I had a lot of fun doing this, even though I was really nervous and unsure I'd finish at first. I'd kind of fallen behind with my fanfiction work for a while and this really got my spark back- having to finish it by a deadline in a period of time.
I'm definitely going to do the next Big Bang- I do have some suggestions on how it can go more smoothly, though.
For one, I think more of an effort could be made to pair up artists with writers. I felt a little intimidated being a first timer unable to find an artist, and maybe there could be an "adopt a newbie" thread or something for newer ficcers/people who've never done big bangs before, or just a general "post here if you want to illustrate for someone" post. Something so everyone has a shot at getting an artist.
Aside from that, I think the big bang went great, and I can't wait for the friending meme!
I think part of the problem is that there are so many more writers than artists. If you look at the initial sign-up posts, there were thirty-something writers, seventeen artists, and around ten beta-readers. A lot of writers dropped --- well more than 50% --- and artists lost 75%! Beta readers almost all stuck around, it looks like. Hooray for beta readers! This makes it tough to match everyone with an artist, though. Recruiting artists more might help, but I think that either grouping writers together or encouraging people to try art stuff for the first time is probably the best way to make sure everyone gets to work in a group. I had a lot of fun doing the music thing --- had I been doing just music I would have made a full mix CD, written some stuff around it, found some art and pretended I understood Photoshop... doing that for someone else while writing my own story would have been awesome if I had known I had that to do three months in advance! I don't know about you, but oh god will I manage my time better next year. :)
Yeah I did notice that. I think that if they'd done blind groupings, they probably wouldn't have had as many drops, but at the same time, artists are fickle creatures and you can't necessarily assign artists the same way you could writers.
Next go around I might just make my own fanmix and be my own artist.
1) We didn't want anybody to feel cramped. Writers can write what they want to write; we wanted artists to also create what they wanted to create, and beta-readers to read what they wanted to read. The only way we thought we could ensure that was if betas and artists had free choice. In particular, some artists wanted to draw only specific things. Two artists even bowed out of the big bang early because none of the stories being written this year "called" to them. (Think of it this way: how would you feel if you were an artist? Wouldn't you want full control?)
2) This is, sadly, something that we had to consider: painstakingly creating groups where everyone's personal tastes are taken into account would require a lot of work on our part, and both of us mods have really tight schedules. This isn't as simple as a holiday exchange: this is a three-way matchup, which means more variables than I really want to think about. Ultimately, the less we had to actively do, the happier we were.
Oh, I totally understand all your concerns, including the ones about not having full control as an artist, as well as the drops issue- school nearly led me to drop as well (though I think that could be taken care of by scheduling BB less close to midterms/semester starts, but on the other hand something will always come up).
I agree that more advertising would work better than pairups/friending memes. Maybe advertising in various Pokemon art comms, on member dA posts. Places where artists tend to be found.
I hope my concerns didn't come off as whiny; I totally understand why pairups wouldn't work out.
I'm thinking of a Big Bang listing thing where all Big Bangs can advertise and put their projects on a big calender. Don't know if it exists though, but I hope it does. I'm trying to Google it but most results are about Big Bang Theory (TV series). If it doesn't exist, can someone here make it? Maybe not the pokepromptsmods, but someone. I know I can't because I'm not organized enough.
I know at one point delicious hosted a collection of all the big bangs (supposedly) but as you probably know delicious imploded recently. I'll see if I can dig it up still when I get back.
Here it is. bookshop had reported on 9/27 "Moreover, the big bang directory where we archived and organized all the links to every big bang community in existence, is totally gone from the servers." Clearly it's been reinstated now -- as for whether or not anyone still has access to updating it, or if it's going to be maintained is another issue.
Wow, thanks. and bigbangindex on Dreamwidth seem like good places to advert... But both seem to focus more on live action shows and bigbangnews could be inactive as the Mentalist suggestion from August wasn't added. bigbangindex is alive, but I can't find the rules. I think someone joins the community and posts? I'm assuming that whoever behind the pokepromptsmods already have Dreamwidth access, but if not I think I have some codes to share (just ask and I'll PM them). I mean, if one has to join the index, it's better if it's the mods.
I'm definitely going to do the next Big Bang- I do have some suggestions on how it can go more smoothly, though.
For one, I think more of an effort could be made to pair up artists with writers. I felt a little intimidated being a first timer unable to find an artist, and maybe there could be an "adopt a newbie" thread or something for newer ficcers/people who've never done big bangs before, or just a general "post here if you want to illustrate for someone" post. Something so everyone has a shot at getting an artist.
Aside from that, I think the big bang went great, and I can't wait for the friending meme!
Reply
Reply
Next go around I might just make my own fanmix and be my own artist.
Reply
1) We didn't want anybody to feel cramped. Writers can write what they want to write; we wanted artists to also create what they wanted to create, and beta-readers to read what they wanted to read. The only way we thought we could ensure that was if betas and artists had free choice. In particular, some artists wanted to draw only specific things. Two artists even bowed out of the big bang early because none of the stories being written this year "called" to them. (Think of it this way: how would you feel if you were an artist? Wouldn't you want full control?)
2) This is, sadly, something that we had to consider: painstakingly creating groups where everyone's personal tastes are taken into account would require a lot of work on our part, and both of us mods have really tight schedules. This isn't as simple as a holiday exchange: this is a three-way matchup, which means more variables than I really want to think about. Ultimately, the less we had to actively do, the happier we were.
3) Yes, as ainbthech said, there were ( ... )
Reply
I agree that more advertising would work better than pairups/friending memes. Maybe advertising in various Pokemon art comms, on member dA posts. Places where artists tend to be found.
I hope my concerns didn't come off as whiny; I totally understand why pairups wouldn't work out.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Hope that helps!
Reply
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment