Proposing a New Theme Contest

[lovecraft68]

But the point of a contest is the challenge. If writers do not want to be challenged and write the same old, they simply need not enter the contest.

Stretching the current contest's boundaries to the point where pretty much anything set in the Spring would be eligible would be to take the challenge of the contest away, imo. "Such things as Spring Break, baseball spring training, March Madness, college or high school proms and graduations, Mothers' Day, Fathers' Day, June weddings and anything else that happens between March and July" is too broad. It would be simply a case of write some half-baked Spring thing and toss it into the basket. Making the contest more inclusive than less would be like saying that getting to the base camp of Mount Everest is the same as reaching the peak. No, everyone who participates is not a winner. Some things need to be challenging.

And I suppose that means my vote is in the minority.

Then it would simply fit in with the other contests. Winter/Summer are very broad

On the other hand Nude day is pretty limiting and Halloween as well(but more broad than Nude day for sure) same with Valentines.

So we have 4 specific contests now(the 3 above with Earth day) and 2 broad in winter/summer so make Earth Day into Spring and you have 3/3

I think from a lot of feedback I've gotten "speaking" with other authors here is Earth Day isn't so much limiting as it is just flat out lame. For those that feel otherwise Earth day is not lost it still falls under "Spring"

And again, I'm not trying to sound like a jerk, but you shouldn't need a contest to "stretch yourself" or cause you to focus more or whatever motivation a streamlined contest would provide a writer should be able to do that on their own.

Also again the majority of readers are not looking for your perfect out of the box story they want your story to be the same ol' same ol' I have stats that can back that from my own writing here as well as my published sales.

 

[lovecraft68]

Scouries, as usual your reading comprehension or lack there of is showing.

Stella made no reference to the new proposal and Dark said he didn't care one way or the other. As for me, I voted for it and said so.

And this is no idea of yours, it came form Boxlicker. You bitch and moan but never do anything. The main reason is because the site owners ignore you for the most part. Between your fake royalties, fake contests, fake awards, and fake lists, who would take you seriously.

So try reading something for a change instead of just running off at the mouth.

Actually the site owners ignore pretty much everyone. They occasionally ask what we think then make changes no one asked for.

The recent exception was Throbbs getting the Visual artists from a thread to a actual forum. Good for him.

 

[TxRad]

Actually the site owners ignore pretty much everyone. They occasionally ask what we think then make changes no one asked for.

The recent exception was Throbbs getting the Visual artists from a thread to a actual forum. Good for him.

In scouries case, they ignore him to the point of him bitching that they never answer his PM's.

And no, I've never had a Pm that had any merit go unanswered for very long. I might not get the answer I want but I do get an answer.

As usual, he was trying to take credit where no credit was due.

 

[TxRad]

On another note"

Scouries always bitches about the AH rigging the contests so he doesn't win. 26 people in the AH have voted on this proposal. Now will someone tell me how 26 people can rig anything? Even if you could get them all together on something.

More bullshit by the king of bullshit.

 

[glynndah]

Actually the site owners ignore pretty much everyone. They occasionally ask what we think then make changes no one asked for.

The recent exception was Throbbs getting the Visual artists from a thread to a actual forum. Good for him.

Laurel has answered each PM I've sent her.

 

[Boxlicker101]

Then it would simply fit in with the other contests. Winter/Summer are very broad

On the other hand Nude day is pretty limiting and Halloween as well(but more broad than Nude day for sure) same with Valentines.

So we have 4 specific contests now(the 3 above with Earth day) and 2 broad in winter/summer so make Earth Day into Spring and you have 3/3

I think from a lot of feedback I've gotten "speaking" with other authors here is Earth Day isn't so much limiting as it is just flat out lame. For those that feel otherwise Earth day is not lost it still falls under "Spring"

And again, I'm not trying to sound like a jerk, but you shouldn't need a contest to "stretch yourself" or cause you to focus more or whatever motivation a streamlined contest would provide a writer should be able to do that on their own.

