Monthly Moderating Thread

Added July 31st: a briefer list of Monthly Moderating 'duties':

- If you are a 'joint' Moderator, stay in touch with each other; you might decide a 'plan of action' or just go at it organically..

- Re-read the On Commenting guidelines, but keep your own 'style'!

- Start a thread on the Tree House especially for 'your' month, a place to chat and hang out for everyone, make it sticky, unsticky the previous monthly thread. - this thread helps to hold space generally, you can encourage people to share how they are doing - in life, in writing

- Make sure new members are welcomed and their pieces are commented on

- Comment anywhere where there is a dearth of commenting; find posts that haven't been commented on or that only have a few comments; dig back in the archives! - and you might look at commenting on pieces that had a lot of activity in the past and 'bring them to life' again – finding out if the piece has been forgotten by the author, or where it is now, edited?

- You don't have to read every new post, not by any means

- Don't forget to write… and try to do any new assignments that appear in your month of moderating


- Contact all LTMs (Long Term Mods) in one email quickly and directly about any 'issues' arising (eg someone being upset, or whatever feels 'off' or in need of some extra care and attention)

-  If someone contacts you to join DD, tell them to contact one of the LTMs

- If you have any problems as a MM, never hesitate to contact me or one of the LTMs

- Scroll down this thread for more hints and suggestions, but these are the main ones.

- for technical details of what moderators can and cannot do, go here

——————————
original post:

(the MMT as opposed to the PMT..!)

Not sure if this is the place for this thread, but for now it is. I'll 'sticky' it.

ok everyone. as some of you know Nono had a brilliant idea that DD have special moderators that come in only for a month period - to help out the long term mods, to give some new fizz and life to our space here, and to give their particular personality for that month.

As it stands, Nono is going to do August, and I think Jenni, September? Breathh you want October?

Lets leave it at that for the moment, and by October we can check in to see who else wants to do it. I even think 3 months in advance is too much to 'cast in stone' but if you gals are sure, ok.

There are specific moderator guidelines –

You don't have to read every thread, not by any means.
Yes it means helping hold space,
It means contacting me or one of the other LTMs (Long Term Mods)  quickly and directly about any 'issues' arising (eg someone being upset, or whatever feels 'off' or in need of some extra care and attention).
It means taking EXTRA care with commenting ( so brush up on the On Commenting thread).
It means making sure anyone brand new is welcomed and their work commented on.

And because DD is a request-in group, people have to contact a moderator if they want to join. If someone contacts a MM (monthly mod) to join, I suggest you tell them to contact one of the LTMs as we have a fairly indepth process here which we sometimes take off-DD.

If you have any problems as a MM, never hesitate to contact me or one of the LTMs

I'll send out an announcement to everyone about this new wonderful happening - just before end July. Ok?

Jenni - your question. No it's not just for poetry, but as the poetry board (and in fact the prose board too sometimes) is a bit neglected, it would be great if the MMs spend some special time there, while the LTMs can focus on the assignments. BUT any commenting anywhere is much appreciated.

Have I missed anything, Ruth, Ayla, Leigh-Anne, Randy, Andrea? Please add 'tips' here, that would be great.

xo

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

oh and ps YES to enticing people like Ramsses etc to take on the MM badge ;-)

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

Holy Moly!

I need to peek through On Commenting so I wont piss off anyone, thee hee.
So glad to see this idea take ground and come to aid for our hard working LTM:s. We don't, by own means, have to wait to our dedicated month to come and comment more actively. This brings me back to writing business, right.
Soon I'll have my very own tidy broom and a tiara for heavens sake (Sandra is borrowing hers).

Yours very truly,
MM of August

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

ok then… October it is… I'm an official M n' M.. I melt in the mouth not in the hands.  ooo that was bad.. whatever.
Can I wear the tiara?  can I? can I?  I have my own broom, and it takes flight pretty soon, so I gotta go…
weeee zooom
breathing the MM

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

YES you can have a tiara..!!

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

Oooh, Sandra, I want a tiara like that!

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

maybe this is a bit too kitch for you, Ruth??

