The Earth Day 2011 Contest Support Thread

[LettersFromTatyana]

Thirteen hour car ride + iphone = lots of reading time over the next couple of days!

Firebrain, as a reader of your other stuff, I'm trying to work myself up to reading this entry. I can sometimes handle reading same-generation incest, but I can't read parent-child stuff. I'm trying to figure out if I can make it through uncle-niece, but the fact that I will be seeing my dozen or so uncles over the next week makes me think I need to tackle yours sooner rather than later! Have you noticed your other scores being bombed?

 

[elfin_odalisque]

You know, being that I'm the ONLY author writing 20 or more stories for a contest, I can't help but feel that you're referring to me.

I see you only managed 13 this time - mainly non-fiction.

Is your muse leaving you, are you getting too old to address the keyboard, has your balloon been burst, can even you see you are as big a force for harm here as scouries?

 

[SuperHeroRalph]

I see you only managed 13 this time - mainly non-fiction.

Is your muse leaving you, are you getting too old to address the keyboard, has your balloon been burst, can even you see you are as big a force for harm here as scouries?

Actually, I posted 14 stories, longer stories this time, nearly 110 thousand words. For the Valentine's contest I posted 30 storie and more than 160 thousand words.

I don't understand why I'm such a target for insults, when I mind my business and just write my stories. I don't bother anyone. The only time I address the forum is when someone like you attacks me out of the clear blue.

Non-fiction? I don't write non-fiction, ergo my official name is BOSTONFICTIONWRITER. Of course, as you well know being a writer yourself, we can't write what we don't know and I pepper my own experiences with heavy doses of fiction.

Now to address your need to write that I'm as big a force for harm as Scouries.

First of all, I don't see Scouries as a harm. I think he's entertaining and funny. Moreover, if it wasn't for Scouries, TxRad would have nothing to do.

Now, what is Scouries doing other than to make posts to his threads? Whatever he does behind the scenes, I have no idea, moreover, that's none of my business. I really could care less.

Now if writing stories on a story site harms this site, then I'm at a loss to understand why that is. Perhaps, you could explain that one to me. What do I do that's so harmful to this site? I don't get it. It isn't like I'll ever win a contest here.

Is it because I write too many stories, namely contest stories? Is that the reason? Are you having trouble keeping up with which stories you voted a 1 vote on and which stories you haven't yet bashed? Is that it?

Listen, I'm here to write. I'm not here to play games on the forum board. My passion is writing and until Laurel pulls the plug and tells me that I am no longer welcome here, then I'll write my stories. Okay? Do you understand?

Further, answering a complaint that Scouries made that I write too many contest stories, Laurel made a post to one of the contest threads some months back that there is no limitation to how many stories can be entered in a contest. Do I make you feel bad because I'm so prolific? Is it because you stare at a blank page all day and can't think of a thing to write? Perhaps, I can suggest something for you to write about.

Why not write a story about a woman who is so jealous of someone with real writing ability that she makes an ass out of herself by posting what you posted. If you write that, I'll give you a 5 vote.

Another poster wrote the other day that all my stories were not very good. That's his opinion. It's all arbitrary, after all, isn't it? What I think is good, you may think really sucks. Nonetheless, I have the reads and the fans that tell me differently.

Tell me, how many stories do you have on the top 250 most read list? What? Sorry, I didn't hear you. Presently, I have two, one on the 12 month, at #13, last time I checked and one on the all time top 250 most read stories at #198, last time I checked. I would have had 4, two more in the all time top 10, but I pulled them to publish them. Thank you for asking.

Tell me, I'm just curious, how many Green E's do you have? Pardon? Sorry, I didn't hear you?

Just wondering, do you participate in the Surivor contest? How many times have you finished in the top five? Sorry, again, I didn't hear your response.

I finished 2nd in three out of four years. You should compete. The contest is fun. Writing in different categories stretches you as a writer, don't you think?

Just wondering, how many categories do you post stories? I post in 31 out of 35. By the way, how many stories have you written here? I'm approaching 1,000. Thank you.

Again, forgive my ignorance, but how many words have you posted and reads have you received?

Well, I'm well over six million words posted and well over 30 million reads, the last time I bothered to tabulate it. I've lost track. I have so many stories that it takes hourst to count.

Are we done here or should I continue?

I don't bother you, I just write stories. If you don't like me, don't read and/or comment on what I write.

Okay?

Do you understand? Shake your head so that I know you understand me.

Thank you for taking the time to make a comment. I appreciate your concern. Have a nice day and I hope a camel never shits on your head.

 

[Firebrain]

Thirteen hour car ride + iphone = lots of reading time over the next couple of days!

