FAWC You, Two!

[NaokoSmith]

Wow I am halfway through reading my first FAWC2 story and JBJ is right so far. This is a top dollar story! and really sexy.

LOL, I remember how astonished we were in the first FAWC, to find out how few downloads of chain stories there were and how mean the voting was. My FAWC1 story is still my lowest scoring, and it way out-classes some of my other stories. I mean, I personally like my own stories, of course, but I do think it's a bit weird that Part 2 of a 3 parter fantasy with no sex in it which has serious run-ons and other writing faux pas is rated Hot.

My story was off the New list in Chain Stories last time round, but it didn't seem to affect the viewings or numbers of votes. We were all taken aback by the voting because we'd all assumed there was 1-bombing of our work which would be ruled out by the anonymity and it just wasn't the case at all - rather the opposite.

I scored pretty low last time but what was so enjoyable was hearing what other writers thought about my story when they didn't know it was me who had written it. That gave me a lot of confidence in my writing. I thought it would be obvious that it was my story, and when people started ascribing it to Pilot, I was thrilled to little mince balls! I think my story is obvious this time round, too, but probably not. The votes are a lot less interesting than the comments - especially the comments on here after the voting is closed.

I'm making some notes as I read rather than posting anonymous comments, would that be OK? Or do people want to see anonymous comments.

Gosh, I really want to give this story a 5 but I think there is a ban on voting for the stories if you entered the comp, isn't there? I usually don't vote on stories when I'm in the same set cuz I know I won't be impartial but this story is too good for its quality not to be acknowledged so I will go along and give it the big one after voting's closed.

Agh, kitten escape! agh agh!

 

[Darkniciad]

Just for safety's sake, if you go back to vote on something you've already read after the comp, linger on each page for a little bit before you finally vote on the last one.

I can't conclusively prove it, but back when I was first starting and getting very few votes, I had a reader who copied all my stories, pasted them into word documents, and expanded the font for easier reading. He always emailed me immediately after finishing and casting his 5 vote ( along with detailed feedback )

Inevitably, I'd lose a 5 not long after. It was pretty easy to track with so few votes.

Once I suggested lingering on each page for a minute or so before voting, I didn't see the vote vanishing any more.

So there may be a sweep that wipes "click to the end and vote" votes. Better safe than sorry if you want your vote to count

 

[NaokoSmith]

So there may be a sweep that wipes "click to the end and vote" votes. Better safe than sorry if you want your vote to count

, thanks for that! I will make sure I do.

 

[damppanties]

Just for safety's sake, if you go back to vote on something you've already read after the comp, linger on each page for a little bit before you finally vote on the last one.

I can't conclusively prove it, but back when I was first starting and getting very few votes, I had a reader who copied all my stories, pasted them into word documents, and expanded the font for easier reading. He always emailed me immediately after finishing and casting his 5 vote ( along with detailed feedback )

Inevitably, I'd lose a 5 not long after. It was pretty easy to track with so few votes.

Once I suggested lingering on each page for a minute or so before voting, I didn't see the vote vanishing any more.

So there may be a sweep that wipes "click to the end and vote" votes. Better safe than sorry if you want your vote to count

Oh wow, thanks for this. I've been reading on my phone and then coming to my laptop to vote and comment. So that means all of my votes have been swept off.

Gah.

 

[FAWCker]

There has been a sweep some time today, altering the scores of just about every story in the challenge. It's interesting to see that just about every score has increased.

I know a lot of people are wondering when voting will be closed. I haven't said anything about it, mainly to discourage last-minute voting. But I will let everyone know when voting is turned off.

So, for everyone who has asked, I haven't really been ignoring you, I am just being judicious.

 

[RejectReality]

Oh wow, thanks for this. I've been reading on my phone and then coming to my laptop to vote and comment. So that means all of my votes have been swept off.

Gah.

Keep in mind that I'm extrapolating this from very small samples, and it was a long time ago. Things could have changed, even if I'm right.

That's why I say better safe than sorry

 

[damppanties]

There has been a sweep some time today, altering the scores of just about every story in the challenge. It's interesting to see that just about every score has increased.

I know a lot of people are wondering when voting will be closed. I haven't said anything about it, mainly to discourage last-minute voting. But I will let everyone know when voting is turned off.

So, for everyone who has asked, I haven't really been ignoring you, I am just being judicious.

Saw the sweep and was a little shocked at how much the scores changed.

Keep in mind that I'm extrapolating this from very small samples, and it was a long time ago. Things could have changed, even if I'm right.

