Now What?

Sandy - So good to hear from you! I did week 1 and then my electricity was off again, yadda yadda. Still waiting to hear if I have a major software project imminent.

I was really enjoying this as far as I went - my work and others' too.

Stay well.

I think this project was and remains an excellent idea. I'll see what others have to say.

I have sort of abandoned my guy, and I could claim lack of time, but the truth is that abandoning writing projects is what I do. (I have several unfinished novels that aren't going anywhere.) In other words, it's me, not you...

I'm so glad to hear you're feeling better and you have new glasses. I hope they'll help.

Sandy good to see have been worried about you.

I think the project is worthwhile.

It got people writing and we have had a lot of fun.

I havent participated as much as I wanted to but I have seen so much talent emerging.

Sorry I didn't get a chance to take part in this project. sure looks interesting though.

First, let me say I have missed you terribly and I am very relieved that you are on the mend.

1. What has this project meant to you?

It meant a lot. It was a way for me to trick myself into getting back into writing, in a structured environment with feedback and constructive criticism. It was something I hadn't been able to find anywhere else.

Did you enjoy it? Learn from it?

Yes and yes. Someone mentioned that I'd gotten a lot better at dialog. I hadn't noticed. I have noticed that I'm turning out much larger pieces of writing with less effort than I used to. Of course, I have no idea if I'm doing good or not, but those who do comment seem to think it's decent. I've been hanging on, waiting for you to come back to tell me if I'm on the right track.

2. Are your characters talking to you now? Telling you what they would like to do?

You betcha. To the point where I've joked that I'm channeling my character. Leaving emails AS my character. And once, I even dreamed a dream as my character. I'd say I've been assimilated

3. Were you disappointed in any way other than my lack of participation? Was the project not what you expected? Not challenging enough? Too challenging?

No, I liked what you had planned out and found the exercise stretching and thought-provoking. Some challenges were a bit dense (lots to do) but since we were allowed to submit at any point, it took a lot of the pressure off.

4. Would you like to continue with the characters we have? Add new characters? Start over with new characters?

I've already added a few other characters. I'd like to continue with my current character, but I'm willing to go with a group decision.

5. Are you interested in posting your own story with these characters? Having your characters interact more with other characters in the group? Working on a progressive story with all of these characters?

I've already been doing some of this. It's hard, though, to figure out how to interact with other people's characters and to collaborate with someone when they're not in the same room. I've been hoping and hoping you'd come back soon and tell me how this is done efficiently.

6. Would you be more comfortable continuing your story in a private group?

That depends on the purpose. I enjoy letting people read and comment on my stuff. I have certain friends who are not involved in writing that I would like to be able to read and comment. Putting it in a private "writers only" group might protect ideas, character and perhaps publishability, but I think it would take some of the fun out of it. I get a lot more views than comments and suspect there are people out there who enjoy reading but don't necessarily have anything to say.

7. Are you interested in more critique? Would you appreciate more work with writing technique?

Absolutely. I need help with how to write thoughts, how to do punctuation in thoughts, punctuation in general (ellipses, dashes, semicolon and colon use), dialog using questions and the punctuation that goes with that ... lots of subjects.

And critique: always. I live for feedback.

8. Would you like to take turns posting challenges and exercises? Do you want me to continue posting my ideas? Or would you like a combination of both?

I liked your leadership. I liked, though, how you considered suggestions from other people. I like your style of leadership and the way you offer instruction. You don't get nasty even when irritated (were you? I couldn't tell) and that's a great thing.

Glad to see you are back, everyone surely missed you.

Some how I missed this group. I'm very interested!

I'll be interested to read what others say on this. I got too ill to get involved, and stayed too ill for too long to be able to catch up. (Still having difficulties, but am coming along.) I did catch a couple of the characters others created, though couldn't stay caught up with them. I loved what I did catch and loved seeing the fun everyone seemed to be having. Without having personal involvement in this, I can't speak from experience, but I will say that it sounded like a great idea and it really stirred a large group of people's imaginations. Nothing but good in that!

