Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

michael just posted this on another thread:

PS- only 4 posts on DD today? Is that some kind of record?

I think it probably is.

I'm not sure why, we've talked about this elsewhere - I'm sure a lot of it has to do with the changes that happened on Gaia, many people finding it difficult to get used to the new format, and  - what, well some of us are 'in the desert' - having a rough time in the old internal landscape. I'm one of them, and perhaps this is a big reason why it's slow.

Oh. Also. I think a BIG reason is that Diving Deeper (and any other 'request in group) is no longer on any of the 'activity' feeds - i.e. the 'most active' etc groups listings on the 'groups' pages. We used to get a lot of people coming in from those. Apparently we are to be put back, but until then no new person can find us unless they know about us or do a search for 'writing'.

But? what's happening for everyone else? just bored, other things to do? Tired of freefalling? need something else, some other kind of encouragement?

lets talk.

S.

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

Sandra,

I really want to be here, but without everyone else participating that used to be here, it feels a little like a graveyard. It's not just on Diving Deeper. There are no responses on blogs, nobody leaving notes on homepages. It's sad.

Quite a few people got alienated here and started spending more time elsewhere. I would say that the format changes had quite a bit to do with it, but also people didn't feel so free to express their true feelings safely anymore.

To me, many of the activities on the other social networking sites don't compare to the many things you can do on Gaia, but without the depth of interaction there, people are also not getting hurt or offended as often.

So, I think the slowness here on Diving Deeper is just a byproduct of what's going on  on Gaia in general. That's my honest, Sagittariusly straightforward take on the whole thing. It might be something different for others.

xo
Andrea

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

but also people didn't feel so free to express their true feelings safely anymore.

Could you elaborate andrea?

Peace
michael

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

Michael,

It was nothing stemming from Diving Deeper at all. It just seems that people with certain belief systems are more accepted around the whole Gaia website than people with other belief systems.

To be perfectly honest, I come here mostly to be on Diving Deeper, so I never experienced much of that kind of thing, but others were put down for thinking a certain way. So, they left Gaia. Some came back and some were just done with it.

There were high schoolish things going on - people pretended to be friends but were talking behind the backs of others. Stuff like that. As you can see from the lack of activity here, that type of behavior can really do a social networking site damage.

Truly, I miss the active interaction that used to go on here.

xo
Andrea

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

I was thinking about this today and the 'focus on what works' suggestion for commenting. I know the more energy I put in here, by commenting in particular, the more the place seems to flourish. Same with posting, in particular responses to assignments.  And by 'the place' I do mean DD in particular. It would be the same for the rest of Gaia of course, but this is where my energy is. And, I've seen so often how these things go in waves - sometimes it's hugely busy and other times not, and no discernible reason.

I get email digests for the Integral Pod too, and I've noticed that the activity there often follows our activity. I should check in there and see what there take is. But what I think this means is that low activity has more to do with Gaia itself, OR a general feeling going on (the financial situation for example, or something 'more' than that), and maybe it's both.

Anyway, my suggestion is perhaps for us (me?) to spend less energy wondering why, and more on 'focusing on what works' :-)

But, I'm all ears if there are any specific things to do with DD that people consider could do with an upgrade or whatever.

xo

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

Sandra,

Have you read this thread?

http://groups.gaia.com/living_metaphysics/conversations/view/421357#421357

It has nothing to do with what is going on here on DD, but on Gaia, yes. The slowness here is just a byproduct. Maybe it will pass, or cycle, but I am not so sure this time. I think it is a larger transition, and new energy will revive Gaia. Possibly, a return of what used to be won't really happen.

Andrea

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

hehehe Andrea, we were posting at the same time ;-)
xo

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

well.. I have no clue. I personally am finding myself more energized these past couple of days - which has alot to do with the change in the weather (except now it is snowing again) after a four-month stint of feeling very “off” in many aspects of myself and my life. Maybe it does have to do more with the chaotic energy around lately. I was reading on another site about how the moon is travelling through Virgo, which is making everyone serious and sad (not that I know much at all about astrology, I just find it interesting). I also came across in another group on Gaia, a thread along the same lines as what we are discussing here ( you can read it here ) I think that it is a much bigger phenomenon than just DD.. it's wider and far reaching. A dynamic shift perhaps, or just general malaise, I have no idea which.

I think my focus here has always been on writing, and supporting as much as I could, others who are posting. I did struggle alot to do that over the past few months, but in my case, it wasn't because of the changes in Gaia or that my attention is being drawn to other sites. It was just a down period for me on a very personal level.

So what to do? I hope really to 'lead by example' and write/ post responses to the new assignments. For me that is the core of what I like to do here on DD, and I am always willing to encourage others to do the assignments, respond/ comment on their responses… I suppose I could post more on other boards too, be better organized, write more, drink more. Ok, maybe forget the last one - should write that out loud.

*building a snowman* Can't tell you how much I am looking forward though to spring flowers and warm weather. That is the biggest boost coming for me.

xo big hugs to everyone

Leigh-Anne

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

Well, in any event, it's busier here today :)

Maybe if we just stick with it - business as usual - our activity will lure people back. Also, a shorter assignment for those that can't make the commitment to write over long periods would be nice. Sometimes the timing is just off for the more involved assignments.

Andrea

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

I posted a long reply to this, and to some other pieces in the past few days but have gotten that bloody OOPS message from Gaia and, poof, my entry is gone.  If others are experiencing this like I am, that would contribute to the problems.  Also, I am logged in one moment and then suddenly, I am not. 
hope this works,
Chris

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

hey chris - I'm hoping you are reporting these glitches to the support group? the only way they'll get fixed is if we tell them about it…. for me, I do sometimes get an oops but often I find what I've posted is actually posted. I always do a copy text before I hit 'post'… just incase. Actually I had to do this in earlier incarnations of gaia. But being logged out? that's weird. Do let them know…
xoxo

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

I have gotten that message, and sometimes my entry does post when I get it. Sometimes it doesn't, and I want to kick and scream, but what would that help? So, I have gotten really smart *some of the time* and I have started to copy my responses onto my computer clipboard memory before I hit that ever-so-unreliable-Gaia-button.
When I start to get confident and don't do that, that's when I hit the button and get the message.

Report? How and where? Hopefully not on the mod pod. For me it's been like swimming with alligators over there.

xo
Andrea

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

Hello everyone.

Sorry I'm so unreliable these days myself. I'm very much resonating with la's response. There seems to be an overall down going on, for many. Mostly I see my lack of communication, input and participation as a personal 'energy crisis'. I have my up and downs, and this particular down just doesn't seem to end.

I haven't written anything since the last time I posted and I don't read or comment anything either, SORRY! I just feel completely uninspired and 'on hold'. There isn't much of anything going on in my German writing group either, btw.

As much as I found the last changes on Gaia off-putting, confusing and the new rooms impenetrable from their outside look, my sense is that this is not the reason for my personal low here. Also, I've had my share of disappointments and fighting windmills on Gaia, and DD  ;)  but that also is not what keeps me from being here and participate in the one group for which I keep my account here.

I have found that the ongoing workshop mode doesn't work for me forever, if there is not a next step for the ones who have been around for a while. This may just be me, but I thouhgt I'd share it anyway. Unfortunately I have no idea how to integrate next steps for those who are ready to move on in their writing.

I have started tons of stories thanks to Diving Deeper. I will be endlessly grateful for having learned to dive and go with the flow. But I'm not good at finishing, and most of the material in my Diving Deeper folder is stuck somewhere in the middle or after the first twenty minutes of a promising start. I finally came to a point where it didn't make sense to keep starting new material all the time.

For my German writing group I had to learn to first finish and then edit and polish stories, because that's what they focus on. They are not about how to write, motivation or inspiration, there is a total lack of that part there, not at all like Diving Deeper. Instead, they focus on what to do with the work once you have your first version and want to get it out there, to competitions or publishers. So I have started writing stories until the end and learn how to work on them, in baby steps, and how to help others make their first versions shine.

