Validation queue

[JimCarter]

It may be available and I'm too new or too stupid to find it, but after three days of submitting a new chapter and no information as to the status is frustrating. This really becomes more frustrating when you see a couple of different stories have multiple updates in that time.

 

I would send other chapters to get in the queue, but not knowing that chapter 3 is in the queue and just waiting or has been lost, rejected or any kind status pevents me from submitting more. The least GA could do is tell us the common time it takes in the queue. My first 2 chapters were out of the queue in a little over a day. This one taking 3 days causes me to wonder about the whole process.

 

Being new and not knowing what to expect adds to the confusion and frustration. Sorry to be a PITA, but I don't know who is in charge to send an email to ask my questions and voice my concerns.

 

JIm:(

[Nephylim]

I think you'll find that stories posted on or near the weekend take longer to validate simply because the admins who do the validating are off doing 'real life' things. It may be just a guess but that's what I think. I dont think that the admins like to give an estimated time because it completely depends on how busy they are with other things and they don't want to commit themselves to something they can't then follow through.

 

I think that if your chapter is not validated you will be notified and I'm not aware that anyone has just disappeared in the mist so far.

 

Keep posting and you will get up there, never fear

 

 

[JimCarter]

Yeah, I noticed that your story was validated, so I can understand why you wouldn't feel my frustration. When did you submit that chapter of your story?

 

I think you'll find that stories posted on or near the weekend take longer to validate simply because the admins who do the validating are off doing 'real life' things. It may be just a guess but that's what I think. I dont think that the admins like to give an estimated time because it completely depends on how busy they are with other things and they don't want to commit themselves to something they can't then follow through.

 

I think that if your chapter is not validated you will be notified and I'm not aware that anyone has just disappeared in the mist so far.

 

Keep posting and you will get up there, never fear

 

 

[Nephylim]

Some of the authors who have been here for like a thousand years don't get validated. I suppose it's because they know us and they know our stories well enough to be able to tell if we try to steal anyone elses. Newer authors need validating becuse there have been some problems with new authors joining and then posting someone else's story.

 

I'm not for a moment suggesting that you would do that just explaining why newer members have to be validated and old hands like me don't

[JimCarter]

I was sure that was the case, but that just adds to my point. When you have different rules for different people (I am not saying you shouldn't have special consideration) you need a way to let the low-lifes like me know where their stories are in the queue. I am not complianing that your story gets posted and mine doesn't. I am just trying to make the point that it is frustrating that those that don't enjoy the perks shouldn't have to deal with not knowing if our story is lost.

 

To be honest, I am trying to suggest it would be a better story site if the new authors, were not kept in the dark. I really meant this post to help improve the site by pointing out my frustrations. I didn't want this to be just a bitch session. I was really hoping that someone in authority might actually read this post and at least think about some improvements.

 

I'm sorry if I offended you, it was not my intention.

 

Jim

 

Some of the authors who have been here for like a thousand years don't get validated. I suppose it's because they know us and they know our stories well enough to be able to tell if we try to steal anyone elses. Newer authors need validating becuse there have been some problems with new authors joining and then posting someone else's story.

 

I'm not for a moment suggesting that you would do that just explaining why newer members have to be validated and old hands like me don't

[Nephylim]

What on earth made you think you offended me? You certainly haven't. You were asking questions and I, being the utter nosy parker I am just jumped in and tried in my clumsy way to answer them.

 

 

I am sure that someone in authority will look at the thread and answer you properly soon. I expect they have been doing stuff over the weekend as no one seems to have been around.

 

I'm sorry if I upset you or made you think that you had offended me, you certainly didn't and I didn't get the feeling it was a 'bitch session' at all.

 

Don't worry I'm a lot harder to offend

 

I hope your story is validated soon because I am really eager to read it.

 

 

[JimCarter]

I guess I did neglect to mention that I do appreciate your responses.

 

I did know there were seperate rules on validation and I don't aruge with that, I think it is a good thing. As far as a bitch session, I was beginning to think of my post that way after a bit.

 

Where I was fearful of offending you, was that you were thoughtful enough and nice enough to offer me an explaination and I still didn't say thanks and leave it alone. If I had done a little better job of explaining that I thought it was a change that I thought the site needed it would have been better. Being a newbie, I didn't feel like I had the earned the option of just stating that. I realize now that my stating my frustration with the lack of information didn't come close to accomplishing what I intended. That in itself makes me question my writing ability.

 

Thanks again for your attention and I hope I haven't spoiled my chances of counting the resident vampire as a friend.

 

Jim

[Greedya]

@Jim - Patience is a virtue, man. I am thankful the mods work hard to ensure this site is a quality writing community. While you are waiting, why not ask around for some good stories to read? Reading a lot surely helps you write.

 

@Nephy - Should I try to offend you? You haven't bitten me yet!!! I challenge you once and for all. BITE ME. Don't you dare ask for my blood test results. Just bite me and drink my blood. *evil grins*

[JimCarter]

@Jim - Patience is a virtue, man. I am thankful the mods work hard to ensure this site is a quality writing community. While you are waiting, why not ask around for some good stories to read? Reading a lot surely helps you write.

