BeWrite down again

[Ed]

   Looks like they've got a MySql database problem over at BeWrite.  Typical - I wrote a long reply in a thread topic, spell checked it (my spelling is appalling without automated help) hit the post button and promptly lost the lot

God I hate it when that happens....

[Walker]

I noticed that too, it's back up and running now Blunt.

[Ed]

Yup, cheers   Turns out I didn't lose my reply either

[JoyceCarter]

Losing a post like that is SO-O-O-O-O frustrating - glad it didn't happen after all.

[Robert M. Blevins]

Like anyone would actually read it, though....BeWrite has been a mausoleum lately!  Someone needs to wake that place up.  They need to open membership again.

[Ed]

I don't think the admins care very much about the discussion forums - that's the impression I get, anyway.  They're only interested in the 'books' side of things.

When I first joined there, I thought I could learn a lot about writing and get ahead, but I didn't learn much (I actually learnt more useful stuff here).  There were some very nice people on the forums, and that's about all I can say on a positive note.

I think what killed the place off was a combination of Neil's ailing health and the Broemmel fiasco.  Most of the members drifted away to happier places, or got on with their novels instead.

Like you say, opening membership again would help liven things up.  I occasionally pop in there to see what's going on, but I don't often feel inclined to post.

[Robert M. Blevins]

You should post up there and get some of the folks interested in coming to Cafe Doom...
Let's face it, you have a better site here with a heck of lot more options.

[Ed]

Nice of you to say so, Robert, but I've still got a lot of work to do before we're ready for the Halloween relaunch

Would you like your profile included on the author page with a link to adventurebooks?  We're having a three column front page, so you would get a link there too, if you would like one.

[Walker]

I'm with Robert on this one. Cafe Doom is rapidly evolving into an excellent site with great people and some really cool stories. I stop in to BeWrite from time to time but seldom post anymore. The clique is still alive and kicking over there and it stifles those who aren't a part of it. This is always my first stop when I log on.

There's been a few sites that seemed to get off to a good start but ended up folding from external pressure very quickly. AIA is one of those sites that eventually closed it's doors and went underground. Too bad, it was a good one for a while.

Oh well, as long as CD stays put then I'm happy.   

[Ed]

I'm with Robert on this one. Cafe Doom is rapidly evolving into an excellent site with great people and some really cool stories. I stop in to BeWrite from time to time but seldom post anymore. The clique is still alive and kicking over there and it stifles those who aren't a part of it. This is always my first stop when I log on.

There's been a few sites that seemed to get off to a good start but ended up folding from external pressure very quickly. AIA is one of those sites that eventually closed it's doors and went underground. Too bad, it was a good one for a while.

Oh well, as long as CD stays put then I'm happy.   

I hope I can justify your faith in CafeDoom's evolution, but I realise I'm a very small part of what makes this place tick - I'm just the caretaker.  It's all the nice folks who visit and share their talents that make it good to be here.  I enjoy it very much, and I'm very happy to hear that others do

Vive la Doom!

[JoyceCarter]

Hear hear!

[SharonBell]

I'll second that emotion! 

[Geoff_N]

The clique is still alive and kicking over there and it stifles those who aren't a part of it.

Gulp. I guess I am part of that clique. My hope is to welcome all and encourage writers there, not to stifle anyone -- maybe one person   I stay in Bewrite along with several other fora because of friends there, inertia, a bunch of my stories linked via my CV,  and  -- a big AND -- being a mod & editor looks good on my CV. I have to agree with everyone's comments with respect to the reason for the falling off of BW. Many a forum goes through cycles - the slow start, uptick of exuberant introductions, steady slog of writerly work, and denouement, like a jaded love affair. However, I've been promised by the administrator that new members are going to be let in - about time.

I luv this place though. I literally have my morning coffee with you guys. 

Geoff

[Walker]

Perhaps I was mistaken with that remark, Goeff, or out of line.
I remember the trouble over at BW in the recent past, I guess that's jaded my view of it. I've never considered you as part of the clique and, to be honest, I don't really spend enough time there to make that judgement. I used to spend considerable time there, but it got so intense I couldn't be bothered to visit much after that. Maybe that band of troublemakers I remember has disbanded?
Your acount of a site's cyclical pattern seems spot on. I've seen other sites follow the same course. I hope that BW makes a comeback, there are many, many great folks over there ( I believe Donna is a mod too).

Sorry Goeff. I hope I didn't step on anyone elses toes.   

[Ed]

No, I don't think you trampled any toes, Walker   I know what you meant - I always felt a little bit like I was 'outside the club, looking in', even though the nice folks were welcoming.  Geoff being one of those nice folks

I never looked at the place in the same way after Neil posted this -

***we temporarily close the forum (TODAY -- I can't cope while the moderators are away for the next fortnight) and that membership is strictly by application or invitation when we re-open. I don't care if we only have a dozen members -- if they're all kosher and show real promise.

***we lose the entire forum permanently (my preference). And return to the old system of personal email messages between the team and authors.

***WE LOSE BEWRITE COMMUNITY. This would be sad. But why bother with it? Everyone involved on the contributor side has day jobs ... it's about time they realised that we do, too! Our day job is called *BeWrite Books*. The job is to get new authors into print..

***remember that short stories and poetry don't pull us a hill o' beans. This has been a FREE service, even to digging into our own shallow pockets to subsidise collections and anthologies. Why bother? I no longer feel inclined to waste my time on general freebies. There's a very small bunch of developing authors I would sell my soul for. The others have opportunities elsewhere.

I'd prefer to close the BeWrite Community completely on January 30. It has always been obviously disproportionate effort and has cost me my health, my home life, a financial tribunal, and my precious work. Do you know that during everyone else's palaver I -- one of the very, very few *real* pros here -- have not had a second to write a single word of my own since May 2000?

Someone actually wrote to me this morning thinking he was doing us a favour by attracting new members! What's he on??? The very last thing we need is new members. If you don't like it here, don't waste time making a comment ... just go somewhere else.

 

Being a fairly new member at the time, and never having felt I show 'real promise', I didn't feel very welcome at all, after that.

Glad to see you pop in and have your morning coffee with us, Geoff.  Thanks for the kind words.  You know you're always welcome to stay for tea, too