Common Ties to Focus Exclusively on 20 Questions
Friday, Dec. 7, 2007
Dear readers:
Effective Monday, Dec. 10, 2007, Common Ties is only accepting submissions to our 20 Questions project and will no longer review stories and quickies (except for homelessness stories, which are due December 18). We will continue publishing stories, quickies, and our podcast through the end of January based on our current publishing commitments, and we will continue to review all submissions we have already received and purchase the best of those.
Since we launched our publishing project in October 2006, we have published more than 750 stories by more than 500 writers. The primary reason for our shift in focus is that interest in our 20 Questions project is dwarfing the interest in stories and quickies. We think this new type of min-story works best in the fast-paced web environment, while traditional stories are best presented in anthology books, and we still to hope to publish our existing content in that format. We are finding that we do not have the resources to pursue several different types of publishing simultaneously and wish to do a great job in one format rather than a good job in multiple formats.
As the editor, I’d like to thank all who have visited our site and enjoyed our quickies, stories, and podcast. I’d also like to thank all who have submitted stories and published their work with us. Our entire story and quickie archive will remain open, and we hope people will continue to enjoy the collection. We hope to be able to resume publishing new stories and quickies in the future, but for now we must commit solely to 20 Questions.
We welcome your feedback and look forward to your continued interest in Common Ties.
Kind regards,
Elizabeth Armstrong Moore
Editor | Common Ties
PS Be sure to visit our newly established Orphans page, which we update weekly.
Posted by Common Ties on Friday, December 7th, 2007 | Email This PostThis entry was posted on Friday, December 7th, 2007 at 10:54 am. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
21 Responses to “Common Ties to Focus Exclusively on 20 Questions”
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December 9th, 2007 at 11:33 pm
This should be fun.
December 11th, 2007 at 4:39 pm
Noooooh! I think that’s a huge shame! I visit this site often, and throughly enjoy the stories. While the 20 questions are fun, they just won’t leave the sort of impression, or lasting insight into people’s lives that the stories do, or even have the same enjoyment/entertainment value.
The stories are powerful, the 20 questions aren’t.
Anyways, maybe you all just need a break for a while, before you come back refreshed to start again on the stories. I hope so! This is such a great site.
December 12th, 2007 at 6:56 pm
I agree 1,000 percent with MC Robertson!!!!!! I can see haveing the 20 Questions,but donot think that it will being the healing aspects that reading the Stories do.I say this whole heartly just because by shareing the pain othere share in their stories that the stories really help someone who might be going throug what the writer has or is going through.I feel that by reading the stories that they are a form of theropy for both the readers and writers and also the comments that are made by the people that have something positive to say about the story that they had just read.I can say for a fact that the stories I have read and the comments that I myself mave made have helped me a lot.
This is my opion and I shareing it with you and the world.Is there some way to keep the stories and 20 Questions?????Even if you just lose the quickies and Podcasts.Mike Golch
December 12th, 2007 at 10:35 pm
I’m so sad to see everything except the 20 Questions go. On the other hand, I completely understand Elizabeth’s desire to bring 100% of ONE category to us rather than 50% of several. Still, I can’t imagine thinking even one of these stories, quickies, or podcasts were anything less than outstanding…
I do believe we should support Elizabeth in her decision, enjoy the 20 Questions, and PRAY for a miracle so things can return to “normal…”
I only wish Common Ties the best! Here’s to an amazing 2008!
December 13th, 2007 at 9:44 pm
What a wonderful idea!
I\’ve been wanting to submit my personal stories to Common Ties for months now, however, I never seem to be able to finish a story by the due date. The idea of answering 20 questions without time constraints will be the perfect opportunity for me. Writing about my personal experiences, thoughts and feelings has been a part of my life for more than 20 years and my desire is to share it all.
This forum will give me the chance to fufill my dream of possibly being published.
And if not… Thanks for the fun writing project!
December 15th, 2007 at 6:53 am
please dont get rid of the stories and quickies. this site has so much potential to be so great but i personally think that focusing solely on 20 questions will stunt this site’s progress
December 20th, 2007 at 3:32 pm
So sad! I’ve been busy gathering all my material together and will now have to find another website to submit to.
Wish you all the luck though - this site is an amazing undertaking and I’m sure is incredibly overwhelming.
December 21st, 2007 at 1:49 pm
I’m sad too. I absolutely hated my job this past summer…and reading the new stories at work each morning was the highlight of my day
Even though I love my new job and don’t have to depend on the stories every morning, I really hope you can bring them back at some point. I do commend you on all the hard work you’ve done on the site — it is expanding beautifully and the presentation is extremely well done and tasteful. Wishing you all happy holidays and a wonderful new year!
December 22nd, 2007 at 8:26 am
When I stumbled upon this site in it’s early stages, I was newly retired from the workforce. It gave me great pleasure staying up to the wee small hours a few times a week reading the true life stories. The stark reality of them struck a chord which led to compulsion for more, I was hooked.
