Halloween Contest Off-Topic Thread

[NicoleZ]

because most of the readers with short attention spans won't bother to skip to the end and downvote; they'll just click out.

Which is why it is very likely that these are 3-bombs by someone/people clever enough to realise that 1-bombs may be a bit too obvious and that a couple of 3-bombs are almost as deleterious.

If you want to get a higher class of response there are other options. Folk like Lien Geller and Soulful Bard have review threads up in Story Feedback and they always give thoughtful feedback on people's stories, even if it doesn't come with a cash prize.

That is a very good suggestion, thank you!

but if you've already taken it out of the running, it's a bit late now.

It's the most effective way to lodge a protest. Especially if everyone who is on the receiving end immediately withdraw their entries in response as this would only leave the most desperate from whose number I am certain the perpetrators are to be found. As the logical targets are stories or writers seen as a threat, the overall level of entries would be lowered to the point where something would have to be done.

By leaving your bombed story up, you lend the cloak of legitimacy to the "competition". Do think about it...

 

[NOIRTRASH]

Well,

It is rather interesting to learn from others what has gone on here before I joined and I wish I had known in advance. As I was curious and had read about one-bombing, I have kept an eye on the stats and this is what I observed:

* After two votes had been cast (~800 views), the score was 4.50 which means that it had been given a 4 and a 5. There was also one heart.

* After five votes (1610 views), the score had dropped to 3.80 and as there was now two hearts, this means that scores of 5, 4, 1 had been awarded (work the maths if you do not believe me). This is where I began to wonder what in bogs name was going and from then I've kept a close look.

* After six votes votes (1813 views), the score was 3.67 and the person responsible for the 3 had written a comment: "Ok. Not a bad story I skipped about half of it, for me it was too long but still not too bad." So, as a writer I am to be punished because some ignoramus thinks it's too long and hasn't even bothered to read it?

* After eight votes (1918 views), the score was a pathetic 3.25 as one more 1 and a 3 had been entered.

* After this, the story was doomed. It does not matter that as of 24 hours ago (4163 views) a further six people had favourited it and it's received another 5 x 5 plus one 4. Over the last 24+ hours, no more than a further 270 people have bothered to read it.

Job done! Congratulations! Your combination of 1-bombs and 3-boms which a sweep will never notice have achieved their purpose. Well done...

As for the obvious retort about me not considering the possibility that it simply isn't good enough, well. First, more than one voter on my first story (which on two separate occasions was 1-bombed to get it off the hot-list) have written "This story deserves 10 stars". Second, as my RL efforts (completely different genre) have been reported on the front pages of major online newspapers and internet news outlets, not only in the UK, but also countries such as Japan, Indonesia and Sweden amongst others, I have a fair idea about the quality or lack thereof in my work.

As a consequence, I have withdrawn the story by setting the "Public vote" to "No" and removed the "Public Comment Board option". Because of the genuine votes and people who have favourited it, I have for the time being not withdrawn it completely.

Youll come to see the same folks who like the scoring system, defend it vigorously.

I had one a few weeks ago collected 60,000 reads in 2 days, collected over 100 Favs, and collected clusters of one-bombs, not individual bombs. Strange how stories launch with several 5's and quickly go to hell. Makes you wonder who can see your stats.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

The current theory is as follows: A cabal of authors ( fewer than 20 ) is engaged in the following practices, which give them an unfair advantage in the contests. Entering at the last minute. Voting and commenting on each other's stories as soon as posted. Maliciously choosing a category with fewer readers than the "proper" category. Adding an off-putting scene a certain distance into the story for the sole purpose of making all but the most hardcore fans back-click.

Let's begin with "Entering at the last minute".

http://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?p=69412239&highlight=day-1#post69412239

This is the most recent example of me demonstrating that this is complete and utter hogwash. Throughout the entire history of the contests, there is a general parity of early and late entries placing. When asked to narrow the timeframe to the last five years, early entries actually gained a statistically significant advantage over late ones.

And no matter how you slice it, stories entered near the middle of the contest win more often than stories on either end.

There is a full week of voting following the end of the submissions period. Most of the voting on a story happens within the first two days. A week is more than sufficient for a last-minute entry to have the same pattern of voting as a day-1 story.

The secondary element of this complaint is that "Late entries avoid some of the sweeps." The problem with that is that few to no sweeps happen before the end of the submission period. Those lesser sweeps that do occur may very well be related to other causes, such as toplist manipulation, author requested sweeps, etc.

This theory too is complete nonsense.

Now, let's move on to the cabal voting for each other to boost their ratings early. Most of the people making these allegations have in excess of 2000 people listing them as a favorite author. Considering this "cabal" has fewer than 20 members, it takes only 1% of the people who have listed them as a favorite author to exceed the number of members in this "cabal".

So, first and foremost, the "advantage" being decried is myopic. Authors with large fanbases can easily exceed the number of votes and comments alleged to be left by the "cabal"

Why would gaining early votes be advantageous? First, early five votes get you a Red H earlier, which attracts more people to your story. Because of the lag between when the story is live and it appearing on the new story list, it may even show up with a red H. This can be quite good for picking up more readers than you might have otherwise.

Problem with this theory? It's in direct opposition to another portion of this ridiculous nonsense, which says that the authors are purposely attempting to minimize the number of people reading and voting on their story. So, to subscribe to this, you have to believe they're cheating by trying to get people to read them, while simultaneously cheating to keep people from reading them.

Comments are the same thing. A string of positive comments may very well attract more people to your story. How does that jive with saying that the authors are attempting to limit the number of people reading and voting?

It doesn't.

What it does is insure that no matter what the targeted people do, the bases are covered. There's always a "gotcha!"

Meanwhile, on another site where the contests are entirely judged by a large, mixed panel of authors, moderators, and engaged readers, there are people screaming bloody murder that views and votes should be added into the equation because the winners didn't have as many of those as they did.

