Readers speak, part two
Yesterday, I went through the top survey suggestions related to the site’s content. Today’s topic is everything else, from usability to new features.
THE ARCHIVES
- Feature the archived stories and threads a little more prominently. There is some great information in those old postings that many don’t know exist.
Good suggestion. I may dust off older entries more often. Also, you’ll see more “related entries” at the bottom of new posts.
Create a better filing system for previously asked questions. Make these backlogged questions easier to locate.
Make browsing the archives easier.
Number the Q&A pages or create a better system to get back to the postings (other than hitting “back� forty times).
The archives kind of suck, particularly considering they used to be much pimper before I changed servers. Improving the archives interface is one of my highest priorities, geek-wise. I can’t promise any timeline, though, because my Actual Job has to come first.
SCREENPLAY SAMPLES
Post all of your scripts, even the ones that have not sold.
More screenwriting samples from other professional writers.
Have John highlight his favorite screenplays and why he likes them.
I’m a bit limited when it comes to posting certain scripts, what with copyright and all. But I’ll see what I can do. In terms of my unproduced spec scripts, I’m reluctant to expose material that I think one day might still get made. But I’ll certainly consider it.
LINKS
More links to other good screenwriting sites.
Create a more detailed links page.
I’m slowly adding more links, as I come upon sites that I think are genuinely helpful. To me, sending a reader another site is a tacit endorsement of the other site’s content and viewpoint. I don’t exchange links cavalierly.
MESSAGE BOARDS
Create a forum where visitors can discuss different screenwriting topics. John “head honchoâ€? August could add his thoughts, but otherwise wouldn’t be forced to do much. Maybe a few trustworthy people could moderate the forum.
Create a message board for users.
I’ve resisted message boards and forums for a few reasons. For starters, there are already plenty of good screenwriting message boards out there. Wordplayer, for instance, has worthy discussions despite a byzantine interface.
Second is the headache of adding another layer of technology. I’ve checked out the various message board systems — and even done test-installs on the “dummy” johnaugust site — and some of them (like phpBB) are really elegant. But even great software takes time to set up and manage, and that’s time I’m not writing.
Finally and most importantly, I don’t want to be a cop. I’ve been in too many message board situations where a few individuals dominate the discussion, and inevitably the system administrator has to step in and ban a user. I’d like to maintain the illusion that this site’s readers are perfect ladies and gentlemen who never bicker or call each other names. Keeping the discussion constrained to comments on posts lets this fantasy be.
UPGRADES
- Add a monthly podcast.
I’m generally the first one aboard a technology bandwagon, but I’m sitting out podcasting for the time being. I can’t imagine I’d speak anything more interesting than I’d type, and you really don’t want to listen to me pontificate about screenwriting while you’re on the treadmill. Do you? Just the image makes me uncomfortable.
- Add an interface that allows users to spell and grammar check their posts, as well as edit them after posting.
As the one person who actually reads every comment, God knows I’d love some spellcheck goodness. I’m looking into it. In the meantime, you can do what many do: compose your answer in Word, or whatever program you like that has good spellchecking, then copy-paste your answer. You can also visit spellcheck.net to do the same thing.
And since I haven’t brought up FireFox in, say, two weeks, I’ll point out that that Firefox has extensions that allow for spellchecking. Just Google “firefox spellcheck”.
- Straighten out Wordpress errors. Sometimes a link dies out and goes to a Wordpress screen instead of the linked page. Also, possibly some better bandwidth for peak viewing times.
When you see the Wordpress screen, that’s actually an indication that the underlying server is rebooting. The hardware problems have been a big frustration, both at the old host and the new one. We’re on a new server now, so the reboots should hopefully be a thing of the past. Also, pages should load a little more quickly.
- Create a way for comments to be threaded.
Threaded comments is tough. Considering the average number of comments per article is less than 20, I’m not making it a high priority.
- Check out chuckpalahniuk.net and see if there’s something there to emulate.
Not really. Thanks, though.
- Keep the full Atom feed going.
Let me know if it’s not. I subscribe to all three, and they seem to be working a-ok.
Have a flexible page width.
Fix the layout. It’s a bit on the clunky side.
Um, thanks. Without getting into too much design philosophy or CSS-babble (which I’m trying to do less of), there’s a reason why I went with the single floating column. When the layout breaks — such as when a reader pulls it up on her cell phone — it’s still readable, whereas many websites turn to mush. The content stays on top, while the sidebar falls to the bottom. Ditto for screen-readers, and search-bots. The current consensus seems to be that the floating column, while not thrilling, is the best solution out there.
As with yesterday’s column, I welcome any feedback on any of these topics in the Comments section.
Articles
May 6th, 2005 at 8:42 am
“Pimp” is an adjective?
Pimp, pimper, pimpest…
This qualifies as my thing learned today. (And I got it out of the way early! Woo-hoo!)
May 6th, 2005 at 9:20 am
I feel quite annoyed with the suggestions posted in Part 2.
The reasons why we come to this site, really, is because John has a very cool -Actual Job-, that we the readers of this site are also aspiring to. So I say, screw everything else about geek stuff…I am sure there are enough techie readers that can volunteer their time to make the site more spiffy…
In the meantime, it is important to stress that most of the readers are aspiring screenwriters, and would probably be more motivated and inspired by learning how to get started, stay committed, polish their craft, and get za foot in za door.
