2006 Survivor Literotica: Planning & Plotting

[Guest]

By filled you just mean having at least one story in a category, right?

That sounds fair to me. It does give a cap while also giving motivation to write more.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

By filled you just mean having at least one story in a category, right?

Yes.

 

[vic_elor]

About the cap to limit how many immunities can be won, I don't see why we can't have it. But how about a dynamic cap, to make people write in more categories? For example, you can only have as many immunities as half of how many categories you have filled with regular submissions. (i.e. if you have 10 categories filled regularly, you have a cap of 5 immunities)

Capping it this way sounds good but I can think of an issue that would need to be clarified before putting it in place. If immunity is still "won" (in a manner similar to what is used now or what not) you could fall into a scenario where you have won an immunity but can not use it yet because of the dynamic cap. (Like lets say all your stories fall into one category)

The issue here really comes down to an experation on immunity. Currently there is a one week rule in which it must be declared. Is it fair to have an experation with a dynamic cap? Anyone have a response to this?

 

[Guest]

Is it fair to have an experation with a dynamic cap? Anyone have a response to this?

There would be no point in having a cap if the immunity could be used past the expiration date. That's where the motivation to write in more categories comes into play. If an author really needs a certain amount of immunities, then he or she will make more of an effort to write in the number of categories needed to get that percentage of immunities.

 

[vic_elor]

There would be no point in having a cap if the immunity could be used past the expiration date. That's where the motivation to write in more categories comes into play. If an author really needs a certain amount of immunities, then he or she will make more of an effort to write in the number of categories needed to get that percentage of immunities.

I guess that true. It just seems wierd to me to be rewarding varitiy over volume and quality. Of course, I don't even see why immunity is even needed but if it's liked, it's liked.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Capping it this way sounds good but I can think of an issue that would need to be clarified before putting it in place. If immunity is still "won" (in a manner similar to what is used now or what not) you could fall into a scenario where you have won an immunity but can not use it yet because of the dynamic cap. (Like lets say all your stories fall into one category)

The issue here really comes down to an experation on immunity. Currently there is a one week rule in which it must be declared. Is it fair to have an experation with a dynamic cap? Anyone have a response to this?

The "expiration date" of one week is in place so that there aren't immunities waiting in limbo for months while authors try to figure out if they'll need them or not.

In case of a dynamic cap, it would have no interference with regular procedure, because scores are only checked at the end of the year. Remember that no one is forced to keep the scorecard updated throughout the year.

To take an example from 2005 Survivor: A contestant has won 4 immunities this year, but hasn't added any regular submissions to his/her scorecard yet - only the immunities, adding up to 8 points. If the dynamic cap were in place, it would mean that by the end of the year, when everyone updates the scorecards and adds all submissions to them, this contestant would only get the 8 points corresponding to these 4 immunities if he/she had regular submissions in 8 different categories.

Note that this doesn't mean that he/she had to have 8 categories filled at the time of claiming the 4th immunity. What matters is what is in the scorecard at the end of the year.

The first immunity of the year will be drawn on January 4th. It's unlikely that by then there are a lot of contestants with submissions in two categories already. A person who wins and claims an immunity that day doesn't need to have submissions in two categories already, obviously, but will need them by the end of the year for that immunity to be considered valid.

Does that make sense?

 

[vic_elor]

thanks

In case of a dynamic cap, it would have no interference with regular procedure, because scores are only checked at the end of the year. Remember that no one is forced to keep the scorecard updated throughout the year.

To take an example from 2005 Survivor: A contestant has won 4 immunities this year, but hasn't added any regular submissions to his/her scorecard yet - only the immunities, adding up to 8 points. If the dynamic cap were in place, it would mean that by the end of the year, when everyone updates the scorecards and adds all submissions to them, this contestant would only get the 8 points corresponding to these 4 immunities if he/she had regular submissions in 8 different categories.

Note that this doesn't mean that he/she had to have 8 categories filled at the time of claiming the 4th immunity. What matters is what is in the scorecard at the end of the year.


Does that make sense?

