Welcome to Poets and Storytellers United! If you are
reading this, my beloved poets and storytellers, then you already noticed that we have
moved and our name has grown. We made the decision just a few days ago, after
spending way too much time trying unsuccessfully to fix the bugs on our
old blog. But don’t despair, for we have taken a page out of
the Imaginary Garden with Real Toads’ book and have turned the Poets United
blog into an archive. So, we’ll always have access to the features we have loved.
Poets and Storytellers United aims to hold on to all
the good things from the archived blog while letting go of the not so good
ones. For instance, we’ll continue to offer 3 features per week: Writers’
Pantry (open link) on
Sundays, Weekly Scribblings (a
prompt) on Wednesdays, and our Fridays will stay wild with, um… Wild
Fridays (delightfully random
features for word lovers). We left behind the overcrowded sidebars and
the blog roll.
In fact, we deleted the blog roll and have no plans to revive it. It was full of dead links. Worse, some of the links (which I’m sure had legitimate beginnings) led to terrible places (everything from extremist groups to pornographic sites). Keeping an eye on the status of thousands of sites would be a nightmare. So, after some thought, we decided that we won’t have a blog roll of any kind.
In fact, we deleted the blog roll and have no plans to revive it. It was full of dead links. Worse, some of the links (which I’m sure had legitimate beginnings) led to terrible places (everything from extremist groups to pornographic sites). Keeping an eye on the status of thousands of sites would be a nightmare. So, after some thought, we decided that we won’t have a blog roll of any kind.
Since we have united poets and storytellers in our name, it
felt right to fully open our doors to prose. Yep, starting today, both our
Sunday and Wednesday features will accept poems and stories and articles and…
we’ll just love words all around. If you wish to know more, visit our “About this Community” and “Prompts and Features” pages. Better yet, join us every
week. 😉
Now, I better stop babbling… and invite you to add your
direct link to a poem or story or article (new
or old) of your choosing. As always, prose contributions should be 369
words or fewer. Don’t forget to visit other poets and storytellers. Let them
know what their words do for you… Also, please know that we all understand relocation isn’t easy. But, like Jodi Picoult so
eloquently suggests, home is people. Let’s be people together.
Thank you, Magaly, for hosting the first post and first Writers' Pantry on the new blog site. (New location, same community. *Smile.*) And for your clear explanation of what we've done and why. And for working so hard over the last few days to make it all happen. You rock!
ReplyDeleteRosemary, after all the back and forth and all the time we had to spend to figure out what to do, I believe we all rock! If not, we would've gone mad (and not in a good way). Fingers crossed for a smooth (as possible) transition. And that whatever we still need to fix--to make things homier and such--is not too difficult. Fingers triply crossed.
DeleteHappy new year, all. Has been quite a start globally, hasn't it. Change is always wonderful and welcome, though if the old site needs to be taken down, there's so much I'd love to back up! Look forward to reading some great poetry today!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you! And yes, changes all around. And I so hope this change brings more wonder than frustration, lol!
DeleteThe old site will not be taken down. It remains as an archive. All the posts, except the one that held the blog roll are still there. Also, you can find a listing of the old categories in our "About this Community" page.
I hope you enjoy the great poetry (and any prose that might come your way, too). 😁
Happy New Year, Poets and Storytellers! Thank you, Magaly, for welcoming us to the new look and new name, and for explaining it beautifully. It's a slow start for me after a chest infection and depression I couldn't shake off. You've brightened up my grey!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad things are better now, Kim. The only thing that can make physical ailments worse is affliction that attacks our minds. Depression is such a destroyer. So, again, I'm super happy you can breathe again. And that we could, even in the tiniest of ways, have contributed to the bright!
DeleteThank you, Magaly & team, for your efforts.
ReplyDeletea refreshing change. and the lagging when using Chrome browser is gone. perhaps simpler is better? can almost smell the ink, if this was written on paper. 😃
Have a safe and happy 2020, writers!
Hooray! And thank you so much for letting us know about the lagging no longer being an issue, dsnake1. I had pretty much annoyed most of my friends and family (requesting they check through their different browsers, lol). And although they told me this site was working for them, regardless of browser, I started to wonder if they just wanted to me to leave them alone *mortified grins*.
