Money Payouts

[Voboy]

I was curious about giving a little more scratch, for putting in the work that makes the site go.

I have no doubt that Laurel and Manu would happily accept donations, if you're so inclined.

Your idea is far better than many of the ones posted here, but I think it's totally unworkable. No biggie.

 

[Seadog777]

I have no doubt that Laurel and Manu would happily accept donations, if you're so inclined.

Your idea is far better than many of the ones posted here, but I think it's totally unworkable. No biggie.

I'm sure they would

Thank you.

Other than myself, I thought possibly a group would've been better to pick the winners.

 

[lovecraft68]

Well, first, I preferred Beverly Hills 90210 over Melrose Place (I have 3 sisters, I was always outvoted).

I didn't intend to rankle any feathers, LOL.

I was curious about giving a little more scratch, for putting in the work that makes the site go.

Melrose was a spin off of 90210 if you recall "Jake" appeared on BH then went into Melrose place
and I am embarrassed AF that I know that. But I admit Melrose was a guilty pleasure and Courtney Thorne Smith was worth watching.

 

[Seadog777]

Melrose was a spin off of 90210 if you recall "Jake" appeared on BH then went into Melrose place
and I am embarrassed AF that I know that. But I admit Melrose was a guilty pleasure and Courtney Thorne Smith was worth watching.

My sisters and aunts would get into fist fights over whether BH or MP was better, who was cuter Brendon, Dylan or David, etc, etc.

I had to break those catfights up, and I'd end up with a black eye or busted nose sometimes

I liked Courtney Thorne-Smith on "According to Jim" best.

 

[ChloeTzang]

The voting is so loose and the gaming so bad on the current contests that I've consistently opined that the money attached to all contests here just detracts from them and makes people less than they should be. I've placed under various contests, but I've never taken the money. So, no, I wouldn't be happy to see monetary awards extended to user-sponsored contests. Most of them are writing exercises anyway, not designating any winners. Doing the exercise is the win.

I'm with you on that, Keith. The last competition I won, which is a while ago now because I've been a bit slack with competition entries, I asked Laurel to donate to a veterans charity. Personally, having seen some of the gaming that goes on, I'd just as soon see the contest prizes go to charities picked by the place-winners. That'd take some of the silliness out of it, altho I'm sure not all. As for user-sponsored contests, I shudder to think about what that would do. Actually, no, I'm laughing and going, nope, don't want no part of that. I prefer the user-organized open story events, where anyone can have a go. Just do it for fun, with no competition, no winners or losers, just have a ball writing whatever you want for the fun of it.

 

[Seadog777]

I'm with you on that, Keith. The last competition I won, which is a while ago now because I've been a bit slack with competition entries, I asked Laurel to donate to a veterans charity. Personally, having seen some of the gaming that goes on, I'd just as soon see the contest prizes go to charities picked by the place-winners. That'd take some of the silliness out of it, altho I'm sure not all. As for user-sponsored contests, I shudder to think about what that would do. Actually, no, I'm laughing and going, nope, don't want no part of that. I prefer the user-organized open story events, where anyone can have a go. Just do it for fun, with no competition, no winners or losers, just have a ball writing whatever you want for the fun of it.

It wasn't my intention to bring up old wounds or rankle any feathers.

It was an idea that popped into my head a while ago, and thought that it'd be nice for those of us that contribute to the site.

I even thought about not doing "cash prizes", but, doing something like Amazon Gift Cards or Starbucks Gift Cards, or something of that sort, as well.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Sean, first off you were brainstorming, trying to improve things. That’s good. Secondly, you couldn’t know there was a nerve to touch. Peace.

 

[MelissaBaby]

It wasn't my intention to bring up old wounds or rankle any feathers.

It was an idea that popped into my head a while ago, and thought that it'd be nice for those of us that contribute to the site.

I even thought about not doing "cash prizes", but, doing something like Amazon Gift Cards or Starbucks Gift Cards, or something of that sort, as well.

Actually, contest winners can take their prize in the form of Amazon gift cards now.

I've had the good fortune to be nominated for readers choice awards a number of times, and have won a couple of prizes. Let me tell ya, when your score is running above about 4.85 or so, or if it's getting late in the month and you have the highest score in the category, the game playing can get pretty intense. Maybe people are trying to help themselves by voting you down, or they are doing it as a misguided means of supporting their favorite author, or maybe they are just assholes, but it's inherent in the system.

It would be wonderful if your idea was feasible, but it just isn't. It did make me ponder the possibility of a juried story contest. What if a group of respected authors were chosen as judges, and picked the winners of a contest? Of course, there would be people who didn't like this or that judge, but in that case, they can just refrain from entering the contest.

I don't even know if I think this is a good idea myself, but it came to me while I read this discussion.

 

[Seadog777]

Actually, contest winners can take their prize in the form of Amazon gift cards now.

