Boards need to be revised - Writers Forum

Kamisama · 08-02-2006, 03:54 AM

Sometimes when I look at the "Writing Tips & Advice" and "Research" boards, I can't stop but think that one of these need to be revised.

One says that you "Share your tips, tricks and advice." The other states
"Research for your story or poem. Ask about history, technology, language etc."

Yet which one infers that people ask for language help? The research board? Apparently. One states that a person ask about language; the other is a board for offering advice - not asking for it. Many will continue to use the "Writing Tips and Advice" for language research. Albeit not a large problem, I find that grammar, punctuation, and linguistics can be different than first-person view.

Where do language questions belong? Do they belong in the research board or the tips and tricks board?

If the tips and tricks board is nothing more than a place for one to give advice without being questioned, then doesn't the board serve no other purpose than a place for someone to post a detailed document, and, then have it stickied?

kookicat · 08-08-2006, 09:10 AM

It could just be the way I read it, but I understand the language bit you're talking about to be for languages other than english.

aliceedelweiss · 08-08-2006, 09:46 AM

I believe that when the research section says language, it does not mean grammar and so forth.

I believe its referring to, and I'm not sure of the name for it, different languages like if you wanted to know what language they speak Primarily in Istanbul.

mammamaia · 08-08-2006, 06:25 PM

i'm sure that's the intended meaning... 'languages' as in ones other than english... perhaps one of the mods can add the missing 's' to avoid future confusion?

valeca · 08-08-2006, 10:04 PM

Y'know, there are members of WF whose first language is not English. Novel concept, I know, but they'd like a place to be able to ask a linguistic (that's the word you were looking for, I think, alice) question.
Or the person who's writing within a certain historical timeframe--say for example, Old English--might want to ask if a certain phrase sounds reasonable or believable.

As for the original question about the Tips and Tricks board, no, it's not really a place for detailed documents to be stickied. Members are free to offer their own tips, tricks and advice, but often people will ask things like, "How do you balance work/school, family, social life and writing?" or, "Online places to store your writing?" or "Is it necessary to write a prologue?" and then people will offer their advice, tips or tricks. They wouldn't really be classified as research for a story, just information that the individual needed. See the difference?

mammamaia · 08-09-2006, 04:31 PM

valid points, valeca... and a good explanation... all the more reason for leaving things as they are, imo...

aliceedelweiss · 08-09-2006, 04:35 PM

Valeca always knows best! And yes, I think that was the word I needed...