There is no contest structure that people will accept. There's always a cheater or a site bias, and as soon as it's stated, other people pile on the bandwagon, because they want to believe it.

For the record, scouries hasn't posted a story on the other site since the last one he posted here, back in '12, unless he's doing so under a secret pen name. He's never been a presence on the forum there, and so is even more of a non-entity there than he is here. It's unlikely anyone is striking back at Lit on his behalf from there, as probably few people even remember he existed.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled flavor of the month winner-shaming witch hunt.

The problem with your apology is: SCORES RISE WITH TIME, THEY DONT FALL. And you gotta wonder what happened to the folks who hate your writing. I say the assholes are parked at the starting line.

 

[oggbashan]

Youll come to see the same folks who like the scoring system, defend it vigorously.

I had one a few weeks ago collected 60,000 reads in 2 days, collected over 100 Favs, and collected clusters of one-bombs, not individual bombs. Strange how stories launch with several 5's and quickly go to hell. Makes you wonder who can see your stats.

Anyone can now by looking at your list of stories. They used to be hidden before the story got to ten votes and many stories reached 10 votes with a perfect 5.00.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is that some readers have a reasonable but skewed idea of the voting. They think that a choice of voting from 1 to 5 means that an average story deserves a 3, a good one a 4, and only an exceptional one should get a 5.

That would be sensible if H for Hot wasn't set at 4.5. The H marking changes the voting scale. Any vote below a 5 will reduce the possibility of an H, and an H is essential for many readers to even look at a story. Any story with a rating below 4.00 is unlikely to be read (and I have several of those!).

Despite the accusations I don't buy a massive conspiracy to attack authors' stories. A few people? Perhaps. A readership that doesn't understand the mechanics of the voting system? Maybe. People who look at a story that has won a contest, or has a Green E, and say to themselves 'It's not that good' or 'It doesn't work for me' and vote it down? That is more probable.

Winning stories have always attracted lower votes as soon as the result is announced. Any story with a Green E might just as well have a target painted on it. All it takes is a few people to think that it wasn't 'the best' and vote it down. All my Ws and my story E have suffered from lower votes since those markers were attached. My Green E has never had a Red H.

Believe in a conspiracy if you like. There could be one but I can't see it having a massive impact with the number of votes involved in a contest. But there is never a shortage of ignorant assholes and their impact on voting could swamp anything the author's manipulation could do.

As I said before, if you don't like the contests, don't enter.

Edited for PS.

Wow! My shorter entry has risen to a rating of a whole 3.84

 

[oggbashan]

The problem with your apology is: SCORES RISE WITH TIME, THEY DONT FALL. And you gotta wonder what happened to the folks who hate your writing. I say the assholes are parked at the starting line.

Mine don't. They fall, gradually over years.

 

[weftandwarp]

With the voting shenanigans going on, the Halloween Contest is completely meaningless as a contest of literary skills. The voting system employed is not only open to abuse it, invites it, something which renders it a complete joke. And a very bad joke at that, one which leaves a sour taste of vomit behind.

[The first ten posts of this thread were originally part of the Contest Support Thread, but have been split off from it -AH Mod]

I like the contests. I know they don't have to happen and it is generous that they do. I don't think it's the money part of it that is as significant as the organisation of it. I remember when the accompanying thread was incredibly acrimonious and embarrassing.

Being Australian it is difficult- we don't celebrate Halloween and some are offended by the mention of it. The winter competition is similar- we don't have Thanksgiving or Christmas in winter. We have our Christmas in Summer. Snow in summer is so alien. When I submit to these contests it is invariably off topic as it would be if an American were asked to submit a story about the Melbourne Cup. I have no idea about Halloween- what we hallow is Adelaide Oval, the MCG, The SCG, The Gabba, The Waca. I always liked the Earth Day competition because it was inclusive and I'm sorry to see it's gone.

I don't expect to win. For me it is an act of courage to enter. I fit with in the autism spectrum as so many do. I have always had problems with disjointedness which at one time made any thing I wrote indecipherable. With a huge amount of effort I've come a long way.( I'd hate to be "normal", that isn't my objective.) I enter for the feed back- the learning process continues. It is usually a good way to discover how I'm doing with my writing. Some times people have been rude but I figure I don't have to adopt their problems and genuinely feel sorry for them. Some people have been so generous with their comments and I'm so grateful. I've learnt a lot. I was once pronounced the person with the most imaginative entry!. I was so pleased with that and am still saying thank you.

My latest entry is off topic (as one would expect). It's not my greatest bit of writing but it is one of my longest. I am pleased with it because it is venturing into areas of writing I once could never have contemplated simply because of its length. I don't mind if it gets a lot of ones because I've already kicked my goal in entering, that won't be taken from me. It is with gratitude I see my entry there.

I just wish there were more comments but I guess that I'll get them when I deserve them. Some times, when I see the responses to comments, I can understand why people don't comment. Perhaps there could be a reward for the person who makes the best comment in a contest and perhaps that could be extended to the whole of Literotica- an honourable mention for the best "commenter". Once again though it would place more stress on Literotica in making such adjudications. As I understand, the site isn't only about those who write- it's also about those who read. More than that it is about those who enjoy.

The most important part though is that Literotica is a wonderfully supportive site and it can't be responsible for the inadequacies of those who seek to disrupt the contests.

Thank you.

 

[colddiesel]

I have never voted on a competition. I must be the Virgin Mary.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

I like the contests. I know they don't have to happen and it is generous that they do. I don't think it's the money part of it that is as significant as the organisation of it. I remember when the accompanying thread was incredibly acrimonious and embarrassing.

