-
tweed - what exactly are you meaning by 'restricted membership' ?
-
James, very happy about most of the changes but I found my heart sinking at the idea of theme divided poetry groups.I find it difficult to articulate my discomfort. I can only say that I felt I wouldn't quite want to put a poem into any one of them. It is one thing to float a poem on an open sea, another to be asked to choose a suitable pigeon hole and somehow the miscellaneous/gallimaufry box feels a bit like the ragbag. I feel reluctant to mention my concern in what I see as the really positive changes being made. perhaps there are other alternative ideas floating around...? Hilary
-
I agree with Hilary. And to be honest, even if I personally thought a poem was a little amusing, I'd be reluctant to put it in the humour/fun section, as I'd prefer the reader to decide for themself that it was amusing.
On the other hand, if there were for example (similar to the way the fiction groups have been divided): Poetry writers group, Haiku group, Lyric group, etc, I'd find that better and easier way to work with. So, unless anyone wanted to join specific Lyric or some other group, they can just join the Poetry group.
-
Hi David,
By restricted membership I mean, as the site is obviously growing in popularity and therefore numbers, won't there come a time when all the experts and industry professionals in the world won't be able to cope and restricted membership (ie numbers of members) will be the only answer?
Before anyone wants my head on a stake, this is only me thinking aloud and not something I would support.
-
On reflection I agree with Hilary and Jibunnessa. My suggestions for groups were only on the basis that sub-groups were going to be necessary. Thematic groups are not a good idea. I don't honestly know how the groups should be defined, apart from A, B, C. However it is, there should be nothing that discourages people from posting work.If a single open group were possible, that would be best. Otherwise several open, broad groups with no limitations.
Also I think, at least as far as poetry is concerned, the number of poems by any one member shouldn't be restricted too much.
James.
-
Jibunnessa's idea of a general poetry group with some specialised style groups is fine too. But the more I think about it, the more I wish we could keep the status quo.
James.
-
Me too James. Me too
-
This is perhaps slightly off the original topic, but I think is equally important. In response to James, I think if we were to have an unlimited poetry group with, say 100 members, wouldn't this undermine the idea of the group as a small collection of individuals who in some small sense 'get to know each other'.
I personally feel there is some use in providing this kind of sense of friendliness for members who are rather daunted by the scale of the internet in general. It's a very interesting point, which I think gets to the heart of what our groups should be about. What do other members feel about this group size issue?
(posted after most of a bottle of wine, so please forgive if a little hazy)
-
I see your point David.
What did you think of my earlier suggestion?
-
Jib- I think it's certainly on the right lines.
-
Also, in terms of Experts browsing through the groups and looking to respond, it's obviously clearer to them if the groups aren't huge. So slightly smaller groups benefits everybody surely?
-
I know I said earlier that the changes you were thinking of were sound, and I don't want to muddy the waters further, but has anyone thought how different the process of short story writing is to that of novels? E. Annie Proulx said how hard she found the craft of shorts was, and Patricia Dunker straddles the line with 'Monsieur Shoudshana's Lemon Trees,' clumsily, in 1996.
When I crit pieces of novels, I know it's good for me, but I have to keep reminding myself that I am dealing in a writing medium I don't use myself. I am lonely for shorts. Sometimes in some of the writers who have come onto site recently, I see that they are somehow undecidedd about where they will put their writing energies, but I suppose it's always going to be the novel form, for what else is important in tiny Britain?
But would there be some use in making a specific short story slot for those of us that love the form, it seems we respect poetry and novels, but, how bored I am with saying this, not the short story.
Becca.
-
Becca - in the next few days we'll be adding a few more groups, and one of them is indeed planned to be the short story writers group.
-
I'm a big fan of shorts.
My 'FLAMES' was written as a short. But, people here commenting all suggest that I should turn it into a novel. I personally don't really want to.
I also put up the beginning bit of 'dancing barefoot', again a short story.
I like shorts. So, perhaps a shorts group would be a good idea.
-
Re Short stories. I am very happy at the idea of another group for shorts. I seem to write both. I wrote my first short as if it were the chapter of a novel. I now see them as very different genre (though I think is sometimes helps a novel chapter to make it work almost as a short story).
Can I suggest a word count up front? I sometimes dip into the website with only a few minutes, sometimes I print stuff off. A word count would help me decide quickly.
Re poetry, I am very glad, James, that you are having second thoughts about the theme division. I had a careful argument ready but I don't think you need it now. On a stray thought. How about groups by days of the week? Then people could belong to several days/groups, or generally post on a particular day. Writers could cluster if they felt like it or wander around. Too off the wall, perhaps? Cheers, Hilary
This 42 message thread spans 3 pages: < < 1 2 3 > >
Follow us on Twitter |
Articles |
Site Tour |
Help |
Terms |
Privacy |
About | Contact |