rusty_halo | (no subject)

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New rule for AllAboutSpike: when someone submits a story, they can choose from two options if I decide to reject it. Option one: I don't inform them at all. Option two: I reply with "No thanks." That's the only explanation they'll get. They can choose which they'd prefer when they fill out the story submission form.

I'm no longer sending detailed explanations as to why I reject stories. If I'm going to keep running the site (which is still kind of up in the air right now) I need to get rid of the aspects that send me into the kind of stressed out panic that makes me never want to turn on my computer again. And this is definitely one of those.

I'm so sick of the rude, angry, bitter, and/or on-the-surface-polite-but-underhandedly-pissed passive-agressive responses that I receive just about every time I reject a story. I feel bad because a few writers have told me that they appreciated my detailed explanations, but I can't do it anymore. I have several hundred stories to sort through; do you have any idea how much time it would take me to 1) read every story thoroughly, 2) analyze all the reasons why I don't like it, 3) write all those reasons down in a way that is clear, detailed, and polite, 4) debate back and forth with the author as to whether my reasons *really* apply to their story? I'd never get *anything* done. And look, I know, when you create something it's precious to you and it hurts to hear it criticized, but I can't archive *every single story* that gets sent to me! And ultimately it's not worth putting my time and effort into something that will only serve as an excuse for someone to bash me/demand that I remove all her stories from my site/announce that she'll never allow any of her stories on my site in the future.

Yeah, I know, I'm whining again, but on the plus side, I found a solution. Hopefully this will help me get over the mental block that has prevented me from even *looking* at the "Recommended Stories" folder in my email box lately.

I should also mention that it's really no fun to carry two heavy bags of groceries up six flights of stairs in swelteringly hot weather because the elevator that you're paying insane amounts of money for isn't working AGAIN. So that may have affected my mood a little bit when writing this post.

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Oh, chica. You sound like you need an iced coffee, a working elevator, and possibly a neck massage. Or maybe another squib of fic. Sorry--I've been busy. More squib soon.

And I'll just leave this nice iced coffee right here on the end table, for when you want it.

Well, brava to you for running the site in the first place and accepting submissions; many sites are invitation only.

Stick to your guns chickadee: you are doing the Net & Netizens a favor, and no one has the right to make you feel like crap for going out of your way to be nice. Heck, the world should be deeply grateful, if for no other reason than you are *much* nicer than I would be in your shoes.

New rule for AllAboutSpike...And ultimately it's not worth putting my time and effort into something that will only serve as an excuse for someone to bash me/demand that I remove all her stories from my site/announce that she'll never allow any of her stories on my site in the future.

Definitely sounds like a plan.

Yeah, I know, I'm whining again, but on the plus side, I found a solution. Hopefully this will help me get over the mental block that has prevented me from even *looking* at the "Recommended Stories" folder in my email box lately.

I should also mention that it's really no fun to carry two heavy bags of groceries up six flights of stairs in swelteringly hot weather because the elevator that you're paying insane amounts of money for isn't working AGAIN. So that may have affected my mood a little bit when writing this post.

Ack. You need a foot-rub, girl. Go grab some family member or trusted mate of yours! & :-)

Sounds like a good rejection process idea to me. Hope you end up doing this. The less stress for you the better!:D

You do what you need to do. Personally I want you to do whatever it is you need to do to keep up the archive because I think it's the best one out there. I know when I go to your site whatever fic I read will be wellwritten, thought-provoking and lovely on some level. I never have to wade through any crap.

So, whatever it takes for you to keep the bastards from getting you down I say you do.

Sorry that this hasn't been fun for you lately. Keep your chin up and do what you need to do.

You don't owe anybody an explanation. They're not paying you, are they? No. So, nope, no explanation required. If I may be so bold, they owe you an explanation. They should explain why you should archive their stories, and there are some basics that should be a given. But ultimately, you don't Owe. Anybody. One. Fucking. Thing. It's your damned website, right? Are they paying you? Well, I didn't think so. Really, they're the ones that should be feeling bad. I keep telling you, turn the uppity ones over to me. They won't know what hit 'em.

Six Flooors?! Where the hell do you live? Moscow?! Babe, I'm wishing for air conditioning for you right now. Plus a working lift.

My condolences over all the cold pricklies people are giving you. I think your plan to come up with a basic formulaic response is perfectly logical and justified. There's a reason publishing companies and agents and the like have those, you know. It would be positively soul-numbing to have to respond to every person in detail.

It's your archive, and your webspace. I say do what you want.

I'm with everyone else. Your site, your way or the highway. I'd really hate to see it come down. Your rejection letters are things to prize as they're miracles of detailed f/b but they must be incredibly time consuming and there's not the slightest reason why you should do them. If someone's going to get pissed off after those letters, they're the type that would get on their high horse if someone said 'good morning' the wrong way.

