Discussion post: how should this community work?

[fiercelydreamed]

 There'll probably be a couple more discussion posts coming up about the operational aspects (particularly the tagging system), but I wanted to get to the biggest question I've got:

How do you want this community to work?

First off, while I initially created queerlygen with a festival in mind, I'm hearing a lot of interest in having it provide a continuing resource. I've got no problems with that. Right now my intent is, at minimum, to have the community act as an ongoing noticeboard where people can post gen works (both fan and original) about sexual and gender minorities. But what should it be beyond that?

• Should we have some kind of periodic challenges? If so, what would you be interested in?
• Are there specific ways to encourage the posting of works beyond just fiction?
• Are there things that have worked well at other communities that you'd like to see replicated here?
• Most pressingly, how should we kick the community off? I'd originally talked about a festival: should I just throw open the doors for people to post any works? Should there be a structure of some kind? Maybe prizes for people who post the most works / in the widest range of 'verses / in the widest range of media? 

Of the discussion posts I've put up so far, this is probably where I have the least idea of how to proceed. So please, bring on any and all suggestions, as vague or as specific as you like.

Comments

[torachan]

I really like the idea of having the comm open all the time. It would be nice to have somewhere to post where I knew people were interested.

I like the idea of a fest, but it doesn't have to start with that. (And personally I really prefer prompt-based fests to exchanges. Much less pressure that way and you don't have to worry about matching people up.) There could be open posting for a while before the fest gets going.

Will you allow reposts of old works or only new material?

[lomedet]

I think starting with a festival/some sort of fictive extravaganza is a good idea. I'm in favor of some limits/structure rather than a total free-for-all - maybe having a period for people to post prompts and then whoever wants to can write to the prompts? (the Porn Battle model, more or less.)

and after whatever the Opening Event is, I like the idea of having the community around as a resource/place to post Queer Gen. Maybe it could operate on a flash-fictionesque model, with different prompts every month/every couple of weeks, or maybe it could be more of a noticeboard - people could post here works they define as fitting the category.

[lady_ganesh]

I like these ideas!

[naraht]

I was just hoping for open posting but then I write very obscure fandoms.

[earlwyn]

I really like the idea of a flash-fiction model, as lomedet stated above. Some sort of prompt-based system that helps to generate new work as well as providing a place for older work to be advertised, maybe? That seems like it would be the best of both worlds to me. The only other thing I can think of is having some sort of rec day -- I'm thinking of how crack_van sets aside a specific day to do vid recs -- where people can rec their favourite queer gen works. Possibly theme-based?

Otherwise, I like the idea of kicking off with a fest. For me, it's good way to get excitement level up and actually have an excuse to dive into a new project. I'd prefer some structure to it, like picking up prompts or themes, just so there's some sort of idea-generation happening. Maybe there could be some sort of writer-artist match up to help generate more than just fic?

[jack_of_none]

I also like the idea of a prompt-based fest, um...maybe a comment-based fic fest? Or a themed fest? Prizes could be fun, but I think they're secondary in encouraging people to write -- strong prompts are best for that.

Recs are the only thing I can think of off-hand that would encourage posting without revolving around generating your own fic -- maybe a week of recs, scheduled in advance so people can round up their favorites?

[wickedwords]

I'd like to see a festival of recs here, a multifandom rec listing where we could pull together the already written stories so that we can find them. I know there's probably not going to be a huge level of participation in it, but it would allow people to see what is already out there. There might already be themed lists in some fandoms that could be of interest, and I think it would be nice to have a week or two to play with spreading that info around.

[kate]

comment-based fic fest

This would be brilliant on DW where the word count limit on comments is huge.

I don't think I'd agree with a flash-fic type approach; that puts the burden of work on the mod day in and day out, and also means members can't post older fic unless it fits the prompt. Personally, I think shorter, prompt-based fests and then leaving the comm for open posting in between - older fics and vids, new fics and vids, and recs.

[sophinisba]

I like the idea of starting off with a rec fest to get us all in the mood and then a fic writing fest with prompts and a specific time frame. After that the comm could be opened up for posting or linking other fic. Monthly themes or prompts would be nice as a way of inspiring new fic but the comm would also be open for whatever.

