Taking suggestions

[I, Brian]

The more I look at this place, the more I want to change it.

Not major changes - but important superficial ones.

For example, I am now very keen on the idea of specialised sub-forums. These do not have to be particularly active, as much as invite specific dialogue on very specific themes.

For example, in TV and Film/Movies, I would personally like to suggest at least three sub-forums: Babylon 5, Star Trek, and Star Wars - not least because I can hold and enjoy a discussions on these areas.

However, I would like to hear suggestions from others of what they would particularly like to see.

For example - what about specific authors? Which ones?

Any other forums or subforums to suggest?


Oh - and, btw, I'm also going to add some "members only" forums. News and reviews might go in there, but I will also almost certainly create a new writers board, with resources for writers (not crits), not least industry info on book deals, who's signing who, etc.


Anyway - feedback most welcome.

[dwndrgn]

I can't help but get the feeling that you are the type of guy who moves the furniture around on a regular basis...

As far as suggestions go, I would think you could put in subs for all the sub-genres like horror, alternative history, space opera, near future, epic fantasy, multi-author series (Dragonlance for example), at least for books. For tv/films could do the same thing with the addition of anime, animated fims or series...you get the idea.

As far as specific authors, we've done both Martin and Jordan - perhaps we could split those out and keep open for newcomers to comment on and add perhaps some other heavyweights - I'll let others suggest those.

When you split out the writer's part, perhaps you could add a sub forum for posting of writing competitions (legit ones!), workshops and the like that may interest those who write.

That's all I've got for now. I'll think on it in further and see if anything else pops in mind.

[I, Brian]

Originally Posted by dwndrgn

I can't help but get the feeling that you are the type of guy who moves the furniture around on a regular basis...

Actually, I much prefer everything the same at home - I like the familiarity of it all.

However, on the net it's a case of presentation and marketing. I really want to push the chronicles-network into becoming a very major sf/f portal on the internet. I won't achieve that by keeping the furniture all in the same place for too long - not when it works better elsewhere.

Thanks for the sugegstions, btw - taking everything said on board. I especially like the writing competitions board idea.

[littlemissattitude]

As far as sections on authors - perhaps if there interest is there, have sections for the classic authors: Clarke, Heinlein, Asimov, and like that?

Also, for writers - what about the possibility of doing a series of informal challenges or exercises for writers? Nothing that would require any sort of prize or other incentive. Just, perhaps, once ever couple of weeks or once a month suggesting a topic or an opening line and inviting writers to do a few pages working from that, then sharing the results. Nothing elaborate, just a set of exercises to keep the inventive juices flowing. Also, a good way to see how there are many, many ways to go with the same idea. This is, of course, not an original idea with me - I saw something like this on one of the other forums I frequent.

I don't know - those are just the things that occurred to me. I don't know if they'll work or not.

[knivesout]

As for the SF section, rather than authors maybe we could have a chronological divide - Mists of time to 1950s (the classics) , 60s and 70s (the age of experimentation and growth) , late 20th century and Right Now (today's tomorrow!) or something like that?

The thought of a Robert Jordan section makes me a bit uneasy, but if it will drive traffic so be it. In any case, I think others would be able to propose a break-up for the fantasy section better than I can.

I like the idea of writers challenges.

[I, Brian]

I like the idea of encouraging the writers section more - I'll get onto developing that.

As for sub-forums - it's true that part of the aim is to help drive traffic here, but a particular concern is that the subforums must represent a topic/theme that members here can readily support.

That's why I mentioned Babylon 5, Star Trek, and Star Wars - these are film/TV topics that I can happily discuss with gusto .

However, I obviously need to know not only what other members would like to see, but also what they feel they would really like to discuss.

GRRM has indeed been discussed periodically - there's potential room for a board for him - but has Jordan ever really been a re-ocurring topic? If not, but a board was created, would there actually be any activity in a Robert Jordan board with regards to current members?

I guess I'm asking as much as anything "what do you really want to discuss?" - which movies, books, shows, authors, etc?

[knivesout]

Well the authors I'd want to discuss are quite diverse, which is why I thought of chronological divides - I find it an easier way to divide up things than themes or sub-genres. I was also inspired by the rather cool discussion that the 60s SF thread spawned.

An Art section would be great - I know a lot of genre fans are into the magazine and book cover art in a big way, sharing cover scans and so on. Perhaps it may even be a place for young artists to post their work for responses!

Similarly, a comics section would also be great fun, I think.

Although I am not really into it, a Gaming/RPG section would again be something I can imagine people enthusiastically participating in.

I don't believe our current membership is very largely into the mainline door-stop fantasy fare, I've found that the authors being mentioned are largely the more genuinely challenging and interesting ones. But now I am wandering into personal opinion. A thriving SF/F board would need spaces for the WOTbuffs, the Potterphiles and so on.

[dwndrgn]

I had thought of splitting the authors out by era too but then it would require people like me to actually think for a change ...for example, people like Piers Anthony who has written since way back when and continues to do so, where would he go? I would think sub-genres would be easier to manage.

I LOVE the writing exercise idea - I might even join in for chuckles (yours that is ).

I also could see a great deal of people getting into discussions on comics and RPGs. Art is another area where discussion could be interesting but wouldn't it take up a great deal of room? How would it be limited so that the forums would still be viewable by those people who still use dial up?

Well knivesout I'm a Potterphile and a WOT buff, I won't apologize for it but I don't see it necessary to create spots specifically for them. How about a 'new and upcoming author' forum? Which could include people like Carol Berg (who's first fantasy is our March book in the BC), so that these new works could be discussed but not necessarily give them their own forums.