But this is something I wouldn't want to suggest for a public forum, because it is an awful lot of work to really go into a text, line by line, and give feedback on what works and what doesn't. It's a lot of work to do and a lot of work to read and you wouldn't want to do that on a daily basis and for a lot of people. Also, you wouldn't want to put your editing work out here, not only because of your copyright protection, but also because it would be considered as published and therefor couldn't be sent to many places anymore.

But there is still a gap. It seems that I have learned, over this long time with Diving Deeper, to sometimes write stories in a bow that comes to some kind of natural ending, but this happens rarely and only if Imanage to write one complete story in one sitting, which is not very often.

Sandra, maybe this does spark off something new that I cannot put into words but might blossom and flower in that brilliant mind of yours. A new kind of assignment maybe? For those of us who keep starting stories that end up as loose ends to never be finished?

If this seems foggy and disconnected, sorry, that's the state I'm in right now. But, on the up side, hey, I've communicated, I've logged in, I'm here!

Maybe it's the beginning of a new opening?  :)  I'm really getting bored with cruising the intenet for funny videos with my new (old, but much better then the other) notebook - ready for the next wave of inspiration and motivation to hit my shore, God! Please?

Much love to all,
Gabriele

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

HI dear Gabriele, lots of good points and a great share, thanks!
I'm interested in this:
For those of us who keep starting stories that end up as loose ends to never be finished?

I'd like to hear from others if this is an issue for them, particularly with pieces started here. For some reason it's not something that I have trouble with - I do have a couple of unfinished pieces I started here, but many that I continued to the end, and not in one sitting, in fact nearly always in several sittings. Eg. my write or die/ Dale's Confession piece, and La Lloronna etc, and I'm still slowly going on the 'mother' piece I started here in response to the march madness assignment.

For me, getting a little bit of feedback on a piece I start and post here, is always so incredibly encouraging for me, and usually helps me to keep going. If post up the continuation and get feedback, all the better for me.

Once I'm 'committed' as it were, i.e. a certain distance into a story, I don't have a problem finishing it, well, that's not quite true, I can feel stuck or not be happy with what I'm writing ( usually the latter) but I do keep going until 'the end'. If, however, I let something sit too long when it is only a page or so, it is hard to continue (eg my “KING” piece in response to the shadow assignment, but it's still on my 'to do' list).

Perhaps this is because I've a reasonable amount of experience finishing stories - I have about 25 finished & more or less completely edited stories. But I'm not sure, I think it's also because I so cannot stand having 'unfinished' work that I force myself to go on, and I also know the incredible satisfaction of coming to an end, so I do push for that.

I wish I could offer some useful suggestions on finishing stories, Gabriele. I think the 5 day retreat and indeed the March Madness assignments could easily be used to finish stories, just making sure you pick up from where you left off before, holding that energy. It's how I usually approach these assignments, I think it does come 'naturally' after a while, rather than many short unfinished pieces. Again, I'd like to hear from others about their experience (Leigh-Anne?)

 I can put up a 5 day assignment with  'continuing' specifically in mind.

As for line by line edits and close readings, yes, I think this is not the place for that, sadly.

What I have sometimes thought of is doing a virtual 'advanced' DD weekend. Something online, perhaps even similar in format to what I do in the real life workshops, where people send me their work and get private comments from me, and then it's posted 'annonyomously' for the others in the group to comment on. A closed number and of course, 'private'. I could even read some of the work and record it and post it up. We can do this on Gaia as a private group, and I've been talking with Alan, my friend who is doing my new website ( months overdue now.. sigh) about setting up something like this for me separately. I would have to charge if it followed the above format, but I'd make sure it was affordable.

The other idea is the one I've thought of before, which is to have a private group here and that could focus on closer readings etc. I just don't have the time to moderate a new group as well as this one, not at least on a volunteer basis. Perhaps, if this DD does slowly 'fizzle out' we could change things and only have a small, private DD for those of us who have been here and committed for some time. But I'd be very sad to see this DD go - I get at least two emails a month from members telling me what a difference and a support having a safe space to write has been for them. Often from people who don't post that much, but maybe managed to get one or two 'difficult' pieces out.

Anyway, the least I can do for now is look at assignments which encourage ending stories.

Love,
Sandra

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

Sandra,

I haven't finished reading the thread yet, but what Gabriele wrote, and your response here are really resonating.  First let me say, I don't want DD to go away!  (Or, if you make it a smaller group, please take me with you!)  This group has jump-starting my writing, even though I'm having a hard time right now.  And knowing that it's here is keeping me feeling like a writer, because I know I have a place to go and work on things, even though I haven't been taking advantage as much lately.

Because I am also having a hard time lately.  For me, a lot is going on in my personal life - possible new job, decisions about same, etc.  And so I find it hard to sit down and write.  Which is why I haven't been posting much.  (Also, I just haven't 'felt' it recently.  I was thinking of it as recharging, but it feels like I should have been charged by now.) 

I'm also having some of the same issues as Gabriele with starting and then not finishing (which is kind of a theme in my life, actually.  I'm working on it.). 

And, I am wildly interested in a small group virtual weekend of some kind. 

Okay, I'm going to keep reading now.

xo,
Jody

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

don't worry, Jody, DD is not going anywhere as far as I can see. I might at some point ( not for a few months) do a weekend virtual 'advanced' workshop, but this would be in addition to this DD.  Great to hear that you would be interested! 

& I've just started a thread on the Craft room about 'finishing stories' and one about sending work out….

and, lovely to read you. xoxo

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

Hello everyone,  I didn't carefully read everyone's input (just skimmed through) but wanted to explain why I'm not over here writing more these days.

It feels like…if I'm not going to try to send some pieces out for publication…why write more pieces that will just end up sitting around?  And inspiration's dried up for awhile now, anyway.

There's still some sort of block going on about sending out pieces for publication. Luckily, I'm trying to work through this in the Artist's Way format and trying to see what's holding things back. 

So, until I can work through this whole issue, it's all on hold. 

There does seem a general energy pattern here on Gaia where things have slowed down.  But people have been writing and sharing a lot this week, airing issues, expressing themselves…and it felt like a new infusion happened yesterday. 

Maybe?

Love, Kathy

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

My posts keep getting deleted as well.  It doesn't help matters, that's for sure! Gaia hasn't been the same since the big layout change, imho.  What's the old saying? …if it aint' broke, don't fix it.

xo

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

Hmmm great post Gabriele and Sandra – but first, oh Sparrow, drives me crazy when that happens, but I figured out that if you immediately hit ‘refresh’ – it will resend what you posted, and it shows up. I don’t get why that happens just on Gaia, a glitch with the browsers I am guessing (both FF and Explorer it happens on for me) but hitting refresh sometimes works. It sometimes double posts, which then I just delete, but at least not everything is lost! I have also gotten into the habit of typing posts in ‘notepad’ first so that I don’t lose it in a crash.

As far as the stories I’ve started here on DD go… well, I can relate a bit to what Gabriele is saying. I was going through everything that I’ve written so far a couple of weeks ago. I was in a spring cleaning state of mind and needed to get a handle on what I had written since joining. After going through 657 pages I kind of had a little heart attack. I know that there are stories in there that aren’t finished. I have the intention to go back to them and finish. Some of them are finished and some of them I don’t think I will bother finishing. I guess I haven’t ever had the thought that I am writing to send anything out, not since joining DD almost a year and a half ago now. I joined to write again, and write I have. I have sent one story out – that was turned down flat with a nice little letter. It would have been a ding to the ego, except that I was relieved. Hahaha I don’t know, it’s a step that I am afraid to take – sending out my work. Out of my comfort zone and well freaks me out to think about it. Not to say that I don’t want to eventually do that – but likely I will need a big kick in the ass to do it. It’s mostly out of pure laziness that I haven’t sent out more. I keep telling myself, do it, why not, but there is another voice inside me saying shut up and write. Just write. So at the moment  that voice is the stronger one.