Also again the majority of readers are not looking for your perfect out of the box story they want your story to be the same ol' same ol' I have stats that can back that from my own writing here as well as my published sales.

Actually, Halloween and Valentine's Day are not all that limited. You can write about them specifically or you can write any kind of scary story for the fiormer and any kind of romance for the latter. Nude Day is rather limited but, at least, writing about naked people is or can be quite erotic.

 

[electric1]

Nude Day is rather limited but, at least, writing about naked people is or can be quite erotic.

If you're suggesting that writing about environmentalism can't be erotic, then I would have to assume A) you lack imagination, and B) you haven't read all the entries in previous Earth Day contests.

 

[lovecraft68]

Laurel has answered each PM I've sent her.

Then it must be me. Maybe after I sent the links to a bunch of stories they claim they don;t allow, I lost my "shine" here.

But I've heard a lot of people say Pm'ing her is hit or miss. It clearly depends who you are.

The one time I got a response and an immediate one(like 5 minutes) was when I asked her if I could plug Lit somewhere I titled the PM "advertising for literotica"

 

[lovecraft68]

If you're suggesting that writing about environmentalism can't be erotic, then I would have to assume A) you lack imagination, and B) you haven't read all the entries in previous Earth Day contests.

I agree anything can be erotic if you take the time. I personally don;t feel Earth Day is "limiting" but I just think its maybe "weak" is the word. Its the only contest I haven't entered because I find it boring.

Now before you go putting words into my mouth saying I'm insulting anyone that feels otherwise or demeaning anyone note I said I find it boring, hence for me, why bother?

Spring has some more options and ones I would find not only fun, but as you were speaking of before on the challenging side.

But I think people will participate more in a spring than an Earth Day and thats the sites goal is to get as many writers on board as possible which for us brings more readers to our work.

I'm sure someone can say this for sure, but I am pretty positive Earth Day had the lowest total of stories entered in 2012

 

[sr71plt]

I would like to see the Earth Day theme broadened out.

I would also like for one contest a year to be a category theme on a revolving schedule. Some of our categories automatically get thrown behind the eight ball because of general reading preferences on the Web site. I think that this is probably why there was a separate "How To" contest for several years--to bolster than category--but it went on longer than it needed to. I think that should be done for other categories but as one-shot contests.

 

[Boxlicker101]

If you're suggesting that writing about environmentalism can't be erotic, then I would have to assume A) you lack imagination, and B) you haven't read all the entries in previous Earth Day contests.

Almost any subject can be erotic. One of my favorite stories is one I wrote is about a group of college students saving a stretch of green space and an old grove of trees on their campus.

 

[damppanties]

Then it would simply fit in with the other contests. Winter/Summer are very broad

On the other hand Nude day is pretty limiting and Halloween as well(but more broad than Nude day for sure) same with Valentines.

So we have 4 specific contests now(the 3 above with Earth day) and 2 broad in winter/summer so make Earth Day into Spring and you have 3/3

I think from a lot of feedback I've gotten "speaking" with other authors here is Earth Day isn't so much limiting as it is just flat out lame. For those that feel otherwise Earth day is not lost it still falls under "Spring"

And again, I'm not trying to sound like a jerk, but you shouldn't need a contest to "stretch yourself" or cause you to focus more or whatever motivation a streamlined contest would provide a writer should be able to do that on their own.

Also again the majority of readers are not looking for your perfect out of the box story they want your story to be the same ol' same ol' I have stats that can back that from my own writing here as well as my published sales.

Lovecraft, I understand what you're saying and I agree with some of the stuff you have to say regarding readers and challenging yourself, but my argument stems from the fact that entering a contest has a different motivation to it than pleasing your readers or stretching yourself in so many directions. The reason for a contest is neither of the two, but the challenge in it is how best you can compete in a defined set of criteria.

