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Wikia Mentoring Project

Wikia - creating communities

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It all starts with an idea. You wake up one morning, smack your head and say, "Hey! Why the heck isn't there a wiki about lightbulbs?" You fill out a Wikia application, and pretty soon, you've got it -- a bright, shiny new Lightbulbs Wiki.

It's yours, all yours! All that information, all that space... all those blank pages...

You start writing pages. You create a category structure. You set up a main page. You set some policies. You write more pages. You try to get other people involved. You write more pages. And gradually it hits you: Starting a new wiki is a lot of work.

At this point, if you're like most Wikia founders, you quit. It was a good idea -- a fragile, delicate, beautiful idea. But you quit because you felt lonely, and you didn't know where to go for support and advice.

The Wikia Mentoring Project matches up experienced Wikia contributors with new wikis -- a kind of "big brother/big sister" program for wiki founders. Our goal is to support new founders, and help them find their feet. A little bit of encouragement and advice can make a big difference.

Contents

[edit] What mentors do

Being a mentor is easy. You're essentially just giving a little bit of attention and support to the new wiki's founder.

First, pick a wiki from the list of new wikis. It's best if the wiki you're mentoring is somewhere in the same ballpark as your own interests, so you can appreciate what they're doing well. Click on the "info" link to check out the description page, which lists the founder's name. Post a note in the Current mentoring section below, so nobody else picks the same wiki to mentor. Maybe add the wiki URL to your userpage for easy reference.

Visit the new wiki. Add a suitable contact address (maybe your Central Wikia talk page) to your User page ("My page") there. Check out their main page and their recent changes, and see if you can get a sense of what they're working on. Look at a few articles. Check their "Special:Uncategorized..." lists.

Then leave a message on the founder's talk page (after checking "User contributions" to see whether the founder is still active) or on the most active contributor's talk page. Tell them that you're a somewhat experienced Wikian, and that you came by to see how they're doing. Give them a compliment about something specific that they've done well -- an article that's really interesting, a nice thing they're doing with the category structure, or something that looks cool on the main page. Tell them that you're available if they have any questions about how to get started, and tell them how to reach you.

And that's it! That's all you have to do to get started as a mentor. You're not there to set anything up for them, or help them create their content. You're just there to give them a little appreciation, and to help them out if they need help.

Come back to the wiki again in a day or two. Check to see if you have any messages. Poke around a little more, and see how things are going. Try to check in every few days for the first two weeks or so, then once a week for a while, and then once a month after that.

[edit] Basic wiki tricks

Here's some things to look out for when you're visiting the new wiki. These probably seem basic to experienced contributors, but to the new founder, you'll sound like a genius.

  • Are the founders creating enough content? You can't attract new contributors to a wiki that looks bare and anemic. The founding members will probably need to create at least a few hundred pages before anyone will bother to show up and help.
  • Are the founders welcoming new members? Saying hello to new contributors is absolutely essential to bringing people into the community. (See Building a Wiki Community for the theory behind the need to welcome new members.) Show the founders how to create a Welcome template, and encourage them to welcome new people as they come in.
  • Does the structure that the founders are creating make sense? Are they using categories to help with navigation? Ask someone who was not involved in the development to look at the main page. Does it have what they expect? Ask the person to describe what kinds of things he or she would expect to see when clicking on the 2 or 3 most important (to you) links. Did they expect the kinds of things that are there?
  • Is the goal of the wiki obvious to new contributors? Would a new contributor know how to get started, and what areas need help?
  • Do all the links on the main sidebar and editing page have some content? (Starter Wikia can help if not.)
  • Does it have most of the pages Starter Wikia has? (If pre-2007 it possibly has none.) Most of them are worth copying.

[edit] Sign up to be a mentor!

Please sign up to be a mentor! This is a new project, so we're still figuring it out as we go along. If you have any questions about the Wikia Mentoring Project, leave a message on Danny's talk page. Thank you!

[edit] Sign up to request a mentor!