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

oh, here's the one for you, Ruth…

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

hmm, maybe I'll just be content with my invisible one for now…

had to look up “kitch”, by the way!

I like the light/colour/contrast in the first one (yours/Nono's on loan), and the shadow effect on the wall. I'm actually cool with not having one of my own though. Nono will forgive me if she catches me looking at her more than usual during the month of August. :)

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

Right!  Fancy dress then is it?

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

Mudge.  …. Mudge?
I suppose I'll get used to it.

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!
Dearest Sandra.  Thanks for that.   CurMUDGEon.  All part of the general dusting and renovation on my profile.  I still will respond to phil I suspect, so if you must, smack me with your smashing wand and then we'll have a nice cuppa tea.   ;-]
That's not me in the pic Nono,  if it were, I would have selected something a little more Sir Elton Johnish for the sunglasses…..

blessings-

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

Not you?! I swear, that mugshot is screaming Mudge. I can just imagine a pair of Sir Elton Jonnish on that nose, it would be…absolutely horrendously hillarious. I would honestly clear my throat through screamy laughter.

Oh well Mudge dude, I actually said: ”how many martinis have she got before that pic was taken?” Indicating I supposed it was a female (the poor thing) knowing you are a male. Hope it is not a relative though? If so, I'd better go and hang myself in shame of making fun of your darling auntie missy Bridget or something. Say Hi to her from me and offer her a bigger tiara or crown even, preferringly one that covers a bit more.
She seems to have a glimpse in her eye, what I see through those perky monocles.

Martini, anyone?

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

No relative either.   HUGS!

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

I'llve  haaad one.

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

Phil, you sure you wanna be smacked with my wand ??? ;-)

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

Heh!    All the lads would say-
“Now that's a smashing wand”

:D

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

this is a cool idea, i am not sure if my commenting is good enough for being a moderator?

reading what has been shared here in dd can be just as intimate as sharing what I write myself, it can be confronting in a good way

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

Azyh, your commenting is way good! Would love to see you as a MM.

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

On Commenting...

Yes, Azyh, I love your way of commenting. I think you do it 'naturally' - it being sharing what/how the writing you read makes you feel etc.

And we don't have to be strict – the On Commenting thread is quite fluid if you do read it (and I think anyone who is going to be a MM should read it) – there are only one or two really important points:

Always treat what you comment on as 'fiction' - even if it's stated to be memoir. The point being not to link what you read to the author as being true or a statement about the author. If it's memoir, still read it as fiction – the best memoir in my view reads this way. The main thing is not to think that what is being written says anything at all about the author, eg if something awful is happening to an I character,  we don't go, oh, I'm so sorry X this happened to you. Or if an I character has really racist views, we don't go X! you horrible thing, etc etc. We treat it all as fiction and that the story and the characters are not about the author. I'm re stating this but I think it needs some restating.

And I do want to encourage people to share their process here, I want to encourage more personal sharings about - about anything. Much like we did on the is DD grinding to a halt thread, and on the NaNoWriMo threads. I think we need this. And I feel it needs to be separated a bit from the writing, the creative writing.

In theory, this Tree House board is for this kind of chatting, but I think too much other chatting happens here, not to mention a thread like this. I can't yet 'visualise' what the new board looks like, and how to encourage it to be deep personal shares, so a kind of safe, sacred space. The tree house, to me, doesn't feel safe or sacred enough. Anyway, I'll put my thinking cap on.


Ok, the On Commenting important points.. I think I'll just copy and paste from the thread:

——————-

State what works for you in the writing:

There is always something. It's like people, you might really find them awful, but keep taking a look and there will be something to love. Always.

There are many spiritual paths that teach a simple method: place your attention on what works, and what does not work drops away. This has been my experience.

Also, if you begin with something positive, you support the listener to be open to what else you have to share.

Ask questions about the writing:

Ask questions rather than make statements about what you don't like or what in your opinion doesn't work. If you feel you don't understand something, or it is confusing or whatever, see if you can frame your impression in the form of a question.

Is there is something more you would like to happen in the writing - is there a question that could open up this possibility for the writer ?

