| My farewell to the PA board | |
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+16dtpollard Gina Brenda Hill E. Don Harpe Don Stephens alj A Ahad Pam Betty Fasig zadaconnaway Abe F. March Phil Whitley Shelagh lin Carol Troestler Dick Stodghill 20 posters |
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Dick Stodghill Five Star Member
Number of posts : 3795 Registration date : 2008-05-04 Age : 98 Location : Akron, Ohio
| Subject: My farewell to the PA board Fri Dec 19, 2008 8:49 am | |
| For more than two years I have tried to offer a bit of advice to newcomers unfamiliar with the world of publishing. As often as not this has resulted in the greenhorn proclaiming that he or she knows best.
For more than two years I have read posts asking questions that were covered in full within the previous week. Engaging in research is an important part of any writer’s life.
For more than two years I have read sloppy posts with misspelled words or butchered English. When this was mentioned, the offender frequently said it doesn’t matter on a message board and doesn’t reflect negatively on their ability to write well. It doesn’t?
For more than two years I have read posts proclaiming that a few errors in a book are just fine because you often find them in books by leading writers. On average, I read two books a week and rarely find an error in one published by a mainline firm.
For more than two years I have seen excellent posts deleted merely because they do not offer undiluted praise of the publisher. Censorship rarely is a good thing.
In those two years I have met many fine people on this board and have watched as one by one the majority of them have departed. So now it is my turn. May the road rise to meet you and the wind be always at your back. And confine yourself to saying nice things or you may be excommunicated. (I wonder how long it will be before this post is deleted by Infocenter) |
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Carol Troestler Five Star Member
Number of posts : 3827 Registration date : 2008-06-07 Age : 86 Location : Wisconsin
| Subject: Re: My farewell to the PA board Fri Dec 19, 2008 8:56 am | |
| Dick, I agree about the PA board. I have also been impressed with the writing quality on the authors forum messageboard. It encourages me to also watch my posts and edit. I have said that one of the advantages of writing on a messageboard is the practice in writing so others understand. I was misunderstood often on the PA board. Perhaps I'm writing better or else this is a more understanding board! Maybe both. Carol |
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lin Five Star Member
Number of posts : 2753 Registration date : 2008-03-20 Location : Mexico
| Subject: Re: My farewell to the PA board Fri Dec 19, 2008 9:12 am | |
| Proprietary boards all tend to have problems. That's why there are usually independent boards for so many private concerns.
It doesn't sound like there was much love lost with you on that board, though. |
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Shelagh Admin
Number of posts : 12662 Registration date : 2008-01-11 Location : UK
| Subject: Re: My farewell to the PA board Fri Dec 19, 2008 9:14 am | |
| I left the PA boards when Adam was a lad and still had a spare rib. |
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Dick Stodghill Five Star Member
Number of posts : 3795 Registration date : 2008-05-04 Age : 98 Location : Akron, Ohio
| Subject: Re: My farewell to the PA board Fri Dec 19, 2008 9:59 am | |
| Lin, you are correct. At one time I was banned for being cranky. Me, cranky? Can you imagine that? Spare ribs, Shelagh? Are you inviting me to dinner? Yes, Carol, there is a difference in quality and it is all for the better here. |
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Shelagh Admin
Number of posts : 12662 Registration date : 2008-01-11 Location : UK
| Subject: Re: My farewell to the PA board Fri Dec 19, 2008 10:05 am | |
| "Me, cranky? Can you imagine that?" Easily. Spare ribs and broccoli? |
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Phil Whitley Four Star Member
Number of posts : 907 Registration date : 2008-04-01 Age : 81 Location : Riverdale, GA
| Subject: Re: My farewell to the PA board Fri Dec 19, 2008 10:46 am | |
| About thirty minutes ago I read your farewell post at PA, Dick. One person had replied to it - it was either Jim Woods or Abe - can't remember.
I went back just now (1:40 PM est) and it was gone. |
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Dick Stodghill Five Star Member
Number of posts : 3795 Registration date : 2008-05-04 Age : 98 Location : Akron, Ohio
| Subject: Re: My farewell to the PA board Fri Dec 19, 2008 11:07 am | |
| Surprised it lasted that long. |
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Abe F. March Five Star Member
Number of posts : 10768 Registration date : 2008-01-26 Age : 85 Location : Germany
| Subject: Re: My farewell to the PA board Fri Dec 19, 2008 11:30 am | |
| Brew, I haven't posted on the PA board for almost two years nor have I peeked in to see what was going on. So you can eliminate my name from the response to Dick's post.
