Go on - you know you want to.

We're not exactly starving yet - we have enough stories out being edited and in the upload queue to last us the next week or so.

But, while updating the TOCs just now, I noticed quite a lot of stories out there - including quite a few vignettes - that could be making the way to the Archive if their authors were so inclined. And I know that with everyone's minds squarely on the Kerths right now, sometimes sending a submission or two to the Archive can get forgotten about.

As always, anything you submit will be very welcome!

So, go on, feed a hungry archive today!

LabRat

Incidentally, a couple of weeks back, I sent a batch of nagging emails out to all of you who posted stories here on the mbs in 2007 which never made it to the Archive, inviting you to send them in if you were keen.

I didn't get many replies - which was surprising as last year I got replies (and stories) from almost everyone I mailed - and I've since heard from three FoLCs at least that they never received the email.

So if you're in this group and didn't hear from me - your stories would be very welcome also!

LabRat (who remembers that Mary (Queen of the Capes) seemed to make up the bulk of the numbers )

Labrat, I never got such an e-mail, although I did post a story in 2007. I'm wondering if others didn't get your e-mail as well, and there's the answer?

c.

I've still got a couple three on the hard drive that have been posted but not archived yet.

I have to dole them out carefully since I don't write much anymore.

Tank (who doesn't write much any more but still likes to read the work of others)

Yes, that was the point of my previous post, Carol. That I suspect many of them went into spam folders or just never made it.

I don't think I sent you an email - I don't remember your name being on the list I was given. (Each January a very kind FoLC sends me a list of stories posted to the mbs in the previous year which never made it to the Archive, so that I can 'chase them up' so to speak.) Perhaps it was missed out of the list in error.

But certainly if you have a story you wish to submit, it'll be very welcome!

LabRat

That's okay, Labrat. I'll take that kind Folc's list as a sign that the story is best left off.

c.

Not on your life, Ms Malo.

BTW, Labby, one of my stories that you asked after is undergoing a major overhaul that should double its length. I plan on working on it in my abundance of free time, in between teaching, Kerth-reading and my other what-nots. (Since all of my e-mails to the state Senate were successful, that should clear up several minutes each day. Maybe...)

Elisabeth

Well, I'd be more inclined to think it was a simple error, Carol - seems much more likely.

But, as ever, submissions to the Archive are entirely up to the individual author. Stories are always welcome, but we wouldn't twist any arms.

LabRat

Thanks, Elisabeth, for the thought. But that Labrat's list maker didn't notice the fic tells you something

c.

CCMalo, if you mean, Invitation , then I think your wrong and a double-digit comment folder proves it.

James

Again, I think all it probably tells us, Carol, is that people can make mistakes when they're making up lists. I wouldn't look any deeper than that really.

But, as it happens, my font of all knowledge tells me that Invitation was in fact on the list, so that blows your theory a tad.

In fact, apparently you would be able to submit two stories as Fact Of The Matter from last year's list is apparently still 'outstanding', as well.

But again, I reiterate, there's no need to search for excuses not to submit. It's entirely voluntary whether you want your stories on the Archive or not. We won't come after you with a warrant, I swear.

LabRat

It's always been voluntary.

Thanks, Labrat, for checking. Good to know I was on the list after all. I'd based my theory on your comment that I was not on your source's list. But I just didn't get an e-mail.

c.

So that means you'll consider sending in your stories, Carol? And yeah, what Elisabeth said.

Sometimes we don't receive mails (even bulk mails) and that's not the mistake of the sender. Make sure your Mail Account's Bulk Inbox is enabled - some web sites have that option.

We can't expect Labby to go posting individual mails to everybody (hundreds of authors who have posted this year) to nag them into sending their stories to the archive. Besides, I think it is each and every FoLC-author's responsibility to help Labby keep the archive running, as it is now, by just posting the stories to her. She has enough work to do as it is and she can't go on verifying if they are on her list or if they received her mails!

I personally would like to thank Labrat for all of the hard work she puts into keeping the archive up. I really appreciate it. I have sent in all of my stories, and they have been assigned out and uploaded quickly.

I also have sent in all of the nfic vignettes I wrote last year to the nfic archive, and only two of them have actually been uploaded.

It amazes me how fast Labrat gets the stories out to GE's. She'd make a great editor because she's clearly veryyyyyy organized!

CG, my e-mail works fine, but thank-you for your interest. As Labrat said, she didn't think she'd sent me an e-mail in the first place. It's as simple as that.