Sorry to hear you were sick. Glad you're better. Hope your eyes adjust quickly to the new glasses.

Thanks for the well wishes and the feedback. I appreciate both very much.

For those who have also been sick - I'm sorry for everyone, think this has been a terrible year for crazy bugs, and hope we are all better for real this time.

For those who weren't around when this started, it's never too late. After I receive the feedback from this post, in addition to deciding how to proceed from here, I will also consider how we can add/combine new members and help those of us who weren't able to keep up get back in the swing. I think everything is possible and the more the merrier.

I'm not in the group, sandy, as no way am i THAT good as a writer, but I have enjoyed the posts that i have read from the writers. glad you got your new specs! I finally did also, but for some reason, am still having trouble SEEING while at the keyboard.

I just peeped into Gather after a long absence and saw this post, Sandy. It must be fate. I am so sorry to hear about your illness. I don't have that excuse myself-just craziness at work. Which is good, because we are growing so quickly, but unfortunately took me away from your project.

Which I was enjoying immensely. And wish I could have continued if there was time. I want to cast my vote as saying that you have done an incredible job and it was an extremely rewarding experience for me for as long as I was able to participate.

Sandy, I'm sorry to know you've been ill... I haven't been visiting Gather much in the last few months, but am trying to make an effort to keep up with my favorite people...

Glad to see you and hope you are on the mend.

Glad to hear you're on the mend. I really enjoyed this, right up till my own character sapped all the joy out of it. Freaked me out on a spiritual level, almost. Since, I have been in and out of hospital, and back on the form filling out merry go round, so I've lost track of it all, but it stands, in my memory, as one of the most worthwhile of Gather projects I have ever been associated with. You should be proud, as should all those that have participated to a greater or lessor degree. For myself, I wimped out, but it was total coolness while it lasted.

I loved your idea and I'm ALWAYS interested in critique. The problem, for me, was that for that particular story the main character changed in each chapter.

I am very glad you are feeling better.

Sandy, I know you poured your heart into this project. You worked hard on each project even throughout your difficulties with health issues, and I would hate to see you give up now.

I would like it if you took this project to a private group of those interested in being serious about learning.

I second what Barb said,


First, let me say I have missed you terribly and I am very relieved that you are on the mend.

1. What has this project meant to you?

It meant a lot. It was a way for me to trick myself into getting back into writing, in a structured environment with feedback and constructive criticism. It was something I hadn't been able to find anywhere else.

Did you enjoy it? Learn from it?

Yes and yes. Someone mentioned that I'd gotten a lot better at dialog. I hadn't noticed. I have noticed that I'm turning out much larger pieces of writing with less effort than I used to. Of course, I have no idea if I'm doing good or not, but those who do comment seem to think it's decent. I've been hanging on, waiting for you to come back to tell me if I'm on the right track.

2. Are your characters talking to you now? Telling you what they would like to do?

You betcha. To the point where I've joked that I'm channeling my character. Leaving emails AS my character. And once, I even dreamed a dream as my character. I'd say I've been assimilated

3. Were you disappointed in any way other than my lack of participation? Was the project not what you expected? Not challenging enough? Too challenging?

No, I liked what you had planned out and found the exercise stretching and thought-provoking. Some challenges were a bit dense (lots to do) but since we were allowed to submit at any point, it took a lot of the pressure off.

4. Would you like to continue with the characters we have? Add new characters? Start over with new characters?

I've already added a few other characters. I'd like to continue with my current character, but I'm willing to go with a group decision.

5. Are you interested in posting your own story with these characters? Having your characters interact more with other characters in the group? Working on a progressive story with all of these characters?

I've already been doing some of this. It's hard, though, to figure out how to interact with other people's characters and to collaborate with someone when they're not in the same room. I've been hoping and hoping you'd come back soon and tell me how this is done efficiently.

6. Would you be more comfortable continuing your story in a private group?

That depends on the purpose. I enjoy letting people read and comment on my stuff. I have certain friends who are not involved in writing that I would like to be able to read and comment. Putting it in a private "writers only" group might protect ideas, character and perhaps publishability, but I think it would take some of the fun out of it. I get a lot more views than comments and suspect there are people out there who enjoy reading but don't necessarily have anything to say.

