Discussing the Writing Challenges -- November and December 2010

[Devil's Advocate]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

I can't remember the previous months' numbers, but has it been a common trend for the total votes to be less than the number of entries?

Either way, it's a little disappointing. I said it before we started the competition, and I'll say it again: Yes, voting is voluntary, but I strongly feel that all of the participants, at the very least, should ensure they cast a vote. We certainly can't force others to join in, but if we aren't willing to vote ourselves, then how can we expect any one else to bother?

Anyway, congrats to HareBrain. Looking forward to your choice of theme for July.

For the record, my vote went to Hilarious Joke. I think. Wow, the choices are becoming so hard, I can't even remember who I voted for. It was either HJ or The Procrastinator. Apologies for not remembering.

Interestingly, with the exception of April (when I voted for Boneman), none of my votes have been for the eventual winner. In fact, none of my votes for even for the runner-up. Strange. I guess I should put a positive spin on it and assume it makes me different!

Lateral thinking and all that...

 

[Chel]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

HareBrain:

But I also have other things to think about. This win has shown me what I now have to do with my life: give up work, abandon my current WIP, and expand Gregor's story into a series of seven novels, each one more ironic than the last ...

Nooo!!! I just wrote a rant in the General Book Discussion forum about books that never end....


Like Devil's Advocate, the stories I vote for don't seem to win regardless of my unending enthousiasm for them - and this time I even went for something I felt was more mysterious that I didn't really understand on my first reading, but the second time Teresa's story grabbed me and enticed me and I found myself unable to even think about voting for any other story.

 

[The Procrastinator]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

Congratulations HareBrain, a victory well deserved!

And thank you to the two people (two!!!) who voted for me. Now I know how the PM feels!!

If the overall quality of entries keeps improving maybe the number of voters will keep falling...

 

[Sephiroth]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

Congratulations, HareBrain! Although I didn't vote for you, your story did make me chuckle, and the ending was clever. A well-deserved win, indeed, from someone whose stories have proved popular every month, thus far.

I'm looking forward to seeing next month's theme!



My vote went to Mygoditsraining, for writing a tragedy with depth in only 75 words.

Runners up were Karn and Leisha, and I also gave serious consideration to voting for either Talysia or Crystal Haven.

Others that caught my attention were those by Wybren, Hoopy, Parson, Precise Calibre and Lenny.




As regards the number of votes, which was significantly lower this time -- I think it may have something to do with ending the challenge on the 28th, rather than at the end of the month. I'm not convinced it's a great idea. I think people expect the voting on a monthly challenge to close at the end of the month's last day. I know it was stipulated that it wouldn't, but I'm not sure everyone will have picked up on this.

Is it really so terrible that, in the event of a tie-break (which has only proved necessary once out of three challenges, up 'til now), the voting is extended for a couple of days into the following month? We all had more than enough time to make our entries in May and June, so I'm not sure it's necessary to have the new challenge begin on the first of each month. If it isn't up until the third, or even the fourth, I still don't see a problem with that.

There's nothing wrong with experimenting, of course. Our writing challenge is still in its infancy. But my suggestion would be that we return to the concept of ending the vote at 23:59:59 on the last day of the month.

There may be other reasons why we got less votes than entries this time, so I'm not claiming it's all down to the above, but the above is my recommendation. Thoughts?

 

[Ursa major]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

Congratulations, HB!



And you were right after all: your storytelling didn't end up with pants.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

As regards the number of votes, which was significantly lower this time -- I think it may have something to do with ending the challenge on the 28th, rather than at the end of the month. I'm not convinced it's a great idea. I think people expect the voting on a monthly challenge to close at the end of the month's last day. I know it was stipulated that it wouldn't, but I'm not sure everyone will have picked up on this.

Yes, I considered the idea that the early end to the voting was responsible for the fact that we had so few votes. But then I remembered that the April Challenge ended on the last day of the month, and we had fewer votes than stories then, too.

I think if we keep changing the dates, people will be confused, but if we are consistent, they'll catch on. I think we should keep it the way it is right now. If it continues to cause a problem, then we can reconsider the question.

 

[Culhwch]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

I agree - keep it as is. It's been different every month so far, hasn't it? Consistency is a wonderful thing...

And for those who were curious earlier - Teresa has it right. 39 votes in April, 42 in May, and 37 in June. Perhaps everyone should just be thankful there are so many votes coming in - the photo challenge had 17, 15 and 10 (so far) in the same months. Hint hint.

 

[chrispenycate]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

But the photo challenge only had twelve contenders so, percentage wise, it's not doing badly. And not all the resident members can be expected to be visually orientated, while these stories lie at the heart of the forum's raison d'être.

And I've always voted in the photochallenge, even when I haven't managed anything to post (or been reduced to painting it verbally).

I suddenly got this little giggle welling up at the thought of doing like the photochallenge, and allowing two entries per author per month – ten times worse than giving people a second vote…

 

[HareBrain]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

I'd be interested to hear from anyone who posted a story but didn't vote, as to whether it was because of the shorter voting period, or limited internet access, or holidays, etc. Or maybe just the time involved -- even at 75 words, it does take quite a lot of effort to read through them all and consider each one compared to the others, especially if you haven't been following them as they come in.

 

[mygoditsraining]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

Congratulations, HB! I can but hope the obvious choice for next month's theme, "Synonyms for Underwear" doesn't get mod-vetoed!

Cheers to those that considered my story, and Sephiroth for his kind vote. Fiver is in the post, chap.