Actually, that does answer my concern and the rule makes sense.
Thanks.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Something that crossed my mind during the year is that the rules should be more explicit about illustrated stories and poems. I think it should be added to the rules that both the text and the image must be unique, i.e. instead of someone writing a 10-chapters story serial using the same image over and over, it should be made clear that the image itself should be original for each story and can't be re-used. Any thoughts?

 

[Guest]

Something that crossed my mind during the year is that the rules should be more explicit about illustrated stories and poems. I think it should be added to the rules that both the text and the image must be unique, i.e. instead of someone writing a 10-chapters story serial using the same image over and over, it should be made clear that the image itself should be original for each story and can't be re-used. Any thoughts?

Lauren, I'm not sure that making a rule will make much difference in that. I've noticed some of the illustrated pictures for submissions are simply swirls of color. For people doing stuff like that, all they have to do is switch it up a bit.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Lauren, I'm not sure that making a rule will make much difference in that. I've noticed some of the illustrated pictures for submissions are simply swirls of color. For people doing stuff like that, all they have to do is switch it up a bit.

That's true, Vixen, and we should try to keep that from happening, somehow, the same way we should try to solve the multi-chapters issue. But as a general principle, don't you think it should be added to the rules, or clarified?

 

[Guest]

That's true, Vixen, and we should try to keep that from happening, somehow, the same way we should try to solve the multi-chapters issue. But as a general principle, don't you think it should be added to the rules, or clarified?

Yes, if something is done about the use of blobs of color, then there should be something in the rules about using the same image (or not using it). If every story/chapter should be original then the image should be as well.

 

[lindiana]

Yes, if something is done about the use of blobs of color, then there should be something in the rules about using the same image (or not using it). If every story/chapter should be original then the image should be as well.

Blobs of color to you can be modern art to someone else. I cannot draw to save my soul. My idea about illustrated poetry is the ability to make words into art. If you can combine color, image, words, etc to make something moving, I say go for it. Expecting the website to monitor what is illustrated and what is not is asking too much. If you want to start regulating saying "Oh no, you cannot put this story in Loving Wives because they are divorced" etc, then you need an outside panel, like American Idol judges.

As for immunities...I do believe I probably won more than any one else this year. Two I did not claim, one because I was in the hospital at the time . I do think the "you cannot use it unless you have a category filled" rule is fair. In the end if you use an immunity, you are blocking yourself from writing stories in that category for points. So it is a trade-off, not really a bonus.


My two cents.

 

[JamesSD]

As for immunities...I do believe I probably won more than any one else this year. Two I did not claim, one because I was in the hospital at the time . I do think the "you cannot use it unless you have a category filled" rule is fair. In the end if you use an immunity, you are blocking yourself from writing stories in that category for points. So it is a trade-off, not really a bonus.

For me there are around 8-10 categories I'd never write in, so every immunity really is a bonus (unless I won a ton of them next year). I suppose for the people at the top there's a certain trade off.

I'm just going to pick whatever number lindiana does next year

 

[lindiana]

For me there are around 8-10 categories I'd never write in, so every immunity really is a bonus (unless I won a ton of them next year). I suppose for the people at the top there's a certain trade off.

I'm just going to pick whatever number lindiana does next year

Seven always works for me, James. And don't forget, I didn't get to use two of my immunities. If I had, I would not have had to write a single story at all.

Next year, if we all pick the exact same number, that would be the fairest thing of all.

 

[JamesSD]

Seven always works for me, James. And don't forget, I didn't get to use two of my immunities. If I had, I would not have had to write a single story at all.

Next year, if we all pick the exact same number, that would be the fairest thing of all.

Hehe, fair, but probably a bit less fun.

I can imagine the message board though, lamenting every time our collective number missed, followed by a huge celebration the week it him.

 

[lindiana]

Novel/novella Category

I do think next year this category needs to be restricted or eliminated. A novel by definition is a fictional prose narrative of considerable length, typically having a plot that is unfolded by the actions, speech, and thoughts of the characters. A novella is a short novel. I do not want to throw stones but the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place writers in the contest all failed to write a novel in the novel/novella category. They wrote chapters, not a novel. Combined, the chapters make one novel but they counted each chapter as an entry. All those chapters, dears, should be ONE entry.

