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The Full-Members System
by
Robert Betts
(Age: 61)
copyright 06-11-2001
Age Rating: 7 to 127
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First some History. Marine Life was conceived as a site for quality writing. The Monthly Contests were instituted to help that happen. (The site has moved to the new name Prose-n-Poetry)
At Marine Life we had about 20 poems/month and 5 stories... Nowhere near what we now receive. However, the numbers have changed only slightly. We still get 5 or so quality stories and about 20 quality poems per month. The difference is a much greater workload sorting through them.
Let's look at finances:
First essential monthly charges:
$45/ mo ISP
$99/ mo webhost (Dedicated Server)
$30/ mo Contest Prizes
$174 /mo total
Now, Themestream and some other sites PAID writers. Their object was the same... to get quality works. They failed because many would-be writers submitted anything just to get clicks and get paid. Worse yet, some of these people deluded themselves into imagining they were writers and expected to be paid.
So... If Marine Life was to survive something HAD TO change. We tried voluntary contribuitions. We got a few from some wonderful people but overall, it was just not enough to pay the bills. Advertisers or sponsors would likely dictate what our content can be so that would be a last choice. This would also likely send PnP down the same dead-end path that Themestream, Writtenbyme and others (who depended on advertisers) traveled.
And that leads us back to the beginning, where we started at... Quality works. If this site is ever to make any mark at all it has to have something different and unique. Having tried nearly every other combination we can think of, one alternative seemed to go back to our roots... Quality works.
Full-Members are by invitation only. All works are read and those who show talent will be asked if they wish to become a full-member. They are asked to pay $10/3 mo membership dues. They have green stars in front of their works on the poetry and prose main pages. They are automatically allowed to post to the main page.
All are welcome at PnP... We offer helps for 'budding' authors. Anyone and everyone may join and post works, but only those who show consistent quality will be specifically singled out and asked to join as Full Members. They are first screened by being recommended in the workshops.
But...Why would anyone pay? These people are the elite, the craftsmen. Prose-n-Poetry already has a reputation for quality works. To be listed here as a full member is an honor and is viewed as such in many circles.
Those who aspire to become part of this group are advised to continue submitting works, but even more than that, are also advised to read and apply all the writing helps which appear as articles on this site. The best place to start is bob's page. Also there are some great helps on the Prose and Poetry help pages, which you can get to by clicking on the left-hand menu.
If you feel you should be included or if you see someone whose works are excellent and you wish to nominate them, feel free to email me. You can also sponsor someone if you wish. First you need to nominate them and then see if they are accepted. We do not EVER want to see any talented writer excluded for lack of funds and if necessary PnP itself will act as sponsor.
Anyone who believes Prose-n-Poetry is getting rich will quite easily be able to count Full Members, do a bit of math with that, our fixed expenses above and easily discover just how rich we are getting... and I can assure you, you will discover that it certainly is not happening, nor is expected to happen any time in the forseeable future.
The contests are fully funded again and should we have any excess funds, better prizes and perhaps more of them will be instituted.
As a final note, a couple of months later, the Full-Member System is working well! We are now getting more quality works that we were when I first wrote this. Incidentally, for perspective, Poetry.com which is likely the major poetry site (for its name, NOT for how it is administered) receives about 50 poems/da. If you watch our poetry page you can easily see PnP is quite likely second only to Poetry.com in number of postings and definately superior in quality.
3/3/2002 - Someone recently emailed me and wondered about the benefits of Full-Membership. Here was my response:
Hi (xxx),
I guess I didn't really explain the significance of 'being invited'. Since I get the emails from our new Full-Members, I know how thrilled they are about being chosen. This is a significant factor in improving quality at PnP. Full-Members are also consulted on many decisions. They have the final say after I choose someone. ie all newly chosen full-members are screened by standing full-members.
Hence there is much there that Full-members enjoy. Uploading images is but a small portion of this.
The charges are not to penalize people, but to pay expenses. Full-members are also overall quite community spirited. They consider it an honor and obligation to help keep PnP in the black. They realize that excess funds will be poured back into the site in many forms.
All now pay membership dues. Any excess monies will be used to fund the goals of Prose-n-Poetry. The goals are to help children and aspiring writers.
11/4/02 update: We have changed to a system where all works by associates go to the workshop first to be recommended. Full-members works go directly to the main page. However, each work is subject to review and may be moved to the shops if not highly rated.
Full-members are leaders. As such they do have more to do. In addition to the required three ratings for each submission, they are also required to make three comments on works in shop for each submit they wish to make.
4/23/03 update. We tried having a corp and it didn't work. Power hungry people tried to take over the site. They failed and we are back to a Sole P. as before with Bob Betts as owner.
