Resources, badfic and e-mails
A couple of things I'm thinking of adding to the site that I'd love opinions on.
Resources - a list of writing, graphics or video creating resources for people just starting out or hoping to improve their work. I'd love to be able to include fanfic/femslash/fanart specific resources either from elsewhere on the web (with permission) or from contributors. Things like grammar, plot, characterisation, spelling, photoshop and video editing would all need to be addressed, possibly in several different articles, and they're all things I am woefully unqualified to comment about. I will, however, include a 'how to get your work archived' section with reference to starting your own site or getting it onto places like P&P and other sites.
So, firstly, do you think this would be useful? Secondly, do you know of any good links? Finally, would you be willing to contribute an article? (the articles should be more along the lines of firm encouragement than harsh ridicule)
Badfic - for those who don't know these are intentionally bad stories that highlight cliches and other things that people might find annoying in a story. They do poke fun but they are meant to be humorous rather than cruel. Now these are great fun to write and can make a nice change of pace to read, if you're in the right frame of mind, but there is no getting around the fact that they are bad.
So the question is, should they be given their own home on P&P? I'm of two minds on the subject.
Emails - I did start doing this last week but I got caught up in other things and forgot, but from now on whenever I receive a submission a stock e-mail will be sent back letting the poster know it has arrived. So if we've been chatting or exchanging e-mails and you suddenly get this very impersonal 'thanks I've received it' type reply, it's not me suddenly being snotty, it's just a new site standard, and will be followed by the proper 'cheers mate, how's the hangover' type replies once the story has been read and prepared for archiving.
Resources - a list of writing, graphics or video creating resources for people just starting out or hoping to improve their work. I'd love to be able to include fanfic/femslash/fanart specific resources either from elsewhere on the web (with permission) or from contributors. Things like grammar, plot, characterisation, spelling, photoshop and video editing would all need to be addressed, possibly in several different articles, and they're all things I am woefully unqualified to comment about. I will, however, include a 'how to get your work archived' section with reference to starting your own site or getting it onto places like P&P and other sites.
So, firstly, do you think this would be useful? Secondly, do you know of any good links? Finally, would you be willing to contribute an article? (the articles should be more along the lines of firm encouragement than harsh ridicule)
Badfic - for those who don't know these are intentionally bad stories that highlight cliches and other things that people might find annoying in a story. They do poke fun but they are meant to be humorous rather than cruel. Now these are great fun to write and can make a nice change of pace to read, if you're in the right frame of mind, but there is no getting around the fact that they are bad.
So the question is, should they be given their own home on P&P? I'm of two minds on the subject.
Emails - I did start doing this last week but I got caught up in other things and forgot, but from now on whenever I receive a submission a stock e-mail will be sent back letting the poster know it has arrived. So if we've been chatting or exchanging e-mails and you suddenly get this very impersonal 'thanks I've received it' type reply, it's not me suddenly being snotty, it's just a new site standard, and will be followed by the proper 'cheers mate, how's the hangover' type replies once the story has been read and prepared for archiving.