Damsel In Distress
And I am. There is something that has been distressing me for a long time, something that I have been thinking about alot lately; something that I talked to Rose about over the phone. I have finally decided to say something, but before I had really hesitated.
It concerns Inkspillers.
Recently, the number of members has exploded. One would think that this is good....and so it could be, and should be....but in a way, it is bad. Why?
Because we, the founding members, are forgetting why Inkspillers was ever made; why Mara ever first created the site. As we all know, Inkspillers is a place for Christian writers to come home to. But not just any Christian writers. Specifically (as I have always been led to believe) NOVELISTS. Yes; specifically novelist/poets. And yet it seems that every new member does NOT write. When we say 'write', we do NOT mean school papers; everyone does that. We do not mean journalists, or anyone who writes for a school newspaper or any other paper. We not mean someone who intends to write....someday. We do not mean those who wrote the beginning of a novel 12 years ago, but who don't intend to again.
My fellow writers, we seem to have forgotten all this. All of it. Some of the newer members have even invited their friends to join Inkspillers without Mara's permission first.....and yet, although these friends are Christians, they do not write, at least as far as I have seen with many of them. So population booms in a writer's village......where half the people are not even novelists/poets. And yet once these people are invited, it would be quite rude to deny them admittance.
I do not mean to kill everyone's fun. But I am concerned. The posts in the Chit-Chat section overflow, but the writing threads are either ghost towns, or only visited every so often.
Inkspillers is a special, tight-knit, fun place to be in. One could see why others want to join, even if they never have a pen in hand, or keyboard before them that is about to have its very keys create a world that moves and breathes in the mind of its creator. But Fellow Quill-bearers, there are many other forums where these good people can go, forums that are for everyone, and not just writers.
Now that I have had my say....what are your opinions, Mara's particularly? I would really like to know.
I think it is time we take some form of action, anyway....sadly, it would seem, perhaps we need to create a list of qualifications that need to be met in order to join Inkspillers. And perhaps the newer members, aka, those who were not part of the old Inkies, should be asked to go to Mara before inviting a friend.
So there are my present distresses. I have laid them before you.
It concerns Inkspillers.
Recently, the number of members has exploded. One would think that this is good....and so it could be, and should be....but in a way, it is bad. Why?
Because we, the founding members, are forgetting why Inkspillers was ever made; why Mara ever first created the site. As we all know, Inkspillers is a place for Christian writers to come home to. But not just any Christian writers. Specifically (as I have always been led to believe) NOVELISTS. Yes; specifically novelist/poets. And yet it seems that every new member does NOT write. When we say 'write', we do NOT mean school papers; everyone does that. We do not mean journalists, or anyone who writes for a school newspaper or any other paper. We not mean someone who intends to write....someday. We do not mean those who wrote the beginning of a novel 12 years ago, but who don't intend to again.
My fellow writers, we seem to have forgotten all this. All of it. Some of the newer members have even invited their friends to join Inkspillers without Mara's permission first.....and yet, although these friends are Christians, they do not write, at least as far as I have seen with many of them. So population booms in a writer's village......where half the people are not even novelists/poets. And yet once these people are invited, it would be quite rude to deny them admittance.
I do not mean to kill everyone's fun. But I am concerned. The posts in the Chit-Chat section overflow, but the writing threads are either ghost towns, or only visited every so often.
Inkspillers is a special, tight-knit, fun place to be in. One could see why others want to join, even if they never have a pen in hand, or keyboard before them that is about to have its very keys create a world that moves and breathes in the mind of its creator. But Fellow Quill-bearers, there are many other forums where these good people can go, forums that are for everyone, and not just writers.
Now that I have had my say....what are your opinions, Mara's particularly? I would really like to know.
I think it is time we take some form of action, anyway....sadly, it would seem, perhaps we need to create a list of qualifications that need to be met in order to join Inkspillers. And perhaps the newer members, aka, those who were not part of the old Inkies, should be asked to go to Mara before inviting a friend.
So there are my present distresses. I have laid them before you.
posted by Tolkienite | 8:15 PM
6 Comments:
Hint: that's your cue to reply. *wink* *nudge*
*grin*
I know what you mean. I don't really mind the explosion in membership; but the lack of serious writing discussion anymore makes me a bit homesick for old Inkies sometimes. I'm not really sure what we can do about non-writers joining, though. :-/
I mentioned what the measures taken might have to be. It is not that hard. You yourself said that the link was being passed around on public forums; well, it shouldn't be. Right? And there are certain newer members (who I will not name- I already left this out of the 'Damsel in Distress' in order to avoid it) who are inviting their friends left and right. And....these friends don't write. At all.
*frustrated sigh* I HATE being the bulldog.
Well...it's hard for me to reply to this. I was left out of so many cliques when I was little that I hate the thought of telling someone they can't be part of our group. But at the same time, this isn't a clique; it's a group of people with specific interests and a specific purpose.
It's especially hard for me because I have so little time on the computer, and almost none on forums...some of the people there I don't even know, and I certainly can't keep up with all the conversations! I only come there at all because it's where my friends are, and because once you figure "What's the point? I can't keep up with the conversations and I don't know most of the people and it's not the site it once was, anyway", then you die to the site almost instantly.
In other words, I can't keep up, but I don't want to let go.
And what are we to do about it? Mara could perhaps make joining it by invitation only, but are we going to ask the non-writer people who are already there to leave?
*holds head in hands* No, no, no, no. *exasperated sigh* Guys, sometimes I have to wonder at your opinion of me.
Obviously we would never ask anyone to leave. Nor would we deny someone who has been invited. What I mean is, taking a heads-up for the future. Such as PMing the newer members privately, and asking them not to invite any and all friends, but to go to Mara, Head of the site, first. Also, let's try and keep the link from being passed around as much as it is in our ability to do so.
All people who are non-writing members will stay, of course; and none of them will know that we even talked about this. I would hate myself if I hurt anyone's feelings.
Like Keesa said, this is a special group with a special purpose, and can't we at least TRY to keep it that way? Or we might as well open it to the public and call it 'Timekillers'. As it is, there are non-writing people who are allowed to join, and non-writing members who we would not want to join. Where's the fairness in that?!
Please, let's keep Inkies a home for novelist/poets.
I agree Gen....I have to admit it. i kinda miss inkies...but, what can we do? I don't know...i just don't know.
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