Why isn't this forum used?

[Omits]

Is there a serious forum somewhere for aspiring writers? Let me know. Thanks.

 

[The Judge]

Um... Chrons and Writing Discussion are used by aspiring writers, and while we're not serious all the while, many of us are very serious about our writing.

What exactly are you looking for in a serious forum? Somewhere to get sections of your work critiqued? Yep, got that. Somewhere to learn basic rules/conventions about grammar and spelling? That's here. Somewhere to discuss all kinds of issues about writing? Somewhere to ask for help and advice? Somewhere that lists places you can send your genre novel? Somewhere to learn about new competitions or where to send short stories? Somewhere to practise short form writing with others? Somewhere that has regular competitions? Somewhere to meet other writers and make friends? Somewhere to ask for beta readers? Chrons has got all of that lot, too.

In addition, Supporter members can access the Writing Group and have more than 1500 words critiqued at anyone time, they can post work simply for it to be admired rather than requiring a critique, and they can promote their work.

Anything else you're specifically looking for?

 

[sknox]

>Is there a serious forum somewhere for aspiring writers? Let me know. Thanks.

Yes. You're in it.

I might also suggest conducting a search on the Internet. Wonderful thing, that.

 

[Astro Pen]

In addition, Supporter members can access the Writing Group and have more than 1500 words critiqued at anyone time, they can post work simply for it to be admired rather than requiring a critique, and they can promote their work.

Is the writing group private, as in not readable by the browsing public? I'd like to run a story or two past the group before sending them off but don't want to have "published" them here, for obvious reasons.

 

[msstice]

Is there a serious forum somewhere for aspiring writers? Let me know. Thanks.

Yes, but only the good writers can see it.

 

[The Judge]

Is the writing group private, as in not readable by the browsing public?

Yes, that's right. Only Supporters and mods can access it, so you'll be fine.

 

[OuttaInc]

Is the writing group private, as in not readable by the browsing public? I'd like to run a story or two past the group before sending them off but don't want to have "published" them here, for obvious reasons.

I'm not yet a supporter, and I can confirm that I don't see a separate writing group option under the Writing and Publishing heading.

Although now that I know about it, I'll definitely become a supporter.

 

[Swank]

Yes, that's right. Only Supporters and mods can access it, so you'll be fine.

I had no idea that exists. How much use does it get?

 

[The Judge]

Not a lot recently, no doubt because it is for Supporters only, which cuts down the numbers who can use it and respond to it.

In the past (at which time it was still closed off from the main boards, so casual viewers couldn't see it, only those with a certain number of posts) it was used quite a bit, especially for things like synopses or complete short stories. But if memory serves, there tended to be spurts of activity -- someone would put something up, which reminded people it was there, so they used it, too. So I'm sure that if one or two Supporters posted there, it would soon generate its own momentum again.

 

[Astro Pen]

I'll go and kickstart it with a short piece

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I had no idea that exists. How much use does it get?

It comes and goes based

Not a lot recently, no doubt because it is for Supporters only, which cuts down the numbers who can use it and respond to it.

In the past (at which time it was still closed off from the main boards, so casual viewers couldn't see it, only those with a certain number of posts) it was used quite a bit, especially for things like synopses or complete short stories. But if memory serves, there tended to be spurts of activity -- someone would put something up, which reminded people it was there, so they used it, too. So I'm sure that if one or two Supporters posted there, it would soon generate its own momentum again.

i think it’s because it’s now supporters only that I don’t - and won’t - use it again. In the past only members who’d been around and I trusted could see it. Now anyone can go there on their first post. It used to be a really nice asset - now it just feels like it’s not.

 

[Danny McG]

only members who’d been around and I trusted could see it

It's obvious she means me there, the rest of you are a bit dodgy

 

[Brian G Turner]

Hm, looks like the dedicated Writing Group isn't really being used - sorry about that, hadn't noticed! We always get so many people joining up asking for advice and help, but they always end up on the normal public boards. And, typically, they often join solely to ask other people to invest time in reading long excerpts of their work, rather than get involved with the community - IMO recent posts on the beta reader marketplace thread exemplify this. I had hoped to try and push these people into making some kind of effort to invest in and engage with the wider chrons community but it clearly hasn't worked. Therefore I'll revert the Writing Group back to being accessible for established members rather than Supporters-only. It may take me a little while to figure out the settings, though, so be patient.

