Aphelion

Posted: **September 30, 2011, 06:39:35 PM**

We are hoping to get the October issue up by around Columbus Day (Canadian Thanksgiving -- October 10th for our readers outside North America). That means that easy access to September stories and poems will end in a little over a week! Time to roll up your eyelids and put your fingers to the keyboard -- TWENTY SEVEN COMMENTS hardly seems like enough incentive for the Editors and contributing authors to keep donating blood, sweat, and other bodily fluids that you probably don't want to know about every month.

:cry:

Posted: **October 05, 2011, 05:52:01 PM**

I work a bit erratically in cycles, but here comes some comments!

Posted: **October 06, 2011, 11:11:46 AM**

I am running behind (now THERE's a shock), so the new issue might not flip until around the 11th or 12th... which means that there is STILL TIME to rack up a few more comments. Seriously: 33?? If tight for time, the authors might appreciate even a short note that says "I read it -- it was (a) great! (b) okay. (c) lacking <fill in the blank>". At least that way they wouldn't feel they were playing to an empty theater.

Posted: **October 06, 2011, 11:37:47 AM**

Maybe our stories/poems and rants were okay and busy people read them, enjoyed and then went about their business.

Sometimes I click, look, and go. I'm busy, lazy, or otherwise. If I really like the piece I will usually print it out so I can read it at my convenience and preferred location.

I love to hear, and yes I do wonder sometimes if there is anyone out there other than the usual bunch of suspects.

I keep pointing people to the site.

Let's blame bottom boozer. That's it ,a scapegoat, we need a scape goat.

RT

Posted: **October 06, 2011, 12:46:18 PM**

rick tornello wrote:Maybe our stories/poems and rants were okay and busy people read them, enjoyed and then went about their business.

Sometimes I click, look, and go. I'm busy, lazy, or otherwise. If I really like the piece I will usually print it out so I can read it at my convenience and preferred location.

I love to hear, and yes I do wonder sometimes if there is anyone out there other than the usual bunch of suspects.

I keep pointing people to the site.

Let's blame bottom boozer. That's it ,a scapegoat, we need a scape goat.

RT

A certain party blamed the unending influx of spam posts (although I clean 'em out several times a day), pointing to Bottomdweller's remarks on why she started a topic "plugging her work" outside of the existing Administrivia topic. But Bottomdweller was only trying to be sure that people saw her announcement (which might be hidden if the "latest unread post" in Administrivia was spam). She continues to post comments in the current month's folder (for which thank you, Michele) as much as or more than anyone else.

Maybe it's an "embarassment of riches" thing. Maybe we should publish fewer stories each month so the ones that are published have a better chance of being read and receiving feedback...

Opinions?

RM

Posted: **October 06, 2011, 02:11:30 PM**

Maybe it's an "embarassment of riches" thing. Maybe we should publish fewer stories each month so the ones that are published have a better chance of being read and receiving feedback...

Opinions?

Taken to its ultimate end, that way lies Clarkesworld. Two pieces per month, of scintillating quality. And probably no more feedback than we're currently getting.

Would Aphelionites ever become so elitist? I certainly hope not. I would like this site to remain a place for new writers to learn lessons. We're nothing so pretty as a showcase for a few stars, and I think that's a good thing.

Hell, one of Mark's complaints was not getting enough new writers; let's keep encouraging them.

Posted: **October 06, 2011, 05:15:59 PM**

I like the open nature of the Zine. The editor does a great job, and I'm not ass kissing, I mean it.

I write comments when I'm driven to by the content or some comment, as witnessed here.

I'm going to guess that a number of people read this but are really busy with their lives. And, additionally, that they probably appreciate all the editors efforts as well as the constant flow of writing.

Nobody like a letter writer but an author and a mother. How many of you wit to your mothers?

RT

Posted: **October 06, 2011, 05:45:46 PM**

Robert_Moriyama wrote:Maybe it's an "embarassment of riches" thing. Maybe we should publish fewer stories each month so the ones that are published have a better chance of being read and receiving feedback...

Opinions?

RM

As said below, def. keep having the space not to turn too many writers down! If we went "elitist" then we'd just lose writers!

I am def. swayed by preference, some stories really inspire me, but if I'm just not into some tale, I let it be. The varied choice is important for me to have a better chance of at least a couple perfect evenings - when I am tired I go for the lighter ones, other days I grapple with a meaty one.

Speaking of the Spam issue, a system that works pretty well on another forum is "First Post goes to an editor to approve". That would instantly stop the Power-Spammers cold because they slam the whole zine before a mod can undo them. The odds of a legit first post (pushed live by a mod) and THEN powerbombing us is FAR less.

