After much thought and preparation the new Holy World Blog System is ready to be released to the public. Our blog has been an underused resource for a long time. We want to change that. Many users are not even aware that Holy Worlds has a blog. We want to change that too. The blog belongs to the members of Holy Worlds, it is time we took charge of this asset and started utilizing it. My hope is that this system will help us see this vision to completion. Leading this undertaking will be myself and my brilliant Mastermind Underling, Philadelphia. However,we want to encourage everyone to pitch in and participate!

As part of this process, the blog has been converted to the Holy Worlds Blog, and not the Holy Worlds Fantasy Blog, as it is typically thought of. Sir Emeth Mimetes would like to see the blog reflect both sides of Holy Worlds. We are encouraging Holy Worlds Sci-Fi to partner with you all in representing their side of the forum.

Now, I know you all are asking, “How does this new system work?”

First of all, I want to let you know that a document is being crafted that will hopefully help define what exactly we are looking to post on the blog. I have heard a lot of members in the past say things like “I just don’t know how or what to write for the Blog”, or “I don’t write articles about fantasy”. This new document will be a compiled list of (a) ideas of how to incorporate fantasy, (b) what constitutes fantasy, and (c) what other kinds of submissions are welcome for the blog. We will also give a few examples in this document of what kind of Non-Fantasy related blog submissions are acceptable. I have found that one of the biggest problems related to finding blog writers is the fact that they think their submissions have to directly talk about dragons, castles, knights, or elves in order to qualify as a fantasy post. My hope is to see you all gain new ideas for, and interest in, the blog.

The blog should be fun, guys! Just take the energy that is very prevalent here on the Forum and channel it into an essay/article form. Instead of addressing a subject to one person, change it so that it is addressing anyone/everyone. Look at some of the amazing threads we’ve created (are dragons evil, subjects concerning magic, how to address God in fantasy, should we write on Sundays). This is the kind of stuff we should be putting on the blog in a submissions format. If everyone adds a little then this won't be a burden that falls on only a couple of people.

Now, I have created a calendar in order for Philadelphia and I to begin scheduling writers. Under this new system there will hopefully be one post a week, but we need you to write articles in order for this to work. Submissions will be posted every Thursday, the day of the week requested by Sir Emeth. Under this new system all potential blog posts will be sent directly to either myself or Philli for approval. All submissions will get screened before they are posted for editing. This is to ensure the content is what Jay has specified, and that it falls into the guidelines and desires of Holy Worlds. As I said before, our blog is a representation of us. Once approved, they will be assigned a spot on the schedule and held in reserve. When the post comes up on the schedule, we will send out a reminder to the author, asking them to post their entry in the submissions folder for editing, no later than Monday.

Please do not post your submissions in the folder until we tell you to. If random threads begin popping up in the blog forums, it will throw off the system for the Mods/Editor/other contributors already schedules. Channel things through the system.

Once in the submissions folder, our Mods and Editors will then proceed to work their magic over your submission for the next 3-4 days. These members are a key and crucial part of the success of our system. You l are the other part. The system offers a built in a break period where no one has to worry about editing or posting for the blog between Thursday-Sunday. One post per week will be edited, and only between Monday and Thursday.


I would like to ask all of you to really consider joining this effort. I want to see our blog represented by the multitude, and not just a few. By posting on the blog, you are also getting your name out. Holy Worlders aren’t the only ones who read the blog. There are many non members who stop by our blog. And google directs a lot of unsuspecting readers our way.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to bring it up here. We welcome your insight, realizing that you may have ideas we have not even thought about. Our plan is to be fully operational by March 17th, which is the day I will post the last of the Christmas Contest winner’s and runner up’s entries. Our Calendar is booked until this date. The following Thursday we will post the first of our scheduled submissions. If anyone would like to contribute to, or scrounge up, a submission, I would be grateful. Also, if you can think of anyone who would be an ideal contributor for me to contact, then please bring them to my attention.

We look forward to seeing the blog flourish under this system, with your help.

I'm excited about this! If anyone has any questions, just post them here or send them to Airianna or me.

I'm slightly confuzzled as to how it's all going to work, but you can count me in. I'd love to write something for the blog. I'm not big on writing about many fantasy topics, but my main discussion points would be the use of magic and the dangers of vampires.

If you had like a list of writing subjects, categories you could write for, that would be very helpful. I don't know if this post has been much help, but... I'm here to please!

Both of those would be great topics!

As to the list, that is being made as we speak, although progress has come to a halt due to my computer issues.

Awesome, can't wait to get writing!

And I hope your computer troubles fix up real soon, Airi.

