Date:         Sat, 2 Aug 1997 00:39:18 EDT
From: "brain hail! tink..." <mbarker@MIT.EDU>
Subject:      TECH: The Short Guide to Topic Tags

[what, I can't say short?  I'm only 170 centimeters myself...although
my I's not blue...okay, you prefer quirky?  how about skimpy,
undersized, little (or nothing?), stubby, stunted, diminuative,
tinny...need we go on?  I have thesauri undrempt of in your politics,
and dictionaries to go before I sleep...so this ain't so short--you
started it!]

Why use Topic Tags?

Some members of the list use listserv filtering so they only get
specific topics.  This means if you don't use the topics correctly,
they won't see your posting.

What are the Topic Tags?

Sub:  for submissions
Crit: for critique and comments on submissions (note: when you
      comment on a submission, change the SUB: tag to CRIT:)
Tech: for anything about the techniques of writing
WOW:  World of Writing stuff; what's going on in that strange land?
Exer: Exercises to keep the fingers nimble
Int:  Interactive stories - round robbins and other "sandboxes" for
      anyone to join in
Fill: the other stuff.  Periodically we suggest that people try to
      balance the production of fill with postings of other types.

How do I use them?

In the subject line, so that your subject looks like (no dash at the
beginning)

-Subject: SUB:  The Best Story in the World--MINE!

when replying, re: is ignored, so a subject line may look like:

-Subject: Re: CRIT:  The Best Story in the World--MINE!

When the discussion drifts away from the writing into other byways,
feel free to shift into FILL:

-Subject: FILL: Crown Queens, Not Kings (was: Re: CRIT: The Beast Story)

There are various rants and ravings about using topics available in
the FAQs or on my web pages.  If we need more, let me know and I'll
try to find a few more words to mangle, fold, spindle, and
mutt...moder...MUTE?  yep, mutilate!  word mutilations...is the
government hidden the truth about thesis bizare vents on the intrnet?
or is the governmen slicing words in secret labs?

[hum.  you're right, I can't say short.  But I can say so long...]
so long
tink