I don’t know that for me it is a case of not knowing how to finish a story or the process to go through and polish (since November I edited two novels, mine from Nano and another friend’s) … I really think it is purely me. I am in my own way here… or I am just unconsciously waiting for the right time to put my energy in to that next step. It might be sooner than I realize… I was saying that to someone recently that it feels like I am being pushed towards the next step (kicking and screaming). The tools are all there already, here in DD I mean, we have great resources on the ‘where to publish board’ and the mechanics of writing – well loads of resources as well. Most importantly there is that necessary support that we give each other. The commenting that is done is the easiest way to show support for a writer here – and yes, for the moment that’s really fallen off, but I also know that being dependent on that as a writer, isn’t a good thing. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve posted a response to an assignment that has gotten no comments and thought to myself, oh crap what a piece of s*** I should delete it, then the comments come and I am blown away the response. That just shows how it has more to do with me and my own deal than what is going on in DD.

I agree with Andrea – lets keep on keeping on. I think that generally, we need to let go of the discomfort that we’ve collectively been feeling about the changes on Gaia. For me personally, I haven’t had a big issue with it. Maybe I am too flexible, but the layout of the site was never what motivated me to post, read or not post, and in truth, aside from the usual little glitches that happen for any site when there is a revamp of that magnitude, I’m ok with it.

Mostly, I just want to write, and to continue to share with others here. I was thinking that I could probably venture into commenting more on other boards – poetry and prose in particular, since I traditionally focus my attention on the assignments. I suppose I take the stance that people here should be giving a little more effort to the assignments and commitment to going more into their writing than to just post poems and stories they are writing on their own – it’s a workshop not a showcase (and that’s not meant to sound as harsh as it does). I just think there should be a balance, and more interaction with the assignments is always going to bring positive results even if the comments aren’t always praising the writing!

Anyway, there’s my big blahblah on the topic. I like the idea of a DD going deeper virtual weekend. I’m up for that challenge. Keeping in mind that it’s been tough slugging for so many of us here on DD and beyond… I think that we have a very special and beautiful place here, and we shouldn’t despair! Spring is springing and the winds of change are sweeping through to lift us up. Can't argue with daffodils. They are too friggin happy to ignore. ;-)

Xo
la

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

i am enjoying this conversation. So much facilitated inner dialogue for me.

To go down a partial of my thoughts:
Change in gaia design, i could care less, but do like the icons y'all decided on for the different DD boards.
Lost comments, has happened several times lately, frustrating but you are all worth it.

The whole gaia/facebook/memories of junior high school thing.  Hummm.  Personally, i do not get it.  How do you fight with peopel oyu do not even kniow if they really exist? Anybody can pretend to be anybody or anything they want online.  For all oyu know, i could be an african woman from tanzania with two husbands and four children from separate fathers.  No disrespect to any of you but this is this is the iternet, not the local community center.  There are afew of oyu i think i have gotten to know and love, but di i really know you? I think so but it is the internet and easy to protray whatevber we desire.  Leigh ann blows me away when she shares her lack of confidence and shyness after reading such forceful and potent words and energy. I ask myself how it is possible. 

When i first joined the dd clan a year ago, it was soon after that when a certain moderator was asked to leave ddland.  It confused me.  Her and i have become very good friends. She is the perosn outsie if DDland i am the lcosest to on gaia. I have never asked her or any of you what happened. It is none of my business, i love and appeciate her and you.

i am not a big fan of of gaia in general.  It is tyocially  abrans of spirituality i do not appreciate much. taht does not mean there are not incredible people, there are. I am just not into the same things but that doesn't matter to me. I enjoy dd and posting blogs on gaia. This is why i am here.  the relationhsips i consider a bonus, a treasured one but still a bonus. If this seems rude, it is not my intention.  Just sharing my stuff.

As far as the finishing pieces part gabriele shared, thank you! I apperciate what you shared and hope i get there some day.  For now, i am content to write, read everybody's stuff and comment when i think i have somethig if value to share. Finished product is a bit ahead of me at htis point, i am still a budding writer at best.

I love the group energy of DD. It noursihes me, sometime smoer than others but for the most, i get nourished.  i try to stay out of gossip, cliques, etc here, gaia or in my 3-d life.  Not my cup of tea. I ceertainly have my share of divisive and destructive behaviors, those aren't them. The DD community has helped me grow and develop a a writer and human in many ways. That is why i got/get concerned when we only have 4 posts in a day.  I want this to continue. There is something real here. I have more to say but feel i have alerady gone firther than i planned, the down side if freefall commenting with people like me.

Thank you all fro letting me participate in what goes on around here for the last year, and hope i can do my part to help sustain the community in the future.

Peace
michael

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

Michael (and everyone really),

That's just it. Many of us don't get it, but it goes on outside of DD, the cliquiness, and maybe that is nature. Yesterday, however, this magical thing happened. It broke loose, and everyone started to confront it. Hopefully just the act of that happening will break down much of the wall of inactivity.

I cannot bring myself to agree that it is just a general malaise or shift of energy or response to the world economic crisis when the very same people are elsewhere having a wonderful time. One thing that it could be is that people need to have more fun and more “mindless” activities. It might be that for individuals, and it may be for the collective in some ways, but I saw thing “big thing” going on here, and I am so happy that it is being confronted and gnawed on and thought through rather than skirted around. And if you were never a part of it, that is wonderful for you.

These Gaia people and especially the Diving Deeper members became so real to me when I had my surgery and some very real flowers arrived in my hospital room at a time when my own mother couldn't even manage to get to the hospital. It meant so much to me. It was a turning point for me in my recovery. So, I know what you mean that it's not real, but to me, Diving Deeper is one of the most real things in my life. These very real people helped me to get through this huge crisis without ever asking for anything in return. To me, that is the Gaia spirit.

That is why I am so glad that this shift happened yesterday. If the website is healthier as a whole, than Diving Deeper will certainly experience the byproducts of that.

xo
Andrea

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

Lovely posts everyone. I”m too beat to reply in detail right now..
did want to ask you Andrea - I am so happy that it is being confronted and gnawed on and thought through rather than skirted around.

I am presuming you are referring to something happening on Gaia but outside of DD? I so hardly ever venture outside that I'm a bit oblivious sometimes.

xo

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

I've just seen morningstars blog - is this partly what you are referring to, Andrea? Phewey it's long. I'll read it tomorrow!

later: did scan it, I'll read in detail tomorrow. So it's mostly about people moving to FB.

I suppose in one way this does affect what we do here on DD. If people are having fun 'over there' then perhaps less time is spent on Gaia and therefore on DD? for me they are (FB and DD) totally different things - apples and oranges.

DD is here because the format of the groups here works really well for it, and of course being set within a 'community' is good, as the community feeds the group and new people arrive. I don't think FB has 'groups' quite in the same way as this, unless I'm wrong. I don't have any personal feelings about FB - for me it's a bit of an overload - any time I spend there takes away from time I spend here, and I'm not, so far, particularly served by FB ( I find all those applications just headachey). There are people there, of course, who are not here.

I think at this point it probably doesn't matter too much 'where' DD is. Even if it were an entity separate from any online community, one could probably set it up so people interested in writing would find it. But, it is nice to be part of a larger community and to have all the 'functions' (eg email/profiles etc) that an online community provides. Mind you other online writer's groups also have this, but nothing that looks or feels as good as what we have here, imo.

ok. time to lie down! more soon.

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

Hi, Gaiafriends.

