The Authors' Hangout 2011 Halloween Contest Support Thread.

[Darkniciad]

Just a reminder: The official rules of the real contest are here:

http://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?t=779097

Ignore any so-called "rules" that don't appear in the linked thread. There is only one Literotica Halloween Contest.

And here's tonight's track:

(Keeping in mind that I'm being lazy and only tracking score + votes until the end of the contest this time )

4 new stories bring us up to 51.

The average score is 4.07 and the median is 4.11

The average votes are 168 with a median of 74 and a total of 7902

 

[Sugary_Comfort]

Finally managed to work some more on my story. Didn't break 1,000 words in writing today, but it's slow going with this part. And my mom just suddenly stuck her head into my room to let me know that in less than 30 minutes we are heading over to her friend's house for dinner. Soo I've got to go get ready and hope my hair doesn't look too bad since I was supposed to shower today and have just been putting it off for later tonight.

 

[PennLady]

Story is off for copy editing. After that and one more read-through by the hub, I think I'll be ready to post.

 

[sethp]

I'm so angry lately. It's showing up in my writing. I'm starting to see common themes? It's weird. The stuff I'm angry about is showing up in my writing but not always as angry or related to an angry feeling in anyway. This author stuff is interesting.

 

[Foeofthelance]

Then use it; write an angry story and see how it turns out. Maybe write it from the killer's point of view instead of the victims'/heroes'.

 

[madam_noe]

Ugh, I've been in my batcave working on day job writing projects so falling behind on my second submission. The first is up: http://www.literotica.com/s/morrigans-curse.

Hopefully I'll get the second up this week. So far so good, no trolls on my first story as I usually attract tons, and I'm having fun reading the other submissions. Plenty of good ones!

 

[electric1]

Winners Announced!​

OMG, I can’t believe it! I’ve been informed that my story “Moan” won Best Halloween Story in the prestigious Awfully Inspiring Riters (A.I.R.) Contest! Winning this coveted prize more than makes up for my consistently losing Literotica contests.

The prize for second place, if anyone cares, will go to scouries, assuming his check to me clears. Otherwise, I’ll be forced to select a second place winner based on merit or something.

To those of you who didn’t place as well in this year’s Awfully Inspiring Riters contest: Suck it, losers! Enjoy your little “real contest.” Only A.I.R. winners can enjoy the true victory of receiving a well-earned imaginary award from A.I.R.

 

[sr71plt]

Got an e-mail that voting isn't registering (stars don't go yellow). Anyone else having this problem? Another hamper to contest integrity if votes don't register periodically.

 

[oggbashan]

Got an e-mail that voting isn't registering (stars don't go yellow). Anyone else having this problem? Another hamper to contest integrity if votes don't register periodically.

Yes. I tried to vote about an hour ago and couldn't. I assumed that was because I'm using an ancient laptop while my main computer is being repaired.

 

[sr71plt]

Yes. I tried to vote about an hour ago and couldn't. I assumed that was because I'm using an ancient laptop while my main computer is being repaired.

No. I've seen other comments of inability to post. Certainly puts today's stories behind the eight ball.

 

[Awful Arthur]

How long does it usually take for a contest story to be approved.

AA

 

[sr71plt]

How long does it usually take for a contest story to be approved.

AA

It's usually posted the day after you submit it.

 

[PennLady]

That's a bummer on the voting. I'm still going to submit my story tonight though, after final edits. Then it'll be done!

 

[Darkniciad]

Huh... last time the voting went wonky, everything else was too.

Well, I'm going to PM Laurel to make sure she knows, since I haven't seen anyone say that they have. With voting being the only thing down, she may not even know it's going on.

 

[SuperHeroRalph]

Huh... last time the voting went wonky, everything else was too.

Well, I'm going to PM Laurel to make sure she knows, since I haven't seen anyone say that they have. With voting being the only thing down, she may not even know it's going on.

Let me ask you this, Dark, since you're the man with all the numbers and statistics.

How come, after the only the second day, after my stories have been bashed to shit, even after hundreds of votes later, my score remains the same?

