Discussing the Writing Challenges -- November and December 2010

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re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

OK, regarding the lack of votes.

A couple of ideas spring to mind - as it were.

I've just read some of the introductions again and I can't recall seeing any mention of the fact there is a competition to which all are welcome to enter - number of posts permitting of course.

It's been so long now - decades - it must be decades - no wait, it can't be that long - too short a time - SLAP!

Sorry!

Anyway, when a newbie signs up does he get a welcome e-mail in which things could be mentioned; things like the critiquing stickies and the competitions; where we keep the bags of cat litter and trays etc.

I know we try not to be 'authoritarian or "ruley" (more unruly if anything) but it might be a place to stimulate the innocent before they get too jaded.

Just a thought.
 
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

I did try to tout the challenges to a few of our new members I welcomed recently, and I know Chris and some others have made a point of mentioning it, too. But perhaps it's too much to expect that someone will do so in each and every welcome thread that's posted.


I don't know how easy (or otherwise) it would be for Brian to set up a system of welcome emails, but I have received them when joining other websites in the past, and, in principle, it seems like a good idea to me.
 
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

It's too much to ask Brian to do anything right now -- he's so busy, and when he has time for the site he's implementing some new ideas of his own.

I think encouraging newcomers to enter the Challenge and/or vote -- as well as participate in other activities, of course -- is the best way to go, especially if some of the rest of us help out with that, instead of leaving it to all to chris and Seph.

Especially if someone mentions in their Introduction thread that he or she is writing a book, we pounce ...

Oh, and the next time someone asks if they have to write short stories before they tackle that novel, a lot of people can say, "Oh yes. It's well known that many popular writers started out writing stories of 75 words or less. Really, its practically a prerequisite to success."
 
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

I don't know how easy (or otherwise) it would be for Brian to set up a system of welcome emails...
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But not everyone would appreciate an in-your-face "Here's some challenges for you" email/PM when they join and want time to get to know the forum and its people. It might seem a little bit... pushy.

However, if it worked..... :)

I agree, though, more of us should try to encourage it around the site.
 
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

I think it would all be in the wording, Leish. It wouldn't have to seem pushy. But I'd considered that Brian might not have the time. If the challenges continue to thrive, then maybe, in the further future, it's something that could be considered.

Right now, I'm happy to do my bit in Introductions when I'm around. And if enough others are doing the same, then between us, we should be able to cover the new threads as they are posted.
 
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

Oh, and the next time someone asks if they have to write short stories before they tackle that novel, a lot of people can say, "Oh yes. It's well known that many popular writers started out writing stories of 75 words or less. Really, its practically a prerequisite to success."
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LOL! Fantastic. So we're all destined for success.

I have to say, the challenges aren't exactly making my writing worsen. In fact, I have learned to edit and reword a lot more!


Seph said:
I think it would all be in the wording, Leish. It wouldn't have to seem pushy.
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I still think an email/PM would seem impolite, though. However, perhaps if Brian's welcome email listed a number of places of interest around the site - a sort of guide to the best of the Chrons... :)
 
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

It also just occurred to me that sometimes people post something in AW without ever going to Introductions at all.

Just on general principle we should be welcoming them, too, when we interact with them in the other threads.

How to get our non-writing Chronicles friends to vote is a mystery to me. I have tried bringing the stories to their attention, but none of my attempts seem to have worked. I even started a thread a couple of months back, which no one seemed to notice. If anyone has any other ideas, please feel free to share them.
 
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

Leish -- I don't see why it's impolite. What you suggest there is sort of what I envisaged it would be, anyway. These things are pretty standard online, and I don't think anyone is likely to be offended by them. It's easy enough to ignore anything you're not interested in.

But it's a moot point, at least for the time being. :)



The question of how to welcome folk who skip Introductions is an interesting one. If I end up interacting with a member I haven't met before, and I happen to notice that they've just joined, I do tend to welcome them, either in the thread, or by visitor message. I suppose I could go the extra mile from now on, and canvass them for the challenges, as well.

I'm not sure what else we can do to encourage more existing members to take an interest, though -- other than, as I mentioned earlier, pestering the life out of them. :p

(And even that might not work.)
 
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

We could have a sticky (that most people could ignore) at the top of the Introductions forum, listing interesting things to do around the site.
 
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

I think the sticky is a great idea. Sure, not everyone will look at it. But some will, and some is better than none.

Many new members express a slight feeling of being overwhelmed by the size of the Chrons when first they join (I commented on the size and scope of the place myself, in my now-infamous intro thread, back when I joined in Sep '07).

Such folk may welcome the sticky as a friendly introduction and guide to the site.



[edit] I just read your thread in General Book Discussion, Teresa (I hadn't seen it, since I'm not in that section of the forum very often). It's a shame it didn't elicit any response. Although we mustn't allow ourselves to be disheartened. If at first we don't succeed....
 
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

Love the idea of a sticky in the intros section. The mods should get to work on that! Oh, wait, that's right...
 
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

I would have loved a sticky when I joined. It took me a while to notice we had an Intro section, but once I did, I read all its stickies.

Even if it helps a handful, surely that's reward enough? And even one new challenge entrant is a bonus...
 
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

Teresa Edgerton said:
Oh, and the next time someone asks if they have to write short stories before they tackle that novel, a lot of people can say, "Oh yes. It's well known that many popular writers started out writing stories of 75 words or less. Really, its practically a prerequisite to success."
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Haha, I like the idea that the Chron will spawn a generation of acclaimed writers. It's like a virtual Cafe Guerbois.

It surprises me that other people don't seem to want to participate or vote in the Challenge. Even if people aren't writers, the one thing that unites people here is reading, and that's all they have to do. Maybe people feel like they'd be intruding if they voted without entering anything? I dunno.
 
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

I'm as mystified as you are, digs. But you may be right, in which case we'll just have to make sure we stress our desire for maximum participation.


Maybe it will just take a bit longer to build up momentum, and spread the word?
 
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

Perhaps you should reword your title in the below thread, Teresa, to let people know the stories are free? Or call it something intriguing, about the first runs of the new Chronicles Short Story Challenge.

http://www.sffchronicles.co.uk/forum/527633-some-stories-that-might-be-worth-your-attention.html

And you'll need to update the link in your first post. :)


Edit: Perhaps call it "We need YOU! The Chronicles 75-word Challenge lifts off, to startling success". Or something better. :eek:

Edit edit: I sound like a newspaper headline! :eek: Blimey. I'll put it down to the fact that it's nearly 2am here.
 
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

The main reason for me to join the Chron was to enter in the competition. I don't even know where the introduction forum is!

Yay, stories.
 
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

Leisha said:
Edit: Perhaps call it "We need YOU! The Chronicles 75-word Challenge lifts off, to startling success". Or something better. :eek:

Edit edit: I sound like a newspaper headline! :eek: Blimey. I'll put it down to the fact that it's nearly 2am here.
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Leisha's onto something! We should do a press release with a full play-by-play of previous competitions. And stress the fame and success the winners have gone on to achieve.
 
re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- July & August

Did you just encounter the competition by reading the forum, OBP ('lurking', in internet parlance) -- or did someone tell you about it?


At any rate, we're glad you joined! (And welcome, btw. Hope you have fun exploring the rest of the site.) :)
 
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