cap_ironman | Details on Rules and Suggestions

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Details on Rules and Suggestions

Happy New Year Fandom!

We are super excited about all of the activity on the comm and about all of the challenges that are coming up and going on! We also want to commend

kijikun for her start of the Tales of Suspense Wiki! Please all go there and add some info to our boys! :D

As Mods, we're beginning to get our bearings with the organization of the comm and we've been open with you about how you wish to arrange things and the time spent on fics and art and posts. Our goal, as always, is to keep things fun and friendly here and avoid any dramalama.

However, part of this does mean that occasionally we receive PM's regarding concerns or issues about the comm as a whole and we've received an increased number lately all related to the same issues - as we decide how to engineer the rules and guidelines of our comm to adjust to these concerns (any suggestions are of course encouraged), we've also sent out PM's to a few people.

THEY are not in trouble as it is our responsibility as Mods to set appropriate guidelines and we admittedly have not yet - We love each and every one of the members here at cap_ironman and want everyone to know this is not meant to be mean. Again, if anyone has any concerns please feel free to PM

pandanoai or

axolotl_lan or you can even leave an anonymous comment here.

Please read over the new and improved profile page (

miriel is a goddess and helped us revamp it). Also,

kijikun will be posting a "how to" for what we encourage Fic Posts to include, soon. Be on the look out for a "how to" Art Post down the line as well. :D

Please don’t hesitate to toss rule suggestions our way so we can see what fits into our fandom best and all enjoy the comm, and of course, our boys. <3

Thank you all!~

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Something called a 500word rule thing has been brought up to us as to whether people should consider a beta if a fic is over 500 words, it probably will not be made universally upheld but the suggestion was good opinions? I know betas are hard to find this rule would mainly only impact those whose grammar spelling writing is especially in need of a beta.

I do know that rule is sacrosanct in the larger fandoms. It does make sense, but good betas - as in, ones that you can actually click with (because writing fic and betaing it is very much a collaboration) are rather difficult to find. Then, since some of us are on a six hour difference *whistles *. But yeah, that rule is a good one, really.

Even supposedly 'crack fic' would benefit from getting an once over. There's nothing more offputting than reading fic that should have probably stayed on file, or in a scratch pad until it became better.

Sometimes for post UNDER 500. *whistles*

But yeah, time difference can be an issue, but I think if we can ask a little patience of everyone, we can make out okay (and so can Cap and Tony [stop the puns brain!]).

So, yeah...

It doesn't have to be deep bone tissue massaging of the work, but a fresh pair of eyes can snag on to stuff that the writer's eyes can't. But getting a beta is hard.

*whines*

So I tend to self edit, which means printing out stuff, going through it with a green ink pen, putting it down for a few days and then coming back to it.

I mean, I'm loath to say what should be included or not, because a lot of stuff (apart from basic grammar) is a matter of style and presentation, which thrills some people, and turns off others.

For instance, nothing gets me to backspace quicker than dialogue only 'fic', because people don't tend to realise that since you're writing/ narrating, you the writer have to do a lot of heavy lifting for the reader and no, descriptors do not count.

You have to set place, pace, describe, because you don't have a penciller nor letterer nor inker.

I've been waiting to do a post about writing fanfic from a comic book/heavily visual medium for ages, but I'm lazy. I should hop to it and post in my LJ though.

Why not just include a mandatory list in the header that says
'Beta Read? (y/n)'

You know
Title
Author
Rating
Character
Beta read (y/n)
Notes
whatever whatever
etc

That way people still have the option of not using a beta of they are ~~stupid enough~~ good enough writers not to use one, but we on the comm know this before we opt to read the fic.

So if people hate unbetad fic they just you know skip that one.
(honestly for me it's never been a big thing ^^)

That strikes me as an easier solution than working out when we should use one and when we shouldn't.

Just a thought on mhy part because forcing people to get betas seems a bit odd to me, even though personally with my spelling I'd never EVER post a fic here over 100 words that wasn't beta read at least casually.

ETA
personally with my spelling I'd never EVER post a fic here over 100 words that wasn't beta read at least casually.

Let me add 'unless I co-write it with Elly'
She kinda serves as co-writer and editor on those.

Edited 2009-01-06 17:16 (UTC)

I don't really think of it as forcing anyone to get a beta. It's just a suggestion that they do. And I agree with the idea of the Beta: (y/n) column.

Oh *whew* ok.

*L*
I thought that's where this was headed and I was like but but, people's right to suck if they want to! You can't infringe on that.
(kidding of course ,though I did misunderstand)

I know beta read or not beta read is as big a factor in choosing fics to read as character pairings, at least ofr some of my friends, so it seemed like something to list. ^__^

(or make it a mandatory warning to list if the fic is not beta read j/k )

Yeah, I don't read that many unbeta-ed works unless I know the author's previous work.

