Praise for some Halloween contest entries

[SisterJezabel]

I thought your story was really, really special.

Wow! Thanks. I know I overuse exclamation marks and I do need to get a beta reader or something to double check my typos and me/I which I struggle to see myself.

Thanks for taking he time to read and comment here- much appreciated

 

[HarryHill]

I'll help too....

..
So will I, comment left on story.

 

[KeithD]

Really? I'm not sure I get it. I have a story in the contest; I don't see how it tilts the field if I share stories by other authors I like.

Fine, but the question was asked and I gave the answer that is considered polite for mainstream contests. I live in a larger writing world than just Literotica or even just on-line writing Web sites.

 

[SisterJezabel]

..
So will I, comment left on story.

Thanks. I put ~*~*~*~*~ as a break in a previous story and am not sure why I didn't do it in this one, but your comment makes perfect sense, especially as to readability. Thanks.

 

[SisterJezabel]

Fine, but the question was asked and I gave the answer that is considered polite for mainstream contests. I live in a larger writing world than just Literotica or even just on-line writing Web sites.

WOuld an alternative be to open a discussion on the stories once the votes are tallied and prizes awarded. I'd hate to see it evolve into a 'I can't see how XYZ got first place when ABC was such a better story,' but rather an extension of what we have seen here. I didn't think of garnering votes when I posted that I was open to feedback and I'd hate to think that's what happened.

 

[KeithD]

Again, this was the question asked: "I've been a bit surprised at the lack of authors sharing their best-of and favorites lists for this Halloween contest."

And I gave a standard writing contest answer. It's not considered polite if you have an oar in the water. Even knowing who wrote the entries delegitimizes the contest as one based on story quality and moves it toward just a personality contest.

It's done here and no one, that I know of, is saying it can't be done here. The question was asked, though, and I gave the answer of why I, as an author--and a Halloween contestant--am not promoting my own contest entries or promoting/denigrated stories by any other author here in an ongoing Lit. contest.

Others can certainly do as they like.

 

[KeithD]

Hmmm. The Halloween-season avatar I changed to today (one of my marketplace book covers) wasn't used in relationship to this question of contest promotion on the discussion board, but, strangely, I think it fits--at least in my answer to the question that was asked.

 

[KeithD]

WOuld an alternative be to open a discussion on the stories once the votes are tallied and prizes awarded. I'd hate to see it evolve into a 'I can't see how XYZ got first place when ABC was such a better story,' but rather an extension of what we have seen here. I didn't think of garnering votes when I posted that I was open to feedback and I'd hate to think that's what happened.

Sure, on your suggestion, that could be tried again. In the past, as has been mentioned, this moved into "say nice things and vote for mine and I'll say nice things and vote for yours"--even in a special series of contests devised to prevent that (the stories posted without author names during the contest and authors pledged not to reveal to others what they wrote--but a writing block ignored that and scratched each others' backs; they had a falling out and admitted it when they were spitting at each other)--but there's a different set of folks here now, so it might not devolve into that. And if it does it just means that the contests can't really be taken as a gauge for story-specific quality. As long as they aren't blind judged they aren't a gauge of that now.

 

[SisterJezabel]

Sure, on your suggestion, that could be tried again. In the past, as has been mentioned, this moved into "say nice things and vote for mine and I'll say nice things and vote for yours"--even in a special series of contests devised to prevent that (the stories posted without author names during the contest and authors pledged not to reveal to others what they wrote--but a writing block ignored that and scratched each others' backs; they had a falling out and admitted it when they were spitting at each other)--but there's a different set of folks here now, so it might not devolve into that. And if it does it just means that the contests can't really be taken as a gauge for story-specific quality. As long as they aren't blind judged they aren't a gauge of that now.

I really like the idea of having competition entries published anonymously and would be all for this.

 

[Emirus]

I'm not so sure. I mean, I like the idea, but I do get the vibe that authors are not so willing to promote other contest entrants. And I wonder if there's a hesitancy to really dive into a critique of another author's work? I can see why that may be the case. I also get that some writers have zero interest in providing feedback, it's not everyone's bag, I just happen to enjoy it.

I'm pretty new here, but I've been a bit surprised at the lack of authors sharing their best-of and favorites lists for this Halloween contest.

Although it does seem writers tend to be the main ones who comment on the forums that doesn’t mean people who are just readers don’t also read the comments on here. It’s not a closed shop.