Being Australian it is difficult- we don't celebrate Halloween and some are offended by the mention of it. The winter competition is similar- we don't have Thanksgiving or Christmas in winter. We have our Christmas in Summer. Snow in summer is so alien. When I submit to these contests it is invariably off topic as it would be if an American were asked to submit a story about the Melbourne Cup. I have no idea about Halloween- what we hallow is Adelaide Oval, the MCG, The SCG, The Gabba, The Waca. I always liked the Earth Day competition because it was inclusive and I'm sorry to see it's gone.

I don't expect to win. For me it is an act of courage to enter. I fit with in the autism spectrum as so many do. I have always had problems with disjointedness which at one time made any thing I wrote indecipherable. With a huge amount of effort I've come a long way.( I'd hate to be "normal", that isn't my objective.) I enter for the feed back- the learning process continues. It is usually a good way to discover how I'm doing with my writing. Some times people have been rude but I figure I don't have to adopt their problems and genuinely feel sorry for them. Some people have been so generous with their comments and I'm so grateful. I've learnt a lot. I was once pronounced the person with the most imaginative entry!. I was so pleased with that and am still saying thank you.

My latest entry is off topic (as one would expect). It's not my greatest bit of writing but it is one of my longest. I am pleased with it because it is venturing into areas of writing I once could never have contemplated simply because of its length. I don't mind if it gets a lot of ones because I've already kicked my goal in entering, that won't be taken from me. It is with gratitude I see my entry there.

I just wish there were more comments but I guess that I'll get them when I deserve them. Some times, when I see the responses to comments, I can understand why people don't comment. Perhaps there could be a reward for the person who makes the best comment in a contest and perhaps that could be extended to the whole of Literotica- an honourable mention for the best "commenter". Once again though it would place more stress on Literotica in making such adjudications. As I understand, the site isn't only about those who write- it's also about those who read. More than that it is about those who enjoy.

The most important part though is that Literotica is a wonderfully supportive site and it can't be responsible for the inadequacies of those who seek to disrupt the contests.

Thank you.

LIT writers are too tender for feedback. What they demand is a big ass smooch. I cant be bothered with it.

 

[ChloeTzang]

But for what it's worth, length generally helps your ratings overall, because most of the readers with short attention spans won't bother to skip to the end and downvote; they'll just click out. If you don't believe me, have a look at the stories on the all-time Hall of Fame here.

I had a few of those comments early on - now, more often that not, I include a note at the start that covers things like "This is not a 2 page jerk-off story...." and honestly, that seems to have taken care of that one. The readers that don't like long stories just don't start.

It's pretty common for views to taper off a lot after the first few days, no matter what the rating. For example, one of mine in Lesbian had these view counts in its first four days:

Day 1: 14289 (+14289)
Day 2: 17347 (+3058)
Day 3: 18983 (+1636)
Day 4: 19127 (+144)

It took more than two months for that story to reach double the view count it got on Day 1.

When your story's on the first couple of pages of the New Stories portal, it's very easy for readers to find. After a couple of days it will get buried in the depths of New Stories (plus many of those who frequent NS will have already read it), and that makes it much harder to draw new readers.

That's more or less my experience, but I think it also helps to time it so that your story comes up on a Friday - I find if I do that (not that I manage it often), you pick up more reader views over a weekend. That was a bit subjective tho. Altho posting it in a category where it will stay on the front page for a longer period of time also helps - my one Incest story disappeared within a few days due to the sheer volume there.

I also find when I post a new story, it has a follow-on effect on my other stories or other chapters being views. My Halloween story was in a category I've never submitted in before, and it got readers looking at my other stories (and I had the emails and feedback to tell me) which was a nice bonus.

 

[ChloeTzang]

I have never voted on a competition. I must be the Virgin Mary.

LOL. I only voted on my own story and that's it. I did read most of the others tho and enjoyed some of them. I just won't vote on other writers stories tho, unless I'm not in the competition.

LIT writers are too tender for feedback. What they demand is a big ass smooch. I cant be bothered with it.

Dunno about that. You have to get over that sensitivity just to keep writing and submitting here. The ones that want that big ass smooch and nothing else tend to disappear pretty quick, altho I can also empathize with that. If you're a bit sensitive, it'd be hard to take some of the reader / troll comments that get made - but on the other hand that's why you can turn the comments off. Author's choice there - but yes, if you only want nice complimentary feedback, ain't happening. Me, I'll take almost any comment I get quite happily. Even the gook slut one. LOL, I had fun with that one. Haven't seen it more than the once.

 

[holliday1960]

LOL. I only voted on my own story and that's it. I did read most of the others tho and enjoyed some of them. I just won't vote on other writers stories tho, unless I'm not in the competition.

I took a different stand on this issue. I did not vote on my own story. I did pick the top three stories (in my opinion) and I gave them the vote they deserved. One of the top 3, I did not vote on because, again, in my opinion, it was and still is in violation of Lit's posting rules. All other stories, some of which I liked but felt they needed work still...I commented on but didn't vote for or against.

I won't say I will not enter competitions in the future, but I will say that I have encountered the same unscrupulous practices with voting manipulations as others have. We all do, I suppose. It doesn't make it right. But, neither does it affect my writing one way or the other. At first, I was upset by it. But, I think finding some of the more experienced authors on the site and asking their opinions, as someone else suggested, is probably more helpful than going by the numbers.
In the past, my stories did fare well when first posted, then day 2 they got bombed. After several months, they settled in with decent numbers, but not top numbers. What I have learned is that I write in categories that are highly competitive with low viewer numbers. The people who seek them out, do seem to enjoy them.
Another point about competitions, is that essentially, ALL stories are entered into the monthly competitions. The only way you can avoid that is by turning off voting. If you do that, then you are deluding yourself about how good or bad your story may be. You need the numbers and feedback to determine your marketability in my opinion. Even if those numbers are somewhat manipulated.
If you turn off voting, you probably should just take your stories to another site or try publishing them yourself and see if people buy them. It will cost you to do that, but if you make back your investment, then you will know you are a decent writer.

