The Writers' Block

by **Sedgistan** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 5:04 pm

We're continuing to work on issues, including the ban reversal ones such as your adultery one. I can't say when it, or any others, will be added, but we are still working on them. It's worth bearing in mind that for a variety of reasons, some issues take longer than others to finish. Just because we've got previous ones done in a week or so doesn't mean that we'll be able to do that with them all.

by **Panageadom** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 2:15 pm

I was actually wondering much the same thing...out of interest, what might we expect sooner, issues in the current normal batch, or issues in the accelerated issues program? And any sort of timescale for either?

by **Sedgistan** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 2:19 pm

No timescale for either - we don't set deadlines for issues editing, and we don't make promises publicly about when to expect more. We're finishing off the last of the ones from the ban reversal program (and hoping for entries to deal with the last two), and working on regular submissions too.

by **Frisbeeteria** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 2:21 pm

The driving factors for inclusion in the game have nothing to do with arrival order or relative importance.

Our editors sometimes have to take submissions apart and put them back together, taking feedback from other editors and mods. Sometimes that happens in a day or two, other times we spend a month or more fine tuning it. They then hand it over to the Issue Mods for stat editing and review. Issues get added only when several Issue Mods can find the time for a shared IRC chat to review and revise. Real World intrusions play a huge role in delaying that timing.

Right now we're sitting on several completed or almost-completed issues, waiting for an opportunity to get together and discuss before adding them to the game. We're also hoping to bring our new Issues Tech up to speed by including him in that conversation.

by **Panageadom** » Fri Apr 13, 2012 10:32 am

I was thinking there might be some swing room in something about the current situation with ads on London buses: pro-sexual liberties bought an ad reading "Some people are gay: deal with it!" and in response, religious groups took out an ad reading "Not gay! Post-gay, ex-gay and proud of it! Deal with it!" There could be an argument from a radical from each side to ban the other ad (freedom from sexual discrimination vs immorality), a free speech advocate, and a final, silly option extolling the virtues of buses as a means of transport and of discussion. It actually covers some of the ground of another issue I was thinking of (what happens when a capitalist opinion piece is written for a state owned newspaper under a communist government? Responsibility to free speech vs silliness of Communist govt subsidising capitalist "lies" vs privatisation of newspaper industry). I won't have time to draft it for a week or so, but thoughts?

by **Sanctaria** » Sun Apr 15, 2012 9:32 am

**Attention**

We understand that issue writing is a long drawn out process¹ and that the guidance² from Issues Editors and Mods, as well as other players, is crucial to developing the best possible issue.

In that vein, and because we all love you³, we have decided to launch a new sort of service where Issues Editors and Mods will be at your beck-and-call⁴ to give advice in writing your issue.

We are very proud⁵ to inform you all that various Editors and Mods can now be found on IRC 24/7⁶! Just pop along to #Issueslair on GameSurge where you can ask questions, give advice, laugh at really bad attempts⁷, or just chat. If you do not have an IRC client, I personally recommend using mibbit.

So! We hope to see some/most/all of you there whenever you need us!

1. It's not a long, drawn out process if you're any good at it.
2. I say guidance, I mean orders.
3. We don't.
4. We won't.
5. We're not. This is just more work that's probably going to cause us more problems in the long run.
6. LOL! Yeah right.
7. Mainly this.

by **Licentiapacisterra** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 11:23 pm

Sanctaria wrote:**Attention**

We understand that issue writing is a long drawn out process¹ and that the guidance² from Issues Editors and Mods, as well as other players, is crucial to developing the best possible issue.

In that vein, and because we all love you³, we have decided to launch a new sort of service where Issues Editors and Mods will be at your beck-and-call⁴ to give advice in writing your issue.

We are very proud⁵ to inform you all that various Editors and Mods can now be found on IRC 24/7⁶! Just pop along to #Issueslair on GameSurge where you can ask questions, give advice, laugh at really bad attempts⁷, or just chat. If you do not have an IRC client, I personally recommend using mibbit.

So! We hope to see some/most/all of you there whenever you need us!

1. It's not a long, drawn out process if you're any good at it.
2. I say guidance, I mean orders.
3. We don't.
4. We won't.
5. We're not. This is just more work that's probably going to cause us more problems in the long run.
6. LOL! Yeah right.
7. Mainly this.

