So this weekend at the Garden Writers Association conference, the association's new website was 'unveiled' after 18 months of planning and design by the website committee. It's not live yet, but we've already heard about one thing it doesn't have: a discussion board for members. This news resulted in groans from members who want some other way to communicate besides the (paper!) newsletters that GWA mails out.
Maybe in the next version, we were told. If they can find room for it in the budget.
I know I'm a techie lightweight, but I'm just not up on the kind of technology that takes a long time to implement and costs a lot of money. I'm only acquainted with the fast and free variety.
So in the garden blogger session, I told the audience that GardenRant would launch a discussion board for garden writers. I got home Sunday night, spent a few hours setting it up, and tested it yesterday. And here it is--very much in beta, but live. Check it out here.
This board is open to anybody who calls themselves a garden writer, including, of course, bloggers. It's a place to talk shop about the profession of garden writing, but GWA membership is not a requirement.
We're just putting this out there as a free and easy way for garden writers and photographers to communicate. I know there's already a garden writers listserv and a forum on GardenWeb devoted to garden writing, and this isn't intended to replace anything that's already out there. But I think discussion boards have certain advantages--they're easy to read, it's nice to have more or less permanent forum topics to browse, and of course you can read it online or subscribe via email or RSS.
So please--help us spread the word by re-posting this on your own blog or emailing your garden writer friends. Because this is a private board, it won't turn up in Google searches. So the only way people will know about it is through word of mouth.
After the jump, a step-by-step explanation for joining the board.
How to Join the Garden Writers Discussion Board:
1. Visit gardenwriters.yuku.com
2. Sign up for an account.
3. You'll be directed to a screen that asks you if you want to see if you have any friends on Yuku. Forget about that for now. Just hit the Later button at the bottom of the screen.
The next page will say "Getting Started Guide" at the top. Also at the top it says "Back to Garden Writers." Click that link.
If that doesn't work or if you get lost somehow, after you've created your Yuku account you should just be able to go to gardenwriters.yuku.com again and you'll be right where you need to be for this next step.
4. Here you'll be prompted to write a few words about yourself that would somehow prove that you're a garden writer. A link to your blog, website, newspaper column, published book, etc. would be most helpful. But just give us something short and simple that lets us know that you're a garden writer and not a spammer.
5. We will approve you just as soon as we can--hopefully within 24 hours. Once you're approved, you'll get an email (oh, happy day!) and you'll need to click on that validation link to be approved. (If you have a tough spam filter, make sure it allows emails from yuku.com)
Now you can start reading and posting! Start with the 'About the Garden Writers' section at the top for some introductory information.
Amy
Great idea - I will be coming over.
Just as an aside, I set up http://www.landscapejuice.ning.com using the free Ning platform.
It is excellent and easy to use (even for techie lightweights ;)
LJN now has 233 members and is building steadily. What I will say is the Ning system gives you so much flexibility for a community that you wish to build and would be perfect for garden writers because there is a full blog facility.
Everything is easy to navigate and clear for the user and great to administrate. You can add administration rights to as many as you like as well.
Sorry to tell you about this after you have done so much work but it is not too late to change (remember it is FREE) but you have to pay $19 a month to get rid of the Ning Google adverts.
Give me a shout if you need any help.
Regards
Phil
Landscape Juice
Posted by: Philip Voice | September 24, 2008 at 08:45 AM
Thanks for setting this up! It's annoying when people make a big deal about tech stuff that these days is simple to work out.
Posted by: GardenGrrrl | September 27, 2008 at 08:11 AM
Thank you very much for the information I really appreciate it!!
Posted by: Gardening Seeds | March 07, 2009 at 11:49 AM
Thank you very much for the information I really appreciate it!!
I found this useful site for
Buy Kamagra
Posted by: buy kamagra | March 10, 2009 at 04:11 AM
I see a lot of great information into this site, thanks a lot
I found this useful site too for http://www.yourkamagra.com/
Buy Kamagra Amazing site!!!!!
[url=http://www.yourkamagra.com/]Buy Kamagra[/url]
Posted by: buy kamagra | March 10, 2009 at 04:13 AM
Congratulations on your page, it is really interesting
Posted by: Tadalafil Discount | March 10, 2009 at 11:17 PM
Your page is really good!! Great stuff on it
Posted by: medicine no prescription | March 11, 2009 at 05:45 AM
We are an online pharmacy service which links customers with generic medications at a greatly reduced price
Posted by: Canada Generic Viagra | March 12, 2009 at 10:33 AM
Buy this medication promptly, you can get Sildenafil citrate online so do not worry about doing into any drug stores or pharmacies
Posted by: Buy sildenafil citrate | March 12, 2009 at 01:42 PM
There you can see al the variety of products they have for sale and even enjoy cheaper prices than in regular pharmacies
Posted by: Drugstore Pharmacy | March 12, 2009 at 03:48 PM
Your site is a good
Posted by: Internet Pharmacy Drugstore | March 13, 2009 at 05:42 AM
Nonetheless with the help of oral jelies ED medications I have been able to regain my sexual desire and appetite and I am not able to get an erection whenever I want to because I order http://www.safemeds.com .
Posted by: Onlinepharmacynoprescription | April 27, 2009 at 08:58 AM
Your site is a good""""
!!!!
Posted by: Order Generic Viagra | May 18, 2009 at 12:44 PM
Let's clear walls and houses of poor-quality lists
Posted by: art critics on graffiti | June 03, 2009 at 06:36 AM
Good review, thanks.
Posted by: us drugstore | August 03, 2009 at 09:04 PM
Thanks, helpful source.
Posted by: us drugstore | August 06, 2009 at 08:22 AM
Excellent information I really enjoyed reading!!
Posted by: Generic Viagra | September 16, 2009 at 02:00 PM
Hello I know I'm a techie lightweight, but I'm just not up on the kind of technology that takes a long time to implement and costs a lot of money.
Posted by: Cocktail Drink Recipe | September 24, 2009 at 06:31 AM
Well, I think your site has really valuable information, is a very nice post!
You have done an excellent work in here, keep like this!!
GREAT
LOVE [KAT]
Posted by: Impotence | October 09, 2009 at 06:58 AM
really nice blog!!
I think the information on your post is very complete and useful!
Thank you for sharing it!!
Posted by: Erectile Dysfunction | October 09, 2009 at 06:59 AM
I hear your conference and was excellent and your Association is very good!! Garden Writers Association
Posted by: Soft Cialis | October 09, 2009 at 12:43 PM
I love gardening I hope some day open a complete blog about my activities
Posted by: Psychotherapy Counseling | October 14, 2009 at 12:51 PM
yes, you should open a blog!!
I have a huge garden and me and my children take care of it, is it just beautiful!!
Tatiana
Posted by: Sunless Tanning | October 15, 2009 at 07:27 AM
Amy Steward is awesome blogger, I admire she a lot
Posted by: Acl Recovery | October 16, 2009 at 08:59 AM
CAn I join to your gardening writers guild ? How ?
Posted by: Mens Health | October 21, 2009 at 12:14 PM