Cross-training Roster & Next Steps

[namix]

The roster for the Cross Training Program has been finalized. Great mix of newer heads and those with experience.

I already got in front of some of the 'details' for those that may have seen it in the original thread - but in terms of immediate next steps:
By this Friday, please:
1. Send me your AIM handle in PM, I will consolidate the list from there.
2. Include your QUICK answers to the questions in the "Benchmark Snapshot" section in the PM.

In the meantime:
~ feel free to use this thread for any initial ideas/requests/etc. -- trolling/bs posts will be removed
~ if you have any good ideas in terms of tools for collaboration, ideally free, please let me know.
~ while more concerted point-of-view & tutorial type of content will obviously be shared on the general site --- I would like to setup a 'base camp' of sorts, or potentially a private forum if GoW will let me.... It'd also be dope to have a 'chat room' type area where we can bust some quick cyphers or address some other topics whenever we're so inclined (IRC, maybe hipchat? iunno, you guys tell me)




FINAL ROSTER:
01- @Malachi
02- @Sharp Nine
03- @Strikta
04- @Rayge
05- @Witty
06- @Objective
07- @c.d.m.
08- @King Keith
09- @Utmost
10- @Boredom
11- @Mike Wrecka
12- @Immaculate
13- @Dystropian
14- @Split
15- @randum
16- @voidformula
17- @Rawn MacDon

MISSION RE-STATEMENT:

• this is about "cross-training" - be prepared to learn & teach - drop & feed. Rest assured, this process will help me as a writer, teacher, AND student as much as anyone (if not more so).
• Next steps: the final roll call, official next steps, ideas, etc. will come out this weekend.
• Future Enrollment: we are only limiting the list for the time-being to establish a good rapport and rhythm within the initial group; but as skills and the process evolves, we can create a leverage model to ensure there is the right support structure in place and that this does not become "a list of names and nothing of more value than that".

BENCHMARK SNAPSHOTS
all current participants who are ready to get rolling, consider doing the following in advance if so inclined:

• Be ready to drop us your drops - most recent topical AND battle (and/or flex) - as long as you have done both.
• Be ready to drop your backdrop - skill/evolution wise, a couple bullets on "where you were", "where you are now" (biggest strength AND opportunity)
• What makes the best better than the rest? what makes a good writer in your opinion
• Raising the bar for the ones we drop what is the SINGLE most important area you'd like to improve as a writer (creativity, wording, wordplay, imagery, wording without sacrificing flow/flowing without sacrificing wording, etc.......
• What you plan to PUT IN and hope to be the OUT PUT? how do you think you will help be a solid supporter of this cause --- and what is the NUMBER ONE thing you hope to get out of this process?

In this, just as in life, you will get out of this what you put in. I WILL BE DOING THE ABOVE FOR MYSELF AS WELL. It is not busy work, it is a "benchmark" AND an initial "roadmap" for all of us as writers. If you are not willing to do the above, please do not hesitate to sign out - because I am going to put the time and effort into this to make sure we can measure our collective and individual growth throughout this process.

Looking forward to our collective inevitable successes.

[Split]

Raising the bar for the ones we drop

do this for battles and topicals?

[namix]

Originally Posted by Split

do this for battles and topicals?

absolutely bro, it all boils down to the same elements at some juncture, you know?

