Literary events

Looking for a specialist club or group, tell us here.
User avatar
seahermit
Posts: 1107
Joined: Sat Aug 26, 2017 10:53 pm

Re: Literary events

Postby seahermit » Sat Jan 20, 2018 5:08 pm

I meant to pick this up again but got diverted by technology - bought a new Doro mobile which is actually better than my little Nokia keypad phone. Does basic internet and email, very handy if I go away and don't want to carry my expensive Samsung!

Anyway, briefly, blogging sites take different forms and of course they can be quite personal and diary-like. But I had in mind something like Blogster.com (although that one is US biased) which is a sort of hybrid of forum/blogs. I was for a while posting short pieces of writing, poems etc. on there and people post thoughts, articles, whatever. The very attractive home page shows the photos and headlines of recent blogs/posts and the whole thing is quite interesting to browse through. There are numerous similar sites which are more specifically for writers etc.

Something similar could possibly be a section within the 1066 site (a sort of expanded forum) or, if I get time later, I just might start something new myself for Hastings.

Not on my own! It would need a few keen people and also an able guy to manage the technical side. But it could be a good outlet for local writers, philosophers, anybody to express themselves, post items or just natter away ..

User avatar
Richard
Posts: 3347
Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2014 3:36 pm

Re: Literary events

Postby Richard » Sat Jan 20, 2018 10:17 pm

Hi MJ,

I think it is a matter of what can be done at its most basic and simple to start with, the link you gave, Blogster.com looks pretty scary to me but the following looks closer to home:

https://www.writing.ie/guest-blogs/

Perhaps if we had a few main areas of subject matter we could take it from there?

OK so I don't know how it would work or whether Geoff could fit a site within the Forum or the pros and cons of opening the website to a seperate realm of ideas and works of a creative nature.

User avatar
seahermit
Posts: 1107
Joined: Sat Aug 26, 2017 10:53 pm

Re: Literary events

Postby seahermit » Sun Jan 21, 2018 11:18 pm

Writing.ie seems to be specifically a writers' site for Ireland, there are several well-known writers' sites for the UK as a whole which do a similar service for writing enthusiasts.

I had in mind something broader - I haven't thought it through yet, but some people like to post items or discuss topics at length without wanting necessarily to become famous or get published!

Blogster is probably not the best example, become rather dominated by political stuff, but I just liked the layout and thought it attracted "passers-by" rather well. I do think that an opportunity is being missed locally here - the 1066 forum is excellent and interesting but it is somewhat limited with quite brief posts, also tucked away in the corner of the home page and could do with being more prominent maybe. I think there should be in Hastings much more of a platform for people to express themselves, air their views, argue about local issues. Not just requests for recommendations for a good plumber etc.!

I'll think more on this. Also try to find some sites along the lines of what I have in mind.

User avatar
Richard
Posts: 3347
Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2014 3:36 pm

Re: Literary events

Postby Richard » Mon Jan 22, 2018 9:50 am

MJ, I suppose there is no harm in asking Geoff if he can set up a topic where a calendar of literary events, etcetera, could be recorded and added to, plus a section for personal writings, Diaries, or musings.
Of course this may cost him money as well as time and that would be something to consider.
Perhaps Geoff could advertise a site service whereby printed posters could be ordered to disseminate notices about forthcoming events.
There is a new Print Shop in George Street that shows there is some demand for such services.

People can air their views, argue about local issues, etcetera already on here but few seem to be bothered, too laid back and all that!

User avatar
Richard
Posts: 3347
Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2014 3:36 pm

Re: Literary events

Postby Richard » Thu Jan 25, 2018 7:13 pm

I suppose this 'request' should be placed under Website Updates and Suggestions.

Can it be done, a Blog for Writers, Poets and Calendar of Literary Events.
A place for experimental creativity of a written form and general musings?
There must be plenty of talent in Hastings but how to cater for it in a simple Topic?

User avatar
seahermit
Posts: 1107
Joined: Sat Aug 26, 2017 10:53 pm

Re: Literary events

Postby seahermit » Fri Jan 26, 2018 1:52 pm

Sorry, having come up with this "great" idea I have been remiss about pursuing it - the realities of life taking up my time! Just now I wouldn't make a reliable and consistent blogger ..

