Editing has yet to begin, but that's mainly because we've put a new policy in place for e-zine selection. It took us 3.5 hours last Sunday to go through only two sections (The Abstract Thinker and The Poet), even though we left no room for idle chit chat. Because of the large quantity of material we had to deal with in this 6 month term, we've realized that maybe a meeting is not the best of ideas to get the job done. Enter Google Docs. Our resident "editor in chief" has put up an excel document that trajectorizes who voted for what, who's responsible for what and in general, where they're at in the editing business. It's a transition from the way we worked to the way we will be working from this issue onward. It'll be helpful to know where the individual editors stand on their individual pieces so when the executive call comes around, the chief ed knows what to do.
Meanwhile, please know that because your pieces have made it past Round 1: Selection and into Round 2: Editing, this does not necessarily equate that they'll make it into the e-zine itself. If the pieces are found to be lacking in any way, or the editor feels the end result was not satisfactory, they will be stricken from the issue. There are some that have already been sidelined, and are subject to a substantial edit to be given e-zine accreditation. Please know that this is all subject to quality only, and it's not personal.
Having said that, once everything is finalized and we're ready to launch Phase 2: E-Mentoring, the respective authors will be introduced to their editors and the editing will begin.
Publication of Volume 4 is slated for January, 2009.
"A writer and nothing else: a man alone in a room with the English language, trying to get human feelings right. " ~John K. Hutchens, New York Herald Tribune, 10 September 1961
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
DWL Karachi Reading
Our Karachi chapter has arranged for a proper reading this time around, where you'll need to bring something to read although it isn't necessary. Expect many participants to bring something, however. But hey, no pressure! Details are below:
What: Desi Writers Lounge Karachi Reading (officially, it's the first reading)
Where: Cafe Avenue on Zamzama
When: October 20, 2008 @ 6 pm (Updated)
RSVP: If you're a 'Lounge member, head over to the Coordinations, Coordinations board and leave your mark. if you're not a member, email in to readings@desiwriterslounge.net and we'll address your queries.
That's all for today, folks! Hope the Karachiites will see it fit to mosey over to the rendezvous point and engage in some fruitful intellectual banter. We've been told our readings are anything but boring!
Update: The meeting date has been bumped forward due to unforeseen circumstances for non attendance by some regular members.
What: Desi Writers Lounge Karachi Reading (officially, it's the first reading)
Where: Cafe Avenue on Zamzama
When: October 20, 2008 @ 6 pm (Updated)
RSVP: If you're a 'Lounge member, head over to the Coordinations, Coordinations board and leave your mark. if you're not a member, email in to readings@desiwriterslounge.net and we'll address your queries.
That's all for today, folks! Hope the Karachiites will see it fit to mosey over to the rendezvous point and engage in some fruitful intellectual banter. We've been told our readings are anything but boring!
Update: The meeting date has been bumped forward due to unforeseen circumstances for non attendance by some regular members.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Consensus & Review Pushed Forward
Due to the wealth of material the editors need to read through, I've pushed the date of our meeting forward by close to a month, which of course means the editing process will begin a month later and end a month later.
Though we'll try for a December 31 publication date, Volume 4 might see the light of day some time in the first week of 09. We're committed to quality, and there's a lot of material to wade through.
As you can see, we don't take this task lightly.
Though we'll try for a December 31 publication date, Volume 4 might see the light of day some time in the first week of 09. We're committed to quality, and there's a lot of material to wade through.
As you can see, we don't take this task lightly.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Polls closing and Eid festivities...
Now that Eid has formally been announced, a very happy Eid to all our members and to the readers of this blog, if you celebrate it that is! Otherwise, it's just another celebration.
In other news, polls have officially closed and votes will be tallied up along with holding an independent ballot by our moderating and editing board. Results of that will be discussed at length, a finalized list of pieces compiled and the associated authors contacted. Of course, just because you've made it into one phase of the polling stages, doesn't necessarily mean you'll be in the e-zine. It simply means you've made it into that phase. :) We're very picky, and with each e-zine issue, our focus on quality becomes more acute and more necessary. Striving for publication for our members is a very real dream, and we know all what's needed to get there. To that extent, we ask our writers to work with their assigned editors. For the next two months, these people are going to be your confidantes, your friends and the dragons breathing down your necks all rolled into one!
We know: it's not a pretty process. It never is. But we guarantee it's going to be one helluva ride, and the end result...well now, that's just going to be dandy!
