There was a thread recently, wondering about somewhere for 'hints and tips' on the site. For various reasons I don't myself think it would be specially helpful, BUT, I know that it's not always easy to find a useful thread on a topic you know must have been discussed.

Can I suggest that when people are starting a thread on writing matters they give a bit of thought to the Subject line? At the time we all know that something headed 'What shall I do?' might be about submitting to an agent, or using foreign words in dialogue, but it's not obvious later. Perhaps really explict and specific subject lines would help make it obvious to the baffled seeker after truth in generations to come...

Emma

Good idea.

I suppose it would mean a lot of work for David, but what would be really useful would be a directory for past threads on subjects such as pov, dialogue, show not tell and grammar points etc etc - one we could use like the present directory for agents etc.

Obviously it would be a massive undertaking to assimilate past threads into such a directory, but would it be possible herewith, for thread to be sorted and stored that way?

Might just take care of your coffee breaks, David

Casey

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Or even Richard, isn't he king of the directory?

I don't know. The same issues seem to crop up time and again. Give it six months, and everything that's already been discussed will have been discussed again. I'm not sure there's any need to go over old stuff.

But i think the point is, that instead of someone starting yet another thread so that it is all discussed again, they could go to a directory or whatever, see if it has been brought up, and consult that instead.

Casey

I understood that. I just meant that going over old stuff sounds like an awful lot of work. We could just start from now.

I see no reason why a particular subject cannot repeat itself. We have a changing membership and also 'older' Members may change their minds or offer a new slant on a specific subject. It may also provide an opportunity for a Member to comment for the first time on a 'regularly-aired' subject.

As regards 'giving thought to the Subject line' I would leave this alone and let Members express/raise a topic/ask a question in their own way. A quick glance at the replies or the Topic itself will quickly establish if anyone feels that they can add something useful.

Len

One informal way of doing it would be that when a question comes up and we're all chipping in, anyone who gets that 'I'm sure we had a thread on that a while ago', takes a couple of minutes doing a search and then posts the link to the old thread in the new one. It'll be specially efficient if the new thread has a nice, explicit subject line.

Emma

I'll go along with that, Emma.

Len

It's funny... although I've read many craft books, and written for a few years now with varying degrees of success, I still get a lot out of discussing 'the old chestnuts' with other writers.

Sometimes it's more productive to debate differences of opinion, rather than read through books, or threads. Sometimes one's own opinions shift in the process... and lead to writers trying out new things.

How about a place where we could post titles of craft books we have found useful, with brief descriptions of their style and content, in addition to continuing exactly what WW has been so good at, it seems to me, for a long time? Providing a place where lots of different writers can rediscover and reappraise the basics while experimenting, or just writing and getting good feedback?


vanessa

I think the tips thing that was mentioned was for some of the experts to give more hard-core tips rather than the usual. Or so I took it.

I use the search function a lot, it works perfectly well on a keyword...

All the same, good use of subject line would be appreciated. I'm with you Emma.
I like to browse to see what strikes my interest and it's always a help.
Besides could be good practice for coming up with titles for stories, hehe.

Nana

good use of subject line would be appreciated. I'm with you Emma

Totally agree. Even a day or two later I can't usually remember what a thread called "can you help me?" is about, so I miss threads I want to read and open threads I've dealt with.

I also find it slightly difficult that nearly every popular thread gets taken over by general chit chat and gets way off the point really soon. It makes it harder to find the answers you're looking for. Could people consider starting a new thread in lounge if something sends them off in a chatty direction during a targeted thread?

Deb

There are tools such as Google's Desktop Search which can be used to index and systematise large bodies of documents, but I don't know how easy it is to incorporate into a website; might be expensive. I've find it very helpful in navigating through my own archives of research on various topics stored on my PC.
Tony