Founders, or other active contributors who seem to be alone, please sign up here if you'd like to have a mentor on your wiki! (Include a correct link to it.)

[edit] Teklogs

I just adopted this wiki, there is just only one problem: I am the only active contributor at Teklogs right now, I am in desperate need of more contributors. I need help! Tcrow777 (Talk) 21:06, 3 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] WorldHealer

Yes Please! This wiki, which is here, came because there was an idea that wikis share knowledge, and that knowledge is a commodity, and that with enough knowledge anyone can do anything. Knowledge is the ultimate resource, and unlike a filing cabinet, a library, another person, soothsaying and the rest, wikis seem to hold knowledge in a matrix rather than in a linear way. The library is the closest to a matrix, but still reliant on a linear cataloguing system. So - I'm in love with the wiki concept. Also, I love the idea that, not anticipating any particular solutions to the needs present in our world, the right solutions might present themselves in such a matrix. Don't much care what the solutions are, just very keen to find a way to allow anyone to share knowledge steps towards solutions. I believe that wikis themselves are a massive step forward for the world...

So I need a mentor. I need someone who can take a look at the site every so often and be a mirror, so that if I need to work a thought through about what might work next, then they can discuss that until the right outcome becomes apparent. Feedback's good, I'm not remotely possessive about work so tell it like it is, and in case you can't think of a reason why to do this - I won't take up too much of your time. I just need people to bounce ideas around with in order to maintain perpetual progress! Thank you. Patrick 00:16, 24 February 2007 (UTC)


[edit] X-Files wiki

I would like some advice as to how to encourage more users to participate on the X-Files wiki, which currently has more than 1,000 articles but hardly any regular users. I've just about given up all hope in this wiki, so any advice or encouragement would be much appreciated. --Mulder 00:10, 23 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Disneyland Resort Paris wiki

First of all: my wiki is not on Wikia, if its against the rules, please move this request to the appropriate page!

A few months ago I started with my wiki on DLRP. I started in Dutch, then worked on the English and then improved the Dutch again. Both versions only differ in the amount of articles, the set-up is equal.

I would love a second opinion and some guidance on how to structure the wiki and encourage people to participate. Because thats my second problem: I receive positive feedback on forums but very few people start helping out.

--GrandiJoos 07:59, 22 November 2006 (UTC)

Actually this has been extended with a german version, too. The questions (and thus mentoring requests) are still the same. Even if that wiki is kind of unique, it's not so much supported by contributing users (except a few) and structures are a bit confusing (categories differ in each language, etc).

--Oliver 10 Dec 2007

[edit] Sylvia's Law Page

hello! this project has been on my mind for the past year and a half. It had to come out (it won't be called 'Sylvia's Law Page for long, but it felt presumptuous to call it the 'McGill Law Wiki' until there were more contributors - i understand this may be a chicken-&-egg trap, so I might reconsider the title shortly... something the mentor might like to share advice on...). I've read many pages by now, on seeding (meatball), being a committed founder, creating 100's of pages before anyone gets on board, etc. (the last one is daunting!). Whatever happens, this is a worthwhile effort for me, because it will help me to organize my thoughts about the legal education i've received so far from a distinguished North American University. At best, it will become an attraction-point for others in the law school community & beyond. I've a wiki/free software friend who's been sending me links to other law-based projects for the past year, & each time i've said, 'no, this is different'. Suffice it to say, I'd like a mentor. However, right now I'm even having trouble with even the most basic step, and I landed here. I'm embarrassed to be asking this here, so I'll go on my way, & figure out how to do it elsewhere hopefully. (I've got two pages so far: the second one happened at a 'prompt' from the wikia display: now I don't know how to link them together!!!!). Mentors honoured & appreciated. Sincerely, Sylvia B.--SylvstaB. 17:35, 8 November 2006 (UTC)


Hello there!! is anybody out there, Mentors! i know I haven't got that much up there but that's because there are some fundamental things I don't understand and would like to consult people about (the architecture, the searchability, the disambiguation pages -- all of which are primordial if this site is to thrive as a 'practical' reference page for law students). RSVP! thx, SB --SylvstaB. 04:31, 21 November 2006 (UTC)

