CW Format Changes

[Rebecca]

I’m planning some changes to the CW site, and wanted to give each of you a heads up. Please read through and feel free to leave your feedback in response to this thread.

New Categories – On and Off Topic

The Writers’ Lounge – All writing-related topics (excluding critiques) will be located here. Topics will be categorized with thread prefixes (see below). This should make finding new/updated messages much more convenient, and will better allow us to sort topics based on our individual areas of interest.

Open Forum – The Open Forum will return to house off-topic discussions. The current 4Believers.com topics/discussions will be merged into the Open Forum. Rather than categorized forums, we’ll use thread prefixes to differentiate topics.

Workshops – All workshop forums will be merged and organized instead with thread prefixes.

4Believers.com – Will cease being our off-topic area (to be replaced by the Open Forum (see above)). 4Believers.com is being repurposed as a section for members to post their completed work—an online portfolio or repository of sorts. Also, I would like to streamline the approval process for submissions. Instead of waiting for moderator approval of all submissions, established members will post and view their work instantly, at their convenience. The new 4Believers section will also be more convenient for outside fans/readers to directly access work posted by our members and leave comments.

About Thread Prefixes: Thread prefixes preface each thread with a pre-determined topic. The thread prefixes are sortable and searchable by topic. This eliminates the need for separate forums per topic, and is much more convenient for viewing new or updated topics. Here is an example of what thread prefixes may look like:




Blogging: My blog dilemma

Marketing: Tell me about your book signing experiences!

Blogging: How many hits do you get?

General Writing Topics: How do you handle writers block?

General Writing Topics: How many words do you average per day?

Quiz: What genre do you write?

General Writing Topics: I’m almost done!



As I said before, your feedback or questions are welcome. I look forward to hearing from you!

God bless,

Rebecca

[Tamera]

This sounds great, Rebecca. I think it will solve a lot of problems.

[Tarin]

Sounds excellent.

[Jean Thornberry]

I think the changes will be great!

[Bethical]

I know this doesn't really have anything to do with the organization of the board (which sounds find to me), but it's something you might look into.

Smilies. My screen reder "enhances" colors - for that you could read "distorts," so I can't really see what the smilies are. On other forums, when my reader runs over a smilie, I hear "Graphic: very happy" or "Graphic: happy crowd."

Is there any way to make this happen here? I want to get all the nuances available. ;)

[kshsj777]

I think I like this idea, I'll have to see how it actually plays out, but I do have one suggestion.

For the workshops, I think there should be a way to include genres as prefixes, so that if, for example, I just want to look at SF/F fiction pieces I could do so easily.

[Rebecca]

...Is there any way to make this happen here? I want to get all the nuances available. ;)

Certainly, I'll look into that! :)


...For the workshops, I think there should be a way to include genres as prefixes, so that if, for example, I just want to look at SF/F fiction pieces I could do so easily.

That's exactly what I have in mind. !thumbsup!

Thanks, everyone!

Rebecca

[Jean Thornberry]

Rebecca,

Is there a way you can keep threads open longer? I noticed there are several that get locked down before a reply can be had. Thanks!

All the best with the changes you are making!

[lynnmosher]

Yippee! A way is made! Thanks, O great Administrator! You're a peach! !thumbsup! :D :)

[SkeeterFranklin]

Sounds great, Rebecca.

[Rebecca]

...Is there a way you can keep threads open longer? I noticed there are several that get locked down before a reply can be had.

Sure, I'll look into this, also. :)

Thanks!

Rebecca

[Jean Thornberry]

Thank you, Rebecca!! Blessings to you from our Lord!

[jacks girl]

Sounds like come good changes, it will be hard to understand it all until I can see it. Also it's good to see you. You are too smart. LOL!!! Be sure and let us know what day this will happen on so we don't freak when we can't get on the site. LOL!

You know some of us live here...

[Katharine]

Ch... Ch... Change???

You know some of us live here...
This sounds good, Rebecca, although I'm with Jacks Girl in needing to SEE it before I fully understand it. I do think the breakdowns and headings (or whatever you call them) will make for better browsing. Yeah!

