Site News

02/07/07

Well Folks,

Obviously, a lot has been going on on the site. For good or bad, we're stuck with this code for the rest of the year. I'm not making anymore shifts or changes.

Currently, I am willing to move stuff from DMV DB or the previous version of Shakespeare's Monkeys over to this new site.

There is one major problem with the new code: It lacks any messaging.

A less important problem is odd security set up which often times leaves me wondering how to protect things, but still allow commenting.

As a sidenote, I just want to offer this thought -- that Wiki, that's for everyone to just toss stuff in. Seriously. I don't want it to be serious. I want it to be... Monkey-licious. So, folks, be your bad-ass selves, and be ridiculous. Explain things in a way that no one is going to find on wikipedia. If it gets out of hand, i'll reel it in. Otherwise, I'll let it go pretty far.

The key to this message is this: I apologize to you all for the multiple moves, the slow software, the confusing setups, the lack of help, the instability in general and the seemingly lost data.

Together, I want to really make this special. I am asking you now, for your help in that. Let me know what doesn't work and what does. Add your comments, add your energy, and add your voices together and we can do that.

I have avoided asking this until I was cofident that I can live up to my end of that bargain. I am confident now.

We're back on track.

Let's do it.

Fondly,
stephan

P.S. I added over a hundred monkey avatars for you all, but if you see something missing, just drop me an email with the image to add to the list, and we'll just keep expanding it.

Posted actions are basically a to-do list. If you have a friend you want to read your poem, or comment on something, collaborate with you, etc etc. Use the posted actions. It's particularly useful in dealing with Julie, Tracey and me. Let me know what you think.

The current slowdown here, at least I think, is based on three problems:

a) People's inability to easily see their latest comments
b) Too little in the way of direction, so that people aren't quite sure what they're supposed to do.
c) Lack of Private messaging to facilitate quick and quiet comments such as 'typo on line 5'

Just so you all know, all of those things are being worked on quietly by me every day. I am here every day. I am watching and working every day. I'm not missing at all. Just busy working on things

The private messaging is actually my biggest concern, and that's being worked on by several coders who write this software, and hopefully will be out in a week or two. (one suspects it'll include a buddy-list component)

 The directions, I could use help on. The inability to see comments... well.. that's more training than code. you actually get notices when your stuff is updated (*commented on) and in fact, you can 'watch' anything by simply clicking the 'watch' button.

Regardless, things are moving forward.

Well folks, You might ahve noticed that the cloud now works. If you add tags, they go to the cloud, and if you use previously clouded tags, your page gets added there.

Hey Folks,

This is just meant as a friendly reminder of what we're trying to do here, not a chastisement over any specific problem or person. In fact, if anything there haven't been any problems -- mostly because there just haven't been that many of you.  (Yes, that's a bad thing!)

I want to offer this tiny scrap of advice regarding comments: Before you say, "Loved it!" or "Great job!" ask yourself this question: "WHY?"

Two word ass-pats, backslaps, and attaboys are worse than patronizing and unhelpful, they're actually leading writers down bad paths. They think that because people 'liked it' that means it's 'good' -- which isn't necessarily true.

I understand that some things are objective. Leanne, for example, is a hardass. 100 people might tell me that a poem I wrote was amazing and they loved it, and she might say, "Total dreck. the meter's off, the rhymes are awful, and the theme is cliche -- you really need to think about what you're doing before you waste my time like this."

That doesn't mean she's wrong. It doesn't mean the other 100 are. BUt I'll say this. If I get 100 "great jobs" and then Leanne's comment, i'm going to listen to her. She was specific. She told me WHY it was dreck. She told me the problem areas. She offered support for her assertion.

If you're going to say "Good job" or "Loved it" -- give at least 3 reasons why.

Please.

"It made me feel good" tells me WHY you were reading it. Yes, it will diminish your credibility as a critic, but at least i can respect that as a valid reason, as much as I might dismiss it in my evaluation of the effectiveness of my work.

"It has great flow" .. honestly, means nothing to me. Some people might mean the ideas are coherent and flow together, others might mean it's easy to read. Still others might be talking about the meter. Again, I will dismiss it, but I'll understand where you're coming from and I will appreciate that a hell of a lot more than 'good job'

"I like this 'insert quoted line' line here" -- unsupported with a reason WHY you liked it, it's not very helpful, but it's nice to know. If you like it because the metaphor, the internal rhyme and meter complimenting the theme or symbolizing a greater deeper message.. that's different than.."It's wicked cool!"

"it really took me back to when ...xxx .. happened to me" -- actually, this one i really like. First of all, it gives me specific ideas on how i can focus my words, possibly give me ideas for new poetry, and finally, it shows that there's an element of universeality in the experience.

To sum this all up... Ask and answer the question "WHY" before you say "Good job!"

This is obviously the biggest missing feature, and i'm concerned about it. But, I don't want to waste too much time on it as I get a feel for the code and keeping this site improving. I might install a simple messenger that will require seperate login, but i'm not sure.

We'll see.

I am well aware of the slowness of several pages. That is being addressed with the coders right now. Hopefully you'll notice some improvement today, and more as the week goes on.

