Ficlets Will Be Shut Down Permanently
Dear Ficlets user,
We're sorry to inform you that on
Though you will be able to read and write ficlets until this date, we urge you to save your works immediately. Since each ficlet is relatively small you can do this easily by copying the text and pasting it into a plain text or Word document.
If you're already missing your Ficlets fix, check out the Fiction Authors Page on Bebo. You can also search for Authors Groups on Bebo.
Also, please bookmark the People Connection Blog, where you can find out more about Ficlets' status. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed to stay informed about any other changes. We'll be updating often, so please check it regularly.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we make this transition. Again, we apologize for any inconvenience.
We'll miss you,
The Ficlets Team
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
1. What happened with Ficlets? Can you give us any more details of its demise?
Posted at 5:29PM on Dec 3rd 2008 by Bart
2. I would really hate to see Ficlets shut down... there are so many talented young writers on that site... i realize there are other places to write, but... i doubt there is a more closely knit group then what we have on Ficlets. Every one is just so postitive, helpful, and supportive...
If there was any way at all we could keep Ficlets alive... I'm sure most of us on there would be willing to help in any way they could. Please let us know, and not keep us in the dark as to why our beloved site is being shut down.
Posted at 6:10PM on Dec 3rd 2008 by Amber
3. Well, shucks. I really like Ficlets. Now would be a good time to make my own site, though: I'm unemployed and want a project to practice my Ruby on Rails. Any chance you'd like to let the domain name go?
Posted at 6:46PM on Dec 3rd 2008 by ZorkFox
4. What in the name of all that is Creative?! When Ficlets is shut down and some "other" websites are kept fully functional... all is definitely NOT well in the (virtual) world. Such a sad, sad day for Ficleteers.
Posted at 8:09PM on Dec 3rd 2008 by Jenunique
5. "copying the text and pasting it into a plain text or Word document"
Seriously? You guys don't have a developer that can spare half a day to write an exporter? I know of some people that work (or used to work) at AOL that could take care of this.
Quite unprofessional.
Posted at 9:01PM on Dec 3rd 2008 by Jeremy Carbaugh
6. I know what happened: After procrastinating since Scalzi first announced the launch of Ficlets, I finally decided yesterday to post one.
End of Ficlets.
Sorry everybody, my fault.
Posted at 9:03PM on Dec 3rd 2008 by Butch Howard
7. I knew this was coming, I just didn't know the day. I tried, with the help of some great people, to get AOL to donate ficlets to a non-profit, with no luck. I asked them just to give it to me outright since I invented it and built it with the help of some spectacular developers and designers. All of this has gone nowhere.
I've already written an exporter and have all the stories (the ones not marked "mature" anyway). I have pretty much all of the author bios too. Since I was smart enough to insist that AOL license all the content under Creative Commons, I'll be launching a "ficlets graveyard" on 1/16 so at least the stories that people worked so hard one will live on.
I have mixed feelings about ficlets' demise. On the one hand, I'm proud of the work we did on it. I'm thankful that AOL allowed me to build it with a truly amazing group of talented folks. I'm humbled by the community that ficlets attracted and the awards that ficlets won.
On the other hand, I'm sad that I wasn't allowed to keep working on ficlets. I'm disappointed that AOL's turned its back on the community, although I guess I shouldn't be surprised.
So, to all the ficleteers out there - your stories will live on, and there may be a couple more surprises in the works before 1/15 if I have my way. Be on the lookout... I'll post any news to my blog: http://lawver.net.
Posted at 9:41PM on Dec 3rd 2008 by Kevin Lawver
8. I am extremely shocked, and a bit betrayed. We've discovered something more than merely a "writing site;" we've uncovered new horizons, personally-uncharted subject matter, pure raw talent, and a community knit so tightly it can barely be stretched.
Frankly, I feel betrayed by "the people." I might feel a little less hot about it if there we were given reasons for the shut-down. After the "black out" of last summer, some of the kinks that were left un-ironed is rather disappointing.
Our passion seems to have been brought down. I only hope there will be a resurrection.
Posted at 9:48PM on Dec 3rd 2008 by g2 (lpi)
9. I saw this coming about a month or so ago. Very gutted that it's actually happening. I wonder if a copycat service will pop up...?
Posted at 11:35PM on Dec 3rd 2008 by Ben Paddon
10. I feel like I lost a family member. Or several.
I'm completely overwhelmed by my shock.
I just . . .
I just really hate this.
Kevin, thanks for creating the one thought-provoking, creative site on the Internet and the only decent thing AOL has ever brought me.
AOL - a pox on your house.
