Column Ideas Thread

[Hustle]

This is the thread for writers who are looking for a bit of help when it comes to something to write about. You can ask people for ideas on a topic, or, you can share ideas that you'd like to see turned into a column that you can't or won't write for one reason or another.

Go nuts.

[zzzorf]

OK I will start this off with an idea that has been throwing around in my head for months now. As we all know the olympics are just aound the corner and I have been thinking of hosting a "Wresters Olympics". Using my stats I would be giving out Gold, Silver and Bronze to different wrestlers for certain achievements (longevity, win/loss etc.). I have contemplated doing it in daily form, multiple columns or in a one off and also maybe even with the help of others. Yet at other times I have scrapped the idea entirely as not workable or to hard or just plain boring (among other reasons). Also the start of the olympics will mark my one year anniversary at LOP so if I go ahead with this I want to make it something special (like trips did with his DOA 50th bash). What are everyone elses thoughts on this going ahead and how do you think I should tackle it?

[jstar]

I say go for it and have a few suggestions that you can use or ignore.

You could make each show a country and have Team Raw, Team Smackdown, Team TNA, Team ROH, and possibly a team Indy.

To add some variety you could have events based on match types. I don't know how many viable options there are for this but you could at least do ladder matches, cage matches, and overall performance in gimmick matches or something.

At the end you could crown a winning team and have an olympics in review section. As for layout my only suggestions are you try to fit it in the Olympics. I think your idea has a lot of potential though so good luck.

[Calb]

I agree with Jstar, this idea actually sounds really good.

You could have the countries be Raw, Smackdown, ECW, TNA, ROH or something like that, and have the events be different type of matches. I wouldn't include singles matches, because one it's a pain, and two it's so common that it's massive in comparison to others.

As Jstar said, I'd use ladder matches, TLC matches, Table matches, extreme rules, steel cage, hell in a cell, elimination chamber, ironman, inferno, ambulance, object on a pole, last man standing, royal rumble, battle royal, championship scramble, punjabi prison etc. Well maybe not punjabi prison..matches that have been used multiple times. Ultimate X, monsters ball etc would be won by Tna of course, and ambulance, punjabi prison etc by WWE.

You could choose a specific set of 'athletes' out of each 'country'.

Let's say

TNA: AJ, Storm, Roode, Daniels.
Raw: Cena, HHH, Punk, Big Show
Smackdown: Sheamus, Orton, Bryan, Taker
ROH: Benjamin, Haas, ..., ... (lack of knowledge..)

You could then go through those guys with whatever 'events' you want.

[Ollie James]

I really like Calb's development of the idea, and it could really turn into a good series, especially as the Olympics themselves develop. Have several different events, maybe some tag team events, and even have a representative from each Team in a 'Heptathlon' type event (The 7 Stages of Hell?). It is definitely an idea to work on as it has some definite interest.

An idea of mine, which I posted in the Writers Lounge, is something I have always sort of found interesting, and could be put into a Column/Series: If the WWE scored its matches like a Sports League (3 pts for a win, 1 for a draw 0 for a loss for example, or use the Bound For Glories points system as a basis), how would the League table look like, where would the champs really place, and would there be any surprises near the top/bottom?

It's something I think could be interesting and would love to write about, to seee to what extent wins and losses mean in the WWE, just where the 1# Contenders/Champions place and if they would be deserving if the WWE was run in such a way. Maybe I could split into two leagues, to use the English Premiership as an example have a Premiership and Championship with wrestlers able to be promoted/relegated every few months??

[Calb]

You see, I'd love for that to happen on a program like Nxt, and I think it was discussed on the old board. People start on Raw/SD get relegated to Superstars and then to NXT, and get promoted the other way. Can only move to Raw/Smackdown in drafts or through promotion. This would be done through wins and losses, and like the BfG series, gives even matches low on the card something to fight for.

The only problem is, champions and new characters often come in and don't lose. Punk hasn't lost on Raw in a while unless to develop a rivalry. Sandow, Ryback and Brodus are all undefeated. Santino doesn't usually lose, as he's often in joke matches. In WWE it tends to rely on what situation the character is in. It would work if you did it differently though, with maybe tag teams, or wrestlers not undefeated, but not champions, joke characters etc.

