Compuserve IMPs

The Compuserve IMPs are a long-standing writers group formed in 1993 by members of the Compuserve SFLit Forum. The concept was originated by William Cornett, when he asked the forum moderators for permission to form a critique group for writers who were waiting months to get into the official writers workshop. He also named the group, and keeps many of the original forum posts, uploads, and message strings on floppy discs. The name IMP is a shortened form taken from the current official title Informal Association of Writers IMPatiently Waiting To Be Published (it was originally "IMPatient Writers' Workshop Waiting List Applicants"). The formation of the group was assisted by science fiction writer Ron Collins and other applicants waiting to be admitted to the SFLit Forum's Writers Workshop. Science Fiction author Mike Resnick agreed to be the group's informal mentor.

The IMPs developed a set of guidelines for participation, including a ratio for submitting IMPcrits to stories (three critiques for each submission). The message traffic between members grew so heavy that the SFLit Forum Sysops eventually assigned the IMPs their own private library and chat room. As the Writing Workshop grew in popularity, its waiting list increased, and more IMPatient writers joined the IMPs.

Several IMPs have published books, short stories, and essays. Members of the IMPire who went on to be published include Ron Collins, Ann Marston, Dave Bollinger, Jason Tanner, Martin Crumpton, Jeff Carter, Charlene Brusso, Jennifer Cush, Louise Rowder, Ann-Marie Horcher, James Hartley (Jay Caselberg), Christopher Holiday, Steve Schiff, Randy Dannenfelser, Lisa Silverthorne, Lyn Nichols, Adrienne Chafee, Adrienne Gormley, Michael Kelly, Josh Langston, Bill Cornett, Mitch Stein, Derek Paterson, Bill Allan, Barb Galler-Smith, Bruce Talbott, Lisa Mantchev and Michael Martinez.

A new generation of the IMPs (guided by some of the original group members) are active on the Compuserve Web site as of late 2006.

External links

• • Compuserve SF-LIT Forum