Cult future
In some ways it seems like I've discovered this site too late.. I remember hearing about the Chuck Palaniuk writing exercises a few years back, but I was too busy to investigate, and the website slipped my mind.
Now that I've arrived, it seems like this place is a cult in transition, moving away from the Chuck-managed writing coaching into more of a self-sustaining community. I like this idea, and I love the idea of working with visiting instructors in the Masters class (and I'm kicking myself over missing Will Christopher Baer!!).
But as anything in transition, the Cult to me seems to have a questionable future. I think I can see where the website is going, and it looks like a positive direction, but all of the vestigial elements of its old existence still taint the website, and make it sometimes seem like a decaying entity. There are whole sections of the forum that haven't been posted to since 2005, for example. And there is no indication whether there will be another Masters class in the future, since the last one just wrapped up.
I would really like to join the Cult if it means finding a community of dark-minded individuals like myself. But I'm not sure whether the group is dying out or merely reshaping itself. Can you give me a better idea of what you anticipate for the Cult in 2007? Do you expect it to grow, keep offering the same, or shapeshift once again?
That is to say, I can see how the forums would be highly useful, but what about paid membership? Will there continue to be new advice and workshops offered to those who pay?
Thanks for your insight!
Stay.
You will not be disappointed. The Workshop is an incredible asset and is full of like (dark)-minded folks who not only enjoy writing but enjoy reading and being as helpful as possible. The forums are an interesting little by-product as well.
Roll the dice. Take a chance. You don't want to die without any scars, do ya'?
Do not speak- unless it improves on silence.
actually the Self-Assignment section started long before the Chuck-centered lessons began
the lessons from Chuck section was actually just supposed to go for one year, but i guess he got to into it and we finangled a second year out of him
as for the Master's Classes, I got no idea, but i think it's safe to assume there be some more
hopefully they won't be every other month because damn that starts to get expensive
[QUOTE=scheherazade;911144]I would really like to join the Cult if it means finding a community of dark-minded individuals like myself.[/QUOTE]
This sounds pretty similiar to another formerly well-known Cultist, doesn't it?
So sayeth the late, great, legally-tyler durden:
"just wondering....i seek someone with a similarly dark mind."
That was when he was hitting on Jane.
I wonder when this guy will start hitting on Jane! 
as for the Cult in transition, it always has been. That's part of what makes it so incredible. It's always evolving, always churning. For awhile it'll even move completely away from having anything to do with Chuck and we'll all go on and on about different authors and whatnot, then he'll come out with a new book or answer fan mail and we all fall right back in line
it's like the "Breathing Universe" concept except it goes a little faster
the place is alive, i tell you!
[QUOTE=willtupper;911172]This sounds pretty similiar to another formerly well-known Cultist, doesn't it?
So sayeth the late, great, legally-tyler durden:
"just wondering....i seek someone with a similarly dark mind."
That was when he was hitting on Jane.
I wonder when this guy will start hitting on Jane! ;)[/QUOTE]
isn't scheherazade the gal's name from Arabian Nights?
Thanks for your responses.
So how many of you are paying members? Is it better to test the waters and wait until there is something I absolutely want access to (a course, or perhaps some of the advice documents) before subscribing? Or would you recommend immediately enhancing my experience with a subscription?
I don't pay, but I wish I did. I probably wouldn't have time to do all the reviewing and writing stuff, but I'd like to have a signature, and more power. But, being a freebee is ok.
Brentinlouis Wrote: What was that rule about being intentionally annoying?
If you're a writer, go for the subscription. And try to remember not to forget the workshop...
I subscribed about three months ago, and I don't regret it at all. I'm going through a, erm, dry spell when it comes to creativity at the moment, but between when I registered and now, I feel I've improved a lot in my writing. I still suck mind, but that's down to me.
When you register you're given a whole load of things you wouldn't be able to see normally, and even if you don't feel confident enough to post any of your stories into the workshop after you've done the neccessary five reviews, it's easy as pie to just carry on reviewing, printing off stories and giving them what-for, in a subdued way of course.
I keep meaning to get back into the workshop action. I started to last year when I was still pretty funked out over the divorce.
Now I'm going through a divorce from a steady paycheck, and somehow don't feel so creative and focused on my fiction. Plus, I liked my job, and it's not like I had to run out and find another wife right away.
