The Life of a wikiHow Project

Throughout my tenure at wikiHow (which now spans about a year and a half), I have seen projects come and go. I've seen them start out like a mad dash, and then fizzle out. But I've also seen project start up and keep going and we still have them today.

The lifespan of a typical wikiHow project is interesting to consider because it speaks to the community environment (a thermometer of sorts). Here's what I see:

First stage: Excited wikiHow editor finds an area of wikiHow that needs improving. They recommend that something be done on the Village Pump, a forum for all things wikiHow. One or two (or maybe more) people think it's a good idea and commit to helping out.

Second stage: A project page is developed. It might be fancy, it might not. There's usually a template of some kind created that also categorizes articles that hold that template.

Third stage: a.k.a. "Sprint Stage" where those involved spend a lot of their time doing this fun new task. It might be administrative gritty work, or easy click-and-save work.

Fourth stage: The lifeblood of the project ebbs away as people go back to doing more routine tasks. They might even abandon the project altogether. Life events will also get in the way such as illness or vacations.

Fifth stage: The project wanes and some people might even think its defunct. The project leader (the person who initiated it) loses heart as those who committed eventually leave the project. They might try to revisit the purpose of the project.

What I have witnessed in the past week or so is a new sixth stage that I've never seen before.

Sixth stage: a.k.a. "Rebirth" of the project as others brainstorm ways to change the scope of the project and make it easier to coordinate. New tools introduced to the community might also make aspects of the original project no longer necessary or easier to perform.

Belonging to a project can really make working more enjoyable. First, you're in a group of other like-minded folks. Second, you are doing something you chose to do. And third, the whole wikiHow universe gets a lot smaller when there's fewer people with a clear objective.