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Webmaster
10-12-2005, 02:05 PM
The Dimensions Library Forums have been established so that story submissions can be posted here by contributors, either as posts or as attachments. This way they can be enjoyed and commented on right away instead of waiting in a pipeline until they can be posted in the Weight Room as was previously the case. It is hoped that the library forums will facilitate the enjoyment of all the various genres of weight related fiction.

General Statement: No sense beating around the bush. What we have here are, for the most part, heavy duty weight related and especially weight gain stories. Some are not very politically correct and you either love this sort of fiction or you don't. Stories in the Dimensions Weight Room Library (http://www.dimensionsmagazine.com/Weight_Room/stories.html) have accumulated over the years. A few go way back to bulletin boards before the web. Others were emailed to us. Most recently, authors have been posting stories directly to the Recent Additions Forum in this Dimensions Forum Library as the Weight Room Library is closed to new additions. Contributions are always welcome. Below are some guidelines applicable to all submissions:

Initial contributions: New story contributions may simply be posted as new threads to the "Recent Additions" forum of the Library, either directly or as an attachment file. We prefer direct posting but can usually convert attachments. Additions to existing stories normally should be added to the initial story thread, although exceptions are possible (please consult with one of our editors regarding such exceptions). If you want to use a pen name and remain totally anonymous you can also submit stories directly to our resident WG Story Drone - his email address is weight_tales@hotmail.com. Eligible original artwork (see under photos and artwork, below) does not have the same formatting, editing and classification issues as stories; this type of contribution may be posted directly to the Fine Arts Forum.

Excluded Contributions: Those that are off topic and/or primarily dedicated to other fantasy genres, alternative life styles and art forms (including specifically explicit stand alone pictures and drawings, vore, cannibalism etc.); those that include characters under 18 years of age (i.e., just like in adult magazines all featured models must be over 18, all featured/main characters in stories must be likewise); those that feature or include excessive violence or protagonist abuse; those not in compliance with pertaining laws, including specifically those laws related to incest and illegal drugs.

Sensuality, Sex and Pornography - the desired emphasis of stories in the Dimensions collection should be on exploration and celebration of the large figure, and not on porn and such. No picture that ever appeared in Dimensions Magazine was ever explicit or even nude, and no story was ever pornographic. We tend to permit a good deal of creative leeway here in terms of magic, fantasy and even eroticism. However, if a story is explicit first and treats size as incidental, it probably falls into the category of being a different genre. There are plenty of outlets for erotic/explicit writing;and we do not need stories featuring hardcore pornography and graphic exploration of alternative lifestyles here.

Photos and Artwork: Photographs and non-original art will not be permitted in posts to the library due to potential ownership difficulties. Original artwork will be considered on an individual basis for possible inclusion in the Fine Arts Archive or as a story illustration. Artwork portraying Dimensions Community members must have the subject's consent as a pre-condition of being considered. All such potential contributions will be judged based on good taste, relevance to associated stories when applicable and the objectives of the library.

Classification and Editing: All contributions will be assigned certain topical key words and a brief summary; they may be adjusted and edited as to font size, spelling, language, grammar and minor story flow changes. Gratuitous bath and scat references, as well as vulgar or profane language are not generally needed for effective stories; they may be deleted or altered in the editing process. Larger editorial changes may be recommended for author consideration but are not mandatory. Contributions may also be deleted if deemed to fall under “Excluded Contributions” above. A copy of the stylesheet used by our reviewers and editors is available here (http://www.dimensionsmagazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8201). Once posted and accepted stories will generally not be removed as this can lead to numerous problems, including links from other locations, search engine indices, and references to other posts.

Distribution to Archival Forums: All stories, after a period of time in the Recent Additions Forum, will usually be transferred/copied, along with any reader comments, to defined archival forums within the library. If a story fits more than one category a subjective judgment will be made as to which is the most appropriate archival forum.

Story Completion and Adoption: We do encourage regular continuation of incomplete tales, but do not presently mandate any specific time deadlines. However, incomplete stories in the Recent Additions forum will (after a reasonable time) be transferred to an appropriate archival forum; a story can always be transferred back or linked if added to at a later date. Incomplete stories in archival forums are subject to transfer and placement for adoption (i.e. – continuation and/or possible revision) in the Discard Forum.