When we call soccer 'football' the terrorists have won.
I don't bloody know if you should do the paysite thing, but these Starbucks chocolate covered espresso beans are really espresso tasting - too much so - and I think you should pound around the GD for a while and see if you like the culture.
Welcome!
GD hasn't got anything to do with reflecting the workshopish side of things though
its like comparing apples with GE J79 jet engines
[QUOTE=nathaniel parker;911240]GD hasn't got anything to do with reflecting the workshopish side of things though
its like comparing apples with GE J79 jet engines[/QUOTE]
But I don't care about the workshopish things though so I really don't care. Just come hang out in GD. Definately. You need to hang out in GD.
ok, i will
[QUOTE=nathaniel parker;911176]isn't scheherazade the gal's name from Arabian Nights?[/QUOTE]its the dancing girl but this dude has butchered the. spelling
so i was right?
that's all I'm worried about
yeah but the misspelling doesn't bode well for the writing skills of whoever started this thread, [I]research baby research![/I]
This from a guy who misspelled moron. Oops, my mistake.
I'll definitely check out the forums. I like nothing better than verbally slap-fighting a couple of douchebags who stand in the way of good conversation.
[QUOTE=corellion;911228]I subscribed about three months ago, and I don't regret it at all. I'm going through a, erm, dry spell when it comes to creativity at the moment, but between when I registered and now, I feel I've improved a lot in my writing. I still suck mind, but that's down to me.[/QUOTE]
I'm inspired to hear that you've improved in such short time! How regularly do you visit the site to make such swift improvement? Are you frequently workshopping your own work and learning from other members? Or have you found other advantages to the website that have improved your craft?
[QUOTE=scheherazade;911313]This from a guy who misspelled moron. Oops, my mistake.
I'll definitely check out the forums. I like nothing better than verbally slap-fighting a couple of douchebags who stand in the way of good conversation.[/QUOTE]
Oh dear.
There is hope, but not for us.
[QUOTE=scheherazade;911318]I'm inspired to hear that you've improved in such short time! How regularly do you visit the site to make such swift improvement? Are you frequently workshopping your own work and learning from other members? Or have you found other advantages to the website that have improved your craft?[/QUOTE]
I visit a lot because I've got no life. I don't workshop a lot of my stuff, because I'm shy about posting anything I like, and usually don't learn from things I don't like, but reading all of other peoples reviews and also the re-caps of Chuck's essays are handy, not to mention everything else available to the few who live carefree enough lives to shell out a few pennies for themselves on the site. That said, the website has plenty of advantages to anyone who writes. The members, really. The discussion and the lovely salty taste of smegma on your lips. It's all great fun.
I'd definately advise hanging around the GD forums for a bit, get to know the atmosphere and people if you like them and it, which chances are you will, then go ahead and buy your big membership and visit the workshop.
Also, avoid calling people douche-bags and slapping and stuff. Insults all depend on the crowds response, and you need to know the crowd before they'll respond.
[FONT="Arial Black"]The Cult is a free floating community held together by our mutual appreciation of Chuck’s writing. His work, at its best, inspires me to create and be creative in my everyday life even when I’m not writing. The people here are interesting and display that some infectious charisma I found when I first cracked open Fight Club.
So if you decide to pay or not please keep writing and contributing. Every person has a unique perspective and the best part of this group is that the same wild thread runs through all of us.
M-Love[/FONT]
Yeah, the wild thread. It's called Pointless Announcements, and you can find it in the general discussion forum.
I think (s)he'll fit in, at least for a while.
Welcome, dancing girl.
thanks for sharing.blackhawk tactical pants.
— Spambot
"I could have done worse!" exultantly cried the murderer Lebret, sentenced at Rouen to hard labor for life. — Félix Fénéon
Even if there are no professional writer to come and help with workshops, there are quite a bit of cool people on here to help you to. Some are even published. Don't think that normal everyday people arn't worth it. I am rather new, and I am not in the paying section, but I do know that this place is really fun. We do fun games, and have good conversations. That's enough for me. It is a good community. I'd say stick around. You'll find it may not be what you expected, but it's good anyway.
Brentinlouis Wrote: What was that rule about being intentionally annoying?