Posted: **October 06, 2011, 05:51:46 PM**

TaoPhoenix wrote:
Robert_Moriyama wrote:Maybe it's an "embarassment of riches" thing. Maybe we should publish fewer stories each month so the ones that are published have a better chance of being read and receiving feedback...

Opinions?

RM

As said below, def. keep having the space not to turn too many writers down! If we went "elitist" then we'd just lose writers!

I am def. swayed by preference, some stories really inspire me, but if I'm just not into some tale, I let it be. The varied choice is important for me to have a better chance of at least a couple perfect evenings - when I am tired I go for the lighter ones, other days I grapple with a meaty one.

Speaking of the Spam issue, a system that works pretty well on another forum is "First Post goes to an editor to approve". That would instantly stop the Power-Spammers cold because they slam the whole zine before a mod can undo them. The odds of a legit first post (pushed live by a mod) and THEN powerbombing us is FAR less.

Here's a time-saving hint: the Short Stories are usually listed in descending order by length. So that bottom-of-the-list piece will only take a few minutes to read... (Rick will like that, as his entry this month will probably BE the shortest.) The gravitas rating, on the other hand, does not necessarily match the length -- you could get a 7,499 word farce, or a soul-crushingly depressing flash piece...

RM

Posted: **October 06, 2011, 06:09:47 PM**

Robert_Moriyama wrote:Here's a time-saving hint: the Short Stories are usually listed in descending order by length. So that bottom-of-the-list piece will only take a few minutes to read... (Rick will like that, as his entry this month will probably BE the shortest.) The gravitas rating, on the other hand, does not necessarily match the length -- you could get a 7,499 word farce, or a soul-crushingly depressing flash piece...

RM

That's amazing that there's a strategy! I never knew that!

However gravitas usually shows up in about 2 paragraphs. Any story set in an office is automatically not High Fantasy, and not *normally* Space Opera, so it has a better than even chance of being light with a sparkle.

Posted: **October 07, 2011, 08:13:04 PM**

Robert_Moriyama wrote:We are hoping to get the October issue up by around Columbus Day (Canadian Thanksgiving -- October 10th for our readers outside North America). That means that easy access to September stories and poems will end in a little over a week! Time to roll up your eyelids and put your fingers to the keyboard -- TWENTY SEVEN COMMENTS hardly seems like enough incentive for the Editors and contributing authors to keep donating blood, sweat, and other bodily fluids that you probably don't want to know about every month.

Lemme ask an Imprudent Question.

Is there any particular "policy" reason that stories have to "blank out" once the current issue flips?

I have been debating hosting Mirrors of stories on my free webhosting mirrors. I just got a question the other day wondering about what happens when stories vanish from Flip.

I have held my tongue for a while out of etiquette, but with this leadoff comment, I think it's at least a fair question for public knowledge.

Posted: **October 08, 2011, 01:41:08 AM**

TaoPhoenix wrote:
Robert_Moriyama wrote:We are hoping to get the October issue up by around Columbus Day (Canadian Thanksgiving -- October 10th for our readers outside North America). That means that easy access to September stories and poems will end in a little over a week! Time to roll up your eyelids and put your fingers to the keyboard -- TWENTY SEVEN COMMENTS hardly seems like enough incentive for the Editors and contributing authors to keep donating blood, sweat, and other bodily fluids that you probably don't want to know about every month.

Lemme ask an Imprudent Question.

Is there any particular "policy" reason that stories have to "blank out" once the current issue flips?

I have been debating hosting Mirrors of stories on my free webhosting mirrors. I just got a question the other day wondering about what happens when stories vanish from Flip.

I have held my tongue for a while out of etiquette, but with this leadoff comment, I think it's at least a fair question for public knowledge.

They're not gone...if we were up to date on the "Back Issues Index", you would be able to access them based on the month / issue number. Unfortunately, that's one of the "when I get around to it" tasks that have been neglected. (The Author Index, of course, is much worse. It's now about 7 YEARS behind...)

If I get some time and energy to spare, I will try to add at least a few issues to the Back Issues Index page (he said, nodding offzzzzzzz)

Posted: **October 08, 2011, 07:31:43 AM**

Robert_Moriyama wrote: (The Author Index, of course, is much worse. It's now about 7 YEARS behind...)

I've been thinking about that, I understand how unwieldy 700 author pages are...

What about a Wiki? Then the index is a "static link" and the wiki can get updated granularly, especially with custom requests.