Me too! It throws a wrench in my whole system and work schedule!!! Plus it cuts of my main communication line

I'd be interested (and I'll have time to think of a good idea too!)

I would second that. I believe vampires to be an evil, that is now invading every 16 year-old girl's bookshelf.


Back on topic:
I would love to write a blog post... about the human construct of creating meaning in stories. Also about creating VS. deriving. (And maybe one about how Tw****ht is ruining the world)

Hear hear, hear hear! *applaud, applaud* Sorry. That was so good I had to do everything twice.

I agree entirely, and I feel super strongly on this point, and would thus like to share about it. *Hides book titled "The Trouble With Twilight" by Steve Wholberg*

OH my! you said the "T" word!

Sounds good guys, I love your energy

PM me when you are done with all these lovely sounding articles! Or if you want to discuss a certain point, feel free to PM me for that as well.

My firsts article:

Title: Tw*l*ght and you.

Body: Don't read it!

(The body is repeated about 500 times.)

And there you have it: A 1500 word essay about vampires.

In all seriousness though, I will begin work on my masterpiece.

You're nuts Welt!

I'd like to expand on Jaynin and my flag development and make it into a blog post (if that's acceptable).


ps. Are images allowed? (either in or attached to the post)

Inline images are great.

Sounds like a great idea!

Ahh! You pinched me! I'll have to rassle up another topic! *dashes*

This is awesome.

Looking forward to all these submissions! Fantastic ideas!

I don't suppose I would be allowed to submit an article on a controversial subject, could I?

Depends on the subject.

Actually, I don't think I will. It might cause too much disagreement, and I've done enough of that already!

And here I was hoping BushMaid might get us some good debate going in which we can all begin calling names and pulling rank... there goes the fun

Controversy isn't a problem, Aussie, so long as it is handled appropriatly. You guys writing against Twilight is a controversial subject, after all, but we'd still put it through.

The only difference between a non controversial post, and a controversial one, is the amount of involvement I may have with the piece.

If you would like to write on a controversial subject, go ahead. When you are finished, pm me and we will discuss it. I may ask you to change some wording to make it less hostile and more thought provoking, since that is the desire, but that doesn't mean it can't be a highly beneficial post. There are words and phrases that can be used to soften a controversial topic, without wattering down the message you want to give.

Haha Reiyen. You don't want to scrape me off the floor, do you? Hide the rocks!

@Airi: Ok Airi. My thoughts for an article were along the same lines as Welt's, only about Harry Potter. *cringe* I know there are many Christian fans of these books, so I thought that it might be just a bit toooo controversial a topic to write about.

Yeah, that is a squirmy subject However, I don't think I am misrepresenting Jay by saying this type of article is welcomed. Wording would have to be oh so careful, and the tone of the article would need to be non judgemental, but I think it is do-able, if you want to craft it. Like I said, I'd be willing to work with you. But it is up to you (and Jay) if you want to explore this subject. I personally welcome the opinions, even differing ones, of others, but not everyone is that way. I'd write it, but you have to make the decision, Aussie. Don't feel pressured either way.

It will be hard, but with your advice and proof-reading, I would like to take up the challenge. I can write it up, and if you can proof read it, I could forward it on to Emeth to review, if that's ok with you.

I think that is a good plan.

*picks up imaginative pencil* I shall get to work!

I look forward to seeing it, Maid! It sounds interesting. (Once Airianna gets a hold of it, little elf gets to see it too. )

*smiles*

Yes, Philli gets to see everything that comes in *waggles eyebrows*

It will be a task to try and impress ChillehPhilleh then!

I might try one based on my last Facebook status, combining fantasy and modern thriller with helicopter gunships, car chases, and automatic weapons. Would that work?

Varon, your combinations always amaze me. You need your own genre. Yes, I'd love to see what you come up with.

I would SO read that article.

Thanks then. I'll start working on it.

Fun, Varon!

I think you'll do just fine, Maid. I've been... observing your performance. You've impressed me already.

*waves up at Philly's microscope* You are one brave Philly, Philly. And thankyou, I'm very grateful I haven't scared you... like I may have some other people!

Who needs a microscope? I have a green ring.

No, I'm kidding. All I'm saying is that, while I don't read every thread, I spend a lot of time here. I get to know people and the quality of their posts. It ain't anything scary; it's just observation.

I'll stop derailing the thread now.

V*******s? *hates Tw*l*ght*

I'm back.

Airi, I was having a chat with a couple of people today, and a major opinion was that as someone who hasn't read the Harry Potter books, I shouldn't be attempting to write an article about it. Also, I did a web search on the subject to research things I was going to write on the topic, and I found that there are many articles and books that quite mirror exactly what I would write. I was wondering if you think it might be better to let this article pass?

