BSV Forum - Support - Wishlist
CategoriesCould the stories be separated by categories, Buffy!vamp or bitty buffies (kids) and so on and so forth. It would be easier to find stories with the story line that interests you.
Thanks
See, that's the thing: I'd like to reorganize the fics too, but that would mean the authors would have to select a new category for every single fic. I'm looking into options for that, but it has to planned thoroughly, otherwise we'll end up in complete chaos. But it is good to know that I'm not the only one who thinks the categories could use an upgrade. Thanks for mentioning it, I'll continue to work on a plan.
I'll think of something, I'm sure. ?
It would take a lot of work. Most sites divide by pairings, and we only have one of those. Sort by title, author, season? maybe? I don't know. Not awake enough right now to be helpful. 
I am upper management.
We have all that. And our categories are basically the seasons - with bitey/non-bitey for each season.
What I'd like to add is something I think of as meta-tags. Like with warning/genre, you can select several of those - but they won't show up anywhere appart from being a search option. Those meta-tags would look like what Jace suggested. We can't really use those things as categories, since several of those tags can be true for a fic, but our categories don't work that way.
If you had to choose one category, and your fic had Buffy having a kid right before she got vamped, which one would you choose? And in which category would people look for it? -- See, not the best option, that's why I wanna add something instead of replacing the whole categories system.
It would still be nice to be able to search the fics for things like vamp!Buffy!plot though. So meta-tags. (Or whatever else we could call them, cos so for this is html talking.
)
I'll think of something, I'm sure. ?
LOL Yeah, too many cats and fics would have to be cross-referenced because so many of them would fit more than one category. It'll be a tough one - good luck!
I am upper management.
i think the idea of putting tags on at the author's discretion, so readers can find stories through the search engine, sounds like a pretty good one...that ought to solve the problem, wouldn't ya think?
but what do i know, i'm barely computer literate at all 
I was thinking that too and that would be good, cause other sites have that in their warning or genre list such as "Vamp Buffy" "Claiming" "Babyfic" etc
Those ideas are good to be able to search for the using Elizabeth's term genre lists, would be so much easier. but then I'm not a computer wizard.
In fact, I looked at the categories again last night, and I think I might add non-bitey to the genre or something, and get rid of the Season x/Non-Bitey categories. What do you think? I think to a lot of readers, that differentiation has no effect but forcing them to do two searches if they are looking for Season 2 fics. When looking for a specific fic it might help to let the search know if it was bitey or not, but barely anyone reads ONLY bitey, or ONLY non-bitey. (And with non-bitey being a genre, you could still search for it.)
I'll think of something, I'm sure. ?
Are you calling me an oddball for not reading non-bitey? lmao
But, that sounds fine, the author would still be able to label their fic non-bitey.
Yeah, I don't know that we have all that many people who insist on the bitey with their stories, do we? As long as it's clear that Spike is a vampire and we haven't added any all-human fics everyone should be comfortable that they aren't going to stumble across something they don't want to read.
I am upper management.
That's what I think. Even when fics HAD to be bitey to be archived here, there was no rule about how important the bitey had to be. A fic with 50 chapters, and one 200 word long bitey scene would have gone up same as a fic with a whole plot based on a claim. And I have a hard time believeing that anyone would read/not read the first fic based purely on that one measly scene.
Besides, you'll still know if a fic is bitey or not, you'll just be able to search for Season 2 fics and NOT care about the bitey. (If you do care, you search for Season 2 fic with the Genre bitey.)
I'll think of something, I'm sure. ?
Michael Tomasello is co-director of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.
I am upper management.
If we get some volunteers, which I would be willing to help, and help from the writers know where their stories belong, we could probably get a list together.
these are the categories that I would suggest -
Seasons
Alternative Realms
Time Travel
Comic Season
If we had 2 or 3 volunteers for each category and a simple note from writers where their stories are best placed - I think we could do something. Volunteers could do up the lists and then submit them for the site.
If we can't do it, that fine - just making a suggestion that I think would improve our site -
Thanks for your quick reply -
Michael Tomasello is co-director of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.
Crossover (AtS)
Crossover (everything else)
Historical
All Human/Fantasy
Baby Fic
Claim
Song Fic
Some of those seem silly to have here, like all human, obviously, and historical (which is really all human or time travel), and even the mostly elusive song fic, but what if we added those and maybe vamp!Buffy or bloodplay as another? If we just leave the standard categories, then it wouldn't do much more good than just searching through categories.
Either way, though, I'd love to help.

We could probably divide the author list alphabetically between a few people and each person could make an individual list that we could combine afterwards into the one big list for the site.
Michael Tomasello is co-director of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.
Michael Tomasello is co-director of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.
I am upper management.
It would be nice if they did because it would help us 'the readers' find certain fics. However, as a fan fic writer I would list warnings, but not so much all the categories my story would fall in.
Example that I remember is maybe Dawnofme's story In Harms Way. She doesn't say its a certain type of fic like the ending can also fall under another category. In fact all she states is Category Season 4 and adult language for warnings.
Only Time will Tell by dampersandspoons is another one. Category Post Series, Time Travel, Historical with warnings of Adult Language and Sexual Situations. However, and not to give away anything but towards the end it suggests another category for this story. Yet dampers does not include this. If you think about it that's really smart, but at the same time something a reader would have to remember when categorizing certain stories for themselves.
I have run across many stories not saying it is a baby fic when in fact it does feature it...or a bitey fic that has claiming in it.
While I can certainly agree stories being categorized would be great (or tags) most don't want them for the simple fact of mystery. That is, of course, they don't list all the categories the story entails. Yes, this is highly frustrating, but understandable at the same time. And it would be nice if it was mandatory that all categories for your story are listed making it easier for a reader to search a fic, but then I think it would also be a deterent to the writer who wants to keep their readers on their toes? Well, that's what I think at least...