SylvstaB. -- There are multiple messages for you on your talk page. Please respond to them, if you'd like mentoring. --CocoaZen 05:33, 21 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Jack Kerouac project

I would like to request a mentor for my Jack Kerouac project, if the wikia is approved. I haven't heard anything yet, although I have filed a skeleton plan. Thanks. Kerojack, Argenta 15:31, 11 August 2006 (UTC)

Cool -- when you get approved, we'll find a mentor for you. That sounds like a great wiki -- we need some more literary wikis here. -- Danny (talk) 17:52, 11 August 2006 (UTC)
Still waiting for some kind of feedback on my proposed wikia, seems to be taking a while, I expect this is usual? Kerojack, Argenta 07:43, 13 August 2006 (UTC)
Yeah, the Start a new Wikia page says it can take 2 to 10 days, depending on how many other requests are coming in. When did you send in your application? -- Danny (talk) 12:01, 13 August 2006 (UTC)
I sent it in on August 5th. So by your reckoning they should let me know by the 15th.Kerojack, Argenta 15:22, 13 August 2006 (UTC)
I'm sure there's a backlog right now, because Sannse, who's in charge of this stuff, was away at the Wikimania conference last weekend. If you don't hear about your wiki soon, you could leave a message on her talk page to check in. -- Danny (talk) 19:05, 13 August 2006 (UTC)
Ok, I got approved and have started creating and developing the wikia. Approval came through early on August 18. Kerojack, Argenta 07:40, 19 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] SVC Chronicle

I developed an area within Silicon Valley Commons to encourage members of the community to write news, features, and editorials on their areas of interest. I'm looking for mentors with experience in using Wikia for citizen journalism. Please post your suggestions here. Thanks; Leo|Talk 18:33, 13 August 2006 (UTC)

(See list at bottom of page.)

[edit] Kwish

Okay, at least I got to admit that I need help. That's a progress!

But seriously...

Kwish is more or less the Hebrew equivalent of the Shopping Wiki (although the two differ in flavour). My problem is how to get people to contribute. I showed the project to several people and also introduced it in some relevant Internet forums in Israel. The general response I get is "It's a very nice idea but...", followed by several objections that apparently I don't know how to dissolve. Bottom line - No one, except myself, have contributed anything yet, including some people who promised they will.

So ah, any help/advice will be much appreciated.

Thanks is advance,

--Oshani 15:43, 2 November 2006 (UTC)

Hi Oshani. Have you read the promotion page here? Are there any shopping-related forums in Hebrew that might have interested users? Are there any relevant pages on other Hebrew wikis who you could link to kwish from? Angela talk 14:44, 6 November 2006 (UTC)
Hi Angela. Yes, I did read the promotion page and I am trying to apply much of the good advice that it provides. I have advertised Kwish in several relevant forums, sent an E-mail with a description of the project to interested people and I am also trying to establish cooperations with several other projects. However, like I wrote above, the result of all of this is lots of positive sentiment but no writers... --Oshani 15:48, 7 November 2006 (UTC)
Oshani - שלם There's a certain amount of "seeding" that seems to need to be done before a wiki takes off. Without that basic content, newbies can't always see the value or understand how to add. See the conversation under Forum:Optimal Wikia Size about what that "critical mass" is. Apparently, it's about 1,000 articles and at least 3 regular users?
I'd help, but my Hebrew ability is minimal. In fact, I've been trying to get someone who can create the He-0 and/or He-L (learning) templates. Would you be willing to help with that? Thanks to my fellow founders and administrators, I think we may be at the point where we can give advice about things that help a new wiki (like templates to welcome IP users and encourage them to sign-on), even when we can't participate ourselves. --CocoaZen 16:09, 7 November 2006 (UTC)
Thanks CocoaZen. So basically what you are saying that I should focus now on forming the seed of the first 3-5 users. Any additional tips about that? --Oshani 13:32, 8 November 2006 (UTC)
See the promotion page mentioned by Angela above. Unfortunately, getting other editors is hard at the beginning, and not someting I'm great at. But the other key thing is the seed posting -- 500 to 1,000 articles. --CocoaZen 05:33, 21 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Kitsch and OthEr 0dd1tiEs.,

