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Well, it's official. My application for the Writer's Guild has been unread and in limbo for over a year. I'm far from the only one; a cursory examination of the relevant thread reveals that others have been in the same situation since at least late 2004. Rejection isn't so bad; that some applicants won't be up to the standards is implicit in an application process. But indefinite limbo is damned irritating. Are we to presume that the Writer's Guild is not accepting new members? If so, can the group be closed to applications and the thread that currently has application instructions changed to reflect this, to avoid further confusion?

Rogue 9 wrote:Well, it's official. My application for the Writer's Guild has been unread and in limbo for over a year. I'm far from the only one; a cursory examination of the relevant thread reveals that others have been in the same situation since at least late 2004. Rejection isn't so bad; that some applicants won't be up to the standards is implicit in an application process. But indefinite limbo is damned irritating. Are we to presume that the Writer's Guild is not accepting new members? If so, can the group be closed to applications and the thread that currently has application instructions changed to reflect this, to avoid further confusion?

I suppose if all else were to fail, given the new board software, a co-leader can be appointed. Whether RedImperator himself will do it or maybe current Guild members hold a vote and ask an Admin (though whether they'd do it I don't know).

It's an option, anyway.

I purged my entire inbox some time ago because it kept hitting the limit. It was a quick and dirty job and I'm sure I caught some unread WG applications in there. A quick check shows 0 unread messages, so applications "in limbo" really are "in limbo"--I have no idea what the software has done with them. What I'll do is check who has applied to join the guild and let in longtime board members; people I know can be trusted without any more paperwork. Everyone else, re-send your application.

Note: don't apply if you haven't been around for a while and don't have a record of making substantive posts. There's an element of trust with the Writer's Guild, since people post unpublished, unfinished works in there under the assumption some jackass isn't going to repost it. If you've been here a week and have fifteen posts, I'm going to delete your application unread.

Huh. Well, that reveals an interesting quirk in the PM system, at any rate; it's in my outbox, which as far as I know is supposed to mean it's unread in your inbox. I had presumed that if you'd deleted it, it would disappear from there and go to the sent box.

Has editting been allowed for the WG?

Well, somehow I got in without ever asking. I think Red may be drunk again.

HOWEVER, don't shit can me yet Red, as I do have a story that I am working on (Blank Yellow) and would like some quality feed back on. Now I just have to get it down on paper.

I recall applying back when I was writing stuff for Armageddon, mainly so I could ask some characterisation questions. No response. Sadly I don't have time for any fiction writing ATM, but I might do again in the future, so I would quite like to join and try to pick up some tips.

Let me have co-modship? I'm basically always around, and I really would sort of like that. The place has been utterly dead, and due to the sensitive nature of what it handles we could rather use some sort of more active supervision of that board. Not trying to step on your toes, Red, but you do frequently take extended, enforced leaves of absence from the board.

If necessary, I can help co-mod the Writers' Guild and serve as its admin when Red isn't around. It's an issue that is rather close to my own heart for a number of reasons and I'm involved in another small scale writers' board elsewhere in addition to working on my own stuff. Being a mod here, the WG would not be a significant additional burden.

Seems I've gotten in, despite having only applied once several years ago and likely having my application flushed out with the rest of the purge.

Well, it's a good thing, I've had several projects hanging about with only a few chapters done on each. Getting them posted and critiqued ought to give me enough incentive to continue work on them.

I'd support Edi's co-modship. He's level headed and he's always around. Marina would be okay too.

Edi is now co-mod of the Writer's Guild.

Thanks to meee!

Okay, not really. Can't accept gifts from someone you've officially rebuked and all that.

Will we have editing allowed in the private usergroup(s)?

Shroom Man 777 wrote:Thanks to meee!

Okay, not really. Can't accept gifts from someone you've officially rebuked and all that.

Will we have editing allowed in the private usergroup(s)?

