Well I think my initial post on the site pretty much says how the site works, but I would love to hear anyone’s thoughts on how best to go about this idea of a network for litbloggers. The idea of a network is certainly not new and all I’ve done is try to combine the best features I think make it worthwhile for both readers and bloggers.

What you would like to see in a blog network?

I think you’re on the right track; the site is chock-full of interesting blurbs and article links.  I think that if things slow down for example, on the forum, you might throw a poem or short story out--either one well known or by an agreeable member--for critique or discussion.  Yes, I know what this could lead to, but in most professional circles, the members understand the purpose and value and know how to offer concrete suggestions without attacking the author.

Thanks Susan. The forums are a big question for me - how they will work out, but I’m hoping they address that gap where often times people don’t want to comment on a post, but might be more apt to casually discuss something in a forum.

I like your idea - and I wouldn’t even mind, like you say, if member’s put there work up here.

I got this from a reader:

“Do I think the content was too much? For me, yes. But I hedged it because I suspected this is a particular read-heavy readership that you know and can handle it. The difference with the NYT page - I read it - is that you can scan the Times page in a few seconds, it’s all links and headlines.”

Any thoughts?

I think the site is incredible.  It allows me to scan the headlines that would otherwise have been culled by moving back-and-forth from my blogroll.  Give it a bit of time (I see the membership is growing exponentially) and I suspect the devoted readers will make fine use of the forums. 

Good call.  The site is spot on and was needed.

MM

Thanks Mitch - I’d still love to hear from anyone who might find the layout/structure of the (main) site confusing.

The one thing that I think would be convenient is if there was a link to the forum page in general (not the individual topics) in the sidebar about new posts. I know there’s one right at the top of the page, but for some reason, I find myself searching for that and trying to click the topic header.

Excellent idea Gwenda, and I just put that in. Thanks

Hi Bud:

I’d like to request a children’s category.  There’s quite of few of us who blog about kids’ lit out there and it wasn’t one of the interest options when signing up.

Thanks!

Kelly

I listed it as KidLit - I can change it, but it can’t have an apostrophe in the name like Children’s for technical reasons. So let me know if KidLit works or, within the apostrophe constraint, you think it should be something else.

Thanks,
Bud

p.s. My wife and her mother are both something of experts on kid’s literature - I’ve been trying to get them to blog, but no go. p.p.s. And now that I have a toddler at home, I’m amazed at how good this stuff (at least at the stage I’m at) is.

Also, let me know if you have any problem updating your profile. If you’re logged in, just click on “Your Account,” which will take you to a screen with a menu on the left - click on “edit profile” and you will find it there.

Thanks, Bud!  I’ll go try it out right now.
Kelly

I updated your profile for you because I wanted it to show up on our listings - be sure to let your kidlit blogger friends know about it - I honestly didn’t know these sites existed and am glad to have them.

A subject heading for comics/cartoons/graphic novels might also be a nice idea…

I don’t know how far you want to go with categories, but what about genres? Science fiction, fantasy, horror, mystery, romance, etc. There are plenty of blogs that are almost exclusively in one genre or another.

I just added “genre” to the category list (you can update your profiles if you like, if you have any problems with updating, drop me a line).

We’ll let the dust settle for a bit and start to think about how to parse categories better. Right now I gotta get everybody’s site feed working and a million issues.

I may try to use key words in the future too, and I’m assuming if you focus on Sci-fi or another genre that you have that listed in your topics field.