(no subject)

[turps]

A while back there was a meme where you could ask questions, and I asked a few newish fans if popslash as a fandom felt welcoming. Some people said no, which is sad because I love this fandom. A lot. I've played in many fandoms, but this one is home.

I want that for other people too and began to think what could be done to make things more accessible. I've read comments that the popslash fandom is spread out without a real central archive. Yes, there's things being posted, stories, icons, meta, but it seems a lot of people don't know where to look.

I started thinking about newsletters. I know turloughishere and wistful_jane both post something similar, but I'm thinking more along the lines of trying to list everything posted, stepping away from personal recs and just major events. ( Turlough, Jane, if you think I'm stepping on toes here. Let me know )

For examples of what I mean, check out ts_newsletter or spnnewsletter.

I love this fandom, and sure, it's slowed down compared to before, but there's still life. If a newsletter helps point to that life, I'll do it.

So, I guess the question is. If I set up a weekly pop newsletter, would anyone join?

Comments

[hermitsoul]

*raises hand* Yes! This is a great fandom, and I've personally found people to be very welcoming. However, navigating a new fandom isn't always easy. I've been relying on you, turloughishere and wistful_jane to point me in the right direction. Usually one of the first things I do when I find a fandom is sign up for the fandom newsletter. Of course, I'm a bit prejudiced seeing how much I love newsletters and all! ;-)

[trumpeterofdoom.livejournal.com]

I'd read it. And I'd help out if you ever need me. :)

[turps33.livejournal.com]

I have to admit, you're one of the reasons I started to seriously consider this. I've watched you set you newsletters up and it seems a cool and helpful thing to do. I know I often check out your TS one.

I may have to approach you for tips if this happens ;)

Thanks for letting me know.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Excellent! Especially the second part, because I know you're far more into the BSB side of things than I am.

[cardalia.livejournal.com]

It's funny, I've always thought popslash was more approachable than the really big ones of the moment like SGA or HP. There's not quite as many people and everyone has been really friendly so even an introvert like me eventually gets around to talking to people. ;) But if it wasn't for people like turloughishere I'd get around a lot less because I have a small flist and so many fandoms to play with. Hmmm. So, that was a long way of saying I'd love a newsletter and I'd be willing to help in any capacity I can. ;-)

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Obviously I can't talk for the people who answered, but I suspect it was more the lack of a central archive for posting stories, which meant you had to go to individual journals, more than actual individuals being unfriendly. I know when I was new I knew no one, and had no clue where things were being posted. Hopefully a newsletter would help that situation.

Thanks so much for your comment :)

[hermitsoul]

I love putting mine together. They take a couple hours a week altogether, but I usually stop and read/admire things as I type the newsletter up. If I could stop being so distracted by everything it wouldn't take as long. While I've bookmarked the "to be watched" journals/communities, I've also found LJseek and a couple other blog search sites very helpful.

*laughs* Ok, so there's a few early tips. If you need help just let me know!

(Oh, and I just read you secret santa fic and loved it!)

[simply-fly-away.livejournal.com]

I would definitely join and enjoy :)

[withdiamonds.livejournal.com]

I think it's an excellent idea. I like to think we're all welcoming and warm, but it's also a matter of finding everyone. There are people in popslash I don't know, even people who have been here a while, and for some reason or another, I've missed them. I think especially because it's slowing down, the ones who are left should embrace the new ones. I'm always excited to see new people here, it means we're not a dying fandom, yay. But we are scattered.

So, yes, newsletter.

[cardalia.livejournal.com]

Obviously I can't talk for the people who answered, but I suspect it was more the lack of a central archive for posting stories, which meant you had to go to individual journals, more than actual individuals being unfriendly.

Oh, that's what I thought you were saying but I got distracted from the point. ;-) I never minded the lack of archives because I approach new fandoms almost completely through recs. But that only helps with older stories. A newsletter would help with following the fandom as it is now</> and yes, that would be very useful.

[dryope.livejournal.com]

To this day I'd say popslash is the nicest and most welcoming fandom I encountered.

On the other hand, it depends as what you apparoach fandom. It's easy to find friends and the squee is shared quite generously, but I can imagine it being hard for a writer to break into it, so a newsletter might be very helpful.

[raynedanser.livejournal.com]

Not only would I join, I would pimp merrily AND I would help in any way you would need it. :D

[raynedanser.livejournal.com]

Terri and Turlough were two of the first people I met in fandom and I got such a warm welcome from them both. With people like that, how can you go wrong? (Course, Terri and I crossing fandoms doesn't hurt either! *g*)

BTW, I don't usually say much, but looove your TS newsletter. ;-)

[bubbleforest.livejournal.com]

Dropping in from my friendsfriends list. :) I just wanted to say that I'd absolutely love a pop newsletter (I've been wanting one for awhile, but apparently I'm too lazy to actually DO anything about it) and would be more than willing to help with the Backstreet side of things. Yay for newsletters!

[nopseud]

I's definitely join a newsletter, although I can't promise I'd be contributing.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Excellent!

Thank you :)

[turps33.livejournal.com]

It's an idea I've been wondering about for a while. Personally I think it's a wonderfully warm fandom, but it is difficult to find everything. Shiny and New is fantastic but there's so much that doesn't get posted there. Snippets and throw aways that are great to read.

I think especially because it's slowing down, the ones who are left should embrace the new ones

I totally agree.

Thanks for the comment.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Yeah, exactly. The welcome is there, it just depends on how you approach.