I'm just surprised that Dick stayed as long as he did. He has always tried to help others and I can only assume he stayed on the board for that purpose. "Old soldiers never die, they just fade away." |
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Phil Whitley Four Star Member
Number of posts : 907 Registration date : 2008-04-01 Age : 81 Location : Riverdale, GA
| Subject: Re: My farewell to the PA board Fri Dec 19, 2008 11:41 am | |
| I thought it was Jim Woods, Abe, but I just wasn't sure. That's why I went back to see, but by then it was gone. |
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zadaconnaway Five Star Member
Number of posts : 4017 Registration date : 2008-01-16 Age : 76 Location : Washington, USA
| Subject: Re: My farewell to the PA board Fri Dec 19, 2008 11:48 am | |
| Dick had better not fade away. I have listened to (read) much of his sage advice on the PA boards, and am the wiser for it. I just tired of snide remarks and the banning of those who stood up for themselves. For the last year or so I have peeked in and occasionally offered encouragement where it seemed to be needed, or read someone's work (thank you Nutter for some excellent reads). I believe that Carol and I agree and perhaps we are both getting better at being understood. I am so grateful for this board and Shelagh for starting it. And also the lack of censorship! |
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Betty Fasig Five Star Member
Number of posts : 4334 Registration date : 2008-06-12 Age : 81 Location : Duette, Florida
| Subject: Re: My farewell to the PA board Fri Dec 19, 2008 2:37 pm | |
| Dear Dick, Evaporation is what I consider a good way to go. It is so ephemeral and, well, ghostly. I doubt that those idiots at PA info central would know a good spirit if it ran up their nose, but some of us with vaporous minds can see you floating there, appreciate the tickle and the sneeze and react in kind. hahahahahah We love you. Love, Betty |
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Pam Five Star Member
Number of posts : 1790 Registration date : 2008-02-01 Age : 58 Location : Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| Subject: Re: My farewell to the PA board Fri Dec 19, 2008 5:03 pm | |
| Somehow in my fledgling career as a writer I missed the PA experience. Not missed as in "I wish I could have been there..." but missed as in I simply never found it as I went looking for places to visit. I must've been off in a corner eating broccoli or something... |
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lin Five Star Member
Number of posts : 2753 Registration date : 2008-03-20 Location : Mexico
| Subject: Re: My farewell to the PA board Fri Dec 19, 2008 5:52 pm | |
| When crankiness is outlawed only outlaws will yank their cranks |
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zadaconnaway Five Star Member
Number of posts : 4017 Registration date : 2008-01-16 Age : 76 Location : Washington, USA
| Subject: Re: My farewell to the PA board Fri Dec 19, 2008 5:55 pm | |
| Does that mean that Shelagh is an outlaw? |
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Shelagh Admin
Number of posts : 12662 Registration date : 2008-01-11 Location : UK
| Subject: Re: My farewell to the PA board Sat Dec 20, 2008 2:58 am | |
| I'm a pirate. |
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A Ahad Five Star Member
Number of posts : 1102 Registration date : 2008-03-25 Age : 55
| Subject: Re: My farewell to the PA board Sat Dec 20, 2008 8:01 am | |
| I find it hard to let go of old friends. Sometimes I peek in there and see who's still posting. At other times I pop in there to let PA know that I'm still one of their grateful authors fighting my corner with their vanity published books |
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zadaconnaway Five Star Member
Number of posts : 4017 Registration date : 2008-01-16 Age : 76 Location : Washington, USA
| Subject: Re: My farewell to the PA board Sat Dec 20, 2008 8:28 am | |
| Watch out for Shelagh!! Argh!! |
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A Ahad Five Star Member
Number of posts : 1102 Registration date : 2008-03-25 Age : 55
| Subject: Re: My farewell to the PA board Sat Dec 20, 2008 8:31 am | |
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Dick Stodghill Five Star Member
Number of posts : 3795 Registration date : 2008-05-04 Age : 98 Location : Akron, Ohio
| Subject: Re: My farewell to the PA board Sat Dec 20, 2008 10:43 am | |
| It always pays to watch out for Shelagh! |
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Shelagh Admin
Number of posts : 12662 Registration date : 2008-01-11 Location : UK
| Subject: Re: My farewell to the PA board Sat Dec 20, 2008 1:19 pm | |
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alj Five Star Member
Number of posts : 9633 Registration date : 2008-12-05 Age : 80 Location : San Antonio
| Subject: Re: My farewell to the PA board Sun Dec 21, 2008 6:53 pm | |
| I'm so sorry I missed it. I would loved to have given my two-cents worth. Dick's advice was always helpful and insightful. Many young writers would have been better off to have heeded it. He knows this business.