I have only read the 3 posts above mine here.
So excuse me if I talk beside the point.
Need to say this:
I love it on Gaia. There is no other place like it. I use the Q+R regularly. And browse around and have a play in Diving Deeper and my other groups, from time to time.
The response you people in here have given me on my writing, has been of immense value to me, and continues to be. I now feel secure about my written voice, and have a book script ready to publish. I will thank Gaia in the book when it comes out.

Last few months I have spent a heap of time on facebook. Discovering old mates who now suddenly have joined (I´ve been there a long time, just not so active until now when more friends are part of it). It has seen a boom. I don´t like the applications either, Sandra, but one can glue videos from you tube on one´s page, and get comments from one´s real life friends. For me, who has emigrated from Norway, it is wonderful to stay in touch and to rediscover these old relations.

Now. My point is, I don´t believe the sites are competitors.
Yes, many spend more time on facebook than other places right now, but I reckon it´s a wave like movement, facebook is just not the same as Gaia.

I still blog here. And will keep doing that. And I love the atmosphere in here. Friendly , relaxed, constructive. I love the daily philosophical question. A lot.
And to find international individuals whome I have a crazy lot in common with!

Let me stop.
You get my drift.
I´m on Gaia to stay. Also on Diving Deeper to stay. DD was why I came to Gaia.
I might be busy other places for periods of time.
But.
I will be back.
:O)
Always.

Lots of Love;
Lene.

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

Sandra,

Yes, Morningstar's blog is a big part of the issue. People went over to FB and started a Gaians on FB group, and then they were no longer here as much. That is probably one of the reasons that it has felt so “dead” around here lately. People go where the interaction is.

I am not saying that everyone is over there because they were disgruntled here, or that they are replacing Gaia with FB. That's not possible. However, some people did feel that their true feelings that they chose to reveal here were met with a kind of fake or judgemental or Pollyannaish “spirituality.”  So there was conflict, but not across the board.

The conflict and jump from Gaia to Facebook has nothing to do with Diving Deeper. It's just that a lot of frequent visitors to Diving Deeper or their friends spend time there or elsewhere now. Believe me, I now have a marvelously appointed apartment in Yoville and a great cyber-collection of Easter eggs because I go there to see my friends in the morning because they are not here, they are there.

What I do know is that if we were on the feeds on the front page, this conversation would be “most popular.” However, we are not, and so we slip by unnoticed, which right at this point in time, may be a blessing.

Things here will pick up. I think it would be a good idea to put the logo and a link on each of the moderators' homepages that would lead more people here to at least look. That way, when one person is on overwhelm, another might be just discovering Diving Deeper.

Sandra, I don't think you need to move DD from Gaia in any way. I just think the whole site is experiencing growing pains. We will get through this, I am sure.

xo
Andrea

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

In Germany we have a saying for these kinds of things. Storm in a waterglass. The whole Facebook/Gaia controversy, or whatever it is, is so completely happening somewhere below my radar, I couldn't care less. Groups always change, people move and/or move on. Often times people think they move on because something is wrong with the place they're leaving. I should know, I've done that a hundred times myself.

:)

The only reason to move DD someplace else would be if Gaia stopped existing, otherwise one group space is almost as good as another, and for several reasons I still find Gaia better then most. Which might be because I'm conservative as a little child and don't like changes and moving!  ;)

I went over to Morningstars blog last night and had a glance. No resonance to any of that stuff. I might be simply too old to take those kinds of things seriously.

Michael, I loved reading your response. You really are a treasure. Don't worry, this will not be the end of DD, I'm sure. I think it's like Andrea says, things will pick up again. Maybe there will be some new things happening the longer some of us are around and need new challenges and inspirations. But all in all, there is no place like Diving Deeper in the whole world wide web.

Oh, which reminds me. We might not be on Gaias front page, which I still find ridiculous and feels like a punishment for being 'only' semi-public, but we are on Google! Each and every post - if you hit the right what's-it-called, key word, we're out there! Don't know whether that's a good thing, but that's how it is. Try and google Diving Deeper Gaia and be surprised.

I promise I won't disappear. As you might have noticed, my presence here is not as consistent as it used to be. But I'm not leaving. There is nothing and nowhere else to go for what we have here.

Lots of love to all from sunny, summery warm Berlin!
Gabriele

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

Thought I'd try to post again today.  (thanks for the hint about refreshing, la).  I was lured over to FB recently and I have that mindless kind of fun (Easter Egg Hunt & Celebrity Agent being my two big application picks right now) (and yes those applications/invitations can be a major time-suck but there is always the “ignore” button).  I went there because of “real” life family and friends, many far flung.  It's an easy way to keep in touch and a great way to share pictures.  I don't think of it as anything like Gaia and agree with Sandra that it's like apples and oranges.  That being said, there are a lot of Gaians there!  That surprised me.  And there are more and more on a daily basis.  What's odd, is that with the exception of a few, I kind of wanted to keep the two seperate.  I don't know why exactly except that Gaia feels like my safe haven.  I wouldn't want most of my family here …not on Gaia, and especially not on D.D.  It would stop my writing right in it's slow tracks. 

We'll bounce back.  We always do.

Ooooh, we had spring-like weather yesterday and it was loverly!!!!

Love You All,  Ayla  P.S. And Andrea, I am with you.  There are at least five or six people from Gaia that I consider my “real” friends.  Real, true friends.  My husband and I have argued about this and I don't care what he says.  Just like the flowers were very real to you, there are those of you here that I feel 100% sure are who they say they are, and a very real, very treasured part of my life.

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

Ooookay well there is a lot more going on here in Gaia than I was aware of (or cared to be aware of)… It is no different than any other social network - the micro groups that break off, move else where because of some situation or incident. It is really part of the social dynamic of any group, and not a symptom of a problem with Gaia or (obviously) DD specifically. Ebb and flow of human interaction. Certainly Gaia isn't above any of it, regardless of the intention of the site as a whole, though it's too bad for a lot of reasons that it came down to that. Whatever. I am not interested in getting involved in any dramas anywhere - have enough going on in my own life and don't need my energy sucked into the abyss, so to speak. Like I said, had no idea of how ascerbic it had all gotten (read the first paragraph of Morningstar's blog and gave up). I'm on a handful of social network sites - FB being one, here, Multiply, Twitter and probably a bunch that I don't remember. I have always held that being here is like using a hammer - you can build something beautiful with it, or you can destroy it. That choice is entirely up to the individual or in some cases, the group. Generally speaking, I go for the building something beautiful, though I do recognize sometimes it's important to break down the old to get to the point of building something beautiful again… anyway, I am glad that I wasn't involved in any of that. Now that I do have a little insight on what went on (through probably very one sided blogs) I find it incredibly sad and disappointing. I now understand the kind of energy that has been floating around Gaia (and I guess now DD has been affected by association). I do think that it is kind of egoist and sad to think that one small group can represent an entire community that is Gaia or Facebook, but again, whatever. Life is too short to get lost in that. I am just going to go back to writing and sharing. I hope everyone who was involved can put aside their differences and grow or at the very least find peace in themselves. I wish them the best.
xo
la

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

How about that?  That “resend” trick really does work!

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

<<sigh>> I can't load this thread on Firefox.. spent all morning trying. It works for me on Safari, so here I am finally.

Lovely to read your note, Lene, thank you.

I did add a bit to morningstar's blog, but nothing of any use or import. I don't like FB unfortunately, I think my brain is just not able to learn a whole new site navigation. But as I said on morningstar's blog, my priority is always and will always be, Diving Deeper.  

The good news is that apparently we will be on the groups page now - it's been programmed, just needs to be tested. YAY!

The rest. I think there are two really interesting things here for me, which have NOTHING to do with activity levels on DD or FB etc.

It's what you said, Gabriele, about wanting to finish stories, and what you said, Kathy, about having a block about sending things out for publication.

I'm going to start two new threads in the Craft room on both these issues, Please, both of you, stop by and lets talk about these things, ok?

