Author Topic: Welcome from the New FanFiction Moderators **REVISED Nov. 25 2007** PLEASE READ  (Read 26612 times)

Offline MaineWriter

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Welcome from the new FanFiction Moderators

Greetings everyone, from MaineWriter (Leslie) and louisev (Louise).  We are your newly-appointed moderators for the FanFiction forum.  You may know MaineWriter as a long term ChezTremblay member and the author of "A Love Born from Steel" and "Through the Veil of Time" linked on this forum.  Louise is the author of "The Laramie Saga" books, and has been working with Leslie to establish some fan discussion on Bettermost for the past few weeks.  We are introducing ourselves in order to give some guidelines to moderating the FanFiction section of Bettermost in accordance with the Bettermost Forum's overall mission.

A few guidelines:

What this Forum Is:

It is about fiction, stories, drabbles, shorts, poems, etc. based upon or related to "Brokeback Mountain."  As such it is a fan discussion, inviting authors and readers to interact and discuss their stories, announce updates, post links to resources and entries made by authors.  You may post links to work that is not your own if you like.  If you would like to start a topic regarding a story, then press the "New Topic" button to create a new topic.  We recommend you include the name of the story as the topic, so that others will recognize it and join in.

The general style we follow is to create a topic for each major work (such as a book), or for each author (if there are very short works the author would rather have in a single thread.)  This is a matter of personal preference, rather than a hard and fast rule.  However, if you glance at extremely busy forums (Rotten Tomatoes Film Discussion, for example), there are literally thousands and thousands of topics, many of them exactly the same.  For tidiness' sake, when creating a new topic, please be sure that there isn't already a topic created for the item or items you wish to discuss.

In addition to discussion about stories by authors and readers, an additional type of topic that is welcome are issues that are more tangential to the actual story at hand, but still pertinent to FanFiction. For example, many people ask the question, "What is canon? Is it the movie or short story?" Another question might deal with issues of dissemination--what are the best sites to post stories, how to attract readers, how to create a reading community, and so on. Our goal is to an active community of readers and writers. Newcomers can learn from old timers and vice versa. We believe that sharing on every level is at the heart of a good fic. Questions that relate to actual stories as well as the process of writing and sharing are appropriate for the forum.

What This Forum Isn't

This is not a critic's corner.  Authors come here to share their work, which they do out of their love for Brokeback Mountain, for no fee and no reward except the pleasure of sharing their writings.  Most of us who have written fanfiction stories have experienced the downside of this sharing:  non constructive criticism, panning a fic you personally do not read, and negative recommendations.  If you would like to offer constructive criticism for an author of any detail, please check the individual threads.  Please be aware that some authors do not ask for this kind of feedback and may not be interested, and that is their right.  The primary purpose of this forum is sharing and discussion by authors and readers alike.

AUTHORS:  If you would like to receive constructive criticism on your individual stories, please post that in a message at the beginning of the story thread.  For already-existing threads, readers please contact the author either by pm or by leaving a message in the thread asking of constructive criticism is desired.

If you do not wish to read a fic or find it not to your liking, then simply stay out of that discussion.  We want authors to share their work, which is why individual threads are posted as desired, so that everyone can feel equally welcome and attract whatever readership is available to them.  Our philosophy is that there is no one "correct" way to finish the story of "Brokeback Mountain," and that each of us completes the story in our own lives.  This is equally true of fan stories.  Every fanfiction author has their own "take" on Ennis and Jack, and readers will read what they enjoy and leave the rest.  There is no one "correct" interpretation of Brokeback Mountain, the story, or the film, and there is no one "canonical" correct reading of the text which makes one fan story more authoritative than another.

Please keep feedback to authors polite and engaging, and remember that no author HAS to provide you with fanfiction.  They do it for the pleasure of the readers.  The nicer you are to them, the more they will write.

The Most Important Rule:

Positively no personal attacks are allowed on Bettermost. This policy will be rigorously applied, and extends to making attacks upon authors and their style of writing or topic.  If you feel uncomfortable about a post in the FanFiction section of the forum, please report the post to moderator, and/or send a private message referencing the post to MaineWriter (Leslie) or louisev (Louise).  If you have a disagreement with another participant, please approach the person in PM.

Also, please observe that what constitutes "fan fiction" is at the discretion of the moderators.  We reserve the right to remove posts or threads if they are deemed to be insulting, vulgar, or disrespectful to the existing stories, fans, or authors represented here or in other archives.  We believe that good taste and respect for our fellow users should be an adequate guide as to what is posted here.  if you are concerned about the content of a story or about something that is not included, please send a pm with your concern.