EDIT: Ah, wait, the "Established Member" user group was deleted a while back because the Writing Group board was the only area that needed it. And setting up a new Usergroup and all the required permissions again is going to be a complete PITA. In which case, I'll leave the Writing Group as Supporter-only for the moment, as it was never intended to be open to general public access.

 

[OuttaInc]

Hm, looks like the dedicated Writing Group isn't really being used - sorry about that, hadn't noticed! We always get so many people joining up asking for advice and help, but they always end up on the normal public boards. And, typically, they often join solely to ask other people to invest time in reading long excerpts of their work, rather than get involved with the community - IMO recent posts on the beta reader marketplace thread exemplify this. I had hoped to try and push these people into making some kind of effort to invest in and engage with the wider chrons community but it clearly hasn't worked. Therefore I'll revert the Writing Group back to being accessible for established members rather than Supporters-only. It may take me a little while to figure out the settings, though, so be patient.

I became a Supporter specifically to access that group so I hope my 130 posts qualify me to stay

Having said that, it would go a long way toward easing my mind about posting my own short stories for critique if I recognized most of the avatars in the group. I guess what I'm saying is, I see the value in limiting it to established members, and I also hope that includes me. LOL

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I became a Supporter specifically to access that group so I hope my 130 posts qualify me to stay

Having said that, it would go a long way toward easing my mind about posting my own short stories for critique if I recognized most of the avatars in the group. I guess what I'm saying is, I see the value in limiting it to established members, and I also hope that includes me. LOL

It would - it used to be 100 plus posts. What would have happened was people graduating from critiques to the writing group and by then we all knew each other and each other’s works better.

 

[Swank]

I would have offered critiques even though I don't have anything currently worthy of critique-in-kind.

I would have become a supporter to do so, had I known that was a function of the membership. Now it sounds like it isn't used and isn't likely to be.

Are there other hidden supporter-only functions? I looked all over the site and can't find anything about becoming a supporter aside from where to pay.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I would have offered critiques even though I don't have anything currently worthy of critique-in-kind.

I would have become a supporter to do so, had I known that was a function of the membership. Now it sounds like it isn't used and isn't likely to be.

Are there other hidden supporter-only functions? I looked all over the site and can't find anything about becoming a supporter aside from where to pay.

You do critique though - when you have something ready that will mean you have loads in the bank which is never a bad thing

There is a private members space for more private postings, away from the main site. Families, health, worries that kind of thing. I think it’s members only

 

[OuttaInc]

It would - it used to be 100 plus posts. What would have happened was people graduating from critiques to the writing group and by then we all knew each other and each other’s works better.

It makes sense.

My concern with the open critiques is that, for those of us close to submitting to a magazine, it could disqualify us because our story (or a significant portion of it) has already been “published” on this forum.

That’s why a locked down section appeals to me, especially if we could request removal after a certain time (which I see was discussed in the Supporters thread.)

 

[Jo Zebedee]

It makes sense.

My concern with the open critiques is that, for those of us close to submitting to a magazine, it could disqualify us because our story (or a significant portion of it) has already been “published” on this forum.

That’s why a locked down section appeals to me, especially if we could request removal after a certain time (which I see was discussed in the Supporters thread.)

Yes you do have to be careful of that. I also avoid using the book name anywhere so it doesn’t come up in Google searches

 

[Swank]

You do critique though - when you have something ready that will mean you have loads in the bank which is never a bad thing

There is a private members space for more private postings, away from the main site. Families, health, worries that kind of thing. I think it’s members only

I just meant that I would have positively contributed to the Writing Group without any expectation of reciprocation - had I known it exists. I doubt I would have been the only one.

I participate on another forum where certain kinds of topics (not controversial ones) were moved behind a paywall. As far as I know, those topics just stopped being discussed on that forum.