- This topic has 9 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated March 6, 2014 at 3:39 pm by
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Some of you may have noticed that there´s no Back to School class for February.
There are two reasons for that. The first is that work is kind of very busy these days, plus my contract expires at the end of February and I am still looking for a new job, so I have very little time.
The second reason is that, frankly, I´m not sure if it is still worth the effort. Interest in the classes so far has been minimal – the classes of 2013 average about 6 replies, not counting the lessons themselves, and 110 views, which is a bit underwhelming. Preparing and teaching a class is a lot of work, and teaching in front of essentially an empty classroom is a poor reward for that work; while I am very very grateful for all the great teachers so far, I cannot really except anyone to volunteer for that.
For that reason, I am now putting Back to School on hiatus for the time being. I am not doing this lightly, and I hope that interest will pick up after a while, or someone will come up with better ideas for allowing those who would like to teach a subject, and those who would like to learn about one, to do so. But until then… sorry.
Hugs!
The other workshops aren’t getting much active attention, either. All except the 2 Year Novel workshop. That one appears as popular as ever.
Maybe it’s time to bring together the Back to School and Writing Craft & Business workshops to help fill in the calendar? Or to at least focus the attention to one spot in the forums?
Just thinking out loud.
J.A. Marlow
The String Weavers, Salmon Run, Redpoint One series.Writer alter-ego of Dreamers Cove
I loved the Back to School features. I wonder though, of all of the “active” FM Members, how many actually participate in any of the forums. Given the “active” number, perhaps the number that look at the Back to School feature is actually good.!? Just wondering.
Given the above, perhaps the answer is to advertise better to the FM world. There may be interest out there but members just aren’t aware of the forum?
Just tossing out ideas.
I know I enjoyed the last Back-to-School workshop (though I can totally see how demoralizing it is when you seem to be talking to an empty room), and have been finding the older business and craft workshops extremely useful.
Connie has a good point. I see the same voices over and over in the boards, and many people seem to use the boards silently, or head only to one specific area (the crit boards, perhaps?) rather than checking out other parts of the forum.
I know I found the boards a little overwhelming at first, and I have a high tolerance for complexity. Maybe grouping the different types of workshops in the same sub forum, and maybe a ‘Hey look!’ in the main board as well as announcements when something new is up would be good.
Would it make sense to put the word out in Vision (a little ‘new/coming up on the FM boards’ feature, maybe), or in places like the NaNo forums or K-boards? That seems to be one thing that the 2-year-novel course does that the short workshops don’t. I know all that means work for someone, but if some of us are hanging out in those places already…
Those are very good ideas. We should run them by Zette.
J.A. Marlow
The String Weavers, Salmon Run, Redpoint One series.Writer alter-ego of Dreamers Cove
I just got this idea, and I´d like to know what people think about it:
Instead of a fixed one-month format, with four or five lessons, classes can be anything from three to six lessons, whatever the teacher prefers. Each class takes place within the two month interval “covered” by an issue of Vision, is announced in said issue, and begins, say, two weeks after the issue goes online.
These classes wouldn´t only be Back To School, but any other kind of workshop that can fit this format – and if enough classes/workshops (and teachers!) are available, we could easily have more than one workshop at the same time.
Works for me. I enjoyed BTS in the past. I could also offer a class on psychopathology for writers.
Sounds like a plan to me!
J.A. Marlow
The String Weavers, Salmon Run, Redpoint One series.Writer alter-ego of Dreamers Cove
I like your idea!
Happy writing,
Deb Salisbury
The Mantua-Maker, Quality Historical Sewing Patterns and Books
www.mantua-maker.comThe Art of the Hoop: 1860 - 1869, Dress, Sewing, and Clothing Care Advice
https://www.mantua-maker.com/a---1860s-fashion.htmlDead Wizard's Loot: Wizard Whitewing #1
http://www.djsalisburybooks.com/Dead-Wizard-s-Loot.htmlThis sounds fabulous! Lots of workshop types could happen in a 6-week timeframe, and it might even lighten the administrative load (rather than having two or more places, separately organized, where classes are going on.) It’s clear that the board mods and volunteers do a lot of behind-the-scenes orchestration to help instructors pull off workshops. (We appreciate you guys!)
Also, I, for one, would be fascinated by a ‘psychopathology for writers’ class.
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