Collaborative Creative Writing Community

A forum would also make things easier for us, the authors, to communicate amongst each other. I noticed that you found the project I had started with a group of authors. The communication has been sketchy because we have to rely on posting comments on each others' chapters to try to direct them to where important info is located... We've managed to run things pretty smoothly thusfar, but not without a lot of work. The whole project circulates around the start chapter October Chill... that way it will be easy for you to follow along. There is a 7 week deadline to come up with 9 complete stories stemming from one chapter, so the best way to stay in the loop is to keep an eye on how things unfold. If there was a forum or bulletin board, each author could actually announce every time they finished a chapter, that way the next author in line could just jump in and throw on their addition... I understand these things take time and I also understand that it takes more time to perfect the algorithms once written... so I am just waiting patiently to see what you guys add to improve communication...

I agree 100%--I think a forum would help authors to communicate as well.

On a more selfish note, having a forum would definitely help me to stay in the loop with what all you authors are thinking as far as feedback and whatnot.

Hopefully this will be implemented sooner rather than later!

And I'll definitely do my best to keep an eye on the story you and the other eight authors are working on :)

Personally, I find it difficult to read a story that is splattered all over the place as it is ;o) I guess I have a one tree mind - er track - er something. So I wouldn't like to have the "any member edit" feature and have to not only decide which next chapter to read, but also have to decide which version of the current chapter to read.

I would like to go back and make typo corrections.

Would love to see a forum. Communication is harder without it. I mashed October Chill because I found it in the contest area and seemed like everyone liked it enough to mash. I didn't read all the comments to see that it was an experiment and that I had transgressed until after it was already published. I would have waited to put mine up, if I'd had the time to search through 20 or so different posted comments and find out about the setup. So YES to a forum! Until then, SMAC_MASH is open to anyone here who wants a temp fix to that problem!

Hi, I'm new here and would like to know just one thing. Where's the spell check. I read one chapter and it was full of spelling mistakes. I can't spell either so if anybody would to correct my spelling, I'd be ever so grateful.

You have to use your browser's spell check option. If you have not installed a spell checker in your web browser, there are many free ones available on the net. I use Firefox (and it's built-in), but there are some available for IE too.

Thanks, Shadowman. If I can't figure that out I'll just copy and paste out of Word. Write-on!

I don't understand why anyone, original author or other writer, would want to edit, here. Certainly, most of these stories/chapters could use some editing, but where would it end? I (and, I think several if not, many others) enjoy most the practice of writing and doing so quickly without trying to concentrate on "publisher level" editing. Firstly, I don't see the point of editing (here) and secondly, given that option, I don't see where it would end. A topic that you included in your lead paragraph, but didn't elaborate on, was that of deleting our own material. There are two reasons I would like to have this ability. One, soon after joining SM I wrote an original chapter and a mash to it. Somehow, I ended up with two each (same original and same mash). I would like to have had the ability to remove one of each (I would still like to do that). It confuses readers (I had a couple of comments in that regards). Two, I have put some stories and chapters on SM that I no longer want available to anyone else to read, comment or vote on (personal reasons). I'd like to be able to remove them.
Finally, I want to address the voting (again). Psycho has mentioned the current mass mash going on with "October Chill". All of these chapters are posted in the contest section. Until yesterday (I believe. I'm in a totally different timezone, plus 6 hours from EST) a couple of these chapters were 4.7 and up, with one at 4.9. Today, they are all down in points. If you read the comments and check the votes for these chapters, there is no indication that anyone has been "voting down" or giving anything less than 4 or 5 stars. Besides that, and maybe it's only on my end, you can no longer view the story statistics. This indicates, to me, that there hasn't been any changes made in the voting system. Members still appear to be able to bring a total vote down by giving fewer stars without commenting or otherwise being identified as having voted down, as happened frequently in the last days of the previous contest.
On the up side for new things...I really like the "story tree" ;o)

Thank you for the feedback--I'm glad you brought up the ability to delete content. I'm not sure where my head was at, but I absolutely didn't elaborate on that as I had planned!

I will most definitely bring the voting issue you described to the developers' attention. I was under the impression that changes had been made to the voting system in order to better prevent fraudulent voting; however, it sounds as if something sketchy is going on...

I personally do not understand this need to edit...it is a graph style project. If you feel you need an edit, MAKE A NEW CHAPTER! Tweak it, perhaps ask the new chapter to replace the old chapter in the line-up by sending an email to support@storymash.com.
But more than likely, if you read it an REALLY want to change it (like because it sucks or you just want to go a different direction) not for anything pointless like grammar; then a whole new branch makes the most sense.

But then again, everyone is entitled to an opinion; that's just mine.

