Help us make the forums better

We'd like your input!

Help us make the forums better

JReich 06-10-2009, 11:39 AM
In the coming weeks, we will be reorganizing The Writer forums in ways we hope will make them more accessible and relevant to Web site users. Two changes you will see soon:

1) The elimination of forums that have seen little or no activity in recent months
2) The relocation of some premium forums to the free area.

Beyond that, we would like to hear from you on what more we can do to improve the forums. What topics should we add? What else would you like to see? Please feel free to post your comments here; we’ll take every suggestion into consideration as we work to provide you with a livelier and more enjoyable discussion area.

Jeff Reich
Editor

Re: Help us make the forums better

jimdens 07-04-2009, 6:26 AM

I haven't been to the forums in quite some time, though I have been enjoying the premium content of the magazine. I appreciate the staff asking for our opinions. I will be logging on more often in the hopes of experiencing the positive changes you're enforcing. Since I haven't visited in a while, it's entirely possible I don't remember exactly what the forums looked like before, but it appears the changes have not yet started.

One minor issue I have is the title of the forum Unpublished Writers. To me that sounds degrading somehow. I dare say I'm not the only one who sees that title and thinks "Oh, unsuccessful people; this must be where I belong." It also makes me feel as though I must not be good enough to visit the other forums. I believe a good solution to this would be to simply change the title to something more positive - Working Towards Publication, or Just Getting Started...anything to make the reader/writer feel worthwhile.

Thanks again for taking the time to listen.

You get what you give, so give love. Schrayer family motto
Deanna Schrayer
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Visit my blog at: http://writingwonder.wordpress.com/
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First publication: http://badideanewsonline.com/wpbad/?cat=20

Re: Help us make the forums better

chalice1999 07-17-2009, 10:51 AM

Hi,

I haven't seen a thread yet on the Children's writing market or am I missing something? It would be great if someone could create a thread for that, it really is a lucrative market. Thanks! :)

Re: Help us make the forums better

Penbear 07-25-2009, 11:05 AM
Would like to see success stories about how first-time novels got published.

Re: Help us make the forums better

JimNC 08-07-2009, 8:47 AM

Have you considered using volunteer guides? These individuals would:

1) be assigned to a forum

2) be responsible for posting topics for discussion and monitoring the responses

3) need to meet minimum qualifications, and

4) be expected to post topics on a regular basis

Just a thought.

Re: Help us make the forums better

Lounge Daddy 09-26-2009, 8:20 AM

I like the idea of a premium forum for posting writing for crtitique, etc. And a general writing for bouncing around plot ideas and thoughts about characterization, etc.

However, an open conversation area would be nice. Just an area for non-writing related gab where the posters can share and get to know eachother (new job, new baby, so-on).

A "coffee lounge," or similar main heading could have an open posting board, the announcements areacould go there, and the welcome introduce yourself. This would leave the other two areas for pre-writing plotting discussions, and then during and after writing critique and revision discussion.

Thanks for setting up a great forum. This is another great resource from a great magazine.

- Dan

Re: Help us make the forums better

Lounge Daddy 09-28-2009, 6:12 PM

Also, many many of these specific topical boards could be combined into a few genralized boards. It's all hard to scan through. That's why most of the activity is on the top few anyway.

A few generalized boards would look less "busy" and confusing.