For example, Gabriele asked me a great question about my story Serendip - “has Helen [the main character]  gone through a development, has she woken up to some facts about her life and will she  do some things differently? ”

Questions allow the writer to  align with what they themselves are trying to share in their writing, even if they are not consciously aware of what this is.

Statements tend to force our own opinions onto the writer, they actually don't really  tell the writer anything about the writing, only about the person making the statement.

I have always found that questions lead me as a writer to go deeper into what I have written - I ask myself questions: Was I just slap-dash in my description? Is there more here for me to open up? Do I really know what I was trying to say or was I caught up in the prettiness of the language? Have I simply assumed the reader will understand something that I want them to understand?
—————–

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

what to do if there's not much new work to comment on:

la and I were chatting a bit and she pointed out quite rightly that there is very little new writing happening right now - I'm hoping this picks up by August, but if it doesn't, then – well, not just 'then' – anytime – it would be great to go through the boards and find writing posts that haven't been commented on in the past - or only have one comment – and comment on those, no matter how far back it was written.

I know that I always get a burst of energy when someone comments on my work, so perhaps if we all do some of this it will help us get things moving again…

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

what to do if you have a question re moderating when you are a MM:

Best to send all the LTMs an email (i.e. send one email, but copy us all) - this way you'll be sure to get an answer fairly quickly.

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

okay I am a little nervous about this because I kind of doubt my commenting skills. I will just go in there and do my best though. So I am up for it.
I assume there is  a list of LTM's somewhere. 
Okay on the prose as well as poetry.
Nice pictures there nono. nice to see what you look like and breathh as well. here is me. in case you wondered.

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

btw, I don't think you need a tiara, jenni. You are way too gorgeous :-)

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

that is very kind of you to say.

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

No need to be nervous Jens, you'll do just fine. You be your sweet yourself and give of your energy. You are a writer, right? Commenting is a lot of writing and if you don't find anything “intelligent” and “insightful” to say about a piece, just support the writer, give them love and nourishment. Just like Tom use to do, he is a master of cheering people withouout actually saying anything about their writing. He gives a lot of his energy.
And you can start to practise right away.

And really good things about “what if there is not enough”, I have known there is a lot to comment and make things lively again. We need traffic, it has already started, there are over 20 postings now, every day.
And another thing to make people notice us again, why not go dig up some of the really popular and crowded threads from past as well. Many of the people there will get a notification in their email that DD is back in business. Maybe we could meet on Jennis porch or under several of Jims tricky threads? Or in that hotel… or wait, didn't that go a bit overboard?

Ruthie, so you are jealous of my marvellous tiara? With right, mine is the best. I'm just so sad that my Photoshop is gone (had to reboot and it dissappeared to never come back). I would otherwise cut out that tiara and place it on my head. The colours are perfect! Thanks Sandra. And the broom will be a good thing.

And Mudge, nice pair of sunglasses allthough not my style… oh, there WAS a tiara there as well? Suppose you held on tiara and added glasses… how many martinis have she got before that pic was taken?

I'm humming the good ol' “love is in the air”, cos I feel it right now. There has been a shift.

xoxo as many as you all can take

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

This is just like a tea party! Plans are made. Things will be done. We all have brooms…

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

okydoky nono. thanks for your words of wisdom. I like that forest.

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

now there's a witches hat for my tiara.  yeaa.
Thanks Sandra for helping us follow the path of excellent MMing.
I wasn't nervous at first and after reading all of the posts … I got
a little nervous.  in a good way.  Commenting on others writing is so
incredibly important and an excellent way to improve our own writing. (IMO)
I'm honored to have the opportunity to be a moderator.  
blessing to you
 j/b

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

Commenting on others writing is so
incredibly important and an excellent way to improve our own writing. (IMO)

Yes! If we are able to articulate what it is about someone's piece that 'works' for us, that engages us, and where our attention wanders, then we can more easily see these factors in our own writing…

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

Hi y'all,
I am actually hanging on the line with Time Warner Cable so I can get my laptop connected to the internet. I am hoping this will end my lonely and computerless lifestyle which has been going on for several months. My old laptop split at the seams, and the computer I am on dates back to the 90s and took (no joke) two hours to load this page so I could respond here.

