Frequently Asked Questions
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1. Why have an automated archive?
An automated archive is a spiffy idea for several reasons. most importantly, an automated archive can do things much quicker, and often better, than a manually updated archive.
Stories are available immediately after they are uploaded, the pairings filter and the search engine make it much easier for readers to find fic that they want to read. Authors also have much more control over their work, and can easily edit the way their fic looks. Readers can contribute reviews and the software automatically notifies athors when they have feedback.
2. Is it free to join?
Yes, Season2Ep14.net is absolutely 100% free, and always will be.
3. How do I Register/Join?
You'll need an invite code to register/join Season2Ep14.net and begin posting your fic. These invite codes are pretty easy to come by though, so don't worry!
If you know anyone who has their fic posted here on Season2Ep14, just ask them for an invite code. Any one with an account can generate invite codes, and there are no special criteria for giving them out.
If you don't know anyone with an account here, or you'drather not bother them, then you can ask for an invite code from the site admin using this contact form. The answer is always yes, so please don't be embarrassed to ask!
4. Do I have to register to read the fic?
No, you don't. You only have to register to post fic, everything else can be done without opening an account.
5. Do I have to register to post reviews?
No, you don't. You can post a review without having an account here.
If you do have an account here, then a link to your profile will be shown beside your review.
6. I'm looking for a certain fic, how do I find it?
If you know the title of the story you're looking for, you can use the search engine to find it. Just enter the title in the Keyword(s) box and click the Search button.
If you don't know the title of the fic, but you know the ScreenName of the person who wrote it, then entering the ScreenName in the keyword(s) box will return all the fic by that author in the selected category.
7. I like to read fic that contains a certain pairing, how do I find just those stories?
It's very easy to find just the fic that contains your favourite pairing. At the top of each category page you'll see a Filter Box. You can use this filter system to filter the category according to your favourite pairing.
Simply select the pairing that you want to read from the drop down lists in the Filter Box and click the Filter button. The page will then reload listing only stories that contain your chosen pairing.
If the pairing you're after isn't listed in the filter, then you can use the search engine instead. This method is not as quick, and may not return all of the fic with your pairing, but is useful if your desired pairing isn't listed in the filter.
8. I want to be notified when a fic gets updated, how do I do this?
There is a feature in the works to allow readers who enter their e-mail address to be notified whenever a fic is updated by it's author. Unfortunately, it's in the works, which means it's not here yet. Hopefully this feature should go live within a few weeks.
For now, it's one of the features on the to-do list.
9. Can I suggest a feature that I think would be neat?
Sure! Season2Ep14.net all runs from a custom script base, which means that almost any feature you can think of can be implemented.
If you have an idea for something that this site could do that it currently doesn't, or an improvement to a current feature, then just get in contact.
There's no guarantee that your idea will make it into the site, but it'll definitely be considered.
10. I have a question that's not here, where do I get an answer?
No Frequently Asked Questions list is ever comprehensive. Some questions just aren't all that frequently asked afterall.
If you have a question that you'd like answered, just get in contact.
11. Who runs/created this site?
This site, Season2ep14.net and the scripting behind it is the creation of Ben.
He happens to think that the Buffy Season two episode Innocence is the best ever.
You can visit him here, where he rambles on a mostly daily basis.
There's some more information on how this site works on the About page.
12. How does the backend system work?
This site runs on a Windows 2003 web server, which is located in London, England. It uses ASP scripting and a whole bunch of flat text files. If you're really interested, there are more details on the backend system on the About page.
13. Can I suggest a fic to be featured on the front page?
As long as it's a fic that can be found here on Season2Ep14.net then yes, you sure can! Just copy and paste the address to the fic (from the address bar in your browser) into the message area on the contact page. You can even nominate your own fic!
14. I've spotted a mistake! What do I do about it?
Well, hot damn! It's true, occasionally you might spot a mistake. If you do, you can let us know through the contact form.
15. Your layout makes my eyes hurt, can I view the site without the graphics?
Clicking the Text Only link at the top, or bottom, of any page on Season2Ep14.net will convert the layout to a text only version. Clicking the same link again will toggle the text only version off. This is especially useful for those of you on slow connections who'd rather not wait for the images to load.
16. Can I view fic in a text file format for easy reading and/or printing?
Each story has a link to load itself in a text only new window, just below the Author's Notes. This makes it simpler to change font sizes for easier reading, and for printing purposes.
17. How can I link to a fic?
When you're viewing the fic that you want to link to, just copy the address from the address bar in your browser. It should look something like this: http://season2ep14.net/showstory.asp?c=1&id=281051910475918.
The numbers on the end will be different for every story, so make sure you test your link!
18. Where can I find buttons or banners to link here with?
You can use the images located here, or you can make your own. There are also some different images available for linking to The Zone Noir.
19. I'm not getting e-mail notifications when people review my fic, why?
The notification system will send e-mails to the e-mail address specified in your profile. So you need to enter an e-mail address in your profile to recieve e-mail notifications! If you have an e-mail address entered in your profile, and are still not recieving notifications, then check that you entered it correctly. If that doesn't solve the problem, then report the problem here (be sure to include your username).