Maybe Tag Teams, people floating between the midcard and world title spots, other regular wrestlers that don't always win nor always lose. Ziggler, Kofi, Otunga, Tensai, Christian, Rhodes, Uso's, Miz, etc, etc.

[Prime Time]

Zzzorf, it's a good idea but I'd make sure you plan it out thoroughly. You'll want it to be very distinct from the stats series you have already done. It's a great idea but my thought is that it needs to be a unique entity, it can't just be Sultan of Smackdown with a facelift and an Olympic theme tacked on. I'm sure you'll deliver though, so like the others say, go for it.


Ollie, the 'league' idea is an interesting one. It definitely would have worked 1t years ago. Now, I think you could still make it work, but the divide between who does what is so much more reinforced than it used to be. You'll certainly get some interesting results, though, as there are top line superstars who'll struggle to win as often as even someone like Tatsu does on Superstars.




Both interesting ideas though guys, and I look forward to seeing what you make of them.

[jstar]

I'm working on a comedy column about CM Punk going out with the guys. He will be recounting their crazy events in a diary and after the quick intro the stories will take place in dialogue form. This is something I want to try to do so I will be writing at least one column under this premise. However, I have two quick questions.

First, do you guys think a concept like this could work well enough and be interesting enough to become a somewhat regular series? I would work different characters in each time with CM Punk being the only constant.

Second, I need to name it. I wrote a column like this on the old boards called "Straight Edge Diaries of Not so Straight Edge Nights." In hind site that name seemed long and unwieldy especially if I am going to non numerically subtitle the columns.
I am thinking of shortening to "Straight Edge Diaries." Does that seem like a good name?

Thank you for reading this and it makes sense. Any and all help would be appreciated.

[zzzorf]

It will work if you make it work. Anything can be done if you do it well. Take Mizfan's Death of CM Punk series for a starter where he places wrestlers in a medievel world or TripleR's Mystery series where he puts them in an old film noir sort of thing, hell Boom makes the wrestlers Zombies. I f you can do it good than it will work. As to the name Staight Edge Diaries sounds good.

[MissouriDragon]

Here's a freebie for anyone who wants to fuck with it:

In the mid-90s/early '00s, Undertaker and various other members of the locker room formed their own Kliq called the "Bone Street Krew". It involved Yoko and the Godwinns and some other folks like the Godfather. You want to write a column about a subject that nobody has covered? Here's your topic. I'd do it, but these fish ain't gonna catch themselves, nah'mean? And just in case you need proof that this actually exists, check the tattoo:

http://multimedia.detnews.com/pix/news/2007/wwe-undertaker03012007/1.jpg

Whoever wants it. Don't half-ass it, and make an effort to bury Helmsley if you would.

[kingzak13]

quick question
can anyone start a column or do you need special premission

[Hustle]

Anyone can. Feel free, if you have something to say.

[KiLL CoLD]

Whoever wants it. Don't half-ass it, and make an effort to bury Helmsley if you would.

The BSK also could mean Brotherhood of Solitary Knights but i think thats a bit too KKK...

Mideon, Henry Godwin, Yokozuna, Rikishi, Godfather and Savio Vega were all the members if I remember correctly.

http://www.percypringle.com/Gallery-Pictures/Room-1/Photos/WWFonTour.gif

You can see Taker and Mideon throwing up the B. Taker is a boss.

[kingzak13]

right i will get to work on my ideas

SUPER ZAK AWAY

[Skulduggery]

Recently, I saw a sports league re-do an old draft for fun...they considered all the guys who were taken in that draft, and re-picked them based on thie hindsight of how the players have performed thus far. I had an idea to do a similar thing with the 2002 WWE Brand Extension Draft. McMahon and Flair selected guys for SmackDown and RAW respectively; it might be fun to "redo" that draft, with 10 years of knowledge. For example, Chris Jericho was picked #26 overall back then. He would likely be picked a lot earlier if we were to redo that draft now.