- TPTB
In other news, polls have officially closed and votes will be tallied up along with holding an independent ballot by our moderating and editing board. Results of that will be discussed at length, a finalized list of pieces compiled and the associated authors contacted. Of course, just because you've made it into one phase of the polling stages, doesn't necessarily mean you'll be in the e-zine. It simply means you've made it into that phase. :) We're very picky, and with each e-zine issue, our focus on quality becomes more acute and more necessary. Striving for publication for our members is a very real dream, and we know all what's needed to get there. To that extent, we ask our writers to work with their assigned editors. For the next two months, these people are going to be your confidantes, your friends and the dragons breathing down your necks all rolled into one!
We know: it's not a pretty process. It never is. But we guarantee it's going to be one helluva ride, and the end result...well now, that's just going to be dandy!
- TPTB
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Closing Poll Dates
Polls will be closing on September 30, so now's the time to vote. So far, we've received a very healthy response. A lot of people have been voting in terms of what they'd like to see in the e-zine. Nice to know democracy still works.
The recent attack on Marriott in Islamabad, has a lot of us worried for the safety of our friends and loved ones in the capital city. However, from the reports we've been receiving, all of them are (thankfully) safe. We just wanted to give a head's up to any concerned party.
Meanwhile, if you haven't called the people closest to the accident (F-6, F-7 and F-8 sectors in particular), now's the time to call and ensure their safety.
We hope everyone is safe and sound, enjoying the comforts within their homes.
- TPTB
The recent attack on Marriott in Islamabad, has a lot of us worried for the safety of our friends and loved ones in the capital city. However, from the reports we've been receiving, all of them are (thankfully) safe. We just wanted to give a head's up to any concerned party.
Meanwhile, if you haven't called the people closest to the accident (F-6, F-7 and F-8 sectors in particular), now's the time to call and ensure their safety.
We hope everyone is safe and sound, enjoying the comforts within their homes.
- TPTB
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Of Submission Dates and the Future
We, at the Desi Writers Lounge, otherwise known as "The DWL Mod Squad" are patting ourselves on the back for an intelligent foresight. What is this amazing realization, you ask? Submissions for this half's e-zine and fourth issue, are closing today (September 15, PST). With over 9 pages of poetry and three odd pages of prose to go through, our work is cut out for us.
In other news, we're going to scour all present and past material for possibilities of publication. Yes, that's right...we're thinking of compiling all the really brilliant content together, into a book or collection of short stories, and approaching local publishers; thus realizing the dream we dreamed a little over four years ago, of having our names as a collective, in print. In addition, we'll be living up to our mission statement on our frontpage!
Who knows? Maybe somewhere down the line, we'll actually own our own writers cafe? Baby steps, though, baby steps.
That's it for this week's update...apologies for it coming after two weeks, but things have been hectic. That's a good thing, in case you were wondering!
- TPTB
In other news, we're going to scour all present and past material for possibilities of publication. Yes, that's right...we're thinking of compiling all the really brilliant content together, into a book or collection of short stories, and approaching local publishers; thus realizing the dream we dreamed a little over four years ago, of having our names as a collective, in print. In addition, we'll be living up to our mission statement on our frontpage!
Who knows? Maybe somewhere down the line, we'll actually own our own writers cafe? Baby steps, though, baby steps.
That's it for this week's update...apologies for it coming after two weeks, but things have been hectic. That's a good thing, in case you were wondering!
- TPTB
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Reading Series & E-Zine Dates
Apologies for the lack of updates but we've been busy at the Lounge, what with the polls going up and all. This half promises to be chock full of a lot of poetry; writers seem to be a dying breed, and what few there are, are either suffering through massive writers' blocks or are in between pieces or finally, just plain lazy to put up their most recent work. We hate you all! :)
Our present reading series, being held in Islamabad, will be concluding in March 2009 (coming full circle), and we'll probably have two more readings before then. As to whether or not we'll continue the series remains to be seen. One of the moderators and key organizers of the reading, will be moving to Karachi on a permanent basis, so it's a case of the 'ifs and maybes' for now. We'll keep this space updated, however, as things progress.
Meanwhile, polls are going up with an expiration date of September 30. The date by which new pieces will be considered for inclusion into the fourth issue, is September 15. The interim two weeks will then be plenty of time for the bulk of our membership who chooses to mass-vote at the end.
Questions, comments etc? You know where to put 'em!
- TPTB
Our present reading series, being held in Islamabad, will be concluding in March 2009 (coming full circle), and we'll probably have two more readings before then. As to whether or not we'll continue the series remains to be seen. One of the moderators and key organizers of the reading, will be moving to Karachi on a permanent basis, so it's a case of the 'ifs and maybes' for now. We'll keep this space updated, however, as things progress.
Meanwhile, polls are going up with an expiration date of September 30. The date by which new pieces will be considered for inclusion into the fourth issue, is September 15. The interim two weeks will then be plenty of time for the bulk of our membership who chooses to mass-vote at the end.
Questions, comments etc? You know where to put 'em!
- TPTB
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