Series Discussion participation

[Stardrifter]

So I've been noticing a trend lately that I just want to get some thoughts on. Reviews on issues seem to be pretty sporadic at best lately. Some issues have been out for weeks with only one or two reviews.

Now this is of course a hobby and we all have varying levels of time. However, we're all here to have our work read and to get feedback. Otherwise why play by these rules and not just write stories for ourselves and show no one?

I will admit in the past I've ignored a series or two after a couple issues of really disliking it. Nothing this iteration, but in the pre-reboot days there were 2 or 3 series I tried and gave up on. Obviously if you really can't stand reading something you shouldn't be forced to. But I don't think there's anything like that here right now, and it disappoints me that there seems to be a lack of participation.

Not trying to stir up an argument or anything. I'd just like to see more discussion and comments on the work we're all here doing. Feel free to add your 2 cents.

[liquidsword34]

Personally I don't always review everything I read if I don't have anything to really say.

[DiscipleofBob]

Sometimes it's not a matter of not having readership. Sometimes it's a matter of not having the time to do a full review, or sometimes it's a matter of wanting or having to read a new issue several times to do a better review.

Other times it's a matter of reading something, sitting down to do a review, then thinking "I should really be working on my own chapter."

[Ultimate Silentking]

I am still trying to find time and interest to finish Planetary/Authority Special #2 and then review it. I am refusing to read anything else until I get that done.

[Deleted]

I feel your pain Star and am just as guilty of being behind on reviews as everyone else.

I read a lot of stuff-and for continued series of any sort-novels, comics, short stories, webcomics, etc. I have basically a standard-if I start a new episode/issue/whatever and within a few paragraphs can't remember what has been happening in previous installments then I usually stop reading and go one to something else that is holding my interest or standing out. Sometimes reading a little jogs my memory, other times it doesn't. Reading something and feeling lost about the basics of ongoing plot (not the details but just what's happening and who's who) is not really an enjoyable experience and it becomes difficult to read with enough focus on what is there to comment-too much brain effort is on what happened before trying to make sense of what is there. The same standard applies to ongoing television series I watch too. If I can't remember/pick up the ongoing threads within a few minutes of watching I usually end up dropping the series.

I find that tv series that do a previously before each episode, comics that have a recap box at the beginning/on he title page, etc. go a long way towards preventing that lost feeling.

With characters I am intimately familiar with, it is also easier to overcome that sensation, but with ultimatized versions that stray from the standard take, that familiarity is not there to serve as a compass while reading.

So, I think that if writers took a few extra steps to make their series more accessible to new or returning readers, there might be more activity, at least on my part.

I also personally have a habit of letting a few episodes pile up and watching in a chunk with TV and used to do the same with comics. It gives a better sense of the story direction and the character development that smaller episodic installments don't. But it is easier to lose track when that happens-and easier to forget things since it has been longer since the last time I dove into the story.

One of the factors in my thought process behind the This Month in threads was to help title accessibility and address this. It is also why I have tried to include a Previously in recap with each issue of Planetary or tho have some kind of intro/set up piece to bring a reader up to speed with what is needed to go into each issue.Not that either has worked particularly well.

As admins, the participation issue was one we tried to address by incentivizing it-get extra claims if you review more, etc. and really that hasn't worked either.

I know I personally need to do a better job at catching up on the reading and reviewing. When I do review I try to give a hopefully thoughtful and constructive commentary-and sometimes I don't have the energy or proper mindset to do it, so I lag on reviews, but that's my deal and not an excuse.

So, I am open for input as to how we can go about trying to make this aspect of the community better. It's a conversation I've had with the other admins that has been ongoing since we decided to reboot and we have found nothing that has been truly effective in increasing participation.

-M

PS hey SK, if Planetary is holding up your participation in reviewing other books, please do drop it and go read other stuff, man.