Could I get on it using Esper ??

by **Ballotonia** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 1:12 am

Licentiapacisterra wrote:Could I get on it using Esper ??

Nope. Gamesurge is different from Esper.

Ballotonia

by **Licentiapacisterra** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 9:35 am

Ballotonia wrote:
Licentiapacisterra wrote:Could I get on it using Esper ??

Nope. Gamesurge is different from Esper.

Ballotonia

No worries, thanks Ballo

by **Panageadom** » Sat Apr 21, 2012 4:20 am

If we're coming to the end of the backlog soon, then never mind, but otherwise, it could be useful if there was some kind of list of the name and one line summaries of issues that are in the submission queue but haven't been accepted or rejected yet. I know sometimes I forget whether a topic has already been done, and of course Ballo's fantastic list can't cover this kind of thing.

by **Luna Amore** » Sat Apr 21, 2012 5:39 am

The batch the Issue Mods are currently sorting through is May '11 - April '12, so we are approaching the end of the backlog.

by **Sedgistan** » Sat Apr 21, 2012 11:29 am

Anyone in need of inspiration should see this post, which contains a list of ideas for issues.

by **Panageadom** » Sun Apr 22, 2012 2:00 pm

Aw, damn, that was a dozen dud drafts discarded...

by **Frisbeeteria** » Sun Apr 22, 2012 4:05 pm

Panageadom wrote:Aw, damn, that was a dozen dud drafts discarded...

Why? Just because it's not on the list doesn't mean we don't want it. Don't be limited by our imagination. Use your own.

by **Panageadom** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 6:50 am

Oh, no, I meant in the editing period having shifted on. Don't worry, I'm fine at ignoring advice.

by **Socorra** » Sat May 05, 2012 11:21 am

"Sometimes a government has got to deal with something without having to go through the 'proper channels'," says Hack Obama, who does not exist within any of Socorra's records.

Bloody Tea Party.

by **Hobbovia** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:47 am

Socorra wrote:
"Sometimes a government has got to deal with something without having to go through the 'proper channels'," says Hack Obama, who does not exist within any of Socorra's records.
Bloody Tea Party.

Also...

I just noticed that I can write issues. I look forward to helping improve this near perfect game.

by **Sedgistan** » Wed Aug 01, 2012 11:37 pm

Maurepas and Dustistan have both chosen to retire as Issues Editors. Both of them have managed to edit issues that we added to the game, but found that their time for the role has diminished over the last few months. We'd like to thank them for their contributions - and there may be one additional issue edited by Dustistan added to the game soon, once we finish it off.

At this moment in time, we're happy with the speed that our current Issues Editors are working at, and thus are not looking for replacements.

by **Zwangzug** » Sat Aug 04, 2012 12:15 pm

Would it be possible to write an "open borders" issue with one option removing eligibility for "Cowboys and Aliens" (which presumes that some people are in the country illegally?)

by **Sedgistan** » Sat Aug 04, 2012 12:20 pm

Yep, though take a look at previous issues on the matter of immigration first. Also bear in mind that if adding a new issue requires editing a previous one, it makes it less likely that we'll accept it (though doesn't rule it out) and also means it'll take a lot longer to add.

by **Zwangzug** » Sat Aug 04, 2012 1:06 pm

Good to know, thank you very much!

by **Panageadom** » Sat Aug 11, 2012 10:27 am

I was wondering, partially on the back of a few questions I asked of Lenyo, whether there might be ground for an issue based around how investment is allocated in a command and control economy, in light of increased industrial production, but little change in living standards. (Not necessarily in this order); the first option would be to continue the state-sponsored policy, arguing that it is all in the long term national interest, the second a technocratic populist approach to survey the nation as to what they really cared about and then produce those things, and the last some kind of "return to capitalism" approach.

by **Neragua** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 4:53 am

Frisbeeteria wrote:The Author's Lounge is a pretty dull name. Anyone got any better ideas? The floor is open for suggestions.

How about the Writers' Block?

by **Panageadom** » Sun Nov 18, 2012 12:50 pm

Not actually a bad one, that.

by **Sedgistan** » Wed Nov 21, 2012 12:36 pm

Yep, though I'm leaving it up to Fris to decide if he wants to use it.

The Writers' Block

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