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One minor issue I have is the title of the forum Unpublished Writers.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.

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