General Chat Forum

that's only in 2 weeks anyway xD

....ehhhh. idk. I don't like making a bunch of posts in a row in some topics because it's not really in the spirit... like the art threads are about everyone sharing art and I hate feeling like I'm taking over the thread. :C
(and then most of the other topics, like the Q&A or the character above you, can't be sustained by only 1 or 2 people....)

I guess... I'm here to talk to people not just show off and post all my own work? If no one else seems interested I lose interest in making the posts as well-- it's actually a peeve of mine when people on forums only come around to post their stuff and never show an interest in anyone else's.

well, I know with art threads there's sometimes the sense of 'but I can't reply to this topic unless I have something to post too!' ...but I've posted in art topics many times just to give feedback xD;; I'd rather have an art topic with discussion but not necessarily new art in every post, especially if the alternative is people only stopping by when they have something to share, dropping the pic in the topic, and moving on. (I'm not picking on anyone here but I've seen people on other forums literally only posting when it's to show off their own work. It always leaves a bad taste in my mouth because the point of forums is to talk; if I just wanted to share and didn't care about the dialogue I'd post it to a gallery site.)

...but I mean if you're busy with real life stuff, that's more important and you should never feel bad or guilty for not posting as much. take it easy and start posting again when you're ready c:

Yeah, I've felt the same as Selini... there are actually lots of times I want to post in those threads and comment on people's art, but then I feel bad that I'm not sharing anything myself. I'd always worry people would get annoyed if I was only commenting. XD; But you're right, I think the threads would be better with more comments and discussion!

I'll try to do the same as Sel too. ^^; Especially once we start preparing for the SS and getting people back in, I really want to encourage people to be active and post.

There's also the writing forum for non-art-focused topics, though it's probably in need of some fresh threads...
And it's stated in the Q&A OP that text-only responses are fine, especially if you're short on time. c: So feel free to post a text-only response if it's looking like you won't have time to draw it out!

(And on that note, minimum requirement for character above is technically a clean sketch, despite the majority going way beyond this. Just in case that's holding people back.)

Maybe I'll post a new writing forum thread later... any topics in particular you'd all like to see covered?

I always thought it would be fun to have another questionnaire-type thread like the artist's one Selini made, but for the writing forum. Maybe focused on stories or OCs.

Though I guess we already have those question threads for world-building and OCs now, which is kinda similar in idea.

(Speaking of which, I'd still love to have more of the art questionnaires in the future, too. n.n I just love answering questions and filling out things like that for some reason.)

Sorry I don't have any other ideas popping to mind at the moment, but honestly I'd be happy with any new writing forum thread!

I prefer the topics that stimulate discussion (or at least interaction) in the writing forum... in my experience questionnaire topics often degrade into people just filling out the answers without really bothering to read other people's answers-- I like the character Q&A topic because it's people asking characters specific questions that they're interested in seeing answered. It's not just an infodump, you know? (and I think the art and having in-character responses helps a lot too)

anyway I'm trying to think of topics to add in the writing forum, and my only ideas are specific aspects of worldbuilding, like magic, or fictional religions, or maps/geography... but then I'm not sure what's most relevant to people's stories, or what they find interesting and would be most into discussing xD;;

Those all sound cool and interesting to me! Though yeah, it is hard to tell what would be relevant to other people's stories.

Another thing I just thought of: I noticed we don't really have a generic thread yet just for people to discuss what stories they're working on, maybe post about their goals and progress, stuff like that. I would find that really interesting, and also maybe encouraging because at the moment I don't really have anyone to talk to about my own progress and stuff. ^^;

Huh... that would be pretty cool! Sharing progress can be a great motivational factor too, just the idea that other people are interested in what you're working on... (It's not something I'd have thought of on my own because I do have a person I talk to about those things, but I can see how it would be helpful to those who don't :> )

There's also things like people's favourite storytelling mediums, prose or comics or whatever else... And peeves or 'guilty pleasure' tropes are always fun subjects too :U

but really, everyone should feel free to start the topics they'd like to see? otherwise I'm stuck guessing at what people would like to discuss, and writing OPs is hard enough as it is xD;;;

Allow me to take the first be step in this new found place of sharing all things story related! XD

Well Duskglass, you are quite good at making OPs! I agree though, everyone should feel welcome to make their own. I'll try to think of another to post soon myself.