Go figure. Huh? What a coincidence?

Now to be honest, to be fair, I wouldnt' think anything of this, but this happens with every one of my stories in every contest. Weird, huh?

No fluctuations, no ups and no downs. Now, if I was the suspicious sort, I'd say that someone behind the scenes is manipulating my scores.

What do you think?

 

[SuperHeroRalph]

Just for the Hell of it, just for chuckles sake, I just sent Laurel a PM asking her the same question.

Now, I've sent Laurel plenty of PMs and she's always kind enough to respond. Only, the last few times that I posed this same question to her, I didn't receive a response. Weird.

Maybe she doesn't receive all the PMs. Maybe someone else screens them. Maybe she knows the answer to my question but refuses to answer.

Maybe the reason all my scores stay the same and never change, except for declining is that's just the way that it is.

Yet, when I have stories with hundreds of votes and the scores remain the same, even when the votes climb higher and higer, then there's something not right.

Now, unlike Scouries, never would I go as far as to write that these contests are fixed and that these contests are rigged against me. Nope, you'll never see me writing that, even though I just did, but just to make a point.

Anyway, I'm not complaining, just wondering. As always, it's not about the scores with me. It's not about winning the contest with me. My fun is creating, developing, writing, and editing the story. No matter how badly my stories are bashed, no one can take that away from me.

The reason why I'm still here is because I've grown as a writer. I write stories. Just as I've never bashed anyone's story, there aren't too many here that can write that.

And please, Sr71plt, refrain from posting any insults to my post. Thank you.

 

[Darkniciad]

Well, what happened with your romance story in the last contest? It started out high and stayed there ( with good reason, I might add )

If someone was purposely keeping your scores low, why skip that one -- or any of the others that have picked up Hs either pre or post sweep?

Your stories have a record of having large percentages of votes swept, and amongst the highest rises in score after sweeps. Why would the site bother removing the umpteen troll votes cast by people who don't like you on the forum if they were purposely manipulating your scores?

I have no doubt that ( even with the sweeps ) your scores suffer unjustly because of what you post on the forum, but you should have ample evidence that it isn't the website out to get you, if you were willing to look at it.

And that's all I'm going to say about the subject. There's no need to open another can of worms when we're so blessedly scouries-light this contest.

EDIT: 2nd post appeared while I was typing. If you do understand it isn't the website -- good.

I don't always get responses to my PMs either, although I usually see something happen in response, such as when I reported the missing story from the contest page. The story got placed, and got an extra day on the New list to make up for the oversight. I have no doubt that we'll see the voting form getting fixed, but I don't necessarily expect a direct response to the PM.

 

[SuperHeroRalph]

Well, what happened with your romance story in the last contest? It started out high and stayed there ( with good reason, I might add )

If someone was purposely keeping your scores low, why skip that one -- or any of the others that have picked up Hs either pre or post sweep?

Your stories have a record of having large percentages of votes swept, and amongst the highest rises in score after sweeps. Why would the site bother removing the umpteen troll votes cast by people who don't like you on the forum if they were purposely manipulating your scores?

I have no doubt that ( even with the sweeps ) your scores suffer unjustly because of what you post on the forum, but you should have ample evidence that it isn't the website out to get you, if you were willing to look at it.

And that's all I'm going to say about the subject. There's no need to open another can of worms when we're so blessedly scouries-light this contest.

Rather than banging my head against the wall by belaboring this tired subject, instead, I thank you for your quick response. It's enough that I stated it and that it's acknowledged.

 

[sr71plt]

I don't see anything different happening to my contest stories than you say is happening to your's, Freddie.

(And try to expand on your fifteen minutes between over-the-top insults to me. )

 

[sr71plt]

The voting is still off. I've tried to vote Tampyre's story a 5 all day, without success.

 

[PennLady]

I am stalled thinking of a tag line. Grrrr. Although I guess if voting is down, that's not so awful.

 

[Foeofthelance]

Just for the Hell of it, just for chuckles sake, I just sent Laurel a PM asking her the same question.