Anyway, I think this monthly moderator idea is just brilliant (yes, Nono) and exciting.

Now I have to hold my breath to see if this will really post. Fingers, legs, arms and toes crossed.

Love,
Andrea

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

Just *great* to see you here, Andrea :-)

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

holy moly - this is great - glad to see everyone getting excited about this, and the distribution of tiaras is lovely (especially Mudge's, right on!) Andrea, I'm crossing everything too so that you can be back… good to see you here!

sorry for being silent - been feeling craptastic these days and haven't had the energy to do more than write a few things. reading on the screen is a bit of a challenge, but I won't let it hold me back, promise.

looking forward to seeing how this all works out, and if the support you are all giving each other now is any indication, it's going to be brilliant.

big hugs to everyone,
xo
Leigh-Anne

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

Dangerous thing this thinking is…
I've been thinking.

This Monthly Moderating thing could be a standing assignment in the future. We could have on tops perhaps two MM:s per month. I mean, when we start to get traffic back here, there will be a lotta need for commenting and we need a lotta practise on commenting. When we practise our commenting, we practise our writing, just like Sandra said, we expose ourselves on wide range of texts and have to think what is working in them. It's an improve! Any writer outta do this.

Somehow it is more like that a person steps on a plate when taken an obligation, how moderate the intention may be it gives focus. And we all know how the energy goes, if I tell the Universe that I am serious about this writing business… yeah, do I need to say more?

Now Andrea, two hours to load this page just to say hi… how warming to get that “Hi”. Hope your computing equipment will get an improvement soon so you can be more frequent. It must've been an odd period to be without.

LA - hugs right back and hang in there.

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

oh i love the sharing idea :) that feels like less pressure to me.

I will sign up for shared MM :)

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

A pair of horses, right? Can do more, makes it merrier.

We shall see what our darling cultivator thinks about this development first. But this kinda thing might brush the “horror” of not even wanting to try. I think you can do MM just fabulous Azyh and I would love to share mine with you as well.

So Sandra, hope you don't feel that this thing will run off hands now ;) But who knows maybe she will say “This is getting better and better. People seem so willing to work.” Positive thinking…

And I think, when a person has done his or her MM they will most likely continue to contribute and perhaps write stuff more so as well.

xo

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

Lemme muse for a day on this two horse thing Nono! (Loving your input and enthusiasm - it feels SO supportive.)
xo

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

Ok, so this is where I'm at on the double MM possibility -

I'd like to do a trial – to see how it works.

One concern is that if there are two of you, there is a possibility that each will feel, “oh, there is someone else to take care of it, I don't really need to try”. And the other concern, is that if you run into difficulties, there are two of you that need the LTMs time and attention, and the other concern is the same as above -that there is very little new writing happening that with 2 new mods there will be even less to comment on.

That's the pessimistic outlook.

The positive outlook is that if there are two of you, you'll team up and make things work even better – eg deciding between you how you want to 'do' it (eg one of you feels more drawn to the poetry board, another to prose/ you decide on a 'schedule' of how you manage things, and give each other support, breaks from commenting etc / deciding that one of you handles 'old' posts that have not been commented on, the other handles old posts that do have lots of comments…etc etc)

Right now I'm feeling more inclined to the positive view.

With 2 mods I'd suggest that part of the MMs 'duty' is also to do a little new writing, to inspire others to do the same. Especially the new assignments.  And, I'd suggest that the 2 MMs stay in close contact with each other via email.

How does that sound?

If this sounds good, lets do a trial for August.

Azyh, would you like to team up with Nono? And we'll check in at the end of August to see how it went? And if it went well, maybe Jenni and Breathh for September? Phil..MUDGE, can I entice you for October … with who else as a possible 2nd?

Ah. Next issue, is that with 2 mods, doing a monthly mod stint could come around more quickly….

Talk to me.

Love,
Sandra

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

hey there.. I can't do justice to Sept.. but October will work for me.. thanks.
xo breath..

