The SCOURIES reader – for both fans and serious scholars…

[scouries]

QUOTE mister tex After this post, you go on ignore so good bye and good luck.

Praise the lord! Thank you mister tex and good luck to you. May all your future bananas be ripe and tasty…

QUOTE misshick …you're a royalty earning author on this site. I would think quality writing and proper grammar usage would generate more sales for you.

Yes thanks, kind of you to mention it, they do continue to help me generate huge royalty checks young lady.

QUOTE Princess E Woohoo I am Number Three on one of Scouries lists. Oh wait. That's bad isn't it….If I had broken the rules then of course you can whine and complain…

It’s not bad at all ma’am. And you’ve definitely broken no rules my dear. I simply wish there were some rules on this question and in the meantime I hope all of you ‘survivalists’ (a generally nice group of people I might add) would exercise restraint when a ‘special story contest’ comes up.

QUOTE robyn Where it's gone over the top, however, is that it's become a way to bog down the submission process and push your stories ahead of the natural queue just by declaring them entries to the contest. I read all of the entries in a contest last year to do a contest review, and many of them clearly were only thinly related to the contest theme

I experienced the same when I reviewed all the stories in the 2006 Nude Day Contest. In that contest it was a challenge to get through the eighty some entries. I can’t imagine trying it for a contest with 178 entries. I’ve always felt the censors should be much more demanding when it came to accepting contest entries.

QUOTE serena the only person who can change the way it's done is Laurel, and considering that the only "monthly awards" given out this year have been January's, (and it's almost November!) I have to wonder how invested she is in that aspect of the site anymore?

Please don’t get me started on the monthly contests – I got crucified last year when I suggested they just might be awarded in a more timely manner.

QUOTE robyn I'd be just as happy if Laurel lost all interest in the contests and let them go, because they aren't resulting in better-quality stories…The contest themes also are getting overcooked. Why a nude or earth day contest every year? There just are so many fresh themes you can conjure up in these areas…

Another point and idea I got crucified for suggesting. From the we’ve always done it that way school of LITEROTICA.

Watch this thread for my latest suggestions… coming soon.

I’m james r scouries, and I approve this message…

[size=+2]Dolphins play football…[/size]

Hey :caning: Did the NFL really send your wimpy San Diego Chargers to England to play a game today? Soccer? Did they win?

 

[scouries]

play one quarter and win?

Part 3:

[size=+2]james r scouries[/size]

expounds on the

[size=+2]LITEROTICA

2008 Halloween Contest[/size]

Quite simply I discovered: Too many stories, too little quality, too much chicanery!!!​

Why would anyone ever enter a story on the last day of a contest? I mean the main reason most authors enter contests is to get exposure for their stories. Something that will only happen if you get your story in at the start and have it displayed on the HALLOWEEN CONTEST list all month, all contest long.

In fact, its why many of our contests are overwhelmed with entries that are of low quality and/or have nothing to do with the contest theme. Authors looking for readers.

OK, there are the last minute writers who simply find it impossible to finish anything on time. Or who’ve had unexpected delays.

But what about the authors who’ve taken their time and tried to write a good story? Who finished it and had it edited in good time? Who’d like to compete and even win. Why do they wait until the last minute?

It has to be gamesmanship. A strategy to win the contest.

A strategy whereby, in a contest geared to attract readers and have them decide the result, we have authors who are entering stories late so that they aren’t read by as many people.

And it happens every contest. In this contest, one famous LITEROTICAN, among others, entered his/her story on virtually the last day.

A couple of years ago the strategy was explained to me by a cagey old rumpled AH veteran. He told me, “You should never post your story the first day of the contest scouries. Not if you want to win.”

The naïve rookie that I then was asked, “But won’t I get more readers if I post the first day? It’ll be on the contest page all month.”

“There are ‘good’ readers and there are ‘bad’ readers my boy,” was the reply I received.

“Huh? There are?” was the confused scourian reply.