Posted at 12:03AM on Dec 4th 2008 by Alexa Reed
11. ****SOBS!!!!****
What? This is the only place that I'm on CONSTANTLY!! Its the only 'happy place'. could you please give me one thing? tell me, why. why is this horrid, horrid thing happening!!??
It'll be missed greatly...
Posted at 12:23AM on Dec 4th 2008 by Brebellez
12. I haven't written any Ficlets in quite a long while. It could be said that I abandoned the community before AOL did, but that doesn't make me any less sad. This was and is a great encouraging site, and an inspirational one as well. Despite its many problems -- last year's blackout, a perpetually sluggish/unresponsive server, and the breaking of the rating system -- it was still an excellent community for writers. I will truly miss it.
What are the odds of another similar site rising from the ashes, with someone more dedicated than AOL at the helm? Something perhaps just different enough to avoid an IP dispute, but similar enough to accommodate a migration of displaced Ficleteers? Perhaps an evolved form of the concept, taking the idea of short-short-fiction-based social networking to the next level (whatever that might look like)? I have some ideas of my own, if anyone serious about such a project would like to get in touch with me about them, though I can't at the moment offer any help developing it. :-(
Many thanks to Kevin for heading up the salvage effort. Can't wait to see what becomes of it! I should write another story or two before the plug is pulled, for old time's sake.
Posted at 2:05AM on Dec 4th 2008 by uselessness
13. Sorry to hear about Ficlets shutting down. :( It's too bad to see such a great site shut down after all this time. Hopefully all that content will find a home somewhere...
Not to be a vulture, but if you're a displaced Ficleteer looking for a new home, I'd like to respectfully suggest checking out Protagonize. It's not exactly the same model as Ficlets, but we have an awesome community and tons of great authors participating. We'd love to have you!
Posted at 2:57PM on Dec 4th 2008 by nick
14. It is so sad that I have lost all my saved all pages from my daughter.That's all i had left all her memories now I have nothing at all.I lost my daughter 2 years ago,and I needed those pages.I beg you is there anyway I can get them back pleaseee.It will be very much appreciated.((AOL Hometown))
Posted at 3:45PM on Dec 4th 2008 by Alice
15. Dear Alice, AOL Hometown is no more. But there is thread elsewhere to speak of topic. This topic is regarding fecletts the writing pages which will soon be deleted. No exporting available but simply copy your text and insert elsewhere. Everyone still may keep in touch with email. Thanks you. God Bless - Syed
PS Alice, as stated on hometown thread, you should try the way back machine and see if your daughter's pages were cached.
Posted at 12:25PM on Dec 5th 2008 by Syed
16. Thank you nick. We are passing on Protagonize. - Syed
Posted at 12:26PM on Dec 5th 2008 by Syed
17. Sorry. English not so well, nick. Mean to say, we are taking a pass on Protagonize and will not use. Thank you for your consideration, which is a bit vulturey. - Syed
Posted at 12:28PM on Dec 5th 2008 by Syed
18. Wow. I am extremely upset about this.
I've been at Ficlets for about a year and four months. I remember when the blog was still updated, when ratings worked and when there were featured ficlets. I've been seeing AOL lose interest in Ficlets for months now, and it saddens me.
What AOL doesn't understand is that Ficlets is more than a website; it's a community. An outlet. There are people who pour their hearts and souls into writing on Ficlets, knowing that they will be read and cared about. Friends have been made. Memories, too.
Over all, it's very upsetting that such a great place is being shut down. It's really a shame.
Posted at 5:39PM on Dec 5th 2008 by Music-Hearted
19. Not that I've ever been really happy with AOL, but this is so unbelievably outrageous to me I can't really express it. Yeah, sorry, AOL, it takes a little while to open up every single one of my 566 ficlets and copy and paste them, not to mention a chunk of my hard drive.
Kevin's note encouraged me a little bit, and I might check out Protagonize, but the community we've built is something that shouldn't be deleted through inaction. I would've thought AOL--being an internet company--would realize the actual _people_ behind the internet, instead of being like the internet slammers and viewing it as impersonal and something to be shut down.
I want to do something about it, but online petitions are laughable and I don't have the know-how to build a whole nother website for displaced ficleteers.
Shame, shame, AOL. Oh no, can't use two or three more workers to support a hundred real, passionate people. Call me naive, whatever.
Pretty much just what g2 and Alexa said. Just needed a place to vent.
Posted at 11:58PM on Dec 5th 2008 by Stovohobo
20. Yes AOL is regretful about everything. Thank goodness we can copy through cut and paste even if it is over five hudnred entries. WOuld have to acdtually type them out! LOL. No seriously. Its not as terrible as that said above. Ample time notice provided so that is the key. The community still exists through your email. Thank you God Bless . -Syed
Posted at 1:41AM on Dec 6th 2008 by Syed