[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Do you have any suggestions regarding this change of focus, Dr. Drib?

If so, I'd of course be willing to migrate this project to a new thread to see what comes of it

This is your pet project, so I'm only making suggestions.

First, this is from the other thread, and concerns the PROJECT and the LIMITS:

"Current rules/guidelines to participate in this anthology

The Project
- We'll be writing a short story anthology, created by MobileRead members.
- The main purpose of the project is learning about writing, editing and publishing.
- The secondary purpose of the project is actually getting the works out there.

Limits
- The stories submitted for this anthology should not have been published before.
- We'll target a length of about 80,000 words or +/- 200 paperback pages for the entire anthology.
- This could be increased or decreased, depending on the number of participants.
- Minimum story length: 2,000 words (+/- 5 pages)
- Suggested story length: 4,000-6,000 words (+/- 10-15 pages)
- Maximum story length: 8,000 words (+/- 20 pages)
- Maximum number of stories per author: 3 (+/- 8,000 words total)
- It is allowed to submit existing stories, or stories that can be improved by editing. It is not possible to submit a story and expect it to be included in the anthology as is. All stories will be reviewed and critiqued.
- It is recommended but not obligatory that each author writes at least one (1) new story, specifically for this trilogy."

My understanding is that this was supposed to be a project where writers learn from one another - one that would be educational and entertaining as they work through various drafts, to "...learn about writing, editing, and publishing." (And please correct any misconceptions I may make in this post.)

These three things can still be accomplished, I feel, but only if the guidelines are 'relaxed' a bit.

For example (and again, I must emphasis that these are just my thoughts, and this project is your baby):

I can envision a VERY thick book, indeed, if the word count is broadened in one direction.

1) Word count: 1,000 - 8000 words.
This would incorporate the idea of including Flash Fiction in the anthology, a type of fiction that is currently enjoying great popularity.

2) Re-focus and emphasis the project to include the idea of stories by members of Mobileread. (I'll contact Alex and see if he is open to the idea of an 'Official' book with Mobileread's name behind it. And if not...then OK.)

3) The idea of an anthology edited by a member of Mobileread, one who works with various other member/writers is an attractive idea regardless of whether Alex gives Official approval. But think about this: What if there were some way to give every new member of Mobileread who joins an immediate option to download this book FREE. Of course, all of our books are free. I'm talking about having an option, upon joining, to also download this free book - to give a member a taste of what Mobileread is about and also the WONDERFUL SENSE OF COMMUNITY PRESENT IN MOBILEREAD. If he goes along with this, then having the word 'Mobileread' somewhere in the title might be helpful.

4) But....let's say Alex has no desire for any of this (for whatever reason; after all, this is his site). The project [think 'completed ebook'] could be put up on Amazon immediately upon full completion (copy-edited, etc.). Write a great blurb that emphasizes that the contributors are active members of Mobileread and that this project came about because of the the members' intense interest to help one another and that this book is the culmination of a project where members learned about the different aspects of editing, writing, and being part of a community project.

5) Start a thread here on Mobileread and follow our "7-day" rule for promotions. Don't simply copy/past your blurb - LIKE A VERY LAZY WRITER HERE WHOM I WILL NOT NAME. Get creative and make your reader (and the current members and new members here) want to download this book and read it. Encourage feedback.

6) I don't mean to be preachy. I offer my apologies if I've come across this way. I would really like to see your project and the writers here who have already committed to the idea, see the fruition and joy of their labors completed in a way that gives pride of 'ownership', rather than have this project killed.





Don
(Moderator)