Name Change: From Young Writers Society to WriterFeed

I am happy for a name change to keep yws going especially since given the growing censorship rules will make yws difficult to exist but opposed to the name ”writerfeed” because simply it sounds so corporate and uninspiring. One of the unique parts of yws is that its active in every level and really inspires personal interaction with others works and that might be lost with the change.

A few people have reasonably asked why WriterFeed is the only alternative under consideration, so I wanted to explain the thinking behind it.

1. I already own WriterFeed.com. That is a major practical consideration. Any name we adopted would need a suitable domain, and most good domains are either unavailable or prohibitively expensive.

2. I've owned the domain for 15 years. The age itself isn't especially important to search engines, but it does mean WriterFeed isn't starting entirely from scratch. The name and domain already have some history connected to the site.

3. We already use the name for WriterFeed Pad, which has been part of YWS for about 15 years. That gives it a genuine connection to the community rather than making it a completely new name chosen out of nowhere.

4. WriterFeed describes what the site has gradually become. We're still a writing community, but we're no longer exclusively for young writers. The name leaves room for the community to grow without losing its focus on writing and sharing work.

5. Because WriterFeed is already part of YWS, it gives us some continuity during what would otherwise be a fairly significant change. Members may not immediately love the name, but it should become more natural as it becomes associated with the community itself.

6. Realistically, any proposed name would receive some resistance, and opening the process to unlimited alternatives could continue indefinitely. Every name would have drawbacks, domain complications, or people who simply didn't like it. At this stage, I think the useful question is whether WriterFeed is an improvement over Young Writers Society, rather than whether it is the one perfect name everyone would have chosen.

WriterFeed feels very generic and doesn’t scratch the same itch as the OG name does. IMO, I think changing it to The Writers Society would be better for the goal of including all ages while also keeping it recognizable.

For added context to Nate's post on why Writerfeed, "writerssociety.com" as a domain is listed on GoDaddy for $24k. Nate already owning WriterFeed is a big plus in the pro column, in my opinion. Very cost and time effective. Plus, y'all love WriterFeed Pads! This is just an integration of that.

I know it's hard to imagine now, but I truly don't think this will change the site, what it is, or who is welcome and taken care of here. If it does, it will only be for the better, I feel. I hear the concerns of the younger writers who worry about a world where YWS has grown, but I'd like to offer some reassurance in that regard. As far as internet safety goes, the way we moderate and take care of our users has only gotten more intentional as the years have gone on. I'm honestly not sure when I became a mod (2014?) but I do know I've seen maannnyyy iterations of moderating styles, as well as the evolution of the rules and guidelines for all users. Not to mention the cycles of what challenges the moderators are faced with! There was a time when YWS was barely staying alive and had very few active users. It truly almost died. If not for a core group of YWSers, I don't know if we'd even be having this conversation, much less on a beautiful, new, shiny version. Conversely, there was a time when the site had an incredibly active chatroom and private messaging feature - and it basically required active moderation at all times.

I think the administration deeply understands and respects the responsibility of running a site that has a large demographic of young users. Taking that seriously but also being willing to stay, engage, and make genuine connections with others as you get older is a gift I don't think any of us who grew up here have take for granted. There will always be a space for young writers, and I think while that may shift (like Snoink said, a space specifically for you to feel comfortable and open with people your own age), but that it was destined to anyway because of internet safety laws.

Anyway. I think it's important to stay focused on the topic at hand, and I found Nate's comment very helpful as a reminder of why we're voting on WriterFeed and not selecting a name from scratch. In the end, there's an element of realistic business sense we have to respect!

Nate wrote:A few people have reasonably asked why WriterFeed is the only alternative under consideration, so I wanted to explain the thinking behind it.

1. I already own WriterFeed.com. That is a major practical consideration. Any name we adopted would need a suitable domain, and most good domains are either unavailable or prohibitively expensive.

2. I've owned the domain for 15 years. The age itself isn't especially important to search engines, but it does mean WriterFeed isn't starting entirely from scratch. The name and domain already have some history connected to the site.

3. We already use the name for WriterFeed Pad, which has been part of YWS for about 15 years. That gives it a genuine connection to the community rather than making it a completely new name chosen out of nowhere.

4. WriterFeed describes what the site has gradually become. We're still a writing community, but we're no longer exclusively for young writers. The name leaves room for the community to grow without losing its focus on writing and sharing work.

5. Because WriterFeed is already part of YWS, it gives us some continuity during what would otherwise be a fairly significant change. Members may not immediately love the name, but it should become more natural as it becomes associated with the community itself.

6. Realistically, any proposed name would receive some resistance, and opening the process to unlimited alternatives could continue indefinitely. Every name would have drawbacks, domain complications, or people who simply didn't like it. At this stage, I think the useful question is whether WriterFeed is an improvement over Young Writers Society, rather than whether it is the one perfect name everyone would have chosen.

Very well-said @LadySpark.

I just want to say here I am so grateful for this community and confident that whatever its name will be, that this place will continue to be the quirky, joyful, supportive place it has always been.

Personally, I will be voting with an enthusiastic "YES" to changing the name to "WriterFeed" - Having been a moderator for 9 years, and having put a substantial amount of time and energy into trying to support the site in those years, I absolutely adore YWS for fostering this hobby of creative-writing to folks throughout the world. I still remember eagerly joining way back in 2012, so I could finally check out what my little sister was writing and try to understand what being a writer was. I had no interest in writing the day I joined and along the way I became a writer and now consider that aspect as an essential facet to my identity all because of this corner of the internet.

However, I'm definitely getting to the age where unless there's a change in the name of the site, I think in all reality I probably will need to age-out too. Which is a pressure I've witnessed a lot of my YWS mentors and favorite writers from years past having went through and subsequently leaving. I think the re-name is a good way to expand the scope of who YWS is for, while still staying true to our history and the purpose of carving out a comfortable place on the internet where young and growing writers can be a part of community sharing in the joy of creative-writing in a space that is family-friendly, warm, and genuinely supportive.

I think Nate has done a great job investigating the possibilities, understanding the legal implications of social media, hearing the concerns, and suggesting a path forward that will hopefully sustain this community into the realities of the future.

I hope folks do take the time to carefully consider and vote in the month ahead, not just fueled by nostalgia, but carefully considering what you would like to see this site be in another 5, 10, or 15 years.