It Was a Dark and Stormy Night (PST) March 31, 2007 12:01 AM Subscribe
Has any more thought been given to a MetaSpace for creative writing? As in a help-me-improve-this zone? Not a Penguin-type wiki by any means--simply an impromptu writers' workshop. I'm assuming AskMe is absolutely inappropriate for that sort of thing, and that it's out of scope for MeFi Projects.
MeFi is a nice demographic for this kind of thing, BTW, as it seems to consist mostly of snarky articulate bastards.
Thanks.
I can't see it working; it would be much too easy for it to descend into snark and snideness.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 12:29 AM on March 31, 2007
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 12:29 AM on March 31, 2007
...and sniping. Possibly snottiness.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 12:36 AM on March 31, 2007
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 12:36 AM on March 31, 2007
Snark, snideness, sniping, snottiness, snacks, snoozing, snoring and snausages.
And alliteration.
posted by wendell at 12:41 AM on March 31, 2007 [1 favorite]
And alliteration.
posted by wendell at 12:41 AM on March 31, 2007 [1 favorite]
MeFiWriGro was snark-free, only there wasn't too much constructive criticism....nor many submissions. It just fizzled. It was also theme-based and had length restrictions, so there was lots of niggling over the rules/format.
posted by carsonb at 12:45 AM on March 31, 2007
posted by carsonb at 12:45 AM on March 31, 2007
Yeah, the problem with the first writers group was too much meta-faffing with rules (and maybe the weblog-like format, and the lack of participants, and, er, me forgetting to post themes on time...) but folk were reluctant to go freeform and just post whatever they happened to be working on. The Vox attempt also looked rather complex.
If it was part of the site proper, like Music only with PDFs or whatever instead of MP3s, it could work well. Dunno if there's the demand, though.
posted by jack_mo at 1:57 AM on March 31, 2007
If it was part of the site proper, like Music only with PDFs or whatever instead of MP3s, it could work well. Dunno if there's the demand, though.
posted by jack_mo at 1:57 AM on March 31, 2007
I would love to get such a thing going for screenwriting if anyone's interested. Five committed people each submitting 5 to 10 pages a week or a complete draft once a month--even something as simple as via email would be grand at the start. Especially with Nicholl approaching.
posted by dobbs at 6:22 AM on March 31, 2007
posted by dobbs at 6:22 AM on March 31, 2007
If it was part of the site proper, like Music only with PDFs or whatever instead of MP3s...
That strikes me as a good idea, and as for this:
I can't see it working; it would be much too easy for it to descend into snark and snideness.
That hasn't happened at all on MeFi Music, therefore isn't it perhaps a wee bit over-pessimistic to automatically assume it would happen with a writer's project page?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:25 AM on March 31, 2007
That strikes me as a good idea, and as for this:
I can't see it working; it would be much too easy for it to descend into snark and snideness.
That hasn't happened at all on MeFi Music, therefore isn't it perhaps a wee bit over-pessimistic to automatically assume it would happen with a writer's project page?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:25 AM on March 31, 2007
Snark, snideness, sniping, snottiness, snacks, snoozing, snoring and snausages.
And, during moments of ruthless procrastination, Snood.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:55 AM on March 31, 2007
And, during moments of ruthless procrastination, Snood.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:55 AM on March 31, 2007
I kinda thought MetaTalk was the writers' group...
Stop me before I kid again. Really, though, someone has to take over and sort of den-mother this thing or it just won't work. Rules should be few and flexible, IMO, but we need someone to help maintain a healthy balance between submission and critique, as some people will tend to do one and neglect the other.
Also, some submitters' sensitive sensibilities are certain to be seared by scornful sobriquets seeking to sow schismatic seeds, and we'll need to avoid that with some careful (s-word goes here).
posted by Mister_A at 10:02 AM on March 31, 2007
Stop me before I kid again. Really, though, someone has to take over and sort of den-mother this thing or it just won't work. Rules should be few and flexible, IMO, but we need someone to help maintain a healthy balance between submission and critique, as some people will tend to do one and neglect the other.