Thanks for the comment.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

YAY!

That's wonderful. Thank you!

[raynedanser.livejournal.com]

Welcome. You'll probably end up with plenty of offers for help. ;-)

[turps33.livejournal.com]

That's great to know! I'm setting one up now, so hopefully this will take off :)

Thanks so much for the comment.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Cool! Thank you!

[msktrnanny.livejournal.com]

I'm in, what do I need to do?

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Awesome!

As for what to do, go check out the comm and see if it works for you :)

pop_newsletter

[msktrnanny.livejournal.com]

Looks good. It'll be easier to tweak etc as things go along. :-)

You're fabulous for taking this on. [See?? We just don't say star like that. lol. I even started out trying to say it and it just wouldn't come.]

[luxshine.livejournal.com]

Count me in!

[turloughishere.livejournal.com]

Why do everything happen when I'm not online ;-)

This sounds like a fantastic idea Terri!!

I've been thinking about a pop newsletter but I'm wary of taking on new responsibilities. A holdover I think since my back was so very much worse than it is now, but I've still not got used to the idea that I can actually predict how I will feel with a certain degree of surety. That being the case, I will of course do everything I can to help with a pop newsletter!! I'm just going to catch up on the rest of my flist and then I'll go and check out the new comm!

[turps33.livejournal.com]

I really like newsletters, but really didn't want to tread on your toes because you do such a fantastic job with your allsorts. But I suppose it's a different thing. I mean, you post about what you like, the newsletter will take anything, good or bad ;)

I'm glad you like the idea :)

[turps33.livejournal.com]

YAY!

[turloughishere.livejournal.com]

I think my allsorts aren't a newsletter at all, no matter how you stretch the meaning. As you say, it's what I found interesting, nothing more. Not to mention the fact that I'm horribly behind on my fic reading! I have stories I've been meaning to read for months and still haven't found the time or urge to actually read. (Like your Kevin's birthday story, several of luxshine's fics, and even some stories from last year's Sesa!)

[chrismm.livejournal.com]

What an awesome idea--I'm in!

[hegemony.livejournal.com]

I'm really a big fan of newsletters because they show things usually more objectively than recs do, in bigger fandoms, people tend to rec their friends and stick to what they know, but when you get a newsletter, you actually get a bigger taste of everything. I already have a filter set up right now for newsletters, and it's how I get around in five separate fandoms without tearing my hair out. I'd love it if you made one.

And I thought you should know that I'm working on that strap-on fic right. now. anditsgonnabeomghot, and have little to no redeeming character value whatsoever, unless you consider top!ianto a worthy plot. And then I'd love you forever.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Woo!

That's awesome!

[wistfuljane.livejournal.com]

No stepping any toes at all. I'm super glad (and a bit relieved) that you set up pop_newsletter. I've been mulling around these past months or so about turning thispoplife into a monthly newsletter instead of just a digest, but I didn't want to commit myself to that responsibility - the thought was a little too overwhelming - and I kind of felt a bit guilty about it. So yes, thank you for setting up pop_newsletter. Once pop_newsletter take off, I'll probably turn thispoplife into a Popslash free-for-all noticeboard, like I should have at the beginning, with maybe my usual digest at the end of the month. We'll see, yes?

In any case, might I suggest when you're ready, to send a link to your newsletter to selenay936 who maintained a Fandom Newsletters Index (http://www.selenayhaven.com/newsletters01.htm)? witchqueen also maintained such index (http://del.icio.us/zvi_likes_tv/newsletter). And you're welcome to make an announcement at thispoplife about the newsletter and use thispoplife_mod's friendlist to prod around. Anything I can help, please let me know?

[syncalot.livejournal.com]

Sounds wonderful & sparkly. I'm in! ;)

[turps33.livejournal.com]

The place wouldn't be the same without you!

[hermitsoul]

Thanks - I'm always glad to hear others find it helpful!

[ariadnem.livejournal.com]

The idea is just lovely, I must say. Something that you said is also true, when you're a newbie, sometimes you don't feel welcome. It's nobody's fault I think. It's hard to start getting acquainted and well, you just stay with the people you know. I know it, because it happened to me.

Anyways...

This is a wonderful idea and I applaud it. If I can be of any help, just let me know.

Ariadne-

[duoshinigami.livejournal.com]

I didn't read everyone elses comments, but I'm sure most of them were along the lines of "FUCK YA!"

And thus my response is the same!

[turps33.livejournal.com]

LOL. That's a response I like.

Thanks, honey.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Thank you :)

Yeah, I get you totally about being a newbie. When I first started in this fandom I stuck to a few journals because I didn't know anyone, and didn't really want to comment etc. I was always worried that people would think I was butting in. In fact, one of my dearest friends on here was someone I didn't friend for a long time because I was intimidated by her. So I totally get where you're coming from.

If this newsletter helps in anyway, way, I'm so glad.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

I agree totally with what you say. If you're linking everything it should mean things remain objective. Lets hope so anyway.

Dude! I can't get past top!ianto. That's such a perfect idea. I can't wait to read.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for the tips! And the compliment about my story :)

[turps33.livejournal.com]

I have to admit, I'm relieved you don't think I'm stepping on toes. You do such a fantastic job that I didn't want to take anything away from you.

Thanks so much for all the suggestions and pointers too. You're very generous suggesting I use your comms friendslist to prod around. You're so amazingly organised I know you'll have all the people I need to see.

I'm going to make an announcement at thispoplife too. Things seem to be going okay and pimping is always of the good.