A "Dinner with Authors" group?

I've been thinking about the problem of author promotion, spam, member reactions and so forth, and I came up with an idea:

Why don't we have a group for authors?

The group would be "safe" for them to promote their books—within reason, but certainly they've be allowed to say "I just wrote this great mystery and here's something about it." They'd also be "steered" toward conversation—the group blurb would give them tips on how to talk to people, not at them. It would be "safe" for them to do it, and members who didn't want to listen would be safe from listening. And we'd have another way to deal with promoting authors—steer them away—and another argument against them, namely that there's a place for that, and X group ain't it.

I think this is an extremely good idea. Do you?

Like this? http://www.librarything.com/groups/writersbragandragbag

2> Do you sell rides in this wonderful time machine, or is it closed to the public?

Sounds cool!

Okay, lets rename and revitalize that group—give it standing status, for example.

I have often seen people sent in that direction,

#5, sounds like a great idea - often seen people directed very politely to that group. Maybe if it was a standing group, they'd find it more easily in the first place.

1, 5: yes.

v

Makes perfect sense to me. After all, we are readers - I don't mind authors being proud about their work and all that. Just not all over the place.

> 3

Sorry, I don't know what you mean.

LOVE this idea! I contacted Sony in December about this very thing. From my email to her:

How I would envision this Group page:

The purpose of this group is to get new authors' books into the hands of interested readers.

This group is open to any author who would like to offer their book in exchange for a review, and to any member who promises to review the book, and post that review here on LT. Be aware that participating in this group will necessitate the member giving to the author their personal contact information. Joining this group indicates your willingness to abide by these rules.

Authors: Please start a new thread for each book title, including the title, genre and author's name. Ie - White Coat Wisdom (oral history) by Steve Busalacchi. In your first post, include whatever further information you prefer, along with the number of copies you have available for reviewers. Please respond within the thread to members who post there, and be sure to post when your copies have all been spoken for.

Members: Please reply only to those offers which truly interest you and for which you are able to complete the review in a timely manner. For the sake of this group, please copy your review within the book's thread here, in addition to posting it on the Work's review page.

Tim - are you still thinking about making a group as discussed in your OP? Still seems like a great idea. Here's another case in point: http://www.librarything.com/topic/79126#1651114

Countrylife, see message 2 -- a group more or less exactly meeting Tim's description (as opposed to yours in 11) has existed for years.

lorax/13 - I do know about the Writers Brag and Rag Bag group and have visited there periodically myself. I am speaking up about a structured group for author/reviewer matching here because of several past conversations about the topic. Just making that group into a standing group will not solve the author/reviewer matching issue.

I'm not trying to step on your toes by speaking up about it. But, if Tim's thoughts are on an author's group, this is a chance to kill two birds with one stone.

14>

Oh, you aren't stepping on my toes -- it's just that your msg 12 was confusing, then, because it was really about a "review group" rather than "a group as discussed in {Tim's} OP", which I didn't understand.

I'm going to ask Sonya to look into this and make the decision.

We're going to promote the existing group to authors as a safe space to promote their books.

I'm going to contact the member who started the group, and see about adding some details, so incoming authors have resources to use the site, like the authors page:
http://www.librarything.com/about_authors.php

It looks like some authors are creating threads to offer up copies of their books. Although that's not the main point of the group, it's an aspect of it. That's fine with me.

Really? How many of you have ever gone to the Author's Brag group, except authors? No one goes there to read the brags, but it must be nice to have a place to send the authors to get rid of them.

Gary, this site is not all about you, nor all about authors. Yes, some of us would prefer to keep self-promotion confined. I'm happy to talk to authors, but you know what? The ones who I'd want to read turn out to be the ones who have interesting things to say, rather than just spending all their time complaining about how unfriendly LT is to authors who want to engage in self-promotion. I have never bought a book from an author who I first encountered in a self-promotional context, and it's not from a lack of encountering self-promotion. I'm sure I'm not the only one.

Anyone got a better name for the group—something that jumps out at people? I'd prefer "author" to "writer" as I find most authors prefer that—it distinguishes people who've written a book from those who think of themselves has "having a book in them."

Authors' Corner

>20

Authors' corner
Authors' Living Room
Tea with the Authors
Authors' Place
Meet the Authors
See What I Had Published
...

