Event Invitationals - WTF?

[Bebop3]

So, in the announcement post in LW regarding the upcoming "Highway Song" invitational story event, someone posted the following as a comment:

"Who decides?
Who decides what authors get invitations? I see some good authors here, but I see a bunch that get left off. Is there an announcement somewhere inviting people to write or do you have to know someone? None of the writers I know ever get invited, and I talk to a lot of them in the forums. Look at how many 750 word stories there were, and everyone was invited. What gives anyone the right to exclude people? Is there some standard or qualification you need to get an invitation? Lots of us would like to know."

The sense of entitlement on display here is mind-blowing.

What sort of hubris do you need to have to believe that you have an inherent right to participate in an event run by someone else?

None of the writers you know ever get invited? There's a simple solution to this 'problem'. Do what blackrandl1958 does, get off your butt, run an event and invite whoever you'd like.

"What gives anyone the right to exclude people?" Uhm, the fact that they are running the event? Let's turn this on its head, though. What on Earth gives you right to insist on being invited to participate in anything?

Here's how this breaks down: Someone takes the initiative to come up with a concept, select an available date, reach out to Laurel, get the event OK'd, write up the parameters, chose writers that they enjoy working with, stay in contact with those writers offering encouragement, reminders and resources and (in Randi's case) editing a tremendous amount of stories.

And you want to stay in the bleachers and cast stones while hiding behind 'anonymous'?

Seriously? Not bothering to get off your butt and run your own event allows me to dismiss these complaints entirely. The fact that the argumentative is petulant and full of barely concealed angst over not being invited would have me dismissing it otherwise.

Think your friends should be invited to participate in a story event? Reach out to Laurel. Run one and invite them. It's not a complicated process. Don't like an upcoming event and feel it's unjust? Don't read the stories.

Unvarnished truth: The average score on invitational stories in events run by Randi is considerably higher than open events. Additionally, some talented authors that ONLY participate in these events offer new stories. The readers benefit. The site benefits.

The only people that are harmed are those that have the hubris to believe that they are entitled to participate in something run by someone else, and their 'harm' is self-inflicted.

 

[BelleCanzuto]

Seriously? Not bothering to get off your butt and run your own event allows me to dismiss these complaints entirely. The fact that the argumentative is petulant and full of barely concealed angst over not being invited would have me dismissing it otherwise.

And yet, here you are, again. Ranting about this, again.

I read the announcement and looked over the list of invited authors. I looked at the submission lists of at least a dozen of them, and they don't appear to be significantly better (based on available information) than any other similarly large group of writers from this site. So the argument that you and Randi are somehow selecting the "best" writers doesn't appear to have a lot of data to back it up.

If you have stats on this, I'm genuinely interested to see them.

That being said. I did wonder myself how people got selected to enter this invitational. Not out of some sense of hubris or entitlement, but simple curiosity. Because, from my perspective, it seems as though the only way to get invited is to already be well known by one or two particular people. Which, sure, fair enough, you want to make your own sandbox, you get to set the rules about who comes to play.

But there's something that smacks of high school in the whole thing.

Just my two, completely dismissable, cents.

 

[lovecraft68]

The person above me beat me to it. "Imagine the hubris...."

Well that hubris has you publicly frothing, means its a win in troll town.

Why do you care what some butthurt author thinks?

Not worth your time.

 

[ChloeTzang]

I’m with the “organize your own”. I do. I make mine open coz that’s my preference. Randi likes to pick and I’ve got no issues with that. If anyone wants any help and advice organizing one, ping me. I’ll be happy to help.

 

[MetaBob]

And yet, here you are, again. Ranting about this, again.

I read the announcement and looked over the list of invited authors. I looked at the submission lists of at least a dozen of them, and they don't appear to be significantly better (based on available information) than any other similarly large group of writers from this site. So the argument that you and Randi are somehow selecting the "best" writers doesn't appear to have a lot of data to back it up.

If you have stats on this, I'm genuinely interested to see them.

That being said. I did wonder myself how people got selected to enter this invitational. Not out of some sense of hubris or entitlement, but simple curiosity. Because, from my perspective, it seems as though the only way to get invited is to already be well known by one or two particular people. Which, sure, fair enough, you want to make your own sandbox, you get to set the rules about who comes to play.

But there's something that smacks of high school in the whole thing.

Just my two, completely dismissable, cents.

The (modern) Olympics, and their Baron Coubertin "amateur" aesthetic, may be illustrative. How can you train for them while supporting yourself?

A: You can't unless you're rich and/or have the right connections. Unless you are extraordinary like Jim Thorpe or Babe Didrikson or Jesse Owens. Among others. That's basically what "amateur" was meant to mean: a person who has leisure to excel at something that doesn't require them to earn income for food, shelter, clothing, etc.

So, whom shall I invite? (Who decides?) The rest shall spectate and be content, by decree. Sorta.

 

[ElectricBlue]

The only people that are harmed are those that have the hubris to believe that they are entitled to participate in something run by someone else, and their 'harm' is self-inflicted.

