A Little History of the Reviews Lounge

The Reviews Lounge began on April 21, 2007 as a C2 community dedicated to promoting under-reviewed authors and their stories. It has now grown into not only a rather large and very dynamic archive, but also this forum (and we pride ourselves with the fact that in its first year, we were the fastest growing Harry Potter forum on ff.net)

The Reviews Lounge aims to encourage readers to review every story they read, and was formed after I became particularly alarmed at the strange phenomenon which indicated that many people on this site are too lazy to review. Reviews are a very important aspect of posting a story/poem on ff.net, and we encourage each and every one of you to review! You never know when a simple comment, friendly piece of encouragement or a gentle piece of concrit might make someone's day!

Recently, we've moved house. This new forum has been created because the old one was dependent on the account of Lexie-H, who established it, and in order for the RL to grow and expand, it needs an independent base. The old forum can be found here. We're maintaining it, as a monument to how far we've already come!

First off, I would encourage you all to:

1. Subscribe to the community - it is home to many fantastic stories, and we have a constant turnover, so please pop by and review!

2. Add the profile to your author alerts list. this is where we publish collaborative efforts from the people (like you) who populate this forum

Meet the Staff

Lexie, PA and Cuba - Together we run the entire RL - forum and archive (although these days we aren't above delegating). Commonly you'll see us all on the forums quite frequently, and at least one of us is around most days. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to PM us: the links to our profile pages sit at the bottom of every RL forum page!

Sadie - our new addition to the moderation team!

Cassie, Charli, Christopher, Gaby, Katy, Sadie, SCV, Turtle and Wordy - our staff at the archive, who help us sort through all the Recommendations and Requests we receive each week!

Witblogi, our "Official Reviews Lounge Artist" and also the manager of our LiveJournal community!

Caramelboost - she runs our sister-forum on fictionpress, also called the Reviews Lounge

The Reviews Revolution

This was a little movement that began before the RL was even dreamt of - (and we take no credit for it) - however, we encourage you all to join! Simply copy and paste this into your profile, and help spread the word! :

I, [insert name here], do solemnly swear to review all the fics I read, regardless of the number of reviews,

its age, or anything else.

I have joined the review revolution.

Recommending a Story

The Reviews Lounge community only archives Harry Potter stories in the following two categories:

- one shots with less than 20 reviews

- chapter stories with an average of less than 15 reviews per chapter

However, any and every story is quite welcome to be recommended on the appropriate forum topic. Just let us know if it isn't in the running for being archived!

Once a story in the C2 community archive has fulfilled its review limit, it will be moved to another C2 community, The Reviews Lounge Recommendations. I encourage you all to also go and have a look at this archive!

When you read a story and decide to recommend it, I encourage you to mention you will be recommending it in your review. Not only will it help spread the word about this place, it is a great encouragement to authors to hear that you have enjoyed their story so much!

Please note: just because you recommend or request that we review a story does not mean it gains automatic entry to the archive

Challenges

Here in the forum, we have a number of challenges going. They are created by you guys, and open to anyone who wishes to participate.

There are no deadlines for the challenges. They remain open indefinitely. We only ask that if you do partake in a challenge, let us know by posting the details to your story in the Challenge Submissions thread.

The Reviews Lounge Projects

Every now and then, the staff will open a new project; this generally involves releasing a prompt and inviting people to contribute by making a claim on a character or pairing, and writing a story. Stories are submitted to the , our official email, and posted on our profile as a collaborative project. Past collaborative projects can be found posted on our profile!

Creation of New Topics

Moderators are the only ones who can make topics. This stems from the creation of topics by several individuals in the old forum in direct violation of what was requested. SO if you'd like a new topic, request it!

Deletion of Old, Unused Topics

If a topic is well and truly dead - as in, a) if it has been sitting at the bottom of the list for a month or more without any response - or b) if the topic comes under the criteria of what I shall call a 'lazy topic' (one that has not garnered much response, or only occasional bursts of interest), or c) it is a completely pointless exercise to continue it, then we reserve the right to delete it. This forum on occasion becomes very cluttered, and it is necessary to have a constant turnover of topics.

Similarly, we reserve the right to lock any topic we choose

News

Occasionally, if there's something interesting happening that we think you should know about, a new post will appear in this topic. Feel free to comment (if you wish) but any irrelevant conversations WILL be deleted from this topic.