Author Zoo?

Ministry of Magic, Department of Magical Law Enforcement.

What are you looking at me like that for? That's where Aurors work... oh, wait...

I'm glad that something's going to happen to get a handle on the situation, but I confess to wishing that the solution would have been to start afresh with more of an 'official' group. Even though it would work member to member without 'official' interference (whichever ending had been chosen), this solution seems somehow less than it could have been.

Will the group's creator be willing to change his description to encompass this new vision in addition to his original concept? Will he make it be structured in such a way that reader-members can easily find author-members to match without having to wade through genres not of interest to them? Will he WANT to be involved with such a thing?

As to names, I like justjim's 'Authors' Corner'. (The zoo sounds like where you keep your trained monkeys and elephants.)

ETA: the more that I read in that Brag group, the more it seems that its original focus is much different than what you describe in the OP, Tim.

But, WHATEVER happens here, I'm just hopeful that it will solve both the author-unwelcomeness-issue and the matching-author-to-reader-issue!

25: *blink* Sonya said she's going to contact the maintainer about adding more info to the description...

AuthorsRus

I haven't heard back from the creator. I agree that the original group seems to be a little bit more for writers to talk amongst themselves. We can always start a new group.

The idea is that we'd promote the group. I could mention the group every time I give someone the yellow LTauthor badge, or when authors email me asking what they can do to promote their book on LT.

Authors and Their Books? What gives that same impression without sounding so dry?

Authors on LT

AuthorThing ? ;-)

28: I'm in favor of starting a new group. I think the purpose (and therefore the existing contents) of the old group are different from what's being proposed.

Authah Tahlk?

28>

That sounds like a good title and a good idea to me. If you promote it when you give out the author badge, would you mind also emphasizing that self-promotion is not welcome elsewhere? It probably wouldn't seem harsh if it came as "Here's a great place to promote your books, but please keep it there."

If you keep the old group, I'd like to see the new one under AnnieMod's suggestion of "Meet the Authors." It might be kind of nice to have a space for authors (the current group), a space for authors and readers to mingle (this new group) and a space for readers (all the other groups - and of course, this includes authors, too, just not in a promotional fashion).

To me, 'Meet the Authors' sounds perhaps too similar to 'Author Chat'.

34> One idea is to merge the two. The goals are very similar. Though I can see the argument against that being that some people might want the chats in a totally completely separate space.

> 35

I see the functions as rather different. The Author Chat group is a standing group, with scheduled discussion of a specific book with the author.

As I understand it, the proposed group would be informal, un-(but, it is hoped, not dis-)organized. Any author could post, at any time. They wouldn't be limited to discussing Book X, nor would their interlocutors.

(P.S. I still don't get your reference in your Message #3. Care to explain?)

I'll vote for LT starting a new standing author group from scratch. For whatever reasons the one mentioned upthread didn't take off. The new one might not either but a fresh start won't hurt anything. Simple name like Author's Corner should work. Too cutsey a name isn't good for anyone.

36> It was just a lame joke playing on Tim proposing a group and you pointing out one that was created in the past before he ever even thought of it! Just felt like kind of a time travel thing. :D

ETA:
37> To me, a name like "Author's corner" says "If you're not an author, you probably won't find anything of interest here to you." Which I don't think is really the thrust of this new thing.

How about "Author Soapbox"

If the creator of the other group hasn't gotten back, I think a new group is a better idea. I'm not that comfortable with the idea that members' groups could get seized and changed for official use (LT eminent domain?). The new group could also link to the Brag and Rag Bag as another place for authors and writers to go and to promote (i.e. suggesting the appropriate places for promotion and emphasizing that other places are inappropriate).

In partial answer to Gary, while I can't see myself visiting this group very much because of my book types, I wouldn't have any opposition to it being a place (like Brag and Rag Bag) where authors can offer copies of books for review, and where other members interested in getting and reviewing some free books could be encouraged to go. It seems there are quite a few members interested in getting free books from authors. Also, I don't think that would take away from ER or MG, but could simply provide another alternative for those on the sending and receiving end either in addition to MG or in cases where MG is not satisfactory.
(edited for clarity)

Read New Authors?