Multiple, Continued and Updated stories: In loyalty to our fan base we ask that authors not overextend themselves. To this end we generally discourage concurrent incomplete stories by the same author; our editors will usually decline new story material from the same author while awaiting completion of existing incomplete stories (exceptions to this general principle can be made by special arrangements with our editors). Continuing stories may be done in the same thread or by linked threads depending on circumstances at discretion of our editors. It is always possible for authors to revise previously completed tales; this should be done by contacting our editors so that the older version may be either replaced or cross linked.


Searching the Library Stories, authors and phrases within the Library may be located by use of a powerful “Search” feature; please note that search keys generally require at least four characters - for that reason short story search codes frequently.feature a tilde (~) symbol to permit their uses (i.e., ~BBW, ~~WG.) Click here (http://www.dimensionsmagazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8201)for more information on the "Search" feature.

Polls and Stickys The V-bulletin system used in the Dimensions Forums permits forum-specific "Sticky" threads and thread specific "Reader Polls." Use of these features is generally restricted to assigned forum moderators; they should not be used by non-moderators without prior approval of the moderator assigned to the forum. Polls amounting to "what do you think of this story" or "should I continue this story" will not be approved. The reason for minimizing sticky and poll proliferation is that, if too numerous, they can overwhelm content and community enjoyment of the forums. Your understanding and cooperation is appreciated.

Bumping Bumping is the act of deliberately making a post for the prime objective of placing a thread at or closer to the top of a forum stack. To avoid possible competition between story fans and/or authors, bumping of threads to the top of a stack in the library is an exclusively moderator prerogative. Unauthorized bumping by others will result in post deletion - please don't do it.

Fan Comments: Most story and art threads in our collection are open for specific comments by readers. In addition we have both a special forum for general reader comments and questions plus another for comments about and to writers. The latter even includes author-specific threads dedicated to members of our Dimension's Writer's Guild. We expect posts in all three comment venues to be topical and civil. Insults and generalized name-calling (i.e. - "This story stinks and you're a terrible writer") will not be tolerated. However, constructive commentary, positive or negative, is welcomed.

Links and solicitations – as with all Dimensions forums, posters may include links to personal sites in their footers. Neither such footers or the body of story posts may solicit writing engagements, story anthologies, artwork or similar items. All advertising on Dimensions is done exclusively within the guidelines of the Marketplace Forum or paid banner ads approved by our webmaster; it has no place in Library threads.

Copyright and control issues – posting of stories to the Dimension’s Weight Related Story Library is by definition a non-exclusive but non –cancelable license given subject to the posted rules and style sheet guidelines as administered by our Library editors. As a general rule all postings will be permanent unless replaced by an updated version of the same story.

WG Story Drone
10-12-2005, 02:30 PM
Gracious thanks, oh wise Webmaster!

coyote wild
10-12-2005, 09:50 PM
so if we wanted a story posted, i assume we submit them the same way we always have? or do we just post them ourselves?

1300 Class
10-12-2005, 10:43 PM
Top show. Top show indeed.

WG Story Drone
10-13-2005, 04:39 AM
so if we wanted a story posted, i assume we submit them the same way we always have? or do we just post them ourselves?

Since there are so many stories backlogged in the Weight Room Mail Room, it'd clearly be quicker for writers (like Australian Lord already has - Top Drawer, AL!) to submit 'em theirselves.

We're trying to move those stories that we already have quickly onto the Board, but it'll still take time - particularly if you've just submitted a piece. Unlike the stories in the Archives, these are only being "edited" so they can be broken into small enough chunks of text to fit the posting window; they are not being edited for spelling, grammar, or sudden weight changes that result from the writer inadvertently leaving off a zero. But even with those time-saving tactics, there are still over a hundred submissions to put on this board.

If any writers have already submitted something and have understandably been chafing over the long delay in seeing it posted, why not push to the head of the line and submit it here yourself?

Webmaster
10-13-2005, 07:48 AM
...Unlike the stories in the Archives, these are only being "edited" so they can be broken into small enough chunks of text to fit the posting window...

I could set the max post size larger for this forum, but in the case of really long stories this may impact performance. A much better option is to submit long stories simply as attachments.

WG Story Drone
10-13-2005, 08:34 AM
At this point, the maximum allowed size for a Word attachment is 19.5 KB (only one of the Weight Room stories posted to date fit that requirement), so I found it easier to simply break the story up in the windows . . .

Webmaster
10-13-2005, 09:49 AM
At this point, the maximum allowed size for a Word attachment is 19.5 KB (only one of the Weight Room stories posted to date fit that requirement), so I found it easier to simply break the story up in the windows . . .

