Compuserve IMPs
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Compuserve IMPs are a long-standing writers group formed in the early 1990s by members of the Compuserve SFLit Forum. The name IMP is a shortened form taken from the official title Informal Association of Writers IMPatiently Waiting To Be Published. The group was co-founded by science fiction writer Ron Collins and two 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. The SFLit Forum Sysops 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 group.
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, Martin Sutherland, 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.