“The first couple of days of a contest all kinds of readers drop in. There aren’t that many stories up so there’s a very good chance an ‘independent’ reader might click open your story.”

“Say what? An independent reader?”

“Someone who doesn’t know you scouries. Who might read your story and vote! Who might give you a 3 or 4 thinking that’s a pretty good score,” the increasingly frustrated veteran hissed. “By the last day of the contest there are over a hundred stories up. The chance of an ‘independent reader’ clicking it open is extremely low. That’s why you wait.”

“A 4 isn’t that bad. Even a 3,” I exclaimed, knowing that those scores represented Really Liked It and Liked It. I mumbled something to that effect to my friend.

“They don’t cut it! 5’s only scouries. it’s only 5’s that get you the victory.”

“Still, I’ll get more readers if I enter early won’t I? And more votes too! I’ll get a better idea of how people reacted to my story,” I said defiantly, not really liking the way our conversation was going.

“Sure, more shitty votes! 2’s and 3’s and 4’s. yuck! Who wants them?”

“So it’s better to have less readers and less votes? I had 58,000 readers, 453 votes and a 4.56 rating in my first contest… I was pretty happy with that.”

“And who won mr. smarty pants? You or the person who got 2500 views and 51 votes? Who just happened to have a rating of 4.94.”

“The winner only got 51 votes?” I asked in amazement. “But thousands and thousands of readers come to the site every day,” I added when I saw his grin.

“Not our kind of readers dear boy. Not sophisticated AHland type of readers.”

I’m sorry but the old boy never convinced me! I still aim for as broad a readership a possible. I can’t imagine writing a story and then publishing it so that as few people as possible read it.

Still, I’m sorta interested to see if the AHers who are trying this strategy this time out win or not. I watch for it every contest.

But you know what? In most types of contests you see all the competitors from the start. I mean they don’t start a NASCAR race with only 10 cars and then add 10 or so more every hundred laps do they?

Or let somebody join a one mile race on the last lap?

I’m james r scouries, and I approve this message…

[size=+2]Dolphins play all four quarters…[/size]

 

[sr71plt]

Why would anyone ever enter a story on the last day of a contest? I mean the main reason most authors enter contests is to get exposure for their stories. Something that will only happen if you get your story in at the start and have it displayed on the HALLOWEEN CONTEST list all month, all contest long.

Because it works? The contest I reviewed was won by someone whose story posted the next-to-last day.

 

[starrkers]

And, funny, all the positioning and "vote for me" and behind the scenes trolling of authors by others authors pretty much disqualifies most of the AH a lot of the time from being winners. If you'll notice, the past few contests have been won by mostly non-AH folks, and not very "popular" authors either.

And no, Scouries is not the only one who's ever complained about the contests or how they're run. I've agreed with him (if not with his methods) on more than one occasion. But the truth is, the only person who can change the way it's done is Laurel, and considering that the only "monthly awards" given out this year have been January's, (and it's almost November!) I have to wonder how invested she is in that aspect of the site anymore?

Add to that: The special contests page only lists two contests yet this year -Valentines and the Earth Day. Yet two more have been decided. I just checked to see if I could find the entries for other contests this year to compare multiple entries and chapter entries against this contest.

 

[Safe_Bet]

Jeez, souries! Stop your fiddling with silly contest there Nero! Rome is on fire! Rumor now has it that Gabby not only has been giving up the ass to the the black and white gentleman from Wisconsin but she did the whole team.

That is the only way I can see them beating the powerhouse Fighting Illini (which undoutably was an absolute fluke). Can't you keep your skanky little slut in the freaking Sand Bar State at least? I can understand the little slut wanting some of that big bad Badger, but she got those cow herders all riled up and they beat MY team!

Gabby dumped scouries and gave up the ass to the
Badger AND the Entire Wisconsin Football Team​

http://www.faphost.com/images/fqbu0xms8mvnxow6qqga.gif​

 

[scouries]

QUOTE :caning: Rumor now has it that Gabby not only has been giving up the ass to the black and white gentleman from Wisconsin but she did the whole team.