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

In the face of my own ineptitude, I must press on.  This will be try  #2 to get this posted.  (I don't feel witty and pretty and gay…)
I've been footdragging about signing up for M&M's.  Poetry just isn't my bag, man (dude/dudette)  Harry Chapin wrote a song about a fellow named Mr Tanner who sang like I write poetry. 
My feelings have been about fairness.  How can I comment on craftsmanship when I have none?  After my rattling about in my lonely writer's garret, muttering, and tugging at my chin whiskers, I've come to the conclusion that if I feel this much resistance to a project, it's probably something I should do.   So, sign me up for whenever, and I'll do the best I can.  My apologies in advance to all I offend.

blessings-

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

cool! You are on for September then, maybe with Jenni, we'll have to check with her… and don't worry about ineptitude, remember the only way to learn is to make mistakes. At least that's the philosophy I've been going by and I'm sticking with it.

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

I've been following this discussion and i love the energy and enthusiasm. How can that not be a good thing to promote creativity and inspiration?  Ia m excited to se and feel the different MM adding their flavor and texture to DD.

I too share concerns about the double trouble theory of MMs but i am usually the voice of dissent in a group.  My thought is that folks may trip over each and other and it takes away form the specialness of having a month to do your thing and bring yourself wholly to the community.  That does not mean it won't work, just my belly talking.

Again, i am so excited to see this take shaoe and form and that nono is diving in first, possibly with azyh.  This is a great way for us to stir things up a but whiel maintaining the foundation that the LTM have built. I hope they will not feel lost or un-needed as htis process evolves. Our LTM are the backbone of our community and personally mean a great deal to me. I know i am not alone in this feeling!

Peace,
michael

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

Personally, I don’t mind how many MM’s there are… as long as we don’t forget, as a group, to write – write assignments, write prose, write poetry, write comments, just write! :-P

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

Wowsah, it starts to feel like this MM is becoming a THING.

First of all Sandra:

(I'm sorry, I think that I should have written this thing to you privately first, before I threw it out. But it is giving a good conversation and energy though :)
Your pessimistic thoughts about the thing; My own feeling is, when I sign for a MM period I want to work, I want to give energy, as much as I can. I still have my regular work and all the other stuff, but so has most of the LMT:s as well. So for me being a pair of horses in this would not make me think that I don't have to try. It obligates.

Secondly the difficulties; Well, I can get in trouble whenever as a regular smartass person. I think that the MM will think little more when commenting so I belive this should not become any larger problem. Everyonhe can get in trouble anytime.

My initial intention with the whole thing is first to pay back some of the huge amout I have got from this wonderful place through paying it forward. and secondly to take off some load from LMT:s shoulders with more definite drive that a person can do in shorter term as one month. One month is also long enough period to establish more good habbit to give alongside getting from others. In my head this kind of thing could be an obligatory for a person that have joggled around couple of years (as I have). It should be the ultimate assignment.

My concerns where more about WHO is signing in for MM period. It should be a writer that can step into friendly and thoughful place. I mean, if someone jumps in from the blue sky, becomes a member and then says day one that “I wanna be MM now” then the LMT should engourage to just do commenting for a period first so that person can be “checked out”. All though, you are giving one huge key to the MM. It is an honour. I love you guys too much, see, I want to be to help.
There can be MM:s that might suit as LMT:s afterwards as well. Who knows.

And there not being enough things to do for a pair… well, the pair can also both comment on same pieces. That should give much more to the writer. To be able to be a pair enables them take the time and what a help they can be to each other. And thye would not bother the LMT's all the time, he heh!
I know couple more persons that I will try to engourage to take the torch. I can also think of being MM again later on, next year perhaps. And I can go alone. It doesn't have to stop. Too bad that Michael is going to Mongolia (yeiks) course I would've nagged him down about this :) man is a teacher for heavens sake.

It is a good idea that we should evaluate this MM thing in late August.

I would love to see Phil and Mudge as MM:s and also Sherab and Loni Love are in my mind, they might need something to bite on to be able to come back writingwise. Wouldn't that be a treat? I see my period as a possibility to come back and be more serious about my writing.