Would anyone be interested in doing a collab column with me based on this topic? I'm thinking that one of us would select guys for RAW, one would pick guys for SmackDown, and then we would see (at the end) how the rosters stacked up. A warning though, it would be a fairly lengthy project, so I understand if there aren't many willing takers.

PM me if you have any interest in this at all.

Lastly, since I'm here anyways...if columnists (in general) think that this is a decent idea, or if you think that it's a horrible idea, (tactfully :) ) let me know. If I get a mountain of "This would be the worst thing since giving Khali a World Title reign", then I'll just do something else amazing ;) .

[TripleR]

Coming soon....One Case, Two Case, Red Case, Blue Case.

[Uncle Leo]

I was interested in doing a collab with someone, but don't really have a topic in mind. If someone did have one and would like to do a collab with me, could be a one-time thing or a series, Private Message me and we could talk it over.

[BuffBagwell]

I was thinking, and this has just been playing in my head a bit, but I wanna do a column/series of columns about dream matches. Its probably super overdone, and what not, but I thought it was a good idea.

[TripleR]

@Buff- it's been done before yeah, most recently by zzzorf with ten or so fellow columnists over two series, but everybody is going to have different dream matches, so if you want to go for it, give it a go.

[BuffBagwell]

That is very true. My first dream match is going to be Lance Storm vs. Brock Lesnar.

[StormDragonZ]

Someone should write a column about the WWE Triple Crown and how it seems silly that John Cena, The Undertaker & The Miz are the only three currently who need the Intercontinental Title to get that achievement. Who do you think, if any of these three, will reach it first?

[Ironclad]

@StormDragonz Well WWE Triple Crown champion seems a really good idea looking forward to read whoever is going to write it. BTW I don't think either Cena or Undertaker will ever held IC title.
Ok guys I want to do a countdown to the best Monday Night RAW after Wrestlemania I mean the night after Wrestlemania but I started watching in 2008 any ideas how can I get more data for my column.

[TheMaskedNewton]

I always struggle to understand or rather define the term 'ring psychology'. What is it that some wrestlers use in their matches that is different than the rest and because of which they are called better wrestlers?

I believe ring psychology is much much more than focussing on one part of your opponent's body but often times it is this one thing that most people point out to when discussing the psychology of a match. In terms of Kayfabe, I think it is completely wrong for a face wrestler who is not half the size of his opponent to try injuring one part of his opponent's body, because that would be morally wrong.

One aspect of this psychology stuff that I can think of is pacing. You try to maintain your stamina through out the match and that's why you slow down a bit sometimes, to fill the gas, so to speak. You would try to put your opponent in some sort of rest hold, or submission move, where it is already known that you are not going to get a submission move because the move isn't really that dangerous or effective, but it does give you some time to recover yourself. Same can also be done by hitting a big move and then go take rest because you are sure the move that you hit isn't going to give you a pin fall win but it will keep your opponent grounded for some time.

Can somebody please explain or share thoughts on how the ring psychology works in detail? And I don't mean by column only, I would be grateful if you could post your thoughts within this thread. Is there a scope for such type of discussion in the Columns Forum?

Also, I would like to know about innovations or, to be more specific, evolution of wrestling. I mean the 'wrestling' product, the matches. I read somewhere that a present wrestler commented that they are much more athletic now then they were in 80s. And I tend to agree. This is mainly with reference to the pace with which the match is being played. I think today's matches are much faster than the earlier period matches. That does not automatically mean that matches are better now, but there was a lot of wastage of time in the ring in the earlier periods, at least in my humble opinion.

Apart from the pacing, how have certain moves, sequences evolved over the years or better yet, which are the moves/sequences that you would like to see evolve now. Here's one that I would like to see evolve :- (A little difficult to explain) It's when Wrestler A throws Wrestler B towards the ropes and just when B has reached the ropes and is about to bounce back, A goes right up there and sleeps in front of him. B jumps over A and then A stands up. This is how it ALWAYS ends up being. Never have I seen B falling because of A. Never have I seen B kicking A. NEVER. I want that to change, at least once in a while.