 

[lovecraft68]

Worth noting for people new to the drama here.

Darkniciad/Reject reality/Les lumens are all one person and admittedly so they're not 'alts' just different pen names for different material.

Whatever accusation is made regarding any type of contest manipulation/formula/tricks etc...he vehemently denies exist or could work.

The simple reason for that is he created a winning formula himself and used it to the letter for four straight years to place in contest and only stopped it when several people called it out.

Now he has not used that formula since, nor has he placed since. But of course there was no edge.

So not exactly an unbiased opinion is my only point.

He also over time kept giving me the 'just wait until you get a few W's and they start accusing you"

Well I have 6. Four themed, 1 yearly, 1 monthly. Unless I missed it no one has accused me of doing anything.

Some say longer stories are an edge. If that's true then yes, I wrote longer stories. But difference is all my non contest entries are fairly long as well. Its not a contest gimmick, its the fact I like to write long stories.

I've been here six years and am #4 on the all time top list. I have a large fan base, but like others whether my fan base 'shows up' or not is random. But I think my fan base can be somewhat cancelled out by the legion of trolls I've earned both in my writing and my forum posting. Anyone who posts on these boards gains more trolls.

Bottom line, this is another head in the sand nothing to see here folks site sycophant talking and that is the attitude that allows the cheating.

But for years when I first came here Dark had no issue blaming scouries or freddie for anything. So that's okay, as long as he thinks its true so again, totally unbiased, right?

 

[Bramblethorn]

It's the most effective way to lodge a protest. Especially if everyone who is on the receiving end immediately withdraw their entries in response as this would only leave the most desperate from whose number I am certain the perpetrators are to be found. As the logical targets are stories or writers seen as a threat, the overall level of entries would be lowered to the point where something would have to be done.

What sort of "something" would you suggest?

The current method certainly has its failings. Lit's sweeps are more sophisticated than just removing outlier votes, but it's impossible to prevent all methods of multi-voting. (n.b. Laurel has previously requested that we not discuss the technical details of that, so I'll leave it there.)

But I'm having trouble thinking of a better solution. Anything that attempts to enforce "one person one vote" by collecting ID info is highly problematic; it makes the site a target for ID theft/blackmail, and it's likely to deter a lot of voters, which makes scores more volatile and actually increases the effect that one malicious voter can have on your score.

By leaving your bombed story up, you lend the cloak of legitimacy to the "competition". Do think about it...

I think I've entered two contests (both Halloween) in the four years I've been here. Not because of any particular issue with the contests, I just suck at writing themed pieces to deadline.

I had a few of those comments early on - now, more often that not, I include a note at the start that covers things like "This is not a 2 page jerk-off story...." and honestly, that seems to have taken care of that one. The readers that don't like long stories just don't start.

I've had at least one who quoted that note and still complained about slow pacing I think part of what happens there is that as you post more stories, readers get to know you and either seek you out or avoid you, according to their tastes.

That's more or less my experience, but I think it also helps to time it so that your story comes up on a Friday - I find if I do that (not that I manage it often), you pick up more reader views over a weekend. That was a bit subjective tho. Altho posting it in a category where it will stay on the front page for a longer period of time also helps - my one Incest story disappeared within a few days due to the sheer volume there.

I had one that stayed near the top of New Stories for more than a day. So many views!

I also find when I post a new story, it has a follow-on effect on my other stories or other chapters being views. My Halloween story was in a category I've never submitted in before, and it got readers looking at my other stories (and I had the emails and feedback to tell me) which was a nice bonus.

Yep. When posting a series, I'd get a bump on all the previous chapters every time a new one went live. I don't notice a big effect cross-category (e.g. a new Horror story doesn't seem to do much for views on my Lesbian stories) but I do notice comments/faves from readers who've found my work in one category and then looked up my other stuff.

 

[lovecraft68]

I said this once before, but will mention it again and again for people newer to this crap.

There is a way to play the system. There is a way to concoct a story that will get a certain reaction from readers.

If anyone doesn't think that's true, head on over to the How To forum. There are countless essays there dedicated to how to get the best scores/feedback etc on your stories. Most target a specific category, some are across the board.

The essays are full of tips from authors who have gotten very good scores and are sharing how they do it. What do the readers like? Not like? do some posting days work better than others, how to place your stories.

Its all there from a multitude of authors in fact in the 'do you vote for yourself' thread I mentioned there is a How to about that and there is a reason to do it to help yourself out.

So when you read all that and see what those authors do to max out their scores and get the best possible reader reaction...

Why is it so hard to believe there are ways to play these contests?

The difference is those how to's are all about the max, the contest formula is about keeping votes lower and going out of their way to get knee jerk one bombs.

Why would someone want bombs and lower vote totals? one word "sweeps" the sweeps favor lower voted stories. If a story with 110 votes loses 30 of them it receives and enormous boost in score. As opposed to a 1100 vote story losing 200 votes

But in order to do that they have to make sure they get a lot of one bombs partway through the story so they will be swept. How? Like TX Rad I'll offer that through a PM because I don't want to publicly do an ABC of contest manipulation here.

Two people from that group are the ones that play this formula and manipulation-the others just do their things behind the scenes- one of them never had a contest win until the group was formed and now have three, the other had 4 contest wins in 10 years and then won three within a year.

Nothing strange at all.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

I said this once before, but will mention it again and again for people newer to this crap.

There is a way to play the system. There is a way to concoct a story that will get a certain reaction from readers.

If anyone doesn't think that's true, head on over to the How To forum. There are countless essays there dedicated to how to get the best scores/feedback etc on your stories. Most target a specific category, some are across the board.

The essays are full of tips from authors who have gotten very good scores and are sharing how they do it. What do the readers like? Not like? do some posting days work better than others, how to place your stories.