Namix, first off im glad u incorporated me into this....having said that, u should peep my post in ur prior thread where u spit-balled this idea initially...I feel I brought some relative things to the forefront there...
Secondly, when would u like this initial benchmark completed by? (LOL nvm friday is obv) Also, I strongly support that sub-forum u were discussing, I feel it would b a dope idea....maybe make it only accessable by those who are particpating, or not thas w/e...but a sub-forum for this would be dope....
AIM-wise, you can host chatrooms and stuff, I know u brought that up, figured I'd state that...My AIM is Rawnold_Macdonyall btw...ill PM it to you too, but figured id make it public for the rest of the participants. But yea, Ill shoot that PM with my handle and my response to the 'snap-shot' as well.
A sidenote, not necessarily u, but anyone, see if its possible to access some of our stuff via netcees..I know its down, but I read someone say that they can still access it through ***he...(that is a lot of work though i am aware of that) I only ask this because, im sure im not alone here, a lot of my material is on NC, and prob lost forever, unless recovered somehow, but if its possible that would be handy...
@Mike Wrecka aka Riddler, sup my dood, anyways since we go wayyyyyyyyy back, i was wondering if u had access to CC anymore? I know it was 'archived' on netcees, along with UG and some of the other ez boards...if u got access to it..shoot me the URL plz...ill try to retrieve UG n iE and the other sites from way back that were archived on netcees in the meantime.

Also, I think anyone who is now a diff name, should consider informing the participants of their older alias/handle...not to expose, or anything dumb like that, but we may already know where u stand skillwise...and since this is a building experience it would be handy to know what foundation has already been laid, and to have an idea of what ur working with...this does NOT need to be made public if that individual wishes it not to be, its more for just the building team, for everyones benefit of course.

Lastly, for now at least, Namix. if u need help with anything...holla at ya boy...PM, or now u got my AIM...and if needed ill shoot u my e-mail (im just hesitatnt to post it up publically because my gov't is my e-mail LOL....but on a one on one lvl if u want that for better correspondence ill shoot that as well...

but wrd, this should b dope....ill try to complete that benchmark 2marow for u...

[Mike Wrecka]

i got you rawn. i got the CC and the UG links but it said your not able to reciever pms. so get that straightened out and get back to me

Namix this sounds like its really coming together. ill pm you the snap shot. the sub forum sounds like a very good idea. im wondering if everyone that originally signed up is still in this. been a while. i guess we will find out by who sends back the snapshots. I wanna help out anyway I can.

and ya to any members that want detailed feed back on any verses. leave me the links in here and ill get at them right away. and if anybody can hit these up id appreciate it.

http://artofbattling.com/forum/showt...stand-who-I-am
http://artofbattling.com/forum/showt...e-ft-Genocide-!!!!!!
http://artofbattling.com/forum/showt...hp?1074-MC-DNA

@Mike Wrecka I think I can recieve PM's man...I jusr for one yesturday from Namix..so check it out, and lemme know...and i got u on the feed later today or tonight.

[Mike Wrecka]

@Rawn MacDon this is what I get when I try to PM you.

Rawn MacDon has chosen not to receive private messages or may not be allowed to receive private messages. Therefore you may not send your message to him/her.

If you are trying to send this message to multiple recipients, remove Rawn MacDon from the recipient list and send the message again.


so ya iono man

[Split]

Aim chat rooms=gold

[Scott Akers]

who is namix? how is he qualified for this?

[Witty]

He's qualified because he's putting the effort into doing it.

He's also a dope writer.

[Mike Wrecka]

ok since this is a Cross Training Program im going to be rolling out some

Weekly Writing Exercises

the members are not required to participate of course. but its highly advisable that they do.
these are light and I repeat light exercises, never more than ten lines a week. im in some leagues as are most of the other members so this will never be a burden. its all optional. the idea is to write and compare your writing to the other members. this way you can see how they handled the task, and see what you like that they did. through reading others work on identical topics you can see how you could have approached the verse differently to make it better. we can also incorporate battles, we can all write a battle verse towards the same fictional name and compare.

im thinking doing this all through PMs at the moment is the way to go until we possibly get a sub forum. So I will take all the PMs and condense them and send them to the members that participated. this will not be something we post unless everyone wants to. one of the advantages of not posting it anywhere is that you could possibly re-use or slightly tweak any lines that you wrote for this and put it to work in a battle or OM piece.


Im ready to go right now so PM for the exercise and we will go from there. I will be participating in every exercise. Start date is now, Completion date is Thursday. ok hit me up. pz.

