend to remember often more of other member's novels than others in the group do.
1I was a much younger writer then and more opinionated, I think I was trying to show I could keep up with the rest; I no longer have to do that as I am happy with doing what I do
I've participated a little in the various incarnations of writers' groups that we've tried, and I like the idea in theory -- I'm not sure why it hasn't worked out as an ongoing thing in practice. Maybe we all just need/want different things from a writers' discussion board and there's not enough commonality among those needs to make it fly.
I tend to listen more than talk, maybe because my writing is my day job, and I feel awkward about discussing it where those who read it may run across it. (it's published on teh interwebz as well as on radio and podcasts, and I'm getting stalked a bit on LinkedIn.)
Plus it's not fiction. So it has different issues than what many folks are dealing with. though I HAVE finally got an idea for a novel...
thinking of starting a thread for or concerning those who suffer from MS (multiple sclerosis). I see the 'cancer sucks' one is in Hell. what do you think?
thinking of starting a thread for or concerning those who suffer from MS (multiple sclerosis). I see the 'cancer sucks' one is in Hell. what do you think?
Only one way to find out ... Although the location will depend on what you want to do - vent or seek support.
That would be one of the things I would talk about on a writing thread - how ideas come to us, and why we think they would make a novel.
I would talk about how - practically - you make yourself sit down and write the damn thing.
How you solve problems of viewpoint - character X is the reader's avatar in the story, but I need to include something that happened to Y.
First person narration - how to present a character as both intelligent and mistaken?
How you build a character - say one necessary for the plot, but whom you don’t ‘feel’.
That sort of thing.
I would adore to do that sort of thing. But I'd feel awkward if it were only me. Are there more of us at such a stage?
Well, that's thee and me. This thread is not an obvious place to attract interest, so it's probably necessary to start a thread with a more explanatory title.
FYI: NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) starts November 1st. If the group needs a framework, that might be a good one to start with. And some Shipmates usually participate.
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If that is only half true then you have been unfortunate.
But didn't we try a writing board some years ago? Not that we shouldn't do so again...
Good point. But writers can still be helpful (and otherwise) without getting into the copyright thing.
What is requested vis-a-vis a book in progress seems to be the job of an editor at one's publisher, or a colleague up to the task of providing informal editorial insights. I feel that it makes me, and others here, utilitarian in supporting the author's work and the anticipated income that author may recieve from that work, and not equals in sharing thoughts, confusions or insights.
Personally, though I have participated in both and with "Writers Bloc" was quite active[su]1[/sup], I. with respect to writing groups. tend to be a listener rather than an active participant. I am the same with the writers' group I attend in real life. There I rarely comment but I tend to remember often more of other member's novels than others in the group do.
1I was a much younger writer then and more opinionated, I think I was trying to show I could keep up with the rest; I no longer have to do that as I am happy with doing what I do
Plus it's not fiction. So it has different issues than what many folks are dealing with. though I HAVE finally got an idea for a novel...
That would be one of the things I would talk about on a writing thread - how ideas come to us, and why we think they would make a novel.
I would talk about how - practically - you make yourself sit down and write the damn thing.
How you solve problems of viewpoint - character X is the reader's avatar in the story, but I need to include something that happened to Y.
First person narration - how to present a character as both intelligent and mistaken?
How you build a character - say one necessary for the plot, but whom you don’t ‘feel’.
That sort of thing.
I would adore to do that sort of thing. But I'd feel awkward if it were only me. Are there more of us at such a stage?
Only one way to find out ... Although the location will depend on what you want to do - vent or seek support.
Well, that's thee and me. This thread is not an obvious place to attract interest, so it's probably necessary to start a thread with a more explanatory title.
I'd be interested, I think.
FYI: NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) starts November 1st. If the group needs a framework, that might be a good one to start with. And some Shipmates usually participate.