Crowdfunding Poll on Award and Hub Site Topics
We have several important discussions going:
" How do you find new crowdfunded projects?"
" Crowdfunding Hub Site Outline"
" A Judged Award?"
" Rose and Bay Awards Followup Report"
Below I am collating issues from these discussions. Topics are named, some pros and cons listed, and opinions are solicited in a poll. Your participation is encouraged. The results are not necessarily permanent, as more issues may arise over time, but if there is very strong support for something then it will probably happen. If you have more ideas, you may mention them in comments here or, preferably, the relevant topical thread.
Subdividing the Fiction Category
Fiction wound up the biggest category in the Rose and Bay Awards, with so many nominations that they had to be split across two poll categories. It has been suggested that Fiction should be subdivided into smaller categories. Proposals include:
LENGTH (such as Short vs. Serial)
Pros: Relatively easy to distinguish what subcategory an entry belongs in. Fits the "format" based distinctions of the other categories. Low potential for argument.
Cons: Might not create enough division, if most projects are of one length; serials are a very common form of weblit.
COMPLETION (such as Active vs. Static)
Pros: Emphasizes an important aspect of crowdfunding, that projects have different phases. Fairly clear which category an entry belongs in. Encourages people to nominate finished projects.
Cons: Doesn't fit the "format" based distinctions of the main categories. People might argue over what "completed" really means. Might not provide enough division, if most entries wind up in one subcategory.
GENRE (such as Speculative vs. Realistic)
Pros: Probably the most effective in terms of creating small subcategories, especially if subdivided as far as "science fiction, fantasy," etc. If the genres chosen are clear, they will have name recognition.
Cons: Doesn't fit the "format" based distinctions of the major categories. Genre can be a hard call to make on some stories. It is infinitely divisible, which is as much a problem as an asset. There is high potential for argument here.
INTERACTION (such as Audience-Driven vs. Creator-Driven)
Pros: Emphasizes a key aspect of crowdfunding, the level of interaction. Sort of fits the "format" based distinctions of the other categories.
Cons: This is really a spectrum, not a set of subcategories; very high potential for argument over what belongs where. Might not create enough subdivision, if most entries land in one category.
NO DIVISION (status quo)
"Fiction" remains a category unto itself, per this year's arrangement.
Subdividing the Other Project Category
It has been proposed that the Rose and Bay Awards split off "Webcomics" into its own category, leaving Other Project for miscellaneous works that don't have strong similarities to each other. This would slightly broaden our number of main categories, but would allow webcomics to compete within their own field and make sure that unique projects didn't have to compete with webcomics.
Fundraising for Prizes
It would be nice for the Rose and Bay Awards to offer prizes in the form of money and nifty objects, in addition to acclaim. That didn't come together for this year, but we are hoping that it will for next year. We need to consider how that will be collected and divided across the categories. The "conflict of interest" issue concerns a sponsor donating stuff to a category for which they are eligible to be nominated; note that donating to the Patron category would not qualify someone as a Patron, since that can only be done by donating to a crowdfunded project. But money can sometimes sway voting, so we need to think about this.
BY CATEGORY (sponsors donate to a specific category)
Pros: Maximizes sponsor control of their donation, so they can support what is most important to them. Probably simpler to manage.
Cons: Maximizes potential for "conflict of interest" issues if people can sponsor a category where they are eligible to be nominated. This problem could be prevented by excluding people from sponsoring a category where they are eligible, but that would create a problem of reducing possible sponsors/donations. Prizes might be grossly divergent in size/quality across the categories.
BY POOL (sponsors donate to awards, and proceeds divide equally across categories)
Pros: Cash prizes would be equal across the categories. Non-cash prize packages would be of similar value. Minimizes "conflict of interest" issues. Anyone can sponsor the awards, even if they are eligible for one or more categories.
Cons: Minimizes sponsor control over their donation, so they can support the awards as a whole but not their favorite category. Figuring out where to put which non-cash prizes could be a challenge, especially if they are wildly different in value/quality. Probably more complicated to manage.
BOTH (sponsors could donate to a category or the R&B Awards, or some of each)
Pros: Most possible control for sponsors in terms of where their donations go.
Cons: Really complicated to manage. Prizes might be divergent in size/quality across the categories. Moderate "conflict of interest" potential.
SEARCH PARAMETERS
Once again, we are working on plans to create a hub site for cyberfunded creativity. meilin_miranda has volunteered her coding skills, and I've collated much previous discussion about what people want and need in a crowdfunding hub site. For purposes of organization, it would help to know how people hunt for new projects.
Genre -- you look for science fiction, or mystery, or romance, etc.
Format -- you look for a particular type of project such as art, fiction, poetry, jewelry, divination, etc.
Crowdfunding Model -- you look for something with a tip jar, or something you can subscribe to, etc.
Known Creator -- you look to see if anyone you know has a new project
Recommendations -- you look for things that other people are enjoying, especially if they share your tastes
Favorite Site -- you look for projects on a particular website that you scan regularly for interesting material
Slush Pile -- you look for a big heap of unsorted material to browse in search of the good stuff
Ads -- something catches your eye from a box or link on some other site
Poll Award and Hub Site Questions
" How do you find new crowdfunded projects?"