Any one agree or understand my gibberish? Don't mind me bored as heck at work...A very very dead day...why can't the snow stick so I can go home...lol....
Michael Tomasello is co-director of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.
Ratings - everything from G to NC17 - should give a potential reader a pretty good idea what the level of sex or violence is going to be
Category - all the seasons, drabbles, crossovers, AtS season 5, AU (not all human, just alternate universes), post show(s), pre-show and various seasons.
Genre- drama, humor, pwp, challenge response, porn with some plot, bitey, non-bitey, time travel, hurt-comfort, tragedy, parody, romance, angst, and something else I'm too lazy to go back and look for.
Warnings - just about everything: rape, attempted rape, extreme sexual situations, character death, extreme violence, spike/other, B/A/S (there's your threesome),m/m, dom/sub, Buffy other - may have missed one or two.
And, if it's a challenge response, the number of the challenge; so the reader can look that up and get a pretty clear idea of what the story is about.
I don't see much else that needs to be there. There's such a thing as knowing too much about a story. If you trust the author to tell a good story, and if you heed the warnings so as to avoid anything that really squicks you, then I think a reader should just take a chance and start reading.
There's no category for baby!fic because at least one of your mods thinks that should come under "Warnings" ROFL Kidding. Sort of. It's just a bit too specific for something that isn't all that common. It would be like saying "Spike's going to ride a motorcycle" or "Buffy stakes a red-haired vampire". As a rule, categories are more to give a potential reader a general idea of what to expect, and the warnings are to help steer one away from things that she really doesn't like.
I am upper management.
Michael Tomasello is co-director of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.
I gave examples of dawnofme's and dampersandspoons stories--how they list SOME categories their story falls under. We can't make them list ever single category. That is up to their discretion what they want listed or not.
Slaymesoftly--a question for you. I don't post here but does this site have an option that you can do multiple listings for what your story entails? I know other sites like EF and TSR you can list what seasons you use, whether it is alternate reality, human, baby, claiming, or vamp Buffy--to name a few.
Just checked most stories here have only one category listing from what I can see. Is this correct? At most you have Various Seasons if you are using both, but what if it's a Time Travel related story? Does that mean it then goes under warningsor genre? Or would the writer who is using Time Travel use that title rather than Various Seasons...
I think this is what is making it hard to differentiate here because some stories do have other categories that can be used. However, I still agree that gives an air of mystery to each story--only categorizing using one MAIN category.
Although, ultimately, for readers who read the story and love it, but don't save it...later have a hard time finding the story because they are selectively remembering parts of the story that aren't reflecting what they are searching for. I have done the search for a fic here before and found it frustrating at times because it isn't specific enough. YET...at the same time it is good because I have found you are too specific the story still doesn't come up on any site. Very strange...lol
I had a great idea but trashed it because way too complicated lol...Probably why I depend so much on Buffy-recs and Seeking Spike when trying to find a fic...

Since I use the categories at the other sites, and now will do same here, I like having the season & theme categories and all the writers notes. I'm not so sure that "readers only" are especially effected by "the mystery" aspect when selecting works to read. Sometimes I just want to read a story from a particular season or a theme - a good general description in the writer's notes works fine - with specificity in pairings and sexual content i.e., a threesome of Buffy, Angel, Spike and friendships vs romantic pairings. Most writers are good at letting the readers know what is coming.
There is works and types of stories to satisfy all readers - a good listing of major categories with good selection of themes (ones that are most popular with readers) is very useful tool and only enhances the site.
Would it help any is we used "search/categories" on the site subjects?
Michael Tomasello is co-director of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.
Personally, a seasonal category that tells me when the story is set - or an AU designation is enough for me. If the author has given a decent summary, those things, plus the warnings, are enough for me to know if I'm likely to be interested in it or not.
I am upper management.
Example:
I am pretty sure that there is a fic that Buffy and Spike say horrible things to each other (no surprise there lol) except it was after she found out she was having Spike's baby...He goes back to his crypt to nurse his feelings about her vehemently declaring she was aborting it...I believe Spike says something in Spike-like defensive behavior...and Giles comes after him threatening him at his crypt.
Any ideas? I know that ultimately they keep the baby and everything is all good...but I know it was drama intense filled...
Everytime I do a search or try to I come up with nothing sounding like this. Annnnd....how much you want to bet it's on my saved Word files. I so need to categorize what I save! It was an amazing story.
See, I agree with you Slaymesoftly about how to post it and the summary. I was wondering more along the lines of the search feature and how that works. I have even tried lines from a story and it shoots back other stories as well...or I get nothing at all. That's why I rely so much on seeing if someone else might remember the story I'm looking for. That excel sheet I might have to do lol...But so many are now putting stories into categories.
Way too complicated nmcil...is all I'm saying. It would mean Dia would need to change some major settings on 'searching'. And personally I think we are all managing pretty darn well considering this fandom is still going after all these years with losses here and there.
I am upper management.
Fact is that if you don't know the author or a title of the work you want, you have to spend time looking through a lot of works. I have spent some time today looking for a baby fic that I read a long time ago - and I don't like using the "can some help me" as my first go to method of finding a story. It should be easy to find since thre known characters are Buffy, Baby, Richard but nothing came up on several sites -
Michael Tomasello is co-director of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.






















































