Now, I've sent Laurel plenty of PMs and she's always kind enough to respond. Only, the last few times that I posed this same question to her, I didn't receive a response. Weird.

Maybe she doesn't receive all the PMs. Maybe someone else screens them. Maybe she knows the answer to my question but refuses to answer.

Maybe the reason all my scores stay the same and never change, except for declining is that's just the way that it is.

Yet, when I have stories with hundreds of votes and the scores remain the same, even when the votes climb higher and higer, then there's something not right.

Now, unlike Scouries, never would I go as far as to write that these contests are fixed and that these contests are rigged against me. Nope, you'll never see me writing that, even though I just did, but just to make a point.

Anyway, I'm not complaining, just wondering. As always, it's not about the scores with me. It's not about winning the contest with me. My fun is creating, developing, writing, and editing the story. No matter how badly my stories are bashed, no one can take that away from me.

The reason why I'm still here is because I've grown as a writer. I write stories. Just as I've never bashed anyone's story, there aren't too many here that can write that.

And please, Sr71plt, refrain from posting any insults to my post. Thank you.

Maybe it's because you are getting so many votes that it becomes harder to budge the over all number? I've been tracking my own figures with some interest since this is my first time around. When it started and I had between ten and twenty votes each individual vote could swing it by a decent amount. I think the largest I saw between votes was something like .3 change. By the time I was getting to thirty or forty votes, each individual vote was worth maybe a .1 difference. Now that I'm up around 60-70 votes, each one is worth maybe a .01 shift, but it generally takes 2-3 votes. Granted, this was all before the rating system crashed, but if the votes for your story are in a fairy consistent range then once you earn enough at a particular mark it may be harder and harder for each vote to budge the count. At least that's how I'd expect it to work...

Now, shameless plug time! Please read, please vote, more specifically, feed the author and please comment!

http://www.literotica.com/s/tricky-treats

 

[PennLady]

Story submitted! It's called "The Collection," and I can't thank my beta readers and copy editor enough.

 

[SuperHeroRalph]

Maybe it's because you are getting so many votes that it becomes harder to budge the over all number? I've been tracking my own figures with some interest since this is my first time around. When it started and I had between ten and twenty votes each individual vote could swing it by a decent amount. I think the largest I saw between votes was something like .3 change. By the time I was getting to thirty or forty votes, each individual vote was worth maybe a .1 difference. Now that I'm up around 60-70 votes, each one is worth maybe a .01 shift, but it generally takes 2-3 votes. Granted, this was all before the rating system crashed, but if the votes for your story are in a fairy consistent range then once you earn enough at a particular mark it may be harder and harder for each vote to budge the count. At least that's how I'd expect it to work...

Now, shameless plug time! Please read, please vote, more specifically, feed the author and please comment!

http://www.literotica.com/s/tricky-treats

Many of my stories have 300 to 600 votes with some more than 1,000 votes. The only change I see in them is downward.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Darkniciad]

Before I put up tonight's track, I'm going to link the four stories that posted today so people can use it as a reference. Once voting starts working, you can use these links to vote for stories that you couldn't vote on today.

NOTE: While I don't know for sure, and it's been a while since I tested, I've seen evidence that votes cast by coming back to a story after reading it earlier may be swept. So, I suggest lingering on each page of the story for a minute or so before casting your vote, if you read it previously and want to give the best chance of it counting.

( of course, I think that contestant votes may be automatically swept as well, but not everybody coming here is a contestant Never hurts to show your support anyway )

http://www.literotica.com/s/a-devil-of-a-party ( Erotic Couplings )
http://www.literotica.com/s/tall-dark-and ( Interracial )
http://www.literotica.com/s/incubus-15 ( NonHuman )
http://www.literotica.com/s/tampyre ( Sci-Fi & Fantasy )

With that done, here's tonight's track.

One story was removed from the contest and the author's list. Four new stories brings us up to 54.

The average score is 4.07 and the median 4.14

The average vote total is 174 with a median of 78 and a total of 8680.