Several people beside yourself do post interesting musings at times e.g. the Bayeux Tapestry stuff and I am wondering if that aspect could in some way be expanded and made a more prominent part of the forum. I don't know how much extra work would be involved beyond initial tweaks to the forum layout etc. or whether my ideas are practicable - I need to think it out more and, if I can come up with some concrete suggestions, I will certainly take it further in the Website section. There would only be some point in doing this if the forum ended up appealing to a broader range (and age group?) of contributors. Presumably some promotion/adverting around would be needed to catch the attention of more Hastings residents, maybe also some advertising revenue to help things along? (I know nothing about these practicalities!).

But I would like to post some of my writings (maybe some new material too if there was the incentive of a good platform and the possibility that someone out there was actually reading it!). And I am sure there would be atleast some Hastings people who would do likewise if they felt that the forum was offering a serious platform for them to showcase writing/poems/whatever .. or maybe just chat or talk about literature.

Again I don't know whether the Administrator would want to shape the forum in this direction - these are just ideas and wishes at the moment and of course many people in Hastings would have no interest in posting much beyond "Where do I find a good plumber?" ..!

I'll return to this - at present I am trying to make a few changes and "spring-cleaning" my life (the resolve doesn't usually last more than a few days after the euphoria of New Year's Eve but we'll see this time ..). I did in fact have a terrific start to the new year - a wild night of Celtic and other music at the Stag and everyone hugging strangers. One reason I love Hastings, the music scene.

User avatar
Richard
Posts: 3347
Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2014 3:36 pm

Re: Literary events

Postby Richard » Fri Jan 26, 2018 7:47 pm

I supose the ancient Greeks only wrote Plays and Poems, theorised on various philosophic meanings and performed Drama's in order to get some form of attention and feedback via a platform of public display.
Musicians also seem to derive great pleasure from an audience.
Many 'Artists' working through different media are driven by similar creative forces, and they too enjoy adulation and attention.
This seems fairly healthy and such interaction has to be welcomed, although financial reward has to be reckoned with too, and seems to be very important in this ever-commercial world.
Would Shakespeare have performed his written Plays just for the fun of it, did he not really see an audience as a financial opportunity, always at the forefront of his thoughts?

Farmers don't grow crops or rear sheep just for the pleasure it gives to them.
To what extent we who are are 'creative' and seek rewards, are driven first and foremost by either a material or an intellectual outlet, remains to be seen.

User avatar
Richard
Posts: 3347
Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2014 3:36 pm

Re: Literary events

Postby Richard » Sat Jan 27, 2018 10:48 pm

Further to that, I think that playwrights, poets, writers and musicians traditionally aimed to reach out to 'speak' to an audience but always relied on sponsors from Royalty to the Public purse, and not always 'secular' by any means.
Whereas 'Artists' working through a visual medium were originally only hired and put to work in the strict religious tradition of disseminating Biblical scenes and Parables, example, the works of 'Bruegel the Elder' and any number of Italian 'Artists' from Michelangelo to Titian who were happy to take the money from religious patronage.
Later on, wealthy land-owners (gentry) could commission works of art (paintings) to both suit and glorify their own particular standing in society.
When patronage clearly dictated both the subject matter and the fame and fortune of the 'Art' and 'Artist' in question, then of course, we see strong parallels, whatever the medium of expression.
Now that all such 'Art' forms, from music to painting are basically free to chart their own course we see further diversity and experimentation that knows no bounds.

User avatar
Richard
Posts: 3347
Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2014 3:36 pm

Re: Literary events

Postby Richard » Mon Jan 29, 2018 1:14 pm

There is a site called 'The Literary Shed' with some interesting entries but apart from that the 'Hastings Online Times' has a broad spectrum of events:

http://www.theliteraryshed.co.uk/

http://hastingsonlinetimes.co.uk/?s=literature

User avatar
seahermit
Posts: 1107
Joined: Sat Aug 26, 2017 10:53 pm

Re: Literary events

Postby seahermit » Tue Jan 30, 2018 8:22 pm

Yes, the Hastings Online Times is quite good with varied sections. The Literature one is interesting and I have posted a few items on there at times, but it still has the same problem - it's buried away and only those who know about it would go hunting for it. Something more prominent and much more of a community forum structure would probably be more appealing, induce more participants into posting short items, comments etc.

Still sticking with this train of thought for now - maybe something will come of it later, maybe not! As I said before, I'm really surprised that nobody has so far tried to create some kind of community/literary magazine to attract contributions from all the scribblers in Hastings, or just people who like talking about books and literature.


Return to “Hobbies, Leisure and Sports”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 5 guests