The coveted green E

[ktmccoll]

Imagine my surprise this morning when my latest submission appeared in the New category with the coveted green E (my first! -- thank you, editor). Then, looking at the first votes in the 4.80s and a really positive comment, I thought: I've finally hit on a winning formula. Not being as self-assured as some writers on Lit, I checked the numbers throughout the day (perhaps a little obsessively) and noticed a steady downtrend to the 4.30s. What the hell? I thought. Have the trolls conspired to piss on my cornflakes? Is this a common phenomenon?

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Imagine my surprise this morning when my latest submission appeared in the New category with the coveted green E (my first! -- thank you, editor). Then, looking at the first votes in the 4.80s and a really positive comment, I thought: I've finally hit on a winning formula. Not being as self-assured as some writers on Lit, I checked the numbers throughout the day (perhaps a little obsessively) and noticed a steady downtrend to the 4.30s. What the hell? I thought. Have the trolls conspired to piss on my cornflakes? Is this a common phenomenon?

Yes. There a lot of jealous souls out there. Don't worry, the periodic sweeps tend to remove them. And congratulations!

 

[Zeb_Carter]

When some see the E they automatically vote 1.


When some see the H they automatically vote 1.

They are assholes, ignore them their votes will eventually be swept away.

 

[BlackShanglan]

Too, an 'E' is not a guarantee of mass appeal. One of mine is also one of my lowest-rated stories and garnered many negative public comments. Sometimes the editors seem to like things that are a little quirky and different; that combination may or may not play well with all readers.

Don't let a few cranky sorts get you down. You've done a great job, and someone out there loves your story - someone who regularly reads reams of them. It's high praise indeed when you manage to stand out from the constant stream of incoming work. Congratulations!

 

[Boxlicker101]

Imagine my surprise this morning when my latest submission appeared in the New category with the coveted green E (my first! -- thank you, editor). Then, looking at the first votes in the 4.80s and a really positive comment, I thought: I've finally hit on a winning formula. Not being as self-assured as some writers on Lit, I checked the numbers throughout the day (perhaps a little obsessively) and noticed a steady downtrend to the 4.30s. What the hell? I thought. Have the trolls conspired to piss on my cornflakes? Is this a common phenomenon?

It isn't really a conspiracy; it's just some assholes doing the same thing. When they se a H or a E or a W, it affects them much as a red flag is said to affect a bull. They drop a one-bomb.

It doesn't take very many of these bombs to drop a score. If you have 11 votes and a score of 4.82, two one bombs will drop that score to 4.23.

Periodically, there are sweeps, especially during contests, and some one-bombs may be eliminated, but don't count on it too much. Nobody knows how the Hoover actually works, or how it can tell an honest vote from a vindictive one.

 

[CopperSkink]

Collective anonymous is cruel, yes, but remember that the 1-5 voting doesn't mean much of anything. Any person can vote many times as many ways as he likes on one story, and it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the quality of your writing.

What should matter to you is the opinions of people with names and faces (names at least; not a lot of faces around here) who tell you you do a good job. Though if they tell you you did a shit job, it's usually time to go back to the drawing board, but at least you're still getting an honest opinoion ::S

 

[ktmccoll]

Collective anonymous is cruel, yes, but remember that the 1-5 voting doesn't mean much of anything. Any person can vote many times as many ways as he likes on one story, and it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the quality of your writing.

What should matter to you is the opinions of people with names and faces (names at least; not a lot of faces around here) who tell you you do a good job. Though if they tell you you did a shit job, it's usually time to go back to the drawing board, but at least you're still getting an honest opinoion ::S

I think you've hit the nail on the head. I guess as a relative newcomer to Lit, I've gotten too hung up on votes.

 

[BlackShanglan]

I think you've hit the nail on the head. I guess as a relative newcomer to Lit, I've gotten too hung up on votes.

They certainly can sting, but the skink has it: one sincere commentary from someone whose motives you know trumps a dozen anonymous snipings.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Collective anonymous is cruel, yes, but remember that the 1-5 voting doesn't mean much of anything. Any person can vote many times as many ways as he likes on one story, and it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the quality of your writing.

What should matter to you is the opinions of people with names and faces (names at least; not a lot of faces around here) who tell you you do a good job. Though if they tell you you did a shit job, it's usually time to go back to the drawing board, but at least you're still getting an honest opinoion ::S

Really? Every time I return to a story I've already read the scoring stars are filled in. How does one vote more than once without an ALT, pray tell?

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Too, an 'E' is not a guarantee of mass appeal. One of mine is also one of my lowest-rated stories and garnered many negative public comments. Sometimes the editors seem to like things that are a little quirky and different; that combination may or may not play well with all readers.

Don't let a few cranky sorts get you down. You've done a great job, and someone out there loves your story - someone who regularly reads reams of them. It's high praise indeed when you manage to stand out from the constant stream of incoming work. Congratulations!

This is true as 15 out of 16 chapters of The Du Page Affair garnered green E's. In the beginning they were all rated below 4.0 but as of late most also have a red H next to them.

 

[Lisa Summers]

I'm very proud of my one 'E'. The fact that it's accompanied by my lowest score bothers me not a whit, since I write my best stories to please myself. And it IS one of my best.

 

[DG Hear]

Yes. There a lot of jealous souls out there. Don't worry, the periodic sweeps tend to remove them. And congratulations!

When some see the E they automatically vote 1. When some see the H they automatically vote 1.
They are assholes, ignore them their votes will eventually be swept away.

It isn't really a conspiracy; it's just some assholes doing the same thing. When they se a H or a E or a W, it affects them much as a red flag is said to affect a bull. They drop a one-bomb.