I wouldn’t mind if you didn’t post daily, and even went into a once a week routine. What is more important to me is to: 1. Learn and 2. Put into practice 3. Grow 4. ahem…Get in.
I wouldn’t mind if you didn’t answer formatting question either.
==> I would like a sort of an “anatomy of a script� type of post, where you describe how you started with an idea, and what motivation you had to develop / revise it. What did you leave in, and what got tossed out. Not in incredible detail…but to give us an idea of the thought process that went into building a particular script. <==
–cheers Sam
May 6th, 2005 at 10:56 am
Regarding the message board thing, if people really just want a place to chat about screenwriting, I’m happy to host either a section on my current board (http://www.abrasiveworldwide.com/forum) or set up a board just for screen writing. My friends and I are willing to admin/mod it and it could either be linked in my sig or from John’s site or whatever the user base wanted. (My current board is quiet as it’s just me and three friends, so it’s up to you guys to use it and I’m happy to pay for and mod it.)
It’s all up to you guys whether this is really something you want.
Do you just want a good php board to chat? Or is having a pro like John on board an essential?
I like the Wordplayer site, too, for information, but don’t post there because of the format. And that’s coming from someone who has made over 100,000 posts on about 40 boards over the years!
So if you guys (the commenters here) let me know, I’ll do whatever for my part.
I’ve already set up a screenwriting part on the board, I’ll await user comments there to see where we go?
You have a host, so up to you guys now . . .
May 6th, 2005 at 11:46 am
I was one who suggested a message board, and your reasons are all valid. If it’s hard to find time to update the blog, adding a complete other extension to the website is a big hassle.
However, should free time emerge, phpBB is an easy thing to set up and manage. Like Tim, I’ve made and moderated several forums, including one with over 100,000 members. While I can’t forsee too many debates and arguments arrising, if it does happen, all it takes is your choosing of someone to keep them quiet. And it’s probably accurate to assume there’s people here with more free time than yourself.
I don’t vote for a forum because it’s a great way to communicate with you, but it’s a way for all of us to know each other outside of the comments we’ve left on pre-determined topics. And who knows what connections will be formed from your forum.
As for Wordplayer, I think this hypothetical forum will be different, because of the difference in the way it would be organized. Wordplayer is a one-subject place for a long list of discussions. Sure, it works, but it shares the same problem with leaving a comment. That is, you don’t have a profile. You can be “John A.” in one post and “John” in another, and be taken for completely different people. I like being able to search for people, learn more about them, read their other posts. Having spent time at too many other forums that do it this way, I find myself seeing the “John A./John” system as a setback. And, just as well, this allows you to keep tabs on those who start creating problems.
If you’re not having problems with those leaving comments now, I don’t see the forum creating problems itself. Of course, you know your traffic better than anyone else, and if it’s plausible that trouble could make an appearance, then stick with the comments.
May 6th, 2005 at 12:00 pm
My last comment, part two
That’s not the only difference from Wordplayer. John August fans should unite as screenwriters, working or upcoming. Wordplayer unites Terry and Ted fans as screenwriters, working or upcoming. Isn’t it time you showed them who’s boss?
I take your visitors for being a lot further along in their screenwriting career than most who post at Wordplayer. I could be wrong, but the way some of their posters string together a sentence, it negates the validity of their issue.
Anyway, that’s where I’ll leave it. Personally, I’d like to come to your website and have a second page to click to (having already read your previous entries). First click is “Comments (x)”. Second click could lead me to several more clicks, several more opportunities of knowledge-sparking discussion.
But if it’d just be me posting there, I might as well continue letting my characters do all the talking.
May 21st, 2005 at 7:59 am
I started a stand-alone screenwriters forum at the beginning of the year because I couldn’t find anywhere to chat to other writers without subscriptions to this, that and the other. Anyone who’s been to IMDB screenwriters section will know only too well how slow, unfriendly and argumentative it can be.
My board is done with IPB becaus phpBB has had some massive security problems in the last year or so and I can’t handle the constant patching duty. Users with phpBB on my webspace providers server didn’t update either and managed to infect the whole bloody system the other month grrr. Aanyway I’m babbling.
Basically, anyone is welcome to my forum, the place is half-empty and crying out for writers to fill it’s walls. It’s not geared at anything but screenwriting and there’s no adverts, donate buttons or subscriptions. I don’t pretend to be a screenwriter as I’m almost completely new to the craft but at least I know how to stick a forum up and waffle a lot.
Oh and John, about the survey. I love this place because you’re a real screenwriter with a real site. Please don’t make any weird changes with regards to content…
Kirst
August 29th, 2005 at 6:29 pm
Sorry. That was me with the ‘clunky template’ comment, and now I understand that it’s really sensible. I’d hate to think that the only thing I’d ever said to a Real Screenwriter was that I didn’t like his site’s layout… so let me say that I really enjoy the articles you write on here (especially the Found Poetry one!) and that you’re a terrific inspiration. Can’t wait for the Corpse Bride!