[Viv]

I've talked to several authors who have stories posted on OSA. Although some of us are reading and reviewing, it seems that a lot of OSA members just post their stories and run off. They aren't reviewing for anyone else. Others are reviewing only one or two authors. And that strikes me as ... unfair.

So what I'm thinking is this: What if there were some reward for reviewing? Like, little stars next to your name if you posted 50 reviews?

I know it'd be a lot of work, but lack of feedback could possibly hurt the archive in the long run, and just encouraging reviews in the Shoutbox hasn't really done the trick.

Sorry also if this makes me sound like a review whore. That may be partially true, but it's not why I'm suggesting this.

[sindohte]

Viv,

You do raise a good point. Although I have slacked off lately with reading and reviewing b/c I recently moved to another state and started a new job, I do think that providing feedback to the authors is a good and necessary thing. What I struggle with is deciding whether to branch out and read fanfics about characters I normally don't read about, in order to give a new author either a review or at least a rating for their story. I freely confess that I love Lego-fic. If the Prince of Mirkwood is in the story, I will usually read it automatically, unless it stinks to high heavens by the end of the first chapter.

I'll also automatically read anything featuring Elves other than Legolas. I also love reading fanfiction about the mortals, such as Boromir and Aragorn. However, I am out of my comfort zone when it comes to reading Hobbit fanfiction. Although I have read some good stories, it is not my personal preference to read about Hobbits. But that makes me feel guilty, because there might be some terrfic author who is writing terrific Frodo/Sam stories that I'm not reading, simply because of my bias. I do think that an author should do more than merely post their story and ride off into the sunset.

The idea of receiving some sort of points or credit for reviewing stories sounds like a possible solution. Perhaps in order to submit a story to OSA, a potential author would need to read and review at least one story before they are able to submit their own story. While it would not be a guarantee against someone just randomly picking a story and submitting a bs review just so they can post their own story, it would increase the amount of reviews submitted to the archives and might also induce the author to stick around and check out some other great stories that are here.

[Maram68]

I absolutely agree with prior posts.

I mean we write mostly for ourselves ... but when we go public, we are sharing our work and would like to hear what others think of it. Good and bad.

That gives ME a pointer to improve the next time I write.

Specially on OSA, there are so many people I consider great and among the best authors in the LOTR-fandom, that their feedback does really mean a lot.

So is there a way to give them a small nudge?

I like stars. I promise to review more ... may I get stars? (if you gave elves would be so much better!)

[sindohte]

[Robbie]

I've chewed over this one a lot, too. It would be nice, but I can't think of a decent way to encourage feedback any more.

Thoughts and contribution ideas will be greatfully received!

********
A bit rambling, but here are my thoughts so far...

We've made lots of improvements to make posting and reading the reviews more user friendly, and you can quickly view all reviews by a poster.

The most important thing to encourage is decent stories. It's a story archive - we've added stars against usernames for a story. We've added a "list by highest vote" to encourage voting and to reward the better stories.

32 posts is in the forum in 12 hours! That's not bad, either.

I've seen another forum that offered incentives for posting - not quite the same as reviewing - and all that resulted was the aforementioned "bs" posts. A plan needs to be carefully thought out.

We're developing a challenge section, and some people have asked for awards. What rewards / prizes could be offered for that? Green stars for posting reviews, yellow stars for posting in the forum, gold stars for contributing stories, and eventually you'll end up looking like a bunch of retired army generals in parade. Add to this a George [shudder] Medal for winning an "award", meeting a challenge etc and, well, you want league tables?

1 point - forum post
1 point - shout
3 point - review
25 points for each story (that's not so crap we delete it)
0-4 points for a vote (for the author), 1 point for a vote (the voter)
10 points if your story ends on the recommended reading list, 3 points for the voter.
Scores counted last six months only, previous six months = half points.
Add in extra points for meeting challenges and winning awards, well, something could come of it.

I'd also like to add a reward for contributing to the site. Scribe is physically paying for the site, and I'm paying for the additional traffic it's getting; Scribe and DoLarabee and keeping a watching eye on affairs and we're trying to rope in a couple of people to look after challenges. They should get the biggest thanks.

But if anyone has anything meaningful that could be offered as a reward, and some decent way of managing it, let us know.

But right now, it might be best to allow the site to develop? It's already reaching 5 times expected traffic!

[Viv]

[NancyBrooke]

Not to state the obvious but the reward system should reflect whatever you feel is most important about the site, whatever you want it most to become, e.g. an archive of good stories, a place for feedback and discussion, or something else, i.e. most reward for involvement in the most important thing.

I think a reward system for reviews would be good incentive; I know the 'Council of Elrond' site has points but I'm not sure what one does with them (I only know I don't have any ).

Perhaps as you accumulate review stars you become a more active member in the site? get to nominate stories for the awards we've been discussing, or help make up categories, tabulate responses etc.? in some way have greater 'ownership' and input (you know I don't mean actual control, right?).

I used to be involved in fundraising and one of our techniques was to reward high-level donors with perqs that made them feel special, and more like they were part of the institution -- behind the scenes tours, premiere viewings, meetings with artists/curators etc. I was thinking that concept might be applied here somehow.

My only caveat to reward for quantity is that while I do try to review, or at least rate, everything I read, I don't read everything, only those stories that sound like they'd be interesting to me. I know it was only a starting point but I thought 50 was a bit high.

I think you're on a really good track here.

Nancy

[Viv]

Well, I agree that reviews should be genuine. And I am of the opinion that when I can't say something nice, I shouldn't say anything at all. Ergo, I read a lot of stories on this site and do not review them.

(Should be rewarded for that too, eh? )

Good point about concentrating on the purpose of the site. Frankly, there are a lot of archives out there that just put up stories for enjoyment. The thing that sets this archive apart is the interaction, the ability to get involved.

That is my opinion, of course... am not presuming to know the minds of the PTB.

[Robbie]

All points still valid, but we don't have anything tangeable to "give" right now except for this website and as much entertainment (e.g. posting those silly pictures on the front page, keeping the forum rolling with prods when it's quiet such as the Boromir Big Nose thread - 3 posts in about 3 days before, but over 60 in 24 hours after that post!) and handling questions on support or dodgy stories.

Our reward: to see active members being happy and developing a community to chat and share decent stories. If the website wasn't used and appreciated, we'd pull it. Why bother?

Your reward for being an active member: Being an active member of a community and chatting and, hopefully a few laughs and good entertainment.

And that, for now, is probably as far as we can take it. Unless you think "stars" really will mean anything for you?

[Viv]

[Maram68]