 

I guess I am doing a piss poor job of explaining what I am trying to say. I wouldn't be impatient if I knew for sure my chapter was alive and well in the queue. Since I don't have a clue where the chapter is, I guess I could just submit it again, but think of the shit storm that would cause.

 

I am not a patient person by nature, but if I knew the story was somewhere in the 'queue' I wouldn't worry about it at all. I am told they are going to change the eFiction part of the website and hopefull it will provide us better information.

[Nephylim]

Thanks again for your attention and I hope I haven't spoiled my chances of counting the resident vampire as a friend.

 

Jim

 

Not at all

 

@Nephy - Should I try to offend you? You haven't bitten me yet!!! I challenge you once and for all. BITE ME. Don't you dare ask for my blood test results. Just bite me and drink my blood. *evil grins*

 

You have to invite me in. Considering that an invitation you had better watch out for the shadows in the night because one of them is going to have teeth

[AranaDarkwolf]

Honestly, I'm with Jim on this. There should be some kind of notification saying, "We've received your submission. Please allow 3-7 days for full review. If we have too much to do in the queue, your story may take longer to be validated. Should this occur, we will notify you of the new expected wait time." Or something to that effect. Then, keep us in the loop! Let us know when our story has been assigned to a reviewer. Tell us when it's been approved and that it may take 24-48 hours to completely process. SOMETHING. Anyway. That's just MY two cents.

[Greedya]

You have to invite me in. Considering that an invitation you had better watch out for the shadows in the night because one of them is going to have teeth

 

 

Is there a board rule prohibiting irrelevant discussions? Anyway, I invite ya. How 'bout an air ticket as a Christmas gift? I have a couple of drop bears protecting me from harmful invaders.

 

 

[Greedya]

Let us know when our story has been assigned to a reviewer. Tell us when it's been approved and that it may take 24-48 hours to completely process.

 

I think, a two-step process is sufficient. One - an automatic reply (or message on screen) that the story is added to the validation queue (and gives ya a generous time frame - say five business days?). Two - a reply informing you of the validation decision only in cases your story is rejected. If your story is approved, you don't need a notice. If you don't hear of the decision within a reasonable period of time, then you should contact a mod.

[AranaDarkwolf]

I think, a two-step process is sufficient. One - an automatic reply (or message on screen) that the story is added to the validation queue (and gives ya a generous time frame - say five business days?). Two - a reply informing you of the validation decision only in cases your story is rejected. If your story is approved, you don't need a notice. If you don't hear of the decision within a reasonable period of time, then you should contact a mod.

 

That could definitely work, too. Just like Jim said, though, some kind of message or something to keep us in the loop would be nice.

[JimCarter]

To my point, we see things being posted (I understand the queue bypass and agree with it) yet my tiny chapter has been in the queue for 5 days with no word from anyone about it. I posted a completed story and it hasn't appeared either, so I figure the queue isn't being worked, so I am not as worried that the chapter is lost anymore.

 

I think if it is going to take 5 days or longer, you should warn us that you don't work the queue very often and not to expect something any time soon.

 

Just my two cents, but I don't know how you keep new authors with that kind of service.

 

Jim

 

That could definitely work, too. Just like Jim said, though, some kind of message or something to keep us in the loop would be nice.

[TalonRider]

Graeme is the person who usually takes care of the validation process. Due to his profession, his employer sometimes sends him to client sites where he may have little to no internet access. Generally, he gets to the stories quickly.

 

Please be patient.

[JimCarter]

I understand. If a notice that the queue manager would be out of town or unavailable when something is submitted to the queue will go a long way to avoid confusion and frustration.

 

I do appreciate that someone from the administration finally weighed in on this.

 

Thanks again,

 

Jim

 

Graeme is the person who usually takes care of the validation process. Due to his profession, his employer sometimes sends him to client sites where he may have little to no internet access. Generally, he gets to the stories quickly.

 

Please be patient.

[Cia]

I spoke with Myr about this topic. He was aware of the issues with the validation process and it will be addressed in the new GA. Stories 1.0. It isn't completed yet so the exact process and the notifications authors will receive are not known to me at this point but it won't be the shot in the dark system that is in place now. Sorry I don't have more details but I can sympathize with the frustrations that were expressed here. I also wanted to make the members who have difficulties with this system know they aren't being ignored.

 

edited to add: The Administration Communications forum is available for members to post concerns or issues withe the site they might be experiencing from technical difficulties to suggestions for changes like this. Admin and mods are much more likely to respond in a timely manner if you post there rather than in a regular topic where they might not see it for several days.

Edited October 26, 2010 by Cia

[JimCarter]

Thanks very much. I really appreciate the information.

 

Jim

[Nephylim]

Nice to see that they're up at last. For me they were well worth waiting for

[JimCarter]

Nice to see that they're up at last. For me they were well worth waiting for

 

Thank you.. I try very hard to make my stories love stories with a little sex thrown in on the side. My best work can't be published here though. Those happen to be love stories about a man and teenagers. I don't know why I threw that in just did. Have a great day and thanks again.

 

Jim