41>

No, that's too neutral. The name needs to indicate that it's primarily intended as a way for authors to reach readers; yours could equally well just be readers talking about new or new-to-them authors. The author-centered nature needs to be front and center. (I hope that the description of the new group would indicate both that it is a safe space for authors to promote their books, so that there aren't flags to create ill-will, and that such promotion should stay confined to the group.)

I like Author's Corner. Maybe Authors on LibraryThing, or LibraryThing for Authors, or AuthorThing, though those are less catchy.

I don't think "Author's Corner" forecloses the possibility non-authors will come. If it's a standing group, and the description says something about other members making connections with authors and finding out about their work, that will be welcoming for others. (Even more so if it hints there might be ways of getting free books sometimes, but perhaps that's going too far.)

The Perfect Match - Authors, Books and Reviewers
Let's Make a Match
What's Your Genre? - Match yourself to a new book
Author Promo - Member Reviewer match-up
Author Promo Zone
Just for Authors - and their reviewers!

Agreed with rsterling. I liked 'Authors' Corner' from the 'git-go'.

>32 I've also started including a link to the About Authors page:
http://www.librarything.com/about_authors.php

I advise authors to check it out, since LT is not primarily a promotional tool for them. Only I say it a bit nicer.

I agree about starting a new group. The existing group can continue doing what they're doing, and we can link to them as a resource. I never heard back from the creator, and I don't want to use my LT eminent domain card.

'Authors on LibraryThing' is my favorite so far, since it doesn't indicate that it's just for authors.

Authors on LibraryThing probably has the smallest possibility of getting a cease and desist letter from anyone.

Perhaps the TOS and/or About Authors pages could get modified slightly - something like:

Do not post messages in Talk advertising your book except in designated groups such as ...

>47 HA.

>48 Fair enough. I think pointing to the About Authors page will help define that better, too. All author points can lead to the About Authors page.

I also like Authors on Library Thing. It conveys a certain respectable gravitas ;) Author's Corner could be understood as being relegated to a corner of LT.

v

"Authors on Library Thing" - I like it, too.

When I suggested it, I was thinking of Authors' Corner as more like Speakers' Corner in Hyde park in London (and other similar spots) where a speaker (author) jumps on a box and starts talking and a bunch of the general public (LT users) gathers around to listen, question, lambast, praise etc etc.

Although if they act like #18, sticking them in the corner is fine as well.

Authors' Café?

Well, I imagine they'll be plenty of whine...

#52 - Nobody puts Author in a corner.

Never mind.

I like the name "Authors' Corner." Another possibility would be "Authors and Readers" -- emphasizing that it's not just for authors, but a place for making a connection between the two.

Author's Corner conveys to me the image of a cozy place where authors (and others) can chat.

To me, "Authors' Corner" means "authors only".

lilithcat, that may be part of its success!

For someone seeing it for the first time they may think "Ooh authors, I wonder what they talk about. I'll just sneakily click and have a look. Wow, it's not just for authors, I can join in!"

> 59

I'm not so sure.

I rarely visit the Writers Brag etc. group for just that reason. I'd far rather have the group name indicate that the group is welcoming to all, assuming that that is, in fact, the intention.

60> Ditto. Authors' Corner seems fairly redundant with the Writer's Brag group. In fact, if you picked 100 random users and asked them:

"Which group do you think is a group meant for authors to to talk with other authors: Authors' Corner or Writer's Brag and Rag Bag?"

My money is on them picking the former. By a large margin.

What about "(The) Author Connection" or "Connecting With Authors"? If you want a place for authors and readers to connect, why not say so in the title?

Though I'm also in favor of Authors on LibrayThing, Authors' Corner, and Authors and Readers.

I like Author Connection, as well as the previously mentioned Meet the Authors. Both of these are instantly distinguishable from the pre-existing group (which even though it has a funny name, is incredibly opaque in terms of describing the group - I can only imagine what non-native English speakers think of it). No matter what you named it, everyone in this thread would be able to find it. I'm trying to think more along the lines of discoverability for the rest of the userbase.

>I can only imagine what non-native English speakers think of it

I needed a minute or two to accept that this is not just some jumble-mumble and the description to figure out what the group is about... :)

I like Author Connection and Meet the Authors as well.

Yes! Author Connection.

