This is a journal entry regarding my new site, codenamed Oas.is (sadly, that isn't the URL, though that'd been the plan) and blatantly advertised for quite a long time.

What is Oas.is?

Oas.is is my attempt to create the community that deviantART should have been all along. Don't get me wrong: dA is a wonderful community, and definitely a long-lasting internet beacon. However, it isn't the community people seem to think it is.

For one thing, dA is NOT a site to go to if you want to improve yourself as an artist. To date, I've recieved a total of 2 helpful comments on all my work here, although I HAVE recived comments. This is a big change compared to, say, my site ArtisansEnigma(.com), where I've recieved almost ENTIRELY useful feedback, despite only having about 5 active users right now. All due respect, it's pathetic that people should get such a quick response there. It could be different. It's not. And so, while dA is an interesting site, it's not TRULY a site for artists. Oas.is is different.

How does Oas.is expect to change art sites?

The real question is, how will Oas.is even be remotely similar? Here's something you may not know: deviantART, despite the new upgrades, is still behind the curve when it comes to handling your work. Oas.is will truly make things easier for you to work with, from making a profile to (well, duh) handling your artwork. You know that wonderful remake that v5 was? This will blow you away in comparison.

Artists will make portfolios, rather than just making a profile page. We'll offer profiles, of course, thanks to the powerful Zoints ([link]) profiling system, so you don't need to be worried whatsoever. However, portfolios really will display your true artistic talent, and more. We're thinking that you should be able to use Oas.is as a link for a job application. We're not just screwing around.

The main thing, however, is that Oas.is will not just be one site. Well, it will, but there will be multiple smaller sites for different likes, all of which share the same data. There will be a site just for music (oh, yes. We allow music. Well, DUH...), and a site for fanfiction. If you want more, there will be a site for that. But you don't need to see it all if you don't want.

Now, here's why I wrote this. I need your help. You have idea ideas: what will make things better? What won't work? Seriously, don't think we can't do it. Suggest, and we'll try to make it happen.

As an example, here's what we have so far:

Books
Writers can create something called a book, which, at its most basic, is a quick handler for other works. With a book, you can add any other work as a chapter, and keep things organized. Writers can sell access to their books for either on-site cash (Oas.is has an online "store" to get various features) or for real money. Artists get Prints, and now writers get Books. (Composers will get CDs, don't worry! Oh, and comic artists? You'll finally organize online webcomics. ^_^)

Writing Add-Ons
With deviantART, pretty much all you can do with a piece of work is comment on it, and add it to your favorites. Let me be the first to say: whoop-de-freaking-doo. Two things. Let's brainstorm a few ideas right now, shall we?

First of all, there's the Revision. If the writer chooses, s/he can allow others to make revisions of his/her work. The main piece will have a link to all the revisions underneath. Oftentimes, this makes for a great collaborative-effort piece. Or, if a writer has no idea how to improve her piece, others can jump in and help out. Revisions will also include a place to explain what and why they revised.

Next, we have the Continuation. This is basically like a centralized fanfiction thing. If a writer allows it, other users can add a Continuation past the point where the writer ends. Popular writers can now interact with fans in ways they never were able to before, which is our intention. ^_^

Add to favs?
deviantART has two real methods of appreciation: you can choose to add it to your favorites, or you can comment. Now, how about this for an idea? There's now a third section: a REVIEWS section. Serious reviewers get categories by which they can make a detailed review of a piece. Sound like heaven for you writers? I'd hope so. That's my goal, after all. ^_^

Plus, the writing section really will have a Digg-esque style to it. Spyed claimed he'd have that sort of thing, but he really didn't. Here, we'll have a nice system: either view by most popular, or by highest reviews. That way, you don't constantly get the same old stuff.

Author's comments, and story. Not very detailed, eh?
That's what you can do here. But can you explain how you were inspired? Here, you can. In fact, if your inspiration was another person's piece of work, you can include a link back there for reference. And yes, we will let you see the most inspiring stories. It would be cruel otherwise.

Fanfiction
Rather than having a fanfic category, any piece of work can become Fan Art. Each piece of work that isn't a piece on the site (i.e., things like novels, movies, etc.) get their own category with similar fan work in it. That way, fanfic writers don't get totally disconnected form everybody else, and people looking for original work can do so with ease.

Now, here's where I need your help. We have five categories of writing: articles, poetry, prose, lyrics, and fanfiction (which isn't really separate, but should have other extra stuff). I need help. What would be cool for each section? Would you like your lyrics to actually have music behind it? What about making a weekly paper with the best articles in it? I hope you see, we're not so limited as deviantART is, mainly because we're smaller. For now. Post here, and tell me what you'd like.

-Rory