Discussion post

[sgarb_mod]

I'm not entirely sure if there will be another round next year (it's likely, but it will depend on the level of interest, time, and scheduling, etc), but if there will be another round, I'm always looking for ways to improve the community.

Other than being more organized, I've also been considering going back to staggered posting, since it's easier for the mod(s), and allows for a bigger buffer zone for pinch-hitters and people who need extensions. If anyone has questions, concerns, criticisms, or suggestions, feel free to leave a comment and discuss them here. Anonymous commenting is on, IP logging is off. I can't promise any changes, but I will read through all of the comments.

There is also a post on LiveJournal if you want to look at the comments there.

Comments

[kate]

Oh, I have to say I like the idea of staggered posting a lot. Not just for pinch hitters (which is a brilliant reason), but also for me as a reader! I was overwhelmed by stories, and still haven't read a single one. I think it's a bit of 'where do I start' stage fright; I'll get there eventually, but it's going to take me a while.

Also, I have to say that format-wise, I really love the AO3 as a place to post things like this; it means that readers can download the stories with the click of a button, which would be helpful for a lot of people. I think, also, it would cut down on a lot of work - not having to double post (double code) for LJ/DW - actually not having to do any of it, because authors and artists upload themselves! Also, they retain full control over the stories/art and can tweak any time they like. Also, speaking from a mod POV, I find the usability to be a breeze. I could talk all day about why I think doing fests on the AO3 is brilliant, but I'll stop here.

Thank you and the other mods so much for all your hard work - you have done a brilliant job, and I really appreciate everything you've put into this.

[sgarb_mod]

I know that some people prefer the "all at once" reveal because it seems more epic and big-bang-like. My first big bang experience was the spn_j2_bigbang, and that had staggered posting (I think it's mainly because of sheer numbers more than anything else though o_O), so I never thought that staggered posting was strange.

I'm not familiar with using the AO3 from a mod POV. I'd be glad to hear of what features you think make modding fests better on the AO3. At the moment, these are some of the reasons on why I've been keeping the fest on LJ and DW:

1) not everyone has an AO3 account or is willing to sign up for one (I think there was some disagreement at atlantisbigbang last year about that?). With the fest on DW/LJ, everyone has at least one of those accounts. I'd like to maximize the number of participants, since the fandom seems to be pretty slow as is, and might only be more slow next year.

2) it's not a good place to post fanart. It doesn't allow for thumbnails and the archive in general is just not built for artwork. If the AO3 implements native support for fanart by the next round and does it well, then this might be a moot point.

3) I did participate in the atlantisbigbang last year, and I remember that, after all of the entries were posted on the AO3, the mod emailed artists with links to the fic their work was paired with, and participants would put that in the "inspired by" field. I'm not sure how it went for authors. I'm a little worried by this, in case a participant doesn't check their email and the reveal ends up being delayed because of improper formatting or linking (if I was to move the fest to the AO3, I'm thinking a one-time reveal would work better than a staggered one).


Things that would be better if I moved the fest to the AO3:

1) As you mentioned, easier on the mod(s) re:coding, because authors and artists would do their own posts

2) Also as you mentioned, participants can edit their posts as needed.

3) The kudos button, which I think is a great addition.

[ratcreature]

IMO switching to AO3 as location for an art-based fest would only make sense once fanart archiving has been established there properly. Not just because the viewing interface isn't there for pictures yet, but because only then you could actually archive art there instead of merely embedding it. Otherwise people are likely to put their art in places that vanish in a few years not by intentional desire to remove art from online but mere drifting from fandom (and in my experience more likely to vanish than picture accounts used by fest organizers, though that can also happen of course). And that is even more disappointing in an archive place than a post. An *archive* should be the place where things can actually be permanently archived, so while I like the AO3 and have an account there for reading, I've not start posting my art there yet, because currently it seems pointless.

[sgarb_mod]

Agreed. I hope to see the AO3 implement hosting for artwork soon, and that they do it well.

Currently I've uploaded all the fanart on my own site which is graciously hosted by a friend. It's unlikely to be down anytime soon, but you're right that hosting it on an archive would be more reliable and longer-lasting.

[busaikko]

I agree with Kate that the AO3 is a good place for challenges with longer stories: the stories can be in one post no matter how long they are, and readers can download them to read offline. (And it should - hopefully! - make it easier for the mods, who won't have to be the ones posting everything, which seems like a nightmarish job to me....) Atlantis Big Bang did this last year and I thought it worked really well.

Staggered posting is also a good idea, I think, depending on how many people are participating. I think people feel overwhelmed when there are a lot of long stories posted at once.

I do love your masterlists, which are always pretty and have layouts which are stylish and easy to use.

[sgarb_mod]

I just posted a reply to kate's comment above, if you'd like to join in on that conversation? Instead of me copying everything here.

[busaikko]

I read Ratcreature's reply; I hadn't realized all the problems with posting art to AO3. Oh, well. Maybe in a year they'll have fixed that?

[sgarb_mod]

I hope so. Last I heard about them adding art to the AO3 was in March, and they said it was coming soon, but I haven't heard anything since, so who knows.

[calcitrix]

I wouldn't mind moving or staying on DW/LJ. I just wanted to thank you for doing such an awesome job with this.

[sgarb_mod]

Thank you, I really appreciate it! And thanks for participating 2 years in a row! :D

[ratcreature]

WRT staggered posting, I noticed that as a viewer/reader last year I looked at all the art and checked out more of the fic as they appeared, whereas this year so far I only browsed the masterlist once and just clicked the art with the most interesting previews skipping the rest for now, and haven't yet read anything (though the masterlist is still open in one of my many browser tabs, with me intending to go back). Though in part that is also because last year I was still reading more SGA than this year, so it is not only a timing issue.

But either way I love fests that put fanart more in the center stage and it's always awesome to get cornucopia of fanart pieces conveniently in one place, so I'd love to see another round.

So thanks for all your work in organizing the SGA reversebang!

[sgarb_mod]

Thank you very much for your input!

[shaddyr]

First - like everyone else, thanks for your hard work!

Second - as much as I bite my fingernails waiting, I think that a staggered posting is preferable for reasons that have already been mentioned. I found a had a bit of the "OMG Overwhelmed by all the pretty!" going on when it was all suddenly there! Plus, as you say, if there is a pinch hit or someone running late, they can be pushed off to the end.

I don't much care where it's posted - I generally live on LJ, but I like DW and AO3 is fabulous, so - whatever works for the majority AFAIC.

I hope you do this again - I've done it last year and this year and it has stretched me as a writer both times and I've really enjoyed being part of it.

[sgarb_mod]

I like the staggered posting as well - and so far it seems like everyone who's commented seems to be ok with it as well, so I'll definitely be considering it for next year.

Thank you for your comments and feedback - I'm really glad to hear that you enjoyed participating. I also hope that scheduling and interest will allow me to hold another round next year.