I'm an author and I think this is a great idea. We authors are very sensitive, too, about coming across as if the only reason we are in a group is to talk about our books, but on the other hand, you have no idea how much we crave being able to talk to readers!!!

Caroline Leavitt

We authors are very sensitive, too, about coming across as if the only reason we are in a group is to talk about our books...

Unfortunately, Caroline, this is not the case with many authors.

68: Which makes those of us who are more perceptive all the more cautious (and frustrated).

# 73

When will it start? I'm also wondering how it will differ from the (Writer/Reader) group that already exists?

74> I assume you mean this group. I would think the main difference is no where in that one does it say advertising/self-promotion is ok.

Both the Writer-readers group and the Brag group seem to have a lot to do with writer to writer discussion - technique, character talk, how to market, etc. Whereas the proposed group here is to 'connect' with potential readers (I think).

# 75

Yes, this group. It may not say specifically, but it is full of self-promotions. Granted, it is low level, and I find that far more acceptable than posting self-promotion blurbs.

Even though I am an author, I do not advocate blatant self-promotions in the threads. It gets boring and annoying, and it is more beneficial to all concerned to have an ongoing conversation between authors and readers.

76>

I think so, given that "connect" is read as a euphemism for "promote themselves to".

#77 -- My impression is that the Writer-Readers group is intended for authors to chat amongst themselves (about their craft, etc.), whereas the purpose of this new group would be to have a place where authors could engage in conversation with readers and potential readers. (How successful this will be in practice remains to be seen, of course.)

ETA: I seem to have just echoed post #76, which I missed, somehow. Sorry about that.

79>

I agree with you about the difference between this new group and the Writer-readers group, but I think that it's sad that the new group is being perceived as "a place where authors could engage in conversation with readers"; maybe I'm reading it too literally, but it seems like you and others who describe it thus think authors aren't welcome anywhere else!

As I see it, authors talking about things that aren't their books are always welcome anywhere. Authors talking about their books when it's relevant to the conversation, and the tone is informative rather than marketing, also welcome. Authors jumping in to unrelated threads, or starting new ones, just to talk about their new books? That's the case for the new group. I guess it's that if the conversations are initiated by the authors, for the sole purpose of talking about their books, then the authors either need to be very, very careful or take it to this group -- but if someone's asking for recommendations for a particular type of book, and the author happens to see the request, I don't think anyone would say a polite mention of their own works was out of line.

Spammy types are going to ruin whatever you do wherever you do it, no matter what you do. I just think the whole idea is fruitless because it's not as if the spammy ones are going to stop posting elsewhere. Sorry to be a downer, but who really reads my posts anyway, come to think of it.

My impression is that the Writer-Readers group is intended for authors to chat amongst themselves...

Thus the name of the group

81>

Some people feel better about flagging the spammers if they can redirect them to an appropriate place; the downside of the "assume good faith from newbies" philosophy of LT is that many people are unwilling to call out even blatant violations of the TOS. This might help them assuage their consciences.

#80 -- Of course authors are welcome to participate site-wide. I guess I didn't make it clear that I was aware of that; I know of several authors who do add a great deal to the conversation on various groups, and have discovered a couple of great books by those authors. I should have said, "where authors could engage in conversation about their books with readers and potential readers."

Edited for clarity

I'm coming into this thread late...

--> 18

"How many of you have ever gone to the Author's Brag group, except authors? No one goes there to read the brags, but it must be nice to have a place to send the authors to get rid of them.

I so totally agree!

That group is "A place for writers to talk about their own work" per its own group description. How many members go there? I know I never do. Do I want to talk to authors? Of course? Am I going to go to an *authors group* to do so? Probably never.

Whenever I see authors try to approach members on groups, they either get flagged away for spam or have to tiptoe lightly around the fact that they have even published a book that currently for sale. Come on, people! Not all authors are great writers, but, unless we talk to them and make them feel at home here, they are going to be leaving LT in droves to seek more hospitable and appreciative websites.

*end of rant*

--> 46

'Authors on LibraryThing' is my favorite so far, since it doesn't indicate that it's just for authors.

How does that seem enticing to people other than authors? What about "Meet LT Authors" or a title that suggests it *wants* to include as members people who are not authors.

--> 56

Authors and Readers

That would work.

