What Went Very Well

First and foremost, having a most excellent co-sponsor, Otter, whose terrific ideas, one-of-a-kind creativity and honest sensibilities helped guide this event. Thanks for everything you did to support it, Otter.

Solid participation from most of the usual suspects and many new ones. One of our goals was to bring new blood into the mainstream of this group. Right now, that appears to have been achieved.

A surprise visit by Jameliz who dropped a post right in the middle of Day 5, much to everyone's surprise and glee. (Jameliz, are you still out there?)

Despite the offbeat topic, this event revealed a new understanding about life and how evil impacts it at all levels. Some of it was brutally honest and difficult to read, with credit to those posting for their courage to share.

In the process, we developed a stronger sense of community through our sharing and caring and new understandings of each other. We went through this trial by fire and escaped together, brothers and sisters in arms. It will always be one of our common bonds.

What Did Not Go So Well

The evil theme turned some off (Otter and I suspected that might be the case).

Many talents went unheard.

The early daily themes bled together just a little too much, making it difficult to post new material.

I lost a lot of sleep during the event. :-)

What went very well

I must echo lost mutt's appreciation in reverse - this was his idea and it was great fun to work together on it. It taught me that we have a wealth of knowledge here within these cyberspace walls and that together we can go far and learn much.

So many new participants - and the courage to post, some of us for the first time in this group. This was an effort to create a safe place to do this, and I think it succeeded.

I also think that we were able to break though and build some new relationships. It takes trust to share your work and building trust is critical to making this a thriving environment. (I'm so happy to have met you!)

The prompts helped us write. I'm still a newbie - I only started writing six months ago and prompts gave me a place to begin. I don't know if this was true for others, but I wrote, you wrote, it gave us some place to start.

The support we provided each other was awesome.

What didn't work

I think the topic was too heavy and lent itself to obvious ideas. We weren't able to delve into much subtlety.

Also, because of the topic, we tended to write essays, as opposed to creative writings.

The guidelines weren't clear enough; we need to make sure everyone understands what is expected in response to the prompts.

I think that because we asked for personal experience and the topic was heavy, it may have scared some folks away. Or there may have been some people who choose not to participate because they didn't want to spent energy on a "negative" space.

Having the last day be song or poem didn't work; again, I speculate that it was too uncomfortable to try something unfamiliar.

But most important is what you think - you new and old members of this writing group, and those of you who didn't write, but read the offerings. What do you think and what would make it more fun, easier to take risks here, have fun and jump in?

What went very well was that people trusted each other with private material. People said a lot of painful things that they needed to say in a safe community.

What possibly didn't work, was that the prompt was way too dark to sustain over long days. After day 3, I was getting tragedy overload, and it was really bringing me down. We had child abuse, we had betrayal - these were stories writers ached to tell. It was so dark and so heavy and so personally confessional, (and make no mistake, I was a contributor myself) that I just wanted to hide under the bed.

When Jameliz appeared briefly on day #4 - (I think it was #4, I was wrung out, and relieved to read his light-hearted rendition of evil, for a change of pace).

My heart really wasn't in it too much after day #4.) How many body blows could I take? I was afraid to even read the posts.

Possibly, the next excercize could start with a lighter, or more open-ended prompt. You'd have more comic relief, along with the serious.

What worked...

Since this was my first WITTC, I didn't have anything to compare it to. But as I watched this progress, I realized what a great group you have here.

The responses to entries were kind, and people felt safe discussing some really difficult topics.

I came away from this with an admiration for every single person who posted. Evil affects everyone's lives, and somehow we must all find ways to make it through to the other side. To me, sharing a difficulty with another makes it easier to bear.

While I can see how some would find it difficult to read (and I did at times, too), I was honored to have the privilege, and I hope that my reading it lightened a burden on another soul. As I read, I know I said many prayers for these people, and wish them nothing but good in their lives. Hey, I even found a chuckle or two in some of the entries. There are some talented people here. I'm intimidated.

What didn't work...

Well, again, I'm new so I have nothing to compare it to. I was actually disappointed that so few people posted. But it WAS a tough topic. I only posted one day, because I realized I was only going to be able to give personal accounts of events from my life, and I wasn't really certain that's what you wanted.

But I'm game to try again, anytime. Just give me a topic, and I'll give it a shot.

Thanks to Otter and lostmutt for the huge amount of time you must have put into this. It was fun, though the topic was difficult, and I look forward to more.

As a first timer, like Della, I have nothing to compare it to. Both she and Westerly summed up my feelings on the subject. I had no where to go but from my life and that may not be what you wanted. Unfortunately, whether we want to revisit evil in our lives or not, it does exist. The brutal honesty was moving, uncomfortable and surprising. As difficult as the topic, the atmosphere was filled with compassion and respect. Everyone needs to be commended on that.

Lostmutt and Otter did an outstanding job. The time to comment on each post must have been draining. I limited my own responses because I just couldn't handle it and didn't want to say the wrong thing. I was so moved and touched by everyone. It was a honor to be part of your lives.

Didn't work:

Human error. It got confusing when someone would post their contribution attached to someone elses post.

I am an emotional eater. Evil made me put on a few pounds.

What Did Not Go So Well.....

I MISSED THE WHOLE THING!

You guys have been so incredibly productive during my absence, that I can't seem to catch up. And is it my imagination, or did we add some 100+ members in the two weeks I've been away?

Aside from that, my trip to the Galapagos Islands was everything I expected . . . and then some. Exotic animals with no fear of humans, knowledgeable naturalists to explain everything you see, isolated and "surface of the moon" landscapes . . . all topped off by a five-star cruise ship and gourmet meals.

Yikes. I'm back.

-M

Hi, Mary,

I'm in the same boat. I was so busy this week I couldn't keep up with the reading, let alone find time to think and then write about the topic!! (Waaaaah!)