Writers Harbor

Sunday, September 25th, 2011

Writing Challenge (1)

What do YOU think? Where are YOU at?

For my part, I’ve been reading quite a bit the last while, and doing some studying. Here follow, in no special order of significance, some areas of thought and non-thought. “Thunk & Muddle, let’s get in a Huddle “. I’ll cover some areas I have written about, and other areas we all, as writers, might consider delving into. How about:

1) Writers’ Harbor, the effort of writing, cyberspace, and the success or failure of cyberspace communities

See my, well, “efforts “: (click on any link)

A kinder, more gentle cyberspace?
Piano Lessons
Bounce (1)
Bounce (3)
Curiosity (part 1) “Introduction “
Facing the Devil
Intermezzo
On how to write a Story

But what do YOU think?

THIS PLACE RESERVED – For a Hyperlink to YOUR story!
by Katie “Don’t bogart that joint, my friend… “
by Katie “The Dark night of the Soul “
by Brian Armour Travels in Cyberspace

I was hoping to see the new software for “Families” up and running by now. But we are still waiting for the coders. It ain’t easy. The idea is to have private meeting areas, with a range of additional software tools available, for both members and Family Moderators. To encourage participation, and peer support. One thing that worries me is the new member who feels left out in the cold. To us hardened old cynics, publishing writing or comments on a website is nothing new. Engaging in polemics, writing political satire, or attempting to make sense of the buffoons running the United States GrabaMint, is nothing new. Nor are many of us too upset by having our views mocked or ridiculed. So what? Up yours, Patrick O’Flaherty, you old fool, see if I care.

But we mustn’t forget the newbies. I’m often torn between wanting to offer what I think are brilliantly helpful suggestions (okay, okay, I know I’m wide open here, just give it your best punch…) and worrying that I might upset somebody. It usually turns out that you are dealing with a mature spirit, who laughs off my cautious private messages (“not trying to upset you now, just trying to help”), and then we move ahead full steam. But until you kind of size up whom you’re dealing with, it’s wise to be careful. You inevitably will meet people who have spent years writing from-the-heart poetry and stories, but who have hardly ever shown their work to anybody. For them folk to gather courage and post it to a website (“Heavens! You mean ANYBODY might read it?”) takes a lot of moral courage. It’s like they are opening a very fragile part of themselves up for scrutiny. Even the rough old sods like me, need to learn to tread gently. Until such time as people blossom forth a bit.
That’s another reason for “families”. One of the many options I want writers to have is that they can elect to initially only post to a small selection of readers. If they so want. Then, having dipped a cautious toe in the water so to speak, and discovered our calm waters, then they might decide to publish to the whole site.

People come and go. Sometimes it’s sad. You’ve never met them in the flesh. But maybe you’ve touched them in the Spirit. It’s hard letting go sometimes.
You want to say: “Don’t Go! Stay here! We’ll miss you! ”
But that’s something I’ve had to get used to, in cyberspace. I respect that. I don’t think we should ever put pressure on a fellow sailor. Sometimes people just need a break. A rest. Sometimes they come back after a while. Sometimes not. But again, I’m hoping to offer a bit more support to writers with the “Families” software. To make it easier to know who is missing, or who is maybe lacking confidence in their work. Who needs a bit of moral support.

On the flip side, it’s pretty impressive how many cyberspace relationships actually end up going much deeper. People meet up, become friends, even lovers. Oh boy, the power of the binary system!
Cyberspace, I have often said it, can be a force for Good and Not so Good.
And occasionally, Pure Evil.
It’s all too easy for somebody to build up a grandiose aura of knowledge and wisdom, and to recount endless sagas of amazing past exploits. The truth can be startlingly different. Then again, one well written story, article or poem, may hit a reader’s spot so accurately, that a contact is made on a very deep and meaningful level. People who might know one another in a passing social context, in a superficial way, might never connect on a deeper, more intimate level. But one good story or poem… and people may find that they have cut right past the usual time consuming “getting to know you” routine. They may have connected perfectly.
It never surprises me when I hear, read, or see Internet relationships quickly becoming very serious. Nor does it remotely surprise me when it all goes horribly wrong. That’s Life. In all its phases…

One thing IS for sure: Cyberspace WILL become more and more pervasive.
So give it your best shot: how do you feel about Cyberspace?
How do you feel about Writing Communities in cyberspace?
How do you feel about our little fledgling Writers’ Harbor?

Come on, Team! Let’s hear those keyboards all ah-clacking, those binary digits calling, and get those creative minds whirling busily…

Francis

(the Muddled One)

Last edited by Francis Meyrick on September 29, 2011, 2:53 pm