I have this feeling what I write on the subject no matter how many times I go over and re-edit, someone will find something in it that won't add up! I'm having a go at writing about something else till I hear what you think... not sure if it will be any good, but if it's alright with you, I'll PM it to you to peruse.

Aussie, I would agree that, if you haven't read the series, you can't refute them in detail - but you can still say why you don't read them. If you have other ideas I might recommend pursuing them first, but I wouldn't drop the idea of your article just yet.

We'll let Airianna voice her opinion, too, but I think she'll say the same thing.

I've been kicking an idea around and writing a few thoughts down on a topic about the power of fiction, and how what we write as authors greatly affects our readers. Also how depending on the values in our novels, we can affect people either positively or negatively. Do you think that would make a better starting article? I could save the Harry Potter one for later.

It sure sounds good.

Okay, I am going to try and be very careful in what I say here, because this subject riles me on a number of levels. I don't know who you talked to Aussie, and I don't want to offend them, but there is nothing that irritates me more than the argument you were given. Just because I haven't had an abortion, doesn't mean I can't speak on the subject. I've never been a mormon, doesn't mean I can't intelligently discuss their religion, even better than many mormons. I think you can still, and in my opinion should, write this blog post. People have told me many times in my life that I can't and shouldn't. Problem is, if I listened to them, I wouldn't be the person I am today. Nor would I have cultivated the many thoughts and opinions I have. The very ones many of you tell me you admire so much. There is nothing that... Upsets me, more than this. I don't think anyone should ever tell anyone else that they can't cultivate an opinion about something. So, this is up to you Aussie. I would write the post, but I don't want to influence you. If you feel uncomfortable, due to comments made, I understand, and I'm very sorry you were told this. However, I think I would probably do more damage than good, if I continued this post. I'm too emotionally reved by the topic. I just wanted you to know my opinion on the subject.

Airi, I love you. I love the energy you have for standing up for what you believe and speaking passionately about it. Thanks for your post, it made my day.

I value your opinion, and I do agree. Just because we haven't been directly in contact with something, doesn't mean we don't know enough about it to speak about it to others. However, due to the conversation I had, I thought some of you might think the same. (Thus, I ran it by yous )

I've read up on a lot of info in the past few days about the subject of Harry Potter, and I think I will finish the article. I am going to try and condense the magnitude of information into something a lot more compact, and hopefully an interesting read.

(and continue the other post later )

I am very glad to hear you say that, Aussie. Just pm me when it is done. And thanks, you always encourage me, Aussie. I appreciate your comments.

I'll be sure to write it.

Good!

I agree about not necessarily needing to come into direct contact with something to be knowledgeable about it. Some things are best not to expose yourself to, and some things you will fortunately never be exposed to.

If you haven't been exposed to something, you can't write an article about what it's like to be in that position. But you can still write an article about why you haven't put yourself in that position, or your third-party experience with people that have been in that position. I wouldn't feel qualified to refute HP because I haven't read it AND I don't know a thing about it. I only know enough to explain why I won't read it myself. But that's just my view. Mrs. Squishy is in charge here.

Thanks for the lovely post, Airianna.

BushMaid, even though I'm glad you'll be finishing your HP article, your other article sounds intriguing. That is a passionate subject for me, one I think writers often overlook. Do write both, would you!

Will do, Philly.

Okay, I've had some time to cool off, and would like to approach this subject a little more... Articulately. I'm sorry if I came across as harsh to anyone. This is a subject that makes that temper of mine, flare. I'm not always cool headed, and I would like to make an apology. I realize that my sharp, brisk writing could be offensive and for that I am sorry. However, my opinions are still the same.

I would like to clarify something though. I agree with Philli in that Aussie will be unable to refute line by line instances because she has not read the books. However, a person does not have to read a book in order to formulate thoughts on it.

I've studied lots of cults and other religions over my years of study. My parents found it beneficial as part of my education and world view development. Now, I have not personally read the books put out by said cults and other religions (Pearl of Great Price being one of them), however, I have a grasp on what is taught and some of the concepts that are woven through these books I have never read. I don't need to read them in order to articulate solid thoughts and opinions on them.

So, I respectfully disagree. I'm sorry I did not respectfully or humbly do so before. I would also like to say that I fully understand the delicate line that is here. While I may have more knowledge and hands on experience in raising kids than the average first time mom, I would never presume to tell her she's just not ___ (fill in the blank) enough. I haven't walked in the shoes of a mom. I've done her job, but I haven't lived the experience. There is a difference, and it doesn't apply to the current situation.