Its all there from a multitude of authors in fact in the 'do you vote for yourself' thread I mentioned there is a How to about that and there is a reason to do it to help yourself out.

So when you read all that and see what those authors do to max out their scores and get the best possible reader reaction...

Why is it so hard to believe there are ways to play these contests?

The difference is those how to's are all about the max, the contest formula is about keeping votes lower and going out of their way to get knee jerk one bombs.

Why would someone want bombs and lower vote totals? one word "sweeps" the sweeps favor lower voted stories. If a story with 110 votes loses 30 of them it receives and enormous boost in score. As opposed to a 1100 vote story losing 200 votes

But in order to do that they have to make sure they get a lot of one bombs partway through the story so they will be swept. How? Like TX Rad I'll offer that through a PM because I don't want to publicly do an ABC of contest manipulation here.

Two people from that group are the ones that play this formula and manipulation-the others just do their things behind the scenes- one of them never had a contest win until the group was formed and now have three, the other had 4 contest wins in 10 years and then won three within a year.

Nothing strange at all.

You and me discussed all of this a few times. We know who the suspects are. And if it can be done, it will be done.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

LOL. I only voted on my own story and that's it. I did read most of the others tho and enjoyed some of them. I just won't vote on other writers stories tho, unless I'm not in the competition.



Dunno about that. You have to get over that sensitivity just to keep writing and submitting here. The ones that want that big ass smooch and nothing else tend to disappear pretty quick, altho I can also empathize with that. If you're a bit sensitive, it'd be hard to take some of the reader / troll comments that get made - but on the other hand that's why you can turn the comments off. Author's choice there - but yes, if you only want nice complimentary feedback, ain't happening. Me, I'll take almost any comment I get quite happily. Even the gook slut one. LOL, I had fun with that one. Haven't seen it more than the once.

Raised in the 50s and 60s, when I sucked no one cut me any slack. I paid to join Little League but sat the bench all the time. I was last picked most of the time because I was small and disabled. I raised holy hell with my dad when he let a neighbor boy mow our yard. What the fuck was I thinking! My point is: where I suck pointed me to where I shine. I cant sing or dance or suck cock, so I don't fool with what I cant do. I go with what I can do.

Today no one sucks and all get trophies until it matters, then most get crushed. My grandson got a 4 year scholarship for baseball. He got it because Major League World Series ball players watched him pitch and talked about his talent. Derek Jeter never said THIS KID NEEDS SOME AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND A HUG.

Somewhere we all need to find out whats real.

 

[GoldenMaia]

Knee deep? That's really nothing.

I had it up to my neck.

Not just rejection slips but any person who will rate/review published work. This is what happens when you write and offer out your work. People will have opinions about it.

I haven't won a contest but those entries I had were the highest rated stories I have. I think overall it's only good to get more people to read your work.

It is a rigged system but we're talking about a bill fifty if you win.

If you want to really win an honest to goodness contest, try some real writing contests. You can find a lot from the Writer's Digest website or Romance Writers of America (that include Erotica) have listings of Romance friendly contests.

 

[SusanJillParker]

I know this:

This is the final competition I will bother to enter and once it is over I will probably join NOIRTRASH and disable both voting and anonymous comments - if even that.

It is not about winning or even placing. It's about getting a fair evaluation of what I write from people who not only recently advanced beyond the "See Spot run. Run Spot, run!"-stage.

As a writer who has won twice the contest money of any other writer on the site, I beg to differ with you.

True these contests are nothing more than popularity contests and are usually won over and again by the same people with the largest fan bases.

Yet, no one should enter one of these contests with the idea of winning in mind. Instead, you should enter the contest as your way to write a theme story and to showcase your writing ability, your creative skills, and honed talent.

Along the way, you'll pick up more fans and more votes. Along the way, you may even win a contest without it being rigged. Along the way, you may even make some friends.

The whole idea about theme contests is to stretch your talent as a creative writer of fiction and to have fun.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

As a writer who has won twice the contest money of any other writer on the site, I beg to differ with you.

True these contests are nothing more than popularity contests and are usually won over and again by the same people with the largest fan bases.

Yet, no one should enter one of these contests with the idea of winning in mind. Instead, you should enter the contest as your way to write a theme story and to showcase your writing ability, your creative skills, and honed talent.

Along the way, you'll pick up more fans and more votes. Along the way, you may even win a contest without it being rigged. Along the way, you may even make some friends.

The whole idea about theme contests is to stretch your talent as a creative writer of fiction and to have fun.

Looks like LAUREL bought your soul.

 

[SusanJillParker]

Looks like LAUREL bought your soul.

Perhaps you're right. All it took was for her to invite me to her castle for dinner.

She's so stunningly beautiful. If I was lesbian, I would have accepted the pass she made at me but I'm not lesbian.

She did give me a free, pink Literotica tee shirt, coffee mug, hat, keychain, and pen.

Have you not been invited to her castle?

 

[NOIRTRASH]

Perhaps you're right. All it took was for her to invite me to her castle for dinner.

She's so stunningly beautiful. If I was lesbian, I would have accepted the pass she made at me but I'm not lesbian.

She did give me a free, pink Literotica tee shirt, coffee mug, hat, keychain, and pen.

Have you not been invited to her castle?

Thanks for the confirmation.

 

[NicoleZ]

As a writer who has won twice the contest money of any other writer on the site, I beg to differ with you.

True these contests are nothing more than popularity contests and are usually won over and again by the same people with the largest fan bases.

Yet, no one should enter one of these contests with the idea of winning in mind. Instead, you should enter the contest as your way to write a theme story and to showcase your writing ability, your creative skills, and honed talent.

Along the way, you'll pick up more fans and more votes. Along the way, you may even win a contest without it being rigged. Along the way, you may even make some friends.