[Witty]

Lmao I just hit up @namix thinking it was him, my bad.
@Mike Wrecka get at me bro

[Scott Akers]

Originally Posted by Split

Aim chat rooms=gold

shoutbox

[Mike Wrecka]

aight I got you witty. and remember this is just in addition to whatever Namix has on deck. many different options and phases to this group.

[Split]

I hate shoutboxes

they aren't private and are with people i don't want to talk to

[Witty]

I wrote my 10 for that and sent it.

[namix]

Originally Posted by He whose name shall not be spoken

who is namix? how is he qualified for this?

He whose name shall not be spoken - I'm just trying to help establish a foundation for individuals who are interested in creating a productive means of collaborating with and growing one another. This isn't about me dictating or delegating what makes good writing, I'll throw ideas out there to share my perspective, and fully expect to enhance my perspective in the process as others get more involved and share theirs as well.

My goal is simply to see who would be interested in getting some braindumps, giving some braindumps, using the good and learning from the bad.

If you're qualifications question is sincere, I'd say my experience in digital marketing solution management and remote-team collaboration process definition is most applicable.

In terms of writing, I'm just a dude who's written for a long time on a lot of sites who appreciates the art of both battles and topicals. Through the process, I've learned a lot that I am happy to share, and learned enough to know I should never stop learning.

[namix]

Good looking everyone - thanks for the PMs to those that have sent.
@Mike Wrecka has a great idea for all who are interested. He also brought up good feedback to me in a PM too re: making sure that we keep the momentum going.

At this point, I really want to make it clear to everyone involved that you by no means need me for anything at all --- we have a list. We have a list of writers who have put their name down as an individual who is interested in collaboration, concerted feedback, and the mutually beneficial growth of one-another! While it might be easy to overlook, the foundation for success has already been established... No one signed up to "look cool", or to "win a prize" or a "title" or "bragging rights" --- but that list alone is ALL that is needed to implement a 'culture of growth'.


My focus is on two points - a beginning and end point. Phase 1 is done. The end point is about changing our culture and growing one another, even if it happens in our own microcosm at first. The end point will include the means to more effectively collaborate, share works, share feedback, tutorials/ideas/etc... The end point also consists of a scalable means to ensure this is a lasting and "growing thing", so we can reevaluate that end-point and push it further out as we go.

Those two points make a line - and the pace we progress down that line will be determined by the pace set of this group. Sure, I have some very specific ideas to proactively bring up with the team --- but anyone can do anything, no questions asked. Throw ideas over the fence, OR just implement them. If they resonate, awesome -- if they don't, try getting feedback and modify the approach -- as we evolve, so will the process... and vice versa.

The change to come is an OVEN, NOT A LIGHT SWITCH --- however, this group can determine the rate at which it's preheated. Fire it up.

[randum]

Originally Posted by Mike Wrecka

Weekly Writing Exercises
we can all write a battle verse towards the same fictional name and compare.

what name are we using?

[namix]

ayo - what are the group's thoughts on including others at any point.

in the spirit of the cause, we clearly do not want to make it an "exclusive' thing, but my initial thought was just to manage the numbers so we could establish some order & get in a rhythm first.

I asked GoW if we could create a sub-forum either way- where we can post relevant topics/lessons learned/collaborate on ideas/etc. --- we can leave that forum open to anyone, but will obviously manage the free posts/trolling/etc. in it to keep it focused on the topic at hand.

Perhaps we start with this group, and if we have a forum for others to engage with us as well, we can define a basic means for others to contribute to the cause to demonstrate their interest or something before rolling out the welcome wagon? It's a delicate balance, ensuring everyone has an opportunity, yet, ensuring we don't hinder its potential...

Maybe we do this for 2 months, and those that are still active/contributing can vote on whether or not to let someone, to ensure they are genuinely interested?

Let me know the group's thoughts on any of the above!