That is the only way I can see them beating the powerhouse Fighting Illini (which undoutably was an absolute fluke). Can't you keep your skanky little slut in the freaking Sand Bar State at least? I can understand the little slut wanting some of that big bad Badger, but she got those cow herders all riled up and they beat MY team!

Shee-it, ]Gabby could have done the whole pencil dicked, premature ejaculating Wisconsin team before the National anthem was over. Then done the fighting “Pillini’s” during the coin toss!

Then she would have gone looking for a real man – a HURRICANE!

ILLINOIS? Now you’re a Fighting Illini fan? You change YOUR team more often than I change wives.

A team that hasn’t won a National Championship since 1927. And that was in touch football. They’ve won two Big Ten Championships in 25 years – and both times lost subsequent bowl games. Fifteen bowls in their history – record 6-9!

Coached by some clown whose ass we kicked out of Florida. A guy who couldn’t cut it in big time football. The big question these days is: Which league plays better football, the Big Ten or the Ivy League?

QUOTE robyn Because it works? The contest I reviewed was won by someone whose story posted the next-to-last day.

Which was sorta my point. Now guess who's using the strategy this time?

I’m james r scouries, and I approve this message…

[size=+2]Dolphins would never draft big tenners…[/size]

 

[Selena_Kitt]

Why would anyone ever enter a story on the last day of a contest? ]

Because I didn't finish it until the night before. I like deadlines, I work best with a deadline, and my muse often stubbornly procrastinates until the last moment, when I know there is a deadline.

I submitted it on the 21st but it was posted on the 22nd. *shrug* I'm busy, I've got a lot to do, and didn't even think I would make the deadline. But I managed. Barely.

There are people in the world who don't have your strange, narcissistic, scheming view of the world, old man. Really. There are.

I’m sorry but the old boy never convinced me! I still aim for as broad a readership a possible. I can’t imagine writing a story and then publishing it so that as few people as possible read it.

I don't "need" the readership, and neither do you. In the Halloween contest, the highest entered category is usually gonna be erotic horror, which is not many folks' cup of tea to begin with. I haven't written for a contest this year, and entered this one because Halloween is my favorite.

You really should try opening your mind past your own narrow view of the world once in a while. It's a big place, peopled with lots of different sorts of folks who don't always play to the lowest common denominator the way you do.

Really.

 

[scouries]

posted elsewhere earlier...

Part 4:

[size=+2]james r scouries[/size]

expounds on the

[size=+2]LITEROTICA

2008 Halloween Contest[/size]

Quite simply I discovered: Too many stories, too little quality, too much chicanery!!!​

So what are the possible solutions to this quantity/quality mess that affects a once proud contest tradition at LITEROTICA.

Is there anything we can do to get us out of his morass?

Of course there are! And I know what they are…

[size=+1]1[/size] One story per LITEROTICAN. Period. No exceptions.

[size=+1]2[/size] And this includes ALTS! If the brilliant MANU can detect every illegal vote he surely can detect authors who try to use an ALT to try to get around rule #1.

[size=+1]3[/size] Complete stories only! As miss starrrkers so brilliantly put it: The special contests are story contests, not chapter contests.

[size=+1]4[/size] No more last minute entries – no more jumping the queue. WHAT? HOW? Simply announce a date when all contest entries must be due in by. Say October 1st in the case of the HALLOWEEN contest this year. Every story must be in by then. And then, say perhaps on the third of October (a Friday to catch the weekend crowd), issue every contest entry at the same time. Make it HALLOWEEN CONTEST DAY (or weekend) and don’t issue any other stories that day (or weekend). Make a big hullabaloo about it. Put the contest front and center. Then every story will be up for the whole contest. Everyone equal!

[size=+1]5[/size] Demand some minimal adherence to the contest theme from every entry.