The whole idea about theme contests is to stretch your talent as a creative writer of fiction and to have fun.

Would you please take the time explain what you actually do mean here SusanJill? You begin by saying that you disagree with me, giving your earnings in prize money, twice as much as those of any other writer, as the reason for disagreeing, that much is clear. You have quoted two statements of mine as being, at least one would logically assume so, what you then go on to disagree with. Which of these two statements or what in them is it that you disagree with?

a) That this is the final competition I will bother to enter?
b) That (to me) it's not about the winning?

As to the first, I believe that I am more qualified to judge whether or not it is accurate . As to the second, what you then go on to elaborate actually echoes this opinion rather than contradict it.

I think that upon reflection you will have to agree that your post is rather confused and the way you have explained your thinking rather muddled, SusanJill. Would you please give it another go?

 

[sr71plt]

* After six votes votes (1813 views), the score was 3.67 and the person responsible for the 3 had written a comment: "Ok. Not a bad story I skipped about half of it, for me it was too long but still not too bad." So, as a writer I am to be punished because some ignoramus thinks it's too long and hasn't even bothered to read it?

Whoa. 3.00 is not a bomb to anyone who reads the category explanations. It's an "I like it," and it's spot on for the comment (generous, actually, for the comment "still not too bad"), which could very well be legitimate. Your work is more than 35,000 words and the commenter said they skipped over maybe half of it--which means they read a big chunk of it. Instead of calling someone who took the time to read about half of a 35,000-word piece (I wouldn't read any of it. I don't think short stories should be mixed with novellas and novels in the same contest) "some ignoramus," you might look to the possibility that you were too verbose for the material you had.

 

[TxRad]

Would you please take the time explain what you actually do mean here SusanJill? You begin by saying that you disagree with me, giving your earnings in prize money, twice as much as those of any other writer, as the reason for disagreeing, that much is clear. You have quoted two statements of mine as being, at least one would logically assume so, what you then go on to disagree with. Which of these two statements or what in them is it that you disagree with?

a) That this is the final competition I will bother to enter?
b) That (to me) it's not about the winning?

As to the first, I believe that I am more qualified to judge whether or not it is accurate . As to the second, what you then go on to elaborate actually echoes this opinion rather than contradict it.

I think that upon reflection you will have to agree that your post is rather confused and the way you have explained your thinking rather muddled, SusanJill. Would you please give it another go?

Since SusanJill is actually freddie and the money he won was in survivors which is about how much you can write and not how well you can write, the confusion is understandable. He hasn't a clue about the regular contests. I don't think he has entered one with any of his dozen alts or so.

The only reason for posting was to brag about winning survivor and to try and make it look like he knows what he is talking about. He and JBJ (NoirTrash) go together. Both are all about 'hey, look at me'.

 

[jsmiam]

.... <snipped> After two votes had been cast (~800 views), the score was 4.50 which means that it had been given a 4 and a 5. There was also one heart.

* After five votes (1610 views), the score had dropped to 3.80 ... <snip>

I'll vote on my own forum post, thank you very much...

Although Review Fraud (whether here or at Amazon) exists everywhere, but not counting a certain restaurant review site who sells "bad review removal" to restaurant owners (but I digress)...

It's roughly at about 100 to 200 votes, where your score will stop fluctuating wildly, simple arithmetic. (A 1 bomb changes your vote wildly when you have just 5 votes, but barely affects the score if you have hundreds or thousands). If part of your concern was based on the moment in time that you had five votes, that was, well, because you only had five votes. Note that this is 100 percent independent of the debate on conpiracies, yay or nay, or nay or yay. This is just the math.

http://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?t=1226676

EDIT: Pasting in the text based version chart below, so you can skip going to the other post (there is a bit more contextual info in the other post, but this is the key part: Once you have a lot of votes, a one bomb still can affect your score, but the impact steadily diminishes as your vote count increases).