" Crowdfunding Hub Site Outline"
" A Judged Award?"
" Rose and Bay Awards Followup Report"
Below I am collating issues from these discussions. Topics are named, some pros and cons listed, and opinions are solicited in a poll. Your participation is encouraged. The results are not necessarily permanent, as more issues may arise over time, but if there is very strong support for something then it will probably happen. If you have more ideas, you may mention them in comments here or, preferably, the relevant topical thread.
Subdividing the Fiction Category
Fiction wound up the biggest category in the Rose and Bay Awards, with so many nominations that they had to be split across two poll categories. It has been suggested that Fiction should be subdivided into smaller categories. Proposals include:
LENGTH (such as Short vs. Serial)
Pros: Relatively easy to distinguish what subcategory an entry belongs in. Fits the "format" based distinctions of the other categories. Low potential for argument.
Cons: Might not create enough division, if most projects are of one length; serials are a very common form of weblit.
COMPLETION (such as Active vs. Static)
Pros: Emphasizes an important aspect of crowdfunding, that projects have different phases. Fairly clear which category an entry belongs in. Encourages people to nominate finished projects.
Cons: Doesn't fit the "format" based distinctions of the main categories. People might argue over what "completed" really means. Might not provide enough division, if most entries wind up in one subcategory.
GENRE (such as Speculative vs. Realistic)
Pros: Probably the most effective in terms of creating small subcategories, especially if subdivided as far as "science fiction, fantasy," etc. If the genres chosen are clear, they will have name recognition.
Cons: Doesn't fit the "format" based distinctions of the major categories. Genre can be a hard call to make on some stories. It is infinitely divisible, which is as much a problem as an asset. There is high potential for argument here.
INTERACTION (such as Audience-Driven vs. Creator-Driven)
Pros: Emphasizes a key aspect of crowdfunding, the level of interaction. Sort of fits the "format" based distinctions of the other categories.
Cons: This is really a spectrum, not a set of subcategories; very high potential for argument over what belongs where. Might not create enough subdivision, if most entries land in one category.
NO DIVISION (status quo)
"Fiction" remains a category unto itself, per this year's arrangement.
Subdividing the Other Project Category
It has been proposed that the Rose and Bay Awards split off "Webcomics" into its own category, leaving Other Project for miscellaneous works that don't have strong similarities to each other. This would slightly broaden our number of main categories, but would allow webcomics to compete within their own field and make sure that unique projects didn't have to compete with webcomics.
Fundraising for Prizes
It would be nice for the Rose and Bay Awards to offer prizes in the form of money and nifty objects, in addition to acclaim. That didn't come together for this year, but we are hoping that it will for next year. We need to consider how that will be collected and divided across the categories. The "conflict of interest" issue concerns a sponsor donating stuff to a category for which they are eligible to be nominated; note that donating to the Patron category would not qualify someone as a Patron, since that can only be done by donating to a crowdfunded project. But money can sometimes sway voting, so we need to think about this.
BY CATEGORY (sponsors donate to a specific category)
Pros: Maximizes sponsor control of their donation, so they can support what is most important to them. Probably simpler to manage.
Cons: Maximizes potential for "conflict of interest" issues if people can sponsor a category where they are eligible to be nominated. This problem could be prevented by excluding people from sponsoring a category where they are eligible, but that would create a problem of reducing possible sponsors/donations. Prizes might be grossly divergent in size/quality across the categories.
BY POOL (sponsors donate to awards, and proceeds divide equally across categories)
Pros: Cash prizes would be equal across the categories. Non-cash prize packages would be of similar value. Minimizes "conflict of interest" issues. Anyone can sponsor the awards, even if they are eligible for one or more categories.
Cons: Minimizes sponsor control over their donation, so they can support the awards as a whole but not their favorite category. Figuring out where to put which non-cash prizes could be a challenge, especially if they are wildly different in value/quality. Probably more complicated to manage.
BOTH (sponsors could donate to a category or the R&B Awards, or some of each)
Pros: Most possible control for sponsors in terms of where their donations go.
Cons: Really complicated to manage. Prizes might be divergent in size/quality across the categories. Moderate "conflict of interest" potential.
SEARCH PARAMETERS
Once again, we are working on plans to create a hub site for cyberfunded creativity. meilin_miranda has volunteered her coding skills, and I've collated much previous discussion about what people want and need in a crowdfunding hub site. For purposes of organization, it would help to know how people hunt for new projects.
Genre -- you look for science fiction, or mystery, or romance, etc.
Format -- you look for a particular type of project such as art, fiction, poetry, jewelry, divination, etc.
Crowdfunding Model -- you look for something with a tip jar, or something you can subscribe to, etc.
Known Creator -- you look to see if anyone you know has a new project
Recommendations -- you look for things that other people are enjoying, especially if they share your tastes
Favorite Site -- you look for projects on a particular website that you scan regularly for interesting material
Slush Pile -- you look for a big heap of unsorted material to browse in search of the good stuff
Ads -- something catches your eye from a box or link on some other site
Poll Award and Hub Site Questions