That's why I say better safe than sorry

True.

 

[patientlee]

There has been a sweep some time today, altering the scores of just about every story in the challenge. It's interesting to see that just about every score has increased.

I know a lot of people are wondering when voting will be closed. I haven't said anything about it, mainly to discourage last-minute voting. But I will let everyone know when voting is turned off.

So, for everyone who has asked, I haven't really been ignoring you, I am just being judicious.

I guess there has! Holy guacamole! This is getting even more interesting.

 

[FAWCker]

I guess there has! Holy guacamole! This is getting even more interesting.

In the first FAWC, we were all surprised by how Laurel seemed to be treating this little exercise almost like one of the sponsored contests. We appear to be getting a little extra attention when it comes to things like sweeps, and Laurel has obviously made the effort to help make this challenge as fair as it can be (hiccups notwithstanding; no one's perfect, of course).

I expect another little roller-coaster ride before voting is turned off.

 

[NaokoSmith]

I read my second FAWC2 and, although it has some glitches it was hot hot hot!

I found out how to get the whole list of stories up, and it's great to see that after the sweep many of them are rated Hot. It was a shame the first set didn't get the ratings they deserved. This set actually is, as JBJ says, even hotter than the first set. Hopefully FAWCker is getting a name for good material so maybe there are going to be more viewings and votings this time round?

I suppose I shouldn't say how to view the whole list of stories in case it affects the voting? Man, this thing is tricky! LOL.

Thanks, again, FAWCker/Willie, for the sterling work.

 

[lovecraft68]

Fwiw

After many Pm's I have decided to simply do this "publicly" in order to avoid vague answers or telling the same damn story over and over again.

This is my "behind the scenes" story about my story and I will do this as succinctly as I can.

I submitted fairly last minute. After I had finished I needed to take a break so I closed the lap top took a quick shower and upon coming back entered all my "fawc" info per the instructions in the OP.

Sent it off went to bed. Woke up with that "something is wrong" feeling. Opened the doc and saw I never "closed" my italics off, pm'd "fawc" and let him know.

I went back later to look through the doc and see how bad the last part of it came out as I was rushing. After finding not just grammar problems, but in consistencies, missing info and a gap near the end I realized I pasted the fawc info into my first rough draft and sent that and not the final version(I write a draft then paste it into a fresh doc then work through line by line. the correct doc had a different name, but I missed it)

I e-mailed fawc, explained it and askeed if I could submit the correct one, or if he felt that was unfair DO NOT SUBMIT THE STORY.

I e-mailed twice and pm'd him. The only response I received was "It was a quick fix, I took care of it" referring to the HTML I'm sure. Benefit of the doubt is he assumed my other e-mails were about the same issue.

Come Sunday morning, I saw the fawc stories were not up so I pm'd laurel, explained the issue and asked her NOT TO SUBMIT THE STORY

her reply was no problem she would wait on the fawc stories until I submitted the right one. She then sent fawc an e-mail and included me on it saying she would wait and to allow my correct entry.

he finally gets back to me "I'm not changing the story" I reply fine, but take it up with laurel because she is now waiting. I also added he could tell her to PULL THE STORY.

3 times I said to simply not submit it. he then gets back and says he will then posts there would be a 2 day delay. That was not on me, the stories were not going up Sunday anyway and who knows when he did submit mine.

So to Pilot and all your endless bitching and moaning about my cheating, you can take it up with Laurel. Why don't you? Why don't you send her a nice nasty pm as nasty as all your remarks here? You know the remarks no one is responding to?

As for the rest, for some reason my story (at least in my time zone) was not released with the others, so I took that to mean more BS and got pissed off and made my post.

Someone told me a few hours later the story was up, but it was a little behind the others. Apparently as a "make up" it seems to be staying at the top of the chain story list. Again nothing I am controlling.

Others here know this all to be true, but for those who don't or don't know me that is my side. That and the fact my request for the submission e-mail was ignored twice until I publicly said it was not being replied to then it was. So that was why I chose to BCC a couple of friends when I did submit Just the CYA this site has taught me to have.

having said that I tried to have this story not even released, but Laurel saw fit to be gracious and allow it. I thanked her, but now wish I had simply stuck to asking her not to.

But no worries the winning story is already decided and it is not mine. The lead story after the big sweep has only 15 votes. As has been discussed many times in the themed contests, the flaw in the sweep is it favors less is more.