If there's a fic fest I'd really prefer that each fic get its own post rather than go in comments. I find reading fics in pages where comments have collapsed to be a pain, and I like that with separate posts we can tag everything by fandom and that will make fics easier to find later.

[brewsternorth]

*nods* That works.

[ciaan]

I'd like it to be open and ongoing, but to start off with some exciting things. A fic/fanworks encouraging type of thing, where people post prompts and then make stuff based on the prompts (an easy one, with no exchanges or assignments or claiming, I'd say). And yes, some way to rec or self-promote older works at least every once in a while would be nice.

[slybrarian]

I agree with everyone who's been saying that it'd be nice to have it open, but I also think that occasional festivals or themes would be nice to inspire more gen that fits the concept.

[landshark]

I like the idea of starting with some prompt-submitting, and then people can write which ever ones they want. (I think individual posts would be better rather than in comments, so they can be tagged.)

Maybe some kind of prize situation--but that could be decided after the fest is over.

After the initial fest, open up the comm for older works (and more new stuff).

I don't know how many fics/vids/etc. we'll be dealing with here, so I don't know how often to do a rec post, (daily with different themes? weekly?) but there should something.

[were_lemur]

I definitely agree with posts as opposed to comments so that I can add individual stories instead of whole threads to my memories.

[landshark]

Are there things that have worked well at other communities that you'd like to see replicated here?

There are a few things in other comms that I like (in regards to recs):

Crack_Impala--daily themes. This would be one way to stir up interest in works other than fiction. Vids, art, fanmixes, and icons could all be themes, etc.

J2_rec--weekly rec posts. People can submit recs in comments for the next week. Also a monthly themed masterlist. (Any work that fits the theme will be added; new works will be continually added. Makes a nice index.)

Hope this helps.

[were_lemur]

I definitely like the idea of having both challenges and general open posting. (Insert obligatory "swings both ways" joke here.) I'd be happy with either prompt-based "BTVS: Willow Rosenburg -- obscure ingredients for a spell" or theme-based "This week's theme is: shopping trip!" challenges. Or both, since I can't seem to make up my mind about that, either! ;)

So maybe an annual/semiannual prompt-based challenge, weekly or monthly theme challenges, and open posting for things we come up with that have nothing to do with any challenges?

I prefer individual entries rather than comments so I can add individual stories to memories.

[lunabee34]

Don't take this on alone. As someone who has run comms that I love and believe in and think were doing valuable work in fandom, I can say that if you shoulder too much responsibility, eventually you will burn out, even if that's two years from now.

(Also, super impressed with your modly abilities. This is an amazing comm)

[dirty_diana]

Okay, you almost have too much input here. :) I vote prompt-based fest, personally, and then leaving the comm open for people to write left-over prompts of which there will likely be many. I like exchange fests in general, but for something this thematically specific and multifandom it would be tough (most especially on you and I imagine you don't want that).

Recs don't intrigue me as much just because I like the idea of new fic being generated? But there could be some kind of mix of both. Or something.

[sumofparts.livejournal.com]

Speaking as someone who participates in fandom as a reader only, I'd love for this comm to be a resource, in terms of being able to find stories, so I'm most interested in how content will be organized and archived (e.g. tagging, master lists). I'd like for people to post recs and/or promote older material.

That being said, I think there should definitely be some kind of regular activity to maintain interest and generate new content. I think a flashfic model with periodic challenges and deadlines either using themes and/or prompts is a good idea (as opposed to an exchange because sometimes it feels like the stories can become too tailored for a recipient; also sounds like a lot more work). I think leaving the comm open for left-over prompts (maybe in an 'amnesty' period for people who need deadlines) is also a good idea.

In terms of generating works beyond fiction, what are you referring to exactly? E.g. art, meta, discussion posts, vids, etc? Others' ideas on using daily/weekly/periodic themes seem to work well on other comms.

Re kick-off activity: I like the idea of a prompt-based fest for people to submit and write (and create) whatever. I think round-ups (e.g. creating weekly/periodic lists of content) would be helpful to avoid missing new stuff that's been generated and to maintain momentum.