I won't embarrass anyone this time, but we have one SE who hasn't commented in 5 months, another who hasn't commented in 9 months and a third who hasn't commented in 10 months. This last one only posted 5 comments in total.

The link says 'find out more about our bank of experts'. I can tell you all you need to know, some do a sterling job. In particular I love Nell! Some others appear to have abandoned us.

How about some time-served promotions to expert? I'm thinking Dee, e.g. and Ticonderoga.

Shay

Seconded.

Damn good idea. It makes a better group when the site experts are active. Terry Edge does a good job in the YA group.

Colin M

Some Site Experts make lots of comments all the time, others are there to consult on particular matters or as 'site friends'- we try and ensure there's a good spread of experts across as wide a variety of writing as possible. And this varies of course, to do with how busy people are etc.

I would prefer a quiet "expert" that contributes occassionally to someone who is more of a group "boss" - if you get my meaning.

Quality versus quantity. But if there isn't any quantity at all...

Colin M

Personally, I think this site is damn good value for what you get. It's accessible and gives people freedom to use the site how they want. People on the site have different lifestyles, different intentions. It should be that way. This isn't a uni course or contest or anything. You can't go filtering out all these members and/or site experts for doing this and not doing that.

Cath

Oh, hang on. I think I've got the wrong end of the stick here. I've been confusing site experts with group hosts. It's group hosts who don't participate in their own groups that I think is a bit rubbish.

As for site experts, once they've earned that badge, I don't think you can take it away. You can always WW mail them direct.

If we get another expert in the same field then we get two people with the same badge. Not a bad thing at all.

Colin M

When I post a piece to Writewords Members Only I expect it to be protected from the flotsam of non-committed surfers and lurkers. But it's not. I would like my work to be available to people who have a continued presence here on this site and a commitment to it. That's it. Unfortunately the little white ghosts can access everything that we post. (OK, we've protected the Lounge now. Wooh! Maybe I'll just post my work in the Lounge).

Actually the issues are twofold: 1) one of the original positionings of WW was that your work would be exposed to 'site experts' who would help/advise/represent.
2)WW is open to anyone who wishes to write and you get free access to the site for a month (under any one log-in name).

Problem: 1) There are only a couple of site experts who consistently comment in any real sense, without commercial pressures.

2)Any ghost/lurker/ fucker can read my work. I don't want any fucker to read my work. Which is why I've taken almost all of it down.

Best
Sion

I don't worry that much about people stealing my work. I post work on the site, get some responses and suggestions as to how I can improve the work. It doesn't matter if I don't rewrite that particular piece, but those little hints and tips are taken on-board and are in my mind when I write my next piece and so on. The result is that my writing has improved, and that's just in the space of one year.

The reason I don't worry too much about work being "lifted" by ghosts and whatever, is that I've improved "as a writer" - I haven't just improved one story. If that gets nicked, I'll write another.

Colin M

Neither we nor our Site Experts have ever promised to 'represent' people or be able to help them get published etc- if writers flourish as a result of comments recieved here, that's fantastic, and anything extra is a bonus. WriteWords members have made contacts and connections and more through interviews, etc and people that we've drawn to the site- but we've never 'positioned' that Site Experts would be able to actively represent people. I think it has to be acknowledged that we have a bunch of 8 or 9 or so extremely committed experts whose experience is wide ranging and who comment often and in depth, and offer invaluable advice and suggestion to people here. That, I think, is a seperate issue to who may or may not be able to access your writing on the site.

Yeah, I think people are being overly negative here about the site. Do people expect to pay £30 or whatever and be welcomed by agents waving contracts at them?!! I just think writing is so much more enjoyable when you release yourself from the 'I must be published' attitude and enjoy the process - do it because you're a creative person and you need to do it. Yes, work at it, yes, try and improve, and if you get published or win something, then great, but if you don't, well it doesn't neccessarily mean that the world is an evil place or WW is a crap site!

Quite right, Anna.
You are, and have always been, a damn fine expert.

Best
Sion

(Perhaps anyone reading this might offer a prayer or two for The Pope tonight)

Anna, When I posted my first piece, Merely Numbers in January 2004 you were the first to comment and I will always be appreciative of that. However, the fact is we do not have enough site experts regularly contributing on posted work across a diverse range of genres, as you claim. Why has a children's story writer SE not commented for nine months? Where is the theatre and screen writer SE? She has another 'internet baby', so it's not this site. There are four dormant SE's and if they are too busy with other commitments, fair enough, ask them to relinquish their status and appoint new ones.

Colin, It's good that you feel WW has improved you as a writer and I totally share that view. Still, I couldn't be so laid back about the prospect of a story being lifted!

Skippoo, I think you've picked up the wrong stick and run with it. I didn't pay £35 expecting to be swamped with agents and publishers. I'm happy reading what I want to read, getting the comments I get and corresponding with two or three other members privately on separate issues. If I was looking for SE's to get me representation / published (with respect) I wouldn't be recommending Dee and e.g. This is a part of the site that could do with an update and being able to make that suggestion is also what I expect to get for my money.

I'm also confused that each group displays a statement claiming that inactive members are removed after three months. So why is the Humour/Comedy writers group, despite only one comment since January 8th, eight members with no work uploaded, ten members inactive for more than three months - including the group host - including one since November 2003, STILL FULL!!!

I wouldn't worry. If you find a place and manage to join you'll just be a member of a very lifeless group.

I think there's a difference between a Site Expert and a group host. Not all group hosts are Site Experts

I think.

Colin

I was going to start my own thread here to ask a question but I think this one is close.

Firstly I must say I have no gripes about my Memoir group site expert and host Richard. He has been great! His prompt and insightfull critique was what convinced me to join and has helped encourage and direct me to take the next step with my writing. (Although since joining I have written less due to spending so much time perusing here... but that is another matter).

My real question, which I think is related to one of the last posts is this: Are inactive members removed? I ask this because I have seen a few in my group that have not uploaded any work or posted any comments in months. They have been members since feb 04 which makes me wonder if they are still members i.e. did they renew?. I was going to comment on their work but don't want to waste my time if they are not members anymore.

So the question is are defunct members purged from the groups?

So far I have been limiting my comments to members that I see are active but I don't want to be doing the quiet one's a disservice if they are just busy.
Thanks,

Brian.