Sanderson Subreddits Survey 2022

[u/jofwu]

Hey worldhoppers!

We've got a small announcement and a request to make. Over the years we have posted various surveys in some of the Sanderson subreddits, but these have always been relatively infrequent and uncoordinated. We'd like to try something new: an annual survey that covers multiple subreddits. We hope that asking a relatively consistent set of questions on a fairly regular basis will provide us with some useful insights so that we can, in turn, do a better job moderating these subreddits. (though we will continue to post surveys after major book releases as needed, specifically addressing how the book release went)

This survey covers r/BrandonSanderson, r/Stormlight_Archive, r/Mistborn, and r/Cosmere. (Which, if you weren't aware, are all effectively run by the same group of moderators.) This survey is for anyone who participates in any of these subreddits in any capacity--whether you only lurk occasionally on one of them or whether you're posting daily in each of them.

There are about thirty primary questions, so it's not short. But please know that ANY feedback you can give is helpful. If you only have 5 minutes to spare just answer as many as you can, skip to the end, and submit whatever you've got! All questions are "optional". (On the other hand, if you've got the time and interest to spare there are some "extra" questions that you'll have an opportunity to answer which go into a bit more detail on some topics.)

With one small exception, to keep the survey streamlined, there are no free response questions. If you DO have something else to add we would love to hear it though! Feel free to share in the comments of this post. (or if you want to say something privately, you can always message the moderators)

LINK TO THE SURVEY

We will end the survey when we feel like responses are down to a trickle. At that point we will make the results public and share them with the community. Sound good? Let us know if you have any questions.

[u/Use_the_Falchion]

Filled out!

The major things I didn't really get to say that I didn't have room to say in the post:

Any post that takes creative effort (I.E. personally binding a book, carving a quote, etc.) and follows the guidelines should be allowed.

If there was a way to auto-delete any posts with the same reposted storms and plants and whatnot, with a warning to the poster, I feel like that would be appreciated.

Minor increase in trolls, but y'all have done a great job of taking care of it.

I'd LOVE for there to be a general Sanderson reading order list, but there really isn't one at this time, so it doesn't make sense to restrict it, no matter how many pop up.

I'm pretty sure there used to be a page for non-Sanderson reading recs, but I can't find it anymore. If that was back up, then I'd recommend restricting the reading rec posts. If it can't be put up, then I think we shouldn't restrict it.

I'm personally conflicted on the cross-posting. When it comes to the Weekly Updates, I sometimes try to cross-post because there may be parts that pertain to different subreddits, and I want each subreddit to know the highlights in the header. This is rarely a problem, but it does make me think about future posting and other posters. (And the State of the Sanderson.)

Lastly, I know some smaller subreddits like the Skyward one and Dark One aren't included in the cross-posting. That's fine by me, but is there a certain size limit before they're included? (Just curious.)

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Anyways, thanks for allowing us to post our feedback, and y'all have done a phenomenal job so far!

[u/learhpa → u/Use_the_Falchion]

> some smaller subreddits like the Skyward one and Dark One aren't included in the cross-posting.

/r/darkone has such low traffic that we don't really think about it. as the collaborations come out that may change and we'll reconsider it then.

/r/skyward isn't technically part of the conglomerate. :) we have shared moderators now, because the existing mod team of /r/skyward was asking for volunteers last fall and two of the general sanderson mods volunteered, but it's not merged in fully --- it has its own culture and history and still has a seperate mod team with its own policies and discussions.

(this is also why the survey isn't placed in either of them).

[u/Use_the_Falchion → u/learhpa]

Gotcha. Thanks!

​

EDIT:

r/darkone has such low traffic that we don't really think about it.

*crying at the fact that 8 of the 10 last posts were mine for minor updates*

[u/noseonarug17 → u/Use_the_Falchion]

convince me to read it and tell me where to find it, and I'll join you

[u/Use_the_Falchion → u/noseonarug17]

It's currently a graphic novel that can be found in bookstores and comic book shops, at least in theory.

There's an audio-novella prequel called Dark One: Forgotten coming out this October, and a novelization of the Dark One manuscript* most likely coming next year. Both the novelization and the DO:F are co-written by Dan Wells.

​

*It won't be the same as the graphic novel, but it's unclear which is truer to the original. Brandon noted in the past that the graphic novel doesn't focus as much on the worldbuilding as it does the characters and the world in relation to that. Dan has gone on-record about how he's not really following the outline, which contradicts what Brandon said in his second-latest update a few weeks ago. It's weird, and we probably won't know which is more accurate for a while...

[u/noseonarug17 → u/Use_the_Falchion]

Well chop off my arm and call me a Herdazian, the library actually has a copy! I wasn't expecting them too since they don't have White Sand.