Book Club - Should we bring it back?

[Jams Bolero]

I think it's a neat concept! Helps people to have more reliable feedback than the 0 or 5 stars that show for a good 99% of forum topics. I dunno if I'd be critiquing that much though, since I have more experience with story elements and the likes rather than with literary technique.

[Daniel]

The feedback given does not have to be about the grammar and punctuation. Some, in the past, have opted to write about what/ how they thought and felt while reading.

Others opt to give constructive criticisms and points on how the writer could improve.

[Super Mario]

I'm down for it.

[Illidan Stormrage]

I'd also like to add that we should have a list of stories to read, rather than let the community choose whatever they feel like. I think it's better to have some guidance in that regard, since I know that when I could read anything, I didn't know what to choose.

Also, I think this could be a cool way to promote writers who are doing cool things in the Omniverse, like searching for a Void gate, or doing a quest, or trying to fight the establishment, etc.

[Mark]

Also, I think this could be a cool way to promote writers who are doing cool things in the Omniverse, like searching for a Void gate, or doing a quest, or trying to fight the establishment, etc.

Ohhh. That's a really cool idea. I don't know if it was an official rule last time, but letting people critique ongoing stories to help motivate those doing them sounds awesome.

[Deadpool]

You could always critique ongoing stories, but most of the threads nominated were usually finished

[Belle]

Book Club is a nice concept, but kind of dubiously effective at its intended purpose. When there's no OM reward, no matter how many people SAY they're going to, actual participation goes down the tubes. Ditto for when the group is given freedom to choose whatever - it tends to choose nothing instead.

So pick your poison: an OM-incentivized activity that tends to get a lot of token participation and little real critique, or an OM-less critique thread that barely anyone participates in because hey I can just make a C&C thread for my work and get the same deal.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Daniel]

There has always been an OM incentive with Book Club

[Belle]

I'm speaking to my experience with previous iterations of the site and such threads.

[Lord Dominator]

I personally don't have an issue with OM rewards being given for criticism and such... but it isn't something that would change my mind.

The appeal for me of this game is based on the fact that it is writing I don't spend an eternity thinking about, working and reworking into its finest levels. I can totally understand the appeal of getting criticism for those who want to improve their writing! But, selfishly, giving criticism is a lot of work and I'm not interested in receiving it myself.

Which is not to say that this is a reason not to go ahead, there certainly seems to be an appetite for it! I just wanted to explain a little more about why it wouldn't appeal to me personally.

[Omni]

What happened to it anyway? I only took part once because, busy, but I always liked the idea.

[Trixie]

What happened to it anyway? I only took part once because, busy, but I always liked the idea.

It was removed because of abuse I think.

[Mark]

The most recent version I was participating in was just no one doing it anymore.

[Daniel]

Not Abuse. After sarah left, it stopped for a few weeks, then, after I became a mod, I brought it back. But no one was participating. So we tried different iterations and it didn't really get much attention. So we've been looking at ways to bring it back. Well DL and I at least.

I just think that I should take it back to the Original Version, have a set list of threads, and allow people to add nominations that they think should be there.