[size=+1]6[/size] Announce the results at the end of every contest. The number of votes, the number of views, the rating each story got. In black and white. So there’s no arguing or bitching. Explain clearly what a legitimate vote is and what it isn’t once and for all.

[size=+1]7[/size] Change the Contest themes from year to year. Shake it up a bit.


I’m james r scouries, and I approve this message…

[size=+2]Dolphins only read one story at a time…[/size]

 

[sr71plt]

1. One story per LITEROTICAN. Period. No exceptions.

2. And this includes ALTS!

3. Complete stories only!

4. No more last minute entries – no more jumping the queue.

5. Demand some minimal adherence to the contest theme from every entry.

6. Announce the results at the end of every contest. The number of votes, the number of views, the rating each story got. In black and white. So there’s no arguing or bitching. Explain clearly what a legitimate vote is and what it isn’t once and for all.

7. Change the Contest themes from year to year. Shake it up a bit.

On 1: That would be fine with me (or maybe two or three). It also would be fine to limit it to one entry per category.

On 2: I doubt the site managers could enforce this--at least that they could devote enough time or energy to it to justify having the contests at all.

On 3: Yes, complete stories only. This doesn't mean that they couldn't be a prequel or sequel of another story--just that they have to be complete, standalone stories. (I think a sensible voter wouldn't even vote high on an incomplete story.)

On 4: I doubt see the need for a ban on last-minute entries. I do agree they should be accepted just to jump the queue or get listed at the top of the daily list. (To pin this down, I think it would be simple enough just not to take entries out of order or to list them at the top of the daily queue. Having their own separate list should be privilege enough.)

On 5: Yes, making sure they at least minimally adhere to the contest theme would be a good rule--except that the site doesn't seem to have the staff to make that happen. That's already an existing rule, so just underlining the rule won't do anything. (Again, any voter voting such a story high isn't voting on the existing contest guidelines anyway.)

On 6: I also think transparency in announcing contest winners is a good idea.

On 7. Yes, I agree the contest themes should be changed periodically--at least some of them. Maybe even some themes by categories. The site certainly does give favoritism to a certain line of stories.

 

[BOSTONFICTIONWRITER]

This is a free erotic story site that solicits erotic stories by writers regardless of who the writers are. There is no proof of anything other than you must be over 18 to submit a story. No where in any rules contest or otherwise have I read that a writer is limited to the amount of stories that he or she can submit.

I don't understand what the problem is with writers submitting stories to Literotica.

Now, I read where some say that one writer submitting too many stories will drop the other stories off prematurely. So what? Write a story and drop my story off the list. Who cares. Go read the archive. Should we limit the number of stories posting each day so that your precious story stays for one more day?

Should we make a rule that no one can make more than one post a day to a thread because too many posts or not enough posts will flood the thread or make the thread disappear?

I know in my case, I don't write for contests. I write with a contest theme, of course, but without regard to winning. I just write stories. If I write too many stories that's too bad. You're insane to think that you can stop me or any writer from posting stories here.

Until Laurel bans me from posting stories, I shall continue to post my stories.

I think many of those who complain about me and others writing too many stories have too much time on their hands. Maybe they should, gee, I don't know, write a story instead of hanging around here 24/7.

Let's not forget what site this is. This is Literotica. It is not threadarotica where we post comments to threads all day. At least, I don't. Maybe you do, but I'm busy writing stories.

Now, if you don't want to read my stories...don't. If you don't like stories, then why are you here?

I decided that I wasn't going to post to Scouries thread any more because he disrespected me and tossed our cyber friendship away for the sake of some off the cuff comments. Whatever.

Only, I'm here to write stories and stories are what I'm going to write. I don't give a shit about feedback, votes or comments. I'm not here to make friends. I'm here to write stories. I only care about the story. It's about the story...stupid.

