I have identified a problem and propose a solution that will absolutely enhance this platform - how much it enhances Steemit is merely up to us. Oh, and did I mention it's easy?
Please give this a moment of your time and I promise I will do my very best to make it entirely worth it!!
We All Want to Create Better Content, But Not Everyone Knows How
When I came to Steemit, 6 months ago, I was overwhelmed with information. Had it not been for my friend @finnian (who invited me here to Steemit) for helping me find answers - I'm not sure I would've made it this far! I had no idea what Steemit was, how it worked, or even how the post editor worked. I had some HTML knowledge and virtually no markdown knowledge when I came to Steemit.
I learned a TON from reading tips and tutorials from fellow steemit authors but after a while, I realized that not everyone goes digging for that information. Not everyone proofreads their posts or edits the errors for that matter. Maybe it's a time issue. If so, maybe people do not know about free tools like Grammarly, which leaves no more excuses... 😆
After just weeks of being on Steemit, I realized that there were some major problems with plagiarism, misuse & infringement on copyrights, and a huge disconnect between user's content and the platform's abilities. I observed that a majority of authors simply do not format their writing and essentially miss out on more readers and votes. I have seen some improvement in that area, but it still greatly lacks. This platform has the tools in place (although it could use some more) to really create excellent content for the web. That brings more users to this platform and it's something worth working towards - creating better content!
Many great authors struggle to format and create media for posts, but we can change that. I feel that I must share this idea that I believe will inevitably increase quality content on Steemit.
WHY don't more people format their posts? Formatting text and images, breaking up text walls with media, and making the reader's experience a more enjoyable one is NOT impossible. At least not anymore...
People avoid formatting and custom media for two main reasons:
• They do not know how to do it
• They do not want to take an extra step (they are not concerned with quality)
A little HELP solves it all for the first bunch - the second bunch won't matter when there are fewer of them. Education is a key to success and I want more people holding their own keys.
What's My Idea?
It's simple: I want to voluntarily offer my skills, resources/tools, and assistance to authors on steemit that feel that their content would benefit from presenting in a more aesthetically pleasing way! Told you it was simple.
I have already shared this idea in the PAL / MSP DISCORD in the Art Services & Discussion Chat & I expressed to them my interest in pursuing this idea. Now, I'd like to see what my readers think.
WHY?
That's simple, too... WHY NOT?!
I love to create content and media - why not create more of it and help great authors find greater success? I want to see Steemit grow in positive ways and better content is better for all of us. Many great authors are overlooked here and there are many variables that play into that. I'm simply offering this idea in the raw form, to the steemit community, because it is something that I can & others can do too! The more people willing to offer a helping hand with this initiative the better, so please leave a comment below if you'd like to join forces.
HOW?
This is also pretty simple - I tried my best to simplify this process, but we can always improve it from here!
I found a real-time multi-party document editor, called etherpad.org. It's an open source project
Etherpad is a highly customizable Open Source online editor providing collaborative editing in really real-time.via http://etherpad.org
THIS CAN BE CUSTOMIZED FOR OUR NEEDS
I am not a developer, but I'm sure I could find one here on Steemit! I'd love to had a tool that runs directly on the Steemit Blockchain, but as far as I know, there is not. Etherpad will certainly work for now and if there is a developer or code whiz that would like to help set up a customized instance on Etherpad OR on the Steemit Blockchain - hit me up.
THE PROCESS
Assuming we have the document editor on Etherpad, we would have an editor setup, where the author and I (the format editor/design aid) will be.
• The author would then copy and paste their text for their post into the editor box, once they have reached the doc editor.
• I (format + design helper) would aid in breaking up text, adding various text sizes for headlines, emphasis, etc.
• I could suggest media or sources that are open license and free from copyright or help create custom graphics/media, etc.
• The author and I would be able to collaborate in real-time about what changes to make and what is being done.
note: It would allow authors with no experience in coding or markdown to learn - on the fly - with their own content! They would essentially be learning how to format and alter their posts simply by observing the changes, live, in front of their eyes.
•When the document is formatted and complete, the author will copy and paste it into their Steemit post box, add their tags and submit. That's pretty simple.
THE FINE DETAILS
These will be ironed out, but consider this more of me thinking out loud
Since this service would be totally voluntary, it would be at my own discretion. In simple terms: I am not going to format shit-posts, plagiarism, or content that I feel does not benefit the platform. I will review each author request and respond accordingly.
Some posts are long, some are short. For lengthy or high-intensity posts that require more work, I might consider negotiating a reasonable return. I'm not able to commit a great deal of time, so I am trying to spread out my available time to as many great authors as possible.