As for authors not willing to promote other contest entrants just because I say I like a particular story doesn’t mean someone will read it and vote 5 because I suggested it. Also, you’re not asking for a writer to critique someone’s work on here only to give the title and writers name.

No writer, unless they are a complete idiot and want to alienate potential readers of their own stories, is going to come on a thread such as this and deliberately trash another writers story.

 

[Emirus]

I really like the idea of having competition entries published anonymously and would be all for this.

Having competition entries published anonymously and only having the names added to the list after the contest is finished is certainly something worth considering. Perhaps Laurel might try it as an experiment sometime?

I’m sure there are entries in competitions that do well, I hesitate to say better than they would if published anonymously, because the writer has a large fan base who will often vote highly no matter whether or not the story is worth it.

 

[Voboy]

I really like the idea of having competition entries published anonymously and would be all for this.

It's got pros and cons.

The pros you've already laid out, and I agree. The cons:

Anonymous entries guarantee that the best-quality story wins only if the voters are using the same criteria, and only if they read every entry with an open mind. This doesn't happen under the status quo either, of course, but I don't see how anonymity improves things. Also, it cuts out a chunk of readers who gravitate toward peoples' stories thanks to who wrote them, rather than to the subject matter.

I feel it would decrease readership, overall, particularly since there's SO many entries these days. If I'm a reader, I frankly don't want to read them all. The writer's handle helps me narrow down the stories on which I actually want to spend my valuable time; remember, our readers have lives. Many probably can't afford to spend hours reading Literotica.

You need to provide a way to narrow down entries for readers. Tags and categories help, but frankly, as a longtime reader, I want to know who wrote the things because I know whose style I like. I'd not read any anonymous contest entries, personally, because the prospect of wading through a bunch until I find one I like is not appetizing to me.

Again, the standard disclaimer applies: I get that not everyone reads the way I do. But I just think anything that tends to decrease readership is a bad thing.

 

[ChasPHX]

In the past, as has been mentioned, this moved into "say nice things and vote for mine and I'll say nice things and vote for yours".

Wow. Yep. This pretty much says it all. I realize I've been pretty naive starting this thread. Astonishingly, for someone who works in marketing like I do, I can't believe this didn't occur to me!

It was not my intention to stoke that. And I do not believe it has been the writers' intention who are on this thread to use it that way either.

And yet... It's never really about intention, is it? It's about perception. "But I was only trying to help," he whined.

I think the risk of this going off the rails, at it apparently has in the past, which I see now is a distinct possibility, is too great to continue a public story feedback forum during a contest.

If anyone genuinely wants story feedback, contest be dammed, I genuinely enjoy giving it. Feel free to DM me, and we can take it off the forum, but there will be no more of that from me here.

On another point re: non-authors on this forum. Sure, I'm sure there are some; I didn't say I think there are none. But even agreeing there are "some" is a bit speculative, judging purely by the evidence of participation. We really can't tell who's reading these posts (can we?), but we can see who's doing the posting, and so far there are no posts/threads from readers that I can see about the Halloween stories. I guess there could be tens of thousands of lurkers. This seems strange, but I'm learning.

Here's a hypothetical. If there was an active discussion about the stories that was started by non-authors, would it be frowned upon for authors to participate? It seems so, but I'm wondering if there's a different perception based on who started the conversation.

Good chat everyone. If you're a contest participant, good luck! I've enjoyed quite a few of the stories.

 

[Voboy]

Here's a hypothetical. If there was an active discussion about the stories that was started by non-authors, would it be frowned upon for authors to participate?

Moot.

In almost 25 years, Lit has not yet developed a vigorous reader forum in which stories are discussed objectively and constructively.

I don't see why we should worry about it happening now.

 

[yowser]

Anonymous contest entries

If there was a contest with authors' names missing or redacted, it would be fun:

To see if you could recognise an author (from the large subset of writers who enter contests) by the style of writing or some other feature of the tale.

Would authors be tempted to leave clues?

The mind reels...

 

[HarryHill]

..
Well I really needed/wanted the feedback and was excited to see chas started something I've not seen here. Thanks for the momentary hope that someone could cut through the non stop porn of the majority of the stories here and actually discus things like plot, structure, and readability.

 

[SimonDoom]

Wow. Yep. This pretty much says it all. I realize I've been pretty naive starting this thread. Astonishingly, for someone who works in marketing like I do, I can't believe this didn't occur to me!