Please share your thoughts on this.

[Prime Time]

I have no idea why a babyface wrestler returning to one body part would be any more morally wrong than, say, a piledriver. Surely it's far more moral for CM Punk to return to the shoulder ten times with a wear-down hold than for The Undertaker to drop someone on their head, a move which in kayfabe terms would risk serious injury to the head and spinal column?

The big problem with understanding it, is that it becomes all things to all people. It isn't all that well defined amongst fans, and is often used as a kind of snobbish weapon - 'if you don't like that match, you obviously don't get psychology' - which in turn brings out a 'you call that psychology, I feel sorry for you'. Now, it is incredibly important - wrestling simply doesn't work without it - but is thrown around a lot by fans without being particularly well understood.

[TheMaskedNewton]

I agree about fans jumping on a topic of psychology without really understanding it. It happens quite a lot. As I have never really seen any detailed break down of the psychology so far. It must mean many things to many people, just like a piece of art, a novel or a movie. But some sort of guideline would be helpful.

The most important person in making people understand psychology is the announcer and in the current crop , I think Tazz and Matt Striker are a good example of that. I don't know where others see them, but I think they do a good job of pointing out the reasoning behind the moves. But there is a lot of ignorance from the announcers in detailing in the reasoning involved behind the moves nowadays.

[Prime Time]

You want a guideline? Well, mine is pretty broad, but you can take it for what it is worth. To me, it's the ability to control (or to understand and react to) a crowd. It is getting them to care without having to risk killing yourself to do it. Any fuckwit can get a pop going through a table, but if you can order things in such a way that you get thousands of people baying for your blood and you've only got a reverse chinlock on the guy... that's psychology.

[The Judge]

I don't know if anyone checked out the main page recently but WWE has put together a list of top ten fantasy matches that have never and/or will never happen. What I want to do is review the matches and have a little discussion about who would win said matches. I think it could definitely be a collaboration of some sort, so if anyone is interested just pm me or something and we will see what we can work out.

[sean.keller]

I think there needs to be a sticky thread that is easy to find for the novice writer who wants to follow in your footsteps and become the next hustle or Ro or superchriss or even the next tito.

[Jackster]

Keller, you don't want to be the next Hustle or Ro. It would be better to want to be unique, the first Sean.Keller.

Write a column on your favourite wrestler in a voice that you would use and a style that you would feel comfortable in and the guys who give feedback will help you out on the finer details.

[sean.keller]

Some should start a rankings thread
RANKINGS * This is another item, I thought I could do once I final started to post here in the LoP Forums. *Are rankings, as I mentioned earlier when I was a kid growing up, I read many of the wrestling magazines and my favorite parts were the rankings. *Actually, the magazine Pro Wrestling Illustrated is what led to my discovery of Lords of Pain. *One day I stumbled across an old Pro Wrestling Illustrated Magazine after not seeing one in a while, (you know life got in the way of wrestling; although I still watched and followed it), so I thought I would see if they had an online version, and in searching came across LoP. *Well without further ado, this is how mine will work, I will do a top ten overall, a WWE top ten, a Impact top ten, and an overall tag team top ten. Top Ten: 1.*Austin Aries (Impact World Heavyweight Champion) 2.*CM Punk (WWE Heavyweight Champion) 3.*Bully Ray (Impact Wrestling) 4.*Shemaus (World Heavyweight Champion) 5.*Kevin Steen (ROH World Champion) 6.*John Cena (WWE) 7.*Daniel Byran (WWE) 8.*Bobby Roode (Impact Wrestling) 9.*James Storm (Impact Wrestling) 10.*Samoa Joe Top 10 Tag Teams: 1.*Jay & Mark Briscoe (ROH) 2.*Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas (ROH) 3.*The All Night Express (ROH) 4.*Christopher Daniels & Kazarian (Impact Tag Team Champions) R-Truth & Kofi Kingstion (WWE Tag Team Champions)5.*Darren Young & Titus O’Neal (WWE) 6.*Aces & Eights (Impact Wrestling) 7.*Chavo Guerrero & Hernandez (Impact Wrestling) 8.*The Uso’s (WWE) 9.*Curt Hakwins and Tyler Reks (WWE) * Top 10 WWE: Champion: CM Punk 1.*The Miz (Intercontinental Champion) 2.*Antonio Cesaro (United States Heavyweight Champion) 3.*John Cena 4.*Dolph Ziggler 5.*Daniel Bryan 6.*Randy Orton 7.*Albert Del Rio 8.*Big Show 9.*Damien Sandow 10.*Kane Top 10 Impact Wresting: Champion: Austin Aries 1.*Devon (Impact Television Champion) 2.*Bully Ray 3.*James Storm 4.*Samoa Joe 5.*Bobby Roode 6.*Jeff Hardy Kurt Angle7.*AJ Syles 8.*Zema Ion 9.*Chavo Guerrero Note: As in the old days, the second championship was ranked #1, therefore that is why you have them as 1 and 2 in WWE and 1 in Impact wrestling. *I will admit I know the least about ROH; however, I do think they have the best tag teams right now. *