There are many just like me. Imagine if 10 or 20 people were doing this. How about 10,000 or 20,000... How much better we would all get from raising the standard of how we present information on this platform. I think it would make a tremendous impact on quality and inevitably make us all better creators.
ETHERPAD must be downloaded from the etherpad.org site. I realize that is not optimal. Again, I'd prefer this sort of tool to function right on the steemit blockchain - like the wonderful tools on Steemtools.com, but I have no idea how to create that. I'd love to work with someone who does!
People around the globe present things slightly different - that's why I'm sharing this idea - I need all of you creators around the globe to contribute your skills however you can. Together we will enhance the way information is presented on Steemit. That's beautiful.
Considering this is something that I am doing voluntarily, at my own discretion, for authors that I feel are undervalued - MY VOTE & RESTEEM is virtually guaranteed. I will ask the author allow me to place a small footer graphic in the post and that's it - no strings attached. The graphic would link to a post explaining this service and how to use it (to be written).
I would like to encourage ANYONE that would like to work with me to improve upon this idea to please leave a message below in the comments
If you would like your content to be reviewed and be one of the first to work with me, please drop a message below + a link if you would like!
THIS IS IN CONCEPT PHASE CURRENTLY • IF THERE IS INTEREST IN THIS CONCEPT - I WILL BREATHE LIFE INTO IT • YOU DECIDE.
The editing challenge on top of the normal writing one makes this place a constant struggle. I can write reasonably well, but I'm not an artist like you. Your graphical art has helped me tremendously, and I can never thank you enough for the help. Thank you!
This is a great service to offer, and I agree that steemit.com should incorporate a better editor for people to use. As I write my posts, I copy and paste the content out to google docs as I go. That way I cannot lose my work.
I have a google keep note with my editing code too. It allows me to keep a template and not have to recreate it each time. That template still needs to be updated with your most recently provided line dividers, etc. that you shared on the Liberty Professionals Discord server.
I cannot use that here at work, so I'll have to fix my template this weekend. As usual with me, something happened in my life to make me put fingers to keys and write. Sometimes I feel like writing, and other times I do not not. For some reason I keep coming back to the warrior ethos theme too.
I'm not sure why. I tend to write about things that bug me though, and the lack of warriors these days really bugs me. :(
You are an artist and have the skills to make this happen. If Steemit, Inc. isn't going to solve the problem for us, we'll solve it ourselves, right? Let me know if there's anything I can do to help! I will.
My pleasure, Finnian. Truly, you are a great friend and you invited me here! You have enjoyed my work for quite some time and I have always enjoyed working with you to create whatever it is you need. Anyone who asks you for tattoo ideas would abruptly realize how creative your mind is. 😆 Our creative journey continues...
I'm going to set up both the google doc AND the etherpad now, just to get some method to put this into action. I really appreciate your support and I really enjoy reading your posts {nudge, nudge}, so much that I re-read many of them because it's like a good movie - where you know you missed something the first time viewing.
I used Pinterest for a while, but it lacked the social element. Haven't been on farcebook for ages, g+ went haywire (you know because we were there from the infant stage..lol) and now Steemit is a place with a bunch of creative minds - feels like the right place to be. I want it to be anyhow.
I know many on here feel the same way at some point - their efforts are overlooked and they do not stick around long after that feeling comes. Warriors will not give up so easily, as you have written previously.
I'd rather give more people a fighting chance, especially those with talent that is overlooked. Afterall, I know what it feels like and so do most of us that've remained. We can change that very quickly if we just educate and help one another forward. We are all early in the progress of this platform and there is so much more that we will all have to learn - might as well learn it together, faster, and in a way that grows better content from all of us.
Exactly right, my friend! I know that there is no shortage of tech savvy minds here on Steemit!!! I just need to find one that is interested in creating a doc editor tool on the Steemit blockchain that can be a multi-party real-time doc editor. I will find someone. This must come to life. I'm spending my Friday evening on logistics. It's going to happen.
You know I've got your back, brother! You can be my test-buddy - we can update all the new graphics for the template and get you updated & upgraded 😎
Love it! I am an old school black and white print newspaper reader trying to find his way in this new age media age...a true dinasour!
But...I enjoy sharing my thoughts and connecting with others so want to keep at it...I'm in...will try and download that program you mention this weekend as I have a blog article all written on MS Word I was going to get ready with a few pictures...
Hey thanks, @bobreedo! Haha, no worries - I'm not getting any younger myself!!
I'm glad you dropped by because I am setting up two ways to make this happen right now. The first will be the Etherpad.org way that I mentioned in the post. The Second: Google Docs is another way that @finnian mentioned to me and will also be a viable alternative for anyone who would prefer to work online, rather than downloading the etherpad software.