Love, 
Sandra

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

This thread is an echo of  here and there in Gaia.  I notice by the date, I'm Johnny come lately to the discussion, but perhaps someone will find some relevance just the same.  Some random observations-  the demographics have changed.  The median age has dropped.  With that, the group attention span gets much shorter.  Interests change.  In my twenties, it was much more important to me to charm the young ladies.  Now, a good nights sleep and a quality constitutional in the morning are the highlight of my day.  The transformation from Zaadz to gaia was a paradigm shift to a different business model.  There seemed also to be an overall philosophical shift in thinking as well both with the users and staff.  There was a hoo-hah of sorts over the terms of use and content rights.  There was another hoo-hah over seeds.  Since I was here last, groups have become more insular and mean spirited.  This ranges from outright flaming to the good old passive-aggressive “we'll ignore them until they go away” approach.  I think there is a flawed logic in the expections we have from our interpersonal interactions on the internet.  We have “friends” at gaia.  A “circle of contemporaries” would be a far more accurate assesment, I think.  We lose our ability to be intimate, empathetic, and vulnerable by virtue of our “separatedness.” Those who have been able to form genuine friendships here are fortunate indeed.   There are a *host* of technical glitches since the server change, (but not restricted to) that make participating here inconvenient on a good day and  teeth grinding on the bad. 
These factors may all add up to the “perfect storm” that has contributed to the decline in user participation.  Or not.  I don't claim to be an expert. In spite of all that…. I'm still here at gaia.  The overall premise is still a good one.  Gaia provides for a niche that FB and others don't.

DD is a nurturing environment that provides positive re-inforcement for the beginning writer, and a safe haven for the more experienced ones.  I see growth in concept with the addition of “how to” information resources to get published, more venues like “scriptwriting”,  and an opportunity for “thoughtful ways of communication”. 

Some factors that might influence DD participation are:
A sense of “burnout” both with writers and moderators.
Personality gestault. 
Inactive Membership.

There are a wealth of differing writing assignments to choose from, perhaps a project that involved a collaborative effort might be interesting?  In the spirit of freefalling and stream of consciousness writing, it could be as simple as the old grammar school exercise where everyone wrote a sentence without knowing what the pervious person wrote and blended it together at the end for a sometimes funny, often nonsensical essay.  Or as complex as a collection of short stories tied together by a common theme.   Another possibility would be to widen the gate a bit to new users and increase the “restricted” areas for the more “dedicated” writers.  
All said and done, I'm happy to be back muddling along my curmudgeonly way. 
blessings- 

      

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

oh thank you so much for writing dear.
I think what you say is pretty on. I have also noticed in years past that 'summer' is always slower.

I'm not sure what to do about the slowness on DD - if indeed there is anything to do. I think a lot of it is to do with my lack of involvement - which hasn't been for lack of wanting to be here, absolutely not. I feel this unusual pressure (as per the July 'forcast' I mentioned on the NaNoWrMo July thread) – and for me it's to get to my writing - to get this short story manuscript off my plate. That plus life events means my time here has indeed ground to a halt the last while.

We've tried collaborative projects, but so far nothing has fully taken off the ground - some similar to what you suggest I think, but perhaps we can take another look. I like the idea of short stories connected by a common theme.

Well, I'm not saying much here, just appreciating your voice!

Much love,
Sandra

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

Sandra dearest!
I don't have a feeling of despair about DD, and change may not be necessary.  Time has a way of bringing it's own change.  Sometimes a bit of soldiering on is called for.
Thanks for sharing!

blessings-

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

Oh, am I late?
LOL

Well, it figures, so little I have been here the lastest half year it is almost a shame. But I actually get the digest mail and it is my morning ritual to gaze it through and see if I notice anything interesting. Just like this topic line gougt my eye immediately sinde I've been feeling a bit sad over the activity.

About beeing sad over the activity… yeah, why don't I ? You ask and I ask myself the same. Why don't I contribute?

I remember last summer was a bit slow as well. During my summers I tend to start to get more time in my hands. Often at my work I have long periods of time when nothing happens and I really would like to comment on many things here (I don't visit any other place than DD here on Gaia, feel no need to) but I can't. We have these thin clients at work and a Citrix environment. First of all, it is extremely slow to load up Gaia from work, because of the fancy globe thing and all the streamed pics. So I just cant give any response all day long though I long for doing so.

But the reason I've been absent is a bit like Gabrieles. I have started a lot of things here in DD and I have got tonns of good responses. I belive I have evolved a lot as a writer and that is all your credit, especially Sandra who took my hand in firm hold from the beginning (I am ever thankfull to you love).
So maybe I feel a bit 'done'?

So now what? What indeed is the next step? I have send my poem collection to a publisher, got rejection, no big deal. I'm totally happy with my poems. That was a big thing back then and thanks to Alex who was here in the beginning. My god…
And I have send 2 other short stories spung from DD that got also rejected, no big deal, but I did it.

For me, as a foreigner and Englsih being my third language and all, sending out texts in English is a huge pleasure in itself. I have concured the language that much… well enough about that.

I am actually missing some of my buddies here and have it a bit difficult to be “chatty”, I don't know. The NaNo month was a complete blast, never been through a thing like that in my life. So I hope even more people would like to plan the next NaNo and do it again. Everything afterwards seemed so… so duh, if you know what I mean.

Maybe I just should go and do some commenting and stop whinning. More I comment, more I get response. Simple.

Love,
Nono

 

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

nono :-) for FONTS sake keep sending your stuff out. I should count all the places I send my stuff out to and get rejections from just to show you…. now, if you have no desire to have work out there, that's fine..

And what is the next step?

Maybe this should be a thread on the Craft Room? For me the next step seems to be just more writing, more editing of what I've written, more sending out. More of more.  At the Bantry Literary festival I wrote about - this was said by many: it's hard work. Really hard work. 99% of writing is sheer hard work. maybe 1% inspiration.

This is what I've learned the last days - I had this deadline to do, for the 15th of July. At the same time, all our 'stuff' arriving. At the same time the festival. At the same time being sick off and on. At the same time having guests stay over. And I was working on this story with Barbara - i.e. sending it to her and she gives comments and I send back, i.e. in two time zones, and with only a few days to finish the story. Plus all the rest. It felt 'impossible'. I got up totally utterly exhausted with very little sleep to pick up email from Barbara and work on the next draft and then 'entertain' the guests or unpack a box or go to the Bantry event I'd booked months ago for (and it's a long drive there and back).

What I've learned, is not unlike what happened at NaNoWriMo - that I can do it inspite of all difficulties and feeling like total crap and having no time and no sleep. It's not my preferred way of working, but if it has to be done, it has to be done…. and for me, it *does* feel like it has to be done. I can't let it go. I have two more deadlines coming up soon so the next weeks are going to be similar….

I guess what I'm saying is that I'd LOVE for others to be involved in their writing in this way so that I can feel not alone with it. And I do know that everyone is in a different place with their work and their life. And, that deep NaNo place, it is available all the time, it's just whether we push ourselves to do it. I think about this and I realise I'm not actually choosing to pushing myself, it's almost as if I have no choice about the matter. I'm kinda 'impelled' to be doing what I'm doing. I'm not sure I would 'choose' to do it, because it's so fonting intense!

I am sure that my time at Deena's is part of why I'm able to do what I'm doing – the feeling that it *is* important. And I keep reminding myself of what she said, about how vital it is to nurture and nourish one's life, the day to day life, so that this supports the writing.

ok, end of rant. thanks for listening :-))

Love,
Sandra

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

I envy your determinion Sandra. I am all too much inside the squirrel wheel, sorry ass as I am.

Maybe I don't think I'm good enough och perhaps I'm so darn lazy.

But your words up there somewhere along this thread: to keep on working with what works, to focus with that. There is such a wisdom in it. I hope I will remember that 24 hours of my time during one day.

