Words from the Streetz: The Writers Guild of MDV is on Strike!? - by Streetz

[Streetz]

I appreciate all of the comments thus far. I have gotten through most of them. A lot of people have a lot of valid points, and when I discuss this with Tynion and the rest of the Writers Guild, I will use some of your points and hope that helps in resolving this strike quickly. At this point, I have received nothing formal from Tynion after his first email.

More later. Thank you, all, for your support through this tough time for me.

[Zaknifa]

I agree with the writers guild in the fact that you put in hours of work and do not get noticed, and I am deeply sorry for not posting comments on articles you guys write. But let's look at the motto of the site "What the Casual Player Uses!". This alone probably states what audience you are talking to. These are people who in their spare time like to participate in a social activity once a week at best and they come here to do a half-hour of browsing and looking, and in that half-hour they want to take as much in as possible and to fully appreciate and comment one must first read, and re-read to be able to put together a cohesive comment and spend about ten minutes of their time trying to create a comment that would criticizes you but also praise you. So speaking as one those casual people I apologize for a second time at my neglect and ignorance of the writers feelings and work, and hopefully we can get this matter resolved in an matter of days.

[SKEITH]

Originally Posted by dracofinalform

how hard are writers to find, ill do it for free. i love to wright, and ill do it as a personal fav. for my man sheetz. how do i start? i was thinking (for an artical) tips on card craft, or fixing the broken. what do you think?

If you find out let me know because I've got a decent article on Player to Player relations: feeling out an opponent at the table I could write up. Since it seems to be one of least covered topics here.

[Maleficent]

All this circular discussion is amusing. I do believe we came to this point earlier, passed it, and now are back again.

i love to wright, and ill do it as a personal fav. for my man sheetz.

I think I may quote this...

[hamsandwich]

if you want constructive criticism, i actually went to college for a while and majored in creative writing. some of your articles do blow and i'll be happy to let you know which ones they are from now on. i do read just about everything posted on this site and for a casual mosh player like myself i find it incredibly more interesting than several other sites. i also like the layout. i have to run now, but i will make it a point to go through and let you know what i think about a lot of recent articles(of which i wish there were more). keep the faith writers and please get back to work. if feedback is what you want, the sandwich is here to cut the cheese...

[Llanowar Disciple]

Ok, hopefully you wont look at my number of posts to get your impression of me, but here comes my opinion.

First off, after discovering this site 2 years ago, I was addicted. It gave (and still does) up-to-date card previews of new sets, interesting deck ideas, and great card references. I love this site, and I appreciate all who write and moderate for it. However, I had no idea the writers were disillusioned with the responses they were getting from their articles. As, I look back at some of the archives, I realize how little feedback they really are getting! Most get a maximum of 3 pages! I also did not realize how much work goes into the articles as well. Hearing the writers speak their minds opened my eyes.

First off, I am not very experienced with online writing and I have a few questions:
1.) Usually how much time do you have to write an article? (I have read many complaints about "crazy deadlines".
2.) What exactly are you looking for in "good" feedback? (Tynion mention e-mails, which seems slightly unreasonable)

Now, even though I am probably going to be bashed by both sides already, I am going to offer a few suggestions:

To writers:
1.) I agree that you should try to write about some more controversial issues. I'd love to offer my opinion on an article that brings up something great to argue about! Think about it?
2.) If you are feeling under appreciated, try to explain it first. I am all for workers trying to get better conditions, but I have a feeling that the general public of MDV had no clue you guys were unsatisfied. (I didnt) Maybe an article asking for more feedback or a conversation with Streetz about deadlines.

To readers:
1.) Offer an opinion! Congratulate the writer of the articles you read! These guys are slaving away and deserve to know they are appreciated!

Hopefully I have been at the least slightly helpful! It is my opinion that now that the MDV public knows that you are unsatisfied, you will get more of a result when you end the strike. You should talk to Streetz about deadlines, and he should cut you some slack. Maybe we should even get some new writers circulating on the site! I am sure there are some new talented writers that would like to try writing an article here!

