Birthday Reflections

[j_cheney]

So today our baby the ra_log turns one. When we started the ra_log, it was done primarily as a temporary stand-in for the Rejections Log on Speculations (which had suffered an untimely death.) Over on julesjones's blog, the question came up "Couldn't we just start something similar on LJ?"...And I went over and started setting one up.

It's a year later, and I don't think Speculations is coming back. Even if it did, I have to say that there seem to be a couple of advantages that the LJ version has over the Forum version. A)We can COMMENT on other's responses and B)We can use the TAGS to look for all responses on a specific publication. These two things alone suggest to me that we should keep it going, even if Speculations does make a comeback.

Some people have suggested starting similar "I'm missing Speculations" communities. The one that most quickly comes to mind is the "Shameless Self Promotion" forum.

Any thoughts on that, All you Olde Rumor Mill people?

Comments

[alaneer.livejournal.com]

I wasn't on the Rumor Mill, but the Shameless Self Promotion sounds good.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

Will keep in mind. ;o)

[amysisson.livejournal.com]

Holy cow! I had missed the ra_log. I've just joined. Thanks for putting something so useful together.

Personally I'm not keen on a new Shameless Self Promotion community, because so many of us are friended to each other and we're seeing those exact same types of announcements in individual LJs anyway. It's gotten to the point where if one LJer's book comes out, I see it from at least a dozen people on my flist, in one day! ;-) There are also so many people "interviewing" each other on their blogs these days, so it seems I see at least one of those every time someone's book comes out.

Others may feel differently, though!

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

Yay! for joining ;o) The more people we have posting, the more accurate our picture is.

That's one of the main problems with a SSP page....we already see a lot of it. But I was wondering if someone wanted to try something else. I don't remember much from the RM because I spent most of my time on the RAlog there...

(And if someone else wants, they're welcome to start it. Just probably not me.)

[ckastens.livejournal.com]

Big congrats, Jeanette!

I think the ra_log and LJ have filled in more than nicely for Speculations. I don't know that I would go back there.

The Shameless Self Promotion wouldn't be a bad idea, some place to post when something of ours is published. But I won't miss it if it isn't there. I already see plenty on everyone's LJ.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

The "I see plenty" is my hesitation as well ;o)

[dr-phil-physics.livejournal.com]

I am way behind in keeping up with my rejections. But I have to greatly applaud the creation of ra_log and those who regularly record their results there. Of particular value to me is that, just as with Speculations, I learn about markets that my normal narrow vision misses.

And I agree that the LJ format of having comments behind the original posting not only keeps things together, but also out of sight for those just looking over the logs. Speculations was a flat model.

Anyway, Happy Birthday, ra_log! And thanks, j_cheney. (grin)

Dr. Phil

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Dr. Phil ;o)

[yourbob.livejournal.com]

Actually, yesterday Speculations started following me on Twitter, with a "so what are we going to do" as it's first tweet. So some of it might be coming - I would guess not on the RumorMill, however.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

How interesting.....I'll have to look into that ;o)

[vaughan-stanger.livejournal.com]

Happy anniversary!

And a heartfelt "Good job!" to the administrators.

I'm not sure whether I'd go back to Speculations/Rumor Mill if it was resurrected as an on-line community, although I recall Speculations was hoping to relaunch as a market of some kind (or was this just a rumour?). Needless to say we'd all like to see the launch of a new high-paying, all speculative genres market with no silly word-length limits... Yeah, in our dreams.

I must confess that I do sometimes miss 'General Questions about Markets' and the like. That said, such info tends to diffuse out through the usual LJ mechanisms.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

If there were a GQaM page, do you think it would be worthwhile? Like a clearing house for what they want and what they don't?

[vaughan-stanger.livejournal.com]

I was thinking more in terms of "Has anyone heard from XXXX recently? I queried two months ago, didn't get a reply. Has anyone had more luck." That kind of thing. But yes, a forum that collected informal snippets of information might be useful, though not as essential as ra_log.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

Will consider ;o)

[aliettedb.livejournal.com]

Pretty much what Vaughan said: I miss the questions about markets areas, though I can ask those in other places (or just plain google).
But being able to automatically sort rejections is the biggest advantage of ra_log over speculations.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

We could easily start an "Spec-fic Market Observations" page, although it would be a bit tougher to moderate since the gls wouldn't be as firm. Do you think it would be worthwhile?

(I'm always griping when I don't know what markets want)

[melissajm.livejournal.com]

Happy Birthday, RA log!

I miss The Expert is In. I've gotten WONDERFUL help from my f-list, but the RM had a bigger pool to ask.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

We'll have to see what then new LJ group is planning....

[isleburroughs.livejournal.com]

I miss The Expert is In too. ditto help.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

We'll consider it. ;o)