Addressing the Staff Issue

Hello FMW,

Im sure most of you noticed how long it took this most recent round of shows to get out. This is honestly in large part due to the little ammount of people we have on staff currently. I understand you all have lives, I do too, so please know this isn't a scolding post or a cranky post its a pleading post.

Since I returned a little over a year ago, and then subsequently took over as Head Writer and basically head guy in the fed, I've been writing an atrocious ammount of stuff. I know most of you have heard this line before, but I went through the archives today and tallied up everything I had written.

These are the shows I was the head writer for.

• Amm 13.1
  
• Amm 13.2
  
• Ultimatum III Preshow
  
• Ultimatum III
  
• Corruption 14.1
  
• Corruption 14.2
  
• Corruption 14.3
  
• Death Row IV
  
• Corruption 15.1
  
• Corruption 15.2
  
• Corruption 15.3
  
• Lethal Injection
  
• Corruption 16.1

On shows I was the head writer for I wrote 127 out of 191 segments and matches written for said shows.

Thats 66%.

I also wrote an additional 22 segments and matches for shows I was not HW for, bringing my total segments and matches written up to 149. I didn't include the stuff I did for Mt. V (of which I wrote 2 matches, a segment, and the last quarter of Mt. V itself) and the few matches I had written for previous HWs before I took over for Ben. I know that if I added up the work apostasy and I have done together (which we both completely wrote U3 except for 1 match ourselves, for example) wed probably be up around the 75%-80% range between the two of us. I do all of this as well as organizing the Year End Awards, FMW 5 YEar e25, etc. etc.

I need help, guys. I work full time as well as help book, not to mention write promos of my own, help others with feedback and creative output, and I don't want to have another year of writing almost 200 matches and segments.

On shows that I am HW specifically for, so I cant speak for edible at the moment, I'm completely content with writing all the segments and even taking a match or two, completely ok. I just need help with people who are able to step up and follow a very basic and simple guideline to what we need.

I dont need a 5 star classic every time. I dont want a 5 star classic every time. Most of the time all I ask for takes about 3-4 pages in word, but I need the help.

If you can't voulenteer your time, I understand completely and I dont want anyone to think that Im going to depush or make anyone look bad who doesnt do staff. Thats never been the case and its not about to be, however there are perks to being on staff and it is a pretty rewarding experience. Not to mention you'll make me happy which is always a plus.

If you can do staff, please post here or contact me. I'm always on Facebook, AIM, in private message here, and most of you even have my cell phone number.

Thanks for your time guys.

Got no time to be anythinglike a writer, but if you're in a position like you were for these shows and it's becoming a big trouble for you, I could probably get out a match - so hit me up if nobody is helping for a show.

Bryson pretty much stole the words right out of my mouth for this. I don't have the fancy statistics, but I know I've been writing the vast majority of my shows for awhile now. And I know I can't do that now that I realistically only have about 2 days a week to actually touch FMW, and that's if I don't have anything else to do on my off days.

I can crank out segments easily now. And generally, people are willing to put up a segment for their character if asked. So I don't need too much help with that (though, as is always the case, if you have an idea for a segment for your character, absolutely let me know and I'll see if we can put it up there). What I need is someone to take some matches. Because we have no-shows, a lot of these matches end up being 3-4 pages of a squash match. That, more often than not, will be what you'll be asked to write. The most complex match I sent out this last show was probably the TV title match, which I ended up having to write myself anyway.

I said at the beginning of April that if I got help, the show would probably be out by the end of the month. As usual, I didn't get a lot. I would like to take some space here to single out Nick Gray and Paul Brooks, who both took some of the load off of me. Their matches weren't even very long, but that little bit of effort probably saved another week of delays.

Furthermore, I will be doing my best to get back on people's cases. I want better communication about where writers are at with their assignments. That was bad this cycle, and that's my fault. I wish I could be on Meebo every night and talking to you guys, but I just don't have the time. I need writers who can, at the very least, reliably let me know that they're not going to be on time or that they'll be late, etc. Because maybe, instead of hoping that a writer is going to come through by the time I'm done with everything else, I could know that they aren't and ask someone else to take on the work. That would be super.