[TheMaskedNewton]

You want a guideline? Well, mine is pretty broad, but you can take it for what it is worth. To me, it's the ability to control (or to understand and react to) a crowd. It is getting them to care without having to risk killing yourself to do it. Any fuckwit can get a pop going through a table, but if you can order things in such a way that you get thousands of people baying for your blood and you've only got a reverse chinlock on the guy... that's psychology.

That's one way to look at it, or as you say, broad way. But in that sense, Hulk Hogan is a great wrestler, because he always succeeded in making the audience invest in him, and I agree it forms a major part of the psychology....but speaking just technically, let's take one example...the pacing. Sometimes I have read people say that the pacing should gradually increase and should be the highest in a match's final stages..but how is that really possible? I agree that the match can start slow - you would be more careful going in, it would pick up pace gradually but after it picks up pace...it will slow down a bit...well yeah okay, it can pick up speed again. I don't even know if I have made any point here.

[sean.keller]

Keller, you don't want to be the next Hustle or Ro. It would be better to want to be unique, the first Sean.Keller.

Write a column on your favourite wrestler in a voice that you would use and a style that you would feel comfortable in and the guys who give feedback will help you out on the finer details.

Sorry for the misunderstanding the point was not to be the next Hustle or Ro, but to have a forum thread similar to the MP Columns that is very easily accessible and easy to find, so people can work up to that level of writing in maybe make the main page if that is there goal.

[zzzorf]

Sorry for the misunderstanding the point was not to be the next Hustle or Ro, but to have a forum thread similar to the MP Columns that is very easily accessible and easy to find, so people can work up to that level of writing in maybe make the main page if that is there goal.

Thus we have the columns forum, the FCW to the main pages WWE. You write, you listen and act on feedback, you improve, you get asked to write for the main page.

[sean.keller]

Here is an idea for a column or thread - Verne Gagne was he a great promoter or the worst promoter of all time. As he had many of the top names in wrestling in the 1980s come through his promotion and many of them were there at the same time yet, his promotion still went out of business.

"Mean" Gene Okerlund, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, Adrian Adonis, Ken Patera, Jim Brunzell, David Schultz, and Jesse Ventura, Hulk Hogan, Road Warriors, Jerry Blackwell, Nick Bockwinkel, Ray "The Crippler" Stevens, "The Crusher" Reginald Lisowski, Dick the Bruiser, Baron Von Raschke, Mad Dog Vachon, Larry Hennig, SGT. Slaughter, Bob Blacklund, Rick Martel, The Fabulous Freebirds, Jerry Lawler, Scott Hall, Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty, "Leon White ( Big Van Vader), The Nasty Boys, Madusa, Eric Bischoff, and many others I did not mention were all part of the AWA.

[sixxisking]

Verne Gagne was he a great promoter or the worst promoter of all time?
The short answer to your question is no... He was a good, not great, promoter and he was far from the worst promoter of all time. Now you don't need a column or a thread for that question.