***IMPORTANT***:  Due to content guidelines from our advertiser, GoogleAds, please do not post stories containing pornographic, adult, or mature content (ie. explicit sex scenes or PWP (porn without plot) stories.  If you would like to share your more mature stories, you may do so, but please use a link to an external site, i.e. www.divshare.com or www.livejournal.com

As applies to the rest of Bettermost:  please do not post private messages in the open forum threads.

Again, we are delighted to be here and look forward to having many active discussions around the those Brokeback Mountain fanfiction stories that are near and dear to our hearts.

Leslie           and         Louise
MaineWriter                louisev

From Phillip: 

"In order to be supportive of our original authors, it is important to me that positive comments and encouragement be the order of the day here.  Personal attacks are not welcome here, but constructive criticism is appreciated.  (Check individual threads for whether constructive criticism is welcomed for the particular story before posting.)  Before posting parodies of others' original works or utilizing another author's original characters/situation, you should seek the original author's permission.  Plagarism will not be tolerated.  I want our users to be assured that BetterMost remains a nurturing and supportive home for all fan fiction works.  I appreciate your understanding."

« Last Edit: November 25, 2007, 02:39:55 pm by louise van hine »
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Helen

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Re: Welcome from the New FanFiction Moderators
« Reply #1 on: July 21, 2006, 06:45:41 am »
Uh oh.....no more giggling now, for sure...  :-X


*grin*


Congratulations you guys :)

Offline louisev

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Re: Welcome from the New FanFiction Moderators
« Reply #2 on: July 21, 2006, 08:12:22 am »
*all righty now*  ((hands on hips)) .

Is this about me playing IN-GENIUS COYOTE and Leslie playing LUCY THE BLUE HEELER in the Performance thread?  Have we NO credibility?   :-\
“Mr. Coyote always gets me good, boy,”  Ellery said, winking.  “Almost forgot what life was like before I got me my own personal coyote.”


Offline fernly

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Re: Welcome from the New FanFiction Moderators
« Reply #3 on: July 21, 2006, 10:28:56 am »
Leslie and Louise, Congratulations!
 :D
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Offline twistedude

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Re: Welcome from the New FanFiction Moderators
« Reply #4 on: July 21, 2006, 11:47:03 am »
Welcome! I for one apreciate the difference betweern "personal arrack" and "criticism." I don't just want to hear good things abiout my stuff; I want to hear bad things as well--I consider all critrism constructive. Hope this is within the rules. Likewise, when I start talking about Brando's Method acting, and what it did or did not include, I don't like to be accused of being insulting. I think Thumper's maxim of "If ya can't say somthin' nice, don't say nothin' at all" doesn't really get us very far.

BUT: if I'm wroing--or at least wrong here--please let me know.
"We're each of us alone, to be sure. What can you do but hold your hand out in the dark?" --"Nine Lives," by Ursula K. Le Guin, from The Wind's Twelve Quarters

Offline DeeDee

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Re: Welcome from the New FanFiction Moderators
« Reply #5 on: July 21, 2006, 12:46:56 pm »
HOT DAMN!!  Moving up in the world, ladies?

Congrats to my 2 favorite storytellers!

 :-*
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Offline louisev

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Re: Welcome from the New FanFiction Moderators
« Reply #6 on: July 21, 2006, 01:25:00 pm »
Welcome! I for one apreciate the difference betweern "personal arrack" and "criticism." I don't just want to hear good things abiout my stuff; I want to hear bad things as well--I consider all critrism constructive. Hope this is within the rules. Likewise, when I start talking about Brando's Method acting, and what it did or did not include, I don't like to be accused of being insulting. I think Thumper's maxim of "If ya can't say somthin' nice, don't say nothin' at all" doesn't really get us very far.

BUT: if I'm wroing--or at least wrong here--please let me know.

As an author if you are soliciting constructive criticism, be sure to make that clear in your thread that you welcome comments of any kind.  However, the same rules apply:  we are all guests here on Phillip's board and we should all observe civility, particularly when disagreeing.  But as it states above:  this is not a critic's corner and not primarily for the purpose of criticism, comparisons, or reviews, but for sharing.  As long as the Constructive Crit is pleasant, welcomed and mutual, then it is within the guidelines we are given.
“Mr. Coyote always gets me good, boy,”  Ellery said, winking.  “Almost forgot what life was like before I got me my own personal coyote.”


