Straw Poll – Scribe A Line

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I suddenly find my self with an excellent selection of letters and emails from readers about articles in recent issues of MEW.

My impression is that readers enjoy these letters and wouldn't object to a full three pages(!) of such correspondence as long as it is varied and relevant.

Or am I fooling myself?

…Just a quick handful of grass thrown up to see which way the wind is blowing (old fashioned way of saying '"we'll run it up the flagpole and see if anyone takes a potshot&quot.

Neil

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

[David ColwillParticipant @davidcolwill19261]

That won't get you out of the mire! I bet someone will give you flak whatever way you play it

[David ColwillParticipant @davidcolwill19261]

But for the record I'm happy if you think they are relevant.

Regards.

David

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 23/01/2015 21:50:51:

… wouldn't object to a full three pages(!) of such correspondence as long as it is varied and relevant.

.

Tha sums it up nicely

… There's probably a 'Mission Statement' lurking in there somewhere

MichaelG

[RobboParticipant @robbo]

Neil,

Happy to see several pages of letters, in the olden days before the internet/forum there were often several pages.

I once won a prize for "Star Letter" , which was a feature in Dave Fenner's day, presumably to encourage letters.

What I do wonder is if it is worth printing questions from readers, actively seeking answers, when these are now better dealt with on here. If the writer doesn't have internet access that's obviously a problem, but do replies then get sent via yourself, or do they go to you and then wait to get published in the next available magazine.

Phil

Edited By Robbo on 23/01/2015 22:41:56

Edited By Robbo on 23/01/2015 22:43:45

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Go for it, letters used to be best part of ME, interweb forums have taken over

[Phil WhitleyParticipant @philwhitley94135]

Thumbs up from me too!

Phil

[WatfordParticipant @watford]

Neil,

The correspondence column is a constant item in most magazines, MEW need be no exception. I am sure that that particular handful of grass would blow gently into your in tray with approval.

Mike

[Bob MurrayParticipant @bobmurray]

Yes!

Bob

[Roger Provins 2Participant @rogerprovins2]

Yes please! More the better.

[LambtonParticipant @lambton]

Definitely go for it!

Unfortunately some of the contributions on the forum are trivial and often unhelpful as the contributors fire off a comment and hit the send button before giving full consideration to the issue. I have to admit my guilt for doing this several times. However when composing a letter I put much more time and thought into it and often producing several drafts before sending off the final effort.

Letters can also be filtered by the editor where as form posts are often just noise on the system.

Finally not every reader has access to the internet.

[John ShepherdParticipant @johnshepherd38883]

Yes please but hope these are additional pages and not instead of other content.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

As long as you are willing to pay for the extra pages I'm sure Neil will put them in for you John

J

PS Neil can you also update the list of contents for the latest MEW part way down the homepage, its not changed for a few months.

Edited By JasonB on 24/01/2015 08:01:42

[michael howarth 1Participant @michaelhowarth1]

Yes, do it. Good points are made by Lambton above.

Mick

Or have I just fallen into the trap (firing off too quickly)  that Lambton tells us to beware of?

Edited By mick H on 24/01/2015 07:58:43

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I'll take that as a pretty unequivocal answer!

The number of editorial pages does vary slightly dependent on various factors, and an extra page of letters from time to time won't needn't always mean less content, the if I do have to find a page is a multi-part article can see a page slip into the next issue without losing a whole article.

Neil

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 24/01/2015 09:40:54

[Russell EberhardtParticipant @russelleberhardt48058]

Yes, the letters page is always a good read – just don't print what has already been posted here. In general letters for publication are more carefully thought out than internet postings.

Russell.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Printing comes at a very high premium compared to this forum so there is no room for content that does not add value. Read some 5 yr old mags ans see how many letters are a waste.
Edit heavily to remove sycophantic drivel like "I love your magazine", waffle about the writers past life, topical comment, and general showing off like " I even cut cheese to half a tenth because I'm a toolmaker".
Group advice from several contributors on how to to complete a job, adding references to past issues if relevant.

Please note the name of the letter writer goes at the end – I irritates me no end to see the "Fred Bloggs writes" header.

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

Some epic discussions have taken place on the ME letters page and once printed are there for ever, a forum such as this could be gone in a flash. Lets hope MEW will host some classic discussions.

Mike

[Jesse Hancock 1Participant @jessehancock1]

Yes always entertaining. However I am still reading such things in the 1912 year volume of Model Engineer and electrician so not too many pages Neil. That reminds me I must get to Spec Savers.

Jesse.

Edited By Jesse Hancock 1 on 24/01/2015 14:15:21

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Neil,

I'm happy with it.

Martin P

[Author]

Posts