Leadership

LEADERSHIP Within the [|FanFiction.net]  site there seems to be no clearly defined leadership. In most cases, there seems to always be group of control, one in power that will disseminate information from top down. This top down approach doesn't seem to be visible at first glance. However, if you look at the [|home page] , it is clear to see that there are at least a few people in a "leadership" role as they post updates periodically that provide members and users with necessary information and updates concerning the site. This is evidence that there seems to be a minor contingency of "leaders" that operate the site and make any corrections and fixes necessary.

However, that seems to be the extent to which there may be some level of leadership. The true "leadership" seems to be more distributed among the sites members. It appears that everyone serves as a "leader" as well as simply a member. The way in which the space works is dependent upon its members to provide "leadership" to all. Members of various skill levels are represented on the site. Each person is able to assist in helping others along their path of publishing written work because there will always be someone better qualified in grammar, content knowledge, style, or continuity. By the same token, there will always be people less qualified. This in turn creates a constant loop of distributed leadership as an individual can both assist someone and be assisted by another. This "leadership" clearly falls under the "new ethos" understanding of literacy.

One of the interesting tools, as well as useful, the site offers a [|Beta Readers]  section. A Beta Reader or beta, as they are often called, is a member of the "society" that steps up to offer their specific skills in an attempt to help all writers as they create their literature to be posted to the site. These people read the work within their chosen category with a critical eye and offer valuable insight to the member submitting the work. The fascinating thing is they work within their specific skill set offering advice based on their "expertise." Some betas may only focus on grammar or spelling because they are skilled in these areas, while another member may not be as well-versed in the areas but, rather, are better suited for story ideas or plot continuity. This expands the overall "leadership" within the community under a "new ethos" mindset as it allows volunteers to step up within the community and take an active leadership role, while allowing others to remain at a level more comfortable without the pressure to step up to the next level.