I want editing turned back on in the WG, but I can't do that myself. The way the software is designed, a private group leader has mod powers in the forum and access to the membership panel, but that's it. I can't set permissions myself; I couldn't even make Edi a co-mod without asking an administrator. The best I can do is pester Mike about it.

Okay. How about that Admin you pestered?

Just a notice that the Writers' Guild will be considering new membership applications in a few days once Red and I have hashed out some guidelines and posted them in public. All membership applications that were pending previously have been summarily rejected as a lot and the people who want in should reapply after the new guidelines are up. I'll post the new guidelines here and in the announcements forum thread when they are ready.

Thus endeth this public service announcement.

Why was there an influx of new guys? What happens to them?

Shroom Man 777 wrote:Why was there an influx of new guys? What happens to them?

There was an influx of old applications, many from people who were either total newbies, have become completely inactive or have been banned in the interim. Easier to wipe the slate clean and deny them as a job lot and then start from square one. So once the new guidelines are posted, anyone eligible who wants in can reapply.

The Guild has been seriously neglected and been gathering dust in the corners for a long, long time and it's time to do some housecleaning and put things in order, which is precisely what Red and I intend to do. Now just give it a few days.

Maybe we can send invitations to awesome ass-kicking writers as well! Like this Bladed Crescent dude.

Shroom Man 777 wrote:Maybe we can send invitations to awesome ass-kicking writers as well! Like this Bladed Crescent dude.

Maybe you should keep your opinions on how to run the Guild to yourself. If we want your input on specific potential members, we'll ask for it. Like I said and you failed to understand, wait a few fucking days.

I am sorry if I got ahead of myself, man. All this talk of making a bigger, better Writer's Guild was just making me excited.

I can understand that. But patience. If Bladed Crescent wants to join, he is more than welcome, but new applications will be considered once the guidelines are up. Remember that Red and I have other things to do as well and the WG does take backseat compared to RL issues.

Enthusiasm is all wel and good, but remember that it needs to be tempered appropriately.

I'd like to register my enthusiasm for this as well.

I should tell BC about the Writer's Guild and ask if he's interested. His work, which I find totally awesome, totally needs more publicity and stuff.

Edi wrote:Enthusiasm is all wel and good, but remember that it needs to be tempered appropriately.

Yeah, I can be very untempered. Just as Ford.

But I totally appreciate your going out of a limb and intending to help the floundering Writer's Guild and kick its ass back into shape, Edi. RedImp too, even though he seems rather busy these days.

Right, time to get things rolling:

The Writers' Guild is again accepting new membership applications. The new requirements for applications are thus:

1. Applicant must have been a member of SDnet for at least four months. No specific postcount requirements, but must be active enough to allow determination of item 2.
2. Applicant must be a member in good standing, as determined by the Guild moderators (i.e. Edi & RedImperator).
3. Applicant must be serious about writing. The WG is not just a super-secret fanfic forum where spongers get to see tidbits earlier while giving nothing themselves. "But I want to see what's going on!" is not a valid reason for membership. More details related to this will be covered by the rules of the Guild once applicant is granted entry.
4. If the applicant is not known to group moderators (i.e. Edi and RedImperator) on the board, he/she must provide a short introduction and relevant information so they can make an informed decision.
5. Exceptions will be handled on a case by case basis, but the threshold for exceptions is higher than regular entry requirements. For example, exceptional participation in the fanfic forum, such as posting high quality fanfic to begin with would qualify a person for Guild membership even without item 1 or item 4 and would also cover item 3 at the same time.

So you can start sending in applications if you aren't in already. If you need to PM anyone about them later, send those PM's to me, as Red is around less frequently. Both of us deal with any issues arising from the application process, but I'm probably more accessible at this time. If there are any thorny issues, we will likely consult each other instead of making unilateral decisions, in which case resolution may take some time. I expect that some of the questions falling into this category would be disputes related to requirement #2.