	10	25	50	100	150	200	250	300	350	400	450	500	750	1000	1250	1500	1750	2000	5000	10000
5.00	4.6364	4.8462	4.9216	4.9604	4.9735	4.9801	4.9841	4.9867	4.9886	4.9900	4.9911	4.9920	4.9947	4.9960	4.9968	4.9973	4.9977	4.9980	4.9992	4.9996
4.95	4.5909	4.7981	4.8725	4.9109	4.9238	4.9303	4.9343	4.9369	4.9387	4.9401	4.9412	4.9421	4.9447	4.9461	4.9468	4.9474	4.9477	4.9480	4.9492	4.9496
4.90	4.5455	4.7500	4.8235	4.8614	4.8742	4.8806	4.8845	4.8870	4.8889	4.8903	4.8914	4.8922	4.8948	4.8961	4.8969	4.8974	4.8978	4.8981	4.8992	4.8996
4.85	4.5000	4.7019	4.7745	4.8119	4.8245	4.8308	4.8347	4.8372	4.8390	4.8404	4.8415	4.8423	4.8449	4.8462	4.8469	4.8474	4.8478	4.8481	4.8492	4.8496
4.80	4.4545	4.6538	4.7255	4.7624	4.7748	4.7811	4.7849	4.7874	4.7892	4.7905	4.7916	4.7924	4.7949	4.7962	4.7970	4.7975	4.7978	4.7981	4.7992	4.7996
4.75	4.4091	4.6058	4.6765	4.7129	4.7252	4.7313	4.7351	4.7375	4.7393	4.7406	4.7417	4.7425	4.7450	4.7463	4.7470	4.7475	4.7479	4.7481	4.7493	4.7496
4.70	4.3636	4.5577	4.6275	4.6634	4.6755	4.6816	4.6853	4.6877	4.6895	4.6908	4.6918	4.6926	4.6951	4.6963	4.6970	4.6975	4.6979	4.6982	4.6993	4.6996
4.65	4.3182	4.5096	4.5784	4.6139	4.6258	4.6318	4.6355	4.6379	4.6396	4.6409	4.6419	4.6427	4.6451	4.6464	4.6471	4.6476	4.6479	4.6482	4.6493	4.6496
4.60	4.2727	4.4615	4.5294	4.5644	4.5762	4.5821	4.5857	4.5880	4.5897	4.5910	4.5920	4.5928	4.5952	4.5964	4.5971	4.5976	4.5979	4.5982	4.5993	4.5996
4.55	4.2273	4.4135	4.4804	4.5149	4.5265	4.5323	4.5359	4.5382	4.5399	4.5411	4.5421	4.5429	4.5453	4.5465	4.5472	4.5476	4.5480	4.5482	4.5493	4.5496
4.50	4.1818	4.3654	4.4314	4.4653	4.4768	4.4826	4.4861	4.4884	4.4900	4.4913	4.4922	4.4930	4.4953	4.4965	4.4972	4.4977	4.4980	4.4983	4.4993	4.4997
4.45	4.1364	4.3173	4.3824	4.4158	4.4272	4.4328	4.4363	4.4385	4.4402	4.4414	4.4424	4.4431	4.4454	4.4466	4.4472	4.4477	4.4480	4.4483	4.4493	4.4497
4.40	4.0909	4.2692	4.3333	4.3663	4.3775	4.3831	4.3865	4.3887	4.3903	4.3915	4.3925	4.3932	4.3955	4.3966	4.3973	4.3977	4.3981	4.3983	4.3993	4.3997
4.35	4.0455	4.2212	4.2843	4.3168	4.3278	4.3333	4.3367	4.3389	4.3405	4.3416	4.3426	4.3433	4.3455	4.3467	4.3473	4.3478	4.3481	4.3483	4.3493	4.3497
4.30	4.0000	4.1731	4.2353	4.2673	4.2781	4.2836	4.2869	4.2890	4.2906	4.2918	4.2927	4.2934	4.2956	4.2967	4.2974	4.2978	4.2981	4.2984	4.2993	4.2997
4.25	3.9545	4.1250	4.1863	4.2178	4.2285	4.2338	4.2371	4.2392	4.2407	4.2419	4.2428	4.2435	4.2457	4.2468	4.2474	4.2478	4.2481	4.2484	4.2494	4.2497
4.20	3.9091	4.0769	4.1373	4.1683	4.1788	4.1841	4.1873	4.1894	4.1909	4.1920	4.1929	4.1936	4.1957	4.1968	4.1974	4.1979	4.1982	4.1984	4.1994	4.1997
4.15	3.8636	4.0288	4.0882	4.1188	4.1291	4.1343	4.1375	4.1395	4.1410	4.1421	4.1430	4.1437	4.1458	4.1469	4.1475	4.1479	4.1482	4.1484	4.1494	4.1497
4.10	3.8182	3.9808	4.0392	4.0693	4.0795	4.0846	4.0876	4.0897	4.0912	4.0923	4.0931	4.0938	4.0959	4.0969	4.0975	4.0979	4.0982	4.0985	4.0994	4.0997
4.05	3.7727	3.9327	3.9902	4.0198	4.0298	4.0348	4.0378	4.0399	4.0413	4.0424	4.0432	4.0439	4.0459	4.0470	4.0476	4.0480	4.0483	4.0485	4.0494	4.0497
4.00	3.7273	3.8846	3.9412	3.9703	3.9801	3.9851	3.9880	3.9900	3.9915	3.9925	3.9933	3.9940	3.9960	3.9970	3.9976	3.9980	3.9983	3.9985	3.9994	3.9997
3.95	3.6818	3.8365	3.8922	3.9208	3.9305	3.9353	3.9382	3.9402	3.9416	3.9426	3.9435	3.9441	3.9461	3.9471	3.9476	3.9480	3.9483	3.9485	3.9494	3.9497
3.90	3.6364	3.7885	3.8431	3.8713	3.8808	3.8856	3.8884	3.8904	3.8917	3.8928	3.8936	3.8942	3.8961	3.8971	3.8977	3.8981	3.8983	3.8986	3.8994	3.8997
3.85	3.5909	3.7404	3.7941	3.8218	3.8311	3.8358	3.8386	3.8405	3.8419	3.8429	3.8437	3.8443	3.8462	3.8472	3.8477	3.8481	3.8484	3.8486	3.8494	3.8497
3.80	3.5455	3.6923	3.7451	3.7723	3.7815	3.7861	3.7888	3.7907	3.7920	3.7930	3.7938	3.7944	3.7963	3.7972	3.7978	3.7981	3.7984	3.7986	3.7994	3.7997
3.75	3.5000	3.6442	3.6961	3.7228	3.7318	3.7363	3.7390	3.7409	3.7422	3.7431	3.7439	3.7445	3.7463	3.7473	3.7478	3.7482	3.7484	3.7486	3.7495	3.7497