.zip attachment limit is 100k, and I just bumped the .doc and .txt limits from 20 to 50k.

coyote wild
10-13-2005, 12:49 PM
it might be a good idea for people who post stories, to rate it in the subject header (ex: BBW, XWG, etc)

I, for one, have become so accustomed to that system, and it helps one easier find his or her favorite type of story.

just a thought.

WG Story Drone
10-13-2005, 02:26 PM
Good suggestion. For the mailroom stories that are already posted, I've put the ratings in the first line of the intro, so if you hold your cursor over the title, it should immediately tell you the subject matter.

Phalloidium
10-23-2005, 10:05 AM
I could set the max post size larger for this forum, but in the case of really long stories this may impact performance. A much better option is to submit long stories simply as attachments.

Actually, it would impact performance in a positive way -- it's one less result returned from the database and less HTML (fewer posts returned).

adam
10-23-2005, 12:02 PM
Is this only for WG stories...cause ya know I don't really write just weight gain stories...I do some WG...but my focus is "squashing"...sometimes with WG in there too...so...what shall I do?

WG Story Drone
10-23-2005, 02:25 PM
Is this only for WG stories...cause ya know I don't really write just weight gain stories...I do some WG...but my focus is "squashing"...sometimes with WG in there too...so...what shall I do?

Actually, the run of stories here and in the Weight Room Story Archives goes beyond just weight gain (though obviously, from my name, you can tell that's my favorite topic). There are plain romance stories, fairly explicit sexual tales, long and involved descriptions of monumental acts of gluttony, and simple paeans to the glories of plus-size bodies, both female and male. So feel free to submit.

adam
10-23-2005, 08:45 PM
will post here soon as I can...another question...I have posted only at bbwclubs...would reposting some of my stories from there be alright or no?

WG Story Drone
10-24-2005, 08:53 AM
will post here soon as I can...another question...I have posted only at bbwclubs...would reposting some of my stories from there be alright or no?

You might wanna check with the clubs' moderators to see if they have any issues with it, but we've posted plenty of stories in the past that have also been posted elsewhere.

Webmaster
10-24-2005, 09:09 AM
You might wanna check with the clubs' moderators to see if they have any issues with it, but we've posted plenty of stories in the past that have also been posted elsewhere.

Good idea. By and large, it's always been the other way around and the ones we compiled have been copied by others. I mean, who else has 1,300+ stories listed and a story library going back almost ten years (and over 20 if you count the many that appeared in Dimensions Magazine and are also in the library and the Fat Magic section)?

adam
10-25-2005, 02:45 AM
So here we go.

bentleydev
02-22-2006, 04:32 PM
What about .rar's?

Observer
03-01-2006, 12:05 PM
I asked Conrad about this. His reply:

"There will always be some new file format that may or may not catch on in the mainstream. As of now, .rar is not supported by vBulletin."

My own research indicates that RAR files are a powerful tool for those whose hardware and software are able to handle them, but require special software and handling skills above the level of many. In any event, we won't be doing them for the present time.

Forgotten_Futures
06-28-2006, 06:48 AM
There's a free archive utility, TugZIP, which handles a very large number of archive type files, including .zip and .rar. Worth looking into if you need to create and maintain a lot of archives in different forms.

Fuzzy Necromancer
09-03-2006, 06:29 PM
Is there any list of definitions for the various abreviations, like SWG and RWG?

coyote wild
09-13-2006, 12:06 AM
I asked about this, and Observer told me to write some up. I did and never heard back from him.

Observer
09-13-2006, 08:00 AM
Apologies to CW, but I did thank him initially in a PM. His material with credit was used in the presentation (which also included material from other sources) given to the on line writers meeting we had a few weeks ago. The sparse attendance, however, was disappointing.

The need for this has not been forgotten. However, the focus of my time this summer has been on systematically moving the unclassified items from the old Weight Room collection over (which should be completed early next month) and professing new material.

coyote wild
09-13-2006, 09:42 AM
Speaking of that Writer's Chat thing...that going to happen again? I missed it because I had classes, but the quarter's over until the first week of October, and I am wide open.

Sorry it was a disappointment as far as attendance goes, but I hope that doesn't discourage from trying it again.

Tuesdays and Thursdays are best for me.

largehipslover
10-31-2008, 01:46 AM
I read the rules, but unless I missed it (I am indeed tired) I didn't see an explicit reference to copyright. I assume authors retain full copyrights when posting a story here, correct? In case I missed something, I apologize :)