Michael Wolraich's picture

    Creative Corner?

    By Michael Wolraich on Tue, 11/23/2010 - 1:47pm | Potpourri

    Hey dagsters. I know that there are a number of creative types running around these parts, and I was wondering if you'd have any interest in adding an arts section to dagblog for fiction, poetry, graphic art, photography, et cetera. It would be a separate section with links in the left panel just below the Readers section. Would you be interested in reading? Contributing? Do you have any suggestions for how it might work?

    While we're in suggestion mode, what do you think about a Top News section on the right panel above the comments? I think that a generic news feed is probably not particularly valuable, but what about a user-generated feed. That is, readers would link to any stories that they found interesting. I think that we might get a more diverse and relevant list that way, but it would depend on people updating it regularly.

    Thanks,

    G

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    I would be interested in viewing and possibly contributing if I can overcome my fear of sharing my writings online. I think a Creative Section would be a nice addition.


    by emerson on Tue, 11/23/2010 - 2:26pm

    I'd give this a shot.  But LisB won't.  She hates that kind of thing.  I don't think you should do a ton of work on it.  Just a segregated area for posts.  See if it takes hold before you make it too fancy.


    by Michael Maiello on Tue, 11/23/2010 - 2:43pm

    Hahahaha! Yes, I absolutely detest the idea. Who in hell wants to read other people's poetry and essays?? ;) I like both ideas, Genghis. The creative section, and the news feed generated by readers. There are a lot of times I find a piece of news and wish to share it with everyone, but have nothing to contribute along with it in the form of an entire blog post. So I think this would be a good tool.

    by LisB on Tue, 11/23/2010 - 7:05pm

    Writing groups are a great idea, though lots of pitfalls as well. The best one I participated in was a poetry group. Lots of bright people who knew how to make short comments and then move on. The objective is to encourage the writer to put work in front of an audience and get a variety of short reactions and insights. I think moderators should rotate among regular participants, although one person needs to do scheduling and set overall ground rules--should I say "short" rules.


    by Oxy Mora on Tue, 11/23/2010 - 2:51pm

    Thanks Oxy. Why is scheduling necessary? I guess that I was imagining something similar to the reader blogs where people post at will. We'd want to make sure that responses didn't get personal, of course, which is especially important with creative work, but what other responsibilities would the moderator have?


    by Michael Wolraich on Tue, 11/23/2010 - 3:04pm

    I'm thinking more of some enrollment mechanism. You probably do not want to go there. But from my investigation there is a big gap between local face to face groups and university based courses--a gap Dagblog could fill. In this case the moderator is the person who keeps things moving and comments from getting out of hand. Of course any participant could still put there work out there for the whole crowd.  


    by Oxy Mora on Tue, 11/23/2010 - 3:17pm

    Genghis, I would like to add that the writing group idea is a good site development avenue. Recently I searched in vain for an on-line group. Like anything else, the key is quality. Some of the best writing groups are connected to university writing programs--but they are limited in timing and enrollment and somewhat expensive. I checked out meet up, etc., and found some fairly weird groups. Properly organized, Dagblog could become "the" site for group formation along this theme--don't know of anyone else doing it. Again, there has to be quality control of some kind.  Not an easy task, but has much long term significance for your enterprise here.


    by Oxy Mora on Tue, 11/23/2010 - 3:09pm

    I would so do this Genghis, it sounds like fun!!! Great idea.


    by tmccarthy0 on Tue, 11/23/2010 - 4:50pm

    Probably a good idea.

    This way, we have a section to draw off all the personal attacks, and concentrate them in one place. 

    Thus, leaving Wolfrum free to do his magic.

    P.S. ___ _ __________ ___ ______ _______, _ ____ ____ .


    by quinn esq on Tue, 11/23/2010 - 6:12pm

    I thought this was a funny and creative post.


    by Oxy Mora on Wed, 11/24/2010 - 1:58pm

    Sounds good to me.

    I mean what is there to lose exactly?

     


    by Richard Day on Tue, 11/23/2010 - 6:19pm

    Your pants.

    And if you're already pantless (or "pantfree" as the aficionados put it), then you stand to lose the HOPE of someday having pants.

    Which is what made America great.


    by quinn esq on Wed, 11/24/2010 - 2:57pm

    I think it is a great idea, and I look forward to contributing and also reading.

     

    One unrelated question -- Is there a reason I have to re-log in every now and then?  I never log off.


    by CVille Dem on Tue, 11/23/2010 - 7:28pm

    Photography/art would be great. I may have a few to add in that section. :)


    by mageduley on Wed, 11/24/2010 - 12:27am

    Rather than selections of top news items I'd prefer selections of top opinion .


    by Flavius on Wed, 11/24/2010 - 1:04pm

    Thanks for responding to the second proposal, Flav. I could see something more general, like News & Commentary, with links to outside material.


    by Michael Wolraich on Wed, 11/24/2010 - 1:09pm

    I think bringing in the outside links could bring in some good material. As for placement, I would prefer them under the "Latest Comment" box rather than above. One of the the things I like about the site layout is having the most immediate activity shown first.


    by moat on Wed, 11/24/2010 - 5:13pm

    Great idea.


    by David Seaton on Wed, 11/24/2010 - 2:16pm

    "I was born a poor young black child living in the South. My story begins...." Wait, is non-fiction allowed?


    by Desidericious (not verified) on Thu, 11/25/2010 - 4:45pm

    A creative corner sounds fun and I would definitely read the contributions, possibly be a contributor as well.  A workshop type environment might not be conducive to a happy creative corner though, since, I assume, the object of having the section is to diversify from the politics.  Knowing a contribution would be critiqued (perhaps harshly) by strangers might make some of the shyer folks keep their light hidden under a basket which would kind of defeat the lighthearted purpose of the idea.

    The Top News section sounds great!  The readers and bloggers here at dag have such an array of interests and, like myself, probably have their favorite go-to news sites off the beaten track that deal with their individual interests.  Mine happen to be Native American and water/soil/environmental issues and there are occasional items I read about that should be brought to the attention of the larger public but are not because Paris Hilton didn't show up wearing high-heels and tight pants somewhere in the story.

    So, yeah, I would contribute to a reader generated news feed, too.

    Happy Thanksgiving, Genghis!


    by wabby on Thu, 11/25/2010 - 6:54pm

    I like it too. And in between our poetry postings, we can hone our writing skills by dishing out snarks to any literary trolls that wander into the creative corner.  'The Creative Corner, where the brick wall of politics meets the wallpaper of creativity.'  Okay, the slogan needs work, but never mind that, where do I sign up?


    by MrSmith1 on Tue, 11/30/2010 - 12:30am

    You sign on the dotted line drawn on the wallpaper in crayon, silly.

     


    by LisB on Tue, 11/30/2010 - 9:37pm

    Sure I like the creative arts stuff.  I also enjoy links to good news pieces.


    by trkingmomoe on Tue, 11/30/2010 - 10:07pm

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