My Slashy Valentine 2011

[red-lasbelin.livejournal.com]

 Hello! I'm Red, the new addition to the SS moderator team. Kenaz will be back in the spring once RL clears up, but in the meantime I'd like to gauge the interest in a My Slashy Valentine swap. Please let me know what you think![Poll #1653538]

Comments

[jaiden-s.livejournal.com]

It really depends on the setup of the swap and those who choose to participate. I'm on the fence.

[red-lasbelin.livejournal.com]

It'll really be business as usual as far as setup goes, but we need to know if we should keep the website up another year and deal with hosting issues or go ahead and make the move to AO3, like Yuletide has.

[jaiden-s.livejournal.com]

The hosting decision should be made by Kenaz.

[red-lasbelin.livejournal.com]

Hi, Jai. Kenaz and I discussed it and it really comes down to what the participants would like and what can be reasonably managed. AO3 would be convenient, but if the majority want the website, she's fine with it if I am willing to finance and manage it.

Hence the poll.

[heartofoshun.livejournal.com]

I'm wondering what is wrong with the new Slashy Santa site? I think it is lovely and I find it much more user friendly still than AO3. I've only uploaded one story to AO3 because I kept accidentally deleting them or some dumb thing or another. I suppose if writers have uploaded their entire life's work there over the last year, it must seem easy to them. But it is not to me, but the way the new Slashy Santa site works is almost identical to a few websites I know how to use already.

Also, does the AO3 permit one to edit after posting. That would be the deal-breaker for me. I always find errors.

[red-lasbelin.livejournal.com]

I know, the layout is similar to several archives I've already used. They are fairly user friendly too, though I know the Slashy Santa site had strange formatting issues last year. There seems to be a strong preference for the website though!

Archive of Our Own does let you edit your stories. I have an account there I set up when it first opened, and I've edited my stories sometimes immediately after I post them! It's pretty user-friendly once you get the hang of it.

[heartofoshun.livejournal.com]

Forgot to ask what is the cost of the website. Did not absorb that until after I had posted my above comment. That changes everything. If it costs money and people are not willing to keep it up over the years . . . .

[red-lasbelin.livejournal.com]

Hosting cost isn't a big issue, life recently has worked out for me to have the funds and resources.

If it changes in the future, it would be a matter of asking someone else to take it over (or do a donation button) or switch to AO3. It wouldn't just entirely disappear. I've been in the fandom for 6 years and the thing I hate most is disappearing fandom websites. Just seems incredibly sad!

[heartofoshun.livejournal.com]

I've been in the fandom for 6 years and the thing I hate most is disappearing fandom websites. Just seems incredibly sad!

I am a total geek. I read stories I love over and over and get upset if I lose them because a web site disappears.

I am using AO3 for Yuletide. So I will get some practice. Embarrassing old lady who doesn't adjust well to new technology here! And to think I used to think I was just the opposite!

[red-lasbelin.livejournal.com]

I used to save hard copies of fics to my hard drive, but I got lazy. There are some authors who have totally dropped off the face of the earth and now I can't find their stories anywhere. It upsets me!

I'm sure you'll get the hang of it, it takes me a bit to figure out a new interface too. The one thing I don't like about AO3 is the sense that you are one in two million...

[heartofoshun.livejournal.com]

You made me giggle with the "one in two million." Kind of like ff net with better writers! It is big in the sense of lots of different fandoms. And yet I do think it is safe to generalize that there are a lot of good writers there.

[red-lasbelin.livejournal.com]

Yes, I've been poking around there - the quality of writing is generally quite good. It's sort of like Yuletide to me, wander around and read fandoms I never thought to look up.

[jaiden-s.livejournal.com]

Please count my vote with whatever Kenaz says she wants. It's her swap. I want to do what is best and most cost efficient for HER. I'm sure you understand that.

[red-lasbelin.livejournal.com]

Of course.

[tuxedo-elf.livejournal.com]

Right now I intend to participate, but I'm reluctant to absolutely commit until closer to the time! I do need to get writing again though. It would have to be earlier in the year for me, summer is just too busy.