It doesn't take very many of these bombs to drop a score. If you have 11 votes and a score of 4.82, two one bombs will drop that score to 4.23.

Periodically, there are sweeps, especially during contests, and some one-bombs may be eliminated, but don't count on it too much. Nobody knows how the Hoover actually works, or how it can tell an honest vote from a vindictive one.

I'm very proud of my one 'E'. The fact that it's accompanied by my lowest score bothers me not a whit, since I write my best stories to please myself. And it IS one of my best.

They are all correct. Jealousy is out there. I doubt I'll ever see an 'E' but I've had the same problem with 'H's' and 'W's".

Just be happy with writing your best and the scores will take care of themselves. Maybe the score will rise after a sweep, maybe not. What counts is you did your best and was rewarded for it. Congratulations on the recognition of your story. I hope you received many more
With respect
DG Hear

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I'm very proud of my one 'E'. The fact that it's accompanied by my lowest score bothers me not a whit, since I write my best stories to please myself. And it IS one of my best.

I'm proud of mine too and don't really care about what others think. I'm also proud of my red H's those along side my green E's and those that stand on their own.

 

[Boxlicker101]

Quote:
Originally Posted by CopperSkink
Collective anonymous is cruel, yes, but remember that the 1-5 voting doesn't mean much of anything. Any person can vote many times as many ways as he likes on one story, and it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the quality of your writing.

What should matter to you is the opinions of people with names and faces (names at least; not a lot of faces around here) who tell you you do a good job. Though if they tell you you did a shit job, it's usually time to go back to the drawing board, but at least you're still getting an honest opinoion ::S

Really? Every time I return to a story I've already read the scoring stars are filled in. How does one vote more than once without an ALT, pray tell?

I think the only way you can vote more than once on the same story is by using different computers. Even then, I think you have to have different ISP's.

 

[oggbashan]

My sole E has never had an H.

Og

 

[MagicaPractica]

Quote:
Originally Posted by CopperSkink
Collective anonymous is cruel, yes, but remember that the 1-5 voting doesn't mean much of anything. Any person can vote many times as many ways as he likes on one story, and it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the quality of your writing.

What should matter to you is the opinions of people with names and faces (names at least; not a lot of faces around here) who tell you you do a good job. Though if they tell you you did a shit job, it's usually time to go back to the drawing board, but at least you're still getting an honest opinoion ::S



I think the only way you can vote more than once on the same story is by using different computers. Even then, I think you have to have different ISP's.

My techy geek boyfriend recently explained to me how it can be done but I'm not sure I want to post the information. It's sadly incredibly easy. You don't have to log off your computer or have a different ISP, or anything.




Congratulations on the green E ktmccoll!!! I don't think I ever garnered one of those in my time writing here. My favorite accolades were simply really nice comments.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

My techy geek boyfriend recently explained to me how it can be done but I'm not sure I want to post the information. It's sadly incredibly easy. You don't have to log off your computer or have a different ISP, or anything.




Congratulations on the green E ktmccoll!!! I don't think I ever garnered one of those in my time writing here. My favorite accolades were simply really nice comments.

You can use proxy servers so your IP address is different each time. You do have to get rid of the cookies that Lit places on you machine which will require you to login to Lit each time.

Oops I spilled the beans! No I don't do this to time consuming.

 

[Recidiva]

My E got slammed the hardest and it's the lowest rated by far of anything I've published here. I think it's about the same in quality as everything else I've published, so I just think the E itself is a bullseye.

 

[MagicaPractica]

You can use proxy servers so your IP address is different each time. You do have to get rid of the cookies that Lit places on you machine which will require you to login to Lit each time.

Oops I spilled the beans! No I don't do this to time consuming.

You could have made them work for it a little instead of explaining it. Yes, that's what I learned.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

You could have made them work for it a little instead of explaining it. Yes, that's what I learned.

That is far too much work just to boost my scores or downplay those of others. If I remove the cookies from Lit, then I remove them from everything else, too. No way, I'm too lazy to have to re-log in to all my sites every time I go there.

 

[BlackShanglan]

That is far too much work just to boost my scores or downplay those of others. If I remove the cookies from Lit, then I remove them from everything else, too. No way, I'm too lazy to have to re-log in to all my sites every time I go there.

I think for the effort to be worthwhile, you have to voyage to the land where changing the story's rating will somehow make your own work's quality higher. It's a strange little isle that, fortunately, few reach, and fewer still return to tell the tale of their strange customs and habits.

 

[Recidiva]

I think for the effort to be worthwhile, you have to voyage to the land where changing the story's rating will somehow make your own work's quality higher. It's a strange little isle that, fortunately, few reach, and fewer still return to tell the tale of their strange customs and habits.

I can't imagine what shots I would have to get. And I don't know how to bribe customs officials.

 

[BlackShanglan]

I can't imagine what shots I would have to get. And I don't know how to bribe customs officials.

Bring them a copy of the Scouries newsletter. Many of his most ardent fans and scholars live there.

 

[masked_author]

How do you get that beautiful E? Do you need to have an editor with the site, or does one just read it? Do you have to specially submit it?

Congratulaions on all of your Es, by the way. I personally like reading those and usually agree with the Editor's opinion!

 

[Zeb_Carter]

How do you get that beautiful E? Do you need to have an editor with the site, or does one just read it? Do you have to specially submit it?

Congratulaions on all of your Es, by the way. I personally like reading those and usually agree with the Editor's opinion!

The owners of the site and the people that work for them award them to stories they find different or out of the ordinary.

I know mine were not that well written to deserve an E but the premise is what I think sold them.