So, about the new plans for 4Believers. Am I correct in thinking that that would become more of a public showcase? Anyone and everyone could read whatever we post there, and comment on how a particular piece has changed their lives? Interesting.

[Rebecca]

So, about the new plans for 4Believers. Am I correct in thinking that that would become more of a public showcase? Anyone and everyone could read whatever we post there, and comment on how a particular piece has changed their lives? Interesting.

Exactly. :) It will be much more reader/fan friendly and accessible, instead of just between CW members.

Rebecca

[Zanzibar]

All this sounds good to me. I know I would spend more time in the workshop forums if I knew how to find and crit only those types of writing I know/understand and feel I qualify to give advice on.

Rebecca, this site is such a wonderful blessing! Thanks for all you do!

[ledwardsii]

Rebecca

I think that this is a wonderful idea. Look foward to seeing it in action.

Louis

[Keith Wallis]

Does this sound the death knell for the showcases - oh please say yes.

Thread prefixes - will we be relying on posters to place them in the thread titles ?

[pgulley]

Sounds very good to me. I like forward change!

Blessings,

[Jazzman]

My favorite scripture.

[Jazzman]

Proverbs 3:5-6

[Colin]

Sounds all Irish to me...meaning I dont understand! Shall wait and see changes. Do like the idea you have 4Believers.

[jacks girl]

I have a question

Sometimes i pop on just to read the Prayer request and it was great having them all in once section.

Will there be a link when all is said and done that will take me to the prayer requests only, or will i have to search for them all in the open forum. I'm hoping that when you are done there will be like another section on the main list page that will take me to each section that is on the open forum but I may be wrong....

I guess you would call it a sub section
Open forum would be like for all of them but there would be a smaller link to take us to the Prayer Request Christina living General discussion current events and so on.

I'm not trying to complain here just seeing if this is an option. so far the changes are looking good.


thanks
Jacks

[Jazzman]

Sounds great!

[Rebecca]

Will there be a link when all is said and done that will take me to the prayer requests only, or will i have to search for them all in the open forum. I'm hoping that when you are done there will be like another section on the main list page that will take me to each section that is on the open forum but I may be wrong....

I'm releasing a new site design that includes that, and is laid out in a much more convenient fashion. I'm hoping this will be complete within the next couple days. :)

Rebecca

[jacks girl]

So cool thanks for the update it's looking good.

[jesterhawk]

Yeah, I am liking the new changes.

JH

[Woman-of-Hope]

When I click on the "poetry workshop" , I get this message....

Invalid $idname specified. If you followed a valid link, please contact us.

just wanted to let you know...thanks

blessings
donna

[Mouse5]

Hey Rebecca,

Just wanted to let you know that I really like the new set up.!thumbsup!

Blessings to you!

~Mouse

[alicejwhite1]

That is a great Ideal, especially to me I am new to CW, I have been completely lost trying to figure out what to do and how to do it.

alicejwhite1

[jesterhawk]

I agree the new look is GREAT!! Really loving it!

JH

[srussell]

Wow, Rebecca. I just logged on and KAPOW! A whole new layout.

It looks terrific. Thanks for all the hard work you do.

Sam

[wgjones3]

I'm frightened.

[DrRita]

Rita stands in the corner thinking she's a misplaced mod . . .

[Tarin]

Lookin' snazzy. !thumbsup!

[Rebecca]

Thanks, guys! I'm glad you like it! !thumbsup!

I have some general cleanup and fixes to do, but everything should be up for the most part. Please let me know here (or in the support forum) if you find anything broken. I'll get it patched up as quickly as possible.

Rebecca

[ban sidhe]

i'm new so this won't really affect me but i'm all for organization ! glad to be here with you all :)

[kshsj777]

AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! What happened to CW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry. I'll get used to it. LOL.

[kshsj777]

Hey, this is actually awesome. I'm liking it now. I especially like that I can click on Sci-fi Fantasy and get all the threads in that area. Much neater and easier to sort through.

!thumbsup! Thanks, Rebecca.

777

[TL11]

This is not a request, I just wanted to say, I love what you've done to the site. WoW!!! And WoW, the new look is absolutely incredible. Awesome!thumbsup!