7. Are you interested in more critique? Would you appreciate more work with writing technique?

Absolutely. I need help with how to write thoughts, how to do punctuation in thoughts, punctuation in general (ellipses, dashes, semicolon and colon use), dialog using questions and the punctuation that goes with that ... lots of subjects.

And critique: always. I live for feedback.

8. Would you like to take turns posting challenges and exercises? Do you want me to continue posting my ideas? Or would you like a combination of both?

I liked your leadership. I liked, though, how you considered suggestions from other people. I like your style of leadership and the way you offer instruction. You don't get nasty even when irritated (were you? I couldn't tell) and that's a great thing.
Barb Carlson (critiques welcomed) , May 5, 2009, 3:04pm EDT



Not once did I become disappointed or disillusioned with you or how you presented the challenges.

ha! I hate my computer! It was not supposed to copy paste every thing Barb said.

I am having a problem with typing (it's done this before) I have to keep back spacing to delete numbers and characters that I'm not typing...

Th6is is wh6at it looks like if I don'-t take out th6e unwanted numbers and ch6aracters! Wh6at is g5oing5 on?! (it'-s pissing5 me off!)

I'm glad you are feeling well enough to continue - Stay well!

It looks like when I spilled coffee on the keyboard, Debra--but I'm sure there could be many other reasons. I can't help with advice, because it cleared up by itself after a time.

I went out and bought a new one Debra, but it may be fixable for you.

Sandy:
I'm glad you are feeling better and I hope the new glasses will work as well.
I enjoyed my character and I have plenty of previous work to do with her. I felt this was a great adventure and I enjoyed it immensely. It was an opportunity for me to do something different and I found out more about myself.

If this were to continue, I would be a participant but it would be sporadic unfortunately. Work tends to interfere with the ability to do some of these things.

I personally have trouble with keeping up with Gather Writing Essentials. It's a hassle for me to know who the daily editors are and finding their assignments when they issue them. I don't have time to read everything that is posted to the group, so don't have my acct. settings set to where I'm notified when there are posts. It means I miss assignments and posts from the editors that I might actually be interested in, and its too much time consumed trying to get to back assignments. --- All that wordy stuff is written just to get me to the point that, yes, I think it would be great to have your stuff in a separate group, with your posts of assignments, or instructions of some sort featured, so that I can more easily get to the older stuff and play along some with everyone. Obviously, it'd still be posted to the Gather Writing Essentials as well, since you're an editor. I wish every member-editor would do that, so that I could figure out who is editor and what they're offering to us.

Wordy and confusing? (sigh)

I thought I proof-read that. "it's", not "its".

DAMN! I have missed seeing Granny! Didn't know you were illin'. I am a few, make that like 3 weeks behind on this stuff. I got distracted by something shiny.

Happy to see you again, Sandy!

Hey, Sandy! I enjoyed your project, although I got busy with other things in the Real World and Jenny sort of evaporated. I need the feedback and structure, or I tend to leave stuff unfinished.

(However, I finished one possible hat for you and am starting my second choice of colors tonight, so at least I finish something.)

Debra W: Ha ha ha ha ... that was funny! Snort. Sorry your keyboard is being bad.

I appreciate the feedback. What I would like to do is make this more flexible and inclusive to make it easier for people who haven't participated before to jump in, and to make it more comfortable for anyone who is pulled away to come back without feeling lost or overwhelmed. That's probably more important now that the weather is nicer and people want to spend more time outdoors or on vacations.

I will also think about how those of us who have incomplete novels sitting around might bring characters from those into the game and maybe renew our interest in going back to those projects.

I agree that finding group entries in Writing Essential is difficult. It's a little easier to look in WeeWE or by tags, but I will still continue to think about how I can make this easier for everyone.

Please let me know if you have suggestions.

I want to think over the questions for a bit but quicky stuff -
- Yippee! You're better! Dang, lady, when you get sick, you don't mess around. Try a simple cold with no complications next time.

