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

[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.