For those who are not sure what I mean it is simple. A story with hundreds of votes will not see a drastic change in having a few bombs swept away. A story with very few votes will see a significant jump in score after losing a couple of bombs.

This is certainly not on the author. I am sure when they submitted they were hoping for as many views/votes as possible. Everyone here is in the same category so it was luck of the draw.

But point almost a week in the majority of votes are in and if this story loses one more bomb it can be at 4.9. I doubt anyone will beat that, so the story read the least is your winner.

It has been argued many times about how it can be changed, but no way has ever been decided and at least here it was all the same category so no one "slipped" anything in knowing it would be low voted on purpose.

Which leaves me to my final comment.

Pilot you have littered this thread with your insults, accusations and bullshit theories about me. You cannot keep my name out of your mouth even when I am not here to respond or egg you on.

The one vindication I have here is you have proved your obsession once and for all and for all to see. I find it hilarious that no one responded to any of your remarks yet you kept going, frothing like the mad dog that you are. But that's what you are and always have been to many others besides me, a little yippy dog that yips and yaps at everything that is bigger than them, which in your case is everyone here.

Now I will apologize to others here for screwing up the spirit of this thread and for forcing you all to endure more and more of Pilots hate filled spew.

I am many things in real life and admittedly not all of them are pleasant. I am one of the few who truly mean it when I say I don't care what anyone thinks of me as long as the people who matter to me think well of me.

But one thing I have never been or am now is a cheat. especially in a meaningless contest with no prize.

But you can all make up your own minds. I know many of you have and sadly its not what Pilot would want to hear.

 

[sr71plt]

I'm not the one who has banned you from future FAWC exercises, even your explanation (that you wanted to change after the deadline) means your story should have been DQed if you didn't just leave it as submitted by the deadline (a deadline is a deadline for everyone, not just for everyone but you), and you haven't come anywhere close to blowing away any other examples of your cheating in your insatiable need to win--like telegraphing which one was yours since before the deadline.

And other than a visitation by someone not connected with the exercise, you haven't had any champions on this thread either. No reason why you should; you tried to stick it to everyone else in the exercise.

*shrug*

 

[sr71plt]

The ratings really have jumped up unbelievably higher than they were (well, most of them). As nice as that is, it's either a sad commentary on a coordinated attack on what's supposed to be a friendly literary exercise or an indictment of a overly rosy and stringent sweep formula. Take your pick.

I also look forward to a discussion of the required elements and working them together. From my reading of the stories, I would have thought that "sarcasm" would be the hardest to work with, but the couple I read with that element did it well--one of them did it very well, I thought.

 

[damppanties]

The ratings really have jumped up unbelievably higher than they were (well, most of them). As nice as that is, it's either a sad commentary on a coordinated attack on what's supposed to be a friendly literary exercise or an indictment of a overly rosy and stringent sweep formula. Take your pick.

I also look forward to a discussion of the required elements and working them together. From my reading of the stories, I would have thought that "sarcasm" would be the hardest to work with, but the couple I read with that element did it well--one of them did it very well, I thought.

Yes, the jump in scores was a huge one and the numbers of votes swept were staggering. I can't really compare to the last one as I wasn't watching it as closely as I'm watching this one, but I thought the malicious voting was present in the last one too. I remember being disappointed by a lot of scores.

And there's been a round of bombs after the sweep too.

Read almost 10 and 6 to go!

 

[sr71plt]

Yes, the jump in scores was a huge one and the numbers of votes swept were staggering. I can't really compare to the last one as I wasn't watching it as closely as I'm watching this one, but I thought the malicious voting was present in the last one too. I remember being disappointed by a lot of scores.

And there's been a round of bombs after the sweep too.

Read almost 10 and 6 to go!

The last time, the scores remained very low throughout to the last sweep and remained mostly under 4.15 even at the end. Only a couple achieved Hot at any time during the reading time and I think only one was Hot at the end.

The ones I took completely out of the exercise at the end and transferred to their natural category under my name have done much better since then than they did in the exercise under the Chain Story category. The one left there (because I wasn't that wild about it either and was just trying to do something unusual) just stayed near its original rating and views.

If Laurel is really interested in this exercise, maybe she'd be willing to give an "up front" exercise list on the Home page as she does for contests and we could all work to the same requirements but in separate categories and under our posting names--and just drop, as we can, all references to a rating winner or comparisons on these lines. We could urge that the discussion in comments on the stories and openly in a thread on the Board be directed to how well/cleverly the theme requirements were met. We could discuss the stories openly as we read them.