>85 Madeline, Sonya put up some titles for vote starting at #70 above...what about "Author Connection" as a standing group's title?

Personally, I'd vote for "AuthorThing" given the chance, but it seemed not to please the populace. And I am convinced that authors *should* be able to use LT to make passionate, committed readers aware of their work. Given that many people on LT don't want anyone telling them anything ever, though, a designated group sounds like the safest course.

I'm already tired of everything (no pun intended) having a "Thing" name here on LibraryThing. It's getting old already.

Personally, I'd like to see a group name that focuses more on the fact that it connects members to authors. "Author Connection" might be misinterpreted as author to author connections.

On the 75 Books Challenge for 2010, for example, there's a thread called "The Kitchen". It's known as an informal place for all members of that group to meet. I'd like to see something along that line. Tim's original idea had that in mind. Just come up with a better name. Even something like "Hang Out with LT Authors" or "The Member-Author Corral' gives the idea that members and authors are in this together. Those are weird names, I know, but you get the hang of what I'm trying to say. The name of the group will probably will be a deciding factor in who is willing to give it a try.

> 46

'Authors on LibraryThing' is my favorite so far, since it doesn't indicate that it's just for authors.

It certainly implies it. It says to me, "this is a group for authors", not "this is a group for authors and non-authors".

Groups also come with descriptions, the first lines of which are visible on the list of groups. So maybe we don't need to agonize too much over the possible misunderstandings of the title, and just make sure the 1st sentence of the description says something like "a group for authors on Library Thing to connect with readers and other authors."

Some people don't go past the title listing (like me, for instance).

ETA: Would you read a newspaper article of a headline that has no interest to you? I wouldn't.

Calling All Authors
Author Tell-All
Author Gossip
Read What Authors Are Saying
Direct Author Discussion
Author Hotline

I think *Thing should be limited to systems and not groups of people. HelpThing, WikiThing, LibraryThing. Yes, LibraryThing is a superset that includes groups of people, but really LibraryThing itself is a piece of software. A group isn't really a piece of software.

Though I am a little surprised that the overall group area of the software escaped being called GroupThing or TalkThing. ;)

>91 I looove "Author Hotline"! And a first line: "Need to discover a hot new talent NOW? This group's for you!"

>89 maybe we don't need to agonize too much over the possible misunderstandings of the title
Where's the fun in that? You want efficiency, or something? Bah. Let's discuss and debate until the thread gets to, oh, 300 posts!

I'm agonizing. My favorite had been "Author connection", but it too suffers from the fact that it could be interpreted as a place for authors to connect with each other (and maybe date).

I was hoping the polls would help get us a name, so I could start the group and we could be off. Part of me wants to just take Author Connection because it was the popular vote. The other part of me wants to try harder for something that is clearly for authors and readers? (And then, of course, give a great description of the group.)

Meet the Authors does this, although it does sound a bit like Author Chat, and was voted down quite handily.

>87 "Hang Out with LT Authors" says so much -- that authors, on LT, will be there, and it's for those who want to go interact with them. What are some similes to "hang out", that are a bit more "Masterpiece Theater"?

Readers and Authors in a Sunny Glen?

94> "Connect"

Well, it's no Masterpiece Theater. But "Connect with LT Authors" seems like it fits a lot of the criteria without the possible confusion of "Author Connection".

What are some similes to "hang out", that are a bit more "Masterpiece Theater"?

Hobnob? ;)

"Connect with LT Authors" seems like it fits a lot of the criteria without the possible confusion of "Author Connection".

Why can't it be something like "Author-Reader Connection"? That wouldn't be easily confused.

What about "Member/Author Lounge"

I'd go to "Hang out with LT Authors" or "Member-Author Lounge". I'd probably skip "Author-Reader Connection". It sounds like a stuffy place. But that's just me. :)

The Authors' Lounge looks like a pretty nice place!

http://www.mandarinoriental.com/bangkok/Images/din_authors1_pop.jpg

Hey! I'd go there!!

Hobnob with Authors sounds AWESOME, because it sounds of both Masterpiece Theater and Monsterpiece Theater.

Everything's either too stuffy, or too silly, or has hyphens in it. This is like shopping for a swimsuit.

Connect with Authors (I took out the LT, since it's a bit redundant) seems to indicate that it's for anyone who wants to connect with authors, more than just for authors to connect.