I don't think anybody here cares, not any more. This us versus them has been done to death over several years and doesn't need any more fuel. I think we all know where allegiances lie, for those who bother to align themselves one way or the other. Let it go.

 

[SimonDoom]

Here's the thing. Nothing anybody else does, including inviting you or not inviting you to participate in an event, can or will stop you from writing and publishing any story you want to write and publish. Do your thing, move forward, and don't get worked up about what others do.

If I'm not invited to the party, it's their loss, not mine.

 

[BelleCanzuto]

Here's the thing. Nothing anybody else does, including inviting you or not inviting you to participate in an event, can or will stop you from writing and publishing any story you want to write and publish. Do your thing, move forward, and don't get worked up about what others do.

If I'm not invited to the party, it's their loss, not mine.

cosigned.

 

[NotWise]

So, in the announcement post in LW regarding the upcoming "Highway Song" invitational story event, someone posted the following as a comment:

This question didn't originate here. Why did you bring it here?

 

[ElectricBlue]

cosigned.

In triplicate.

 

[eroticstoryspinner]

I’m with the “organize your own”. I do. I make mine open coz that’s my preference. Randi likes to pick and I’ve got no issues with that. If anyone wants any help and advice organizing one, ping me. I’ll be happy to help.

Agreed. Their project (call it an anthology) they can do what they want.

Although because I am a noob compared to most of y'all i think I am missing a lot of subtext here.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Agreed. Their project (call it an anthology) they can do what they want.

Although because I am a noob compared to most of y'all i think I am missing a lot of subtext here.

Just think "tribes" and you'll get the idea .

 

[Bebop3]

This question didn't originate here. Why did you bring it here?

Why not? It's about authors, regarding an author driven event and I'm posting in Author Hangout.

Additionally, the person that made the original comment said:

"None of the writers I know ever get invited, and I talk to a lot of them in the forums."

 

[KeithD]

I don't think Literotica is set up to serve and encourage exclusive internal cliques. We've had them here before and they've moved into exclusionary voting blocks as well. Think it's best for them to operate elsewhere and that any even informal writing exercises here should be open to anyone who wants to join in. But then, I can easily ignore them.

 

[Bebop3]

I don't think Literotica is set up to serve and encourage exclusive internal cliques. We've had them here before and they've moved into exclusionary voting blocks as well. Think it's best for them to operate elsewhere and that any even informal writing exercises here should be open to anyone who wants to join in. But then, I can easily ignore them.

Why? Who is harmed by these events? Invitationals have been going on at Literotica for ages. More than a decade. There were invitationals that predate Randi and there will likely be invitationals after she's decided she no longer wishes to run them.

They have clearly benefited the readership, but how have they hurt anyone?

 

[NotWise]

Why? Who is harmed by these events? Invitationals have been going on at Literotica for ages. More than a decade. There were invitationals that predate Randi and there will likely be invitationals after she's decided she no longer wishes to run them.

They have clearly benefited the readership, but how have they hurt anyone?

This is really just about you, isn't it? You brought it here when it didn't start here. You're using it to draw attention to yourself. Enjoy.

 

[KeithD]

Why? Who is harmed by these events? Invitationals have been going on at Literotica for ages. More than a decade. There were invitationals that predate Randi and there will likely be invitationals after she's decided she no longer wishes to run them.

They have clearly benefited the readership, but how have they hurt anyone?

Sorry, I didn't find your position the least bit persuasive. I expressed my view, including the indication that I can just ignore it while not thinking it to be constructive activity here. Exclusionary cliques are not constructive activity on an open-use Website--I believe that to be axiomatic. Specific closed-list invitation to participate is exclusionary cliquishness. I stopped doing that in anything like writing stories--or approving of it--in junior high school.

 

[Bebop3]

This is really just about you, isn't it? You brought it here when it didn't start here. You're using it to draw attention to yourself. Enjoy.

I didn't want to just come out and say it, but you're right. I'm addicted to the attention of people in AH. That's why I post here without fail once a month or so. Just gotta get that fix.

 

[NotWise]

I didn't want to just come out and say it, but you're right. I'm addicted to the attention of people in AH. That's why I post here without fail once a month or so. Just gotta get that fix.

I think we need a sarcasm font.

 

[lovecraft68]

Why? Who is harmed by these events? Invitationals have been going on at Literotica for ages. More than a decade. There were invitationals that predate Randi and there will likely be invitationals after she's decided she no longer wishes to run them.

They have clearly benefited the readership, but how have they hurt anyone?

He was referring more to write cliques who get together as a group and upvote each others stories, trash stories and authors they're not find of, and do some other shady things with an agenda of promoting themselves while denigrating others.

I don't see where the author sponsored events bother anyone...but apparently others do as we have this thread.

I've been invited several times by Blackrandi, Heyall and others, I always turn them down due to time restraints or not overly interested in the theme. Its flattering, but it doesn't mean I'm anyone special, they just know my work or me from the forums or 'behind the scenes'

I don't find it insulting not to be invited.

