Private on-line writing group?

davyjose

Guys,

How would the idea of a boards writing group go down for people on here? Admittedly, I've been out of the loop a little here lately -- changes at work, and some family issues have meant I've been hard pushed to find any meaningful time on here, let alone to write. But if I'm honest I feel the VOAT comp has run its course. As well as that, I felt it was a little to competitive to be truely beneficial.

For the mods, and regs alike: do you think it would be possible to have a "subbed" writing group where like-minded writers can discuss, critique, guide, and learn from other writers? I reckon there's a good 15-25 regulars who are serious about writing, who would genuinely appreciate honest feedback from their peers.
(To an extent, we have that with VOAT, but it's random and unwieldy, and the more posters -- the more people who get involved -- the more you fall back into the wallpaper. And well, how much are you really learning?)

I know that this wouldn't have the fluidity or convenience of your classic writers group, but we could perhaps break it down into clusters, or even genres on a weekly/fortnightly/monthly basis. I.e. everyone commits to a certain group, with each group limited to five or six writers, and each group dealing with a certain theme, or style, or whatever (we can work out the details later, although for this to work, the rules must be adhered to). The one rule would be: Everyone in a group would write something pertinent to their particular group that week/fortnight/month/TBD, and everyone else in that group would be bound to comment on each other's piece.

I'll be honest; my missus is ill, we have a baby, I work nights, and so i haven't slept in about 36 hours ... plus I have a few beers on!!! But I'll be damned if I can see a flaw in this idea. The VOAT comp has been such a boost to this site, and I feel this idea can be just as good, if not even more helpful to the development of the art of writing.

I was gonna PM this idea straight to Picka, but I figured we're all reasonably unstupid enough to decide amongst ourselves, and also the input to the VOAT has always been very much as a group.

So what say ye?

Dave

EileenG

Suits me. I have no problem posting to a private group, I just don't want to publish on a public board.

aja72

Have you write about technical automotive topic.

pickarooney

Hi Dave and welcome back,

This was something I was considering recently but was unsure of what format it could take in terms of a group leader, deadlines, 'meetings' etc.
I'd get behind it, definitely, although whether or not I'd be able to participate regularly is another question.
Give me a day to discuss this with BEAT and the higher-ups before posting in the forum requests forum.

36 hours - give it another 12 and you'll start writing like Lewis Carroll.

pickarooney

OK, if this is to have a chance of going ahead we'll need numbers so anyone interested should post a +1 here.

Antilles

+1

darkestlord

count me in. Sounds good

Mr E

+1

Aoibheann

Another +1 here.

ToasterSparks

+1 and thanks for the thread davyjose.

dawvee

+1 for me too.

r3nu4l

+1 from me.

Good idea.

jackthelad321

+1

smcgiff

Can't imagine a better candidate for a private group.

+1

Mr E

The more I think about this, the more I like it.

Can I +1 again?

EileenG

I assume I'm already counted in?

pickarooney

I make it 12 so far. Has anyone an idea for a name if it gets accepted?
Writers' Bloc?

ToasterSparks

pickarooney wrote: »

I make it 12 so far. Has anyone an idea for a name if it gets accepted?
Writers' Bloc?

I like it! Or how about The Write Group?

azzeretti

I would like to be included too please.

pickarooney

Any more name suggestions? I think we nearly have enough interested members to petition the powers that be.

ToasterSparks

pickarooney wrote: »

I think we nearly have enough interested members to petition the powers that be.

Sounds ominous! Would a blood sacrifice further our cause?

lmtduffy

Im in if we have a decent amount of poets.

pickarooney

How about WRITE CLUB. The charter would write itself at least.

Iomega Man

Can you count me in too please?

ToasterSparks

pickarooney wrote: »

How about WRITE CLUB. The charter would write itself at least.

Perfect!

First rule of Write Club - you do not talk about Write Club. Might make the learning experience a little less helpful though, don't you think?

darkestlord

Any idea when the group will start. And have we any plans to start some kind of a writing project strictly within the group. And when finished have it passed around the group.Any way thats what I would like.

pickarooney

Still waiting on feedback about a name, really.

Memnoch

ToasterSparks wrote: »

Perfect!

First rule of Write Club - you do not talk about Write Club. Might make the learning experience a little less helpful though, don't you think?

Shouldn't that be, you do not WRITE about write club?

I'd be up for it as well. The name sounds fine. Not that I think the name is a big issue. You could simply call it Boards Writers Critique. Or Boards Writing Group forum.

Hrududu

This does sound interesting. How would it all work?

pickarooney

Hrududu wrote: »

This does sound interesting. How would it all work?