Anyone take great pains with either of those?

I think "Hobnob with Authors" solves your problem. Not stuffy-sounding, not hyphenated, and not confusing except to the people who'll need to look up "hobnob"--a tiny minority here on LT.

"Connect with Authors" sounds to me like a place with links to author websites. I'd never even peek into it.

It **will** be a standing group, right?

n.b. in the UK a hobnob is this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HobNob

Just fyi ;)

v

Authors and cookies/biscuits? Count me in!

Naturally one can't have a place for chatting up authors that does not also provide munchables. :)

This sounds like a great idea!

I'm voting for Hobnob with Authors.

I'm just wondering what LT actions will be on this?

I like christiguc/97's "Author-Reader Connection" or brightcopy/95's "Connect with LT Authors" (or even "Connect with Authors").

Since sonya suggested taking out the "LT", I actually think "Connect with the Authors" flows a bit better.

I like "Connect with Authors". It doesn't sound like it is just for authors to talk to each other.

Personally, I lean towards "hobnob." I like the idea of sitting back w/ a cuppa and hobnobbing with readers. It sounds so genteel. "Connect" sounds just a little like work, as if I will then owe some sort of personal connection.

Or maybe I'm just tired this morning. I shall have more coffee. Carry on.

I like "hobnob" for the fun aspect, but I'm a little leery of yet another "opaque" group name. The Brag Rag Bag Slag Tag Whatchamagag already fills that role pretty nicely. I wonder if "hobnob" isn't a word that most likely to be recognized and preferred by a bunch of anglophiles. And I say that as an anglophile.

My thought was that "hobnob" has a kind of snobbish ring to it, and 'regular Joe' might not feel welcome there. As in - 'That group must be for folks who wear silk, sip brandy and read high literature. I better not open that door since I wear jeans, buy wine in a box and read about vampires...'

113> Having seen the covers of a lot of the books on the site (which implies people have them in their libraries), I think that actually might be a valid concern...

I would think that anyone who has seen "The Wizard of Oz" movie would recognize the reference to "hobnobbing with my fellow wizards."

115> Wait, are you making a point for "hobnob" or against it? I can't tell. ;)

I love Hobnob with Authors- much better than Connect with Authors. "Hobnob" sounds like we'll be rubbing shoulders with authors, having in-depth discussions over tea or martinis. "Connect" sounds like we'll be typing back and forth with authors, which though more accurate is also much more sterile.

I also love McVitie's chocolate covered HobNobs!

This will be a standing group.

OK, I'm taking the reins on the names, because I really want to get the group up and running!

118: Glad to hear you're taking action - otherwise we could hobnob about names forever :)

Ta da:

http://www.librarything.com/groups/hobnobwithauthors

OK, I basically threw all the main points from this conversation over there. Let's use this thread to talk about what else we should include in the group description.

I'd like to keep it short, so if possible lets take as much supplemental information for authors, and add it to the author section of the wiki I threw together. It needs some help.

ALSO! We need a picture. Anyone have an image of a reader and an author sharing cookies/biscuits?

Yay! Hobnob with Authors, it is!! :)

Phew! I'm relieved that finally there is a safe place for authors to promote their books in front of LT members rather than just in front of each other.

Thanks, Sonya, for working on this and pushing it through.

Woo hoo! I feel like Homer Simpson in a donut bakery!

Thank you, Sonya, for this, and may I suggest the Mary Cassatt painting of two women sitting behind a fully set tea service, clearly intending to hobnob with the viewer? http://www.museumsyndicate.com/item.php?item=15013

Will you do a "State of the Thing" piece announcing the group? Wow! This is exciting!

120: "Anyone have an image of a reader and an author sharing cookies/biscuits?" No, but it could be arranged. I'm an author, and I have some actual hobnobs, and a camera... ;-)

eta: Rats! None of my readers are in the office today...

123> No way, it should definitely be this:



Alas, copyright.

ETA:
124> Beat me to it!

Maybe this is a silly concern, but have you thought about having less spacing in the group description? It seems like some things are double-space, and spaces between bullet points aren't really necessary.

126> Agreed.

Yeah, I tried to be all pious with my unordered list, but the Talk CSS apparently like a LOT of space.