[thespyderboy]

No idea if anyone is still checking this thread, but I'm a big fan of Al Laiman's 30 thoughts on RAW Running Diaries column, so I'm thinking of doing a sort-of spin-off column - how I would book RAW. Is a column like that worthwhile? With the new 3 hour limit would it just be too much to write? It's an idea I'd really like to do, and I wouldn't mind writing it at all (I wouldn't go into extreme depth of the actual matches). I mostly want to write it as a narrative deconstruction/reconstruction of the current storylines on RAW and what I would do to help them, if I even think they need help.

Thoughts?

Even if it's a bad idea (or too ambitious), I think I'd like to do at least one at some point...

[T.O.]

Fantasy booking goes over like a lead balloon. Or like Zack Ryder in a main event, as it were.

[thespyderboy]

How about just a straight up narrative analysis?

Also, isn't Zack Ryder over? :confused:

[T.O.]

He bombed in the small main event slot he got.

[Al Laiman]

No idea if anyone is still checking this thread, but I'm a big fan of Al Laiman's 30 thoughts on RAW Running Diaries column, so I'm thinking of doing a sort-of spin-off column - how I would book RAW. Is a column like that worthwhile? With the new 3 hour limit would it just be too much to write? It's an idea I'd really like to do, and I wouldn't mind writing it at all (I wouldn't go into extreme depth of the actual matches). I mostly want to write it as a narrative deconstruction/reconstruction of the current storylines on RAW and what I would do to help them, if I even think they need help.

Thoughts?

Even if it's a bad idea (or too ambitious), I think I'd like to do at least one at some point...

Give it a shot. Worst case scenario, it doesn't work. Worse things have happened.

[thespyderboy]

Give it a shot. Worst case scenario, it doesn't work. Worse things have happened.

Thanks, Al! I'll do it for next week's episode since there's something else I want to write this week. Granted, storylines may have major shakeups this Sunday, but it's probably just a filler PPV...

[The_Almty]

I've been out of school for 6 months now , and it will probably be another 6 until I get back enrolled , so I want a way to keep my writing at least functional in the down time . I have a friend who's an art major and was recently complaining about having no idea how to write a term paper , only because it had been so long since she had written .

That being said , I'm trying to think of a simple column to pump out and get my feet wet before diving fully in . I have an idea of a piece on what brought me back into the wrestling fold after being away for a few years , but I don't want to use that as my first column to have it totally blow . My only other foray into the CF was a piss poor , sadly planned and prepared SmackDown review piece ( this is going back years ago . )

Needless to say , should I decide to go forward with this ( which I certainly might change my mind and have this go nowhere ) , what could be a good topic for a first piece for me ? Any ideas or help welcomed .

[zzzorf]

The why you became a fan (again) piece is always a good place to start. It gives us a feel of who you are and where you come from. The choice is really yours there is no wrong first column in the sense of topic just go with what you feel is best for you to get your feet wet.

[ChrisBear]

The why you became a fan (again) piece is always a good place to start. It gives us a feel of who you are and where you come from. The choice is really yours there is no wrong first column in the sense of topic just go with what you feel is best for you to get your feet wet.

This is a great starting block. Generally though, those who write best write about things they care about, so anything you are truly passionate about, that will get us understanding YOU, and what makes you tick (apologies if you have tourettes) is always a good thing, then just let your writing evolve, the moment you find yourself trying to force yourself to write is never good.

[JoeyShibobi]

I'll give you a bit of advice that has nothing to do with column ideas, but a technical note; sort out that crap of leaving a space between a word and a punctuation mark. It looks very, very awkward and will really bug me when it comes to reading a piece of prose.

Apart from that, I'd perhaps go the other way. Don't do what everyone else does. Be an original, not a copy. There's nothing wrong with doing something everyone does, but in a completely different way. We love it when people push the envelope; it's better to have a go at something and fall a bit short than do something we've seen a million times before, albeit badly. All debuts suck. It's what you do after that counts.

Best of luck.

[The_Almty]

Haha that punctuation thing is just an old habit , I would stop if I went full out in writing . I said basically I want to write to avoid being rusty whenever I return to school , and I would treat anything I put up as I would an essay for school . In the meantime though you see I'm just used to doing it

But besides me being a smartass with that, what'd you mean about avoiding being a copy? Where Chris & Zorf said to go for it, you implied my idea's been done before?

