Timewaster's Guide Archive
General => Everything Else => Topic started by: The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers on October 16, 2009, 09:14:46 PM
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ok, I was laid off a couple weeks ago. I've been through several gallons of Häagen-Dazs and cried sufficiently that I'm more or less over it. And I've put in several hundred resumes (ok, several dozen, but still) and that's getting pretty tedious. I'm pretty much moved beyond the other things that were keeping me busy in all my spare time (read: "I have escaped the succulent embrace of MMOs") and I need something productive to do that will throw me into some relief of my boredom. There are a few things this will consist of:
1) regular novel writing (you won't get to see this!)
2) revivification of The Fantastic Plastic Men (http://plastic.herbertlives.com)
and... I wonder if anyone is interested in 3
3 is the renewal of TWG as more than a host site for author's forums. I am not in anyway suggesting that we will do anything at all to harm Sanderson's (or anyone else's) author sections. What I am suggesting is that we restart the regular features on the front page -- what this site used to be all about.
There are problems with that, however. First and foremost being that I no longer get any free stuff. Well, Loony Labs does. And I actually owe them two reviews. Soonish, so I can get a copy of Chrononauts without feeling guilty. I would need to branch into other areas. more on that below.
Secondly, this site NEVER worked when only one person was writing all the content. I will need volunteers who will be able to promise regular contributions. If I don't get enough, I won't try putting the effort back in as Editor (a title I still hold administratively and claim on my resumes).
So, what could you volunteer to do? I'm glad you asked!
- One of our most popular features, after the EUOLogies, was the Guide to being a Geek Girl. I'm not suggesting trying to take this over. After all, if MsFish wants it, I'm ecstatic to let her have it back. It'd be awesome. But you can become a columnist! something about sf, fantasy, horror, supers, games (video, card, rpg, or whatever). I believe we'd post these as "blogs" now, but same diff.
- Reviews. Traditionally, video games and RPGs were our strongest draws. We had a really solid tradition of web comics for a while, and more recently, an excellent stream of movies. Book reviews got big too. We never had a lot of music, but I don't see why. Honestly, if it's related to entertainment, particularly entertainment of a geeky nature, we want it. Want to review a web site? That's what the Tower of Cheapness was for!
- Commentary. Something of a nerdly persuasion that you need to point out? Well, we have a tradition of that too. I wrote a number of articles that were about idiosyncrasies of roleplaying that weren't part of a regular column. We do those too. And they can be on music, movies, games, whatever.
- Amateur writer without aspirations to go pro? Have an idea for a web comic? If you're good, we'll run your short story or serial as a feature. Just remember that this site grew out of a literary magazine. In terms of fiction, we can be snobby. But I'm willing to consider it.
So, let me know. Who would be interested in a relaunch of this site? We won't destroy anything, we'll just start adding non-forum content again. But only if ya'll are gonna read it and help us produce it.
Let me know!
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while i would love to be able to volunteer and contribute, I unfortunately do not have A) time, between work and i'm getting ready to go back to college soon, B) writing skills, unfortunately, while i love reading, writing and creativity is very much so a weak spot for me, and C) i couldn't think of a reason C, but it seemed silly to use this format if i didnt have at least 3, so i'll leave C with...uh....racecar.
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I'd love to be involved. I can A) write semi-coherently about B) a range of topics and C) racecar. Also, I have D) time.
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I've also already got my sister to vaguely commit. Or perhaps I had her committed. I can't remember. Either way, three of us is a good start.
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I would also love to be involved, even if it's just little contributions with reviews or whatever. Or something more....I'm a decent writer and have plenty of time. I could also use some more productive activities, but...yeah. You don't need to know about my time-wasting skills. :P
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I would totally be willing to contribute. I'd love to be a regular columnist, in fact. If you lock me in a schedule (ie: weekly) I can completely make those deadlines. Deadlines stop me from being lazy.
I don't know what I'd write a column on, but what I currently do on my blog is talk about my adventures writing my newest novel. You probably aren't interested in blathering like that, SE, but hey, if you are, here's some of my random rambling rants*: www.ericlake.net
(*Not as random as they used to be!)
And of course, I'll do reviews, but I don't consume as much media anymore.
I'll think about something neat and get back to you, SE.
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I'll check it tomorrow. Gonna try to write myself in my remaining conscious time tonight. But yeah, get me a solid idea and we'll get you set up.
