Hey guys! Anyone have any ideas how to get this Forum more active? When I am hanging out here, I rarely see more than a handful of other people when other Forums are packed! I think there is a lot of great talent here and a great opportunity, I am just not sure how to boost intetest! Thoughts?
I think the only way it's to change people's preferences so other people's writing is better received. I rarely post here because I don't expect people to like what I write, and when I do, I end up being right.
Another way is to make people more talented, so what they write appeals more to others... but if you can't do that yourself, I guess there's no way to increase activity here, then. People (at least myself) may write a lot on their own, but they may be insecure (or too proud) enough to not post it here. It's not exactly pleasant to put effort into writing something very few people will appreciate, you know. I prefer to share my writing with the people I'm closest to. If they like it enough, I may post in somewhere. If not, there's no way.
What I got from your response is that you feel the majority of writers use this Forum as a place to get a 'pat on the back' from others about their art; to feel good about themselves, regardless of the quality of the work.
Is this correct?
I would hope people use it as a place to expose one another to different types of writing and foster an environemnt where people share ideas and help one another improve their craft.
I would hope people use it as a place to expose one another to different types of writing and foster an environemnt where people share ideas and help one another improve their craft.
Is this view too naive?
I guess that's why most people do it. Different people just have different tastes/opinions/styles. Mine are different from most people's here, so I rarely see eye-to eye with the views of others.
Your view, however, would be more realistic than naïve in my book.
Me, I think writing here should be more about workshopping and critiquing (constructive, please) the work of others, less pat-on-the-back.
Problem is, this is a Magic site. People come here to figure out the new strategies, not to write or be particularly creative. So this is sort of a niche market we have. Getting this place more popular would involve getting more people that like to write, and there's very little we can do to do that.
I -was- planning on making a bit of a game out of the SSC, but in the spirit of Quick-Reply Games. You give a 3-prong prompt (like SSC). The person that posts after you posts a quick story for that prompt (in spoilers) and then posts their own prompt. So on and so forth. Lots of prompts for people to enjoy, lots of reading and writing. And best of all, you may find a prompt that gets you to write even if it's already been passed.
Me, I think writing here should be more about workshopping and critiquing (constructive, please) the work of others, less pat-on-the-back.
Problem is, this is a Magic site. People come here to figure out the new strategies, not to write or be particularly creative. So this is sort of a niche market we have. Getting this place more popular would involve getting more people that like to write, and there's very little we can do to do that.
This.
Also, I think that the whole idea of a thread is a bit ... not conducive for writing, just because you have the subject and then things growing off that. You can't edit the original post, and here original posts can only be edited to a specific length. See Raikou Rider's fanfic thingy that's like 10 pages. [How did he do that? Wow.]
Nobody's commented because they'll break the flow and such.
I might start posting a book here [I'm doing it on my blog ... a chapter a day keeps the psychiatrist away?], but I'd be worried about formatting issues. If there were a thread with the first post being its' own thread, and then the bottom posts being a second thread... that would be ideal.
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my mouth is full of winsome lies -
and eyes are full of death besides
but luckily the soul is wise -
it sees beyond my blindness and
forced failure makes a better guise,
so as i come again alive,
it feels like life's a decent plan
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[Clan Flamingo]
Another way is to make people more talented, so what they write appeals more to others... but if you can't do that yourself, I guess there's no way to increase activity here, then. People (at least myself) may write a lot on their own, but they may be insecure (or too proud) enough to not post it here. It's not exactly pleasant to put effort into writing something very few people will appreciate, you know. I prefer to share my writing with the people I'm closest to. If they like it enough, I may post in somewhere. If not, there's no way.
I like 4/4s for 7.
What I got from your response is that you feel the majority of writers use this Forum as a place to get a 'pat on the back' from others about their art; to feel good about themselves, regardless of the quality of the work.
Is this correct?
I would hope people use it as a place to expose one another to different types of writing and foster an environemnt where people share ideas and help one another improve their craft.
Is this view too naive?
[Clan Flamingo]
I guess that's why most people do it. Different people just have different tastes/opinions/styles. Mine are different from most people's here, so I rarely see eye-to eye with the views of others.
Your view, however, would be more realistic than naïve in my book.
I like 4/4s for 7.
Problem is, this is a Magic site. People come here to figure out the new strategies, not to write or be particularly creative. So this is sort of a niche market we have. Getting this place more popular would involve getting more people that like to write, and there's very little we can do to do that.
My helpdesk should you need me.
But at least there's some activity here, it's not zero.
special thanks to sentimentgx4 for the sig
Pourquoi?
My helpdesk should you need me.
special thanks to sentimentgx4 for the sig
Pourquoi?
This.
Also, I think that the whole idea of a thread is a bit ... not conducive for writing, just because you have the subject and then things growing off that. You can't edit the original post, and here original posts can only be edited to a specific length. See Raikou Rider's fanfic thingy that's like 10 pages. [How did he do that? Wow.]
Nobody's commented because they'll break the flow and such.
I might start posting a book here [I'm doing it on my blog ... a chapter a day keeps the psychiatrist away?], but I'd be worried about formatting issues. If there were a thread with the first post being its' own thread, and then the bottom posts being a second thread... that would be ideal.
and eyes are full of death besides
but luckily the soul is wise -
it sees beyond my blindness and
forced failure makes a better guise,
so as i come again alive,
it feels like life's a decent plan