I don't want to rush to pump something out so I think I'm going to spend at least a week reading around and leaving some thoughts on other columns out here, just to get reacquainted with the people around here. As far as I can tell, the only ones I regularly interacted with are gone, so everyones as new to me as I am to them.

[zzzorf]

To be quite honest the idea has been done before and it will be done again,the thing is it hasn't been done by you. We all have our own story and way of telling that story. I think what Joey means is if you have your own idea go for it, don't be held back by the belief it won't go down. I came into the forums with a basic idea for my pre-PPV Analysis and delivered it as about my 5th column when Summerslam came around totally scared of the way it would be perceived as it was such a different sort of idea. It went down well but everyone remarked on how much work it needed. If you have read one recently then you can see how polished it has become but at first it pretty much sucked. Without trying out your ideas you will never know what could happen. I have many failed attempts at different types of columns, all in different styles, if I did not try them though I would not have eventually evolved into The King of Stats and be in the place I am now.

This is not to say that you cannot do things like the why I watch wrestling column. As long as you tell your story instead of someone elses it will be read. I recently did one of these type of columns myself which can be read here (http://www.lordsofpain.tv/showthread.php?366-Wayne-s-World-Professional-Wrestling), of course though this is my story and is not the same for you or anyone else. While on the whole finding your own stick is important there is nothing stopping you to do the tried and tested columns as well.

Taking the time and reading columns before you write is a good idea but don't let them influence what you write too much. You have your own style, be proud of it as it makes you unique and will help you stand out from the crowd.

[thespyderboy]

There's a "saying" that there are only 7 stories to be told, and thus the only real difference is the storyteller. That's one of my mantras. If you keep that in mind, then it doesn't really what you write, since it's YOU writing it, and that's what people should in theory be reading, especially here on the CF where we're meant to be improving and trying out new shit.

[The_Almty]

Alright guys I think I got what you're all saying now . Zorf I jut read that this morning a little before seeing your post here , and left some feedback in the general CF thread .

Since I seem to have some positive incouragement I think I'll take that idea and run with it for #1 to see how it goes , probably not until Sunday at the earliest though . I'm running some ideas through my head now .

Not to put a limit or a goal in my head now , but around 2 pages in Microsoft Word as an idea of how much to go for ? More or less , what do you guys think ?

[Jackster]

1500 words for your first column, it gives us enough of an idea of your style and how you can write, but it won't be too much that it will overstretch you or bore your readers, which may happen on a first column.

[Brett Glover]

Hi all, I'm just querying how to post columns up on here. I'm new to all this but an aspiring wrestling columnist so i'd be grateful for any tips/advice from anybody with experience. Many thanks

[TripleR]

Hi all, I'm just querying how to post columns up on here. I'm new to all this but an aspiring wrestling columnist so i'd be grateful for any tips/advice from anybody with experience. Many thanks

All new columnists are welcome. First off, read the CF Handbook, it's essential to doing things the right way around here. If you don't have enough posts to start a new thread yet, you can always use the one that zzzorf created for columnists with less than the required # of posts.

Most importantly, write about what you care about. We're here to read new ideas, opinions, and styles. Just realize that your first column will probably suck- they pretty much all do. Take the feedback you get, apply it, get better, and enjoy writing.

Welcome to the CF!

[maverick]

Hey Brett, welcome to the CF! What Trips said basically, plus, and this is my own two cents, read a few pages of columns on here and feed them back, get involved in the debate. Your post count will hit twenty before you know it! Try to avoid reviews, round ups and fantasy booking. I would start with an opinion piece about something current that people will have an opinion about. Best of luck! I'll definitely be reading and feeding.

[Brett Glover]

thanks Maverick, really appreciate the help and support. I'll definitely be looking forward to writing different columns in the near future :)

[XanMan]

Hey Brett, welcome to the CF! What Trips said basically, plus, and this is my own two cents, read a few pages of columns on here and feed them back, get involved in the debate. Your post count will hit twenty before you know it! Try to avoid reviews, round ups and fantasy booking. I would start with an opinion piece about something current that people will have an opinion about. Best of luck! I'll definitely be reading and feeding.

