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Looks like the Foreworld Saga website and the Foreworld Forum are still up. Lotsa good Foreworld treasures left moldering in those ancient dungeons.
Mod
I posted an epic photo of knights on horseback and the slogan: "Join us on the field of battle. Foreworld Goodreads."
Also, variations on:
"Aspiring writers: @nealstephenson @greg_bear @markteppo and company have built a universe for you to explore. Join them in #TheForeworld"
My intention, in case it isn't blindingly obvious, is to stress the martial camaraderie of Foreworld KindleWorld authors, and to entice potential members by invoking the magical names of Our Glorious Founders.
I think that these two factors differentiate us from most of the other goodreads groups. In many ways, the Mongoliad was created by sort of a modern OMVI. It was a noble, disciplined (literary, historical) guerrilla assault carried out by a small band of scholarly warrior monks, seeking to make an impact on the worlds that matter most to them. We carry on that tradition.
This group also offers an opportunity for fledgling writers to spar and roll in a dojo designed by a select group of speculative fiction's cognoscente - messieurs Stephenson, Bear, & Co. In essence, Foreworld Goodreads is offering a form of lineage.
Okay, mixed metaphors finished. Any input? Suggestions? Brutally frank criticism?
Mike
Mod
Regarding Twitter, alas, my reach is tiny, and in the scheme of things your more than ten times the followers may not be enough to scare up any new members. If Stephenson and Bear were tweeting it, the story might be different.
In lieu of that, I think the proper audience is here on Goodreads itself, although I don't know how to reach the numbers of people necessary to gain some small measure of interest in the group and the KW platform. This is why I had hoped Mark could interest the 47North authors in participating via their own author pages here, with the Ask a Question feature and/or blog entry pointers reminiscing about the experience of creating and writing the Foreworld, possibly with fresh ideas about where to take the narratives already provided, and what they would like to see filling in those gaps in the Foreworld Timeline.
In lieu of that, all I can suggest is remembering to keep your Add to my Update Feed boxes checked for all your posts here so your friends and followers will see them, as well as for other Foreworld or historical fiction you comment on or review on Goodreads. More useful tools and suggestions are, of course, welcome!
Mike V
...Aaand, now I've gone and thrown together another group, just to complicate things (Kindle Worlds). In part I hope to attract some other KW authors that might want to try their hands at some sword swing'n and word sling'n. I'm also hoping some readers find KW and follow it to Forworld.More on the general topic of writing for Kindle Worlds in another post, either here, at the KW site, or at SIA where I hide out sometimes.
If any Foreworlders want to join in, so much the better, and if it doesn't fly, I'll pull the plug.
I think it's a great idea. If you're looking to expand on expanded worlds, there are a number of authors writing reimagined classics, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast. Most recently, although they are not calling it fan fic officially, The Cursed Child, HP, is exactly that - reimagining the world. So, to broaden it you could call it Reimagining Fiction - whether you reimagine the classics, write in expanded worlds such as Kindle Worlds, or like to play in other authors' worlds . . .The reason I mention it is because I don't know how many readers/writers are aware of KW. I wasn't until recently. And then you could have different folders.
Mod
As much as I appreciate and agree with this, I think it best not to mix non-legal or gray area fanfic concepts with something like KW that is officially sanctioned by each world's intellectual property holder.
There are some sites that publish gray area stuff with a promise to delete at behest of anyone who owns the property, and oretty easy to find. I have my doubts Goodreads/Amazon would even allow discussion of such works though, let alone samples, urls, or beta read requests.
Mike
Just brainstorming here. I came back to add -- or, reach out and 'friend' all the KW authors in GR and the ones that reply eventually (after a certain number) invite them to join the KW group. The basic idea is to broaden the scope of awareness.
Mod
I really like that "friend and invite" approach!
Sounds like a great workaround to spamming and randomly 'advertising'.
C.B. Matson wrote: "Looks like the Foreworld Saga website and the Foreworld Forum are still up. Lotsa good Foreworld treasures left moldering in those ancient dungeons."Hi C. B., I clicked on the Forum link and it asked me to register but the registration is disabled. Is there any other way to view it? Thanks!
Mod
Hi Mark, thanks. I decided to approach my story so as to avoid any conflicts with the original stories or KW versions (all new characters--or keeping references general or, hmm . . . interpretable) so I'm good. Appreciate it.
Mod
Good luck on the story!
Hello, new month! :P (just an activation post)Actually, just so I'm on the same page with my prior post :) I ended up using two original characters and of course some new. Happy March!
Monthly pest--I mean post! :) April activation accomplished. :)
Hey, Ms. Roberts, just let you know I'm about 85% into "Spectral Knight" and enjoyed meeting some old friends. I'll get you a review when I'm done. But say, am I gonna have to wait for book 2 before I find out what happened to Yasper?
Oooohh, I just had second thoughts on my sense of humor! :) (I'm bothering those guys! oh dear, better delete). Sorry! :P No worries, seriously, that wasn't what I was thinking about.
Yasper, yes, the next one is The Alchemist.
Now I'm sorry I missed your humorous post.... I think. But good to hear that the "The Alchemist" is in the works.
Okay, back on topic with "Web-sites and Blogs." I recently finished a four-part blog post about creating animations using PowerPoint.
Warning: You can waste all weekend doing one of these.
Find the first part here: Creating Your Own Animated GIFs Another caution, simpler is better. Sometimes I tend to get a little carried away with these things (Sometimes?).
I'll have to give the GIF a try! By simpler, two images or maybe three max?
M.L. Roberts wrote: "...By simpler, two images or maybe three max?"Missy Shieldrake (from SIA) has a twitter post of a v. short promo trailer that is mostly images sliding over each other. It's super effective, using gray-scale in contrast with her trademark poly-chrome... sorta like the transition scene from WoOz.
That kind of animation is easy in PowerPoint and better than my own flapping bats and unfortunate Tralfamadorians. The animation I did for Spectral Knight would likely be improved if it were just the sword gleam and nothing more.
However, like writing, making the animations and devising various work-arounds to some of the program's limitations becomes an addictive pass-time unto itself. It's easy to forget that your objective is to generate visibility for your book.
When you come up with something... post it on "Showcase" and here.
Note: you can always edit to add more later.