I tend to go for edited by it self or beta. As long as it looks like some time went into correcting errors, I'm good.

So If someone says unbetaed I don't worry too much, but if it sucks they go on my mental list of "author's to be wary of."

I think that's the visual artist in me though. Betas are not as common in that arena, though they do exist.

yeah, we'd never FORCE any one to get a beta. we encourage it... but i do think that the addition of a "beta y/n" line would be a good idea.

As a writer and a comic-creator, I personally have to have the descriptions in writing to see the scene. I get why people just do dialogue, but I'm very much a visualist and the connection of words into photographs in my mind to express a story properly.

It can be a little difficult to just post on the comm asking for a beta, especially if you've never contributed - feels like asking for something before you've given anything back, you know?

But it can make what you do contribute that much better for the effort of stepping outside the comfort zone, as well.

Oh, I don't deny that getting a fic beta'd is probably going to improve it - just saying that making betas compulsory may discourage new authors.

::nods:: i don't think we'll make it mandatory-- but i do think that adding a "has your fic been betaed?" line might be a good idea

I actually like the rule of scans daily where, if you don't have anything directly related to the comm to contribute you have to include a comic book scan in order to meet the guidelines of the post. It also makes the page not look so 'dead', so it's worth the click for everyone.

For example, although it's a comics forum, people report movie news as well, as well as interviews with writers. For 'legality' you tend to throw in a comic scan, in keeping with the theme of the comm.

It helps in that, you keep the comm on track (comics images) while getting your news in.

So, for this comm if anyone did like, one random sketch, or small drabbles or something *minor*, you can either scan an image or one comic panel or page related to either Rogers or Stark? (be it movie, cartoon, or any comic in the MU).

It helps in that it adds to the knowledge banks for all members, and you might discover a new artist that you like.

I also wish that writers would post their fic here at the comm (as well as their journals). I'd gladly comment on the fic in their journals (as directed), but it would be nice if the fic stayed on the comm.

This is in light of either people friends locking journals, or journal deletions. I'm just being selfish, really.

Hi other 6 hour time distance person!

I agree with this, but a lot of people don't draw, so another option would be for them to post a link to something they've found and liked, but didn't want to put in a post of its own, so they could pair it with their information.

I, personally, hardly ever post fic on either of my journals, just because I'm too lazy and that requires concentration (that and I have no idea how to link TO my journal and make it all pretty, sooo...) But yeah, I like the idea of having it posted up on here. The fics/pics are easier to find, and they avoid that pesky journal deletion issue, too.

I agree with this, but a lot of people don't draw, so another option would be for them to post a link to something they've found and liked, but didn't want to put in a post of its own, so they could pair it with their information.

Oh yeah, post an image from a comic book panel, or from a deviant art account that you liked, or a screen cap from a cartoon/movie. I'm leery of youtube vids, because they can be taken down at any time.

But the page looks busy, instead of this vast space around a twee image. Or paste images (if drawing is your bent) that are largish, or about a clutch of 'em.

I, personally, hardly ever post fic on either of my journals, just because I'm too lazy and that requires concentration (that and I have no idea how to link TO my journal and make it all pretty, sooo...) But yeah, I like the idea of having it posted up on here. The fics/pics are easier to find, and they avoid that pesky journal deletion issue, too.

Motto. All my fics are posted here, because a part of the comm is to contribute stuff into the space. But I can understand writers wanting stuff in their journals, because getting comments in the inbox is a boost. But if that's a concern, they could just post in both their journals and in the comm and say, "Please to be making comments on my journal." I'd just comment in both.

For me it's really just too much trouble to go posting all over the place, especially since I hardly use either of my journal for fandom related items, but I can get where people come from.

I'd also like the idea of posting weekly S/T related comic panels onto the comm. Kind of like what SD does, but weekly, and specifically related to S/T. I'd be willing, and I'm sure others would, too. A group could get together and one person do it different weeks so it wouldn't all fall on one person's head. I'd be a quick learning experience for new comers, as well as references for great story lines and such. You can tell I've thought about proposing this for a while... I'm just not sure if it would clash with the Slashiet Moments list or not...

I'm just not sure if it would clash with the Slashiet Moments list or not...

I don't think it would clash. There are tons of storylines that are important to Steve and Tony's relationship and history that aren't actually slashy.