I've had the good fortune to be nominated for readers choice awards a number of times, and have won a couple of prizes. Let me tell ya, when your score is running above about 4.85 or so, or if it's getting late in the month and you have the highest score in the category, the game playing can get pretty intense. Maybe people are trying to help themselves by voting you down, or they are doing it as a misguided means of supporting their favorite author, or maybe they are just assholes, but it's inherent in the system.

It would be wonderful if your idea was feasible, but it just isn't. It did make me ponder the possibility of a juried story contest. What if a group of respected authors were chosen as judges, and picked the winners of a contest? Of course, there would be people who didn't like this or that judge, but in that case, they can just refrain from entering the contest.

I don't even know if I think this is a good idea myself, but it came to me while I read this discussion.

The more that I read on here and messages, the more I'm hearing that there is a whole lot of fuckery that goes on behind the scenes

I don't even know how a person could go about "playing the game", is that PMing people and asking them to 5 star your story and 1 star everyone elses' stories?

I know that I pissed off a bunch of dumbasses on the "Politics Board" and they DID go bring the ratings of my stories down. My Geek Pride Story went from 4.65, all the way down to 4.54 now.

If I wasn't on-call 24/7/365, I'd do the whole thing myself since I know I can trust myself. LOL.

Congratulations on winning and being nominated.

I like to think that there is enough people that have the ethics and morals to be able to read these stories and be objective.

Hell, my own Geek Pride Story wasn't even my favorite this year

 

[Kumquatqueen]

If you're outside the USA you have to take any prize as an Amazon voucher or forego it.

My stories never hit 50 votes in a month, which probably exempts them from a lot of spurious votes, but contest scores can zoom around wildly. One guy with a hundred ISP addresses? Though the pattern in the votes would probably be visible, as it was for the six dodgy juries at Eurovision this year.

 

[Seadog777]

If you're outside the USA you have to take any prize as an Amazon voucher or forego it.

My stories never hit 50 votes in a month, which probably exempts them from a lot of spurious votes, but contest scores can zoom around wildly. One guy with a hundred ISP addresses? Though the pattern in the votes would probably be visible, as it was for the six dodgy juries at Eurovision this year.

Is it "voted" on, or is it, "favorited"???

 

[MelissaBaby]

Is it "voted" on, or is it, "favorited"???

The monthly readers choice nominations are based on the rating. The minimum number of votes to be eligible is 50.

 

[Seadog777]

OK.

My first story has over 59,000 votes. I don't know what all the other stories have.

 

[ElectricBlue]

OK.

My first story has over 59,000 votes. I don't know what all the other stories have.

That's "Views", not Votes - the number of people who have clinked into the first page. Votes are shown on your Control Panel in the form 4.75/234.

 

[Seadog777]

That's "Views", not Votes - the number of people who have clinked into the first page. Votes are shown on your Control Panel in the form 4.75/234.

My mistake. I knew that, why the hell did I type in the wrong number

 

[windar]

FWIW, I've found it easier to publish my stories on pay sites than to post them here. Often fewer rules and as quick or quicker. Almost any story will sell at least some copies and for those of you who enjoy competition, they have best seller lists. And those are based strictly on sales-someone one bombing will have to have at least paid for the privilege and, believe it or not, those will often have no effect on your sales!

 

[lovecraft68]

Actually, contest winners can take their prize in the form of Amazon gift cards now.

I've had the good fortune to be nominated for readers choice awards a number of times, and have won a couple of prizes. Let me tell ya, when your score is running above about 4.85 or so, or if it's getting late in the month and you have the highest score in the category, the game playing can get pretty intense. Maybe people are trying to help themselves by voting you down, or they are doing it as a misguided means of supporting their favorite author, or maybe they are just assholes, but it's inherent in the system.

It would be wonderful if your idea was feasible, but it just isn't. It did make me ponder the possibility of a juried story contest. What if a group of respected authors were chosen as judges, and picked the winners of a contest? Of course, there would be people who didn't like this or that judge, but in that case, they can just refrain from entering the contest.

I don't even know if I think this is a good idea myself, but it came to me while I read this discussion.

I think the panel of judges was suggested before. Then it becomes well who is the panel, can they be unbiased? Doubtful because of...well reasons.

The AH is like any other forum, its middle school all over again.

 

[lovecraft68]

OK.

My first story has over 59,000 votes. I don't know what all the other stories have.

I think this post sent people scurrying to try and find the top voted list which...I don't think exists?
Still funny though.

 

[lovecraft68]

The more that I read on here and messages, the more I'm hearing that there is a whole lot of fuckery that goes on behind the scenes

I don't even know how a person could go about "playing the game", is that PMing people and asking them to 5 star your story and 1 star everyone elses' stories?

I know that I pissed off a bunch of dumbasses on the "Politics Board" and they DID go bring the ratings of my stories down. My Geek Pride Story went from 4.65, all the way down to 4.54 now.

If I wasn't on-call 24/7/365, I'd do the whole thing myself since I know I can trust myself. LOL.

Congratulations on winning and being nominated.

I like to think that there is enough people that have the ethics and morals to be able to read these stories and be objective.