If a writer wants to write stories that only appeal to their readership and feels that a contest on this site doesn't allow them to do that, then please do not enter the contest. If a writer feels that they can expand their horizons by challenging themselves apart from the contests on the site or the contest aren't challenging enough for them, then by all means, challenge yourself out of it. Asking for a change in the contest so it fits their own notions of writing and what they are trying to accomplish with their writing seems a little odd to me.

Actually, Halloween and Valentine's Day are not all that limited. You can write about them specifically or you can write any kind of scary story for the fiormer and any kind of romance for the latter. Nude Day is rather limited but, at least, writing about naked people is or can be quite erotic.

The same way you don't have to mention Halloween and Nude Day in those contests, you don't have to mention Earth Day in the Earth Day contest either. I have written a story about outdoor sex for this contest in the past that had nothing to do with conservation or environmentalism at all. The prompt for the contest says, "outdoors and nature", which already encompasses many of the Spring themes that are being mentioned in this thread.

 

[Darkniciad]

This thread probably wouldn't have encountered the resistance it has if you hadn't come right out of the gate with this:

Although Earth Day is not a very sexy occasion, stories about it would fit the new theme, so anything currently being written on the subject would not be wasted.

And then this:

Nude Day is rather limited but, at least, writing about naked people is or can be quite erotic.

Having an opinion is everybody's right, and the purpose of the thread, but pushing it in the OP framing the poll with such potentially insulting wording just doesn't get things off on the right foot.

 

[lovecraft68]

Lovecraft, I understand what you're saying and I agree with some of the stuff you have to say regarding readers and challenging yourself, but my argument stems from the fact that entering a contest has a different motivation to it than pleasing your readers or stretching yourself in so many directions. The reason for a contest is neither of the two, but the challenge in it is how best you can compete in a defined set of criteria.

If a writer wants to write stories that only appeal to their readership and feels that a contest on this site doesn't allow them to do that, then please do not enter the contest. If a writer feels that they can expand their horizons by challenging themselves apart from the contests on the site or the contest aren't challenging enough for them, then by all means, challenge yourself out of it. Asking for a change in the contest so it fits their own notions of writing and what they are trying to accomplish with their writing seems a little odd to me.


The same way you don't have to mention Halloween and Nude Day in those contests, you don't have to mention Earth Day in the Earth Day contest either. I have written a story about outdoor sex for this contest in the past that had nothing to do with conservation or environmentalism at all. The prompt for the contest says, "outdoors and nature", which already encompasses many of the Spring themes that are being mentioned in this thread.

You know a post a little further up just kind of proved your point to me that perhaps some people need these things to get themselves moving . They were saying a limited contest limits certain categories. The answer there is find to get out of your rut and find another category. Challenge yourself to be different.

When I first entered contests I did so with the intention to not enter in incest which I'm "known for" here, but go into different categories. So realizing that I realized what you were saying, I didn't at first because I wasn't challenging myself more than usual; to write a decent story, just picked a new category than my preference.

Personally I don't need a fixed situation to be motivated, but if a contest can get someone to get fired up and "get their game on" then that's a good thing for the site and readers as they're likely to get a better story.

Its odd because in the contests I suppose we are technically competing against each other,but I have never seen it that way.

I compete against me, did I put forth a good effort, did the story come out as I wanted it too? ETC.... Even when there are other stories like mine (My summer entry was mother/son and there were several in that contest) I didn't feel as if I were "head to head" with those authors.

The readers do not have to choose the story to vote on they can vote on all of them, so I still never felt it was a direct competition.

 

[lovecraft68]

This thread probably wouldn't have encountered the resistance it has if you hadn't come right out of the gate with this:



And then this:



Having an opinion is everybody's right, and the purpose of the thread, but pushing it in the OP framing the poll with such potentially insulting wording just doesn't get things off on the right foot.