Firebrain, as a reader of your other stuff, I'm trying to work myself up to reading this entry. I can sometimes handle reading same-generation incest, but I can't read parent-child stuff. I'm trying to figure out if I can make it through uncle-niece, but the fact that I will be seeing my dozen or so uncles over the next week makes me think I need to tackle yours sooner rather than later! Have you noticed your other scores being bombed?

I understand if it's not people's thing. I don't like any incest involving mothers, for example. The uncle and niece are estranged, if that makes a difference, lol. Barely know each other.

I haven't noticed my other scores being bombed; I did expect that though.

 

[Darkniciad]

Well, the late posting at least did one thing -- caught the trolls napping.

It took them until last night to drop a pair of 1-bombs on me

Tracked down the winners from previous contests back to Halloween last year ( where I believe the cut-off for eligibility is ) and have them ready to apply to the database, separating out ineligible stories for ranking.

Took a little work, because the themed contest main page is missing everything after Nude Day last year. Missing at least one or two from the previous years as well. Fortunately, they use formulatic URLs.

 

[LunaEroticaMystica]

LettersFromTatyana, ugh for such a long car ride, but enjoy reading the stories. Your story is coming up in my queue. Safe travels!

I should have had my headset attached to my head and foot glued to the pedal, being productive. Instead, I said TGIF and enjoyed reading contest entries and thinking naughty thoughts. *laughs* OK, time to do something productive. *glances out the window* Ah spring time, why must you distract me so!

 

[Darkniciad]

Looks like no new stories made it in the last day, so we stand at 73 in 22 categories.

The first significant sweep appears to have hit some stories.

The current average score is 4.04 and the median is 4.07

Contest stories currently show 10,681 votes for an average of 146 and a median of 65

I've observed 320 swept votes for an average of 4 and a median of 1 ( though in reality, 1 story has nearly half that, and a handful of others take up the bulk of the rest )

Contest stories have been viewed 932,735 times for an average of 12,777 and a median of 6,702

Contest stories currently show 144 favorites and 578 comments.

I've started accounting for eligibility and qualification in rank. Two stories are ineligible due to recent themed contest wins. At the moment, 5 stories do not have the necessary 25 votes to qualify.

 

[Darkniciad]

Hold onto your hats, everybody. The Hoover just roared to life!

Well, at least a few votes are dropping off. No way of knowing yet whether it's a full sweep, or just a maintenance dust-buster

 

[Noira]

Looks like no new stories made it in the last day, so we stand at 73 in 22 categories.

Well, I squeaked in right near the end and I know a few new ones were added by the end. My steampunk BDSM story has gotten far out of my hands and I knew it would never be finished before the end of the Earth Day contest deadline, so I slapped together something (just for the Survivor points). It'll hopefully go up next month in the Novella category. (dies)

I ended up posting in Non-Human this time, and I was surprised how fast I got enough votes to qualify, after the Valentine's day contest where I had to beg for votes just to qualify. I guess crappy stroke shorts are easier to read through... ehh.

I'm hoping to get through most of the stories and vote now that I'm finally done trying to write! (Well, at least, for this contest.)

 

[DG Hear]

Hold onto your hats, everybody. The Hoover just roared to life!

Well, at least a few votes are dropping off. No way of knowing yet whether it's a full sweep, or just a maintenance dust-buster

Must have just been a duster. Only lost about 10 votes in the last 2 days. Still have 626.

 

[DG Hear]

Actually, I posted 14 stories, longer stories this time, nearly 110 thousand words. For the Valentine's contest I posted 30 storie and more than 160 thousand words.

Non-fiction? I don't write non-fiction, ergo my official name is BOSTONFICTIONWRITER. Of course, as you well know being a writer yourself, we can't write what we don't know and I pepper my own experiences with heavy doses of fiction.

Thank you for taking the time to make a comment. I appreciate your concern. Have a nice day and I hope a camel never shits on your head.

Hi Ralph/BFW

Don't want any camels shitting on me but I do have a comment.

You and and have been writing stories on this site about the same length of time. I thought I had a lot of stories (over 230) but it's not a a drop in a puddle compared to yours.

I honestly don't know how you do it. I've read a number of your stories and they are at least as good or better than most stories on this site. I've been in a few feuds with other authors over what I post on the humor threads. Then I gave a couple of opinions on the political threads and found a whole new bunch of unfriendly A/Hers. haha

I argued with them and it still affect my stories today. I guess once disliked always disliked. I just stopped answering their remarks. Anything I said just got me in deeper shit. I'm still tempted at times to retailiate but it's not worth it. I don't know any of them and they sure don't know me.