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

I think I was given too big a dose of “I can do it” when I was born – I am grateful for it now, but it caused me a lot of trouble in my life… all the things I thought I could  do and I couldn't…ak! or they simply weren't appropriate.

& I suppose I feel I am making up for lost time actually - all those years where I said “I'm going to write” and didn't.

I don't think you are lazy – absolutely not. Yes it could be something to do with lack of belief in your work or yourself. The Dalai Lama has said that the most damaging problem for people in the 'west' is their lack of confidence. That without this, we can't fully live. That this has to be healed and taken care of first, before anything else, before we can what we are here to do in the world, whatever that might be.

For me I think the best way through this, the best way to find confidence, is to keep going, and to keep going, and to keep going – so that the insecure parts of ourselves know that 'it's alright' if we fail, we don't die. I go through this nearly every week with my writing, it's never 'over' for me, but I do seem to be able to keep going, that's what I've learned, or got the knack of. (Remind me I wrote this when I next complain of being blocked, ok??!)

And oh it's SO important to have support and encouragement. Many of the stories that I've written in the last year & more are because of the encouragement I get from everyone here. A recent one I would have thrown in the trash or at least put away to gather dust forever, and, because of the encouragement, and only because of the encouragement, it got written and was a finalist at Glimmer Train.

I also 'seek out' encouragement and support in all kinds of places (eg going to Deena's workshop)  because I know it's like nourishment, it's food for the muse, or at least for the vehicle that drives the muse.

As an artist and writer, dear nono, I feel you have so much to share with the world - not least of all, your incredibly loving self… maybe more of you is 'working' than you give yourself credit for :-)

xo

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

**HUGS**

I have been away - not so much from DD, but from the computer all together.

I know I do this every now and then, I have personal computer time out, so when I do come back it's to the places (online) that I enjoy participating with. Places like DD.

I haven't even been reading my email. So this shows me what I need to unsubscribe to :)

I find my experience with DD (reading and writing) to be intensely personal. The last assignment I did unfurled in unusual ways. I think it is a big lack of confidence that holds me back from allowing these experiences to find an ending not so much for others to read.. but more so for me to write.

Practice at endings - I think that is what I would like to discover going forward with the writing.

I want to go back to assignments and end them. When I think about this more I realise there are not many books I have read where the ending sat right with me, where I felt satisfied with the story. So this in turn scares me about creating my own endings to some satisfying level.

where activity grinds to a halt, maybe what is being asked for is a focus on what activity to pursue

time to practice something new

is there a place where I can read how others have learned to end their stories? Because I worry that my endings are only in the places where I become too scared to dive deeper.

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

I worry that my endings are only in the places where I become too scared to dive deeper. Did you have a look at the thread on endings in the Craft room, Azyh? I think I copied some info and posted a link there to a page which gives some suggestions. Lets continue this conversation on that thread, it's an important one - I'd love you to repost what you asked there - I suspect it is a fear thing, but I'm not sure.. lets talk more there.

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

oh i love you too, love you too.

I think that I'm in that place “I am going to write” and I let all too much of career & earing money involve my days. As you see, we poor bastards, we can't hide, we come back for more. We are “whipped” to do so. Maybe we should call our Muse Dominatrix?

Agree about getting support, I know I can do a lot more when getting some attention. I suck it right in thee hee ;)

Love and hugs
Nono

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

It’s good to read everyone during these last few days. I've not been feeling the most positive lately - I have been very sick for the past week or so and haven’t been able to do much in the way of posting. I feel like I am just plugging along – I haven’t been writing as much as I like – due mostly to being ill (sick for a total of three weeks with one week in between thinking that I was on the mend). I was at the point of complaining. I am at the point of now admitting that I am a failure, terrible one.

I set some ambitious goals for myself in the next months, but I’m not so sure that I am going to be able to meet any of them. I proposed to myself to write 40 stories from now until my next birthday. Goals they say are supposed to be motivating. I want to write. I even took small steps towards thinking of sending something out – ‘thinking’ not actually doing any editing, research on where to send, or even tackling something new with that end in mind. So, the truth is, I am no where.

I have to admit that being on DD has been challenging. I have found it lonely here. I am feeling pretty useless at the moment (on a personal level and as a moderator). Of course I understand very well that everyone has other things going on, what with life and all, but I’ve missed you! I truly don't “blame” anyone - and writing, in the end, is a relatively solitary endeavor. That being said, there have been some really nice new posts – the anonymous assignment was really interesting, and some great shares by new members. I have truly enjoyed reading you all.

The quiet atmosphere has – in a strange twist that goes against my “nature” – been making me itch. I don’t know what to do with myself personally. I hate being sick more than almost anything (the only thing I can think of that is worse is someone else being sick) – it interferes with a lot. So, I’ve been finding myself being frustrated with my physical self, cursing my laziness and inadequacy and wondering when I can possibly get back to just writing again. I am failing at that. I do hope for the best, maybe in the coming days, after ranting and cursing myself for sucking as a writer, I will get back on track.

*sigh* anyway enough whining from me… that’s about all that I can manage at the moment. It is good to ‘hear’ your voices here. I am glad that your paths are starting (maybe, hopefully) coming by the DD way a little more. I too miss the Nano days and hope that we do it again – that more join us – and that we can as a group, meet the heat head on.

Hugs to you all xo
 
la

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

Oh LA!
The problem solver in me wants to feed you chicken soup.  Here's a HUG insted.

blessings-

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

Dear la,

What shall we do with you? Something needs to be done, for sure.
Oh, I know, we should write an ode to your honour. An ode of a truthfull and determinded and very hard working soul and moderator. We are to be certain that la is there, giving attention, commenting and oh my god WRITING. There are not many who can keep up with you.

40 stories before your next birthday!!!! Are you serious? I bet you are. I am far below your shadow la.

I know the ting about wanting comments, whatever comments. It is we who suck on commenting. Most of all it is you and Sandra and the other mods as well who should need more feedback from us slackers. Don't I know how wonderful it is to get a real comment that says something to me, a bit more than hooray? Don't I know, when I have posted someting, how I long for a comment, somebody that is willing to commit with my words?

You are a giver la. A giver needs to take care of themselves every now and then. Your body says it too. Time to take.

So take my appreciation and thanks for the tremendous work you have done. Course I am just navelfluff by you. Oh, I mean it by a humoristic way. But you are the very spirit of DD that is so devoted alongside Sandra.

With bows,
Nono

PS: I will never forget your “I just wrote”.

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

oh sweetheart. I'm so sorry. You are not failing. Not one iota. Who the F knows what's going on, in a larger level. Ruth, where are you when we need you? You always remind us that it's not just us, that something bigger is going on. I'm sick as well. Not for as long as you have been, but the last few days. It's been a real pain in the neck and I feel frustrated that I can't do what I want to do. I realised I'm fine with being sick (well I've realised this over and over again the last years) but I'm not fine with wanting to do things when I can't. Control issues anyone?? ;-) ak.

I have a goal to finish my manuscript by end August. I just let in today that I might not be able to do that. Somehow it felt like I had more energy, just letting in that it was ok if I couldn't meet my goal.

I remember an amazing experience I had in Toronto years ago, maybe I've mentioned it before. I was doing a 'real' job and every morning was a total rush to get ready/fed/dressed /washed etc. I was always so stressed and rushed, I hated it. Then one day I decided not to rush. At all. To take whatever time it took. As slow as I needed. I didn't check the clock. I meandered. Breathed. As I was opening the door to go to work, I looked at the clock. I was about two minutes quicker than I 'normally' was when I did all that rushing.

So… maybe I can go slow and end up going faster.

Love to you dear, big hugs. I send angels to give you delicious healing soups and to stroke your forehead and to remind you that even when you are doing nothing, the muse is working.