I wouldn't worry about it.

I think KeithD has some very good points, but the countervailing consideration is -- none of this matters very much. Winning a contest is neat, but it's not that important. What matters more, IMO, is that contests help promote authors and their stories -- connecting them with readers. Publishing contest stories anonymously might promote an abstract concept of fairness, but it would subvert the whole point of the thing, which is for authors to get their names out there so readers find them and read their stories.

My understanding is that in years past there was some obnoxious gaming going on, but in the four years I've been writing I think contest-related comments and behavior have been pretty restrained. I could be wrong about that, but that's my perception. This thread, for example, has been very well behaved. I don't see a lot of cause for concern.

 

[KeithD]

[
My understanding is that in years past there was some obnoxious gaming going on, but in the four years I've been writing I think contest-related comments and behavior have been pretty restrained. I could be wrong about that, but that's my perception. This thread, for example, has been very well behaved. I don't see a lot of cause for concern.

I agree. But a question was put directly to those who, like me, are authors here and with stories in the competition. I answered the question. Where I exist in publishing, such promotion during a contest is considered bad form and lack of respect to others in the competition. That's my answer on why I don't do it.

I do think that discussions of the stories on the board is a great thing, especially by readers who don't have an oar in the water on writing in that context themselves.

 

[ElectricBlue]

My understanding is that in years past there was some obnoxious gaming going on, but in the four years I've been writing I think contest-related comments and behavior have been pretty restrained. I could be wrong about that, but that's my perception. This thread, for example, has been very well behaved. I don't see a lot of cause for concern.

My first year here (2014) was the last year of it - up until the AH wasn't moderated, and each contest (I saw the behaviour in three or four contests) was toxic, aggressive, personalised. I couldn't believe it. The site responded by appointing the AH Mod, who was pretty active for about six months until the players settled down; and as I recall a few key changes were made to contest rules - most noticeably the single, stand-alone story rule. It's mostly civilised now, and when you get tired of it when on rare occasion a thread goes rank, there's always the Ignore button.

 

[KeithD]

No writer, unless they are a complete idiot and want to alienate potential readers of their own stories, is going to come on a thread such as this and deliberately trash another writers story.

Why, yes, in the past a regular poster/author until recently more than once trashed my writing as crap on the discussion board during a contest with that story entered. (And I've placed more than once in contests under various account names.) And during the special contests I referred to members of a voting block at the time, while they were thrashing each other, admitted that they left great commits on each others' stories and trashed the stories of others in comments in the contests, including mine, while the contest was going. So, yes, comparison activity during a contest can get out of hand here.

 

[MelissaBaby]

I wouldn't write a story I didn't want people to read and I wouldn't enter it into a contest if I didn't want people to vote for it. I don't see anything wrong with promoting your entry. If one author gets more votes than another because they did more to draw attention to their story, good for them.

 

[NotWise]

I really like the idea of having competition entries published anonymously and would be all for this.

It might not be practically possible to publish stories anonymously.

There was a series of events that ended a few years ago with the demise of the host. All of the entries were published in Chain Stories under a single account. The winners were selected by score and the authorship was revealed after the contest was over. That might be as anonymous as things can get.

The event was called FAWC (I think that's Free Anonymous Writing Contest). I think there were five events organized by Slyk_Willie and one in memorium.

 

[KeithD]

It might not be practically possible to publish stories anonymously.

There was a series of events that ended a few years ago with the demise of the host. All of the entries were published in Chain Stories under a single account. The winners were selected by score and the authorship was revealed after the contest was over. That might be as anonymous as things can get.

The event was called FAWC (I think that's Free Anonymous Writing Contest). I think there were five events organized by Slyk_Willie and one in memorium.

Yes, this is the contest series I've been referencing. I entered them all. A bunch of folks who did and bunched up, not responding as pledged to do, are all gone now, I think. In concept, it should have worked.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

I really like the idea of having competition entries published anonymously and would be all for this.

Utterly, totally supported! Author’s identity revealed only at the end. What a way to combat trolls.S

Laurel?

 

[SisterJezabel]

Utterly, totally supported! Author’s identity revealed only at the end. What a way to combat trolls.S

Laurel?

I think if they were published with their category and/or story tags then people would gravitate towards those that the cite them. If I’m going through a contest list and fine one that is obviously incest I tend to just tune out.