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The BeWrite Forum - End of an Era

Started by Robert M. Blevins, February 02, 2007, 02:24:43 AM

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Robert M. Blevins

February 02, 2007, 02:24:43 AM
After seven years almost to the day, the BeWrite Forum has closed up shop.

They edited and databased almost SIX THOUSAND SHORT STORIES from authors around the globe. If you tried to read two or three a day, it would take you more than FIVE YEARS to read them all. It staggers the imagination.

BeWrite made a statement in their seven years of forum existence. They said: 'We are FOR Writers, go ahead and try us.' And so...writers did just that. The result was a massive searchable base of stories from almost every genre, submitted by authors from around the globe...professionally edited, of course.

Without BeWrite and Neil Marr, Adventure Books of Seattle would not have come into existence.  Half our books have Neil Marr's name on the Acknowledgements page.

It was time to move on, but I like to believe that in their wildest dreams in January, 2000 BeWrite never imagined what they would do in a mere seven years.

They made internet history.  :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:


'Don't give up reaching for the stars...
just build yourself a bigger ladder.'

Ed

#1
February 02, 2007, 03:52:18 AM
Yep - I for one am sad to see the forum close, but that doesn't mean BeWrite Books is folding, so we should remember to visit the site and buy any paperbacks we like the look of :afro:
Planning is an unnatural process - it is much more fun to do something.  The nicest thing about not planning is that failure comes as a complete surprise, rather than being preceded by a period of worry and depression. [Sir John Harvey-Jones]

neilmarr

#2
February 02, 2007, 04:31:49 AM
Sure, Ed. The whole idea's to free up more editorial time for BeWrite Books and to take writers to the next stage of development -- full publication.

We've already got 100+ titles up and running (most by first-timers) and we aim to continue to release two per month. It's a small team on the fiction side, though, with only three professional editors -- and I'm the only full-timer -- so something had to give to keep our publishing promise (and avoid at all costs the development of a slush pile). BeWrite Community promises have already been kept, I hope.

And, yep, by all means, support your confreres in their first break by blowing the dust off a credit card and buying their books. But if anyone here at Cafe Doom honestly can't afford the paperbacks, please just drop me a line and I'll be happy to send you the ebook versions free of charge. It's all about getting read at this stage of the game -- not being able to slap down the deposit on a luxury yacht in Monaco.

BeWrite Books is open to full novel submissions, by the way. Just follow the rules of the game on site and let us know that you're a CafeDoomer in your covering letter so that we can identify you as an author we might well be able to work with. The current site will run until Feb 9, then www.bewrite.net will take you to what's right now our own BeWrite Books bookstore, so please bear with us until a complete makeover in spring. Any hitches, just holler me by email.

Best wishes to everyone. Cheers. Neil

Walker

#3
February 02, 2007, 07:42:37 AM
It's comforting to know that Bewrite still has an iron in the fire. What a tremendous run you've had. Seven years of captured talent from every genre and every part of the globe. Something to always be proud of. It must be a bitter-sweet time for you, Neil. All the best to you and the crew and a big thank you, too.
"Lord, here comes the flood, we will say goodbye to flesh and blood. If, again, the seas are silent in any still alive, it'll be those who gave their island to survive. Drink up, dreamers, you're running dry."
Peter Gabriel.

Geoff_N

#4
February 02, 2007, 08:09:19 AM
It feels really odd to click on my desktop icon for BeWrite, which took me straight to the forum, and have a 'This topic does not exist' message stare at me.  :'(

And yet I raise a glass to celebrate all those we helped, and to those who helped me  :afro:

Geoff

neilmarr

#5
February 02, 2007, 11:21:40 AM
My glass virtually clinked yours, Geoff ... though I didn't manage to make it to the local for the one-man going-away party I'd hoped for.

Yep, it's a strange feeling. A bit like being cut off at the knees and only discovering the amputation when you try to stand up.

It'll take a while for me to get by without feeling there's a huge hole in my day.

Sure, I've got extra time for the nitty-gritty *real* work on novels now ... but I'm already missing my time shootin' the breeze with the guys.