Xo

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

Dear DD family,
i miss you.  It is not your fault, although i wish you were easier to see these days. Being in a transition has my time on DD sporadic, i will post fr a few days straight and then disappear.  I am feeling that july heat that the foecast that sandra posted suggested.  It has been and is an opportunity for me to let go of some stuff and replace it with things more aligned to h=who i really am. Good news but uncomfortable at best; bleak at darker moments.

I like leigh ann (am i the only one who identifies you as leigh ann here?) have had some physicla stuff, nothing major but still part of the process. I was sick fro the forst time in summer since grade school. Note to self: dont get sick in the summer, it sucks big time.

I have some lofty goals in my head for the next few months as well, nothing like 40 stories, my goals are rarely tangible stuff though.

Well anyway, i miss y'all. I think abotu you all indidvidually and collectively even if i dont make the effort to show up. We are a group and a community. i value this and do not take it for granted.

Time will tell what is the next phase of DD.

Peace and love,
michael

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

Hello dearests, let me add my voice to the growing chorus…

So good to see Phil has come back, yay!  :)  Welcome back, dear one.

My challenges lately have been due to hormons going crazy and me suffering from revisiting all kinds of adolescent disturbances, like massive retreat into daydreaming, disappearing into distractions like movies and the internet (which hasn't been there yet last time around, in my real adolescent years) and feeling mostly unable to do anything more then the absolute minimum my daily life asks of me. No more writing for weeks, even reading has gone down dramatically. I just hope I can do a speed-up version of my menopausal years, because this really sucks.

Apart from that I'm glad to see y'all showing up here and I will do my best to stay connected a little more visibly. 

I really thought I was getting somewhere with my writing routine until it all dropped away and vanished and here I am, empty handed, feeling like I have no right to simply be and waste all the time I spend NOT writing… sigh. That also sucks.

I don't know why this keeps happening. These gaps. Maybe some of us simply have to live with periods of binge writing, alternating with not writing at all? Every time this happens there is this voice in me going, there, I told you, you're never going to be a REAL writer. And THAT really sucks!

:)

Leigh-Anne, all the best to you.

My love to all!

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

Hi Gabriele!!!
Woo Hoo!!!!

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

aww, so nice to hear you all and thank you. Phil - thank you, wish I could have someone feed me chicken soup, your thoughts are healing - so is the hug.

Nono, thank you xo you made me smile (especially about the “just writing” bit.) maybe it is too ambitious, my goal, maybe I can't do it, I am not sure. I am sure of one thing though… this from you: ” I am far below your shadow la.” I can't agree with. There is no way that I am above you. We stand side by side my friend - and for the record, your writing blows me away. thank you for your beautiful support! xo

Sandra, thank you too - you are right, and you reminded me too that I need to look at the bigger picture. Yes, yes I do. I have to let go of that fear of failing of not meeting my own expectations and get back to that quiet place I have been living from before. hugs xo

Michael….(am i the only one who identifies you as leigh ann here?) - I don't know - maybe!? It's good to hear from you. sounds like you are going through something similar. being sick in the summer does suck, and this the longest I can remember ever being sick (going on four weeks).. it sucks big time.

Gabriele - hugs. I wonder if it is just part of the cycle that we are in. I can't get what was written in that forecast that Sandra shared with us out of my head. Heat - for me big fevers etc lots of heat. I think that I am going to hold you all close tonight while I am resting. I keep hoping to wake up feeling better, and dammit tomorrow it better be the case.

Thank you for being here. I want to push through so I can get writing again.. soon!

xo
la

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

the waters are cleansing

part of that cleansing is a process of what seems to be sickness

it really is only a reminder of how much water we do need
and how we need that water to be clean

each of us filters it and transmutes it

wouldn't it be amazing to follow the path of water cluster as it travels the earth and moves from cloud to rain or snow fall and then on to vegetation or animals or humans?

the waters in us are a gift

for everyone that is not feeling well
I wish for your waters to find harmony with peaceful memories

like sunshine sparkles on dancing waves
or free falling through waterfalls
into quiet cool pools below
floating supported and loved

thank you for the ending thread it was just what I needed to read :)

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

Oh my friends …I love you all.  I should have known.  G.G. - I hear ya!  I thought I might have written what you wrote and forgot that I had written it.  And then the illnesses.  I've been battling illness for nine weeks. My entire summer has been shot to hell.  I need to go really fast right now and take a shower because I have pre-op in one hour.  Surgery Thursday.  Nothing life threatening but a painful procedure that has me quaking in my flip flops. 

Will try to get on and do my duty as a moderator (i.e. commenting!) before Thursday, then will be off for awhile but always, always, my heart is here with so many of you.

Love, Ayla

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

dear ayla,
what the heck. I didn't know you were sick. You need to send me your email address again because I am a space and lost it. Why are you sick and what is going on????
I didn't read all of the posts and find it hard to believe this thread started back in april and goes to show how little I am on these days and what happened well I am not exactly sure.
the format for sure is no where near as fun and easy as it used to be.
A lot of people left and I feel kind of like a stranger here and that is my own fault too.
Gaia in general is not the same place to me anymore like many of you. Friends have left or I have lost touch. I look back to when I joined here two years ago and I am even a stranger to myself.
I know it just takes diving back in which I mean to do what of these days.
love jen

Oh and for some reason I can't post pictures anymore which has nothing to do with DD but I loved posting pictures.

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

Yikes..  so sorry some of you are ill.. that sucks… I just wrote for 45 minutes a long missive to this line and it 'blew out' and did not post.  I'm upset about it.  I blabbed on quite well and spilled my guts.  now… can I even do it again?  have to use TextEdit from now on.. I knew that.  crap.So.. in a nutshell… I can't seem to find my place here after the NaNo experience. I start then.  I fell madly in love with all of you.. I mean… I was crazy for you.. for the us of us.  It was intimate.  It was like a drug.  I shot you up everyday.  I was in a frenzy with the writing and sooth by my connection with you.  When it was over and I sent my little poems out, read and gave feedback.. and did a little of this and that here, I didn't get the love back.  some things people didn't read or at least give comment to.  I was disappointed… really.   For those of you that did respond, I was so happy.  I missed our love fest as desperate as some days it felt.  Was I 15?I  hate having expectations.  yuck.  I know better.  I've done my spiritual practices,  I've read my self help books.  I've had personal chats with myself.and… yet… I wasn't feeling nurtured with my little writings.  Others were being nutured.. I could see that.  I read them too.  They sent out lots of things,  they had been here for a long time.. I was new.   what was wrong?  It felt lonely.  It was like being a teenager in love and then… oooo.. I'm sure you're getting my drift here.  With an on line community such as this… and an extraordinary one at that, how do we nurture the needs of everyone with our various foibles.  (IMO)not possible.  Each individual has to be their own contained, sharing self.  and as this community of DD speaks to… Dive in.  Dive Deep.  Be fearless.    If expectation is part of that equation.. disappointment is inevitable.  For me… I either move through it and give it up…and keep joining in because that's what keeps the community alive and well.Some days will be better than others.I have learned in this discussion that I'm needed. To make this place alive and well for us writers it needs me too.  I realize I like being needed here and that if I can give up my expectations that you will still care for me even if you don't give me enough of what I need to believe that.  I'm good.  I just need to feel the love once in while.I gotta go.. work calls.. I'll speak later.. tho' I think I've said what I needed to.I still love you… jeanne/breath  

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

breatth…I loved what you wrote. Thanks for taking the time to re-write a lost post. Yes, you ARE needed.

I'm so sorry you didn't get the feedback on your work you'd have liked. Were they posts on the Poetry board, or to assignments? The assignments are definitely more likely to get feedback from the moderators. This isn't a judgement against the work posted that isn't to an assigment, not at all – just the nature of how things seem to work best here. I've tried to 'enlist' a poetry-specific moderator, but so far we haven't managed to find someone who stays with us long enough to make a real difference on that board. I also think the lack of action there reflects my own priorities and abilities - I'm hopeless at commenting on poetry, and tend to want to read prose pieces. Although so often  when I DO take the time there, I'm often deeply nourished. I am sure the more you comment on the other poetry, the more you'll get comments back.