Please do not be too harsh when you tear me apart with your responses!

[jokerinexile]

I don’t always post after I read an article but I can tell you every article helps me in one way or another. It may be in a positive way or a negative way but it does help. I may not get what is said at that time but later I would remember what I read and apply it. By that time I can’t remember where I learned that but I know I got the info for one of you writers. At some point, self gratification of knowing that you just might of help some one has to be the drive to write articles about magic. If you write to boost your ego and say hi I’m smarter or better than you; then just go play a newbie to the game and boost your ego that way. I take pride in those who I teach or draw to the dark side.

[FrycHiKn]

I thought that I’ll write an article about this but, frankly I stink...

------------

Hmmmm maybe I'm wrong but I need to write something about it...

Writer's guild, I love your work, their knowledge of magic is huge and by their writing also love the game...

So what are you trying to accomplish by the going to strike?
a) More money?
b) More opinions?

Option A: you do your "work" for free
Option B: If you don't write any more, why/how do you want "more" opinions?


Ok... It is frustrating that you work for free and not have a fantastic input... Well, I'm a casual guy don't know about the prix, world, the hawt deck and don't have a constructed, limited, stuff rating(only odyssey/onslaught tourney assistant ), and often my input is not appreciated, no one care what I'm posting(In magic related themes... )


So I know what that feels but... There is a difference between the writers and me a John Doe or Chicken Doe …

At least you do it for the glory and recognition of the magic community of course, you have work and stuff to do but, isn't a fun, joyful thing writing for the community?

Also, I think that a lot of readers aren't members of the MDV, just readers... So the input is different

So... that's it... Enjoy

[orion81785]

Okay...my turn to say something...not exactly a new member, as I've been registered to this site before under a similar name, but I forgot the password...streetz, you have my support 100%...I was that kid who wanted to write for you, and you accepted me right before your server broke down...I wrote about that elf deck...if you need a writer, I'm here with or without the others. When I wanted to write for you, I wanted to write for the love of magic. To get my point and my views across. Your writers are greatly respected in the casual magic community, doubly so by myself. As a casual tournament player, I've always looked to your site for the best articles I could find. I don't write for feedback, I write for myself. The writers here at mdv have had nothing but my respect, because writing a weekly article and keeping it proofread and perfect is tough, I know!! If they want feedback, I'll gladly sit here and post feedback, but I want something I can discuss. The feature article on salvation right now is one person's view of poison for the game, and the replies and feedback are outstanding. Writers, if you quit writing the safe article and printed more opinions, you'll get all the feedback you want!! We ring in 2008 with controversy? I want the best damn casual writing ever back. You got your controversy, now I want my articles!! If I see thought provoking or opinionated articles, I'll gladly comment and give feedback!!

This site is frequented by me because of the amazing articles you write. This site wouldn't be the same without some of the writers...

[Syphon]

You know what? I think I'll just drop my two pence here and be done with it. I believe that a reason for the few replies sent out to the articles might be that the articles are rather specific. Some people are interested, some are not. As some of you might remember, I was never a fan of Alongi and by extension, the whole multiplayer thing. I still do not read "The Ferret"'s articles, despite the presence of a new writer.
So the thing is that certain articles cater to certain people. Deck builders will drool at raiding the dollar bin, the mechanics (haha) amongst us will look at Luther's work. Etcetera, etcetera. You cannot just go pouty because people just do not like what you write about. It's life. Of course, I'd like to see my comments on Despair. But I am not striking because of it. In fact, I believe me going on strike would just result in more infractions. Just for the hell of it. While I do respect the writers, I feel that there is no place for pouting right now. You should be happy with a bunch of loyal readers. You can't win them all, and that is the truth of it. Now, the solution could be easy. Ditching all of the people who are striking could work. But that'd mean losing a lot of valuable members. (Yes Tynion, you are included. Surprise! ) However, remaining passive is not an option either. Bending over and taking it is not the right thing to do. Whenever the collective writers get angry again, even a slight hissy fit, and they'll expect more. Bah. A dilemma.
However, if option 2 is chosen, I can rejoin the Writer's Guild and dance the pen dance. Or, keyboard dance. Whatever. (Yes, even in this day and age, some of my stories are written by hand) Point is, you've want comments, we want articles. How about making interactive articles? That'll be fun! You cannot commence without us, but we can't do anything without you! Solution found!