RYN~
Thank you so much for your feedback! It helps to hear what everyone thinks on the editing subject, and I can definitely see where you're coming from.

Thanks again!

Happy writing!

All the edits and re-writes could get a little crazy, and lead to a little confusion. I think editing is fine as long as it has some control. For instance if the original author begins a new chapter and author B wants to edit or rewrite I agree with letting author B do whatever editting they want, but could we say the final version of the story should give author A the opportunity to accept or reject the rewrite. If you allow both versions to remain seems to me you will end you with 2 stories going in 2 different directions, but that is fine for creativity purposes. But I wouldn't want the original storyline to get lost in the maddness.

I completely agree. If giving users the ability to edit and rewrite is implemented, we would definitely have to keep it on a tight leash. Otherwise, things would get seriously out of hand.

Thanks for the feedback!

I'm not sure where my head was at, but I absolutely didn't elaborate on that as I had planned!
LOL...so, like, are you maybe...uh, perchance, going to? Huh? Please?

Previous comment should have been:
Katrina wrote: "I'm glad you brought up the ability to delete content. I'm not sure where my head was at, but I absolutely didn't elaborate on that as I had planned!"
My response to that was:
LOL...so, like, are you maybe...uh, perchance, going to? Huh? Please?

:) The only thing I was going to say was that I have read through much of the feedback that some would like the opportunity to delete their content.

While I can somewhat understand the desire to do so, I think it would be an inappropriate option given the type of website StoryMash is: a collaborate site. If one author were to delete their chapter, that could potentially throw off an entire story.

Know what I mean?

I agree. I think deletions should be special issues and should be handled by SM on a case-by-case basis. That being said, I think SM should make every effort to accommodate the author if the story can be removed without effect. In cases where the chapter is in the middle of a mash there is an alternative. Simply removing the author's name and replacing it with a generic might satisfy the continuity problem and detach the author from a piece of work he wishes to abandon.

Great ideas! These will definitely be kept in mind.

I will repeat what I said before about editing, since this post is dedicated in part to that issue. I think wholesale editing is a bad idea, where would it end? However, I don't see any problem with making minor spelling and grammatical errors within a reasonable time frame. For example, I write and publish with my usual lack of competent proof reading. I have X hours to find and correct my spelling and grammatical errors at which time the story is released for voting. The only drawback might be that anyone who reads it during that time frame and makes comments might not come back to vote.

Which brings up my second issue. Despite reports to the contrary, the voting problem does not appear to be fixed. As far as I can tell it wasn't even addressed. This is a real deal breaker for me, as it seems we were simply told what we wanted to hear ("it's fixed"), patted on the head, and told to go forth and multiply our content.

I love the editing idea, of giving authors a limited amount of time to make their edits and then cut them off. I think that would absolutely help to keep things from getting out of control.

Re: the voting issues. As I said before, I was mistaken in saying that the voting issues have been "fixed." That was absolutely MY mistake. I should have said that the developers have been WORKING ON the voting issues, as SM is and will most likely always be a work in progress. While I can't tell you all of the details as far as alterations and changes that have been made (that would possibly make it easy for someone out there to cheat the system), I can let you know the following facts about the voting system as it stands now:

- ranking for each chapter is based on the average number of stars
- all votes are logged
- some votes are weighted down for fraud
- rankings are calculated and updated every 10 minutes
- view counts are updated daily
- anyone can remove or change their vote
- it is on the priority list to add star rankings in 1/2 star increments
- new chapters are automatically given a 5-star vote from the author of the chapter. The author can change this vote later if they want (but, really--who's going to change their vote? wink wink).
- people vote based on different criteria, some are very picky about spelling and grammar, others only care about a good story idea. So in some cases, the lower votes may be actual and not fraudulent votes.

StoryMash is a work in progress, and part of that work in progress is the voting system. I apologize for throwing everyone off by saying the system was fixed--it will most likely never be 100% up to our standards or "fixed," but we will continue to strive for excellence!

I hope this answers your questions! And I certainly hope that you won't give up on StoryMash.

Fair enough, but I would suggest that if you identify a fraudulent vote, removing it would be a better course of action rather than changing its weight. It shouldn't contribute or take away from the chapter in any way. As long as you guys remain responsive (as you obviously have been here) I will stick it out.

I will most definitely pass that suggestion on.

Thanks so much for being so active on this blog!

Hey Shadow-
Just wanted to let you know: I was informed that in most cases, the weight that is added to fraudulent votes does actually remove that vote from the average (it cancels it out).

Just wanted to pass that info on!

Happy writing!

Love the forum idea. Too sick to think/comment about anything else right now. You guys are doing a good job.

oh no! I hope you feel better, and soon!

