Date: Sat, 24 Jan 1998 23:55:47 EST From: lost tink Subject: Re: [WRITERS] FILLER: I'm new On Sat, 24 Jan 1998 13:47:14 EST, Lilbrrrr :) Hi all. :) I'm new to the whole Mailing list thing so the topic of this is :) writing..Just writing about anything we feel like talking about? Well, no... Let me suggest that the basic purpose of this WRITERS workshop is to work on improving our writing. Like most workshops, this involves a variety of activities, which are partly reflected in the topic tags used on postings: Subject: SUB: A Submission! This type of subject indicates that someone has a poem, short story, excerpt from a novel, essay, or some other piece of writing which they are offering as something to work on together. I.e., you have done your best, and now you would like some help (or at least some feedback). [there is a FAQ at http://web.mit.edu/mbarker/www/faqs/subfaq.html which may help with this kind of posting] Subject: CRIT: A Submission! This is how one would offer to help the author with their submission. When you have comments or a critique of the writing -- something that says here is my feedback, and/or here is what I would suggest as a possible way to improve -- please change the SUB: to CRIT: in the subject line and let us work together to improve. [a FAQ? try http://web.mit.edu/mbarker/www/faqs/critfaq.html ] Subject: TECH: A Way to Do Something As we all learn and study various parts of writing, we find out how to do certain kinds of things. It may be as simple as a good way to describe sounds, or advice on avoiding using a mirror to let a main character discover what they look like. It may be the subtleties of communication theory, or delving into the structure of an essay. Whatever lessons you learn, please feel free to share them with the rest of us. Often, we'll discuss various facets of writing under this topic, also. Subject: EXER: Practice Makes Better? Okay! So we've got this theoretical stuff, but sometimes it helps to do an exercise. Take those writing muscles, muses, fingers, and what-not and stretch them. [psst? there's a bunch of these stored at http://web.mit.edu/mbarker/www/exercises/exercises.html ] Subject: WOW: News of the World Of Writing Got some information about stuff happening in the broader world of writing? Did the publishing world just decide to boycott electronic submissions? Or worse yet, decide to make an example of electronic violations of copyright? This is how we share this kind of information. Subject: INT: Multiple Person Stories Actually, this could be poetry, etc. The basic notion is that like the round robbin writing exercise sometimes done in workshops, we provide a way for more than one person to contribute to an evolving piece of work. In most cases, one person write a bit, then someone else submits a part, and so on. Subject: FILL: The Other Stuff As may be obvious, the other topic tags sometimes don't cover the width and depth of writing discussion that may be involved. For example, some people may want to contribute "idea joggers" or other topical bits which don't quite fit into the other parts. You might find the weekly FAQ and some of the other FAQs useful (see http://web.mit.edu/mbarker/www/faqs/faqs.html ) There is also a collection of materials at http://web.mit.edu/mbarker/www/writers.html which may help explain some things. I hope this helps...and welcome! tink