- Welcome to middle age on computers. Bifocals aren't enough anymore. Bifocals are for reading on paper. The top is for reading distance. The computer is further away than paper and closer than "distance." Two and a half years ago I got two pairs of glasses - a pair of normal bifocals plus computer glasses. I'm on social security, so no chance of getting upgrades, if the ones didn't work out. Bifocals used to work. Computer glasses were merely OK. Problem with the computer glasses is I could only read the computer with them, and I never took typing, so look at the keyboard to type. Kinda need bifocals to see computer and type, too. What's really needed, if money isn't a problem, is trifocals for computer work. The bottom is still for writing, the top is for distance and the middle is for the computer. Of course, much tougher then bifocals, so my next pairs will be regular bifocals plus computer bifocals. To cut down on expense, you can get them online through a prescription from your doctor - it's the same as the usual eye glass prescription, but he/she also needs to meassure the distance between either both pupils, or from pupil to middle of nose, and then middle of nose to other pupil. (I forget which.) Then, online google "cheap glasses." The one I know that Reader's Digest recommends is the one with a 39 in the URL, which is also the price of a pair of glasses.

- As for rest of your questions, in general - DON'T stop! I think you're very good, but, obviously missed you over the weeks. You got me hoping for more recommendations on books too - even though I can't afford many of them either. I'm sure I made it clear that I want to get published doing storybooks for kids. I don't know how, and was hoping you'd give hints. Still am. (I'm disabled, so almost expect everyone else to have long bouts of I-can't-do-crap-now for long periods of time, like I do, occasionally. Had a life before this, so expected the same from working people, too. lol)

I do think it might be helpful to give people time - not merely to catch up, but maybe to divide the list of exercises between "This will really help develop your character" verses "This is just fun," for those who obsess over the need to do everything (ummm, like me. lol) It would also give others time to start from scratch, and I too am trying to cowrite something with another author (coughBarbcough), so we know we wouldn't mind any hints on how to get this done the easiest way possible. Those lessons would help others, too.

OK, enough for now - now let me think for a while. Still, welcome back, you were missed - and, I didn't find this posted on the Wee WE board. A submit issue or Gather being Gather again?

lol, Look at Barb laughing at me. heheh! I th6ink I'-ll write h6er a very long5 email with6 all my wacky symbols.

I was trying to copy paste your last paragraph, Barb.

The last time I had this problem it corrected itself after I shut down and rebooted. No such luck this time. It's going on three days now... and I've tried everything.

Only certain keys are affected. Where's a techie when I need one?


One of the biggest problems I had with WE, was the inability to find everything. Sandy solved that problem when she created Wee We, and we (all the way home.. sorry couldn't resist) created personal groups for our characters. I think we could eliminate WE altogether, and stick with Wee We. No matter how small or large the group is, it's manageable.

Sandy was working over time to keep up with all of us, creating lists so we could find each other. She is the sole reason I joined. I lack confidence in this kind of writing.

The other problem I had was feeling ignored, except for a few who did care enough to comment. This is a group for people who want to improve their writing skills, or at least have fun. I looked up to those who already had the ability, and wanted their feedback.

So, I thank Sandy, Danielle, Barb, Grems, and donna f, the most for always keeping up with me and giving honest feedback.

When it seemed as if the group was dwindling away and fewer people were participating, I withdrew from WE, and my submissions to WE are now private. (only I can see my past submissions)

Debra,
First, turn keyboard upside down and shake. It works once out of 20 times.

Second, turn keyboard upside down in top shelf of dishwasher and wash it alone, without doing the drying part - let dry, upside down elsewhere (or in there if you're not in a rush to do more dishes.) That works about once out of 10 times.

Thrid, if the first two don't work, buy a new keyboard ASAP. Ummm, I don't know how often that works, but never heard it not working. -shrug-

For the record, I try to read everything that is listed in our group, BUT sometimes I'm notified, but can't get to it, sometimes that same notice takes me to WeeWE, but I can't find that post, and sometimes I can't get to the post - something about not being available and I need to sign in.