I do not quite understand why I was never banned there. On the one hand, I have said in several places, several times, that it doesn't seem wise to bite the hand that feeds you - Geesh! Please don't think my formal writing is so overrun with cliches as this one. Where are they coming from?? - back to what I was saying. PA published my book. Since that was so, it did - and does - not seem to be good business to say negative things about them, or to remain silent when others do so. On the other hand, the PA message board - oh, heck, I'll run with it - is a horse of a different color. I never understood why PA allowed the board to be run by a handful of narrow and disagreeable people. I wish I had been banned. It would have been a badge of honor. Instead, my relationship with it has ended, "not with a bang, but a whimper."
I definitely expected it to happen when I said I would support reinstating Pier's thread, "when pigs fly," but was only chastised by Rudy for shutting down Jim's thread by making the comment.
Anyway, I'm so glad Alice told me about this place. People here seem so rational.
Dick,
Thank you for posting your comment here. It should stay long enough for everybody to read it and comment on it. And that's a good thing.
Ann |
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Don Stephens Five Star Member
Number of posts : 1355 Registration date : 2008-01-25 Age : 85 Location : Wherever my hat's hanging today!
| Subject: Re: My farewell to the PA board Sun Dec 21, 2008 8:06 pm | |
| Dick,
I started on the PA board over five years ago and it has never changed…only the people posting. PA has always censored the board and would never allow a post that questioned anything they did. At one time they would delete any thread that was not directly related to writing. There has always been two or three people that appeared to run the board. James and Pier I believe hold the record for the longest term though.
I was banned three different times. The first time was way back before the PA convention.
The last time I was banned, they returned my publishing rights.
I don’t know about you but I’ve been thrown out of a lot better places. |
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E. Don Harpe Five Star Member
Number of posts : 1979 Registration date : 2008-01-17 Age : 82 Location : Florida
| Subject: Re: My farewell to the PA board Sun Dec 21, 2008 8:14 pm | |
| If banning from the PA board is a badge of honor, then I am triple blessed. They banned me, reinstated me, then did it again, and again, without the reinstating the last time. I have very little ill will towards PA however, knowing that the people who mask as infocenter are not the sharpest blades in the drawer. To me they seemed very immature, and of course I kept on voicing that opinion, and it kept getting me banned. I don't really care, and as my two PA book seem to have run their course, a continued presense on the board was doing me no good at all. I have been a very vocal supporter of PA on various boards, even getting into several very hostile situations a few times, but PA never acknowledged any of that, choosing instead to go with their juvenile handling of the forum. I don't miss posting there, and as most of the people I respected have moved here, I don't miss any of the other people who remain on the PA board. Well, there are perhaps one or two I miss, but I do correspond with them via private email, so I have no intentions of going back, even if they do decide to reinstate me at some future point in time. If there are any out there who have been successful in getting their contracts back from PA, maybe you can email me the details on how you did it, and I'll give it a shot. |
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Brenda Hill Five Star Member
Number of posts : 1297 Registration date : 2008-02-16 Location : Southern CA
| Subject: Re: My farewell to the PA board Sun Dec 21, 2008 8:30 pm | |
| Several of us have been successful, Don, although it took quite a few emails to do so. Guess we can consider ourselves lucky, as one woman has tried for nearly three years to get her contract back. Now I've heard that PA is charging about three-hundred dollars to cancel a contract.
BTW, glad to see you in good health, full of your usual vim and vinegar. You had a lot of us worried, you know. |
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