An Interesting email - please read and comment

[Rokia]

Here is an interesting email I got... read and discuss please

Hi, Rokia:

I'm a volunteer with the Organization for Transformative Works, specifically with the Open Doors committee, which aims to preserve Internet archives of fanworks by integrating them into the Archive of Our Own (AO3), a multi-fandom archive site. (You can view a list of our archive import projects here: archiveofourown.org/admin_posts?utf8=%E2%9C%93&tag=18)

A fan suggested we contact you to see if we would be able to assist. If you would be interested, we'd like to talk about ways to import works from The Hardy Detective Agency to the AO3 as a separate, searchable collection. Any text-based works can be hosted directly on the AO3, and we can create bookmarks for the collection that would link to works that were not hosted directly on the archive. Importing The Hardy Detective Agency to the AO3 would give creators the ability to directly edit their works or add new ones to the collection (with your approval), and remove the need for technical maintenance or hosting costs.

Please let us know if you have any questions or would like to chat about what we might be able to help with!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rokia's thoughts:

1) It would depend on how much work it would require of me-- but it sounds like it would not require much after it all got set-up and I could probably deal with everything else (except for the fact all our stuff is .htm and not .doc.). I think the only thing required of me after it's set-up is to approve/disapprove of stories that meet/don't meet our guidelines...

2) I'm not sure if we could legitimately agree to move everything there without permission from the various authors... and some of them I have no way to get ahold of. However, if we don't think it's an issue, it would be a way to allow people to read all HDA stories that we currently have (which would go away when our site closes the end of May)

3) AO3 allows pretty much EVERYTHING - however, from what I understand, if we set-up the HDA there we could keep stories out that don't belong, basically with an approval process by the admin...

4)I have NO idea how hard/easy it is to post anything on AO3...

So, again, while I want people to continue to get their stories on ff.net (please!), this could be a second option... so let me know what you think...

[JD]

Interesting!  I read Sentinel on Archive of Our Own, but it never occurred to me that we might post our stuff there!  

[Rokia]

I never thought about it until Katie mentioned it - but I didn't really CONSIDER It until I got that email... which is why I want to see what others think about the option....

[Deleted]

I never contacted them. Unless I'm told to do something, I won't. But I wonder who did, or if maybe someone who isn't on the HDA saw we're closing down, and thought to contact them?

I won't be posting on FFN, as I've said a number of times. But I'd say go for it.:-) I love AO3, the staff are amazing.

Easy to post, comment moderation/approve before a comment is made public, etc. If we're going through with this. I have invites, but they might be able to issue anyone who wants one an invite as well. 

[cheryl]

I'm really out of my element with the computer things, but it sounds promising. I'd just be concerned that it's too much work for Rokia, who is already posting her own stories, and Lola's, on ff.net and backing up Annah's stories. That seems like a lot of work. If it is easy, then great!

Kate, is there a reason you don't post on ff? I've found it to be pretty nice there.

[Deleted]

If we're serious about doing this, then I could be in charge. If no one else wants to, that is. I'm used to AO3. Just a thought.

The reason I don't is you can't do artwork or pics in your fics. That's why I don't, I also had a few run ins with a few people who weren't nice.

PM me if interested. 

[Austin]

I'd say go for it and publish all stories on the HDA. The various authors who submitted stories here agreed to the HDA hosting their stories, but didn't agree to a specific server, URL/domain, or similar set-up. If any author is truly buggered about being moved over to AO3 then their stories can be removed at that time.

Sounds like a great solution to me.

[Rokia]

Sorry, if we do this, I, or one of the previous admins/mods are going to be in charge...

[Deleted]

Apr 11, 2017 22:56:38 GMT Rokia said:

Sorry, if we do this, I, or one of the previous admins/mods are going to be in charge...

I realise that, yes. I just offered since I know how A03 works. But it seems you have it well in hand. No worries and best of luck.

[alaina]

I've never heard of A03 (but then I rarely venture from the  HDA and ff.net) but it sounds like a great idea to preserve the stories, particularly for people who prefer not to post on ff.net or just don't have the time or where with all to do so.  Is there a link you can post so we can check it out?

[alaina]

Yup, I just saw the link... ooops. My bad. 

[PaulinaAnn]

Personally, I'm not a fan of AO3. I have a lot of problems navigating the site to find anything that I want to read. And yes, AO3 allows more graphic 'stuff' but if the collection was moderated by the HDA, then there wouldn't be a problem with that.  However, how would that happen? I just did a search on AO3 for Hardy Boys in the fandom section and I couldn't see where there would be a place to specifically put all the HDA stories together.  It looks like they just go into the mix of all the HB stories.  On FFN, you can have a community where you can link all the stories if they are posted by the author but you can't really search through them which is a pain. 

After looking at the stories on AO3, I have mixed feelings.  When I went into the HB fandom section I basically scrolled through 2 pages of smut before I just stopped. I tried to use the filters, but if the author doesn't apply the warnings, then they show up and what I had was still basically smut.  While it would be nice to have something less smutty available on AO3 like the HDA stories are, I think that if people want to find them, they can do so on FFN (for those authors who decide to post there).

