more ideas about how to attract more fans to edit

[ratcreature]

I commented in that discussion linked here earlier with some thoughts I had about what would make contributing more attractive: I think that maybe a "focus on" feature would be nice. I think it is more fun to contribute when others are working on related articles at the same time (for example "focus on fandom X" or a genre or a fanactivity, like "focus on conventions" or costuming, even recurring popular kerfuffles that could be tracked through fandoms or whatever), because then there is more opportunity for discussion and feedback, talk about what article structure would best, and you learn interesting stuff from other fans in the process or can reminiscence about how kerfuffle such and so was on mailing list X, so then there is less of that feeling of toiling in the wilderness full of frustration. Also newbies wouldn't have such a steep learning curve because they'd co-edit with more familiar people, so they wouldn't have to know or find the code for templates or advanced formatting on their own, but would just have to say "it would be cool to have this as a table/have a gallery here/get an infobox/..." And even if you didn't know anyone personally you'd be still in a group. It would be easier for people familiar with the fanlore to remember to talk to newbies too, because there'd be a common topic.

Comments

[meri_oddities]

I agree that a more top-down structure is needed. And oddly enough, I find myself at the top without a lot wiki experience. However, I'm a project manager in RL, so I'm hoping the skills will translate.

I said somewhere in this comm that I need to get the new policy for fandom as a major category out. But truthfully with the holiday upon us, it's not going to be before mid-January.

I'd think about your ideas for Star Trek and figure out how you might rework things when it becomes it's own category with sub-categories for each of the different incarnations.

I really like the idea of themes and a new post every few weeks that engages people. Right now, we have a lot of posts out there with good ideas that all need to be implemented.

I know you spend a lot of time working on the wiki, and we really appreciate your effort.

As for posting to the people who are invested, that's a good idea.