Box means well and I feel everyone knows that.

And at 23-6 in favor of it does not appear to be meeting much resistance. But I forgot you know it all here.

 

[lovecraft68]

I would like to see the Earth Day theme broadened out.

I would also like for one contest a year to be a category theme on a revolving schedule. Some of our categories automatically get thrown behind the eight ball because of general reading preferences on the Web site. I think that this is probably why there was a separate "How To" contest for several years--to bolster than category--but it went on longer than it needed to. I think that should be done for other categories but as one-shot contests.

That's a pretty good suggestion.

 

[Darkniciad]

I would also like for one contest a year to be a category theme on a revolving schedule.

I brought this up earlier, and then shot a few holes in it that popped into my head before I hit send.

Could be a place to put a yearly category-based contest where the category rotates every year, since nothing seasonal is appropriate.

Likely to cause problems, though. Do you include illustrated and audio in the rotation, when so few people contribute those? "The Literotica Non-Con/Reluctance Contest" doesn't sound like something that would make a good tweet or status. People are going to scream bloody murder if their favorite category is excluded from the rotation.

Suppose they could pass it off as "We just haven't gotten around to it yet." There are enough categories that an annual one could hold that line for a decade or so before getting down to the edgier categories like Non-Con and Incest, or the specialized categories like Audio and Illustrated.

 

[scouries]

Why am I always ahead of the curve around here? Am I some sort of prescient genius? Looking today I found that I posted the following April 19 2008 on the scouries thread – post #2519. I also led the successful campaign to get rid of the How To Contest.

So why does the ROYAL FAMILY always wait so long to implement my brilliant ideas? It's been almost 5 years for cryiing out loud!​

Post #2519 April 19 2008

[SIZE=+2]EARTH DAY CONTEST[/SIZE]

First, I would like to congratulate Mr. Watts on his victory. It’s actually refreshing to see a contest winning story accumulate over 100 votes for a change! Especially in today’s LITEROTICA where MANU seems to have declared war on just about every vote cast.

As you may have guessed I was not happy to see a ROMANCE story win. Most people already know my opinion on this subject so I won’t belabor it – I’ll simply reiterate that unless there is some adjustment in the rules ROMANCE stories will continue to win an inordinate number of contests.

The EARTH DAY CONTEST itself didn’t seem to generate as much interest or entries as most Special Contests and one can’t help but wonder if it wouldn’t be better to hold this contest only every two or three years instead of annually. Perhaps it could be rotated with some new contest (APRIL FOOLS DAY CONTEST, SPRING BREAK CONTEST etc.).

Reading the support thread today I was also shocked by the low number of votes many very good stories generated. Authors reported vote totals of 23, 14, 19, 13, and 6 among others! For some reason we’re going backwards, not forwards.

I don’t know all the reasons for the fall-off in vote totals and interest but somehow a site with as many readers as LITEROTICA should do much better...

http://img.ffffound.com/static-data/assets/6/538c5701666164d108e7398349a1a555335b72fd_m.jpg

VOTE "YES" for BOXY!!!!
​

 

[scouries]

I made this suggestion back in 2007... It was finally accepted by the gods...​

[size=+2]

How To Contest​

[/size]

1) There are far fewer entries in this contest than most other special contests.

2) The whole ‘How To’ category has had less than 500 stories posted during Literotica’s long history. (448 now on the Top List in 2008 although 533 are shown on the story category page - jrs)

3) A very large proportion of these stories were posted during one of the various annual How To contests (or as entries in the SURVIVOR CONTEST). In other words this little category only exists so that we can have this contest (and to allow Survivalists to accumulate votes).

4) Most of the stories are mercifully short!

5) ‘How To’ stories are generally scored lower than stories in most other categories (for good reason I found).

6) The Literotica reading public does not like these stories.


