Quote by Dreamcatcher
Every member, from the crotchety old man in the corner to the dude at the head of the parade with pom-poms, is entitled to an opinion. As I've explained to a couple of members, it isn't the opinion expressed so much as the manner in which it is presented. Be respectful. Be flexible. Be open-minded and consider all sides of an issue.

There are many ways on SS that an author is lauded and/or recognized for achievement. Ratings, views, RR's, EC's, front cover listings and badges. All of which are subjective. At this point, it's the best we got and tweaking of the processes are currently being considered.

Larryf's well-intentioned post was spot on. These things we are currently discussing should be elements of SS that makes being a member more relevant. We should be more supportive and trumpet the victories of each other rather than assuming that just because one author got a piece of pie means there is none left for anybody else.

Gypsy and Ping are right. We are a community, generously supported by Nicola. Let's not waste the opportunity being offered here and encourage new members, mentor those who want help, and celebrate the endeavors of our friends.

ps. and I'll try not being the crotchety old man in the corner.

Quote by gypsy

I am not going to lose sleep over it, nor will it hinder or help me with the stories I am struggling to write. It should not be an issue for you or anyone else, either.

Quote by Adagio
There is no point. If no one listens

Quote by gypsy

The games are popular right now, they are not my thing, but hey, others are into them. Hopefully the wind will turn and more writing and story oriented posts will come to be.

Quote by gypsy


I miss the conversations in the forums as well, the discussions, the banter, the exchanges.

Quote by Jimwillhavefun
Just a thought.

I use Word for all my writing. I use the spell check on Word first to find simple mistakes, and then I started using Grammarly to help with watching the tense issues as well as watching for passive voice since I was horrible at that.

I also then use the Word read aloud option to hear it in a different voice. I put my headphones in and close my eyes to listen to the story.

It seems to have worked ok for me. It is making my writing better, I think anyway.

Quote by Survivor
On the road these past weeks I found the time to recognize and appreciate the outstanding work of Paperboy, as well as the living presentation of Welshdreamer42, and Ping's impossibly creative offering. In addition we had so many of outstandingly true worth that there had to be twelve, rather than ten, runners-up in this contest to salute and memorialize our own, still dancing and dreaming and reciting, our own Alan.

Will this be that long dreamt of and called for moment of coming together in sororal and fraternal fellowship and creation? Will all petty differences and inoffensive grudges be dusted off ones angry hands, wiped away from a distraught brow, be forgotten once for all. Will this be that time brought on by loving creativity and uplift presented to our own private godlings and individual godlets.

Shall we play some blues to release and respond with empathy and understanding, if only we may, if only. We may.

We travelled down the road of competition to completion and, at last, remembrance. Can We GET a WITNESS??

Haven't we, as members for so long and through so much, done enough to earn each other's respect and civil understanding that we might continue this modest experiment in friendship and reciprocity. May it be so.

Keep on reading, and writing, and posting, and talking, and joking, and creating in whatever way you may.

It will be grand, brilliant, dope, ours. Our own site of friendly creation.

I trust it will be done when the presentation of the winnings is complete.