I feel very strongly about what we put out here. I have a deep investment in the product we put out. I work hard because I want you guys to be rewarded for putting in your time and creativity here. I want it to be good, and while I'm willing to take a little extra time to make things right, I know that if we keep being this late that we're going to bleed members and struggle to recruit new ones. That'll mean more no-shows, more angles being suddenly dropped (see: Leon Caprice's push), and a less enjoyable product. We've said before that we strongly reward participation here. I think you can see the fruits of that around here. But there's not a big reward for being on staff in the same way. It's about knowing that what you do is what keeps the fed running, and being happy when people enjoy the hell out of your work. The happiest thing for me in this fed wasn't winning the AB title or anything like that, it was hearing how much people enjoyed the hell out of the main event for Lethal Injection. My favorite part of this last show was the TV title match that actually had some positive comments. I'm proud that we've taken steps to establishing each stable in FMW as a legitimate force. I'm proud that we've given great opportunities to guys who have consistently shown up, like DGS, Butters, Austin, Whitt, Nick Gray, Damien Inferno and Son of Sharkboy. I look at our current crop of champions and I like what I see.

This place means a lot to me. I hope it means something to you guys as well. If it does, then please, step up and write a match or two for us once a month.

I have been very super busy with work... but things are leveling out a bit, I do have several training and certification blocks coming up. I can guarantee promos but can't guarantee any staff work at this time unfortunately.

I could do more than one match for you if you'd like buddy. The only problem is I'd probably get them to you ridiculously early because that'd be the only time I could do it :S

Nick, we've talked, you know you can call me a legit member of staff for the foreseeable future.

My long term girlfriend and I just split. I've been left with more time than I need and more things to think about than I want.

Give me like 1/3 of yall's current responsibilities show/match/segment wise. I'll rate, write, and even help book if you need me to. I have no idea what's going on with who books what, but I swear you can count on me to help in any way possible. I do realize I've been lazy in the past, though. Might be hard to trust me. Still, I'm damn good at this writing thing. Give me one more shot; even if it's the biggest one I've asked for.

My only condition is that the FMW ROSTER starts showing more activity in the threads. If you really wanna' be a part of this efed, then being active matters. It shows our writers and our tiny staff that you actually care. Besides, trash talking is more important than you think when it comes to booking.

God I miss how FMW used to be.

Allow me to help make it a powerhouse again.

I am not sure how much I can help but it can never hurt to ask. Drop me a message. I check this place at least once a day so the worst I can say is not this week. As far as the TT goes I had an idea. In VCW ro had a trash talker of the week. What I would propose is instituting this and giving the winner a points boost in their match on that show. I think it would incentivize trash talking for people and liven up the boards a bit.

I've never thought of the points boost thing...

I don't see why not.

I mean, hell, my voting decisions are at least half way influenced by TT activity anyway. tis one of my favorite parts about this efed.

yay i had a good idea

Isn't it that Ro had a good idea, since it was from VCW?

<3Mike

While I've seen the numerous calls for more writers, I came back knowing that I would struggle to write promos, let alone matches/staff duties. Given that I have struggled to write promos, I'm sticking by this and don't want to promise to do staff work I know I would barely do in the first place. Apologies.

I'm in the same boat as Skyler, I've had so much trouble getting the mentality of even writing my own promos, and I've failed so often to take staff duties, I won't even raise the Writer's hopes by pretending to be able to.

If you wanna keep giving me things like you did this show then I am

I'll put my hand up as one of those to fuck up the staff last show. I love the idea of helping out and all but when it comes time to do it I am just way too overloaded.

I shouldn't have taken a job last show and to Edible I apologise for that.

To be honest I've been trying to convince myself I am committed to this place for a while now and I'm just not.

Count me out guys.