Maybe my stories are not the best on this site, but they will be. Maybe I'm not the best writer on this site, but I will be. Do you know why? Because every day, I practice writing stories and every day I get better at writing stories.

I write stories. I am Bostonfictionwriter. I approve this message.

 

[scouries]

you don't know shit lady...

QUOTE miss O know now why I stopped reading your hubristic threads. There is an issue, Laurel has opened a forum, limit yourself to the question she raised. Answer the question posed, don't piss about with your bete-noirs and, above all, don't screw this sensible thread up by your arrogant stupidities. You promised to avoid joining other threads. Just another of your lies.

Every time I get it into my head that I’ve miscategorized you, that you’re not that bad, that often you’re capable of intelligent posts, you post something like the crap above.

robyn demolished your premise about limiting myself “to the question she raised” so I feel no need to address that idiotic statement.

You don’t like me, I don’t like you. Fine. But don’t misrepresent me. I’ve been very clear on where and when I’ll post and I continue to live by it.

QUOTE Because I didn't finish it until the night before… lots of different sorts of folks who don't always play to the lowest common denominator the way you do.

Talking of lowest denominator ma’am it’s funny but there’s always the cheap shot in there somewhere isn’t there?

I was discussing a often used AH contest strategy miss . It’s a strategy that anyone who’s been around as long as you and I have are well aware of. It wasn’t aimed at you – it instead was an attempt to do two things; one, to let our new members know that this is a well used ploy; and two, to highlight what I see as a major problem in ensuring fair results – allowing stories to be dropped in at the last moment and thereby avoiding the full scrutiny other contest stories must undergo.

And I believe your use of my line ”I can’t imagine writing a story and then publishing it so that as few people as possible read it” was deceptive and dishonest.

Obviously different categories and genres attract different numbers of viewers; my point wasn’t that everyone should write in the same category, it was that whatever category they write in they should do their best to attract readers. Not to slide in a story (in whatever category) in a way that discourages readers finding it. And you know what? I think you understood my point right from the start....

I’m james r scouries, and I approve this message…

[size=+2]Dolphins prefer sarah p to miss O…[/size]

 

[Selena_Kitt]

I was discussing a often used AH contest strategy miss . It’s a strategy that anyone who’s been around as long as you and I have are well aware of. It wasn’t aimed at you – it instead was an attempt to do two things; one, to let our new members know that this is a well used ploy; and two, to highlight what I see as a major problem in ensuring fair results – allowing stories to be dropped in at the last moment and thereby avoiding the full scrutiny other contest stories must undergo.

And I believe your use of my line ”I can’t imagine writing a story and then publishing it so that as few people as possible read it” was deceptive and dishonest.

Obviously different categories and genres attract different numbers of viewers; my point wasn’t that everyone should write in the same category, it was that whatever category they write in they should do their best to attract readers. Not to slide in a story (in whatever category) in a way that discourages readers finding it. And you know what? I think you understood my point right from the start....

Yes, people have used this strategy. Some have won using it. You forgot to mention that the late-submitted story in question should be a) a short romance or non-erotic, extremely sentimental and incredibly sappy or b) an incredibly long novel-length romance or non-erotic, extremely sentimental and incredibly sappy...

But as you say, not many people know this strategy - you wanted to point it out, right? And to paint folks who submit "late" entries with one brush is quite unfair and rather deceptive and dishonest. (Late entries which are poorly labeled in this case... actually, they're not late at all... the deadline is set at a certain date. If entries are in before then, they're not late. Under your logic, perhaps those who post on the first day to maximize exposure would be called premature? )

If you're a well known writer, no matter when you enter a contest, you're going to be read. So you aren't maximizing anything at all, in that case. And there are plenty of reasons, as I noted, to go to the deadline that don't involve any sort of strategy at all.

 

[scouries]

freddies the man

QUOTE freddie No where in any rules contest or otherwise have I read that a writer is limited to the amount of stories that he or she can submit…

Let's not forget what site this is. This is Literotica. It is not threadarotica where we post comments to threads all day. At least, I don't. Maybe you do, but I'm busy writing stories….