Because I was an English teacher, I chose to use an immunity for this category because I could not imagine writing a novella. I do not care if the website accepted their chapters as a novel, they are not. 1000 words is not a novel. Entering chapters in the other categories is fine as far as I am concerned but I do not think you are following the spirit of the contest by submitting 750 words as a novel.

Certainly, I could have done the same thing but then I would have felt like I was cheating so I did not.

 

[Guest]

And that is your view and opinion... which you're entitled to. Authors use that category for not only longer stories but also series that could fit into multiple categories.

Have you even looked at that category? Many authors also chose to split their novels/novellas into chapters. In fact, the majority of the stories in that category are submitted by chapters. It's not just Survivor authors that do it. There's no way I'd ever submit a story even 10,000 words long in one piece (in survivor or otherwise). It's just too long to read at one sitting on the computer.

By the way... even if the rule was changed as you request... it would make no difference in the top 3. They'd still be the same.

 

[velvetpie]

I agree with Vix. You have to understand with this being an electronic publication, it's not like reading a novel in the luxury of your home. You have to sit at the computer and I can tell you that it gets pretty damn painful to force myself to read anything that's more than three pages. The reason that authors break their novel works into section is for the ease of reading and for plotting.

No one, but no one would want to read a 50 page entry. I can guarantee that most probablyno one would want to read that many pages in a single entry.

 

[vic_elor]

I don't like the novel category in general because its the opposite of order by content... but it has become too much a part of the site to get rid of it now.

so while its silly to have the category because you could always place chapters in different categories... it has to be included in the contest.

 

[vic_elor]

I wrote a 15 page entry and got chewed out by my readers... so short is prefered...

 

[JamesSD]

Out of curiousity, how many lit pages do you think it would take to make a "novella"?

 

[vic_elor]

Out of curiousity, how many lit pages do you think it would take to make a "novella"?

I'd guess around 30. I've found each lit page equals to about 3 (anywhere between 2 and 4) standard length pages. That would equal between 60 and 120 pages.

There is a very large amount of variation there though...

 

[lindiana]

And that is your view and opinion... which you're entitled to. Authors use that category for not only longer stories but also series that could fit into multiple categories.

Have you even looked at that category? Many authors also chose to split their novels/novellas into chapters. In fact, the majority of the stories in that category are submitted by chapters. It's not just Survivor authors that do it. There's no way I'd ever submit a story even 10,000 words long in one piece (in survivor or otherwise). It's just too long to read at one sitting on the computer.

By the way... even if the rule was changed as you request... it would make no difference in the top 3. They'd still be the same.

I am sorry you took this as a personal attack upon your person, Vixen.

As clearly stated, I did not choose to write in the Novel/Novella category as I felt it would be cheating. By definition, you did not write a novel. While it might be accepted by the website, I could not, from my own moral standpoint, write a short story and call it a novel...to win a contest or for any other reason. That is a lie. And I prefer not to lie in life. That is my own personal preference and should not be taken as a slight to any other writers on the website.

 

[Guest]

I am sorry you took this as a personal attack upon your person, Vixen.

As clearly stated, I did not choose to write in the Novel/Novella category as I felt it would be cheating. By definition, you did not write a novel. While it might be accepted by the website, I could not, from my own moral standpoint, write a short story and call it a novel...to win a contest or for any other reason. That is a lie. And I prefer not to lie in life. That is my own personal preference and should not be taken as a slight to any other writers on the website.

I took nothing personally. I simply pointed out the facts of the category for the majority of writers on this site. This is a discussion thread, and since you stated your viewpoint in the matter, so did I. While you might not think my story qualified, I believe as a whole, it was long enough to be considered a novella. It's all personal veiwpoint. Yours just happens to be different than mine.

 

[JamesSD]

I'd guess around 30. I've found each lit page equals to about 3 (anywhere between 2 and 4) standard length pages. That would equal between 60 and 120 pages.

There is a very large amount of variation there though...

Wow, 30 Lit pages eh?
My longest multichapter endeavour clocks in around 15 lit pages, and to me that seems HUGE.
Of course I have a short attention span.

(Ooooh a shiny rock!)