Then the need to evidence "I'm better than the rest of you and am willing to go to any lengths to make it appear so"--although, given those obsessed by, it won't go away--could be brushed aside by those interested in the purposes of the exercise.

 

[NaokoSmith]

Yes, the jump in scores was a huge one and the numbers of votes swept were staggering. I can't really compare to the last one as I wasn't watching it as closely as I'm watching this one, but I thought the malicious voting was present in the last one too. I remember being disappointed by a lot of scores.

And there's been a round of bombs after the sweep too.

Read almost 10 and 6 to go!

I am wondering if FAWCker is more of a known entity now, so more people are reading and voting? I couldn't see the numbers of votes; does anyone know if there are more votes/views this time around?

Gosh, one story I read had a really tough basket! I very much admired how the writer managed to work with the ingredients s/he got.

 

[PennLady]

I'm also looking forward to discussing the elements and how they fell into place for people. It's tough not to say anything more since much more would give things away. I've read some but probably won't get to them all before voting ends.

I don't mean to drag this out, but -- I can back up LC's description of events to an extent, as he CC'd me on the email he sent to FAWCker with his original story after asking if he could do so. I said yes, and never looked at the attachment, so I did not know (and still don't for sure) what story it was. He also emailed later and explained the mix-up and the fact that he'd requested the story's omission from the contest, or at least that he understood if it happened.

I advised a couple of things. One, send in the corrected version since at that point I don't think they'd been submitted, let alone posted. Second, be patient for FAWCker's responses, since he had said that he wasn't on all the time and also that for a while he had connectivity problems. I thought that if the story did get posted late, it might in fact put LC's at a slight disadvantage since there'd be less time for people to read and vote on it. Whether that's correct or not, I don't know, since everyone seems to have a different theory on votes, views, sweeps, etc.

Since this is supposed to be a friendly competition, I personally didn't care if one story was a little late. I do like the rules and my story was finished and submitted a couple of days ahead of the deadline, so I'm not saying the deadline should have been ignored. I saw this -- and if I'm wrong, well, I'm wrong -- as an honest mistake that he tried to correct as quickly as possible.

Again, I'm not saying I'm correct or that I got the right version of things -- this is just what I saw and did. I'm not championing anyone or anything else, just trying to put out, FWIW, another view of what happened.

 

[sr71plt]

I am wondering if FAWCker is more of a known entity now, so more people are reading and voting? I couldn't see the numbers of votes; does anyone know if there are more votes/views this time around?

I think one story was so blatantly out of whack in all measures that Laurel decided to do a drastic sweep cut--and a few other stories have now (for now) gone above it (and it lost over one-third of its votes--going up in ratings, as it appears all did, but at a drastically lower proportion to any of the others).

(There was one very much out of whack on measurements last time too, but there was no suspicious surrounding evidence on that one at the time and it wasn't nearly as blatant.)

 

[sr71plt]

There's a whole lot more involved than trying to file a corrected version (after or before the deadline? A deadline is a deadline is a deadline--in respect for those who met the deadline and stuck with what they turned in on the deadline, all having been given the same time to meet the deadline), PL. And again, I'm not the one who has banned LC from future exercises, but I now wouldn't join in what is supposed to be a friendly literary exercise that he is posting to. We didn't have this sort of drama queening and here's a hint which one is mine in the first exercise.

 

[NaokoSmith]

There are a lot of issues here. FAWCker did ask a little while back that we not use the thread to discuss these further.

The ratings and who wins is a fun energiser, but this time as last I think it'll be the discussion that takes place once voting closes which will be most enjoyable. It was great to hear what people thought about our stories when they didn't know for sure if we'd written them or not. How people managed or didn't manage their baskets will be a hot topic! I think it'll be a very enjoyable and thought-provoking way to think through how we write. There are some really inventive stories which people have come up with to weave basket ingredients into their narrative.

 

[sr71plt]

There are a lot of issues here. FAWCker did ask a little while back that we not use the thread to discuss these further.

Well, sure. I commented what I did today because of what was brought to the thread today. I've also included discussion of other points concerning the exercise today. What else I put on the thread will depend on what others are putting on the thread.

I also like the anonymous quality to what the exercise was trying to do. If it can be kept anonymous across the board. Hope that in future exercises it can be if that element is kept.

And that said, I'll bet you can't guess which one is mine--because I've tried to keep it that way.

