Comments on What topics can I ask about here?
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What topics can I ask about here?
I did not find a webpage that explains what's on-topic here (although I'm not hugely familiar with the site).
Question: What topics can I ask about here?
It seems plausible that what's on-topic at Writing.SE differs from what's on-topic here. Moreover, since this site endeavours to be independent of Stack Exchange, it's probably worth whipping up an independent post or webpage that states what is and isn't on-topic.
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Here's how I would envisage writing the on-topic page. It's incomplete---it's better written by someone more familiar with the nuances of the site. Hopefully you can understand where I'm going with this.
I'd further recommend re-affirming each on-topic and off-topic reason in individual meta posts: it's not necessarily the same here.
Codidact: Writing. What questions are welcome?
The overall mission of Codidact: Writing is to facilitate writing via a community-based question and answer (Q&A) website.
Questions need to be answerable, which requires that they are narrow and focused, and perhaps accompanied by an illustrative short passage. Questions are expected to be of benefit beyond the original author.
Questions that our community welcomes are:
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On-topic: The publication and editing process, and working with publishers, agents, illustrators, etc.
[add example(s)]
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On-topic: General editing and copy-editing procedures, and resources support the process of writing and specialized writing tools.
[add example(s)]
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On-topic: Questions about how to generate or find writing ideas.
[add example(s)]
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On-topic: Grammar or English self-improvement. [ed: Why only English?]
[add example(s)]
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On-topic: Questions asking about how to express an idea, provided they are not limited to a specific instance.
[add example(s)]
[ed: What have I missed?]
Codidact: Writing. What questions are considered off-topic?
The community has declared certain questions off-topic, specifically:
Off-topic: Requests to proofread, edit, analyze, or critique any length of writing regardless of authorship. [ed: Add link to meta discussion.]
Off-topic: Specific requests for how or what to write, or judgments on specific grammar instances, and questions requiring specialist knowledge. [ed: Add links to meta discussion.]
Off-topic: Recommendation requests for professional writers, agents, publishers, etc. [ed: Add link to meta discussion.]
Codidact: Writing. What to expect.
Codidact: Writing is a community-based Q&A site for professional or aspiring writers. We write fiction, nonfiction, technical writing, and other professional writing (blogs, reviews, etc.). Self-answering is fine, and even recommended if you solve your own problem.
Still don't know if your question is on-topic? Please ask on the meta site prior to posting.
Here's a draft for now [work in progress], to give a rough idea of what I think it should look like. I'll have to peruse the Writing.meta.SE posts to get a better understanding of the site-specific issues.
Most importantly:
The on-topic page focuses on what's on-topic, not what's off-topic. Moreover, the on-topic material is at the start, made obvious, and there's concrete examples so the reader can think "my question is like that" (or "I can make my question like that").
It's succinct (we're literally asking the reader to write concisely---we need to lead by example). Netizens are not going to read a wall of text: they don't care about our motivations. I also strive to avoid vague writing (e.g. what does "help other writers" mean?).
I say the word "community" a lot. I highlight how what's on-topic and off-topic is based on community decisions.
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