Debra W., I'm not ignoring you. I can't find your posts. I even went back to the original list of cast members, and couldn't read your "Amanda," although I know I was able to read it before. I'm in contact with Gather, but...well, it's hard to explain how lost I am clearly enough that he has a clue about how to help me. I just want you to know, I'm not ignoring you - I'm also not seeing you. Sorry.

I apologize for not being around the way I wanted to be and should have been. As you might have noticed, I was very excited about this project making the timing of my illness and subsequent problems extremely disappointing.

Sandy,
We're so glad you're back, at least it seems like that's a 150% of us, me included. You can't help being sick - ask me, I know. It happens.
Still sick and can't seem to shake it, though I don't have time to shake it!




I think I am about ready to return. I have new glasses that should help with the vision problem – as soon as I get used to them. So, what I would like to do this week is ask poll the participants (writers and characters) and decide where we go from here.






1. What has this project meant to you? Did you enjoy it? Learn from it?

This project means a lot. That's not to say I always have the time to do it on time, as there are usually certain days that I have other commitments (at home stuff, and at Aunt's stuff), that I'm not even on here.

I also write for other groups and have a few of my own, along with Mark, who also has a character here. That life-stuff sure gets in the way too, doesn't it? I've enjoyed what I've done, learned from it as well. Damn, it's good to see you back here! You've been *so* missed!


2. Are your characters talking to you now? Telling you what they would like to do?

Demanding is more like it. Since the writers got killed off, they write their own things now. I have two characters and Mark, one. There might be more, if I and he get the time. It's playing catch-up that's hard, also the fact that Gather won't let me publish things right now, and at other times and those are sometimes the "only" times I have.

3. Were you disappointed in any way other than my lack of participation? Was the project not what you expected? Not challenging enough? Too challenging?

I wasn't exactly disappointed when you couldn't participate - worried is more what I've been feeling. Sick is sick, and I'm very familiar with that. What's up this year? Mark also has days when he cannot do things. It happens, and though we'd all love to see you here each and every day (24 hours, even!), I think we all know that's not possible.

Some weeks, OK, most weeks, weren't exactly too challenging, but time-wise, I just either couldn't find the time or was too sick to do them. That put me backwards a lot more than I wanted to be, and I never thought that they were too challenging, but maybe having, in between things, open weeks, might help?


4. Would you like to continue with the characters we have? Add new characters? Start over with new characters?

Yes, to all of the above :)

5. Are you interested in posting your own story with these characters? Having your characters interact more with other characters in the group? Working on a progressive story with all of these characters?
I'm already doing that, as long as I get the time and Gather cooperates, which at times, won't happen in the same week, let alone the same day!

6. Would you be more comfortable continuing your story in a private group?

No, definitely not. Every edit, even in a moderated group, such as Writing Essentials, in general has to be reapproved and there are people that I value highly that do come, read and comment, but aren't doing characters. That would eliminate them, and I cannot do that. I would leave the group first.

7. Are you interested in more critique? Would you appreciate more work with writing technique?

Ack! More work, says she? Um, I'm getting more behind as we type.

I like critique, but to a point. When it turns into 'only' critique as in not saying anything good at all, then it makes me at least, feel like I ought not to be participating. If there's not one good thing you can say about something one writes, why on earth read it - much less comment on it? Yes, this hurts. I'm very interested in KIND critique. There's a huge difference.

It can also cause a very new writer, to never write again. It reminds me of the song, which some of you might remember, by the late Harry Chapin, Mr. Tanner. If you get a chance, listen to it. You'll know what I mean.

I love learning writing technique, but hopefully and please understand that I might not keep up and will post possibly on a different timeline than others, which is already happening in some (not all) of the other characters, including Mark and myself.