In all this one thing changed. The children stayed while many adults left. The result is that the site is even more child oriented than it was. We are changing emphasis. The site needs financial support to continue to exist. It's existence is a plus for many children. Full-Members should be honorable people who care, are not looking for extra benefits such as uploading images. They should be happy with the pride and satisfaction they get in knowing they are supporting one of the very best sites on the web... and helping young writers.
There is also one new category and that is Jr. Full-Member. Previously Full-Members had to be adults. Now we have a Jr Division. They are also expected to hold up high ideals. They are not requited to pay but if they do, they are recognized for that with a 'smilie' next to their name on the Full-Members page. If a Jr. Associate offers to pay dues, we will recognize that as an expression of his community spirit and offer him Full-Membership.
bob
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Help Us Stop Plagiarism -
Nearly all works at PnP are original. However a few people choose to plagiarize.
To check, choose a phrase from the work, then either drag and drop to the search box or copy and paste.
click on search and works at Google will be shown which match. Just to be sure, please do this before
you recommend or rate the work highly...
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05-10-2003 Gregory Christiano
Thanks for the recommendations and the invitiation to join as a Full Member. I would be delighted and will always strive to live up to everyone's expectations and enjoy the adventure of being creative. It was Vincent Van Gogh that said: "I cannot do without something greater than myself, something which is my life, the power to create." It will be fun also.
Warmest regards,
Gregory
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11-05-2002 Lyle Berry
Dear Bob,
Thank you for inviting me to be a full member of P-n-P and thank everyone who nominated me. I gladly accept this honor and shall do my best to remain deserving of the privlege.
Best Regards,
Lyle R. Berry
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03-01-2002 Nancy Pawley
Hi there Bob,
first of all, you are to be commended for such a wonderful site for authors to post their works..the atmosphere is one of family members and friends who really do care about each other..and you give it a personal touch with a capital P. Being invited to become a full member was a very pleasant and unexpected surprise, also an honor and privilege. I will accept if approved by the full membership.
Having people read and appreciate my writings is all that really matters to me.
Money is secondary although an added plus, and the membership dues..everyone has to pay their dues, one way or another.
Thank you,
Nancy
If the full membership approves me, I will gladly accept..Prose-N-Poetry has felt more like a family to me in the short time I have been here than at other places where I've submitted my works.
Thank you once again for this honor,
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01-14-2002 Ryszard Krasowski
Hi Bob,
Thank you very much for inviting me to become a full member of MarineLife and for your nice comment about my scribbles. I am thrilled, flattered and a little confused. I write my awkward stories not to compete with anyone but as I mentioned in my bio to show to those who complain that immigrants don't learn or don't want to learn English in the country where English is spoken that if I can do it, other newcomers can do it too. I am confused because I don't regard myself as a writer although I try to express my thoughts in written words and I don't expect anyone to pay me for what I do. I am already rich with all the numbers of people who read my stories and even richer with the comments they leave.
If you don't mind I will stay with you as a Associate Member but if this is against the rules of your site then I will write for myself.
Thank you again,
Ryszard
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11-27-2001 Paulette Weaver
Bob, thank you for that very insightful report.
That only makes someone like me work that much harder. I am very enthused about this venture on which I am about to embark. The written word has such power; the possibilities are endless. Who knows where it will lead. I do not know what exceeds what: my excitement or my enthusiasm.
Paulette
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09-03-2001 Betty Eskdale
I appreciate being invited to join, I do not need to have a monetary reward. The respect and supportive comments I receive from the elite writers satisfies my soul. It is not expedient for me to send money, I am unable, but I didn't seek sponsorship, perhaps I should.
I am from the old school, I pay particular attention to spelling and grammar, perhaps I could help by proofreading for the submissions, what do you think? Maybe that would help me to contribute without sending money?
You have some great writers here, I appreciate all your hard work, Bob and believe me I think the price is well worth it, your explantion was very good. Maybe monetary prizes are important to some, I will continue to write for posterity.
Your friend in writing, Betty
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04-01-2001 Beverley McInnis
Hello Bob,
It was great that you posted this article as it helps newbies, like me, to better understand the financial end of the site and to better appreciate all the work that has gone into it.
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04-01-2001 Sharron Tyrrell
Thank you Bob for the invitation to become a full member. I do enjoy it here and think that the small fee I pay is nothing compared to the pleasure I get from this sight. Good luck with your new job. And if there is anything I can do to help ... count me in.
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04-01-2001 Nan Jacobs
You know, anyone could put up their own web page and start writing 'for free'. But for a few dollars per month (the price of a McD's meal, ya know, and a much healthier option for your bucks), now you have someone helping with the marketing logistics(search engines etc) and better software capabilities, as well as the opportunity to work with some fine individuals toward creating a viable writer's community. I consider this an honor *and* a bargain, and those who bail out now are bailing either because they're not serious about or interested in the community aspect of Marine Life, or simply have already established themselves more fully somewhere else.
Whatta guy, you go, Bob! :-)
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