I'm kind of like you, I come here to post my (few) stories and post my humor. I have a few authors on the A/H I keep in touch with but I don't even know that. But I do respect them.

I do wish you the best in your writings. Still don't know how you do it. I have to have mine edited. Luckily I've have had some great editors that make my stories readable. Without them I'd be out of the writing business.

This is longer than I ment it to be. I for one hope all goes well for you and you achieve what you want in your writing endeavors. You have certainly earned it. You should be respected for your writing ability and I do respect you for that.

with respect
DG

Oh, I wanted to add I love the puppy Ralph in your A/V. Can't help but smile when I look at it. I might have to get rid of Kipper.

 

[Darkniciad]

Must have just been a duster. Only lost about 10 votes in the last 2 days. Still have 626.

Yah, I only ended up losing a smattering across several recent stories -- max 2 per. Scores all went up, so we haven't seen the obligatory early "contest weeping sweep" that eats 5s for breakfast. *laugh*

The high vote categories took most of the hit in the last sweep, which may have been barely noticeable to everyone else, because it was still a small percentage of the totals for those stories. We'll see what it looks like tonight in the track.

 

[DG Hear]

Yah, I only ended up losing a smattering across several recent stories -- max 2 per. Scores all went up, so we haven't seen the obligatory early "contest weeping sweep" that eats 5s for breakfast. *laugh*

The high vote categories took most of the hit in the last sweep, which may have been barely noticeable to everyone else, because it was still a small percentage of the totals for those stories. We'll see what it looks like tonight in the track.

Hey Dark, I know it's been said before but I believe most everyone thanks you for the trouble and work you go through to give us totals. To me they are interesting. I just think that you deserve more credit for doing this then you get.
Thanks again
DG

 

[Darkniciad]

I do it to mainly to underpin the things we all say to the newcomers each and every contest about the sweeps, readership/scoring of the various categories, and to debunk the outright lies that frequently pop up from certain individuals.

Being able to point to a decent amount of hard data to back it up is nice.

I'll probably quit doing it eventually, but I'd like to get a few more contests logged with the full data that I've added to the most recent couple of tracks.

 

[Darkniciad]

Looks like the Hoover is chowing down on the 1-bomb run that hit me ( and several others, if the score changes in the track are an indication ) the other night. Hardly surprising, as there was a very specific pattern to those bombs that I confirmed by PMing a couple of other authors.

I'm back to more or less where I was prior to those 1-bombs, assuming that at least one of the votes that came after was a 4.

On a side note, it looks like there's some major work going on behind the scenes. I'm frequently getting bad gateway errors on my submissions pages ( sometimes on the author submission pages from the reader side ) and on other pages not critical to the general membership who just reads stories. When they aren't coughing up the error, they're running very, very s-l-o-w-l-y.

 

[LunaEroticaMystica]

Is the site being fickle this morning? I keep getting Bad Gateway notices. I got brushed by the last small sweep.

Dark, the Royal Tracker? I think it has a nice ring to it. I think we all appreciate your time and hard work! It's certainly nice to have a visual to show when answering the same questions that come up time and time again (especially from newbies)...not to mention helping us all know where we stand and how our readership has grown or dropped. Thanks!

 

[LunaEroticaMystica]

Oh good. Glad it's not just my computer! Was worried. I upgraded Firefox last night and am not happy with the changes. But, it kept crashing my computer telling me to update. *grr* At least I know the browser isn't to blame this time. EDIT: Although, now I'm not so sure. Other pages are giving me errors. Maybe it's the internet in general?

 

[Darkniciad]

Oh good. Glad it's not just my computer! Was worried. I upgraded Firefox last night and am not happy with the changes. But, it kept crashing my computer telling me to update. *grr* At least I know the browser isn't to blame this time.

I've been avoiding the new versions of both Firefox and IE based upon complaints I keep hearing from people about the changes to the interface and some buggy performance.

I'm going to give them a little time to iron out the kinks before I switch.

 

[LunaEroticaMystica]

I had heard that too and have delayed as long as possible. But, after the 5th time of my computer crashing on me and putting me in Safe Mode, it started updating automatically. Not happy about it. I'm thinking of removing and reloading 3.6, but am afraid that will leave my computer vulnerable. I've already been sneaking around Facebook cupdates because of the changes being implemented. Hm.

 

[Darkniciad]

I had heard that too and have delayed as long as possible. But, after the 5th time of my computer crashing on me and putting me in Safe Mode, it started updating automatically. Not happy about it. I'm thinking of removing and reloading 3.6, but am afraid that will leave my computer vulnerable. I've already been sneaking around Facebook cupdates because of the changes being implemented. Hm.