And the groceries? Been there. It's exhausting. Cool bath, long cold drink and pamper yourself ::hugs::

Laura, All About Spike is one of the strongest and diverse archives on the net. Kudos to you for screen all the fic and really maintaining such a high standard. Honestly, I didn't know you could submit. I thought it was by invite only. (needless to say I was tickled when you asked to archive my stuff)

Anyhow, you get to run it however you want. That's the beauty of being the sole archivist. And, seriously, you don't need a long winded letter explaining your rejections. Don't let people make you feel bad for your decisions. Stick to your guns, sunshine!

Never forget that it's your site. You have to explain yourself to nobody. I really hope that you continue to keep this site because it's very unique. It's obvious that you put a lot of hard work into it, and it has a well-earned reputation of high quality.

You certainly don't have to put energy and time into arguing about what you want on you site and what not. And you should certainly not stress yourself over it.
I think the new submission system is a good idea. You might even want to get that far that you don't accept people submitting their own stories. Instead you could set it as a premise, that you only consider a rec by another person, this way you don't have to be confronted with the author if that's a problem for you, but that's just an idea.
The main thing is, that you never forget that you don't have to justify yourself for denying a story/author.

six floors?!
::hands you an ice tea::

What they all said. You're within your rights to reject without apology or explanation. And as I told you the other day, your site is beautiful and wonderful; please don't let the rudies get to you. You're a star of this fandom.

So that may have affected my mood a little bit when writing this post

Well, I'll have a bit of Spike-fic for your birthday on Saturday, so hopefully that will cheer you up. :)

That sounds like a really good solution, Laura.

Fic? Always good. So good. And I appreciate it very much. (But please don't feel obligated or anything.)

Mmmm ... *enjoys iced coffee*

You're always giving me yummy food stuff. Someday I'm going to have to make it up to you by baking brownies for you, or cookies, or maybe a cake ....

Thanks. :)

I really do try to be nice. I worry, though, that I'm getting so stressed out that I start to get snippy or rude. It's probably just best to just cut out that aspect entirely and make it a simply "yes" or "no"; much harder for people to argue, and also saves me time. (And yeah, the site was *meant* to be invite only originally ... but then people wanted to submit stuff, and I thought it would be nice to set up a form ... )

You need a foot-rub, girl. Go grab some family member or trusted mate of yours!

Heh, I wish! Besides, if I had family nearby, I would've made *them* carry the groceries up the stairs in the first place....

But thanks! :)

Definitely doing this. Changed the webpage and everything. Hope people understand...

Thanks!

Thanks! I'm really glad you like the site. I do definitely want to focus on the actual finding stories and archiving them, and less on the extraneous details. Hopefully this will help me get back on track. :)

Thank you. That means so much, especially coming from you. I appreciate it a lot; I hope I expressed that in person when we talked.

Just have to mention: I LOVE your icon. Yummy.

Also: Just finished reading "Disenchantment." Wow! May I archive it? I'm so glad that you were inspired to write something long again. It was definitely worth the wait. I liked your more mature Buffy, and although I dislike the idea of human Spike, I was getting into it despite myself. And then the end was just awesome. :)

Oooh,

harmonyfb fic! Yay. :) Looking forward very much. Definitely cheers me up.

*guzzles ice tea*

Mmmm ... thank you. I have my air conditioner on high and it's still too hot in here. Stupid top floor; all the heat in the building gathers in this room.

Thanks for the feedback!

I'm hesitant to disallow submissions, because I've found some really lovely gems that way. (Gems hidden among a lot of, uh, not-gems, but still.) I really try to find new or less-known authors intead of just archiving fic that everyone's already aware of or that has already gotten recognition. I worry that disallowing submissions would limit that too much and might make my site a bit too elitist. I'm really hoping that, if I do it this way, it'll be a lot less time consuming and I won't get so many authors upset at me. Here's hoping.

Thank you again!

Hehe, thanks. Okay, next fic writer that throws an immature hissy fit, I'm siccing you on 'em. :)

I live in NYC. East Village. Love it here ... mostly. My apartment is on the top floor of a six story building, so all the heat gathers in here. The A/C isn't doing much, but it's better than nothing. It's usually not so bad when the elevator works, but lately the elevator breaks when you so much as breathe on it wrong.

Thanks. :)

Thanks, Jane! I appreciate it a lot.

I know I still owe you fic responses too. I'm planning to sit down and read through everything on your site, I just haven't had a chance yet. But it's on my list, and I'm really looking forward to catching up with everything. (Also I'm really enjoying the current S/X WIP).

Thanks, Kelly. I appreciate it.

AllAboutSpike was originally invite only, but a few people asked if they could submit stories, so I decided to set up a form to make it easy (and to make sure I got the correct information and didn't have to go asking them for all the little details like summary and rating and all). It's mostly still invite only; I read lots of fic and ask if I can archive the ones I like. I've just added the submissions to the fic that I already read, and if I find something good it saves me the trouble of having to ask. Although I haven't been keeping up with it so well lately; there's something like 300 unanswered messages in that folder...

Speaking of your stuff, are you still writing? I haven't seen anything from you in ages. I really love the stories that you've written.

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