Author: Saoirse Ui Niall
Date: 08-29-04 11:32
Sorry, can't resist pitching my two cents worth. Wyatt posed some very pointed questions that all MoBs should ask themselves everytime they log into Pan. I'm on the board at three novels, a long-time member of one and co-creator of the other two. I understand that it's easy to become possessive of the creative work we do here. Especially in a novel I've worked hard to create, it is very easy to think of that story in possesive terms. But they're not my stories.
Quoting from the official Pan guidelines posted for MoBs:
Members of the Board may be the creators of a novel and they help the novel to succeed, but they do not own the novel. Neither does the applying member own the novel. Once a novel is created [it] is the responsibility and property of all its members and Pan Historia.
*New Novel application guidelines, posted by Calliope, 3 July 2004.
It's not MoB power, it's MoB responsibility. I remind myself of that every time I log in. It's not a position that allows me to direct, issue orders, and control activity. It's a position that requires me to listen, be flexible, and provide encouragement. It's not always easy, but it's the job we sign on for when we agree to be MoBs. Hitting the delete button should be an avenue of last resort when all other options have been exhausted. It is an action that requires almost no intelligence and very little creativity. Solving problems is a much greater achievement than throwing them out with the trash.
I think I'll print out Wyatt's list of questions and keep them posted over my monitor, just as a reminder.