Actually, yesterday Terry reduced the post count needed to start a thread to 5, but you do still have to have been a member for two days, so, you may as well spend those two days reading columns. :)

[Brett Glover]

ahh I see, I suppose it helps by reading more threads and stuff, reading columns...thats not too difficult :D

[thespyderboy]

As a "recent" newbie (funny how I'm now a "senior member"), I'll be honest, there's a part of me that wishes my debut column ("A Rookie Mistake") could be a textbook example of a debut column - shows promise, but filled with mistakes that are called in the comments, for which there's good back and forth discussion and the author is open to improving. But perhaps that's just me wanting to appeal to my ego.

Regardless, welcome to the fun, Brett!

[The_Almty]

Just realize that your first column will probably suck- they pretty much all do.

I know it's been said and is probably true , but there's gotta be a better way to put it . "Give it your best and you'll always improve " instead of " it's going to suck ."

Brett didn't seem phased by it and I knew the other day it was a joke but I feel like if the CF tells that to every prospective columnist were bound to turn some people off .

Brett I'm getting started on something around Sunday for my debut too , so good luck to you man .

[TripleR]

I know it's been said and is probably true , but there's gotta be a better way to put it . "Give it your best and you'll always improve " instead of " it's going to suck ."

Brett didn't seem phased by it and I knew the other day it was a joke but I feel like if the CF tells that to every prospective columnist were bound to turn some people off .

Brett I'm getting started on something around Sunday for my debut too , so good luck to you man .

No disrespect meant, sorry if it came off as such.

[The_Almty]

I didn't take it that way , I just meant others might . And I've seen the talk about the low quality in the CF ( and I believe it remembering back to 06-07. ) So let's try to be inviting to people to find that diamond in the rough rather than have them lose their motivation . There was some heated talk in Feedback about the thread starting limit that began around letting new columnists have easier access to post rather than be turned off , and it led to a rule change . Let's help to show it was worth it and be helpful and friendly , and after they're comfortable then say , "By the way , you know it's gonna suck right ? "

[thespyderboy]

I'm a similar stance to Almty. While the community hasn't really been malicious or vitriolic in the feedback to new writers, there are certainly better ways to phrase that should subtly offer better words of encouragement. For example, one of the tenets of the CF is improvement, so in theory, you should only be getting better as a writer. Knowing that and saying it to people writing their first column, just encourage to write about anything as it's our first taste of who they are, not the ultimate example of who they can or will be.

As well, one of the comments I see most frequently is "more depth." Give writers some breathing room to really find their voice first, then get into critiques like that. Or phrase it as "one thing to consider moving forward...." I know I'm guilty of the more depth feedback, but expecting new writers to have everything down pat within 3-4 columns seems a bit strange.

All I'm really trying to say is that there are some subtle changes needed to our feedback that should prove even more encouraging.

[Brett Glover]

thanks a lot man, good luck to you too. I'll definitely look forward to your debut!

[thespyderboy]

So I have a new idea for a column, but I'm debating whether to have it be an ongoing or finite series. The current title is "Lessons from Hollywood," but it just has such a finite sound to it and makes it feel like each column is literally a lesson. I'd prefer to have the room to provide perspective on the product rather than just do lessons, though. It's kinda based on whatever I end up titling it, too, such as "Life in La-La Land" or "Thoughts from Tinseltown." I suppose I do still have "Spyder's Web" for personal thoughts, but eh... I suppose I could just pick one direction, e.g. "Lesson from Hollywood," and just try it out for a bit.

Thoughts?

[MissouriDragon]

I think you answered your own question. You've got a column series, go ahead and make one that has a finite ending if you want.

[thespyderboy]

Word, thanks. I have a few ideas for sure, but I'll just focus on doing 10 solid ones for now. If it goes past that, then I'll get to it when I get to it. My big concern is repetition. Hmm, maybe I'll just do one/month.