COMMUNITY
What is my Display Name?
Your Display Name is your permanent Book Country calling card and the name by which you will be known throughout the site.
Choose your Display Name carefully as it cannot be changed later. Your Display Name cannot contain any special characters (*, @, &, etc.) or numbers and must be fewer than 20 characters in length. You can use your real name as your Display Name or choose a nom de plume with the option to share your real name later in your member profile.
What is Following?
Following is a way to casually keep in touch with a person on Book Country. By Following a member, you will receive updates on their public activities on the site, such as uploading a new book or responding to a discussion. People you Follow can’t see your Connections, make Recommendations to you, or see that you are Following them. You can also Follow Books, Discussions, or Industry topics.
What are Connections?
Connections have more privileges than a regular member. Accepting a Connection Request allows that member to read all of the fiction you’ve posted (rather than a limited amount). Connections can also view who you’re Connected to, as well as the Books, People, Discussions, and Industry Topics you’re Following. You can also receive Recommendations from your Connections and make Recommendations to them.
To add a new Connection, send a Request to Connect. Remember that the member must accept your request to make the Connection official!
What are Badges? How do I earn them?
Book Country Badges are awarded for community activity and accomplishments. You can earn badges for positive contributions to the site, such as writing a highly rated book, providing constructive Peer Reviews, and participating in Discussions.
Badges have different levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and the elusive Black. You’ll start with bronze, and then earn silver and gold as you achieve more. (Black badges are awarded when a member has gone above and beyond.) There are badges at the genre level (i.e. Paranormal Romance, Steampunk, etc.), master genre level (i.e., SF, Romance, etc.), and for all of Book Country. Our staff is always working hard to ensure fairness and good Karma. The more you participate, the more recognition you’ll receive.(See the question below about the Reputation System to learn more about Karma.)
Community Badges
Badge Levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Black
Badges are currently awarded for the following community categories:
- Community Favorite Book Badge: Books that consistently receive positive reviews and ratings. This can be awarded in both the genre and master genre level.
- Buzz Book Badge: Books that are frequently recommended and shared.
- Community Favorite Writer: Writers who consistently receive positive reviews and ratings.
- Community Favorite Peer Reviewer Badge: Members who consistently leave thoughtful and constructive feedback on books.
- Community Favorite Discussion Starter Badge: Members who begin interesting, active, and useful discussions on a regular basis.
- Community Favorite Discussion Contributor Badge: Members who consistently leave thoughtful, interesting comments in Discussions.
- Active Member Badge: Members who have demonstrated a high level of engagement with the Book Country community and participation on the site.
Craft of Writing Badges
Badge Levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold
Book Country Badges are also awarded for the writing itself, based on feedback left by other members on specific Feedback Criteria. You can receive badges for consistent quality work or significant improvement in the following Feedback Criteria: Point of View, Voice, Character Development, Plot, Dialogue, Pacing, Setting, and Continuity. (For descriptions of these criteria, click on the Uploading Projects section and scroll through to the FAQ entitled What are the Feedback Criteria?)
Can you explain more about the Reputation System and how members earn points?
Through the Book Country Reputation System – or Karma, as we call it –you can earn points for participation in any Book Country activity. You earn Karma in two ways on Book Country:
- Overall Participation: The more you participate, the more recognition you’ll receive. It’s as easy as that!
- Rated Contributions: All of the content you contribute to the Book Country community can be rated by other Book Country members. Your posted books receive star ratings based on the Peer Reviews left by other members. Additionally, any Peer Review that you leave on another member’s book can be commented on and rated by the community as either constructive or not constructive. Likewise, any Discussions started by you and any comments you leave in an existing Discussion can be rated in the same way. If the community consistently rates your contributions as constructive, you’ll earn more Karma. The goal is not only to have you contribute but to ensure that your contributions are useful to the Book Country community.
What happens to my material if I deactivate my account?
If you choose to deactivate your Book Country account, we will delete your Profile page, your books, and all material associated with your books (Book Detail page, reviews, and comments). However, reviews and comments you have posted about another member’s book will remain, as will any content you have posted within the Discussions forum.
What happens to my material if I am banned from the Book Country site?
We treat banned members in a similar fashion to deactivated accounts. In addition to the process outlined above, any content that violates our General Terms of Use or Community Guidelines may be removed.
How do I report inappropriate content?
To report content you think may be inappropriate, please use one of the Report Abuse buttons we have placed throughout the site.
I keep receiving Connection Requests from someone with whom I don’t want to Connect; can I block this member?
Yes, you can block members. If you block a member, you will no longer receive Connection Requests from this person, and they will not know that you have blocked them.
To block a Book Country member, click on the People section, and go to Your Network at the top of the page. Click the View button on the right to open your Connection Requests; at the bottom right of each individual Connection Request is a link labeled “Block this person.” You can unblock a member at any time by going to your Profile page and scrolling down to the Manage Your Blocked People section.
Can I remove a Connection?
Yes, you can remove a Connection at any time by Disconnecting with a member. Disconnecting means that you will no longer be able to view this member’s Connections, read his or her complete books, or make Recommendations to the member. The person will not be notified that you have Disconnected. To Disconnect from a Connected Book Country member, click on the People section and go to Your Network at the top of the page. Click the Manage button on the right to open your Network page; at the bottom right of each individual Connection is a link to “Disconnect.”
What are Book Country Favorite Books?
Book Country Favorite Books are the books that receive the highest-rated reviews from Book Country members. Book Country recognizes the community’s favorite books in each genre every two weeks.
What are Buzz Books?
Buzz Books are books that members are recommending most often to their Connections and sharing outside of Book Country. As more people Follow, read, and review a book, its buzz will grow. Book Country recognizes the buzz-worthy books in each genre every two weeks.
Who are Top People?
Top People are active Book Country members who have a positive overall impact in different areas of the site. We recognize the Top People in each genre every two weeks.
Book Country’s Top People include:
- Top Peer Reviewers: The Peer Reviewers who have given the most helpful feedback on other members’ books. Book Country allows members to rate the quality of Peer Reviews to encourage thoughtful feedback.
- Top Writers: Writers who have written and uploaded a highly rated piece of fiction.
- Top Discussion Starters: Members who get the community talking by consistently starting active and thought-provoking discussions.
- Top Discussion Contributors: Members who actively share their thoughts in Book Country forums and whose contributions are often highly rated and constructive.
What are Featured Discussions?
Featured Discussions are discussions that the Book Country staff members think are worth checking out.
What are Locked Discussions?
Locked Discussions are discussions that can still be read but cannot accept new responses. Discussions can only be locked by a Book Country administrator.