[Yezzandrix]

Is it just me or was Syph's post 100% rant free, mature and overall allright?

*checks date*

Hmm, no April's fools today, either. Nor do I know of any bigger holiday today, and its not his birthday....

o_0;

Anyways, what is the current state of the strike? Are you guys going to hold on for as long as the Writer's Guild of Amerika?

As of right now, there where good and not so good opinions, but the overall consensus seems to be we would like to see you back at work.

There has been a real large number of posts so far, and I have to admit in all honesty that I didn't read them all to the fullest, scanned a lot only. But just in case it hasn't been mentioned yet: Some of you are doing the writing for the fun of it, I guess. Some are doing it to give the comunity something they think the community should get, be it knowledge or entertainment. And some of you do it because they want to keep their writing skills sharp, maybe even planning to be writing for a differnet website, eventually. For all of those, I can say, that doing the job is worth it, in the end. If you feel like you want to do it, then do it, and keep your head up. People ARE reading it, regardless, and they like it, too. I know the feeling. I have been writing for 2 hours on a deck description of a really wacky but fun deck once that didn't get any feedback, and that was really dissappointing. Did I quit? No, but it sure as hell did influence my posting policies. I want more feedback, so I try to write the same content, only in a way that I feel the audience will like better. I am not sure if all of you (some more, some less, I guess) are consciously aware that they do not write so much for themselves when they put up content at this page. They do it for the audience. Now they lack the big names Flores or Gottlieb (that one's a killer, baby), so they have to settle for less, and it surely doesn't pay as well, and doesn't get the same feedback. So you must try even HARDER to squeeze it out of people. Always be aware that delivering the CONTENT isn't even as important as actually DELIVERING something. Keep people on their toes. Making them want to post is easier said then done, and I am of no big help here, I am afraid. Getting people to read (and keep on reading) your articles, becoming fans of it and starting to get to know you better is the first step towards that goal. Showing character might help, too. Beeing "Yourself", as lame as it sounds.

The strike is not helping you there, I am afraid. And since Streetz is likely a wee little too busy to actually help you get more keyboard-addicted readers, or help making them keyboard-addicted, I guess all he can do is writing a REAL nice text inviting people to discuss heartly at their own will the content of the article. Since he can't do much else, and you don't really prosper in the downtime, and the audience might lose interest at some point, I don't see awfully much point in keeping this going.

We REALLY do take you and your interests, also your feelings serious. We understand your opinion. Yet overall, the tools you chose to reach your goals seem too short-sighted to really have any positive outcome, in the end. It takes a great deal of experience regarding the correct amount of articles per given time period, the correct length of an article and the correct style to really get people going, especially since you always have to take into account how many visitors you get in a time period, making it impossible to simply copy a style from say Wizards Main Page. I hope you stick to it, hand your experiences down to the newer writers and overall get your desired results. But writing no more will get you a lot of comments here and now, and after that, nothing.

Please, get back to work.

Thank you.

[Barachem]

What Syphon and Yezzandrix are telling is what i originally intended to say, but hey, i'm bad with writing words down in coherent sentences.
I'm sorry for having such a harsh tone.

I will not try to respond more or bring more feedback to your articles, other than the feedback i would have given if not for the strike.
Why?
Because even if i did that effort, it's just a matter of time before i'm back to the old behaviour.
So expect some feedback and response, but not much.

[Death_By_Beebles]

Originally Posted by Barachem

I will not try to respond more or bring more feedback to your articles, other than the feedback i would have given if not for the strike.

So, you're protesting against the strike, calling me a bad person for not "doing my job", and then you are telling me that you aren't going to respond because you just don't want to, along with the fact that you really just don't care about anything anyone writes, and you really expect this statement to motivate me to try and entertain you?

