Well, I've read most of all the comments here and I am brand new to Story Mash. From what I see here, there seems to be a looming cloud of "we're not getting noticed" or "we're getting our work lost on here" type of an attitude.
But like others have said, it is GREAT that you guys have this area for members to TELL their opinions of what is needed to enhance the site.
The way I see it is...writers want to get one thing. NOTICED! And next to that...they want another thing...TO GET PUBLISHED! And next to that, they want one other thing...PROFITS! Am I right? Least most of us do. For some, it's just for fun but, for most...it's for being seen, published and how so cool if even paid for your time and efforts. The ultimate dream for any writer is to contacted by a publisher and THAT publisher telling the author...WE LOVE YOUR WORK! WE WANT TO WORK WITH YOU! WE WANT TO PAY YOU! ARE YOU GAME?
Cause honestly, THAT is why I write publically. To get seen. And to get read and to land that dream job of being a paid writer. So far, this is as close to that dream I can seem to get. I've tried blogs, I've tried websites, I've tried forums and I've contacted pay your own way publishers.
Although sadly, there is a lot of scamming apparently going on in the publishing industry or so I've read. Would be nice to see a NEW WAVE of HONEST publishing companies out to profit not just themselves but also to give credit where it is due. To the writers. After all, they are the ones doing the work.
Since the sight can't seem to completely fill this gap for as many as there are writers and stories...although StoryMash is trying their best it seems, may I suggest that more is done in the effort of StoryMash to advertise to LEGIT PUBLISHERS to lead them here. Places that are in dire need of writers and stories!
In otherwards, not stop what you are doing in trying to reward the best stories on here, but also...TO MAKE ALL THIS WORTH WHILE FOR ALL THE WRITERS HERE...to offer ways to get the stacks of others to be seen, read and reviewed by professional, published authors, editors, publishers, movie production studios that need stories for scripts, and make it to where any of these people HAVE TO give all their contact information on the sight PUBLICALLY before they can even read ONE piece. And show publically WHERE they have been, what they have reviewed and what their own words are. This makes it known to all what professional companies or people have been looking at. That they can't secretly browse people's work and if they are here, they are here to find talent. Not steal. And that these guys have to agree to an agreement NOT to take in part or in whole any one or more stories for their own business. That they are here to scout for talent that they really need? To scout for writers who aren't getting noticed or read and or shoved into the stack. Companies that aren't out to be paid by writers to get published, but who are willing to pay the writers to write for THEM!
To offer such companies or professionals stories AND authors who desire to be read, reviewed, edited and maybe even hired on as freelance or inhouse writers. THIS WAY...THEIR EFFORTS HERE DO NOT GET LOST IN THE ABYSS.
Some writers don't need much help, some need a little help and some...well, need a LOT of help. I personally can't say which I am. But pros can immediately pick up on this. And while one may not like say my work, maybe another may love it. While my story may get shoved to the back or lost in the stack of others here and not make the cut,...now comes along a publishing house that DOES notice it. Or an editor or another published author who notices it.
Maybe, just maybe...there is a way that people on here will be even MORE motivated to write that they just KNOW they are going to get reviewed and not just voted on or commented on once or twice and that's it...but they know that even if they begin to get lost in the shuffle, that they still have a GREAT CHANCE on now...being seen by a list of others who are standing in line, waiting to read their work and review it?
Clap clap clap clap. Now THAT is what I like to hear! Anyone agree? Hopefully so. I'm Storm42 and my story is Operation "Vanish" Sorry, had to throw that out there. grin.