There is a member on here, or at least one, that helps run the group Prompt Puppys, that I also submit to, when time and Gather permits, that's got some great critique rules. He's a certain #2 Ninja Kitteh, and what he does is:
1. Choose something that he liked about what one wrote, and it doesn't matter if the person is brand new.
2. Add critique, but nicely, more like suggestions on wording, though grammar he will tell you, nicely too. Not to make anyone feel stupid, you see?
3. Follow up with perhaps a phrase or line that stood out to him, made him smile, and Sandy, I've seen you do exactly the same thing, in the same way, as have other writers. It helps one keep writing while also learning.

8. Would you like to take turns posting challenges and exercises? Do you want me to continue posting my ideas? Or would you like a combination of both?

A combination of both is always good, with time in between to possibly get to the other groups we own and also to not neglect the ones we've been writing for. (which I'm very guilty of doing since I started here)



Please consider this list a starting point only. Feel free to tell me anything you do or do not like about how I have handled this project and where you would like to go with it. You may do so from your perspective or in your character’s voice – as a comment, or a post.




Tags: FunTue11, critiquing the project




Groups: Gather Writing Essential, Wee WE, Your Character Group
_________________________________________________________________

Hey Sweetie!

This is HealingLite, Seefids and Juan and we just want to say, you've been very missed! We want to keep doing this, but as of tonight and other times as well, we've written things that either others cannot see, or Gather will not allow us to post (like tonight), so especially for Juan here, it's getting so he's way behind.

Other people who might be thinking of doing or starting a character might run into the same problems, which can cause one to stop right where they are. Hopefully not though.

HealingLite and Seefids are also behind, or always seem to be, and that leads to it's own mess. Time and Gather working while we're on here would be a real help. Unfortunately, the two don't always go together.

Seefids and Heal are still sick, though not in our posts, but at home, we are, so things can go at a snails pace at times, lots of times. When Heal's sick, Juan can't write either.

Our laptops are not going to last much longer, which would put us offline until we can go talk to the guy that we got these from and see what he can hook us up with, they'll also be laptops, but hopefully newer ones as these are from 2002, and have lived their lives, as they were bought refurbished to begin with. I'm kind of proud of this one.

So far, they're still hanging in there, but not without their share of problems, which can be worked around, for now. In the case of not being able to access the internet, we've been transferring files like nuts to a generic email address, so as to lose as little as possible - takes time that we don't have, but you have to try, my CD hasn't worked since See knocked it on the floor, which he truly doesn't remember doing, and it was not his fault. His is either in sympathy with mine, or it's just had it too.

I posted or shared? a post to Weewe and I've gotten emails that nobody can see it, though I do have some comments on it - an upgrade? And it's not on the Weewe group. Odd, but not really. Again, more time lost.

Seems I'm having some of the same problems as Lynn is, though I can see her. I'm sorry that I keep missing you on chat, Tee T/Lynn, we haven't been there at the same time.

I might lose tomorrow and the next day, between Doc's appt's and also cooking for our Aunt, as she cannnot do it, so there is at least usually two-three days that I'm not on here, which is normal.

Sandy,

We're SO glad you're back, and feeling somewhat better, I wear bifocals and yes, I did have to get used to them, especially since I wasn't supposed to need them, after having laser eye surgery for cataracts some time back. Somebody lied. The progressive bifocals, I tried and never got used to, they made me dizzy until the Doctor took them away.

The website you might want is, if you do a search, called $39 dollar eye glasses, but you still have to get the prescription for them, our son did that and they have a great selection, though I need mine fitted to my lopsided face, so I don't use it, I've seen his last pairs and they're nice!

Thank you for all you're doing and all that you've done and know that nobody is at all disappointed in you. Ever.

Smooches,

HealingLite, Seefids and Juan

1. What has this project meant to you? Did you enjoy it? Learn from it?

I have enjoyed it immensely, and have learned that I am much better at fiction than I ever assumed.

2. Are your characters talking to you now? Telling you what they would like to do?

Absolutely. Dixie has come into her own,. so to speak.

3. Were you disappointed in any way other than my lack of participation? Was the project not what you expected? Not challenging enough? Too challenging?

I am only disappointed with the decrease in participation from others. It seems like there are only four or five of us still participating, and none of us are experienced writers, although every one of them have created intriguing characters, I was hoping for more feedback, critique and support.