Thanks for making that thread Sky, looks cool! I'll post in it soon, yaaay.

Oh, and yeah it would be fun to talk about different tropes, our peeves and "guilty pleasures" and whatnot hehe. I'd definitely enjoy that! Reminds me of the thread we had with favourite story telling elements. I really enjoyed that one.

Selini wrote:

Ooh awesome. =D I still frequent Gaia, so I might try and advertise there if I can.
(Also if anyone is familiar with reddit.com let us know, because we've been wanting to use that as a means to spread the word as well... if possible. o: )

And nooo not at all! You are welcome to post as much as you want, really. ^^

I sorta stalked the thread way back xD
I'm relatively familiar with Reddit though I only use it for trading/giving away villagers from Animal Crossing LOL

If you'd like, I could help out with the Reddit advertising ;D

Yeah funny thing about that topic, I almost went ahead with peeves but I was worried it would be too negative of a note to start the forum on, so I went with favourites instead. xD

Yes thewishbunny, that would be awesome! :DSel and I came so close to using it last year, but we just couldn't figure it out, and didn't want to do it wrong and get into trouble somehow... XD;

I'm so excited, I hope we're able to recruit lots of members and have a really good SS this year.

SO quiet friends! How's life been treating you?

Got any exciting plans coming up?

As for me, my only exciting things I'm looking forward to this year is HTTYD2, and Ape Con XD

Maybe I should go post some things in the gif thread too...

Well, nice to hear from you guys, and I apologize for not posting much. ^^;

I've been going through kind of a rough time recently. My grandma went from perfect health when I saw her over Christmas to suddenly hospitalized last week and declining fast... She's my only living grandparent and the only one I was ever close with so this has been kinda tough.

And I feel so guilty because I can't even get time off work to see her. And... okay I was about to put a whole rant here about my awful work and managers but this probably isn't the place for that. XD; I need a new job, basically.

So on a brighter note, the weather is finally getting nice here after one of the most brutal winters ever. So that's been cheering me up a lot. I hope this summer will be a good one! Despite everything going on, I do feel pretty inspired lately for some reason. Been mostly channeling that into writing, but I'm hoping to find time to start drawing again too. I just haven't really felt like it in a while. x.x

There's a HTTYD2 coming out? XD Interesting. The first one was really cute.

That's cool that you're going to theme parks soon, Selini. I'm jealous, even though I don't like rides, I still like the atmosphere I guess? XD And I still always find fun things to go. My niece wanted to go to Universal so badly when we were in Florida to see the Harry Potter park, but it was just too dang expensive. D: I would have loved to go too. Maybe one day.

Really enjoying looking at everyone's art here as well as random images hehe. ^^

Ooh what theme parks Selini?

And ooh man, I'm so sorry to hear about that Kynale! >n< I hope your Grandma can recover! I have nothing but empathy for you in a time like that. My grandma got diagnosed with alzheimer's I think like back in 2006? And it's like the worse disease ever because there's no getting better from it, she just gets worse and worse every year

I hope you can find that better job so you can spend more time with her maan! UnU

I think this COULD be a place to vent about things like this though, if we wanted! I know there's another site I visit that has a board in the forums that's for venting and rants. And I have to admit, I have posted a bit in there from time to time and it kind of helps, I think XD Maybe we could start up something like that? Also another board thats mean for posting more "positive" vents as well for good things that happened to you you want to share, if that seems too negative eheh.

Thanks Sky... and wow, I'm so sorry to hear about your grandma as well. =( Alzheimer's is such a cruel and heartbreaking disease.

And that's true, maybe we can make a thread for ranting/venting or something like that. I think we used to have one like that way back in the old Gaia guild. It can be nice to have a place to get things off your chest now and then. ^^; I don't have many people to talk to lately about what's been going on so it's sort of bottled up inside. I like the idea of having one for "positive" vents too, to balance things out, that's neat.

Thanks though, I really hope I find a new job soon too. x.x

Oh wow, you won a radio contest!? X'D That's so lucky!