Thanks for all your help, Geoff. I'll let you win at scrabble next time to show how much I appreciate it.

Hoots toots the noo. Neil

neilmarr

#6
February 10, 2007, 03:24:55 AM
A week after the forums closed, the BeWrite Community pages were removed from the www.bewrite.net site yesterday -- thousands of them. Must admit to feeling more sad than demob-happy this weekend.

If you go to BeWrite now, all you'll find is our bookshop store front. Very bald and unexciting, I'm afraid, until a spring makeover that's in design right now.

Thanks to everyone for your support over the past seven years. From forum messages here and there and the scores of emails we've had, it seems folks did gain a lot from the Community and understand our need to close in the interests of full publishing.

See you here, folks. Love and luck. Neil

Robert M. Blevins

#7
February 10, 2007, 04:21:37 AM Last Edit: February 10, 2007, 04:26:09 AM by Robert M. Blevins
Yes...however it would be easy to just establish a 'normal' forum there, as many publishers now have. All that takes is a couple of moderators to establish initial threads and accept/reject members, crush spam, etc. The real work on the previous forum was trying to edit/database all those stories.
Normal forums are just that, normal. You guys already went the extra mile... :cheers:
'Don't give up reaching for the stars...
just build yourself a bigger ladder.'

Ed

#8
February 10, 2007, 05:23:36 AM Last Edit: February 10, 2007, 08:58:58 AM by blunt
Yes, sad to see all the stories taken down - I had a few there myself.  I had assumed you would start up an invitation only forum at some point in time, which is a good way to ensure you get a bunch of decent people together.  Did you ever find out who 'Snow' was?  I have my suspicions.  Thankfully his type are relatively few and far between. :smiley:

BTW, Neil, I was meaning to say - do you remember, back along, you were looking for gfx for Buzz Magazine, and I did a banner design for you, thinking it was going to be a website?  If you would like to use it for your existing site, I can easily change the header to read 'BeWrite Books' instead of Buzz Magazine.  If you want it, let me know and I'll change it for you, slice it, so the buttons work, etc.

Here's the header, in case you don't remember it - http://www.cafedoom.com/header_sample1.jpg and also http://www.cafedoom.com/header_sample2.jpg
Planning is an unnatural process - it is much more fun to do something.  The nicest thing about not planning is that failure comes as a complete surprise, rather than being preceded by a period of worry and depression. [Sir John Harvey-Jones]

Ed

#9
February 10, 2007, 03:20:30 PM
Forgot I did these, too -







You're welcome to have them if you can find a use for them, Neil.

Same goes with this -

Planning is an unnatural process - it is much more fun to do something.  The nicest thing about not planning is that failure comes as a complete surprise, rather than being preceded by a period of worry and depression. [Sir John Harvey-Jones]

Robert M. Blevins

#10
February 10, 2007, 08:03:15 PM Last Edit: February 11, 2007, 03:26:56 AM by Robert M. Blevins
I like the one in the center the best. The top bee looks too arrogant...(lol)

Good design, Blunt.
'Don't give up reaching for the stars...
just build yourself a bigger ladder.'

neilmarr

#11
February 11, 2007, 03:01:27 AM
Morning, chaps. Yep an invitation-only forum's on the cards at some point. We need to clear the decks a little first. Never did find out who *Snow* was, though I must confess that I was never interested enough in the character to try. Thanks for the bees, Ed. Still in the hat. Happy weekend. Neil

Robert M. Blevins

#12
February 11, 2007, 03:46:56 PM
Well...I will show up on that forum when it appears.  :cheers:
'Don't give up reaching for the stars...
just build yourself a bigger ladder.'

Ed

#13
February 11, 2007, 04:03:20 PM
Quote from: Robert M. Blevins on February 11, 2007, 03:46:56 PM
Well...I will show up on that forum when it appears.  :cheers:

You hope :afro:
Planning is an unnatural process - it is much more fun to do something.  The nicest thing about not planning is that failure comes as a complete surprise, rather than being preceded by a period of worry and depression. [Sir John Harvey-Jones]
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