FAQ

Updated 9 January 2006

When are the transcripts for the episodes usually posted?
Are these the official scripts?
Do you actually work for the show?
Can you deliver a message for me to the cast or crew?
Can you tell me where to send a script I'm working on, or fan mail?
Can I request that you create a transcript for a certain L Word-related event?
How long does it take you to make a transcript?
You must have a lot of time to do this!
Can I make a donation to you for all your hard work?
Can I host your transcripts?
Do you need help with anything?
I want to volunteer to help you transcribe.
I borrowed your transcripts to make my own translations/subtitles. Is that cool?
Would you like a copy of the translation or subtitle that I created from your transcript?
Will you link to my site? I linked to yours.
Still have questions?

Number 1 rule: Don't steal -- give props where props are due!

Q: When are the transcripts for the episodes usually posted?

A:The show airs late at night on Sunday. I usually don't start transcribing until late Monday night, sometimes Tuesday night. Most of the time, I work to have the transcripts posted by the next Saturday. If I'm able to post earlier, or have to post later, I send a message to the email group, so make sure to join up to get the latest. When the season is airing, I do not answer email about when an ep is going to be posted, because I get so much of it.

Q: Are these the official scripts?

A: No. These are transcripts. Transcripts are in most cases done by fans who actually sit down and transcribe the dialogue and action in the show.

Q: Do you actually work for the show?

A: Nope.

Q: Can you deliver a message for me to the cast or crew?

A: No.

Q: Can you tell me where to send a script I'm working on, or fan mail, or let me know how to get in touch with someone who works on the set?

A: Contact Showtime, Inc. - you'll have to use a search engine for more specific information.

Q: Can I request that you create a transcript for a certain L Word-related event?

A: Please feel free to suggest it, and I'll do my best to get to it, but I can't guarantee any kind of time frame, especially in-season when I'm focusing on the episode transcripts. If possible, provide a link to the video or audio file for the thing you want me to transcribe, in case I didn't manage to tape it on the TV/radio.

Q: How long does it take you to make a transcript?

A: In general, around 15 hours. That's usually spread out over several days, since I have a full-time job and other stuff to do.

Q: You must have a lot of time to do this!

A: No, I don't. I'm a busy gal with a family, friends, a full-time job, volunteer work, and athletic training for my 2007 hike for the Komen Foundation. I'm frequently exhausted and out of time, but hey, I enjoy it and I get kicks out of being helpful to the fandom.

Q: Can I make a donation to you for all your hard work?

A: All I want is your thanks and some linkbacks and credit if you use my transcripts for your translations or subtitles. Don't just gak it and not give credit, that's uncool and an easy way to get a bad name in the fandom. If you really are wanting to make a donation to something, please donate to the Komen Foundation for my Hike for the Cure. Details on how to donate are at that link.

Q: Can I host your transcripts?

A: The transcripts already have a good home, but thank you for the offer. If I find you hosting the transcripts without my permission, and you don't take them down when asked, it'll be bad for you. If it's a translation or subtitle, it's fine - credit me for the original, but you're on your own as far as getting corrections or changes I make to the transcripts... sorry!

Q: Do you need help with anything? Transcribing? Translating something the characters said?

A: Yep, volunteers. I can't run this project without extra hands. There are a list of requirements - see the next FAQ question for that. If you want to simply translate a line or two in the show that was said in another language, I would love that. I'll happily give you credit for your assistance.

Q: Okay, I want to volunteer to help you transcribe. What do I need to do? Any requirements?

A: You need to email me and ask me if I'm accepting volunteers, and tell me when you're available, and what you want to do. I'll let you know if you'll be needed and what you'll need to transcribe. I do it on need basis to keep things simple, so you will need to email me on every Sunday so I can see if there's need for your help that week. -- Requirements:

• Access to the episode at least by Monday.
• Able to use English (this includes punctuation and spelling) well enough to write down what's being said. A ton of spelling, punctuation, and capitalization errors actually takes me longer to correct than it does to type out on my own.
• Able to use some sort of spellcheck. See above.
• Able to type out, verbatim, what's being said - not simply what's written on the Closed-Captioning.
• Able to generally follow the same style/format as I use in the transcripts. This is an absolute mandatory. This may sound nitpicky to someone who's not familiar with transcribing, but there are really good reasons and most of them, like the other requirements listed here, have to do with saving time and work.
• Able to have your portion of the transcription, without fail, to me by every Wednesday 7pm, Central Time.
• Able to send that transcription by email in a .txt file attachment, not in the actual body of the email.
• And I expect that if you offer to do this, you'll not disappear, or tell me you just forgot, or tell me at the last moment that you can't. (I do realize that life attacks and things are sometimes unavoidable.) I usually end up with a lot of scheduling to do with volunteers and I rely heavily on getting things done in a timeframe in order to keep everything running.

Still want to help? Go ahead and use the link on the left to email me by/on the Sunday of the episode airing to ask if I can fit you in. Thanks!

Q: Hey, I borrowed your transcripts to make my own translations/subtitles. Is that cool?

A: It's cool if you're doing a translation or subtitle and you credit me. It'd also be cool if you let me know.

Q: Would you like a copy of the translation or subtitle that I created from your transcript?

A: That would be awesome. There is a huge demand for the show in countries where it will never, ever be shown. A lot of people rely on fan sites to keep them up to speed on their favorite show. The transcripts have been translated into a few dozen languages! If you want to contribute your translation or subtitle, please follow these guidelines:

• Translations or subtitles must be done from these transcripts. If you've done your work from someone else's work, I can't post it here because the original credit belongs to them, not me.
• All translations and subtitles are accepted blindly, on a first-come, first-serve basis. As usual, I reserve the right to remove any translations or subtitles without warning, or to not accept a translation or subtitle that has been submitted. Submission of a subtitle or translation signifies your agreement to this.
• For translations, please submit them in an .html file, keeping as much of the original formatting (bold, italic, underline, & links) as possible.
• Please use spellcheck on your work.
• Please include credit/web address to the transcripts, at the end of the file.
• Please include your name/pseudonym and email address if possible in your file.

Q: Will you link to my site? I linked to yours.

A: I really appreciate your linking to the transcripts. There are so many great L Word fan sites out there. However, I'm not taking any more new links for the time being, simply because I don't have the time or energy to maintain a long list of links of fan sites. I hope you understand.

Still have questions? Use the email link at the top and drop me a note!

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