Also, some submitters' sensitive sensibilities are certain to be seared by scornful sobriquets seeking to sow schismatic seeds, and we'll need to avoid that with some careful (s-word goes here).
posted by Mister_A at 10:02 AM on March 31, 2007
Does anyone else remember AfterDinner? It was great. I can't believe someone hasn't taken the idea back up again.
posted by scarabic at 5:43 PM on March 31, 2007
posted by scarabic at 5:43 PM on March 31, 2007
In my experience, online writers groups just don't work.
It might not work for a variety of reasons, but this is the main reason hasn't worked for me:
Giving constructive feedback on creative writing can be an incredibly delicate task. Online, you have to work too damn hard to make sure that nothing you say will be taken the wrong way. It's difficult enough to give constructive feedback in person, where facial expressions, body language, tone of voice, etc., can help communicate one's intent.
posted by treepour at 9:35 PM on March 31, 2007
It might not work for a variety of reasons, but this is the main reason hasn't worked for me:
Giving constructive feedback on creative writing can be an incredibly delicate task. Online, you have to work too damn hard to make sure that nothing you say will be taken the wrong way. It's difficult enough to give constructive feedback in person, where facial expressions, body language, tone of voice, etc., can help communicate one's intent.
posted by treepour at 9:35 PM on March 31, 2007
Online, you have to work too damn hard to make sure that nothing you say will be taken the wrong way.
But working damn hard on your writing skills is what it's all about, right? So, crafting appropriate and well-written critique will be part of the purpose of the site!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:23 AM on April 1, 2007
But working damn hard on your writing skills is what it's all about, right? So, crafting appropriate and well-written critique will be part of the purpose of the site!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:23 AM on April 1, 2007
But working damn hard on your writing skills is what it's all about, right? So, crafting appropriate and well-written critique will be part of the purpose of the site!
On the other hand, you have to decide if you're starting a Creative Writing Group or an Effective Critiquing Group.
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:36 AM on April 1, 2007
On the other hand, you have to decide if you're starting a Creative Writing Group or an Effective Critiquing Group.
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:36 AM on April 1, 2007
... snarky articulate bastards.
Must stop posting while drunk. Sorry.
posted by YamwotIam at 6:40 PM on April 1, 2007
Must stop posting while drunk. Sorry.
posted by YamwotIam at 6:40 PM on April 1, 2007
Didn't mean to be such a nay-sayer. If something like this comes about, I do hope it work out. Maybe some strict guidelines around responses would help -- e.g., responses are limited to a certain number of words, and/or must address 1 praiseworthy item as well as 1 could-be-better item.
posted by treepour at 6:54 PM on April 1, 2007
posted by treepour at 6:54 PM on April 1, 2007
you have to decide if you're starting a Creative Writing Group or an Effective Critiquing Group.
How 'bout both? And after all, effective critiquing requires a certain creativity, no?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:02 PM on April 1, 2007
How 'bout both? And after all, effective critiquing requires a certain creativity, no?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:02 PM on April 1, 2007
Heh. If you can pull off both, fantastic. I just think it's a Hard Problem; criticism and writing are two very different arts, and finding a steady group of folks motivated to put in effort to develop both over the long term may be damned tricky.
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:13 PM on April 1, 2007
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:13 PM on April 1, 2007
may be damned tricky.
I wouldn't argue with that.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:25 PM on April 1, 2007
I wouldn't argue with that.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:25 PM on April 1, 2007
A couple of MeFites participate (or have in the past) in Shotgun Muse, which is always looking for new members. The site got a few responses when it was posted to Projects a few months ago.
I hope it's okay to put this plug here. If not, delete away.
posted by Brittanie at 7:51 PM on April 1, 2007
I hope it's okay to put this plug here. If not, delete away.
posted by Brittanie at 7:51 PM on April 1, 2007
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I stopped after one submission to MeFiWriGro, because I fucking suck at writing fiction.
posted by carsonb at 12:22 AM on March 31, 2007