For sure, I will do some writing myself as well. So much inspiration around it will be unavoidable.

But let us not boost this thing up to a balloon. I could start to comment a lot without being a monthly mod, but I need to do a statement to myself and take the obligation as an self pointed assignment.

So, 'just write' sounds darn good to me.

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

Thanks nono (and la - YES to writing!!)
My concerns where more about WHO is signing in for MM period

Don't worry about that one… or at least let me worry about it. MM will only be available to those who have been on DD for some time and who show a deep connection to the DD process and the commenting guidelines - or at the very least a willingness to learn. People can ask to be MMs or can be suggested by others, but that doesn't automatically mean they will be.

In a day or so I'll try to make the main moderating points clear by editing my first post and adding them to that post.

So, all we are waiting for right now is to see if Azyh is up for joint mod August - and we'll have August be a 'trial' period :-)

xo

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

Oh yes i am ready to commit to some regular commenting, writing and reading for a month.

My thoughts on it all are already spoken out loud by Nono… I think we are already in sync (is that scary?)

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

It's not scary. It's awesome!

Talk about holding the space! The act of commitment is an act of creation. Just living into the possibility of being an MM is causing a shift in the Now. You're all holding the space, and it's calling to me to come play.

So, I'm holding the space for you to hold the space for everyone to do their best swan dive. I know even though I've forgotten how to swim it'll be worth it to feel the air on my face again, and the water exploding around me before caressing me dangerously, then to top it off, the loving arms of a moderator (month long or long term) pulling me up to feel the cool, life giving kiss of fresh air … so I can do it all over again.

Yeah, I need to be writing. I'll try for a little less word vomit next time. You're all just so beautiful and inspiring I can't help myself.

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

I'll try for a little less word vomit next time.

well i guess one persons word vomit is another persons flutter of butteries

i had to hold my stomach while I dove in with you and when we surfaced for that sweet kiss of air, I was all.. YEAH!!! I want to do that too

feels like nanowrimo all over again… I love that feeling

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

oh yes, definitely (re the word vomit thing). in fact what a great name… I could re title Diving Deeper “Word Vomit” !! in fact it's a great name for a writer's blog…. Loni - I'd nab it if I were you before someone else does.

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

Ok so this is all feeling *very* good. Thanks Azyh and Loni Love :-)

So. Nono and Azyh on for August. I'll let you know when I've made a clearer little list here to help out MMs.

xo

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

please note my edit to the first post in this thread, an attempt to make things clearer for all MMs.

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

I've been thinking…

[the DD crowd gives an uninomous (is that a word LOL?) sigh of resignation]

Oh, no, it is nothing dangerous this time.
See, we have all these seeds, right? I see them every day when I log in… you have XXX seeds… so my thought was to give 'em all up here on DD, to excellent writing I like. What do I have them for? And why collect such a thing?
That outta make things brighten up even more, that ought make us HOT again.

Let's sow and we will harvest new visitors and writers and hopefully commentators.

Love,
Nono

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

I'm quite happy to spend my “seeds” here in DD.  (Freud would have a field day with that ;-]    )
Are they working?  is my question.  Used to be we got all glowy and saintlike but now all I seem to do is collect them.    Nonetheless- I'll dispense them here and see what happens.
blessings-

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

another good idea Nono.I used to click “Like” when I remembered but then kinda gave up. I've actually forgotten what seeds do now, but hey, lets experiment!

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

Hmm, I used to do this too, and I liked this feature in blogs as well. But when the nature of the thing changed in blogs—from “I like” to “I endorse this”—I stopped using it; too commercial-sounding, for one, but also, there's a world of difference between liking something and endorsing it.

As for here, I can still “Like” and have just started clicking again (thanks, Nono). It seems to take a long time doings its thing, though.

Let's not stop at “Like”-ing a piece of writing, though. Let's be sure to comment as well. :)

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

the great seed give away has been a success! I am down to 18 seeds :)

go forth little seeds ~ unleash your forest!

