#SFFChrons

I think what we had tonight was good but! It mostly consisted of about five or six of us interacting in a way we often do anyway on Twitter. That we all knew each others' books was good and kept the conversation going (thank goodness for Sir Edric - woof!) but it's not showcasing the Chrons, really. In fact, it's a little insular.

I think, if we're going to do it, we think about what will pull people in. A few thoughts - we have very thoughtful reading threads (although not sure how many are active on chrons but @Nerds_feather is), a strong aspiring writers group, great challenges and strength in publishing/published writers. We need to showcase what makes the Chrons different - expertise with support and little snarking. So I think when we do another one we a. Promote it in advance and b. Have a theme that will interest people external to the community (all of which takes the precious commodity of time so maybe those benefitting can take turns about organising them?)

I think panels work well, so four or so fielding questions. We can still all contribute and have side discussions but a panel gives structure and sounds professional.

A few themes I've thought of:

A reading panel if the reader section is interested?
A publishing professionals panel? Maybe Gary as a publisher, Glitch re running a magazine, Teresa as published and editor, and a professional writer (@Toby Frost, one who could raise a giggle would be fab...)
Querying/getting an agent/routes to publishing - myself and Hex are agented, Mouse is published with specialist publishers, others are on the agent trail or are experienced in the steps like @Tirellan.
Self-publishing panel - advisory from those who're doing well/knowledgeable.
A grammar forum could be a good laugh, if the right peeps were on it.

It's just we do have some great expertise here, if we're going to make #sffchrons work we need more than just enthusiasm, we need something relevant and interesting to those outside the community.
 
All of that sounds like an excellent idea.

I realise it was only a start, but the hashtag has been used 96 times more than it had been a week ago. Also Teresa and Ursa got their Twitter feet wet.

When you say, "Publish it advance," what do you suggest? The reason it appears "insular" is that those taking part were already SFFChrons members. So, promoting it on SFFChrons itself isn't going to work, and none of us have huge numbers of followers on Twitter so the retweets probably didn't go that deep, but must have helped. It would need to be promoted beyond our small little group, maybe actually out into the real world of readers and authors and book signings, and we don't have a budget for that. However, as I said, just what we did last night did seem to have some effect as there was certainly an increase in book related tweets during that time from authors not a part of SFFChrons.

All those themes and panels ideas all sound really good. Speaking to an author/ publisher and having questions answered in real time would be an attraction. Grammar could be funny. It just needs someone to organise it, regiment the troops and plan the themes and panels. I nominate Springs!

As for the showcasing of the Chrons itself, I think the best way to achieve do that would be to Tweet links to individual threads in the way that @jldobias has done. There are two local community forums where I live. In one forum people tweet links to threads daily. In the other links are rarely, if ever tweeted. The first forum is much more popular (though that could be the cause rather than the effect.)
 
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Dave said:
All of that sounds like an excellent idea.

I realise it was only a start, but hashtag has been used 96 times more than it had been a week ago. Also Teresa and Ursa got their Twitter feet wet.

Yes and I picked up a couple of followers from it, one high profile. :) It was a good success.

When you say, "Publish it advance," what do you suggest? The reason it appears "insular" is that those taking part were already SFFChrons members. So, promoting it on SFFChrons itself isn't going to work, and none of us have huge numbers of followers on Twitter so the retweets probably didn't go that deep, but must have helped. It would need to be promoted beyond our small little group, maybe actually out into the real world of readers and authors and book signings, and we don't have a budget for that. However, as I said, just what we did last night did seem to have some effect as there was certainly an increase in book related tweets during that time from authors not a part of SFFChrons.

I think all of us being proactive at using it is a start. Mentioning it in our feeds a few times in the week leading up to it. Getting the @chrons fb and twitter accounts to tweet it. Coming up with something interesting to do - if there is something useful on offer others will pick it up and retweet. Some of us have been doing bits and pieces - the 300 hash tag and some links from @chrons, but something of a more joined up approach in the lead up to it.

All those themes and panels ideas all sound really good. Speaking to an author/ publisher and having questions answered in real time would be an attraction. Grammar could be funny. It just needs someone to organise it, regiment the troops and plan the themes and panels. I nominate Springs!

I don't mind putting together the first one. I'm not going to volunteer indefinitely as I am very busy with work in the later part of the winter and have writing commitments but happy to do the first one at least. I'll muse about it. but to make it work is a community thing, I think - individuals are a drop in the ocean.

As for the showcasing of the Chrons itself, I think the best way to achieve do that would be to Tweet links to individual threads in the way that @jldobias has done. There are two local community forums where I live. In one forum people tweet links to threads daily. In the other links are rarely, if ever tweeted. The first forum is much more popular (though that could be the cause rather than the effect.)

I think what @jldobias is doing was really useful and that's certainly something to do. Also if it's a thread about authors/films picking up their hashtag might link to more people.
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So, if I'm going to organise anything I need to know who is interested/would be prepared to do panels. I think I'll set up a thread on that and see what sort of experience we can draw on. :)
 
Ulp. Could I break it? I break a lot of technological things... you'd have to talk me through it very gently. In the meantime, I'll pop over and start a thread on the Chrons and see what we can pull together. :)
 
It is just a good way to see all the hashtaged Tweets (and also Facebook, Vine, Instagram, Googleplus) together on one page. It won't require any "administration" but I'm not sure if the wording describing the hashtag is what you would like. I can change it if you want. It currently says:
"Cover reveals, shorts & new books by writers, publishers & self-publishers from the SFFChronicles forum. Showcasing the best of the forum."

If we are using it for chats and expert panels then maybe that should change. It has to be 140 characters or less though.
 
You don't *have* to. We won't beat you with big pointy sticks if you don't.
 
Just followed (MorrisF1's my Twittername).
 
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