[red-lasbelin.livejournal.com]

I understand completely, February seems a long way off and a lot of things can crop up quickly! Sign-ups would be soon, though, to give everyone enough writing time.

[minuial_nuwing]

Well, hello, new addition. ;)

I would be a qualified 'yes' on participation - I have a love/hate relationship with slashy santa - and pretty much 'whatever' about the archiving.

I usually do as much of my reading of the SS stuff as possible on LJ, just because I am comfortably familiar with the place, but I like AO3, too. I had some odd formatting issues with the efiction site the last time I read there.

**hugs**

[red-lasbelin.livejournal.com]

Hey, Min. *smiles* I'm so glad you're going to sign up!

I think Slashy Santa has that attraction, very love/hate. It's wonderful for getting me writing too.

Also LJ really is a given no matter where the hosting is ultimately. I remember the formatting issue last year - some fics came out looking quite oddly. It'll probably have to be dealt with as it comes up *crosses fingers*.

[ingrid44.livejournal.com]

I participated earlier this year, and I would love to do so again. Only I found posting on the Santa Slash page problematic. Eventually did succeed. Hope you get positive feedback!

[red-lasbelin.livejournal.com]

It's wonderful to see you coming back! *smiles* I'm glad you enjoyed the last swap and hope you enjoy this round just as much. And let me know if you have posting problems this time, I'll see if I can help.

[elfscribe5.livejournal.com]

Hi Red, I'm glad to see you are contemplating doing this. Sorry, not to have been more help earlier. If you need some help, let me know. Right now I think I might try this again. I've enjoyed the challenge in past years and getting an assignment makes me try things I probably wouldn't have otherwise. But of course, it depends on what RL throws at me. And it would really help if I didn't write multi-chapter epics for these things.

As far as the site, I much prefer the new Slashy Santa site. You are kind to take it on. AO3 works just fine and would be a good default site, but it seems large and impersonal to me. Kenaz's site is user-friendly and feels like it's just for us.

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

Nothing wrong with multi-chapter epics, you didn't hear me complaining about Osse's Gift :D And I completely agree with you about the two sites..

[red-lasbelin.livejournal.com]

Shame on you for commenting without commenting. :D

[red-lasbelin.livejournal.com]

Not a problem with multi-chapter epics, I'll second the love for Osse's Gift. I was most jealous of Kei. :D

If you're interested in helping, email me - there's a need for promotion, and I'd love your help there. As for the swap itself, I'm happy to have the opportunity to help out, I think it's is a big part of fandom.

AO3 is a really good backup, but if I can manage the website, I will. People do seem to like it.

[melusine6619.livejournal.com]

I'd love to, but . . . I'll have to wait and see what timeframe and so forth and much depends on RL happenings too. I'll at least consider pinch-hitting. But I'd definitely prefer either the Slashy Santa site or LJ for postings.

[red-lasbelin.livejournal.com]

Thanks for letting me know! Would love for you participate, but I must say pitch hitters are invaluable, as well. I hope RL stays clear for you.

[phyncke.livejournal.com]

Thanks for doing this. I was looking forward to a swap this year. Yays!

[red-lasbelin.livejournal.com]

It seems really weird without it! Glad you'll be joining in, dear.

[weepingnaiad.livejournal.com]

*waves* Thank you for including the ability to vote without committing. 'Ticky box' ftw!

Not going to be participating since this other shiny fandom has consumed my brain, but my two cents on Ao3 is that it takes a bit to get used to and isn't as 'homey', but it is free and you can post a mega-length story all in one go, which is very convenient. You can also automatically download a story in ePub format which is so convenient for all the folks getting Kindles and Nooks for the holidays.

I hope it goes well!

[red-lasbelin.livejournal.com]

I've heard about the Kindle download, sounds like a neat feature I might be using in the future. It's definitely good for archiving, just not everyone's choice for reading right now. I expect it to be incorporated eventually, but not for this specific swap for sure.

I like ticky boxes. :D

[adlanth.livejournal.com]

Thanks very much for doing this! I love the swap and am a terrible, terribly lazy writer without it so this is just great.

[red-lasbelin.livejournal.com]

I hear you, I have a bad habit of just writing swap fics lately. It's something about the pressure and the deadline and the sheer terror...