Forum Changes? - Writers Forum

Stewart · 11-09-2006, 07:25 PM

No announcement, I see. But I must say, I like the new forum changes. It's certainly good to see an end to the i-have-created-a-writing-forum-why-not-check-it-out-we-have-two-members-me-and-my-mom-so-it's-the-coolest spam forum.

Bika · 11-09-2006, 07:29 PM

Ditto!

aspiring · 11-10-2006, 01:56 AM

I am bemoaning the loss of the Publishing board though - can't see where it will fit in very easily.

There is now an announcement though - thanks to the mods for explaining.

Mike C · 11-10-2006, 03:40 AM

Agree with Stewart, and Aspiring. We've gained a gallery (trivia) and lost a critical board. This really does warrant it's own area.

pgoroncy · 11-10-2006, 03:49 AM

Actually the gallery has been here for a while. There just wasn't a forum style link to it before now.

Pawn · 11-10-2006, 05:55 AM

I want to make it clear that the forum climate has changed in ways other than aesthetic. The staff are now self-sufficient in providing you with changes to anything within the forum without reliance on the site's owner. The upshot of this is that if you have feedback on the recent changes, it will be listened to and taken note of. The staff did not feel that the Publishing & Publishers forum was active enough to warrant its place on the page, and that such issues could be adequately discussed elsewhere. However, if any such changes have caused undue consternation then we do want to know. We don't make any guarantees that we'll relinquish to them, but they are certainly welcome.

The secondary impact is that the forum is more than ever before open to suggestions. Of course as a staff we put some thought into these things, and it's largely from there that the recent batch of changes has come, but we're now in a position to put user suggestions straight into action if they're greeted favourably. If you have ideas, let us know!

Generally I am really pleased with what we've done so far and hope that this will represent a great new period for the site, one where no thought is beyond the ingenuity of its clientèle.

silverwriter · 11-10-2006, 06:09 AM

I just want to say...

Quote:

Originally Posted by forum gods

Posts in Word Games no longer raise post counts.

THANK YOU! Hugs and/or kisses to all for that!

Pawn · 11-10-2006, 06:15 AM

Heh. Making it so gave me an enormous sense of satisfaction

Stewart · 11-10-2006, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pawn

If you have ideas, let us know!

Have a look at my history forum. At the top of each thread I've added the option to add the thread to del.icio.us. People using that is definitely going to be a plus in that it puts the site's information out to others and brings in linkage back to the site to improve its search rankings.

Why not add a profile option for Library Thing and listal (and other relevant social networking sites) so that a link appears in the users's profile to these things.

Also, since the Gallery is not really relevant to writing, can't the area be made a subforum of the Introductions area? And what's the purpose of 'How Was Your Week?' Really!

Pawn · 11-10-2006, 10:05 AM

HWYW is a good place for all the blog type posts that would otherwise clutter The Lounge. It's a popular forum and not something I think we'll ever get rid of.

I'm far from enthusiastic about adding support for other sites in user profiles, except in the case that said sites were used by a majority of our members. Otherwise it's just a free advertisement and implied affiliation that wouldn't be thinkable without a very high level of appropriateness.

If it wouldn't be too much trouble I'd appreciate it if new suggestions were posted as new threads, leaving this one free for views on the recent changes.

mammamaia · 11-10-2006, 10:08 AM

i'm with those who feel the publishing section is a vital necessity, regardless of the amount of traffic it got, compared to other sections... i can't see it fitting into any amalgamation well enough for newcomers [or oldtimers] to know where to go with such questions... sure hope you'll put it back...

Pawn · 11-10-2006, 10:42 AM

I've been trying, as you may have noticed, to word the Writers' Resource description to include discussion of publishing. Admittedly it's proving difficult.

Mike C · 11-11-2006, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pawn

I've been trying, as you may have noticed, to word the Writers' Resource description to include discussion of publishing. Admittedly it's proving difficult.

That's because publication isn't a resource.

And I'm aware that the gallery existed. Bringing it to the fore, so prominently, gives the forum the look of a children's playground. Why not put it down with the lounge which, by and large, is a children's playground.

gohn67 · 11-11-2006, 02:11 AM

I agree with Mike C about the publishing forum. I also agree that the Gallery does not need a forum link. The link at the top is effective enough. Anyone who is interested in using and browsing the gallery will find it soon enough.

Mike C · 11-11-2006, 02:29 AM

More changes? You've moved creativity up, writing down? Where's the logic in that? Discussion first, results second, not the other way around.