20. I'm getting far too many e-mail notifications about reviews on my fic, and I'd really rather not. How do I stop them?
Removing your e-mail address from your profile will automatically disable the e-mail notifications. At the moment there is no way to disable e-mail notifications on individual stories - It is on the ToDo list.
21. Do you have a list of Beta Readers? If so, how do I get on the list?
We certainly do! The beta readers list is a part of The Zone Noir. You can view, and add yourself to the list, by clicking here.
22. Do you have an RSS feed for new fic?
No, unfortunately not. An RSS feed for the most recently updated fic in each category is on the ToDo list. If you're looking for a way to display/syndicate fic on your own website, there is a Javascript alternative. Just skip to question 23 below.
23. Can I display/syndicate a list of the newest fic on my own website?
Yes! Although there is no RSS feed for syndicated content, there is a Javascript alternative. It's very simple, and only requires you to copy and paste one line of code! More information is available on the Recently Updated page.
Season Towers LiveJournal Questions
1. The Season Towers LiveJournal, what's it all about?
Season Towers - The Writers Room is the LiveJournal writers resource and challenge site for Season2ep14.net. It provides links to articles, websites and discussions on fanfic writing in the Buffy'verse. As well as the writing process itself, it also provides the occasional fic challenge.
2. Can I friend/comment on/link to the Season Towers LiveJournal?
Absolutely! People don't seem to comment on the Season Towers LiveJournal very often, but it's always welcomed. You can also link to the journal, or add it to your friends list if you have your own LiveJournal account.
3. I found an article/web site that I think should be mentioned on the Season Towers LiveJournal, what do I do?
Sure, just use the contact page. Make sure you remember to past the address into the message area(you'd be surprised how many people describe a fantastic essay that should be linked to, and then forget to include the address!). It's not absolutely necessary, but it makes it a lot easier if you can also provide the name of the author/webmaster.
4. I don't think you update the Season Towers LiveJournal often enough, how can I help?
Well, you could offer your services! The updating of the Season Towers LiveJournal is limited by two main factors: The amount of content we have to link to, and the amount of free time we have to post it.
If you have either free time, or are good at finding the sort of content that we link to, then just use the contact page to get in touch. It's always nice to share the load!
5. Is there an RSS feed?
There sure is! Just point your news aggregator (or the program you use for RSS feeds) to the following URL:
http://www.livejournal.com/users/seasontowers/data/rss
Posting Fic Questions
1. How do I post fic?
First off, you need to have an account. There's more information on that in question 3, in the General Questions section above. Once you have an account, simply log in, and click the Add A FanFic button on your My Account page. Then follow the on-screen instructions. You should enter something in every text box, unless you are instructed otherwise. Please note: You need to have Javascript enabled in order to post fic (most people have it enabled by default, so unless you've switched it off on purpose, you should be fine.).
2. Can I post NC17 fic?
Definitely. As long as you select NC17 in the ratings option when you create your fic, then you're good!
3. Do you allow slash or m/m fic?
Yep, you bet! You'll notice that the pairing filter has no problem letting you select a male/male pairing, or a female/female pairing. Basically, as long as it's set in the Buffy'verse, or features characters from the Buffy'verse, then anything goes here on Season2Ep14.net.
Just remember, if your fic has sex, or graphic violence in it, then it needs to be rated accordingly. Wether the sex is boy/girl or boy/boy, or even girl/girl/boy/alien, it's all allowed.
4. I want to make a change to my fic, how do I do this?
Just log into your account and choose the Edit A FanFic option from your My Account page.
5. I want to alter the title/description of my fic, how do I do this?
Click the Edit A FanFic button on your My Account page, and then select the fic you want to edit. On the next page, choose the Notes option from the edit an existing chapter drop down list. You'll then be able to update your title and description.
6. I need to alter the rating of my fic, how do I do this?
Click the Edit A FanFic button on your My Account page, and then select the fic you want to edit. On the next page, choose the Notes option from the edit an existing chapter drop down list. You'll then be able to update your fic's rating.
7. How do I delete fic?
Click the Delete FanFic button on your My Account page, and then select the fic you want to delete. On the next page, click the button labelled Click here to delete this fanfic. You must then confirm that you do infact want to delete this fic. Be very careful, this option can not be undone!
8. I posted some fic, but it's not showing up in the recently updated lists, why is this?
Don't panic! This is supposed to happen. The recently updated lists are refreshed once every hour to ease the load on our poor server. This means that it could take anything upto 60 minutes for your fic to appear in these lists. However, your fic will show up instantly on the category pages, and you will be able to link directly to your fic from your own journal/website without waiting.
The recently updated lists run an hour behind the rest of the site because they are syndicated to other sites accross the web. Syndication can significantly increase the load on our server, so we only update these lists once every hour.