And again and again, and I know you know this – the only way we keep writing is if we love to do it… for ourselves. AND yes, we need encouragement, especially in the early days/years.

I'm not sure about there being more comments on members who've been here a long time. I think of you as one of our 'long term members' actually! Personally, I try to make an effort with brand new members as I know how important it is, especially just starting out in a group.

For me Ramsses is such an inspiration on the not getting feedback thing,( not just re poetry).  He keeps on posting, no matter what. It's amazing to me.

Hugs hugs hugs
S.

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

Jeanne - we've all been through that - that terrible disappointment when we don't get comments …don't get the love!  Unfortunately, it is a part of D.D. and it's not the fun part.  God, we have to get this going again.  I'm not willing to let it go.  Everyone hang in there.  Everyone try to write and post at least once a week or at least post a comment at least once a week.  Let's go people!  (you too Ayla!)

xo

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

Darling Jeanne,
I hear you.  And I need to disagree about just “old timers” beeing fed. Oh, I know that feeling and I can tell, none of us get comments all the time. Some of us get it often, some perhaps not really that often. And almost everyone around have perhaps more expectations.
I am not always totally content about the amount of comments, I'm just like you and I guess, everyone else here. But we have to keep on doing what we are keeping on.
I can feel bad that our darling mods don't get enough feedback from us.
Many people do quite lot of postings but I don't see them commenting as much… that might be some reason to this as well. A golden rule for each one of us should be, 1 posting 2 comments.
As one who writes poems every now and then, I know that poems are more hard to comment upon in proper manner. Many readers have hard time to say something at all. It might help if you make specific guestions about certain things you have written, telling the reader what part of your work you wish to work with perhaps. Poems are often only commented by telling the author which lines the reader liked. That doesn't perhaps 'feed' the author.

Personally, I felt just like you about November, I was in love with you all, none disregarded. It was a total blast, that November. Never felt that way before.
But I was a bit fading away already from DD before November and I was totally burned out after November. I know many of us have been. I often miss Tom for example, he was a master of giving loving support from the back of his heel. But he had to move on with his stuff and I respect him for doing that.
I for example have started to show up again this last week or so.

I totally understand darlig Jeanne that you feel put off after November, how could anyone meet up with that thing? Normal commenting is not at all what went on during NaNo, that was more chatting than commenting, that was more of an ongoing cofee break with bunch of likeminded friends.

Sending you love and appreciation xoxo

 

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

nono… thanks for your feed back.. I like the notion… that  we 1 post to 2 comments.  that's really a good idea.  It's not a perfect world.  ( it's not?)  and I thank you all for listening to me.  xo j

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

Smell the earth after a good rain.  We are diving deeper- going fearward.  Express those fears, hopes, and feelings, experience the healing.

As we write we leave little bits of ourselves embedded like jewels in a crown.  We are exposed, vulnerable.  Without our passions, (sadness, joy, anger, love, etc) to breathe life into our creations, we just have words arranged in strings.  All I have to do is let go of the fear.  Fear makes me imagine the worst.  (Nobody read my post- they all hate me.  Everyone read my post and think it sucks- Somebody read my post and didn't understand what I was trying to say-)  I suspect we all experience those feelings to some degree or other, old writers and new alike, and *life* is what happens while we are busy making plans.  We had a romantic dinner.  We had a job that is slowly grinding the life out of us.  We had an illness.  We found another (different) great joy and passion in our life.  We are bored.  And so on into the infinite variables life brings us.
It's wonderful you all are here.

blessings-

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

Normal commenting is not at all what went on during NaNo, that was more chatting than commenting, that was more of an ongoing cofee break with bunch of likeminded friends.

mmm.. strikes me that's what we are doing right now :-)))

Phil. I think my fears are about not being able to do everything, letting everyone down.. feeling like I”m failing. Now I know this is just 'mind talk' and not real. I'm grateful that people are sharing here, it feels like support.

I do wonder about how the slowness on Gaia seems to mirror something – I haven't been able to keep up my activity here, but it has nothing to do with how I feel about Gaia - or at least I don't think it does. I'm having the same problem in other areas of my life – I really feel that July “Heat” and pressure thing is real.

I just read what it says for today:

—-

July 21: New Moon and total solar eclipse at 8:35 PM Mountain Daylight Time. This is the second eclipse and the most powerful one. In the days prior and the days after we could experience meltdowns both naturally as in earth movements and figuratively as in personally. When you melt something down it becomes pure potential for creativity. So if you are melting down, it is time to stop everything and take time to do absolutely nothing. Be in the void that is the powerful feminine element. It may feel like death but it is the foundation for conception. Think of this time as an important honoring of the conception of your own rebirth into a new way of being, living, acting, loving, manifesting. Plant a seed today of one thing that you would most like in your life. Write it down, put it on your altar. Give it to the sun to nourish.

….
xo

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

thanks sandra for the thing on the solar eclipse. I am going to sit here for a bit and be in the nothing. really hard to do for me and what the heck do I want most in my life. What do I really want.
So I think Ayla and Nono are right that we should all make an effort to write something or comment every day. Nobody wants DD to fade away.
I am going start right now. Today is the beginning of the rest of my life. I always liked that saying. Just have to remember it.
I miss Tom too and Jim and Islandman, but alas DD is just like life. It is always changing and in some ways remains the same.

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

There was an energetic shift today. i can feel it. An opening, a release.  We can all expect changes soon.

Peace,
michael

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

thanks michael. I hope so. I've been so weak since last Friday sometimes it's too tiring to talk. Was helpful to read “it is time to stop everything and take time to do absolutely nothing.”

xo

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

And for those who did nothing might be the time to do something.

I have an idea.

How bout this: Poetry thread is a toughie to handle and it is hard to find a long term mod to the pod there. We could start the “Mod of the Month” thing. We who write poetry could sign for a month to keep up things rollin over there & people happy.

How bout that?

And why not for the bigger community of DD as well, to perk things up and involve more spirits?

I would hesitate to say yes to become a moderator for “rest of my life” but I could handle it one month - heck, it could be fun!
What say you? Send out for aid my Lady Sandra (always wanted to say those words since LOTR movie nr 2).

xo

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

love it. You up for being August Mod of the month?
xo

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

Take your Hai as my answer.

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

Woohoo, what an excellent idea! Nono, you are a genius!

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

this is a thing for us blind chicken, mind you munchkin'

hell yeah, sometimes I feel like I was several geniouses, every one of my personalities.

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

she IS a genius. I think I'm going to have to give her my tiara.

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

that is a great idea nono!!

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

Yeah Jens, you can take September. I know you can do it.

And how bout Breath? Azyh? What Rammses? Who else… let's work this thing out folks, all together, like an orchestra. Let's play!

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

good idea Nono :-)

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

okydoke. I will take september. Is this for poetry? Or in general? 

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

great idea… so.. to moderate..???. that means to watch the line, read as much as possible if not alllll of people's work, comment, support, be mindful.  hold the space for the goodness of our writing.  
I can do that.  and… should I need support in the moderating zone, may I ask an other to help?  (there is major illness in my family and things happen suddenly)
I'll handle and give joy to October.
I think it's exciting to do this.  I will have finished taking a 14 week Creativity Coach training, it willl be good practice in the art of facilitating.
Whoopee..  did some say Nono is a genius?
“falling in love again.. what am I to do.. what am I to do… caaan't heeelp it.”  In the great verse of Edith Piaf.
your breath

Re: Activity on Diving Deeper grinding to a halt?

ok ok everyone HOLD YOUR HORSES!! or at least lemme catch up will ya?! I've just made a new thread about this wonderful Monthly Moderating thing… go there :-)