I posted originally because Labrat posted this:
Since I hadn't got one, I thought that something had happened to that set of e-mails and so I posted my first comment above suggesting that. I figured at that time a lot of people probably didn't get those e-mails.

Btw, I too agree that there's no need to send out such notes in the first place.

And heaven knows I appreciate the work of all those over the years who have laboured to create the Archive and keep it running so well. Have said so on many occasions and written private "thank-you's" as well.

c.

To clarify - if your name was on the list, Carol - and we've since established that it was - I sent you an email. I sent a huge batch out all at the same time, so I may not recall specifics - but I do know I missed no one out who was on the list.

LabRat

Yes, Labby definitely deserves a huge thank you for all her hard work.

Absolutely!!

Labby also deserves some kind of Lifetime Achievement Award for her extremely patient work with writers-who-are-insecure-to-the-point-of- paranoia.

CC (referring to herself, of course )

Adding my thanks for Labby's her hard work and dedication.

Carol, CG wasn't saying that your email wasn't working, she was just offering a possible suggestion as to why you hadn't gotten Labby's email. It's a simple fact that, just as with "snail" mail, sometimes email goes missing. Where it wanders off to the nether reaches of cyber-space, I have no idea, but certainly I've run into occasions where I know I've sent someone email, yet they never receive it. And vice versa. It doesn't mean there's anything wrong with the email address or account.

Kathy

labrat posted earlier:

She then checked a second time and said that my name was on the list but that she didn't think she'd sent me an e-mail. I assumed that was the end of it.

But then CG made a suggestion which, as it turns out, doesn't apply here which is what I explained in my post. It was good of CG to take an interest, however.

Kathy and CC, it could also be that the e-mails from Labrat's end didn't all deliver, although I would think she'd have got notice of those that bounced. You're making me feel like the bad guy here:) But honestly, I do check the spam features on my e-mail, etc.

c.

Okay! Truce! I'm sorry for re-kindling the dying sparks over this issue!

BOTTOMLINE : Authors who want to post stories to the archive please do so and don't worry/wait for PMs, E-Mails and other messages to be delivered to you personally and worry over missed/delayed/lost messages.
(Oh, BTW that should have been Labby's line. I'm just borrowing it since it seems I've been the one poking my rather long nose in this matter!)

And nobody's the bad guy!!! And definitely, NOT me! I NEVER meant it that way!

Oh, and Labby, I really appreciate and am wonderstruck over your hard-work and organization in running the archive!

Great job, and please don't worry over unreceived EMails LOST DUE TO INTERNET FACTORS!

Carol, this isn't what I'm meaning to do at all. Perhaps I'm not explaining myself well.

I know that Labby said that she hadn't thought you were on her list. I was responding strictly to your comment that you didn't think there was anything wrong with your email. And I'm not saying that there is.

My point is that no matter how often you confirm your spam filters, check your Junk Email folder, etc., there can be times when an email is sent by Person A that Person B never receives. Person A hasn't done anything wrong, Person B hasn't done anything wrong. But for some reason, this email doesn't show up. And Person A would not necessarily receive a bounce-back notice. This has happened - both with mail to me and from me - more than once. I have no explanation for it, but only that the situation can occur.

That's all I meant.

Kathy

CG, no one should ever worry about things that get lost in the e-mail.

Honestly, when Labrat first posted I thought I was being helpful in posting that I hadn't received a note. That way she'd be able to cross check with her own records and get an idea of what was going on. I wish now I had sent her a private note, instead. or maybe just not bothered.

It never crossed my mind that there could be any other explanation . This is the first time I was ever aware that Labrat sent out these reminder notes (it's a nice idea, btw). Please don't misconstrue what I wrote as anything else. As I said earlier, I have always been very appreciative of what the archive has done over the years, as I have posted on other occasions.

The archive has owed its existence to a succession of committed EICs, GEs, and also to Lauren who took over the maintance, uploading and other tasks of the Archive after it was first started. Please forgive me, I've forgotten the name of the person who started the archive - I hope someone will add in a note about that.

c.

Just read Kathy's post. Yes, that does explain your point a bit more. E-mail screw-ups can happen at either end, sender or receiver. As well, there are sometimes other factors, too. It looks like in this case we can never know for sure what happened. Although I admit to being concerned that I hadn't been on the original list that Labrat received, once she rechecked and found that I was, that ended my concern as I stated above.

Anyway, who knows what exactly happened? Don't think it matters.

c.