I picked this one up and started with it but I can't seem to get a stir going... I don't have much free time right now with underground web design and all on the move... help? cchristian

[edit] Kuk Sool Won

I started a wikia on Kuk Sool Won a couple weeks ago and it juust feels like it's lonely what should I do??????Jimwitz 17:01, 29 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Astrology Wikia

Back when I had a lot of free time, I came up with a great idea. "How about an Astrology Wikia?" So I requested it. But by the time my request was processed I was doing more things. Now...I have no clue what to do...I don't want to leave it but I'm not sure how I should make this work. Leave a message on my name page. I need help. LoneWolf 5 00:03, 20 April 2007 (UTC)LoneWolf 5

[edit] Nipponster Japan Project

This wiki has just been started. The mission of it is "to better organise and improve ALL of the Japan-related content online." Prior to deciding on wikia as the platform for this project I had been promoting the idea of the project to many bloggers and webmasters (who focus on Japan), so I think there is potential for a large community. But before telling them about the new wiki I want to have instructions and "how to" help pages setup. In other words, I don't know what to do, help me please :) --Toritaiyo 01:40, 23 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] JavaScript Wiki

This wiki is for educating JavaScript programmers about standards and best practices, providing a quick reference for the entire object model, and hosting "wiki scripts," which are required to adhere to those best practices. I've been administrating it, almost all on my lonesome, since September 26; a JS guru was editing with me but became heavily occupied with other issues. Since then, I have gone into hibernation at the (active) Programmer's Wiki to wait out either his return or a new visitor. I've recently founded Interwiki Integration and joined Society Gardens in the hope of generating traffic.

I'm not the most social (or tactful) person, so I'm leery of promoting, although I have made small attempts at the Dynamic Drive Forums and NerdWired. I'm careful to present all wiki projects I know about which the audience might be interested in, in the hope that this will diffuse the spam issue. I think I get around MediaWiki well enough, so such networking issues will probably be the focuses of your instruction. Thanks! --Jesdisciple (talk) 04:56, 26 November 2008 (UTC)

Hello? --Jesdisciple (talk) 17:42, 28 November 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Current mentoring

[edit] Introduction

Once we get started, this section will be used for mentors to talk about which wiki they're mentoring, and how it's going. We'll share some experiences, to help each other figure out how mentoring should work.

[edit] Mentors

Note: I'm not doing a very good job of mentoring here, due to lack of time. If someone else could help out, it would be good. --CocoaZen 14:20, 4 November 2006 (UTC)
can do, oh wikifriend of mine! of ourse, if you don't like that Idea... CchristianTehWazzit
  • Danny: My first project is helping out Gil and Bill on World Wiki. They may be running Wikia, but this is their first wiki, so they need some love. It looks like World Wiki is attracting a lot of contributors so far!
Boy did we need help! New user templates, mistakes in deleting people's work. It was great having Danny's steady hand there. Mentors Rock. Gil 04:25, 9 August 2006 (UTC)
I'm also willing to help out on Oz Wiki -- I love the Oz books. The founder hasn't shown up on it yet -- don't they know they have a new wiki? Maybe they're stuck in Kansas.
While I'm at it, I also just adopted the Dark Shadows Wiki. The original founder made kind of a mess and then abandoned it, so I'm fixing it up, giving it a fresh coat of paint, and making it presentable so that new tenants can move in. Job #1: Change the background so it's not white-on-black anymore. What a nightmare! Job #2: Figure out what the heck they were trying to do with the categories.

[edit] Mentored Wikia

Alphabetical list of Wikia being mentored (whether or not they are mentioned above):

Retrieved from "http://www.wikia.com/wiki/Wikia_Mentoring_Project"
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