9. I'm not sure what category my fic belongs in, what should I do?
Just pick the category that you think is closest. It's only a guide to help readers find the sort of fic that they enjoy reading, so don't worry about getting it wrong.
10. My fic doesn't focus on any one relationship, do I have to include a pairing?
Nope. If you tick the checkbox directly underneath the pairings selection boxes when adding a fic, then no pairing will be displayed for your fic.
11. What file formats are allowed when uploading a fic?
At the moment, you can upload your fic as a text file (.txt), or a HTML file (.htm/.html). You can also type your fic into the posting interface directly (like on a forum). At this time there are no plans to allow Microsoft Word documents.
12. Can I upload my fic as a Microsoft Word document?
No. It takes an enormous amount of server resources to convert Microsoft Word documents into a web useable format. You could save your Word document as a text file (File>Save As and then select Plain Text(.txt) from the drop down list of file types) and then upload the text file.
It's possible that at some point in the future MS Word will be supported, but probably not any time soon.
13. Does my fic need to have been read by a Beta Reader?
Nope. Beta Readers can be very helpful, but it's by no means required. If you're looking for a Beta Reader however, you may be able to find one here.
14. Am I allowed to use HTML formatting in my fic?
Yes, you are. Only certain basic HTML tags are allowed though. Click here for a list of allowed tags. Any other HTML tags will be removed automatically.
15. If I upload a plain text file, what are the formatting implications?
Your formatting is dealt with in the exact same way as a HTML file, with one main exception: Line Breaks.
Line breaks in text files are automatic (so you don't have to enter <p> or <br> brackets when you start a new paragraph). All other formatting still works like HTML tags, so bold text needs to be enclosed in <b></b> tags and so on.
In almost all cases, you should be able to upload a plain text file, and have it display on Season2Ep14.net correctly without the need for any modifications.
16. If I type my fic into the new fic area, instead of uploading it, how do I format the text?
Formatting is dealt with in the same way as HTML files. Line breaks are automatic, and you can format text using basic HTML tags.
17. I can't post a fic! The Add A Fic form doesn't seem to submit, what's going on?
The Add A Fic form uses some JavaScript when it is submitted. This means that your browser needs to have JavaScript switched on for you to post a fic. Most browsers have Javascript switched on by default, so unless you've disabled it, you should be fine.
Removing JavaScript from the process is on the ToDo list, although it is quite far down!
The Zone Noir Questions
1. What is The Zone Noir?
This zone exists mainly because I happen to think that the Film Noir genre of the 1930-50's, as well as the slew of more modern films with Noir elements, happens to be the best thing ever. And as one of the best things ever, I'd like to see more of it in your Buffy'verse fic. The Zone Noir is also the BtVS Writers Guild zone for the Noir Genre. Or it will be, just as soon as the application is accepted.
2. How do I get my fic listed in The Zone Noir?
Just post your fic as you would usually, but make sure you tick the Zone Noir check box. That's it! A real person looks at your fic when you submit it to The Zone Noir, just to make sure it's a suitably Noiry fic, so don't be alarmed if it doesn't show up on the Zone Noir fic list straight away (it'll still appear instantly on the main Season2Ep14.net archive).
3. I know of a great Noir essay that I think you should feature, what do I do?
Excellent! Just use the contact page to let us know. Make sure that you include the URL of the essay in question (or an attachment if it's not on-line anywhere)
4. I signed up as a Beta Reader, but my name didn't appear in the list, what went wrong?
Beta Readers have to be validated by a real person before they show up on the list, so don't be too worried (Don't be intimidated by the thought of validation, we're simply checking to make sure that you're not offering certain male organ enhancements!). It can take anything from an hour, to a few days to be validated. You'll recieve an e-mail when you've been validated.
5. I no longer wish to be listed as a Beta Reader, how do I delete my details from the list?
At the moment, there's no automated way to be removed from the list. Use the contact page to request that your details be removed.
6. I've spotted some fic that I think should be featured in The Zone Noir, what do I do?
Well, if the fic in question is posted on Season2Ep14.net, then just use the contact page to let us know. You'll need to include the address so that we can find it (or specifically, just the category and ID numbers, which show up at the end of the address in your browsers address bar. But the whole address is fine.).
An example of the address to a fic is shown below, with the really important bit highlighted in red:
http://www.season2ep14.net/showstory.asp?c=6&id=1911200521214772
If the fic in question is not posted on Season2Ep14.net, then you need to get it on here! If you have an account yourself, then you can use the Invite A Writer option on your My Account page to generate an invite code, and then invite the writer. If you don't have an account here, then you can use the contact page to ask for an invite code, which you can then pass on to the writer. Or, if you'd prefer, we'll do it for you. Just let us know the contact details for the writer in questions, as well as the details of the fic.
Once the fic in question is posted on Season2Ep14.net, use the contact page torecommend it as a featured fic.
We can only feature a fic if it's posted here on Season2Ep14.net.
Still have questions?
Use the Contact page to e-mail an actual real live person.