 

[gordo12]

Bottom line: if you want to put in the time you can assemble your own little group of ass kissers and have an event.

Like someone said it smacks of high school. But what really makes me gag is the holding themselves out as the cream of the cream on this site. Promotion is Ok. Over the top, take it elsewhere else.

I looked at the list and having read many of their stories, there are good authors in there. But also a couple of clangers (my opinion). And that's fine, but hardly the cream of the cream. I've read several authors here in the AH that could give them a run for their money any day.

I didn't bother reading any of the last event. I was quite pissed off about it when it landed in the last week of an event with a prize. The spectre of the site busy promoting a different group of people when a contest was winding up...did not sit well with me

I won't bother reading any stories in this event either.

 

[tight_assets]

a cancer on lit

[Personal attacks and/or accusations/insults against other Literotica authors and trolling prohibited per our AH Forum Rules]

 

[SeabornFare]

So, in the announcement post in LW regarding the upcoming "Highway Song" invitational story event, someone posted the following as a comment:

"Who decides?
Who decides what authors get invitations? I see some good authors here, but I see a bunch that get left off. Is there an announcement somewhere inviting people to write or do you have to know someone? None of the writers I know ever get invited, and I talk to a lot of them in the forums. Look at how many 750 word stories there were, and everyone was invited. What gives anyone the right to exclude people? Is there some standard or qualification you need to get an invitation? Lots of us would like to know."

The sense of entitlement on display here is mind-blowing.

What sort of hubris do you need to have to believe that you have an inherent right to participate in an event run by someone else?

None of the writers you know ever get invited? There's a simple solution to this 'problem'. Do what blackrandl1958 does, get off your butt, run an event and invite whoever you'd like.

"What gives anyone the right to exclude people?" Uhm, the fact that they are running the event? Let's turn this on its head, though. What on Earth gives you right to insist on being invited to participate in anything?

Here's how this breaks down: Someone takes the initiative to come up with a concept, select an available date, reach out to Laurel, get the event OK'd, write up the parameters, chose writers that they enjoy working with, stay in contact with those writers offering encouragement, reminders and resources and (in Randi's case) editing a tremendous amount of stories.

And you want to stay in the bleachers and cast stones while hiding behind 'anonymous'?

Seriously? Not bothering to get off your butt and run your own event allows me to dismiss these complaints entirely. The fact that the argumentative is petulant and full of barely concealed angst over not being invited would have me dismissing it otherwise.

Think your friends should be invited to participate in a story event? Reach out to Laurel. Run one and invite them. It's not a complicated process. Don't like an upcoming event and feel it's unjust? Don't read the stories.

Unvarnished truth: The average score on invitational stories in events run by Randi is considerably higher than open events. Additionally, some talented authors that ONLY participate in these events offer new stories. The readers benefit. The site benefits.

The only people that are harmed are those that have the hubris to believe that they are entitled to participate in something run by someone else, and their 'harm' is self-inflicted.

You strike me as someone who has problems.
with your emotions
with your maturity
maybe you were picked on one too many times and you're just not going to take it anymore on the internet.

Don't worry about a comment that's meant to get a rise out of you.

Relax, you've done this once, the rerun is tiresome.

 

[SimonDoom]

I don't think Literotica is set up to serve and encourage exclusive internal cliques. We've had them here before and they've moved into exclusionary voting blocks as well. Think it's best for them to operate elsewhere and that any even informal writing exercises here should be open to anyone who wants to join in. But then, I can easily ignore them.

I kind of agree that there's no good that comes from having exclusive, invitation-only events. I don't see the point. I don't see what value is added by making these things exclusive as opposed to open to everyone.

But, on the other hand, if some people want to do it this way, I don't have a good reason to want the site to stop them. Maybe they wouldn't have the events at all if they didn't have control over them. I don't know. The bottom line is it doesn't affect me in any way, and if it makes some people happy to have invitation-only events, it's fine with me.

I wasn't around here during the "dark times" that I sometimes see referred to, so there may be an aspect to this I don't appreciate.

 

[ChloeTzang]

He was referring more to write cliques who get together as a group and upvote each others stories, trash stories and authors they're not find of, and do some other shady things with an agenda of promoting themselves while denigrating others.

I don't see where the author sponsored events bother anyone...but apparently others do as we have this thread.

I've been invited several times by Blackrandi, Heyall and others, I always turn them down due to time restraints or not overly interested in the theme. Its flattering, but it doesn't mean I'm anyone special, they just know my work or me from the forums or 'behind the scenes'

I don't find it insulting not to be invited.

Hey lovecraft, good to see you back and jumping in

Yes, I’ve been invited to a couple, got a story or two in, and I’m not fussed as to whether I’m invited or not. Kudos to anyone who organizes one of these.

All I’ll say is, someone got off their ass to organize this and it’s a lot more work to get out and ask people than it is to just go open event, anyone welcome. And to get them to agree and deliver..... that’s herding cats. There’s room for every type here. So I don’t see it as a big deal.