Maybe my stories are not the best on this site, but they will be. Maybe I'm not the best writer on this site, but I will be. Do you know why? Because every day, I practice writing stories and every day I get better at writing stories….

I write stories. I am Bostonfictionwriter. I approve this message.

I am james r scouries and I don’t like the SURVIVOR CONTEST – never have and never will. However I’ve come to accept it – mainly because so many good authors regularly participate in it. Led by you freddie !

I am james r scouries and I believe you enter far too many stories on this site my good friend. And you know what, I agree, I think you could be the best writer on the site. You already show flashes of brilliance every day. Often three times a day (just kidding, just kidding).

I am james r scouries and I’ll defend your right to enter as many stories as you want (even if I think you’d be better served by being more selective).

And the day LAUREL bans you my friend is the day I’ll send back my ROYALTY check. There are some issues on which a man has to take a stand!

However, I also believe that rules should be established limiting the number of entries an author can enter in any specific contest. This belief of mine predates your arrival on the site freddie . I expressed this view far before the site was graced by one of your stories. Unfortunately, you and a few others have exacerbated the issue to such an extent that it’s now become something of a cause celebre.

QUOTE freddie Because every day, I practice writing stories and every day I get better at writing stories.

And that’s why we love you! In spite of all your faults...

Now don’t forget to take the little guy out for his walk. And remember, its starting to get cold this time of year up there. Don’t leave little polo out too long. Just saying…

As to your idea of a site called THREADEROTICA I’m all for that. We’d make people choose – post stories or post on threads.


I’m james r scouries, and I approve this message…

[size=+2]Dolphins think Freddie is he best…[/size]

 

[Safe_Bet]

QUOTE freddie No where in any rules contest or otherwise have I read that a writer is limited to the amount of stories that he or she can submit…

Let's not forget what site this is. This is Literotica. It is not threadarotica where we post comments to threads all day. At least, I don't. Maybe you do, but I'm busy writing stories….

Maybe my stories are not the best on this site, but they will be. Maybe I'm not the best writer on this site, but I will be. Do you know why? Because every day, I practice writing stories and every day I get better at writing stories….

I write stories. I am Bostonfictionwriter. I approve this message.

I am james r scouries and I don’t like the SURVIVOR CONTEST – never have and never will. However I’ve come to accept it – mainly because so many good authors regularly participate in it. Led by you freddie !

I am james r scouries and I believe you enter far too many stories on this site my good friend. And you know what, I agree, I think you could be the best writer on the site. You already show flashes of brilliance every day. Often three times a day (just kidding, just kidding).

I am james r scouries and I’ll defend your right to enter as many stories as you want (even if I think you’d be better served by being more selective).

And the day LAUREL bans you my friend is the day I’ll send back my ROYALTY check. There are some issues on which a man has to take a stand!

However, I also believe that rules should be established limiting the number of entries an author can enter in any specific contest. This belief of mine predates your arrival on the site freddie . I expressed this view far before the site was graced by one of your stories. Unfortunately, you and a few others have exacerbated the issue to such an extent that it’s now become something of a cause celebre.

QUOTE freddie Because every day, I practice writing stories and every day I get better at writing stories.

And that’s why we love you! In spite of all your faults...

Now don’t forget to take the little guy out for his walk. And remember, its starting to get cold this time of year up there. Don’t leave little polo out too long. Just saying…

As to your idea of a site called THREADEROTICA I’m all for that. We’d make people choose – post stories or post on threads.


I’m james r scouries, and I approve this message…

[size=+2]Dolphins think Freddie is he best…[/size]

Saved for future use to make fun of scouries typing errors.

 

[sarahhh]

Saved for future use to make fun of scouries typing errors.

