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Re: Miss Forum Conversations

Thus the effect of the present group structure is to exclude rather than to include.  The present group structure is a mix of what's needed to create a private, separate community and what's needed to create a discussion in one corner of a public space.

The mix isn't quite right.

Re: Miss Forum Conversations

Thus the effect of the present group structure is to exclude rather than to include.  The present group structure is a mix of what's needed to create a private, separate community and what's needed to create a discussion in one corner of a public space.
The mix isn't quite right.

All of this conversation really boils down to the fact that a group on the new site really want the old forum structure back. Well, my suggestion is that this group should go back to the old site or wait until I bring the old forum to this site in some form. But for new groups, the new site does not, and will not use the same forum structure as the old one. I have specific reasons for doing so. One of them is that  the old site, as much as some people liked it, was not a success from a user standpoint. It catered to a very narrow audience of writers. This is not a recipe for success in any type of site. So, I am not going to return to something that didn't work.

We can and will improve the forums. We can add search features and other items to make using the forums easier and this we will do.

We have a lot planned for 2015 and look forward to moving forward, not back.
Sol

Re: Miss Forum Conversations

Linda - I agree with you totally. I'd rather see a readily accessible menu of new member writings and forum posts upon signing on then spending time navigating from one area to the other.

Re: Miss Forum Conversations

Norm d'Plume wrote:

Linda, for new works, why not use the Read->Groups Content page? From there you can see all works posted to groups you are a member of, and filter by genre or story type. You can also see which works pay points. Admittedly, if someone posts to the Horror or YA groups, for example, without also posting to Premium/Free, then I won't see it.

Dirk

Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but when I used the Read>Groups content feature, I only saw new postings in my groups, not all groups.  Still unable to find new members' works.  JP

Re: Miss Forum Conversations

SolN wrote:

Thus the effect of the present group structure is to exclude rather than to include.  The present group structure is a mix of what's needed to create a private, separate community and what's needed to create a discussion in one corner of a public space.
The mix isn't quite right.

All of this conversation really boils down to the fact that a group on the new site really want the old forum structure back. Well, my suggestion is that this group should go back to the old site or wait until I bring the old forum to this site in some form. But for new groups, the new site does not, and will not use the same forum structure as the old one. I have specific reasons for doing so. One of them is that  the old site, as much as some people liked it, was not a success from a user standpoint. It catered to a very narrow audience of writers. This is not a recipe for success in any type of site. So, I am not going to return to something that didn't work.

We can and will improve the forums. We can add search features and other items to make using the forums easier and this we will do.

We have a lot planned for 2015 and look forward to moving forward, not back.
Sol

Re: Miss Forum Conversations

I'll keep an eye as it progresses.

smile

I hated not to mention the issue but I'm willing to give it time to let it progress.

T

Re: Miss Forum Conversations

JP, if you choose Read->Groups Content and leave all of the filters set to All, you should see all work posted to any group of which you are a member, which presumably includes TNBW Premium and TNBW Free. The only stuff you wouldn't see is works posted solely to groups of which you are not a member. I'm not sure why someone would exclude posting to Premium and Free when they can do so, but someone may decide they only want reviews from people interested in the same genre.

I'm a Premium member, so I'm a little fuzzy on what you can/can't do if you're a Free member. I've seen that some people choose not to publish to Free, although I do. You never know where an agent might be lurking. :-)

Regards,
Dirk

Re: Miss Forum Conversations

Speaking for myself, I have found the new site rather intimidating. Having just spent some time reading the Conversion Assistance page (Thank You Very Much) I now find it less so. That being said, my first reaction to the new look was, Oh great! They've gone Facebook! Not being a FB user (safety issues & time-bandit) I had to think twice about using TNBW. And that alone is definitely not the kind of reaction this site wants to instill in its regular users.

It's going to take me a while to get used to using this site in its new incarnation, but I'm definitely going to stay a member. The feedback and useful tips I've been getting have been great. And I've made some good friends here.

Re: Miss Forum Conversations

TELawrence wrote:

Speaking for myself, I have found the new site rather intimidating. Having just spent some time reading the Conversion Assistance page (Thank You Very Much) I now find it less so. That being said, my first reaction to the new look was, Oh great! They've gone Facebook! Not being a FB user (safety issues & time-bandit) I had to think twice about using TNBW. And that alone is definitely not the kind of reaction this site wants to instill in its regular users.

It's going to take me a while to get used to using this site in its new incarnation, but I'm definitely going to stay a member. The feedback and useful tips I've been getting have been great. And I've made some good friends here.

Have to agree, it took me some time to get used to the new site too and it usually doesn't take me long!  What helped me a lot was (and not saying you're doing it, but I see a bit of it going around) to stop trying and make the new site like the old one and just started using (and getting used to) the new site.  It's not perfect, but neither was the old site.  So once I've gotten over the mindset to try and change things, it got heaps better and I'm back reading, reviewing and posting as always.

Good luck, glad you'll stay around too.  Have to say, I have the same experience in that the feedback is great and there are a lot of really good people on this site!

smile

Re: Miss Forum Conversations

I don't know what is going on here but I just had to pay eight dollars just to go to my profile. I have been off for a few months but you should be able to have a free membership. I had to pay for a premium to log in. I kind of feel like I'm talking to an ATM machine. What happened to all the contests and fun prompt they used to have?  It looks boring now. I liked the prompts. It gave me ideas for stories.

Re: Miss Forum Conversations

I don't know what is going on here but I just had to pay eight dollars just to go to my profile. I have been off for a few months but you should be able to have a free membership. I had to pay for a premium to log in. I kind of feel like I'm talking to an ATM machine. What happened to all the contests and fun prompt they used to have?  It looks boring now. I liked the prompts. It gave me ideas for stories.

There is a free membership option and we'll be launching a new contest very shortly. I'm not sure what fun prompt you are referring to but it sounds like a good idea.

Re: Miss Forum Conversations

Sounds like she was referring to the prompts/themes for the flash contests or droubles and such. Take care. Vern

Re: Miss Forum Conversations

Sounds like she was referring to the prompts/themes for the flash contests or droubles and such. Take care. Vern

Well, if that's the case we'll be doing those and more shortly. We're almost done with version 1 of the new contest system.