So I am ambivalent about posting stories to AO3 without the authors' consent just because so much of what I saw there was smut.  If any of you post there, I obviously don't mean your works.  I was actually a little taken aback by a number of the story summaries that I scrolled through while checking out the site.  According to AO3, once the collection is imported and they email the authors at the contact information from the original site, if the works aren't "claimed" and there is no copyright infringement, they are made public (posted) after 30 days.

I also searched for Organization for Transformative Works (OTW) and found that AO3 is a project of OTW.  I went to the link that OTW provided and see where they ARE working to make a special collection (maybe that's where the HDA stories would be) for several fandom sites that are ending or have ended.  They indicate that they send out emails to the authors requesting that they claim the works if they want to claim them and you can indicate that you do or don't want your works added.  However, when I did figure out to go to the "BROWSE" section and selected "SPECIAL COLLECTIONS" and couldn't figure out how to search for a collection. It was like I needed to know the exact name.  I typed in Hardy Boys and got an error message. I also tried X-Men and Harry Potter, both of which have large fandoms and also got the error message.  So I just found a random fandom collection that actually had 'works' in it and that looked okay and I think that might work.

Anyway, that's just my thought... well thoughts... and I think I rambled quite a bit.  Maybe those of you who use AO3 on a more regular basis can clear up any misinformation I may have shared.  Any incorrect statements were unintentional and I'm not putting down anyone who uses AO3 or saying not to use AO3.  I'm writing this completely in regards to the HDA collection as a whole.

Okay, I'm rambling again. Sorry.

[JD]

I suspect that though it might be flattering to be asked, we're likely better off just submitting individually on FF.net. As Joyce says, AO3 is not necessarily to everyones' tastes.

[Rokia]

That was my initial reaction to AO3 - everytime I have gone looking for anything there, I run into major smut, their search engine doesn't seem to work well and I can never really find what I'm looking for there... I will leave this open for a few more days then take a vote...

[Deleted]

I think A03 was started for those who wanted to post their works without FFN taking them down. I guess they were deleting works or something to do with smut, or whatever.

I use A03 for pics within my fics, comment moderation and that I can lock my fics to only registered users.

[PaulinaAnn]

Apr 12, 2017 3:49:09 GMT @katie said:

I think A03 was started for those who wanted to post their works without FFN taking them down. I guess they were deleting works or something to do with smut, or whatever.

I use A03 for pics within my fics, comment moderation and that I can lock my fics to only registered users.

Katie:

That makes sense, Katie, especially since you can use it for pics and it would be nice to have registered users commenting.

Everyone interested in FFN's policy on ratings and story removal:

FFN does take down stories but then the writers agreed to abide by the guidelines for story rating before being allowed to post a story. FFN allows for an "M" rating which is the following:

"Not suitable for children or teens below the age of 16 with non-explicit suggestive adult themes, references to some violence, or coarse language.
Fiction M can contain adult language, themes and suggestions. Detailed descriptions of physical interaction of sexual or violent nature is considered Fiction MA."

At the bottom of the page where you click that you will abide by the guidelines it says:

"Failure to comply with site rules will result in the removal of stories and/or suspension of account."

I just wanted to share that in case some people were unfamiliar with FFN and might be interested. 

 

[Deleted]

Wouldn't it be nice to have the artwork that people have for their stories still there? Just a thought.

[Fenlaur]

While it would be nice to have all the stories preserved in one spot, I think it's worthwhile to consider what kind of site they would be on. I like that the HDA has guidelines for stories, that was part of the reason I joined. I don't go on A03 because I don't like what they post. FF.Net isn't perfect either, but its better than A03 I think .

[Rokia]

If people want to move their own stories there so that they can have pictures, they can go for it... I just am not going to do it if we don't have a lot more interest.

I'll talk more about this when I'm not so darned tired...

[PaulinaAnn]

Apr 16, 2017 3:22:55 GMT Rokia said:

  Your avatar looks wide awake!

Hmmm, somehow Rokia's quote disappeared...

[Deleted]

Would they give instructions on how people could move their own works from the HDA to AO3 if they asked them?

[Rokia]

I'd assume they could do it like every other author on AO3 does it...

[fvhardy]

AO3 is pretty straighforward to post stories on, although you do have to html for italics, bold and center etc. They also have a tagging system, but like PaulinaAnn mentioned, it only works if authors actually tag their fics and not everyone does. I do actually like AO3 as people seem pretty friendly over there, good feedback and no trolls but there is no disputing that there is a TERRIFYING amount of smut. And it's not always easy to tell the smut from the gen if authors don't tag - I've gotten caught on more than one occasion, much to my chagrin. But if you could moderate stories like they suggested, it might work? Seems like an awful lot of work for the mods.

And FFN is easier to post to and generally has less graphic stuff, but has it's own flaws too (it's so big, they just can't reel those trolls in!).

[laurie]

Hi Guys, I found you! And I know you were so hoping not, lol. Anyhow, I've read the occasional story on AO3, but like most of you, I find it hard to navigate and in possession of a lot of smut and higher proportion of fragmentary stories. I'll migrate my stories to FFN at some point - I'm still considering how to do that as I have a few older stories there from another fandom and I'd rather not intermingle them in an author list - but that's probably just my excess need to compartmentalize. Anyway, I'd rather go with FFN, even though some of the feedback there can be, ah, questionable.

[JD]

I squashed mine together under one combined name, Laurie [and squashed my co-writers into the mix as well, thank you, ladies!], although like you, I'd have rather kept my split personalities separate!