On Sun, Dec 6, 2009 at 11:00 PM, Charles Matthews < charles.r.matth...@ntlworld.com> wrote:
> Given the huge preponderance of readers over editors, the last point > really should be first (visit help desks). Then I would go to drafting: > "If you are able to draft an article on this topic, you can start it at > Special:MyPage/Norwegian Antarctic". And make sure that the Special page > has a clear way of templating the page so that it goes into a "help > requested" category, and generates a human welcome. > > Then give the three options (read "Your first article", Sandbox, Article > wizard) as exactly that: "If you'd like to ...". Basically that message > seems to have the order stood on its head. Something that could be > addressed easily, though. > > Yeah, but I'd go further. 1) Big blue button with informaiton icon. "Looking for information on <topic>? We don't have any. :( Try [the help desk] or [Google]. 2) Big green button. "Knowing something about <topic>? We'd love your help. Click here to start writing." And of course "here" takes them to a walled tutorial where they can start writing, with experienced wikipedians watching in real time to give them a few pointers. The most crucial tips (referincing, not copying text in) get shown as appropriate, but not in one massive up-front hit. Encouragement along the way. At the end, a message like "Thanks! Hold the line, someone will give your article one final check over before it goes public." I wonder if we have the resources to support that. We seem to have plenty of resources to speedy delete or AfD most newbie contributions... Steve _______________________________________________ WikiEN-l mailing list WikiEN-l@lists.wikimedia.org To unsubscribe from this mailing list, visit: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikien-l