3.70	3.4545	3.5962	3.6471	3.6733	3.6821	3.6866	3.6892	3.6910	3.6923	3.6933	3.6940	3.6946	3.6964	3.6973	3.6978	3.6982	3.6985	3.6987	3.6995	3.6997
3.65	3.4091	3.5481	3.5980	3.6238	3.6325	3.6368	3.6394	3.6412	3.6425	3.6434	3.6441	3.6447	3.6465	3.6474	3.6479	3.6482	3.6485	3.6487	3.6495	3.6497
3.60	3.3636	3.5000	3.5490	3.5743	3.5828	3.5871	3.5896	3.5914	3.5926	3.5935	3.5942	3.5948	3.5965	3.5974	3.5979	3.5983	3.5985	3.5987	3.5995	3.5997
3.55	3.3182	3.4519	3.5000	3.5248	3.5331	3.5373	3.5398	3.5415	3.5427	3.5436	3.5443	3.5449	3.5466	3.5475	3.5480	3.5483	3.5485	3.5487	3.5495	3.5497
3.50	3.2727	3.4038	3.4510	3.4752	3.4834	3.4876	3.4900	3.4917	3.4929	3.4938	3.4945	3.4950	3.4967	3.4975	3.4980	3.4983	3.4986	3.4988	3.4995	3.4998
3.45	3.2273	3.3558	3.4020	3.4257	3.4338	3.4378	3.4402	3.4419	3.4430	3.4439	3.4446	3.4451	3.4467	3.4476	3.4480	3.4484	3.4486	3.4488	3.4495	3.4498
3.40	3.1818	3.3077	3.3529	3.3762	3.3841	3.3881	3.3904	3.3920	3.3932	3.3940	3.3947	3.3952	3.3968	3.3976	3.3981	3.3984	3.3986	3.3988	3.3995	3.3998
3.35	3.1364	3.2596	3.3039	3.3267	3.3344	3.3383	3.3406	3.3422	3.3433	3.3441	3.3448	3.3453	3.3469	3.3477	3.3481	3.3484	3.3487	3.3488	3.3495	3.3498
3.30	3.0909	3.2115	3.2549	3.2772	3.2848	3.2886	3.2908	3.2924	3.2934	3.2943	3.2949	3.2954	3.2969	3.2977	3.2982	3.2985	3.2987	3.2989	3.2995	3.2998
3.25	3.0455	3.1635	3.2059	3.2277	3.2351	3.2388	3.2410	3.2425	3.2436	3.2444	3.2450	3.2455	3.2470	3.2478	3.2482	3.2485	3.2487	3.2489	3.2496	3.2498
3.20	3.0000	3.1154	3.1569	3.1782	3.1854	3.1891	3.1912	3.1927	3.1937	3.1945	3.1951	3.1956	3.1971	3.1978	3.1982	3.1985	3.1987	3.1989	3.1996	3.1998
3.15	2.9545	3.0673	3.1078	3.1287	3.1358	3.1393	3.1414	3.1429	3.1439	3.1446	3.1452	3.1457	3.1471	3.1479	3.1483	3.1486	3.1488	3.1489	3.1496	3.1498
3.10	2.9091	3.0192	3.0588	3.0792	3.0861	3.0896	3.0916	3.0930	3.0940	3.0948	3.0953	3.0958	3.0972	3.0979	3.0983	3.0986	3.0988	3.0990	3.0996	3.0998
3.05	2.8636	2.9712	3.0098	3.0297	3.0364	3.0398	3.0418	3.0432	3.0442	3.0449	3.0455	3.0459	3.0473	3.0480	3.0484	3.0486	3.0488	3.0490	3.0496	3.0498
3.00	2.8182	2.9231	2.9608	2.9802	2.9868	2.9900	2.9920	2.9934	2.9943	2.9950	2.9956	2.9960	2.9973	2.9980	2.9984	2.9987	2.9989	2.9990	2.9996	2.9998
2.90	2.7273	2.8269	2.8627	2.8812	2.8874	2.8905	2.8924	2.8937	2.8946	2.8953	2.8958	2.8962	2.8975	2.8981	2.8985	2.8987	2.8989	2.8991	2.8996	2.8998
2.80	2.6364	2.7308	2.7647	2.7822	2.7881	2.7910	2.7928	2.7940	2.7949	2.7955	2.7960	2.7964	2.7976	2.7982	2.7986	2.7988	2.7990	2.7991	2.7996	2.7998
2.70	2.5455	2.6346	2.6667	2.6832	2.6887	2.6915	2.6932	2.6944	2.6952	2.6958	2.6962	2.6966	2.6977	2.6983	2.6986	2.6989	2.6990	2.6992	2.6997	2.6998
2.60	2.4545	2.5385	2.5686	2.5842	2.5894	2.5920	2.5936	2.5947	2.5954	2.5960	2.5965	2.5968	2.5979	2.5984	2.5987	2.5989	2.5991	2.5992	2.5997	2.5998
2.50	2.3636	2.4423	2.4706	2.4851	2.4901	2.4925	2.4940	2.4950	2.4957	2.4963	2.4967	2.4970	2.4980	2.4985	2.4988	2.4990	2.4991	2.4993	2.4997	2.4999
2.40	2.2727	2.3462	2.3725	2.3861	2.3907	2.3930	2.3944	2.3953	2.3960	2.3965	2.3969	2.3972	2.3981	2.3986	2.3989	2.3991	2.3992	2.3993	2.3997	2.3999
2.30	2.1818	2.2500	2.2745	2.2871	2.2914	2.2935	2.2948	2.2957	2.2963	2.2968	2.2971	2.2974	2.2983	2.2987	2.2990	2.2991	2.2993	2.2994	2.2997	2.2999
2.20	2.0909	2.1538	2.1765	2.1881	2.1921	2.1940	2.1952	2.1960	2.1966	2.1970	2.1973	2.1976	2.1984	2.1988	2.1990	2.1992	2.1993	2.1994	2.1998	2.1999
2.10	2.0000	2.0577	2.0784	2.0891	2.0927	2.0945	2.0956	2.0963	2.0969	2.0973	2.0976	2.0978	2.0985	2.0989	2.0991	2.0993	2.0994	2.0995	2.0998	2.0999
2.00	1.9091	1.9615	1.9804	1.9901	1.9934	1.9950	1.9960	1.9967	1.9972	1.9975	1.9978	1.9980	1.9987	1.9990	1.9992	1.9993	1.9994	1.9995	1.9998	1.9999
1.00	1.0000	1.0000	1.0000	1.0000	1.0000	1.0000	1.0000	1.0000	1.0000	1.0000	1.0000	1.0000	1.0000	1.0000	1.0000	1.0000	1.0000	1.0000	1.0000	1.0000