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The Forum has evolved, going through many permutations during its life. Both administrators and members come and go, new areas open up for discussion, others get played out (or self-destruct), and expectations are modified periodically when something isn't working or is counterproductive or could simply be done better. One notable case in point is the change in the application requirement of work produced from life.
Anyone who has previously sought out participating membership in the Forum -- especially if a year or more ago -- and who sincerely wishes to have posting privileges and believes their work and their input would be in sync with the stated practices and goals of the Forum should consider re-applying. (But don't fall into the trap of comparing your work with the lesser-accomplished efforts you might spot here. This is a workshop as well as a gallery, so yes, if you look for them, you'll find some pieces at various stages that may not be up to your standard. Be grateful for your talents and stay focused.)
I tried this past spring to get into a graduate writing program. I had over 70 publication credits, including many extended pieces in national magazines, and I've worked professionally as an editor for nearly 20 years. This was a shoo-in. Yet I was barely home from the interview before the rejection letter showed up in the mailbox.
I admittedly had some of the feelings of resentment that I'm "hearing" in some of the posts in this thread. It helped that, before I began the application process, I acknowledged that, if I got in, I would be doing a huge amount of reading and writing in the coming years -- and if I didn't get in, well, I would be doing a huge amount of reading and writing in the coming years, because that's what I do. I would have loved the opportunity and discipline of this particular program (there were easier ones, but I wasn't looking for easy), and I think I could have contributed something back to it. But for reasons I'll never know -- perhaps I made an inapt selection of writing samples to submit, or perhaps I just didn't sell myself as professionally as I could have -- I won't be joining them.
But it doesn't mean they made a mistake (oh . . . yes it does -- I'm still a little miffed) and it has nothing to do with whether I'm a competent writer or whether I'll continue to publish or even break through to commercial success. (So far, it's not time to quit the day job, but when that agent calls with the news, I'm outta here.) It doesn't prevent me from re-applying next year, or applying somewhere else, or simply working to a more personalized syllabus to continue to hone the skills. It won't keep me from publishing, if I marshal enough discipline to turn out the work, nor from cashing the checks.
Same thing on this Forum. It's an imperfect process. Be persistent. Try again. At the very least, continue to read. When I signed on this morning, there was one member on the site (me) and 125 guests, all presumably absorbing and learning and, perhaps, getting their work ready to put out there. We all wish that every one of those 125 readers would put together some wonderful, suitable portrait submissions and join us.
You don't suppose that verbosity had anything to do with the graduate thing, do you?
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