Ah! Okay, good. I realize there would be a lot of delving into back canon and other comics and such, and I didn't want to steal your thunder or anything if that was the case, but I think it is important to tell their stories outside of there relationship, and how that builds who they are, their reasoning, and what those things do to draw them together. (Apparently, I get very philosophical about S/T while reading back-canon...)

hey that sounds like a great idea :D

like comic panels that are steve/tony related every friday or something?
(just as long as it's a locked post :P)

i have a bunch of scans and i um-- nominate you to be in charge of putting things together :P email me ^___^

What does "locked post" mean? *is bad at internetz* S/T related or something related to their character that relates back to S/T...

Yeah, okay! I'll e-mail you for the scans, and I have one I want to but up later today, if that's alright?

locked means "members only" -- when you go to "post an entry" and it asks at the bottom of the screen "Show this entry to" click "members only" :D

and yes! sounds great :D like i said, just make it "members only"

xoxo

(ok bad pun, sorry)

No I was thinking maybe you could toss in a link to a good WWII resource page, just as a bonus. Given Steve's history it's relevant. info might also be useful. Ok I realize peopel can do their own research but I thought one link to kick start research might not be bad.

Alsom maybe a random fact space or something.
Like I just found out IBM provided the sorting system the Nazi's used to sort Jews and other non Aryans(Prisoner Code 8 was Jew, Code 11 was Gypsy. Camp Code 001 was Auschwitz; Code 002 was Buchenwald. Status Code 5 was execution by order, and Code 6 was gas chamber).

I mean that's *really* obscure but might make for a good fic idea or detail something but would be maybe OT to list by itself

Granted I could list it when I post art (and in this case probably will) but I jsut though if maybe there was a random fact resource or something . . . I don't know, maybe not such a good idea now that i think about it but oh well.

I toss it out for brainstorming.

A relation fact list would be really cool. A lot of people might have obscure knowledge such as that (and I totally want to write a fic now, thanks you *grumble*) that may not be in direct correlation, but still has relation, or possible relation, to use at a further date.

((Do you mind if I fic that? Also, any links in relation?))

and I totally want to write a fic now, thanks you *grumble*)
YAY! Now I don't have to!!

By all means feel free to write a fic on this. I'm so not hoarding info. =P
I got it off of cracked.com of all places and yes, there is more. popular brands nazis gave us (http://www.cracked.com/article_15767_third-reich-fortune-500-five-popular-brands-nazis-gave-us.html)

Holy shit, that's fucked up.

*goes to fic*

This sounds like the kind of thing that would also be useful to have on the wiki. Or maybe put the random fact list and links to WWII resources pages on a "resources for writers" (or something similar) page on the wiki and then link to that from the journal.

Just brainstorming ideas on how to best concentrate information. :-)

Ohh yes, I think that would be great on the wiki
"Resources for writers" sound sliek a great section.

Then go add it. *~~pike~~poke poke* ;)

I would but I'm at work =P

And when I get home I will be eaten by the

hp_art_project ^^
Maybe in two weeks I can though. I'd love to contribute to that I jsut don't have the down time at the moment.

I could contribute a list of some published resources, too, if people want to get really serious on research. I've got a lot of personal favorite book recs for WWII (Bill Mauldin's Up Front, John Dower's War Without Mercy, etc.), and a handful of sources on sexuality/gender for the 1920s/30s.40s, too.

I would totally be interested in this list, for general interest as well as for fic purposes.

that's really cool (and horrible)! and i agree with crims it should totally go on the wiki! :D

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Details on Rules and Suggestions

On the unmod / mod side of things...

Oy.

Re: Oy.

Yeah, I'm all for a beta reader before you post

Why not just require them to tell us of it is beta read or not?

Re: Why not just require them to tell us of it is beta read or not?

Re: Why not just require them to tell us of it is beta read or not?

Re: Why not just require them to tell us of it is beta read or not?

Re: Why not just require them to tell us of it is beta read or not?

Re: Why not just require them to tell us of it is beta read or not?

Re: Yeah, I'm all for a beta reader before you post

Re: On the unmod / mod side of things...

Re: On the unmod / mod side of things...

Re: On the unmod / mod side of things...

Re: On the unmod / mod side of things...

Just a suggestion

Re: Just a suggestion

Oh hai mate!

An Idea

Re: An Idea

Re: An Idea

Re: An Idea

Re: An Idea

Re: An Idea

A suggestion not related to fish =P

Re: A suggestion not related to fish =P

Re: A suggestion not related to fish =P

Re: A suggestion not related to fish =P

Re: A suggestion not related to fish =P

Re: A suggestion not related to fish =P

Re: A suggestion not related to fish =P

Re: A suggestion not related to fish =P

Re: A suggestion not related to fish =P

Re: A suggestion not related to fish =P

Re: A suggestion not related to fish =P