Offline twistedude

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Re: Welcome from the New FanFiction Moderators
« Reply #7 on: July 21, 2006, 01:37:45 pm »
Thanks, louisev--I think that's alll --perfectly clerar!
"We're each of us alone, to be sure. What can you do but hold your hand out in the dark?" --"Nine Lives," by Ursula K. Le Guin, from The Wind's Twelve Quarters

vkm91941

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Re: Welcome from the New FanFiction Moderators
« Reply #8 on: July 21, 2006, 01:53:24 pm »
Just dropping in to say my Congrats and Welcome to you both  Leslie and Louise  :D  Welcome to the joys of moderatorhood.

Offline JennyC

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Re: Welcome from the New FanFiction Moderators
« Reply #9 on: July 21, 2006, 01:56:17 pm »
HOT DAMN!!  Moving up in the world, ladies?

Congrats to my 2 favorite storytellers!

 :-*

Ditto :)

How does it feel to be a mod, I bet you feel all powerful now ;)  Let's channel some of that energy into more output in terms of new chapters each day. ;D

Seriously, congratulations Leslie and Louise!

Offline Phillip Dampier

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Re: Welcome from the New FanFiction Moderators
« Reply #10 on: July 21, 2006, 06:10:11 pm »
I am very pleased that Leslie and Louise agreed to take on this forum for us.  I would have made the introduction sooner but I've been extra busy taking care of my parents.  Both have done tremendous work in bringing fan fiction fans to BetterMost, which I have always hoped will be a friendly, tolerant, and supportive home for our users.  Everyone has a different vision, and I hope this will always be a place where folks have an opportunity to share theirs!
You're a part of our family - BetterMost, Wyoming

Marge_Innavera

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Re: Welcome from the New FanFiction Moderators
« Reply #11 on: July 24, 2006, 09:49:26 am »
As an author if you are soliciting constructive criticism, be sure to make that clear in your thread that you welcome comments of any kind.  However, the same rules apply:  we are all guests here on Phillip's board and we should all observe civility, particularly when disagreeing.

I'm still struggling with Chapter 4 of my only fanfic, and would certainly like some constructive criticism as I go along. And there are fairly objective standards for that:

Is the plot clear; i.e., can you readily follow what's happening? Or do you have to keep checking back to an earlier chapter to follow it?

Are the characters' motivations believable?  One extra challenge in fanfiction is that the writer is using characters that were already established previously. In a sequel especially, they can certainly undergo changes but that has to be believable in the context of the basic story and basic character development that's already there.

Is the writing coherent? Are there too-mixed metaphors, imagery that seems to come out of nowhere?  Does the story meander off too much into subplots whose interest and relevance aren't enough to sustain them?  Is there an overabundance of misspellings, misuse of words (e.g., "fulsome" used to mean voluptuous or sexy), really bad grammar when it isn't in the context of colloquial speech?  Does the author make points via plot or character development, or do they just preach?  If the criticism is more than a few comments, personal messages might be the best option, as that allows for a lengthy one-on-one discussion.

IMO, we pretty much all know what isn't constructive. Comments like "your writing is as stupid as you are" (not written to me) and condemnations of some particular genre, including less-than-flattering character assessments of writers in that genre, obviously aren't going to produce much in the way of improved creative work.

While I've read some fanfiction before, BBM is the first time I've ever looked at it extensively for any one work, and there's plenty to discuss. Thanks for volunteering, Leslie and Louise!

Offline MaineWriter

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Re: Welcome from the New FanFiction Moderators
« Reply #12 on: July 24, 2006, 05:12:22 pm »
Hi Marge,

Thanks for that nice message and vote of support.

I hope you will consider starting a thread for your story. Let readers know you are interested in feedback. Maybe the dialog will give you some inspiration for your stuggle with chapter 4.

Leslie
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Offline Toycoon

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Re: Welcome from the New FanFiction Moderators
« Reply #13 on: July 01, 2007, 12:46:47 pm »
Congrats, ladies! You've got a tough job ahead'a ya. Someone's gotta keep them damn sheep in line! :-*
"The most important thing is being sincere, even if you have to fake it." - Cesar Romero

Offline MaineWriter

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Re: Welcome from the New FanFiction Moderators
« Reply #14 on: July 07, 2007, 03:49:32 pm »
Since I have been at this job for almost a year now, I like to think I am doing okay... ;)

L
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