One of the free hosts I talk to had a blank wiki up pretty fast, so with someone as sizzling as WebMaven (melodrama!) it should be a piece of cake for him.

Posted: **October 12, 2011, 10:13:56 PM**

... should be going live in the next day or so (maybe as early as TONIGHT). Any more comments on September???

Posted: **October 13, 2011, 12:10:30 AM**

Robert_Moriyama wrote:A certain party blamed the unending influx of spam posts (although I clean 'em out several times a day), pointing to Bottomdweller's remarks on why she started a topic "plugging her work" outside of the existing Administrivia topic. But Bottomdweller was only trying to be sure that people saw her announcement (which might be hidden if the "latest unread post" in Administrivia was spam). She continues to post comments in the current month's folder (for which thank you, Michele) as much as or more than anyone else.

Maybe it's an "embarassment of riches" thing. Maybe we should publish fewer stories each month so the ones that are published have a better chance of being read and receiving feedback...

Opinions?

RM

I found that party to be wise and extremely understanding of the problem at hand. But mysteriously, his comments just dissappeared into thin air. Such is the way of those who point out flaws for correction, when the effort involved to fix the problems exceed the will to do it!

The lack of interest in participating in the forum can be attributed to several things:

A.) The monthly issues "need" to come out the same day every month, preferably on the 1st, when everyone would normally expect a new edition to be published. The audience needs to count on the reliability factor, so they are not hunting for each new publication, checking back several times a month until loosing interest.

B.) Other forums must have this problem too and so someone representing the management of Aphelion should contact other sites with forums and ask what they do to fix their problem with spam. Answers can be had and are out there.

Tao's idea is a good one, being the first post must be sent to an editor first before posting to the forum at will.

It's not right that Robert has to shoulder 90% of the load removing spam, especially when a fix can be had with some information and adjustments to the sign ups.

C.) There needs to be new staff appointed to handle the workload of new jobs like new membership, site promotions etc.

Spread out the workload! That's probably the fear of screening new members, that the work will be heaped upon someone who is already doing a lot!

D.) Once the spam is fixed and the issues are out on time every month, work can be done to promote the site online with writing groups and reader circles, who would love what is going on here, but currently not aware of this work.

(If anyone wants to crucify the messenger, I'm sure any hardware store would make them a deal on lumber and nails.)

ME (That is code for Mark Edgemon)

Posted: **October 13, 2011, 12:26:33 AM**

Mark Edgemon wrote:
Robert_Moriyama wrote:A certain party blamed the unending influx of spam posts (although I clean 'em out several times a day), pointing to Bottomdweller's remarks on why she started a topic "plugging her work" outside of the existing Administrivia topic. But Bottomdweller was only trying to be sure that people saw her announcement (which might be hidden if the "latest unread post" in Administrivia was spam). She continues to post comments in the current month's folder (for which thank you, Michele) as much as or more than anyone else.

Maybe it's an "embarassment of riches" thing. Maybe we should publish fewer stories each month so the ones that are published have a better chance of being read and receiving feedback...

Opinions?

RM

I found that party to be wise and extremely understanding of the problem at hand. But mysteriously, his comments just dissappeared into thin air. Such is the way of those who point out flaws for correction, when the effort involved to fix the problems exceed the will to do it! ...

ME (That is code for Mark Edgemon)

The sage's comments were deleted because they actually served to keep the spam on the site as they quoted the original sposts (even if the spam posts contained no links, the quoted versions presumably would 'count' in search engine terms). Would I be correct in assuming that the sage is volunteering to be Head Bouncer, Velvet Rope Guardian, etc.?

Posted: **October 13, 2011, 01:44:04 AM**

Robert_Moriyama wrote:The sage's comments were deleted because they actually served to keep the spam on the site as they quoted the original sposts (even if the spam posts contained no links, the quoted versions presumably would 'count' in search engine terms).

Would I be correct in assuming that the sage is volunteering to be Head Bouncer, Velvet Rope Guardian, etc.?

If the position had more respect than the offer made...I believe I could talk him into it.

(It would be contingent upon getting him down from the Himalayan Mountains, where he is currently dispensing wisdom in Shangri-La.)

Posted: **October 13, 2011, 05:48:50 PM**

That wisdom come in eight-ounce glasses? 'Cos I could do with some...

Posted: **October 13, 2011, 06:04:00 PM**

Wormtongue wrote:That wisdom come in eight-ounce glasses? 'Cos I could do with some...

I think we could all use a shot glass of it every now and then!

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