Welcome!

We've been searching for a while to find something that complements the workshop and mailing list and offers workshop members a way to interact that's richer and more useful than just a discussion mailing list. Therefore we're giving you this Writer Space to play around in. It's made up of a wiki and a set of discussion forums.

What is a wiki? Well, click here if you want a general definition and some links to follow to find out more. Otherwise, just move on with the general idea that it's a way to collaboratively build an information space.

So this is a place for all workshop members to both learn and contribute (kind of like the workshop itself!). Everyone can edit most of the pages, and everyone can create new pages. If you are not familiar with the ways of wikis, read these two pages: How to edit and Formatting. Then go ahead!

Use the links in the text or the links in the righthand column to get around the wiki. Use the links at the bottom of the page or the pencil icon at top right to edit.

Our various discussion forums are listed on the lefthand column under (duh) Forums. Right now there are six general forums. Let us know if you want us to add others! We also have a Proposal Package Focus Group forum for our June 2009 focus group led by Jennifer Dawson.

Our wiki has four branches:

A Creative writing "rec room" with exercises, collaborative projects, and a chance to get help on specific problems. So far, what we've got there are these features--let us know if you want to add more!

• Current monthly writing challenge
• Add-a-bit stories
• Fix it! challenges
• Idea pantry: a list of good story concepts for anyone to use

A Writing and marketing skills bank, which we hope will serve as a repository for the ListMind's wisdom and a way to keep that wisdom evolving, growing, and up to date. So far we're including information we've collaborated on so far:

• Synopsis writing FAQ
• How-to-Review FAQ
• Story Pacing focus group summary

• Plus a Market news page to share news on new good markets and any helpful market information for speculative fiction.

If you know of more content for the skills area--there is lots of useful stuff in the discussion archives--contact us or just add it yourself.

We want to have Critique group homepages: if you have a group that uses the workshop, feel free to create your own page or pages here. Or start a new group and announce it here!

Finally, we needed one place to keep track of Workshop happenings: marathons, contests, offers, get-togethers, etc. And an archive of newsletters, too.

Enjoy!

--Ellen, Charlie, and Eric
Online Writing Workshops