I'm probably the only current member who is more into 'the mainline doorstop fantasy fare' but fantasy needs to be included somehow. Currently it barely gets more respect than your generic 'bodice ripper'.

I personally could discuss certain issues like recurring themes, the increasing use of female protagonists, the use of humor...these could be included as sub forums in the writers section or the books section, whichever would work best.

I've got more but I've got to shower and get to work. More later.

[knivesout]

Didn't mean to tread on your toes dwndrgn! I'm an opinionated little prat sometimes.

What would you define as sub-genres in sf/f? I can think of a few - space opera, steampunk, hard SF, cyberpunk, alternate history, epic fantasy, dark fantasy, science fantasy...but I am sure there are more I have missed. I agree that it is probably a better way to classify all in all. But it may make more sense to just divide the books section into SF, Fantasy and Other and leave it at that.

I do like the idea of a New Authors spotlight. Is there any way we can get news on sf/f stuff directly from publishers and so on rather than take them from other sites? I don't know how you would do this but maybe Brian may have an idea?

[dwndrgn]

Originally Posted by knivesout

Didn't mean to tread on your toes dwndrgn! I'm an opinionated little prat sometimes.

No problem - I've got sensitive toes when it comes to fantasy especially after the 'hall of fame' thing that irritated me so much earlier.

I love the idea of getting info directly from publishers but I don't know how feasible it would be. While I'm sure that any publicity they don't pay for, they would consider fantastic publicity - especially when it is directed at a specific portion of their 'end users', I don't know whether they would be willing to take the time to give us the information on a regular basis. I suppose it would depend on who you asked and how nicely you phrased the question. Definitely something Brian should look into .

[knivesout]

Many authors have their own sites. Maybe we could ask them to provide us with direct updates in return for a banner link or something?

[I, Brian]

I have actually e-mailed publishers about promotional material being used on site here - and I didn't get a single reply back.

However, I've just thought - I could always try approaching literary agents who work in the genre instead? It's probably the publishers who work with the promo stuff, but I'm always up for trying. I'll look into this later.

As for sub-genres and chronological divisions - I think there's real merit here, especially if we're talking about splitting fantasy literature and science fiction literature away from one another, and creating specific sections for these. But I'm not sure this is quite the right time to do it. Perhaps it would be better just to create certain key topics first, and then look to do this at a later date? I'll certainly consider it though.

As for specialist sections by author, film, etc - what suggestions are in the pool?

I have Babylon5, Star Trek, and Star Wars. Also would like to add a Tolkien section.

I think dwndrgn is recommending Wheel of Time, and Harry Potter.

Also a suggestion of a graphic/novels comics section.

Feel free to suggest more.

I've recently realised just how important it is to have specialised areas, to attract new members with those interests, as well as allow current members to really expand and express themselves here.

[dwndrgn]

Originally Posted by I, Brian

As for specialist sections by author, film, etc - what suggestions are in the pool?

Well if we're going to separate out authors, I would suggest we begin with the grandmasters - those mentioned in the Asimov stamp thread. Then we have sections on female authors, new authors and crossovers and add other authors later. The only problem here is that if we leave John Doe out and all the John Doe fanatics out there get offended...

For films we've got the 'oldies but goodies' like Plan 9 From Outer Space (LittleMiss and the others could probably compile an 'A' list of those) and newer ones like the LOTR trilogy. And you could have a 'special effects' section to discuss things like the great stop motion photography claymation and the Hensen group's puppets and suchlike.

Originally Posted by I, Brian

I think dwndrgn is recommending Wheel of Time, and Harry Potter.

I've recently realised just how important it is to have specialised areas, to attract new members with those interests, as well as allow current members to really expand and express themselves here.

Actually I said I didn't think we'd need sections on WOT and Potter but now that I think about it, a Harry Potter section could bring in a younger crowd who might not necessarily find this place otherwise.

Comics and anime sections could do the same thing with young and old alike.

[I, Brian]

Originally Posted by dwndrgn

Actually I said I didn't think we'd need sections on WOT and Potter but now that I think about it, a Harry Potter section could bring in a younger crowd who might not necessarily find this place otherwise.

It's was because I was thinking of sections we would specifically enjoy contributing to, rather than just create sections for the sake of it. Any new subforums have to have an interest from the membership here to help see them develop.

I enjoy Babylon5 and would like to push for discussions on it, therefore I'd like to have a Babylon5 board.

I have never seen Xena, and have no real interest in that show - but if anyone thinks they would really like to discuss Xena issues, then we can create one.

A case of having a need first.

If you really enjoy the WoT books then I'll happily push you to answer questions on the issue in a WoT subforum, and will probably find other members joining in as it's such a pupular work.

Perhaps I should have opened the question more as: "Which writers and shows would members really enjoy discussing more in depth". That way, we can create subforums for these discussions.

Preferably not to many at first, and actual subdivisions of existing forums, rather than complete divisions of them.

[knivesout]

Hmm.


Well I would love to have a place to talk more about classic (pre-1980) sf, of course. I love that stuff!!! Some authors of a more recent vintage that I like are however too new to actually support extended discussion.

Brian, I've collected a few links to author home pages and made a note of the ones that regularly update and check their site. It may be possible that if we contact some of these, they will be interested in contributing updates and possibly even do Q&As, if that is not expecting too much. I have seen this happen on other forums, and it could be worth at least trying. Naturally a Robert Jordan or an Orson Scott Card may not have the time or whatever for this, but I should think we could find a few who will as it is an advert for them anyway.

Let me know if you want to check this out - you probably have all the links I do but it is possible I found a couple you missed on.