[kshsj777]

I love it too. When I first logged on I was like WHOA!!! What happened???? But then I poked around and I like it better!!!

[verelee]

Hi Rebeca, Not sure I like the new layout. a bit impersonal, and confusing.
All the blue a bit heavy.
For a moment I thought I was on the wrong site, until I saw my name.
Sorry only my opinion.
I guess I shall have to get used to it.

[whitehawke]

Was stunned when I first came on this morning. Kinda freaky getting lost in the cw twilight zone. gulp After looking around the site I hit overload and had to take timeout for a spell. Scared mod. :eek: Looks cool though.
I'm hiding in the corner with WG and Rita.

Member's profile pages need some work as they are cramped and the messages scroll down to one letter on a line in some places.

[lynnmosher]

Beautiful, Rebecca! You get three snaps up...!thumbsup!!thumbsup!!thumbsup!

[Tarin]

It's certainly not a big deal, but one thing I do miss from the old design is that the "Latest Topics" feature on the home page isn't instantly visible whenever I log on; I have to scroll down to look at it. Don't know if that's easily fixable or not, but I thought I'd just mention it.

Other than that, I'm loving it. :cool:

[Woman-of-Hope]

i logged on earlier and was surprised with the new look !!! so far .....I love it Rebecca !!!

[jamespwillis]

I love the new look. Good job!

[writersprite]

Oh my goodness, Rebecca! The site is absolutely magnificent! :) Thank you for all your efforts!

[Jeanie]

I really like the new CW page and formats. I just hope I understand it all.
Jeanie

[Laina]

I think it's absolutely beautiful. I like it better. Great job Rebecca!!!

[jacks girl]

I like the changes but the white seems overwhelming to me. other than that so far so good.

[Keith Wallis]

Where's my slippers ?
I logged - at a third attempt - to find that someone had swapped my comfortable 'I know where everything is (nearly)' slippers for a new pair of shoes that'll need 'treading in'.

ref the hawk's comment about members profile messages - the avatars encroach on the messages.

[mine]

At first glance I thought I'd been hijacked!
But then I realized this was the new that you had been talking about... whew!
I really like the looks of this. Seems a lot less cluttered. Nice!

[Woman-of-Hope]

Praying for you Keith....first your slippers and now on another thread I read you are missing your toothbrush!!

:)

blessings
donna

[Rebecca]

I removed the sidebar from the member profiles, and now they're a lot less cramped. The avatars (on the profiles) are still askew. Hmph. *adds it to list*

Rebecca

[whitehawke]

Rebecca, what's happened to the cw index page (http://christianwriters.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=106)? It was fine this morning but now most of it is missing.

Btw, I'm getting to really like the colors and layout etc. Looks great.

[BettyJ]

Wow, I'm gone for a few days and everything changes! I really like it! Thanks for all the hard work.

[TRBaker]

Great job, Rebecca. I really like the changes. I did have one question though. Are you planning to do away with accumilated workshop points being posted with our avatars on threads, along with join date, etc., or is that just another part of the list of things to do. I noticed they were no longer there.

[Azariah]

Will we get a letter in our e-mail whe the 4Believers.com site is running the way you want it to?

[Annette Agenllo]

It was a real surprise when I first opened up to the new look, it will take some getting used to. I am glad the "4 believers" is still there I couldn't find it at first.

The idea of tagging entries by type is good, but please keep it simple I was in one group that had you put it in categories give word count, pages, etc, etc, etc. It got to be to much. There were not threads that would place all related posts together you had to put crit/ss/name listed/title of work/pg before you started your answer. Way to complicated!

[jacks girl]

What ever you do dont add something that tells how long we are on here each day.. LOL
jacks

[SkeeterFranklin]

Rebecca, I am getting used to the site. I like the new look. It is pretty and easy to find everything.

I have a question. Is it possible to get different icons for chat?

[Azariah]

I think you would see a large SPIKE from me and then sudden drop off the edge of the world.

[Anniel]

I haven't found this site as easy to use as some others, like Faithwriters and Premier media's Poetry Page. Hope the changes prove beneficial.