DeleteAlso, I love your description of the look of the blog. Because that was exactly what we were going for. When we talked about it, we said things like, "Let's make it look like a newspaper, or a news paper dancing with a book and a magazine."
May your 2020 be glorious!
Happy New Year, to you all fellow poets and storytellers.:)
ReplyDeleteWhat a sterling job you coordinators have done with the new site! I really love the clean look, easy navigation and the renaming. Everything (though familiar) feels fresh and new. Congrats for the successful launch, and thank you for all your efforts.
p.s. I see Maga you mean business by Simplify (which was my last year's word, by the way!) But simplifying is always relevant.
Thank you, Khaya, and happiest New Year to you, my friend.
DeleteIt seems that your last year word is just perfect for me now. The idea of simplifying anything last year would've been not just a terrible idea but impossible (one can't simplify a thing when one's living is completely ruled by doctors and medications). This year is so much better. I'm not completely out of the woods yet, but goodness knows that I have a whole lot of more control than before.
So, thanks a gazillion for the good word!
Please add my thanks and congratulations for the spankingly new, crispy, and welcoming new home. Looking forward.
ReplyDeleteWell, thanks very much, señor Ron.
DeleteThanks for hosting Magaly! What a pleasant surprise to see this new site- a lot less cluttered, thank goodness. I'm excited for what lies ahead. And a happy new year!!
ReplyDeleteI, too, am very excited to see what this year will bring, Vivian. May it be wonderful for all of us (and our ink).
DeleteBeautiful new site! What a great way to welcome in the new year! Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteYou are most welcome, ma'am. And thank you for adding your bright words!
DeleteWelcome, everyone! Delighted you all appreciate the new, clean look, and glad to hear that the experience is as user-friendly as we intended. It's lovely to see you all turning up here, following the blog and/or linking your writings. I'm enjoying the reading!
ReplyDeleteI second this! 🖤❤️
DeleteHi and Happy New Year to all, and many thanks Magaly for hosting.
ReplyDeleteI haven't posted for nigh on a year, so inspired by PU's rebirth, I have decided to re-enter this wonderful place, as as you rightly say home is people.
Kind regards
Anna :o)
It is sooo good to read you again, Anna. Welcome back. Can't wait to see what you've inked for us!
Delete2020 is definitely the year for manifesting NEWNESS!
ReplyDeleteGood luck to the team, and may your new location go from strength to strength in the coming year.
Thank you so much, Kerry, for the words... and all the rest.
DeleteA clean slate to start fresh. Thanks go to the team for this "rebirth" and I hope my meager words are worthy. I look forward to this new chapter.
ReplyDeleteJoel, your words are wonderful.
DeleteYou are too kind and your comment is greatly appreciated. Thank you, Magaly.
DeleteHa ha, she is a kind person, but not TOO kind in praising your work, Joel. I too always love what you write.
Delete😁
DeleteI am blessed again! Your kind words are like a refreshing cold drink of water to a weary traveler. Many thanks to you both.
DeleteSo glad you're back. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteYou're most welcome!
DeleteInteresting and awesome...
ReplyDeleteThank you, ZQ. 😉
DeleteHappy new year everyone. And nice looking new site, new decade should come with newness as Kerry said.
ReplyDeleteThank you, RedCat. I'm so glad you like it.
DeleteHappy 2020!
ReplyDeleteMy comments aren’t on; they rev up my anxiety too much. But I’m here, and reading.
I am so happy you stopped by. I just read your poem... The title, the innocent sipper of language, and the reaching arms made me think of certain book recommendation.
DeleteYes, that’s exactly what inspired it. I can’t wait to hear what you think!
Delete🖤❤️
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI had to delete the before because of a typo...can't start the new year off like that! I would just add my nod to all the above comments, and I'm glad you've opened it up to prose. Another great site for lonely writers.
DeleteWe're glad you're glad! The positive response from everyone is very affirming.
DeleteHello Everyone! The new site looks wonderful and I'm so happy to be here. Thank you so much for continuing on in this new location. It is so much easier to navigate.
ReplyDeleteIt's sooo wonderful to see you here, Lori. Thank you for joining (and sharing your yummy words)!