Scouries should be scouries' me thinks. I would add to scouries' list that stories submitted to contests should not be rejected for nonsensical reasons pertaining to overwhelming reader feedback that doesn't exist. Laurel should have done a poll. Funny, nobody at LustyLibrary objected to my story.

 

[PrincessErin]

.....

 

[scouries]

Dear sarahhhh my lovely redhead you,

I was afraid we'd lost you after that loss yesterday. I hate the GIANTS!!!!

At least your second favorite team (Dolphins) won! Joey was defensive player of the week. Thank you for lending him to us.

By the way, what the heck is that weird stuff they have lining the walls of the stadium. It looks like material you'd find in a cheap Tiki Bar. Everyone I ask down here about it has no idea what its supposed to represent.

Please post a link to your story so I can read it.

I’m james r scouries, and I approve this message…

[size=+2]Dolphins prefer sarahhhh …[/size]

 

[scouries]

[size=+2]Freddie [/size] I’d just like to clarify my post about you. While I would like to see you more selective in posting stories, I only meant that this new policy should go into effect in 2009. NOT NOW! YOU’VE GOT A CONTEST TO WIN!

For the rest of the year I’d like to see you bombard us with entries! (Just not in the special contests)

I’m james r scouries, and I approve this message…

[size=+2]Dolphins think Freddie is The best…[/size]

 

[scouries]

QUOTE SK Yes, people have used this strategy. Some have won using it. You forgot to mention that the late-submitted story in question should be a) a short romance or non-erotic, extremely sentimental and incredibly sappy or b) an incredibly long novel-length romance or non-erotic, extremely sentimental and incredibly sappy...

I didn’t mention your a) or b) because you’re now seeing the NEW IMPROVED scouries! A gentler, sweeter man. Besides, those two points would be more valid when describing MONTHLY CONTEST winners.

Anyway, I’m glad we agreed on something.

Given that, do you agree with my suggestion #4 then? If every story was released at the same time this little piece of cheap gamesmanship would fall by the wayside. My opinion is that the more of these little games we remove the more likely we’d be to get true READERS CHOICES as our winners.

QUOTE SK And to paint folks who submit "late" entries with one brush is quite unfair and rather deceptive and dishonest.

It might have been dear serena but my exact comment was this:

OK, there are the last minute writers who simply find it impossible to finish anything on time. Or who’ve had unexpected delays. But what about the authors who’ve taken their time and tried to write a good story? Who finished it and had it edited in good time? Who’d like to compete and even win. Why do they wait until the last minute? It has to be gamesmanship. A strategy to win the contest.

I didn’t use “one brush” – I mentioned other possibilities as well. And in spite of the cutsey “premature” remark, my repeated use of the word “last minute” in my posts clearly communicated my meaning. As you well know.

I’m james r scouries, and I approve this message…

[size=+2]Dolphins don't use brushes...[/size]

 

[scouries]

QUOTE scouries [size=+2]4[/size] No more last minute entries – no more jumping the queue. WHAT? HOW? Simply announce a date when all contest entries must be due in by. Say October 1st in the case of the HALLOWEEN contest this year. Every story must be in by then. And then, say perhaps on the third of October (a Friday to catch the weekend crowd), issue every contest entry at the same time. Make it HALLOWEEN CONTEST DAY (or weekend) and don’t issue any other stories that day (or weekend). Make a big hullabaloo about it. Put the contest front and center. Then every story will be up for the whole contest. Everyone equal!

QUOTE pilot On 4: I doubt see the need for a ban on last-minute entries. I do agree they should be accepted just to jump the queue or get listed at the top of the daily list. (To pin this down, I think it would be simple enough just not to take entries out of order or to list them at the top of the daily queue. Having their own separate list should be privilege enough.)

No my suggestion wouldn’t stop authors working up to the last minute to finish their stories. But since all stories would have to be finished and entered by the same day it would stop stories being written while the contest was on and stories had already been published.

The suggestion was made not only to stop the queue jumpers (which your suggestion would also address) but also so that every story was up for the same amount of time and had to face our readers for the same amount of time. It was an attempt to reduce some of the needless gamesmanship.

