Anthology Poll - Please Vote!

[Renee Stevens]

This poll is for both authors and readers. Please share your thoughts with me.

 

When @Cia did her last newsletter story fun for Halloween, she posted the stories slowly over a few weeks. There were some comments at that time, that some really liked spreading out the publishing of the stories and wished we'd do that for the anthologies. I actually think that's a good idea, and here's why:

 

• Story update list wouldn't get flooded and immediately knock off some of the anthology stories
• Readers wouldn't be overwhelmed by the release of so many stories
• In the past, some anthology entries don't get commented on as much due to the sheer number of stories to comment on
• Stories would be posted in order received, so no more need to try and come up with a title that will put your story closer to the top or bottom and out of the middle of the pack (middle of the pack stories tend to be the ones least commented on)
• More promotion of the anthology: each "set" would get it's own Thursday blog post, mention in the wrap up, mention in the newsletter, and I'd possibly start a topic in the anthology forum that would also contain the links to the stories as they went live.
• After all stories have been published, there would be a final anthology wrap up listing all of the stories for anyone who missed the weekly posts.

 

The way this would work is that authors would do like they already do. When it comes time to publish the anthology, I'd see how many there are and then decide whether to go with 3 weeks or 4 weeks for that anthology. I'd divide the total number by the number of weeks and then publish that many stories each week until they're all posted. For examples:

 

• 12 stories - Posted over 4 weeks, with 3 stories posting per week
• 9 stories - Posted over 3 weeks, with 3 stories posting per week
• 11 stories - Posted over 4 weeks, with 3 stories posting per week, one week would only have 2 stories

 

So, there you have it. What do you all think?

 

 

[Mikiesboy]

Great idea .. i put a link to this in the DiC.  Thanks Renee!!

[Renee Stevens]

9 minutes ago, Mikiesboy said:

Great idea .. i put a link to this in the DiC.  Thanks Renee!!

Thanks, tim!!!!

[northie]

I don't have much time for reading, so I feel swamped when all the antho entries come out together. Some of the stories can be quite long (10k +) and I want to do them justice before I comment. I also think that authors not taking part must feel aggrieved that their story is washed downstream by the influx of so many stories.

Edited November 2, 2018 by northie

[Brayon]

Voted... and it's not even Tuesday, November 6th. LOL.

 

For much of the same reasons as Northie stated, I chose the spread option. I know where some of the Newsletter stories I've been a part of, I didn't always find the stories of the other participants because of the flooding, and then other non-participating authors who posted as well.

[Puppilull]

I was one of the commentators on Cia's choice to spread out posting and I think it is a good way to let antho stories get the space they deserve without drowning out all other writers. I think a three a week policy with a concluding wrap up is a splendid idea. 

[Reader1810]

I like them all at once, because I don’t have time to read them all when they first come out or in bits and pieces, so I book mark the list. That way, I know I’ll never miss any, because they’re all right in front of me. 

 

Edit: Besides that, they are part of a group and it’s nice to have them presented that way. 

 

Edited November 2, 2018 by Reader1810

[Headstall]

I can see both sides. I like the idea of spreading them out, but there is also something special about seeing the entries grouped together. And it is convenient as long as there is a easy and visible link present for the Anthology that doesn't disappear too soon, since it can take quite a while to get to all of them. I suppose you could do both, adding each new group to an Anthology umbrella like there has been in the past, and having a link to the Anthology at the top of each page, similar to the Anthology Poll banner. Just my thoughts... I'm fine with either way.  

[Renee Stevens]

1 hour ago, Reader1810 said:

I like them all at once, because I don’t have time to read them all when they first come out or in bits and pieces, so I book mark the list. 

 

There would still be a “master list” (for lack of a better term), it would just come at the end, after they’re all published. There would be a master list in both the blog and the anthology forum.

 

I do do see your point about the group thing, but I do think that breaking them up would be worth the potential of greater feedback for the authors that participate. 

 

I know we’ve had authors in the past that quit doing the anthologies because they felt their story got lost in all the other stories. That’s one the things I hope a different way of posting would fix. 

 

3 hours ago, BHopper2 said:

Voted... and it's not even Tuesday, November 6th. LOL.

 

For much of the same reasons as Northie stated, I chose the spread option. I know where some of the Newsletter stories I've been a part of, I didn't always find the stories of the other participants because of the flooding, and then other non-participating authors who posted as well.

 

3 hours ago, northie said:

I don't have much time for reading, so I feel swamped when all the antho entries come out together. Some of the stories can be quite long (10k +) and I want to do them justice before I comment. I also think that authors not taking part must feel aggrieved that their story is washed downstream by the influx of so many stories.

 

3 hours ago, Puppilull said:

I was one of the commentators on Cia's choice to spread out posting and I think it is a good way to let antho stories get the space they deserve without drowning out all other writers. I think a three a week policy with a concluding wrap up is a splendid idea. 

 

 

I agree. I get messages every anthology from people asking when it’s going to go live so that they don’t post their stories right before.

[Reader1810]

1 hour ago, Renee Stevens said:

There would still be a “master list” (for lack of a better term), it would just come at the end, after they’re all published. There would be a master list in both the blog and the anthology forum.

Well, then, that’s me settled.  

I do see what you mean about spreading out the release of each anthology entry, though. Very sensible approach. 

Can I change my vote?  

[Renee Stevens]

4 minutes ago, Reader1810 said:

Well, then, that’s me settled.  

I do see what you mean about spreading out the release of each anthology entry, though. Very sensible approach. 

Can I change my vote?  

 

Did you vote up top? I don't see your vote....

[Myr]

We will do a better job of promoting them no matter what, starting with the one due in less than 2 weeks

 

[Reader1810]

1 hour ago, Renee Stevens said:

 

Did you vote up top? I don't see your vote....

Oops, I did vote, but I forgot to press submit.