Young Writers Society

What's Happening

Starting May 3, 2008, it will cost 500 points to start new storybooks.

Also starting May 3, 2008, new posts will cost 5 points. This allows for sixty "free" posts every two weeks.

This only affects the main storybook forum; it does not affect storybook discussion, archives, or tips.


Why It's Happening

Since the beginning of this year, the storybooks forum has been increasing in popularity. In April 2008, nearly 10,000 posts were made in storybooks, accounting for 40% of all site activity.

Because of the popularity, new storybooks are being created constantly. This means that old storybooks don't get the attention they deserve and newer ones don't get much of a chance to do well.

There has also been a sharp rise in the number of storybook posts that are just a line long, if that. In the past, storybooks were an area where members could sharpen their writing skills in conjunction with experienced writers. However, experienced writers are no longer able to help as much given the intense activity.


I Don't Like This

If you don't like it, this will be revisited in June. If quality is not improving in the storybooks area, then it's likely, though not certain, that this system will be dropped. However, other avenues will be explored.


You Can Help Too

If you're active in storybooks, then do your part to ensure every post you make there is quality. One way to improve quality is to spend at least five minutes on a post; a lot of times I've noticed someone making ten storybook posts in five minutes (which is why you can now only make one post per minute instead of every 15 seconds).

If you're an experienced storybook writer, then keep on doing what you've always been doing: helping new storybook writers improve their craft.

YES!

Finally!

Thank you Nate, I've been waiting for this for so long.

Yay! Now we won't have hundreds of dead storybooks

The only thing I am unsure about is the loss of 5 points, because sometimes, only so much can be written. I mean, lets say my MC was in a conversation with someone else, I would be writing a line of dialogue, and then waiting for the other person to reply, for 5 points. Having said that, it's not much of a problem since it will most likely lead to a greater interactivty between people, so I doubt that will be a problem.

Great something's been done, thanks!

-Mark

Ok I shall obay.

Aedomir -- You could always discuss the conversation with the author(s) of the other character(s). Meet them in the chat, PM on the main site... That way, you have their responses for the whole of the conversation, or at least a good chunk of it, making your post worth it's 5 points.

Neat idea, Nate.

I'm not really all that active in the SB forum, but part of that is because of all the clutter it had. Maybe now I'll be able to find something.

Yipee!!!!!!!!!! One thing though, is I'm a really fast typer, so I can whip out two nice sized posts in a minute. But if I have to wait to be able to post and keep this system around you better believe I will!!

Thank you so so so so much, Nate.

TNC

I hope you keep the storybooks!!! It may be my favorite thing on YWS.

Yay!!! No more clutter!!! haha. I hope you keep these, though. They're not my favorite thing, but they are a lot of fun.

Though I don't think the point fine is necessary. Making it a rule to write long, well articulated posts should be enough. I've been in a lot of RPGs forums, and it can be moderated well enough.

Though I don't think the point fine is necessary. Making it a rule to write long, well articulated posts should be enough.

I'm not sure what you are replying to (the "though" makes it sound like a reply) but in any case, I'll sort of answer your non-existent question. Just because you make a rule doesn't mean people will follow it, and the more rules we have, the more people will ignore them. It might work for some forums to moderate all of the posts, and nag those who don't follow the rules, but the point system works well for YWS and until time shows otherwise, we probably won't change it. Thank you for your input, though!

Uh, has it been dropped, or is it still in effect?!

As far as I know, it's still in effect.

Yeas!