4. Would you like to continue with the characters we have? Add new characters? Start over with new characters?

I have added and subtracted characters and assume I shall continue to do so. I like ole Dixie, and prefer to stick with her as my main character.

5. Are you interested in posting your own story with these characters? Having your characters interact more with other characters in the group? Working on a progressive story with all of these characters?

I have, for the past several weeks created a four part arc with Dixie, and am trying to work out a scenario with Barb's "Launa" character for coming weeks, but I haven't figured it all out yet.

6. Would you be more comfortable continuing your story in a private group?

I guess it would depend on the group. I have found that my readership of these projects has a core of the other participants, but I feel that posting exclusively to the WeeWe group and my own page diminishes readership.

7. Are you interested in more critique? Would you appreciate more work with writing technique?

HELL YES!!!!!

8. Would you like to take turns posting challenges and exercises? Do you want me to continue posting my ideas? Or would you like a combination of both?

I would be game for either. I'm easy.


Lastly, I would like to issue a hearty Welcome Back!, and glad you have overcome your illness and vision issues. I will admit, you have been sorely missed.

Sandy, I am sorry to hear about your illness and I am glad that you are feeling better. Frankly ... this idea of yours was the best thing to hit Gather during my tenure. I apologize for stopping after 4 articles. I have a great deal on my plate at the moment in terms of writing that must be done. That for me began to make my Russell articles stressful and I needed to let him rest a while, coming here to relax only this past month.

Marilyn,
I'm here, hon. You can find me on WeeWe or Dixieworld.gather.com

Sandy,

I am glad to see you back! I am not in your program, because I am not a character writer, just a character..LOL I love reading the results of your challenges and think many have risen to your challenges! You have brought out the best in many writers!! Keep up the good work!

Um ... I'm sorry that I haven't been around enough to know what caused you to fall ill. I'm also really sorry that I didn't start the project at the beginning--I kept putting it off for "next week" and I just didn't come here much and when I could get on, it wasn't for long enough to sit down and write something. Now I'm too far gone but would enjoy thinking about the stuff I missed and possibly starting over. I should do it sooner rather than later because after I pop this kid out, there's no telling how much I'll get to be on here.

So, yeah, what happened? Are you ok? I have missed seeing your witty comments to dolts on the site. I just missed you all around. Bring me up to speed, please.

Question? Is the Weewe group now moderated or private now, as I just posted to it and it isn't showing, nor is Gather, Writing Essentials, which I know is moderated. Important one for me, thanks,

M

Marilyn, Sandy's been moderating Wee WE all along - I think. At least, originally she was.

Now for the long answer to Sandy's Questions - http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977678666&nav=MyGather
(You asked. lol)

Sandy, are you aware that this isn't in Wee WE?

Also, kinda wondering if you're "I'm back" was more positive thinking then your ship permits. Damn ships! Still seems captains ought to have more say as to where we go then the vessel we are stuck with.

And, finally, (I think), my post showed up but Marilyn's didn't. Huh?

A private group would kill it for me as well, since most if not all of my comments come from other people, not the group. I'd also leave if that were the case. I would continue to write with my character when time permits, but that's about it.

Pssst, Marilyn, post it here. :::whistling innocently away:::

Actually, I got notices for all your posts in my e-mail. Busy much? lol Sorry, I haven't read them. (You, too, Mark.) Suddenly, a couple of my posts went ballistic, and thought it was polite to respond (and politer to delete, in one case.) Now, back to that whistling away. lol

Sandy, I hope you are feeling better and I hope your new glasses give you 20/20 vision.

Sandy,

I think the project is absolutely ingenious!  Unfortunately--for the writing project--I got the job with the US Census2010 so I did not get to participate but I thought about my character and her responses to your proposals frequently.  I discovered quite a bit about her as well as myself.  I thought about the other characters and tried to work them in.  For all of this I am grateful.

  Mystie doesn't talk to me --yet. but she is a separate entity.

I am excited to participate in this exercise.