Other Reviews Lounge stuff

• Fictionpress is home to a Reviews Lounge forum too!

• We also have a livejournal community, thanks to Wit!

• Wit has also created a Photobucket account which is home to some of her icons. If you have made something you would like to share with us, just ask Wit, or anyone else who knows the password to the account, and they will put it up there for you, giving you full credit of course.

http://s198.photobucket.com/albums/aa80/The_Reviews_Lounge

General Forum Ettiquette

We are very proud to say that the overall conduct on this forum has this far been exemplary. This administrator has not once received a complaint regarding conduct in this forum! While we congratulate you all for your good behaviour, we figure there will be no harm in pointing out the obvious, that being:

• Abuse of other forum members is unacceptable. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. You have no right to pass personal comments on other people unless you are invited to, and any debates that descend into personal slinging matches will be deleted. if this becomes a consistent occurrence, we do have the means to kick you out of the forum. You have been warned.

• Whilst the offensive language filter is on, this does not mean that you are invited to lose your manners. Offensive posts will be deleted. Play nicely!

• We encourage you all to partake in the correct use of the English language on this forum - spelling, grammar, etc. So don't be lazy, please!

• Sometimes, we create topics that function for a single purpose only. For example, Introduce Yourself, which as the name suggests, is an introductory topic. If you want to discuss something, do it elsewhere. Anyone who persists in disregarding this rule will find their inappropriate posts deleted.

Thank you for your cooperation!

A General Note on Involvement

Occasionally, someone comes up with a wonderful new idea or innovative way to broaden our Reviews Lounge audience. Thanks for your suggestions, and really, we love that you care enough to get involved!!

That said, if you do have an idea which involves taking the Reviews Lounge concept to a new breadth, height or depth (read, new place on the internet) PLEASE ASK US FIRST. 99% of the time, the answer will be yes, but we would appreciate it if you could find the time to extend us this simple courtesy. The staff work very hard to keep this concept as tight and efficient and effective as possible, and as a testament to our hard work, we would like the RL to reflect our efforts completely.

Thank you!

Regarding the Archive

It's not uncommon to receive PM and other requests, asking us to archive a story. In fact, it happens so often that we now have a general procedure.

It isn't rocket science.

If you'd like your story/if you think someone elses' story deserves to be included, post the details (story name, author, link - characters/summary if you like) on the Recommend and Request topic.

If you contact us in any alternative way, this is what we'll tell you.

Why?

Because there is to some extent a quality control on the archive. It isn't particularly strenuous, but it is useful to have the details of all the stories in one, single place so that they can all be (for lack of a better word) assessed equally.

Also, posting your information on that topic might just attract you a little attention in itself. It isn't uncommon for our members to scan those links and read something that takes their fancy!

Third great reason: by posting the details up in the open topic, you're three times as likely to have a mod look at it sooner! (This is because then, all three of us have access to it, and not just one).

If anyone has questions, ideas or general feedback about the Reviews Lounge, please feel free to pose them here!

(Random conversations will be deleted)

Something to think about

We've always been a forum that prides itself on being all inclusive. That said, if you want to participate, please do be aware that not everyone shares your views. Opinions are one thing, but imposing them on others is not on. Nor is pursuing conversations that cause others certain levels of discomfort.

This is a general message, not targeted at anyone in particular. I just ask you all to take this into account!

A Note on Forum Etiquette:

This is for general reference, but especially for a few of the newer faces!

1. Please use proper grammar and spelling. We'll forgive you if you make a typo, but please make the effort!

2. If you're quoting back, use the appropriate 'quote' option in the Styles drop-down menu on your reply window. OR, if your browser doesn't support this, flank the thing you want to quote with this code: [q] at the beginning, and [/q] at the end!

3. If you're consciously clicking 'reply' to your own post - ie. posting two things in a row, please instead go to 'Mod' and select edit, and add what you have to say there. It's a lot easier than a sequence of monologues. Sometimes, posting two things in a row happens by accident, but especially if you're in a 'slower' topic, please follow this!!

4. We want our new home to be a happy, friendly, welcoming place. So if you're stopping by for the purposes of annoying/picking on one of the posters here, please refrain and leave (and don't laugh, this has happened). By the same token, anyone who's a regular here - please refrain from doing this in other forums, it's not very nice!!!