DeleteLove the new site, it looks lovely. I have been having browser issues since I updated my MAC, so sometimes my comments don't show up. Hope to get it resolved soon- Word press is aware. Happy New Year All!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Linda! It seems there are blogging troubles all around. I thought it was only Blogger. But I've have to log and re-log to WordPress in order to leave a comment. Sometimes they are there, other times the post twice, other times... pooh! I, too, hope all this gets solved.
DeleteIt's always sad to say goodbye to a chapter of life or blogging. I will miss Poets United. Yet, I'm very excited to enter this new phase. I look forward to reading all the posts and appreciate your opening up to prose as well as poetry. I think there are exciting times ahead.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your work and congratulations!
Here is to exciting times! And to the joy of knowing that we can always go back to delight in the post we shared on Poets United, since they remain.
DeleteLove the new look and new direction.
ReplyDeleteThank you, precious Susie!
DeleteBravo, everyone who worked on these changes! Well done! You have kept alive and well (and easy to access) everything wonderful about Poets United and made this new baby clear, more secure, simple and easy on the eyes. Thank you for putting so much thought and work and energy into making a wonderful, inclusive home for all of us. Your labours are more greatly appreciated than I think you will ever know, as this home means so much to so many. Thank you, thank you, thank you for keeping it alive and lively. Love, love, love to all of you!
ReplyDeleteThank you, H., so much... from all of us.
DeleteI found everything: I must have had an incomplete load in. I admit I panicked wondering how to find the past. On the "Prompts and Features" page is everything we need to get to our stuff. Thank you. Thank you. ALso, let me say I LOVE the page is white/light--it feels bigger and may even be bigger. I now join all the writers congratulating you on the launch of the new "Poets and Storytellers United." It's a good team. Bravo!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susan. We have certainly done our best to make it all easy and usable as well as attractive. It's great to see the community we serve approving our efforts.
DeleteWhat Rosemary said!
DeleteWas just having a chat to Helen Patrice. She would like me to explain to you all that she is having trouble posting comments here or anywhere.
ReplyDeleteRosemary, can you ask Helen to please share some details about the problem. Is she unable to comment on every blog on the Internet, or is it just here? Is she unable to see the comment box? Is she unable to click on it? Is she unable to login at all? As of right now, only Helen and Pearl have reported this problem. If we know something about it, we might me able to do something. For example, if they are having issues accessing the comment box, we could just switch it from embedded to pop up... that usually clears that problem.
DeleteDifferent problem from Pearl's, I think at Helen's end not ours. Will message you with more details.
DeleteHow exciting!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Margaret. And I really enjoyed your poem. It was exactly what I needed right now.
DeleteGreat kickoff, Magaly. I probably won't be writing much Prose as I need practice with doing poetry. That said, my "poem" of sorts is a Fiction story.
ReplyDeleteAlthough my story poem is made up in a way it is similar to the way Mrs. Jim and I met. I wasn't looking for a wife but she was waiting, having been told by my roommate that "Jim might come."
But I really much wanted to write a First for 2020 for the Writer's Pantry even though I am still on Sabbatical.
..
Thank you, Jim. And writing just a little prose (or no prose at all) is more than all right. That's the beauty of a place that welcomes all words.
DeleteAnd we will be here when you get back (all the way). Continue to enjoy yourself.
Commenting and visiting. Several seem to not cooperate and let me comment. I gave a blogger and a word press account so it shouldn’t be doing this.
ReplyDeleteToni, my friend, if you see this, your sight is one I can’t comment on. Sigh.
Sigh.
DeleteWoot! This is so exciting. I can't wait to see the ways we'll grow into the new year. It's so encouraging seeing the response this is getting.
ReplyDelete🖤❤️
DeleteIt surely is!
DeleteI'm glad that I happened upon your new endeavor/new name tonight. It's nice that prose is being added as part of the new year direction that you're taking. I hope to be more active with my writing this year and this feels very encouraging of that. Gayle xoxo
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to read you, too, Gayle. Wishing you a prosperity of words!
DeleteOh, the new site looks awesome!! Great start!👍
ReplyDeleteThanks very much, Panchali!
Delete