Shadow: Your idea of editing makes sense. The way I'd been reading it from everyone else didn't, therefore my comment about editing. I also banged SM about the voting. It's a few comments above yours. AND...I'm with you. If the voting issue doesn't get fixed, soon, I'm outta here!

Yeah, WW. I have no problem writing and sharing the wealth via the click-thru ads, but the main reason I choose to write on a site like this is to hone my authorship skills. Without accurate feedback, it is a pointless exercise.

Hi there! Please do read my reply to Shadow's comments re: the voting issues. I want to make sure that everything is clear. Thanks!

I agree with the minor editing, and I really like the forum idea that would be great if we had an area for a forum to do brainstorming on stories, sort of like a writing center or writer's workshop space. just my thought on the matter.

Thank you so much for taking the time to give your feedback! The team at SM is hard at work with developing changes for the next release, and a little birdy has told me that a beta version of a SM forum will be included in this next release.

I think the forum idea is excellent.
I’m not really crazy about the editing idea as I doubt I would bother to go back and make corrections very often. Once a chapter is gone…it’s gone.
I would much rather have a favorite author’s link.
And the voting thingy….Wadda ya gonna do. Just the way it is.
I saw my October Chill chapter drop yesterday from a 4.5 or a 4.6…can’t remember exactly, to a 4.2. While gaining no new votes. So either, someone changed their vote on me or something else wacky happened. Who knows which. I don’t. Probably never will. So why sweat it. I mean, lets face it…just because someone tells you they gave you a 5, doesn’t mean they actually did. Right?
The only way we could really feel confident that the votes were real is if there was a register that captured each voters ID and what their vote was.

My renegade October Chill was at 4,9. I got an anonymous vote and it dropped to 4.6 at the same time everyone fell. I suspect a jealous spree ran through and drop-kicked everyone on the October Chill. Obviously, SM could trace this with IP logs.

Again, if anyone wants a temp forum, I set up a yahoo group for it named SMAC_MASH. EVERYONE is invited!!!!

Absolutely--thank you for the feedback.

As I mentioned earlier, the team is constantly trying to make improvements that will improve the voting situation. It is, however, a work in progress.

Yeah, the more I think about it, the more I'd like to be able to fix typos, but total re-editing... nah... also, the ability to delete? Well, I think that an author should have that capability, in a way, but then what if an author wanted to delete a mashed chapter that was sandwiched? Maybe allow the delete once the author posts a replacement?

Hey all!

Currently, we will remove chapters that have not been mashed by request. Simply send an email to support@storymash.com with your request, and your un-mashed chapter will be removed.

For chapters that have been mashed:
we will ask for permission from the other authors to delete the storyline, and it will be up to them if they want their chapters removed. If not, then mashed chapters will not be removed.

I hope this helps!

Thanks :)

I personally like the idea of edits for one reason. I think faster than I type and typos happen alot! I dont like the idea of another author editing my work though, thats the point of the site is so they can make thier version of the same story.

A forum is def needed, possibly with a private message feature.

please for the love of good put a delete option....plus a edit button.....

delletes

That is something I have been wondering about the option to delete, that would be a blast if we had that option.

I finally decided to join back in, but the chapter I wrote on the 6th isn't anywhere to be found other than in my profile. What happened to it?

I'm searching through the stories, and I see one that you wrote on the 7th called "Hello 'Frisco!"

Is that the one you're referring to?

that's the one. I looked through the section of stories and it isn't on there. The only way to find it is to search.

About the forums, I don't know if you can do it, but I came across Orca, see link here: http://www.boonex.com/products/orca/
I here the forum is free and powerful and says you can integrate your existing database of users to the forum. Might be worth looking into if your server supports it.

Great idea! I'll definitely pass this on. Thank you!

I am brand new to SM, however I write articles and blog entries for 14 other sites right now. The ones I like the best are those that are easily editable. This makes it easy to update it. To change it and to fix minor issues. The one problem that could happen here at SM is that if one comes up with a better story, it could disrupt the chapter that follows it. Even minor detail changes can make a huge difference in the following chapters. The editing with multiple users is interesting, but makes it even more complicated to read and sometimes the reading is a little complicated any way till you get used to what's going on.

On the other hand, I think that this community looks very active (commenting on each other's posts, getting to know each other's work). With that in mind, a forum or message board would be fantastic!

Welcome to StoryMash!

We're all happy to have you here, and thank you for taking the time to comment.

A forum is definitely in the works. I've been informed that the next site update will include a beta forum for everyone to try out :)

Happy writing, and be sure to continue to share your thoughts!

I accidently double-posted a chapter. Is there a way I can have one deleted? Below is the one I wanted deleted.

http://storymash.com/u/WolfCry/paduheru/

Hi WolfCry-
I'll go ahead and pass this request on. In the future, please send delete requests to support@storymash.com

Thanks!