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I can start it off with a review of WtWTA, which I just caught a matinee of.
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do it and submit through the regular channel on the front page.
we have a few reviews in there from like, 6 months ago. I'm wondering if we should run them.
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I'm still willing to do occasional reviews. Palladium still sends Fell stuff so I know there's a few books around to review.
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I have a friend who expressed interest in running a column. I think the subject was either going to be creating an RPG or GMing one. He's busy in law school right now, so he wants to wait until Summer.
I'd be potentially interested in writing a column.
...I don't suppose you'd be up for a column on HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts), would you? (That's been my big hobby lately).
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write me a sample column and I'll let you know if I think it will fit. Your friend's column sounds good.
Fell thinks he'll be writing some occasional content, so I think we might have enough. I just need to figure out what I'm going to be doing and organize myself so I can be sure we'll be updating. Then we're good to go.
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Look's like a new Order of the Stick book comes out on October 26th, or at least preorders. I'll review it when it comes out.
I'm still fermenting a good idea for my column. A few more days, I think, and I will have a breakthrough. Probably.
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ok, here's the thing. It's been a week. I have three people telling me they can provide occasional stuff, and one person thinking of a column subject. I don't think that's enough. I have no idea for what to do a column on. I can't buy comics enough to do Page 33 anymore. ... so... I'm not sure what I have to work on.
I mean, I could do serial fiction, but I can't promise it'll be any good.
There's the TW(i)G project. If there's anyone interested in that I could develop it further, if I had a clue on what direction people wanted.
So... uh... i'm still up for being the editor, but I don't have the resources to write content more than once every other week if it's game or movie related. Maybe if we got Jeffe back we could do a podcast. I still watch bad movies.
If people really want fiction, I have an idea for a radio play style podcast.
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I was going to throw down that review, but schoolwork and the Storm (and water damage, and the fans that are drying out the wet areas at the expense of my ears and sanity) hit in full force. I can still review it if you'd like.
Should we add content warnings? I really like Steve's book review site's format when it comes to objectionable content overview.
Chaos, you could do a college-related column with a math/science focus. I don't know what kind of direction is desired overall for the site though. If you just took things you think about and apply the idea into a larger setting than college, the audience would probably increase. Then again, some people like reading about college after they've left.
You could both write about a character that goes through similar things as you do. Fictionalized interpretations of your own lives, as 'twere. I don't know. These fans.... *headasplode*
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I'm variable on content focus. If it's of interest to sf/f nerds, then it's of interest to the site.
as for content, we do have our roots in down-home mormonism. I think that we should stay PG-13 rated.
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SE,
I have my column idea. I'm going to type up the official proposal soon, but right now NaNoWriMo is my focus, so I'm slightly distracted. Just didn't want you to think that I've forgotten about it.
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i keep meaning to post here. I will be happy to post articles, but I can't corral people. I just accepted a job offer -- it was a lot shorter period of unemployment than I expected. I will set up some notification so I get an email when something is submitted, then I'll take care of it.
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Congrats on the job offer! What is it?
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Thanks!
I'm going to be working as a technical writer for Serco on their long-term contract with the PBGC. Gonna be along the lines of things that interest me, but also looks like it will stretch me. I'm not going to pretend that I can get NaNo done let alone run this website while I'm learning my duties. and the new systems. I can do a little bit extracurricular, but not a tones.
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Congrats, SE!
With NaNoWriMo over, I have a slight chance to breathe, and I've finally got a solid column/blog idea for TWG. Here's my proposal:
TWG Column Proposal
Title: Chaos Theories
Author: Eric "Chaos" Lake
Update Schedule: Saturday by 11:59pm
This article shall delve into issues in speculative fiction writing from the lens of mathematics and physics. I am currently an undergraduate with a math major and a physics minor. The first two columns planned are "Logic", and "Magic Systems and Conservation of Energy". Math and scientific principles can be an excellent seed for stories, and the goal of this column is to educate people with concepts they may not be familiar with, as well as lessons I learn through my writing efforts.
I'll also email you about this, SE. I know you're busy.
The first one will come by the end of Saturday.
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This sounds like a very interesting idea, actually. As I said, I don't have time to actively promote TWG, but I can definitely edit/post a regular column.
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I'm glad you like it. I assume I just submit it using the normal "Submit Article" button on the homepage, except putting the Department as "Blogs"?