[IRC Event Series] - Setting Author Q&A - planning/interest

[Lmns Crn]

[note=IRC Info!]Server: Otherworlders
(irc.otherworlders.org)

Channel: #thecbg[/note]All right, chaps and chapesses, the time has come to inject some sparkle and pizazz into the IRC channel, and into all our humdrum lives. To that end, I am proposing a fun little series of pre-planned "chat events" for folks to get excited about.

Item one on my agenda is a string of casual Setting Author Q&A chats. For each event, we will pick one setting from our community and make it the topic of conversation in IRC chat for the evening. The setting's author be present to field questions about his or her work, and afterward there will be shuffleboard, swing-dancing, and virgin daiquiris.

These events will be great for long-time followers of each chat's setting, who are always starved for more detailed information, but also for new readers who may not know anything about the setting at all, and need a hand to get acquainted with it. As opposed to reading and reviewing someone's work, which can often involve a great deal of "homework," these chat events should be easily accessible to everybody, regardless of their familiarity with the world in question.

How do I get involved as a chatter?
Easy! Just show up on the appointed evening. We'll have a rough "start time" but I expect things to be fairly casual and to last an hour or two, so feel free to mosey in late if you like. Don't be shy about speaking up and asking questions during the event; that's what it's for. (Even if your question is along the lines of "What's the first thing you'd say to someone who knows nothing about your world?")

How do I get involved as an author?
Easy! Post in this thread to indicate your interest. We'll sort out an order based on everybody's availability, then let the person who's next in line pick a date that works well for them. Polycarp has been volunteered to lead off with the Clockwork Jungle, and I anticipate having another chat every week or two afterward. We'll get around to everybody who wants to be featured.

Go ahead and post with suggestions and expressions of interest. I will edit this post to include a list of interested folks, and as we get more information on who's interested in showing up, we'll settle on a time that satisfies as many of us as possible.

Unconquered Realm[/url]![/b]

Luminous Crayon discourses! ...concerning the Jade Stage!

Llum perorates! ...referencing Divergence!

Ishmayl orates! ...regarding Memory Fading!

Steerpike expounds! ...respecting the Cadaverous Earth!

Polycarp and the Clockwork Jungle[/url] on 2/7/2009

BioHazard and the Dystopian Universe on 2/16/2009[/quote]

[Steerpike]

Sounds like a  really awesome idea.

[Nomadic]

I am game. The info on my setting is a bit of a jumble right now but I could probably look into organizing things so people would have an idea on what they want to ask. Time to read up on the clockwork jungle.

[LordVreeg]

LC, it really is a great idea that can help authors and fans as well.  Nothing wrong when if it rotates around later on, as it should spark some changes and give some people great ideas.

[Lmns Crn]

I am game. The info on my setting is a bit of a jumble right now but I could probably look into organizing things so people would have an idea on what they want to ask.

I think this sort of event is at least as useful for the authors as it is for everyone else. Perhaps the questions you are asked will give you insight about how to improve said organization!

Edit: Vreeg beat me to it!

[Polycarp]

I'm happy to help start things off.  If you're interesting in reading a bit before the chat, the wiki is more complete than it used to be, and has the most up-to-date information.  There are still some things in the thread that haven't been moved over, but some of the information on the first page is a bit outdated.  Really, it's a matter of what works best for you - some people prefer the wiki format, others don't.

It's important to remember, though, that anyone can come chat - you don't have to be an expert on whatever setting we're discussing.  Please don't feel that you can't join just because you don't feel like you've "done enough reading."  We're happy to have you and I'll be happy to answer any question, general or specific.

As for time, I'm very flexible, so I'm going to wait for the input of others before I chime in with what works for me.

[Snargash Moonclaw]

Sounds like an excellent idea. Also a good way to rethink/replace the "Featured Setting" thing. . . I keep meaning to take a good look into various settings, having an external prompt to pick one at a given time would help overcome my mental inertia.

[Matt Larkin (author)]

Ah, LC. Blast you! I have never felt like I needed to follow the IRC thing in addition to the forums and wiki. Now I may be forced to do so. And it's your fault!

[Biohazard]

Hey, I'm usually around - why not jump in on this! Make sure that you all know that if you don't want to download mIRC, XIRC or anything else that will run IRC, www.mibbit.com also works and is pretty damn easy to use (plus there's a BONUS translator for your text as you type!)

[Steerpike]

When is the first one planned?

[Polycarp]

I believe we planned to get some sort of feel for when people are most available.  If you're interested, maybe you could post general times when you are usually available.

[Steerpike]

I'm interested, and available pretty more or less anytime tuesday/thursday/weekends after noon, and evenings on mondays, wednesdays, and fridays.  I'm on pacific time.

[LordVreeg]

I am normally on IRC (when I can be) after 9pm Eastern.  I have practise on Thursdays and I run games some sundeats and everyother mondays...or will again soon.

[Lmns Crn]

I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that late evening EST (GMT -5) is going to do the most good for the most people. This should be a reasonable time for most of our western hemisphere dwellers, though it leaves Europe right out in the cold.

For a more Europe-friendly timeslot, maybe Saturdays would work, around early afternoon EST (which is mid-morning PST and late evening in Europe?)

We can pick and choose between these (and possible other options) based upon who is doing the question-answering and what is convenient for them (which must certainly be affected by where they live.)

Please offer suggestions of better times if none of these work for you. I know we have a few Europeans here at the least, and while it's going to be impossible for everyone to have a convenient time for every chat, I'd rather make sure that no one is locked out of the entire event series for geographical reasons.

[Matt Larkin (author)]

Eh, my schedule is variable. What works one week probably won't  work the next.

Saturday afternoon (EST) will almost never work, though, and many nights I'm not around until after 10pm EST.

Maybe I'll have to miss it.