There were many to which I could equate my own experiences; therefore the talent with which the writers put their thoughts and feelings into words were inspirational, and to me, explicitly helpful.
I had submitted a story which failed to make the grade; understandable considering the high standard required for publication. This criterion was the crux which gives your site the hallmark as far as story sites are concerned. Rejection is an invitation to improve, for this I thank you.
I will sorely miss the stories (it feels as if I am losing old friends!); but understand your reasons. Sincere thanks for giving a loyal following hours of enjoyment.
Blessings to all for the Christmas season and may 2008 bring you health and joy.
December 27th, 2007 at 8:18 am
Big mistake, I think. You just can’t glean enough from a 50-word essay. While it’s a nice exercise for writers and might teach brevity, I can’t see a regular audience visiting the site to learn, in 50 words or less, the oddest place a person has had sex. It’s your website, though, so good luck.
December 27th, 2007 at 11:00 pm
Twenty questions, ay? What a wild and crazy concept for this deliciously exciting web site. I predict huge success! And kudos to whoever thought up the idea of teaching us old dogs new tricks! But I worry about you, my Dah-lings. When, oh when, do you ever sleep? Bon soir, mes ames!
December 28th, 2007 at 6:11 am
a huge loss, both for writers and readers. i listen to npr because i despise sound-bite news. i need in-depth coverage to really get what is going on. twenty questions… i think it will get old in a hurry. it’s fast, yes, but how much can you say–of value–in fifty words or fewer? stories do well for a reason. people want understanding. twenty questions will give them less quality writing with no backstory, no understanding… welcome to another reason technology is a bad thing.
December 28th, 2007 at 8:03 am
Marla, it sounds like the new focus is art. When you look at most artwork there is usually not a story that you can read. Here you will have answers illustrating the art. Could be cool. I like cartoons.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
I frankly do not have the patience or the eyes to read any story a couple of thousand words online, regardless how compelling it it. I would rather curl up with a book. I can look at great photos and drawings online for hours however and if they are punctuated with very, very short answers so much the better.
December 29th, 2007 at 2:04 am
Only 20 questions? Please reconsider!
I’m sure you’re feeling overwhelmed by the incredible success of your project, but don’t give up now. You have so many dedicated writers and readers and our world NEEDS Common Ties! I love this site and visit it frequently. With stories ranging in raw honesty, tender emotions and truth to laugh out loud humor, I can’t imagine future bedtimes without reading Common Ties.
December 29th, 2007 at 8:36 am
Wow! Judging by the comments so far, if it were a case of majority voting, we could look forward to retaining the stories. I think one of the people who will dearly miss the story format is Mike Golch. His regular comments suggest to me, he is a wonderful person. Very best wishes for your improved health and your happiness in 2008 Mike.
Happy healthy new year to all.
December 29th, 2007 at 9:44 am
I will go out on a limb and suggest that if the short stories were wildly popular for online reading then CT would retain them. While I can understand that writers are disheartened , readers will still have access to over 750 stories according to the editor. I personally find the stories here much better than the ones on the last page of the New York Times magazine and it sometimes seems you have a book coming out by a big publisher for the NYT to find you worthy of being published there. Although I found it impossible to be published on Common Ties as well!
I wonder if these guys mad ethe change before the holidays so people would be distracted and they would get less grief. Well, I’ll see if this gets published.
Well, there is always Chicken Soup for the Soul or whatever they call that crap.
January 9th, 2008 at 10:16 am
what a shame—seriously. i’ve been out of the loop for awhile. emma here. i’m using a friends lap top to catch up on some things. i’ve had a bad year and so much has happened. looks as though you have too. no one likes change so this is not making me happy at all as most of the others who have responded here.
i wondered what you might have done for your first year anniversary. i was disappointed. although i haven’t written anything in awhile, i’ve started freelancing again. i turned to you first. not sure i understand how it’s all going to work but good luck.———-emma jean
January 21st, 2008 at 11:19 am
I think it’s an awesome concept. I think it’s innovative and can be big. I love art and the idea of illustrated very very short stories sounds special. It hasn’t been done, to my knowledge, and that’s something!So far though I’d like to more humor and I hope the illustrations are both humorous and sad.
January 30th, 2008 at 8:18 am
I am so disappointed. This brings a fantastic site of sharing and truth to a site that is no more fufilling than reading the “Most Embarassing” or “Confessions of” section of your traditional girly mag. As an addition to a wonderful site it’s cute for those on the run, but in the long run, no more interesting than the writing on a bathroom wall.
January 30th, 2008 at 10:04 am
Feel free to look at the test version of the 20 Questions project at this link:
http://commontiestest.blogspot.com/
This is only a test site. The images are small so we suggest you click on them to enlarge them. Feel free to leave comments on this site.
20 Questions will be introduced formally at the Common Ties site some time in early February.
David
Common Ties