New people to the site

[cross]

I have for the past few weeks been inviting and talking to 5 people on another site that I frequent about Ultimate DC and about possibly joining this place. I got their replies back and wanted to share them with you guys.

Jamo, the newest registered member on this site, is a friend of mine. Obviously he hasn't posted anything but he seemed pretty interested in this place and what we do here. The other four people I talked to weren't as interested. The biggest deterrent they have avaunt this place is the connected universe concept. They want the freedom to write the characters that they want, how they want. I tried to explain that while restricting on characters, the interconnected universe is fun to write with everyone.

I wanted to get these opinions relayed to you guys. I personally understand and like the rules that we have but they are probably our biggest hurdle when trying to recruit new members.

Anybody else have similar results when trying to get new members?

[adrini]

Ya, I've seen this come across many times.

If this were a straight up fanfiction site they would be happy. No one to connect with or answer to. The nature of our work is that we need people who are willing to join a team, make a world and invest in that. Most people aren't going to have that, they have stories pre-formed in their heads and that's as far as they go.

There is nothing wrong with this, but unless they are very lucky one or more elements they had in mind will not be free.

The good news is that we don't need hundreds of people, maybe one or two more. And people that don't write can read.

This being said when you do talk to these people feel free to direct them to story sites. Just because they don't fit here does not mean they shouldn't enjoy writing.

[cross]

Most of them seem interested in what this site offers, they just feel constrained by the character claiming. To me, that's why I enjoy this site. The teamwork and world building is unique and the closest I can get to actual DC Comics.

At least that's my thoughts. I encourage them to at least stay around and read.

[adrini]

You put it exactly. Some want to build a world, some want to tell a story. There is nothing wrong with either, but this is a place for the first. We attract or repel people accordingly.

[Drake]

Er...I'm very much telling the story I want to, and I'm building a world (with you, in fact, adrini). Don't put down our efforts. We're all telling stories that are worth just as much (if not more) than independent projects. Trust me, I can tell you from experience, it's harder to work with people, but ultimately the end product is better. That's why you don't see one person making a film alone.

[adrini]

I worded it badly. My fault.

I also have independent projects. Academic ones granted, but I know the effort they take.

I have also worked on collaborative efforts - both academically and fictionally here.

The second ones, I have noticed, are better. I enjoy them more as well. However not everyone is built to work that way, as I have found in both my fields.

My salient point, which I expressed poorly, was that we with our world sharing require a degree of collaborative effort. Not everyone who visits us will prefer that practice.