Most major version changes aren't about security, they're about features. The same security patches get applied to the older versions for a while. Safe browsing habits should cover you long enough for the developers to iron out the bugs discovered during the first widespread distribution.

Looks like the Hoover is still on the hunt. Dropped a couple more votes here and there.

 

[LunaEroticaMystica]

That's good to know it's less about security. I'm really getting irritated, so I think I will switch back for a bit longer. Any idea why the computer has stopped crashing since I updated it though? (I'd PM you, but think that this might be useful for other people as well if they are having browser trouble.)

 

[MatthewVett]

My score jumped about .04, without any vote losses, so apparently I'm getting swept at the same rate as new votes are coming in, which is nice.

 

[Darkniciad]

That's good to know it's less about security. I'm really getting irritated, so I think I will switch back for a bit longer. Any idea why the computer has stopped crashing since I updated it though? (I'd PM you, but think that this might be useful for other people as well if they are having browser trouble.)

Honestly, no. Then again, if you had already installed Firefox 4.0 when it started happening, it could have been a bug in the automatic updater that following up with the update fixed.

My score jumped about .04, without any vote losses, so apparently I'm getting swept at the same rate as new votes are coming in, which is nice.

If the sweeps follow the usual pattern, that tit-for-tat will unbalance soon enough

I'm up about .08 from where the score dropped after those two overnight 1-bombs.

 

[SuperHeroRalph]

Hi Ralph/BFW

Don't want any camels shitting on me but I do have a comment.

You and and have been writing stories on this site about the same length of time. I thought I had a lot of stories (over 230) but it's not a a drop in a puddle compared to yours.

I honestly don't know how you do it. I've read a number of your stories and they are at least as good or better than most stories on this site. I've been in a few feuds with other authors over what I post on the humor threads. Then I gave a couple of opinions on the political threads and found a whole new bunch of unfriendly A/Hers. haha

I argued with them and it still affect my stories today. I guess once disliked always disliked. I just stopped answering their remarks. Anything I said just got me in deeper shit. I'm still tempted at times to retailiate but it's not worth it. I don't know any of them and they sure don't know me.

I'm kind of like you, I come here to post my (few) stories and post my humor. I have a few authors on the A/H I keep in touch with but I don't even know that. But I do respect them.

I do wish you the best in your writings. Still don't know how you do it. I have to have mine edited. Luckily I've have had some great editors that make my stories readable. Without them I'd be out of the writing business.

This is longer than I ment it to be. I for one hope all goes well for you and you achieve what you want in your writing endeavors. You have certainly earned it. You should be respected for your writing ability and I do respect you for that.

with respect
DG

Oh, I wanted to add I love the puppy Ralph in your A/V. Can't help but smile when I look at it. I might have to get rid of Kipper.

Thank you. I guess for the sake of being bashed, we're not allowed an opinion or to be so outspoken. I'm too old to change who I am now. I suspect our humor may be too sophisticated for some.

After some of the personal things you told me about your life, I know your life hasn't been an easy one. I'm the same. Like you, I'm a survivor. Maybe that is where we get all of our stories. Yet, I've forgotten more stories that I've writen.

I've already started 8 stories for the Nude Day contest. I'm disciplined. I write for hours every day. I never stare at a blank page. Every day I write 3,000 to 8,000 words. Some days are better than others. Yet, I stop when it doesn't flow. Anything will give me a thought for a story, an image, a word, something that I see or hear and I'm inspired to write.

They come to me in a flash and sometimes I can't type fast enough. It's as much a gift as it is a curse. I spend hours and hours honing them, until I'm just sick of reading them and have to let them go. Then, no matter how many times I read it and days I allow it to sit, after I post it, the next day, I think of something I should have added, edited, or amended.

This, right now, not having to dance to the beat of a publisher, able to write whatever I want to write, whenever I want to write it, is the best time of my life. I love writing. I've found my passion. Now, if only I could make money writing, I'd be happy.

I can tell you this though. No one can teach you how to write. Either you have the talent or you don't. I don't care how many courses you take in creative writing, expository writing, news writing, magazine writing, technical writing, screen writing, and business writing, you must have that fire that burns you to sit for hours alone (except for my dog) at a keyboard, while life goes on without you.

Take care and good luck with your writing.

 

[LunaEroticaMystica]

DG Hear, don't get rid of Kipper! He's so cute and every time I see your AV, I smile and have Kipper stories running through my head

Dark, that could be. "Previous versions of Firefox have public security problems. You could be exposed to viruses, phishing, and other attacks by running old versions." Think they are just trying to scare people away from doing it? Well, I'm chancing it.