If you would prefer to use Google Docs we can do that - I've got a doc set up now and you can access that at this link:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WJlpmj32w3JvfpsLNAFdmxP-OKzOUjJC8ORVHhXYh7s/edit?usp=sharing
Anyone with the link can see it (and it is public), so if you would like to use Google Docs instead, simply do the following:
• click the document link above
• once you open the document, you will not be able to edit the document - you simply need to leave a comment. {{I'm testing this, but if you are a google user / have gmail then once I see your comment, I should be able to add permission for you to edit. }}
• I will be notified when you comment and set up permissions for you to edit the doc.
• Leave a message on this post prior to pasting text into the doc - to ensure that I can be in the editor and keep you from waiting on me.
I'm still trying to iron out some logistics, but I really hope to make this happen and do what I enjoy so that others can enjoy what they do. I can help you with uploading the photos as well, just hurl questions my way and I'll try to hurl answers back 😉
We will get you formatted and customized in no time! Thanks again for a bold early bird
Plan on sending an article over today...do I add pictures to it or let you know what thoughts I had?
Great! I'm on EST time here, 12:44 pm - so we can get started on that as soon as you'd like.
If you have photos you'd like to use here's how to add them:
For photos, here's a simple way to get what we need:
• click the POST button and open a new post box
• drag the images you would like to use
• copy the text in the box and paste it into the document we are working on together.
If you would like me to suggest some photos for you, I can do that as well.
You may browse copyright free/open license images at Pexels.com which are free to download and use without attribution.
That will give us the images, already hosted & ready to go. You can paste in the article text before or after you paste the photo links and we will work from there.
If you run into any issues, just shoot me a message!
I pasted article and some pictures into something...confused on "comments"...not sure what is where...let me know...may not have much time rest of today...thanks for efforts...I'm on EST as well...
I had to step out for a bit, but I'm going to have a look now. Sorry for the confusion, but we will certainly get this process refined - thank you for your patience and participation.
I will leave some helpful notes along with some formatting in the doc. Enjoy your evening
No sweat...you are helping me!
I assume I click on link above to get back to it...I assume its formatted and pictures put in...I didn't see notes? If I click on comments I see a few other people mentioning stuff...not sure if you or others? Am I able to do a print preview to see how looks with the pictures?
Thanks for this helpful post. I'm testing a chrome plugin called 'markdown editor' - hopefully, it allows me to save my work as a draft. Proofreading and creating presentable posts are very important and can make the difference between being read and being skipped over.
I always like to save my posts in another word file as an archive. After the first week I learned that you can't edit a post past payout - so if you use html to format, it's lost (not really, I soon learned after). Everything on the blockchain stays there, so you can use tools to go back and copy the content for archiving.
I have used a few tools for Steemit editors on steemtools.com and I also like a free online tool called stackedit, which allows you to write, use markdown/html and preview - but best part is it syncs to Dropbox and Google drive and others. I still find myself opening a post window and writing & formatting right in the box then just saving. Steemit has been pretty good about the draft save function. I can close the tab, come back, go through my feed and click post - draft still there. I just don't chance it..haha
Thanks for reading and dropping by to share your thoughts @trumanity
I think that helping out those of us who are new to formatting posts, is the best idea yet. I came here with out the benefit of being on any other platform. I am totally a newbie. I am not a techie and feel like I am floundering around most of the time. I would love to have my posts look more professional, but when I read books on markup something or other and try it out it is an experiment gone horribly wrong and I just go back to plain old posting. Help me Obi Wan Kenobi...
We have a volunteer! Noted! We could definitely whip up some goodness, @cecicastor - no sweat!
I'm going to set it up and do a How-To post and I'd be honored if you'd be willing to it a test run.
Thanks for being brave one {nudges readers..lol}
✌️😎
Yes, I would be pleased to do a test run. I know my posts could use some sprucing up!
We should whip up a nice graphic you could use for your comments, too! Something you could drop in the end of a comment - we could even make it a clickable icon if you want!
I've got ya covered @cecicastor! Thanks again! 😉
No, Thank You!
haha, noted!
we can stick to formatting 😆
I am old! I can't learn too many tricks in one sitting!
The idea is great my friend. You should definitely breathe life into it. When I started with steemit, actually until now I face problem with formatting , bringing color etc etc. In my opinion its a pure go ahead.
Thanks, @amrita. It really can be challenging for newer users, but I think seeing it - then trying to apply it themselves will really help people catch on faster.
If you are interested in this idea, I encourage you to do the same! The more people willing to do it, the better off we all are. Let's get all the creative minds we can and run with this. 😉
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