Suggestion #7 – Please Miss Laurel, make 2007 the last year we hold the ‘How To Contest’

The lack of participation compared to other contests, and the less than captivating submissions is a clear message from even your greatest fans (Club AH) that this contest has run its course. Let’s move on to bigger and better things in 2008.​

 

[3113]

Asking for a change in the contest so it fits their own notions of writing and what they are trying to accomplish with their writing seems a little odd to me.

But isn't what you're asking for equally odd? "Keep it Earth Day because that challenges me..." Baseball, proms, and April Fools might well challenge others as Earth Day never has. No one is removing *your* challenge in asking for expansion as we all assume Earth Day will stay as part of the Spring Theme. They seem to be, to the contrary, asking for more challenges.

 

[sr71plt]

Lots of us have been making these same suggestions for a whole bunch of years. We're just not narcissistic enough to go back looking for posts and claiming we reinvented the wheel.

On the "Illustrated" story, I say, sure, give it it's own contest when it comes up. And foreign language may all of the foreign languages in one contest rather one one for each language.

Not planning on arguing about it, though--particularly since various suggestions are constantly being made and most of the changes we see are ones no one on the forum asked for (although some of them have been nifty and useful). Just don't get the impression the forum folks have imput of any significance.

 

[TxRad]

No scouries, you did not get rid of the "How To" Contest. The contest was used to build up the number of stories in the category. By the way, you might learn a lot about a lot of things if you read through the stories there. There is a lot of great information on a lot of subjects, including many "How to's" on writing, characterization, and plot.

Yes, you bitched and moaned about the Earth day contest most of the year and for years since. You just can't figure out how to weave an incest story into Earth Day can you? The only contest theme you really want is an incest one. It doesn't matter, you couldn't win it if you were the only one entered. Laurel would kick it back to you like she does most of your stories including your last one. You know, the one you won your own contest with without it being actually posted on the site.

You have all your fake threads about fake contests, fake awards, and fake lists, so go blow your own horn in one of those. No one here is interested in what you ranted about but did nothing about.

 

[3113]

You're probably right. I live in Arizona where there are only two seasons: summer and a couple of months of chilly weather.

Now that's not true! Don't you have, like flowering cactus time vs. not flowering? Or, um, rattlesnake season?

Sorry, I was only in Arizona once and all I recall from the visit (outside of a lot of red vistas) were a bunch of cactus with arms raised as if they were being held up. Oh, and a lot of Wallgreens and one of the biggest mega-supermarkets I've ever wandered though.

 

[lovecraft68]

No scouries, you did not get rid of the "How To" Contest. The contest was used to build up the number of stories in the category. By the way, you might learn a lot about a lot of things if you read through the stories there. There is a lot of great information on a lot of subjects, including many "How to's" on writing, characterization, and plot.

Yes, you bitched and moaned about the Earth day contest most of the year and for years since. You just can't figure out how to weave an incest story into Earth Day can you? The only contest theme you really want is an incest one. It doesn't matter, you couldn't win it if you were the only one entered. Laurel would kick it back to you like she does most of your stories including your last one. You know, the one you won your own contest with without it being actually posted on the site.

You have all your fake threads about fake contests, fake awards, and fake lists, so go blow your own horn in one of those. No one here is interested in what you ranted about but did nothing about.

How hard could it be to come up with an incest Earth Day story?

One day when sis/mom/aunty and I were collecting cans, I gave it to her in the can.

Done deal.

100k views 1400+ votes and a solid 4.6 at least.

Incest is the easiest category to please the target audience and isn't too far behind NH and Romance for being "soft voted"

 

[TxRad]

How hard could it be to come up with an incest Earth Day story?

One day when sis/mom/aunty and I were collecting cans, I gave it to her in the can.

Done deal.

100k views 1400+ votes and a solid 4.6 at least.

Incest is the easiest category to please the target audience and isn't too far behind NH and Romance for being "soft voted"

You forget who I was talking about. Easy for you or for me or anyone else butt....