What do we want to survey for FKFicFest this year?

[brightknightie]

Early in February, I'll post the annual pre-fkficfest poll. What do we want to learn from that poll this year? (Here are recent game polls.)

Obviously, we need to know whether anyone wants to play! And we should consider how many players, minimum, support a successful game. So: Players. Challenge or exchange. Schedules. Length. Crossovers or not (and how to make that option work better for more people, if retained). How fast to release the stories. Whether to invite visual artists. More?

Last year's game was wonderful in many ways, and I'm grateful to everyone who played! Just look at all the delightful FK stories! But last year wasn't the most successful in attracting players, winning feedback for writers, or making satisfying request/offer matches. Something went wrong. It must be my fault. I've been thinking about it a lot ever since. I don't want to repeat mistakes. This post should allow anonymous comments, in case someone needs that to speak up (it's okay if you do!). You can also PM or email me.

Please do come back to this post and share ideas as they occur to you over the next few weeks. Thanks!

Comments

[greerwatson]

Well, I certainly intend to play—if you hold the exchange, which I hope you do.

Last year quite a few people signed up at the very last moment. (Indeed, after the last moment, since you extended the deadline.) Clearly these are people who were willing to play: either they didn't get word that the exchange was on, or they missed reminders of the deadline. Are there more venues in which it could be "advertised"?

It strikes me that feedback is, to some degree, dependent on the number of players. I mean, most initial feedback comes from one's fellows, who read the stories as they go up. We did have fewer players; so that may account for part of it.

[brightknightie]

Last year, the people who signed up late were subscribed to FKFicFest itself. One had overlooked reminders. The others changed their minds after the last minute, in very generous kindness, because we were so short of players.

Last year, I advertised the fest on ForKni-L, Fandom Calendar, Last_Rites, Oldschoolfic and Femme_fic, and relentlessly on my own journal. I'd be glad to receive recommendations of more appropriate venues in which to promote it this year, but I don't myself have the ability to promote it on Twitter or Tumblr or Facebook. All players are invited to promote it everywhere they think appropriate!

If we play, I can perhaps send one broadcast email to past players, hoping to reach people who no longer use DW, LJ or the list.

[lightbird]

Hi. I hope you don't mind me jumping in here and commenting. I'm an FK fan who is always interested in more fanworks, and someone pointed me to your journal as a way to keep up on new stuff. So I'm subscribed. :)

In addition to the communities you mentioned, there are a couple of other places here on DW where you might promote the fest should it happen again - and I hope it does. I don't have the chops to write for this fandom so I'm hesitant to play, but I do enjoy reading the fics that go up and rec them where I can, as well as leaving kudos and comments. :)

Some comms where you might promote if you haven't already:

dw_community_promo
fandom_on_dw

Also, you may want to check with the mods of communities like smallfandomfics. I believe that one in particular allows people to promote other comms, but maybe double check. There is a forever knight tag on there, so it definitely qualifies. Also shes_awesome for fics focused on female characters. You may also check in with the mods of the various bingo comms, as lots of people like to cross fill challenges.

[brightknightie]

You're very, very welcome to comment!

Thank you very much for all those detailed recommendations. I'll follow up on each one, assuming that people vote to play this year.

(And please don't hesitate to play yourself, if you're at all tempted! The only "chops" needed are loving FK. We almost always run the full spectrum from tiny to gigantic stories, and from barely remembering to encyclopedically nit-picking canon. It's all good FK! ~grin~)

[pj1228]

Yay, thanks for taking this on again.

More?
I think the poll as you list it covers all important aspects.

attracting players
fandom_stocking uncovered an unexpected number of FK requests, some from people I haven't heard of before (or didn't recognize by their DW name). I don't klnow if Fandom Stocking allows advertising, but that might be worthwhile. Or maybe send messages to those who requested FK directly.

I could post an advertisement on the yahoo UF list, but I frankly don't know if anyone is reading that at all anymore. Would be terrific to attract some Ufers though. Would definitely facilitate matching.;)

I'm on facebook, but I rather use that venue for RL topics, and not so much for fandom. Those FK friends that are linked to me are on ForKNi-L anyway and would receive the announcement via that platform.

[brightknightie]

>" Or maybe send messages to those who requested FK directly."

That's a very good idea! I think that the personal touch may be our best bet.