I'll post it in New Features, and definitely in SOTT.

I like the Cassatt painting, although I'd be willing to change it for a photo of a LT author and LT member, eating hobnobs.

Authors are encouraged to dialog with members . . .

Pretty please, could we say "to talk with" or "to converse with" or "to chat with"?

I like the Cassatt painting, although I'd be willing to change it for a photo of a LT author and LT member, eating hobnobs.

C'mon, GaryBabb, here's your chance to get some unique publicity! :D

>129 Sure. I was going for "back-and-forth communication", and got a little strung up.

Is this going to go in Standing Groups? Right now it's kind of hard to find.

# 130 laughing... eating hobnobs? Hummm or should I say Yummm

# 131
Thanks, sonyagreen for getting the site up and running. It looks good, but it's a little hard to find.

Is it worth contacting all of the LT authors and letting them know the new group exists? I don't know how many would normally visit the groups tab to find out.

Will the LT authors have a little badge icon thingy on their posts?

Yes, please DO put that author icon on their posts. Lets start this thing off right!

Yes, make it an upper-case 'A', make it red, no, scarlet.

Wait...

Hobnob is now a Community Project group. The difference between a community project group and a standing group is you can join it.

>134 Is it worth contacting all of the LT authors and letting them know the new group exists?
In an ironic switch, I'd be worried about spamming them! I like the idea of letting them know, since it's a new concept on LT and it impacts them directly -- let me think about it.

so Sonya, when are you going to blog about this group so that the larger community is aware of it? Not that we aren't having fun already...

(eta I don't see it in community projects yet)

>139 Oh -- I forgot to mention it's going to need a few hours to incubate before it shows up on Groups.

Right -- blog. It's on my to-do list for tomorrow.

I have to say, I'm really not a fan of seeing the (Author) notification everywhere. It's one thing in a place like Hobnob with Authors where it's actually relevant, but forcing a distinction between authors and readers in other groups seems unproductive and annoying. I thought the general idea was that we were all booklovers together, and that the fact that some had written books themselves was mostly secondary.

Hold up a second, will ya? We haven't posted about it yet. Then we can debate about it.

141/142> New announcement thread for debate

I agree with _Zoe_. It makes me feel like a second-class citizen, or that the only reason authors have anything interesting to say is because they're authors, and I resent it.

Go post on that thread or I'll give you a special second-class citizen badge!

I already did; #144 was posted simultaneously with #143.

:)

Seriously, I read that thread (with zero responses at the time) before deciding to post here. Both were supposed to be about the author group, not the author link. This one at least had had previous discussion of the author link. I also thought it was better to post negative comments about a related feature in an old thread, rather than contaminating the new one with side discussion.

Apparently I was wrong. But don't worry, I've learned my lesson. I'll post plenty of negative comments about vaguely-related features in all your new threads from now on.

Heh. Sonya said she'd post a new-features for the link. I didn't realize she hadn't.

It's true. I got caught up with lunch and reading about how Apple is organizing the books section of the iPad. I didn't realize Tim had made it live, and the debate had begun.

Should something about this group be added to the Dos and Don'ts for Authors page?
http://www.librarything.com/about_authors.php

I had written up new info, and then never pushed it. Thanks for the note. It now includes Hobnob.

Sonya, I just wanted to say that so far I've been very pleasantly surprised by the Hobnob group. Given the motivation and description, I was expecting it to be nothing but authors promoting their own works, and to be someplace I'd never want to go, but at least so far it has actual discussion -- the sort of thing that I'd expect would be welcome anywhere. This may still change as authors who spam other groups get redirected there, but hopefully a core of intelligent discussion will be able to persist.

I'm pleased you think it's working. I wonder if it's a behavioral thing -- because there was no place to focus their promotion, it showed up in spammy ways.

It's probably a lot easier to know how to interact when you can see how other authors are doing so.

I'd like to think that calling it "hobnob" will help with the intelligence!

RE 138 - I thought the group was going to be a Community Project group not a Standing Group? Right now, it seems to be the latter, and some people are asking why they can no longer join, but only watch:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/87229

It's still not showing up on the main groups page, BTW, in either category.

I just responded there -- there's a bug, that's not letting people join.

You're right about it not showing on the groups page -- I'll fix it.

156 - Thanks on both counts!