Development Goals and Basic Accounts

Last week we updated our development goals for 2008. Generally we noted a number of cool enhancements and investments to LiveJournal that we are working on, including improved search, usability, and site development.

We also wanted to let you know how we hope to accomplish all these things, and how we plan on paying for them. In order to accomplish our stated goals for this year and beyond, we need to increase the revenue gained from both groups of LiveJournal accounts: paid subscription accounts and ad-supported accounts.

As of August 28th, all users will be able to choose to downgrade their account to Basic through their Manage Account page. Additionally, we will start showing advertising to visitors who are not logged in to LiveJournal when they are looking at Basic Account journals and communities.

Basic Account users themselves will not see ads on any Basic journal or community while they are logged in to their account. If you want more information about this, take a look at our new post on lj_2008 where we outline our reasoning.

Indian Flash Fiction Contest

In other news, we are excited to tell you we've launched "Quick Tales" LiveJournal's first initiative for users in India, in celebration of India Independence day, August 15th. "Quick Tales" is a flash fiction writing contest in which we're partnering with Caferati.com, one of India's largest online literary communites. The contest's winners will receive some great prizes and it is open to anyone with a mailing address in India. We hope that users with an interest in Indian writing or just India will watch LiveJournal's india_writing community. That's where the finalists and winners will be announced, so keep an eye on it towards the end of September! If you're in India then enter the contest - if your story is slick and quick (under 500 words) then you could be the lucky winner!

Meanwhile, back at LiveJournal Inc.

We have updated and redesigned our corporate site. The goal of the redesign was twofold: first, to update the look and feel (Dystopia users will appreciate it!); second, we want to provide a destination for prospective employees, partners, and members of the press where they can access important information about the company. Kudos to our design team.

Title: All In; part 4: run away together [4/4]
Pairing: Kate/Cassidy (implied Sawyer/Kate and Sawyer/Cassidy)
Rating: R
Word Count: 1300
Summary: future fic, au; It's an old fight, so old that it has begun to feel like home.
Note: for lostpicksix's #15, intoxicated.
Disclaimer: Lost is not mine.

all in; part 1: bitch
all in; part 2: third time is the charm
all in; part 3: commitment issues

-

"Let's elope, Lucy. Let's run away together."

Title: All In; part 3: commitment issues [3/4]
Pairing: Kate/Cassidy (implied Sawyer/Kate and Sawyer/Cassidy)
Rating: R
Word Count: 1400
Summary: future fic, au; There is a tiny pang of remorse right under her belly button, a middle ground between ashen, recycled arousal and bright, shiny guilt.
Note: for lostpicksix's #26, confession.
Disclaimer: Lost is not mine.

all in; part 1: bitch
all in; part 2: third time is the charm

-

"I have commitment issues"

Title: All In; part 2: third time is the charm [2/4]
Pairing: Kate/Cassidy (implied Sawyer/Kate and Sawyer/Cassidy)
Rating: R
Word Count: 1200
Summary: future fic, au; the first time, they found a cheap, discrete motel, near the gas station where they met, around the corner from the bar where they bared their soul to one another.
Note: for lostpicksix's #12, motel.
Disclaimer: Lost is not mine.

all in; part 1: bitch

-

It was the winter of 2001, exactly one thousand years ago.

olympicgames08
The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Community.

babyidols
A photo contest community for babies aged 0-3 years, in the format of American Idol.

muslimgirls
Where Muslim girls from all walks of life can share articles and discuss issues regarding Islam today.

Title: All In; part 1: bitch [1/4]
Pairing: Kate/Cassidy (implied Sawyer/Kate and Sawyer/Cassidy)
Rating: R
Word Count: 1100
Summary: future fic, au; they are bound to track each other and collide, just about in the middle of nowhere, where there is nothing much besides a truck, a gas station and a cheap, dingy diner to eat sausages and mashes potatoes.
Note: for lostpicksix's #28, jealousy.
Disclaimer: Lost is not mine.

"You're a bitch."

Title: saying 'i'm sorry' is the same as saying 'i apologize.' except at a funeral.
Pairing/Characters: Shannon/Ana
Rating: PG13
Word Count: 232
Spoilers: Nothing past S2.  
Summary: Shannon, Ana, the afterlife. 'Nuff said?
Author's Note: Title from a Demetri Martin skit. 

“I’m not going to apologize, if that’s what you’re waiting for.”

Title: Time
Prompt:  07:00 / awakened for Around the Clock
Pairing/Characters: Kate/Cass
Rating: G
Word Count: 227
Summary: Sometimes Kate speculates what it would have been like if she had stayed on the run with Cass. 

There are days when she wonders. 

Tags: bebitched, cassidy/kate, kate