With that attitude, why would I even try to find out what it is in Magic that you're interested about? You've offered me nothing, not even a comment if I WERE to write that article that interested you.

Originally Posted by Yezzandrix

We REALLY do take you and your interests, also your feelings serious. We understand your opinion.

REALLY? Then why did it take a strike to get a response?

[BurnBait]

I've gotta say, I support the strike. I don't like the lack of articles, but I've been reading MDV for years, and even though I've only recently joined the forums, I really think the writers should get more out of it than they do. When I started posting, it was mostly deck assisstance and game-related activities. I don't know much about writing, and I figured it'd be better for the writers to hear the opinions of the people who knew what they were talking about than a new guy who might be completely off track with his comments or criticisms. However, looking at this thread, I'm frankly disgusted. These people spend their lives putting out piece after piece of their mind, if you want to really get poetic, "baring their soul". All they ask in return is a little fundamental bit of opinion. All it takes is two minutes at a keyboard to say that you think DBB, for example (this has no grounds with your writing style, DBB. First name that came to my head), would do well to consider other colors more. You notice that he has a tendency to go to black for his cards first, even if the ones he chooses are easily beaten by white's, for example.
Get a clue. Barachem, you just wrote at least two posts vehemently flaming the writers guild for removing their unpaid-for works of creativity from the site, with the argument that you don't want to revert to not posting. Think about this. If you do start posting more, giving thoughtful advice, being a considerate and capable person in the best spirit of MDV, even if you revert, eventually, to the person you are now, what will you have done? You will have provided feedback for who knows how many articles while you were sincere in your want to help the writers. You'd be no worse off than you are now, and probably better, but for a few minutes of your time every now and then. C'mon, guys. This is disgusting.

[Barachem]

Originally Posted by Death_By_Beebles

So, you're protesting against the strike, calling me a bad person for not "doing my job", and then you are telling me that you aren't going to respond because you just don't want to, along with the fact that you really just don't care about anything anyone writes, and you really expect this statement to motivate me to try and entertain you?

With that attitude, why would I even try to find out what it is in Magic that you're interested about? You've offered me nothing, not even a comment if I WERE to write that article that interested you.

Uhm, i think you're misunderstanding what i also tried to say and here i'll quote myself:

Originally Posted by Barachem

I still stand by my point that any effects coming from this strike will be temporary.
Why?
Because people are people and lazy, comfortable, etc.
Moreover, as pointed out by Syphon and Yezzandrix in the other thread, many people don't react to articles because the topics don't interest them, i for sure know this to be true for myself.
And if an article is interesting, i often can't come up with something interesting to say than the proverbial nod and if i do, it's a big reaction and more often than not, i just cave in to laziness then.

I'm sure many other readers experience similar things.
This is not something that can be easily changed and i think it's better not to.
I think it's the best for the writers to either prepare to start writing again, knowing that the road still is very rocky, hard, long and tedious, or to just give it up, knowing that it's senseless to expect a longer during change in reader behaviour.
As i previously said, this strike won't permanently change what has been occurring for the past years.

Yet i do advocate readers, including me, to start changing reader behaviour, if possible.
Not to respond to articles out of interest focus, but to respond to articles within interest range and to overcome the inherent inhibition of writing a small response.

Good luck and Godspeed to all of you.

Death_By_Beebles, you should write if you feel that you really want to say something and stop if you are too frustrated with it all.
You want an increase of feedback to service us and feel somewhat appreciated, great, no problem.
But again, you're ignoring the main reasons in my opinion why many readers seldomly react: No interest in the subjects and the lack of a quality response.

Yes, for me it's lack of interest in many subjects many of the articles here and i'm not gonna fake any interest in future articles that don't interest me.
I'll try to react more to those that do, but giving my general responding behaviour to articles in general [i mean on other sites], i think that'll be quite difficult to change.

Originally Posted by Death_By_Beebles

REALLY? Then why did it take a strike to get a response?

Well, because the strike interests everyone, is extremely provocative and thus stirs up discussion.
Maybe that's what other articles miss, the provocative part stirring up discussion, i don't know.