Good question. I think the main focus should be on quid pro quo feedback for works in progress or pieces planned for publication. I think the most beneficial approach would be a combination of regular, meeting-style exchanges (I'm having trouble putting this into words, but basically what davyjose was talking about in his third paragraph) where everyone submits a piece at a regular interval and of threads for occasional feedback.

I'd also suggest a 'what are you working on' thread so members can get an idea of what everyone else is doing.

On the other hand, I think we should do everything possible to avoid generalised discussion, which can be benificial to everyone and should be publicly readable in the main CW forum.

I'd like to know what everyone else thinks.

Mr E

I don't have anything planned for publication nor do I expect to, realistically. Not in the short term anyway. I just write because I enjoy writing.

I see this as a formal evolution of the VOAT threads. Exactly what davyjose said in his third paragraph.

Hrududu

I'm in the same boat as Mr E in that I can't see myself getting published anytime soon. But I'm very interested in improving and this might be a good way to do it.

Orion101

I'd be interested in this too. Will the group be divided into different genres?

pickarooney

It could be. I suppose it all depends on what people want and what they're interested in doing.

Memnoch

I'm not sure we'll have enough people to divide it into different genres. It might be an idea to just start out small and simple with a general critique forum and take it from there and evolve it as needed.

Wantobe

+1 from me too. I'm a little slow off the mark to reply as was on holidays for last two weeks but very interested in this.

Insect Overlord

+1

I've written nothing of note since last December, but having a focal-point like this could help me get over that.

lmtduffy wrote: »

Im in if we have a decent amount of poets.

One more poet reporting, sir!

pickarooney wrote: »

How about WRITE CLUB. The charter would write itself at least.

That is brilliant!

Livvie

It would interest me.

i-digress

+1:D

Antilles

Looking forward to this getting started. Love the "Write Club" name too.

pickarooney

Just an update on this, to say that there are no updates The forum request is still pending in admin-land.

Antilles

Is there anything we can do to improve the chances that the admins will OK it?

Mr E

Next VOAT: The Erotic Adventures of The Admins?

Antilles

Yeah I'm sure some sort of Boards.ie Admin slash fic competition would do wonders for our cause

r3nu4l

Or a brown envelope full of cash...I'd be happy with that. Say €50k? Any takers?



Still under discussion.

pickarooney

Quick question - how many people (in this thread) have submitted a piece for critique on the forum before (outside of competitions) and what, realistically, would make you post in another forum if you don't post here?

a) the safety factor of not being read by non-members/google
b) copyright issues
c) need motivation in order to write and post
d) other

jackthelad321

pickarooney wrote: »

Quick question - how many people (in this thread) have submitted a piece for critique on the forum before (outside of competitions) and what, realistically, would make you post in another forum if you don't post here?

a) the safety factor of not being read by non-members/google
b) copyright issues
c) need motivation in order to write and post
d) other

Well, for me it'd have to be c. and as an other well, i just write my own stuff at the moment, never was allured by the story competitions TBH, but this thing felt like something that could have a snowball effect-- in a good way-- for my writing and my ever-needed writing education.

As for a. Perhaps... well I am only coming around to showing people my stuff --friends as of yet-- it is a confidence thing. But i think this may help me break through it. Anyway, I am motivated to write, i hope this thing goes ahead.

I assume B is a joke, no?!

LegacyUser

jackthelad321 wrote: »

Well, for me it'd have to be c. and as an other well, i just write my own stuff at the moment, never was allured by the story competitions TBH, but this thing felt like something that could have a snowball effect-- in a good way-- for my writing and my ever-needed writing education.

As for a. Perhaps... well I am only coming around to showing people my stuff --friends as of yet-- it is a confidence thing. But i think this may help me break through it. Anyway, I am motivated to write, i hope this thing goes ahead.

I assume B is a joke, no?!

I would think motivation to write is a big issue. Also, the fact it won't be public!!

darkestlord

pickarooney wrote: »

Quick question - how many people (in this thread) have submitted a piece for critique on the forum before (outside of competitions) and what, realistically, would make you post in another forum if you don't post here?

a) the safety factor of not being read by non-members/google
b) copyright issues
c) need motivation in order to write and post
d) other

To be honest I'm keen on a writing group here because i've been looking for one in Wicklow and had no look. I'm hoping it will motivate me into writing and get feedback from my peers that will improve my writing. I was a regular poster on Storiesville.com befote it disolved. The"members only" policy would make me more comfortable putting my work up.

i-digress

The fact that submissions wouldn't be read by non-members or google I suppose. I like the idea that all members will give feedback too, it means you're guaranteed a certain level of feedback which you don't get with the main forum.

tomasocarthaigh

Theres a groups function here ... why not use it for the groups?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2TycEcPpDI