 

[mosaix]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

Well done HB - a nice touch.

My vote went to 'Elevator', both sad and funny at the same time.

And thanks for the three votes, amazing for such a simple story. Maybe there's a lesson there.

BTW if this posting looks weird in any way its because I'm using a Blackberry and I haven't a clue what's going on.

 

[mosaix]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

Well done HB - a nice touch.

My vote went to 'Elevator', both sad and funny at the same time.

And thanks for the three votes, amazing for such a simple story. Maybe there's a lesson there.

BTW if this posting looks weird in any way its because I'm using a Blackberry and I haven't a clue what's going on.

 

[Sephiroth]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

I agree - keep it as is. It's been different every month so far, hasn't it? Consistency is a wonderful thing...

Has it been different? Hasn't it ended on the last day of each month every time but this one?

I still don't feel we need to reserve two days at the end of the month for tie-breakers (which I don't feel will happen often enough to warrant it), but if I'm outvoted, then so be it.

it does take quite a lot of effort to read through them all and consider each one compared to the others, especially if you haven't been following them as they come in.

I found that to be true, this month. Normally, I follow the stories as they come in. This time, I was so busy throughout the month that I wasn't able to, and it was more effort to go through them all at the end.

Cheers to those that considered my story, and Sephiroth for his kind vote. Fiver is in the post, chap.

Much obliged, sir. Let's make it a tenner next month. Deal?





Oh, and I second Cul's exhortation to you good people to cast your vote in the Photo Challenge. Even if you're not interested in photography, and wouldn't want to enter, you still like looking at pretty pictures.... Right? And we'd love to know which is your favourite, or favourites, of those we've taken each month.

It need only take five minutes of your time, and we'd be ever so grateful for your participation.

 

[HareBrain]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

I can but hope the obvious choice for next month's theme, "Synonyms for Underwear" doesn't get mod-vetoed!

I'm sure they'd relish the challenge. Although Cul, being Australian, probably doesn't have much experience with the stuff. I hear they're so unfamiliar with the concept, they believe thongs to be a kind of footwear! Must look strange.

Monkey pirates is also looking good.

In fact, those of you who want to get a head-start should begin drafting stories about monkey pirates in underwear.

 

[Sephiroth]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

I already have several in my Writing folder. It's just a matter of choosing which one to condense.

 

[HareBrain]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

Oh trousers, I made a terrible error! I thought ... but then ... oh. So, er, ignore this

*whistles tunelessly*

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

I did vote in the Photo Challenge, a few days ago, although I am a non-photographer. (But everyone takes pictures, I hear you saying. Nope, not me.)

But did the non-writers in the Photo Challenge come by and vote over here? I think not.

Unless there were a lot more writers than we think there were who didn't vote.

 

[onebigpotato]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

Mosaix's for me? Thanks! And here's the kicker, your vote was secretly worth 5! Personally I hope whenever any of you get in an elevator now you all stop and think.

I for one would expect there to be more votes than stories, firstly everyone who enters with a story and then all the people at home who get to read (for free) the great, deep, moving and incestuously* funny stories.

*I don't actually think incest is funny, please don't moderate me (again)

 

[Sephiroth]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

But did the non-writers in the Photo Challenge come by and vote over here? I think not.

A fair point, and of course we should try to convince them to do so. Albeit, I count only three people in the less-well-subscribed-to Photo Challenge who have not also entered the Writing Challenge.

I'd like it if more folk who don't enter either challenge would vote on both, too.


And thank you for voting. It's much appreciated.

 

[digs]

re: Discussing the Writing Challenges -- June & July

We should carry out a viral marketing campaign!

FIRST, someone should shoot a teaser trailer of a lone man typing away desperately in the glow of his computer, drops of sweat beating his forehead as he glances at the clock. High-pitched music plays subtly in the background, growing ever more insistent as time goes by. Finally, when the music and the man's typing hits fever pitch, he clicks 'Submit Reply' with trembling fingers. Everything stops for a second - then a monstrous hand reaches out of the computer screen and pulls the man in*. Then the date of the next Writing Challenges flashes briefly on camera, and the video ends. Stick that on YouTube and link it in a Chron thread asking people if they've heard anything about this mysterious new 'Project 75'.

THEN, we strategically place ads around the Chron with pictures of small kittens in cute poses with captions like 'i can haz moar wurds?' or something like that. And the kittens should have tiny wizard hats and ride skateboards or maybe tortoises. Teehee!

NEXT, we fake a news story by staging simultaneous protests in various major cities around the world demanding more lenient word limits on monthly writing contests**. The stories will be aired by CNN, BBC, ABC, and every other major news network in countries from which Chronners hail. The political and economic implications of these protests will be endlessly analyzed. It'll be called the biggest world-limit-on-monthly-writing-contests-on-science-fiction-slash-fantasy-forums disaster of 2010.

AFTER THAT, every time someone opens the Chron on their computer, a goblin/small robot (depending on whether you're of the fantasy or scifi persuasion) should jump out from nowhere, punch/laser them in the face, and yell/beep either:

a. 'Vote fer the monthly writtlin' challenge, yer pasty faced loon!' (Goblins, unreliable messengers at best)
b. 'ASSIST IN ARBITRATING THE MONTHLY SEVENTY-FIVE WORD WRITER'S CHALLENGE OR FACE TERMINATION.' (Robot)

FINALLY, I should go and find much more productive ways to spend my time.


*Not sure of the significance of this, but it'll attract attention.

**Please note that I am quite happy with the current 75 word system, this is for the sake of advertising only.