Well, Well, Well,

I have heard lots of screeching in the monkey cage this last week, and it's very exciting. Wait, it's beyond exciting. Here's what you don't know that I do, that you now will, and you'll want to spread around -- Pags, Norm, Aesthetic Psychosis, Kath, Laurie, Kat, and Calooh are all being published in the upcoming issue of Shakespeare's Monkey Revue.

Seriously.

Yes, I know you can't believe it, but there are that many writers on the site who suffered through the selection process and found their way to the top of the pile and into the magazine. These folks received no special consideration for their membership. They submitted just like everyone else, and they earned their place in print. So please congratulate them, they earned that. You will be amazed and astounded when you see their latest stuff. But more importantly, I tell you this because, as members, you have a secret "in"... you can go to their pages and see their work and get a real feel for what's coming up in the next issue.

In other big exciting news, Ms. Lori T, the Night Prophet just submitted the next comic in her series to the editors. I saw it first. It is beyond awesome. I'm so proud to publish this spectacular fusion of poetry and art -- it is the type of work that sets the editors of Shakespeare's Monkey Revue apart from their colleagues. They are willing to believe in things this that just aren't being printed elsewhere.

It should also be noted that all of the single men in the universe are weeping now, as Ms. Lori T. was wed last week. Yes boys, there's one less eligible angel on the planet Earth. (Congrats you silly booger-girl!)

This week we also welcome Uriel Tovar. It's great to have him, he's a long time friend of many on the site, and I look forward to seeing his new work. I'd like to point out a large influx of faces from the past, with special greetings to returning members Joe R, Starla, Kath, Michael Mission Harris and Emily Rose.

And finally, here are some tips on pages you don't want to miss.

For a poem that leaves at least seven sighs hanging in the air around you as you dreamily whisper to everyone and no one in particular, "dayum, I wish I could write like that," read Ryan Wilbur's poem "The Magic Leaves"

http://www.shakespearesmonkeys...he-magic-leaves

For a poem that makes your heart splinter, soul shard and leaves you a giant wad of cliché – try reading Amanda Baker's poem "Inversion"
http://www.shakespearesmonkeys...-7600-inversion

For a poem that's gasp-worthy in its amazingosity, carnivorous in its ability to eat your eyeballs right out of your head, and rather fantasmagraphic check out Emeya's Poem "In love with surrealist female painters"
http://www.shakespearesmonkeys...female-painters

This first sentence reads a bit awkwardly. Now, this link is a bit odd, and you all might wonder if I didn't make comment, so I will, I'd love to point out the tremendous grace and coolness of my friend Joe R. He's a really exceptional guy anyways, and trying to learn a bit of poetry. He's here to learn, and I get the warm fuzzies in a big way when I see it. It's tough to come on the site and hobnob with some truly special, experienced, skilled, and trained writers. So many people say to me, "I'm not good enough to comment or post on your site," and it's just not true. The site is about learning and supporting each other, it's not a pissing contest pitting pygmy marmoset vs. white back mountain gorilla. If you want to see how a new writer is respected and appreciated by the community, please check out his haiku:
http://www.shakespearesmonkeys...-untitled-haiku

Finally, on the publishing bulletin board, I also really enjoyed both the question that Sinnaminsun posted and the responses. I'd love to hear everyone's opinion on that subject.
http://www.shakespearesmonkeys...tting-published

Something many of you probably missed is Pag's Renga pages in the resource area. A while back we were starting to think about collaborative poetry and Pags started a little area for renga… which is basically slam-serial haiku. Very fun. Very cool. Check it out!
http://www.shakespearesmonkeys...-80-renga-poets

I'll close with two special thank yous, the first is to the one and only Alcuin of York, aka Papa Smurf. Many of you have benefited from his great store of poetic knowledge and his thorough, fascinating, powerful critique. His critique is taken by some as too harsh or impolitic, but let me tell you, they are all done out of a spirit of love and passion for the written word. If Papa Smurf takes the time to comment on your poem, it is because he cares about your work, and truly wants to help. I can not tell you how much he has helped me personally. Dozens of my poems are better thanks to him. I also can not tell you how his steady and constant presence has saved the site, and the magazine. Alcuin is so much a part of the heart and soul of everything we're doing, I can never say thank you enough.

The second thank you is to Derma Kaput. Derma is another whose criticism goes beyond the surface deep down the heart of the poem and surgically extracts the kernel of truth that must be accentuated. His thoughts and ideas on poetry and writing are a treasure that enriches every member on the site. His work on the Revue can not be overstated, and his friendship is one of the great gifts in the lives of all on the editorial board.


I can never repay them their kindness, so I can only offer this humble thanks.

To each of you, who have joined this community, I hope you find your way to visit this week, drop a comment, post some writing or ask a question. My life is always richer when you do.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
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• Submissions Deadlines for the Conflict issue (Vol 2 #1) is June 2

• Simian Award #4 deadline is May 9th.

• Theme for Vol 2 #2 will be Food (Submissions are welcome)

• Simian Grand Prize Winner will be announced this week.

Fondly,
Stephan