On Modding:

I do have a few people in mind for this task, but to make this fair, I'm opening it up for consideration. If you're interested, just PM me and let me know, but I will be making the final decision based on people I know and can trust. Sadie is automatically going to be mod for this new forum, and I'm offering Lexie the chance to mod for the introduction period if she's interested. Obviously beyond that, our temp mods - SCV, Turtle and Charli - are first in line, but I'll consider everyone else as well. :)

Also, I'd like to say a big thanks to Lexie for starting the concept of this place: we all owe you so much, and on behalf of everyone: thank you.

Turtle and SCV, if you're still interested in modding, here's your invite codes: 0d589 (Turtle), c340c (SCV). If you're not interested, just let me know and I'll remove you.

Everyone else, I'm still accepting your PMs, because I will be adding another mod or two in the not so distant future. =)

Oh, and I wouldn't be too bothered with trying to use those codes, because they only work for people I ask to mod.

Joining in to thanks Lexie, for this fantastic place and being a great writer and helpful reviewer/occasional betareader.

Back to business.. if I understood it well, all the fics in the new archive were added by Lexie, right? That means the only person who can graduate them is Cuba with the RL's account (or Lexie herself), right?

Lily's Light and Bedtime Stories are ready to graduate!

Gaby, I'm guessing anyone with the pass to The Reviews Lounge account can remove it. Which brings me to a question -

Do mods get the pass to the account?

Of course. Just give me a few minutes and I'll PM it to you.

*goes off to graduate stories*

*Cough* Cubie? I can't be bothered PMing you. Do be good and mod crown me.

Yeah. I think I've made my final decision - I'll just wait a little while to see if anyone else is interested.

Edit: There's your code - f9fda

*is mod crowned to triumphant music*

I love you Cubie. I promise to make the RL proud. :)

*hopes for mod crown*

Thanks Cuba for the password, should make things easier :)

yay we have new mods! xD I think I'll pass on it though, I'm quite busy at the moment and I'm already modding another forum so yeah. =] I'll still post on here though.

So have all the mods been picked?

I think so, Wordy - You can PM Cubie though, cause I'm not 100% sure.

Hm...I'll ask just to be sure. Thanks SCV!

By the way, c.sheep brought to my attention that there are two Introduce Yourself topics. :D One isn't flagged, and is at the bottom. Just thought I'd post this here!

Thanks Wordy! I'll take care of it.

Guys, for those of you who know mackgirl, she just posted a notice over on the SU forum that her sister was killed in a car accident this morning. A PM letting her know that she's in your thoughts and prayers might be appreciated at such a time.

How awefulllllllll:(

I don't know exactly what she's going through, but i lost a cousin 3 years ago, and a close friend Sophie the other day.

I just have to keep going. But i've never experienced anything like that:(

But it will be very hard especially since it's her sister:(:(:(:(

Aww. That's horrible... I don't know her overly well, but she seems like a wonderful person and I really feel sorry for her. I'll let her know, and thanks for telling us Cassie.

Thanks so much for telling us:* we really appreciate it:(

Just a casual reminder for everyone who hasn't already done so: if you have a link to the RL forum in your profile, you may want to update it with the new addie!! =) The strength of this forum has always been that it's been spread by word of mouth, and ... well, we want to spread the right word, right??

I edited all the links on our profile, btw.

Thanks so much, SCV.

Anyway....

Mods

I've finally decided on our final moderator, so can you put your hands together (or virtually clap), for Katy (Bad Mum). Your invite code is: dba5a

A big thanks to everyone else who nominated themselves, thanks so much for being involved, and if we ever get so desperate that temp mods are necessary, you guys will be first in line for the job.

My Hiatus

For those of you've who've been lucky enough to be spared my incessant rambling, I'm going to Japan from September 16th until the beginning of October. Unfortunately, I have to find time to pack, and study for exams, so I'm going to be starting my hiatus anywhere from September 13th onwards.

Lexie has kindly agreed to help our mods out if they desperately need advice, although I'm sure they'll all do a great job. All the other mods have access to the RL profile in case of emergencies, so I'm sure this forum will run smoothly without me (although I will miss you guys, of course). If you need anything answered while I'm gone, they're your people to see.

~is honoured~

Thanks Cuba.

You're welcome. I know you'll do a brilliant job. :)

Woot! Go Katy!

Yay Katy! *claps*

This is like what....your third, fourth forum you mod?? You're a busy gal! :)

Thanks!

No, this is only my second on fanfiction. (Four elsewhere I think!)

