We have a welcome thread for new joiners but no goodbye thread.

I see that Paul Blackburn has decided to take a rest from WOL. For me Paul is part of the fixtures and fittings of WOL and I just can't imagine it without him. I have joined and participated in countless threads initiated by him - he really does liven things up.

I trust there will be a public announcement at some point. In the meantime I would just like to say that I hope Paul comes back at some point. No offence intended, but there is no-one on the admin team big enough to fill his boots.

I haven't seen anything anywhere that says Paul's taking a rest from wol.
Everyone deserves a break and if it's true then Paul deserves one more than most. He has dedicated much of his time to it and the people on it.
To be honest i thought the idea of bringing more admin members on was because Paul needed some time for himself and his health was suffering. They all do a brilliant job, often with little or no recognition and/or thanks.

ps(I know that Isobel isn't saying otherwise)

I say good luck to Paul and hope he thoroughly enjoys some time away from the site if that is his wish..
and to the rest of the team, i say keep up the good work as long as it is what you wish and enjoy doing for the site and its members :-)

Am currently on holiday with really difficult internet access but had to log in to say how much I agree with Izz. Hard to imagine WOL without Paul. If he really is taking a break it's well deserved and hopefully will be as long as he needs - but short

I agree with both Isobel and Dave. I hope this doesnt mean Paul will not be around the poetry circuit as well,.... It wouldnt be the same without him lurking around the wings at the Tudor!

Yes, decided to take a break and experiment with another project for a while hoping to make some money - All amicable.

Oh and I'll be lurking around the poetry venues when you least expect it with a mask, a couple of pistols and a "Stand and deliver!"

I'm very glad to hear that we haven't seen or heard the last of you Paul. I was just a little disconcerted when I couldn't find your profile or any of your poems. Removal of a profile always seems rather drastic to me and I hate it when people I like disappear.

Making money is an excellent reason for moving on. What a pity admin members are not recompensed in coin of the realm. That arts council needs plundering! I do wish you all the best with your new venture

Isobel x

Miss you already! :) Do we still get to see the site stats for each month? I know we can see the number of poems blogged but the number of comments is of interest too. As all Paul's bloggs have disappeared, so have the stats as far as I can see. I feel that there have beenfar less comments made since the changes, but I am happy to be proved wrong.

I heard a few days about Paul taking a back seat.. It's a shame, but I have always found Paul supportive and I for one hope this isn't a long break and we see him back soon.

Paul does indeed rock! ;-)

Ann, I think you are probably right about there being less comments since the changes. There is less opportunity to trawl through someone's back catalogue when it isn't all up there on display - less chance that you will accidentally get hooked by stuff. Is that a bad thing? Not in my books - I find it easier to dip in and out of the site.
The blogging area also becomes a more equally divided space. If people like your stuff enough, they will search it out.

A reduction in comments may also be caused for other reasons. Everything is cyclical. People get stale, WOL weary. Fresh blood and new characters are needed. I suppose it depends on whether new crops interact and contribute enough.

I have found discussion a bit tedious of late. I think I need a holiday.

And it's goodbye from him ....

I too, am taking a break.
Thank-you to all the lovely people who have supported me and helped with my efforts at poetry during the last few years.
Please come and find me on f/b

Cx

It's funny, but I feel the need for a spring break too. Perhaps there's something in the air? 'WOL weary', a good phrase.

I'm sure I'll be back one day, perhaps even with a poem?

:-)

Jx

Good luck to Chris :-)

I think wol goes through phases like this from time to time. In my experience of the site over the years, comments take a dip the rise again with new visitors.
I tend to have spells now where i spend a lot of time on here during the winter months but in the spring and summer have other things i'd rather be doing, indoors and outdoors. I'm lucky enough to have a choice and able bodied enough to get outside and get some fresh air :-)
I think we all need some of that don't we?

Well - when I set this thread up, I never expected it to turn into such a depressing affair.

You are right to say that WOL goes through phases Janet. It is certainly on a downer for me at the moment - and many others from the looks of it. I think the departure of so many high profile peeps and characters is bound to have some effect. It doesn't seem to have a lot of fun going on either.

If I go, it won't be a grand exit centre stage. I've done that before, only to return round the back...

Next time, I shall slide away imperceptibly. In the meantime, I'm hoping that people won't be leaving WOL forever. I don't think much of FB - far too full of tripe - the insignificant details of people's daily routines...

All the best Chris. John - I'm hoping you won't lose touch. xx

i know from my perspective i have been held up by my health recently (had a stinker of a virus) and a bit of a mental block recently ontop of that (however am 5 stanzas each into two new poems which could be the beginning of a new series) but it's a shame certainly to read that several names are taking breaks.

hopefully in the two cases that i am aware off both paul and chris will return sooner rather than later, but i know from when I first got into my writing seriously around 2004 or so, it always develops and moves on sometimes in the circle you know or in different ones.

i for example was in a writing discussion group which i won't name from 2004 to the end of 2007 which fell apart badly, and from the ashes of that i went in another direction, and have gone in another direction last year since that finished, and whether this means both Paul and Chris going in different directions altogether, we shall see.

But I hope the website continues to grow and grow and grow and grow.

Thanks for that Andy, and all of you for your concerns. Life is like that: people die, new ones are born. More born than are dying.
And, here, nobody died!
Paul has put a lot into Write Out Loud in recent years, for which I know we are all very grateful, me more than anyone. Now he wants to try something new. Why not? I wish him well in that, and look forward to seeing him around on the circuit.
Meanwhile we shall be continuing to upgrade the site and create even more opportunities for you to write and share your work, chat and express opinions, argue even, and more chances to learn, grow and develop your writing and performance. Hey, life goes on!

Amen to that! Keep up all the good work on this fantastic site. It is much appreciated, believe me

Paul is a good bloke.

I hope he's still on the scene at the gigs.