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

Sure is sassy here… I'm very excited with all this…   I love Loni Love's words..  ya.. grab the 'word vomit'.. it would be a great blog.. wow.
“and the idea of holding space… the act of commitment is an act of creation..
everything you wrote Loni.. just some how filled me.
thanks..
I love all you guys.  I need to get to writing.. xo


It's not scary. It's awesome! 

Talk about holding the space! The act of commitment is an act of creation. Just living into the possibility of being an MM is causing a shift in the Now. You're all holding the space, and it's calling to me to come play. 

So, I'm holding the space for you to hold the space for everyone to do their best swan dive. I know even though I've forgotten how to swim it'll be worth it to feel the air on my face again, and the water exploding around me before caressing me dangerously, then to top it off, the loving arms of a moderator (month long or long term) pulling me up to feel the cool, life giving kiss of fresh air … so I can do it all over again. 

Yeah, I need to be writing. I'll try for a little less word vomit next time. You're all just so beautiful and inspiring I can't help myself.

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

Note to all MM and upcoming MMs.. I've added a link to the first post in this thread about what moderators can do on a technical level (eg move posts etc)

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread - thoughts and tips

Okay, our trial period is comming to end and what I can see it has been a good experience for me and also for DD. Our traffic has increased combined with less load on our LMT's. So it is an obvious win-win situation.

My tips for new MM's are as follows:

- Be true to yourself and your style in terms of commenting.

- If you don't have anything constructive to come up with when you read something you can always prize the effort. There is always something nice to say AND just say how you felt when reading a piece, what images or perhaps memoirs it raised. There is always something you can say.

- Dig up old/un-commented stuff in adequate pace. One or two per day is max, sometimes, if the traffic is good you may let the old stuff rest. There are still un-commented things out there. Check every thread. When un-commented stuff is dealt with you can go find something that has only one/few comment/s.

- SPREAD YOUR SEEDS! Leave always a seed behind when you comment. There's no harm in that, it just makes us more HOT out there in Gaia.

- When a newbie comes in and says hello, cheer up and also send a note to at least one LMT. We did that to Sandra. It is nice to be welcommed.

- Throw yourself over a newbies first postings and give them of your time. These are the ones that need most support so they can feel safe and good around here.

- I have had poetry thread under special care during my MM period. It is often so hard to comment upon but it can be done. But otherwise, go where you have the energy, every MM is unique.

- Goof around, start conversations, ask questions, play and have fun. Support even your co-MM. Azyh has been so good to have (for me).

Well… that's just about it for the moment. But I'll be back if I come up with more.

Good Luck and Azyh and I are still here, send a note if you think we can help.

xo,
Nono

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread - thoughts and tips

I think this has been a huge success! As a writer i feel I own this title in a new way. I am finally looking at my writing with new eyes. Before i thought my pieces  seemed to come from no where and -who do i think i am- to know what to do with them? I don't really care about the -knowing- any more, I see them now as unfinished stories that are crying out for an ending. And because i love stories so much how can i possibly sit by and let these endless pieces become computer archives? As a reader, I need closure and as a writer I can let the words flow to their natural endings. It's my duty to the words, they deserve a custodian of story endings… and some how this August that custodian has found a place in my heart.

MM tips

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread - thoughts and tips

Wow Azyh, that was right on! The first tip was so cute, awwww.

HUGS!!!

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread - thoughts and tips

OK.  Ya got me.  What clickable pics?  I'm lost.  (see tip#1)

phil

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread - thoughts and tips

Oh you'll see next week when you get your magic broom. They look like this:

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread - thoughts and tips

oh yes i remember what i wanted to add now

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

Note for November 2009:
Gabriele has agreed to stay on as “Monthly Moderator” for November, so we'll have just one Mod this month, since it's NaNo and most of us will be involved there. Back to two in December.

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

Gabriele you are the best!!!!
thanks so much and thank you too Sandra for always being there.

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

you're most welcome, jenni! :-))

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

Yeah Gabriele!!

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

Re: Monthly Moderating Thread

Gabriele, I'm glad you're staying on as Moderator. I regret I won't be able to participate in NaNo, I have to focus the majority of my energy on studying for my Medical coding and billing certification.  It's time to put living from paycheck to paycheck to rest.

                  Hugs , Peter