Hey Katy:)

Congratulations. I sent you a PM to congratulate you:) hope you got it:)

xox

I did - thanks Dejsha!

Katy I'm so happy for you:)

Um, as you are a MOD, I was wandering, I can recieve PMS in my inbox but can not recieve any forum emails. Does anyone know why that is?

Are you sure you have forum alerts enabled? If you go to the "alerts" page from you rlog-in page, you can check.

is that near "location enable and private messaging enable?"

Don;t know where they are! Go into alerts on your login page. At the bottom of alerts main page, there's "forum thread topic" and "forum thread alert". You can enable or disable them there. Personally, I have them disabled becasue I get enough fanfic stuff into my inbox as it is.

I lI think I got it

All right guys. So last night my computer crashed on me, and I lost ALL my music and all the stuff I had written. Basically everything is ruined at this moment, so I probably won't be on nearly as much.

And Lexie, you can still try to send my chapter back to me, as I will be checking up on everything going on and whatnot. I just won't really be spending a large amount of time here.

:)

Hey, everyone! We now have an official starting time for the Birthday Party of the Century. We will start at approximately (give or take a half hour or so) 6:00 p.m. GMT on Friday, September 19, 2008 (the time stamp on this site will read 11:00 a.m.) and will c arry on until . . . whenever! The party is being held in honor of the September birthdays of Bad Mum (Katy), Cassandra's Cross (Cassie), and Hermione Granger, whose birthday happens to be September 19th!

To convert your own time to GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) check out this site: http://www.timezoneconverter.com/cgi-bin/tzc.tzc

For details about the party, see the Birthday Party thread on the Sober Universe (SU) forum. Hope to see you all there!

No, no no!

Can we make it saturday, may see if i can have the day off... Oh, darn i've got my music practical exam!!!!!!!!!! No, fair.

Just a reminder:

The Noticeboard isn't the place to be posting your hiatus or any random chat. If you want to reply to something stated on here, please copy and paste it onto your reply at Randomness or whatever appropriate topic. That being said, please don't reply to this post on here either. That would just make my point moot.

/TML

ETA: I'm thinking party announcements are alright though, especially since I'm all hyped up for the one over at the SU. :D As long as your announcements apply to everyone on here, it's all good. :)

I'll leave it up to the MOD's to decide if this should stay in the Notice Board or if they feel like it should be moved to Randomness. I just didn't want this to be lost in the chat.

I just wanted to get on and thank everyone for their support for myself and my family. I wish I could pm you all individually, and I most likely still will but it will take time since I have gotten so many pm's from people not to mention those of you who have posted on the boards. Thank you again.

That's fine, mackgirl. We hope you feel at least a little bit better.

Just a few rules about internet safety:

All discussions, language and content, must be suitable for teens.

This means that sexual discussions, violent posts that are not made in humour and anything else inappropriate for teenagers isn't to be posted here. As a forum, we rarely violate this rule, but we really don't want to be reported for inappropriate content. If you really want to discuss sex or violence (discussing it in terms of fanfiction does not count), get a Livejournal or a blog. We just don't want to see it here.

Also, please avoid posting your last name, the name of your school and where you live (unless it's a major city). While I trust you all to be safe, I don't want anyone on this forum falling victim to cyber stalking or identity theft, and it's important to be aware that just because you trust the people that post here, you can't trust the entire world. If you want to share that information, ask for an email address or PM it to the person you're sharing it with, just a precaution.

Yes, my cyber bullying essay has made me paranoid.

Also, just another reminder to vote for the Reviewers' Choice Awards! We haven't had a lot of interest in some categories yet, considering the number of people in this forum, and we'd love some more input.

Just a reminder: the Birthday Party of the Century is tomorrow, September 19th, starting at 6:00 p.m. GMT (until whenver) at the Sober Universe forum in celebration of the September birthdays of Bad Mum (Katy), Cassandra's Cross (Cassie), and Hermione Granger.

To convert your own time to GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) check out this site: http://www.timezoneconverter.com/cgi-bin/tzc.tzc The date stamp on this site will read 11:00 a.m. when the party begins, but if you can't be there at the start, be sure to check in later as we're sure to carry on for awhile.

For details, see the Birthday Party thread on the SU forum. Everyone is invited and we hope to see you all there!

Grrr, I missed the party!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so sorry guys, but happy birthday. Is there any cake for the late comers?

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