 

[NaokoSmith]

Well, sure. I commented what I did today because of what was brought to the thread today. I've also included discussion of other points concerning the exercise today. What else I put on the thread will depend on what others are putting on the thread.

I also like the anonymous quality to what the exercise was trying to do. If it can be kept anonymous across the board. Hope that in future exercises it can be if that element is kept.

And that said, I'll bet you can't guess which one is mine--because I've tried to keep it that way.

LOL, there's a challenge! Just remember - I was the one who pinged the sado-masochistic incestuous lesbian story for yours last time! after we all went round the houses for a while being very gentle in case it had been written by an actual lesbian woman.

You can probably spot mine, our styles are apparently very similar, ha ha ha! It was hilarious that people thought you had written my story last time.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Something fishy going on.

The better stories and superior stories didn't climb much after Laurel did whatever she did to the scores. The low-riders went up like rockets.

It looks like Laurel tossed all the ONEs overboard, and that explains why the low-riders went up so much more than the others (the others had fewer ONEs to start with).

Where this is headed is to a High School Style G.P.A. Duel where GPAs are as inflated as 6th grade bras, and moms sue schools over hundreths of a point GPA.

There wont be enough room at LIT for stories and egos.

 

[damppanties]

LOL, there's a challenge! Just remember - I was the one who pinged the sado-masochistic incestuous lesbian story for yours last time! after we all went round the houses for a while being very gentle in case it had been written by an actual lesbian woman.

You can probably spot mine, our styles are apparently very similar, ha ha ha! It was hilarious that people thought you had written my story last time.

Okay, it was probably me with my wild guesses that attributed sr's story to you. If I had known sr had 4 in the pot, I'd have said every story was written by him in order to get at least 4 right. All except that humor one - I still think you wrote that.

This time, I think I have 3 on which I'm reasonably sure - of the 10 that I read so far. (But with me, reasonably sure is not saying much I suppose )

 

[FAWCker]

The ratings really have jumped up unbelievably higher than they were (well, most of them). As nice as that is, it's either a sad commentary on a coordinated attack on what's supposed to be a friendly literary exercise or an indictment of a overly rosy and stringent sweep formula. Take your pick.

I also look forward to a discussion of the required elements and working them together. From my reading of the stories, I would have thought that "sarcasm" would be the hardest to work with, but the couple I read with that element did it well--one of them did it very well, I thought.

I think one of the most interesting elements of the first FAWC was the discussion that followed after voting was closed. I'm hoping there will be more of that this time around.

Yes, the jump in scores was a huge one and the numbers of votes swept were staggering. I can't really compare to the last one as I wasn't watching it as closely as I'm watching this one, but I thought the malicious voting was present in the last one too. I remember being disappointed by a lot of scores.

And there's been a round of bombs after the sweep too.

Read almost 10 and 6 to go!

The first FAWC's readership was not as high as this one's, which is to be expected. That said, if there was any malicious voting the first time it probably wasn't as obvious. I think the voting was probably more critical the first time.

The last time, the scores remained very low throughout to the last sweep and remained mostly under 4.15 even at the end. Only a couple achieved Hot at any time during the reading time and I think only one was Hot at the end.

The ones I took completely out of the exercise at the end and transferred to their natural category under my name have done much better since then than they did in the exercise under the Chain Story category. The one left there (because I wasn't that wild about it either and was just trying to do something unusual) just stayed near its original rating and views.

If Laurel is really interested in this exercise, maybe she'd be willing to give an "up front" exercise list on the Home page as she does for contests and we could all work to the same requirements but in separate categories and under our posting names--and just drop, as we can, all references to a rating winner or comparisons on these lines. We could urge that the discussion in comments on the stories and openly in a thread on the Board be directed to how well/cleverly the theme requirements were met. We could discuss the stories openly as we read them.

Then the need to evidence "I'm better than the rest of you and am willing to go to any lengths to make it appear so"--although, given those obsessed by, it won't go away--could be brushed aside by those interested in the purposes of the exercise.

I've considered asking Laurel about possibly giving FAWC some front page exposure, but as this is only the second run, FAWC might need to keep its feet in the water a little more.

I am wondering if FAWCker is more of a known entity now, so more people are reading and voting? I couldn't see the numbers of votes; does anyone know if there are more votes/views this time around?

Gosh, one story I read had a really tough basket! I very much admired how the writer managed to work with the ingredients s/he got.

Views and votes are higher across the board, I think, than they were the first time. Careful use of catchy titles and tag words has also helped in some cases.