I’m james r scouries, and I approve this message…

[size=+2]Dolphins fly underwater…[/size]

 

[Selena_Kitt]

Given that, do you agree with my suggestion #4 then? If every story was released at the same time this little piece of cheap gamesmanship would fall by the wayside. My opinion is that the more of these little games we remove the more likely we’d be to get true READERS CHOICES as our winners.

Yeah, actually, I do. I could still work until deadline, which I like, it's just that everyone would have the same deadline instead of a starting and ending one.

If it were my site, I just might do it that way. Can't think of any reason why not, but then again, I don't run an enormous site like Lit and have no idea what the day to day workings might be that could preclude such a thing. *shrug*

Throw it in the suggestion box and see if it sticks. That's all I can really tell ya.

As for a kinder and gentler Scouries? *snerk* Right. Please, do you really expect me (or anyone here?) to believe that?

When you're on the scent that you might get something you want? Sure. Typical. Tomorrow or next week, it will be the same old thing again.

You know I've never disagreed with most of your ideas and suggestions. Just your presentation.

 

[sarahhh]

Dear sarahhhh my lovely redhead you,

I was afraid we'd lost you after that loss yesterday. I hate the GIANTS!!!!

At least your second favorite team (Dolphins) won! Joey was defensive player of the week. Thank you for lending him to us.

By the way, what the heck is that weird stuff they have lining the walls of the stadium. It looks like material you'd find in a cheap Tiki Bar. Everyone I ask down here about it has no idea what its supposed to represent.

Please post a link to your story so I can read it.

I’m james r scouries, and I approve this message…

[size=+2]Dolphins prefer sarahhhh …[/size]

Strange stuff? Are you talking about all those terrible towels worn as miniskirts? You have to look under them to get it.

Post a link? Just Google on "Lusty Library" and my story is on the first page. You can't miss it, especially before election day. I sent it to Rush Limbaugh, and I hope he reads it on the air.

 

[scouries]

[size=+3]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

OH MY GAWD!YOU WON!! YOU EARNED IT GIRL!!!

our wonderful little sarahhhh !!!!​

[/size]​

from another Halloween contest:

Our Halloween Story Contest winners have been decided!

1st Prize: The Candidates Are Cumming, the Candidates Are Cumming by Sarahhh

2nd Prize: Halloween Shenanigans in Wubble's Closet by red rose

3rd Prize: Tricked and Treated by GoodBIGirlObeys

I’m james r scouries, and I approve this message…

[size=+2]Dolphins luv sarahhh too…[/size]

 

[sarahhh]

[size=+3]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

OH MY GAWD!YOU WON!! YOU EARNED IT GIRL!!!

our wonderful little sarahhhh !!!!​

[/size]​

from another Halloween contest:

Our Halloween Story Contest winners have been decided!

1st Prize: The Candidates Are Cumming, the Candidates Are Cumming by Sarahhh

2nd Prize: Halloween Shenanigans in Wubble's Closet by red rose

3rd Prize: Tricked and Treated by GoodBIGirlObeys

I’m james r scouries, and I approve this message…

[size=+2]Dolphins luv sarahhh too…[/size]

Oh, you're so sweet, Jim!

Of course, I can't take all the credit. Your musing helped considerably. Why, if it wasn't for this site rejecting the story and you suggesting I submit it elsewhere, I wouldn't have won, now would I?

 

[scouries]

QUOTE sarahhh Of course, I can't take all the credit. Your musing helped considerably. Why, if it wasn't for this site rejecting the story and you suggesting I submit it elsewhere, I wouldn't have won, now would I?

You my dear are always a winner! It's just too bad for your hundreds of thousands of LITEROTICA fans that you weren't allowed to post this wonderful story here.

I’m james r scouries, and I approve this message…

[size=+2]Dolphins would have allowed the story in...[/size]