Hell, my own Geek Pride Story wasn't even my favorite this year

Back to the optimism. My wife would like you.
I'm just going to give you my philosophy I apply everywhere, not just here.
No matter how low of a bar you set for people? Those fuckers will slink under.
Could someone here be 100% objective? Its possible, but if so one might be the total, people here have issues with other authors or they have issues with a category, or they have issues with a certain thing-cheating?- the way it is now has flaws, but nothing else as ever been put out there that wouldn't be even worse. Because, go back to my comment about low bars.

 

[Rustyoznail]

I picked up a third place and had to take a $75 Amazon card. Still sitting in my account. I'm waiting for the Amazon central heating thermostats to come back into stock.

Anyhoo... A panel is a nice idea fraught with issues. The time required to judge these things, for one. Let's assume there's twenty stories at say an average of 5 pages each. That's a lot of reading over the usual two week open/close period of a competition. And who's to say the judges will diligently review every story?

Yes, the existing system isn't great, and yes, I'm peeved that people feel the need to bomb stories but it's a hobby for most of us. Every club I've ever been involved with has had its fair share of arseholes, and this place is no different. I just look at the enjoyment I get, and the fun people I meet.

 

[Voboy]

I suspect I could be objective.

But I wouldn't want to judge a story contest because there are categories here I just don't find interesting at all, and because being required to read all the entries with the focus it would take to be fair is not something I have the time or inclination to do.

 

[Seadog777]

I picked up a third place and had to take a $75 Amazon card. Still sitting in my account. I'm waiting for the Amazon central heating thermostats to come back into stock.

Anyhoo... A panel is a nice idea fraught with issues. The time required to judge these things, for one. Let's assume there's twenty stories at say an average of 5 pages each. That's a lot of reading over the usual two week open/close period of a competition. And who's to say the judges will diligently review every story?

Yes, the existing system isn't great, and yes, I'm peeved that people feel the need to bomb stories but it's a hobby for most of us. Every club I've ever been involved with has had its fair share of arseholes, and this place is no different. I just look at the enjoyment I get, and the fun people I meet.

I understand what you're saying.

For arguments sake.....if we limited it to 3 or 4 contests a year, with a hard entry and cutoff deadline, etc.

I've been writing myself for years, because I enjoy it as well.

 

[Seadog777]

I suspect I could be objective.

But I wouldn't want to judge a story contest because there are categories here I just don't find interesting at all, and because being required to read all the entries with the focus it would take to be fair is not something I have the time or inclination to do.

I can understand that.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Back to the optimism. My wife would like you.
I'm just going to give you my philosophy I apply everywhere, not just here.
No matter how low of a bar you set for people? Those fuckers will slink under.
Could someone here be 100% objective? Its possible, but if so one might be the total, people here have issues with other authors or they have issues with a category, or they have issues with a certain thing-cheating?- the way it is now has flaws, but nothing else as ever been put out there that wouldn't be even worse. Because, go back to my comment about low bars.

IMHO that's the hardest challenge here. Even if we were all easygoing people with no personal feuds or favourites (...lol...), rating stories still comes down to personal preferences.

I think we're mostly agreed that some preferences shouldn't factor into voting; it's unreasonable to go into the cheating wives category and downvote a story because "I have issues with cheating". Similarly, I would be very reluctant to rate IR stories, because the bread-and-butter of that category is a trope that leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

But what about stuff like tense/person choices, long vs. short stories, shaved vs. unshaved, happy vs. tragic endings, ...?

If we disqualify all those personal preferences, there's not much left for us to rate a story on beyond "was it spelled correctly?"

If we don't, then... maybe I can apply my personal preferences objectively, consistently, but they're still just my preferences and probably won't match another reader's. So my ratings are never going to be definitive for anybody else.

I think what does work fairly well is the Story Feedback model where an individual can hang up their shingle and offer their own feedback. I can read those and see how the reviewer goes about assessing stories. If I like their approach I can follow their recommendations, maybe ask them to review mine, and if I don't I can ignore that thread and move on to a different reviewer.

 

[KeithD]

I judge regional writing contests, as well as running them and volume editing anthologies from them. Some years ago (in 2008), under the sr71plt account, I did a running review/personal judging of a Literotica Earth Day contest and published the results. I provided the criteria I thought should be used for an objective review of contest stories. I picked a contest with limited entries so that I could read and review every entry. I think as a mark that I could be objective about this was that I gave high marks for stories by a couple of discussion board users who were being downright nasty to me. I stuck with the criteria I gave for judging. What is missing from all of this, though, and I find very important, is that the judging should be done blind. The judge really shouldn’t know who wrote what story. On top of that, if a judging panel was used, it would be best to have at least three separately working judges and then someone to balance their findings into a single list.

It could be done, I think, but maybe with more work than justified. I think getting rid of the monetary incentive altogether would go far in taking the false gamesmanship out of the contests, though


Earth Day Out-of-the-Gate Review - Reviews & Essays - Literotica.com


Earth Day Contest Midstream Review - Reviews & Essays - Literotica.com


Earth Day Home Stretch Review - Reviews & Essays - Literotica.com