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Show rules for this event
Ooh, I don't think we've had a Draw-->Write in a while. Maybe this time I'll finally partake in one.
>>Skywriter
If only I had known that last time...
*Flashbacks to me following the original prompt to a T like I would die if I didn’t.*
If only I had known that last time...
*Flashbacks to me following the original prompt to a T like I would die if I didn’t.*
Whoa, one of these again! Cool!
I'd say I might try to do something this round, but... chances are I won't.
I'd say I might try to do something this round, but... chances are I won't.
>>horizon
My body is ready (to get whipped by the best (I mean at writing (geez, all this subtext)))!
My body is ready (to get whipped by the best (I mean at writing (geez, all this subtext)))!
Wow, folks seemed to have posted a lot of song names for prompts this round. Swing Low Sweet Chariot, Despacito (2), In the Summertime, Ain't No Sunshine, and a few others.
Guess y'all are feeling musical this week.
Guess y'all are feeling musical this week.
The World Beyond Our Doorstep: There is a House in New Orleans, Fifth Ace; Keep Pretending. In The Summertime, In the Distance… Hurricane Daydream.
Unleavened Dread. It’s too Early for Nightmare Night; Where Did All You Zombies Come From? “The Wolf Off?” Within Acceptable Error, It Stirs the Forest Darkness.
Draw My OC. Please, Draw Me a Pony Beanis Catching Fire. The world burns. Now what? Mare vs. Nature.
The Cobbler’s Children Have No Horseshoes. Ain’t No Sunshine (When She’s Gone). The Ethos Knife. Shirtless man stares down Hurricane Despacito.
A Dream I Had–The Letter G, The Number 5, Mixed Massages, And da Booty Goes: “Buck The Police!”
Black Ships Ate the Sky. Swing Low Sweet Chariot. Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down). It’s a Long Way to the Top, Easily Amused Alumni; We’ll Have Tomorrow.
Unleavened Dread. It’s too Early for Nightmare Night; Where Did All You Zombies Come From? “The Wolf Off?” Within Acceptable Error, It Stirs the Forest Darkness.
Draw My OC. Please, Draw Me a Pony Beanis Catching Fire. The world burns. Now what? Mare vs. Nature.
The Cobbler’s Children Have No Horseshoes. Ain’t No Sunshine (When She’s Gone). The Ethos Knife. Shirtless man stares down Hurricane Despacito.
A Dream I Had–The Letter G, The Number 5, Mixed Massages, And da Booty Goes: “Buck The Police!”
Black Ships Ate the Sky. Swing Low Sweet Chariot. Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down). It’s a Long Way to the Top, Easily Amused Alumni; We’ll Have Tomorrow.
>>horizon
Lol, that's amazing...
>>GroaningGreyAgony
Why am I so tempted to change my prompt submission just to irk you after making that? Anyway, amazing as usual! Highlight of the prompt process, if I say so myself.
Lol, that's amazing...
>>GroaningGreyAgony
Why am I so tempted to change my prompt submission just to irk you after making that? Anyway, amazing as usual! Highlight of the prompt process, if I say so myself.
>>MLPmatthewl419
Prompts are locked in when voting starts and can’t be edited. Your threatened irk has become mirk.
But thank you. :)
Prompts are locked in when voting starts and can’t be edited. Your threatened irk has become mirk.
But thank you. :)
So just a bit of clarification as this is my first writeoff and the FAQ doesn't cover this:
Drawing is from the 19th to the 22nd and writing is from the 22nd to the 23rd. Right?
If I was planning on just writing, do I have to submit a drawing?
On the 22nd I would pick a picture from the gallery and base my story off of that, right?
Thanks. :D
Drawing is from the 19th to the 22nd and writing is from the 22nd to the 23rd. Right?
If I was planning on just writing, do I have to submit a drawing?
On the 22nd I would pick a picture from the gallery and base my story off of that, right?
Thanks. :D
Following up on n3k1dsk1llz's post, I would like to know this as well. I'm unsure if things have changed since the last time I've been here.
>>n3k1dsk1llz
You can do either art or writing, or even both. It all depends on what you want.
Yes, on the 22nd you would pick a picture, any picture you want, even multiple if I remember correctly, and write a story off of that.
Also, WELCOME TO THE WRITEOFF!!
Also >>Kritten
You can do either art or writing, or even both. It all depends on what you want.
Yes, on the 22nd you would pick a picture, any picture you want, even multiple if I remember correctly, and write a story off of that.
Also, WELCOME TO THE WRITEOFF!!
Also >>Kritten
hay
I'm dealing with some issues, mainly depression (though ketamine treatments seem to be helping again), but also I feel I've done things that mean I don't deserve to participate here.
I'm going to try to fight that feeling, and maybe I'll contribute something this time. But if I do, I'm going to avoid interaction outside of reviews and my post-mortem.
Best of luck to all.
I'm dealing with some issues, mainly depression (though ketamine treatments seem to be helping again), but also I feel I've done things that mean I don't deserve to participate here.
I'm going to try to fight that feeling, and maybe I'll contribute something this time. But if I do, I'm going to avoid interaction outside of reviews and my post-mortem.
Best of luck to all.
>>Trick_Question
Hang in there, Trick. You belong.
>>n3k1dsk1llz
>>Kritten
Yeah, sometimes we do art based on the stories, and sometimes we do stories based on the art. In the past I've grumped about it disrupting the "normal" order of things, but over time I've come around to liking it. Some of the art we get is amazing.
Hang in there, Trick. You belong.
>>n3k1dsk1llz
>>Kritten
Yeah, sometimes we do art based on the stories, and sometimes we do stories based on the art. In the past I've grumped about it disrupting the "normal" order of things, but over time I've come around to liking it. Some of the art we get is amazing.
>>n3k1dsk1llz
>>Kritten
>>MLPmatthewl419
The other thing to remember:
If I'm recalling correctly, is that you can't write a story based on any artwork you submit. You have to pick another picture to write about. Is that right?
Mike
>>Kritten
>>MLPmatthewl419
The other thing to remember:
If I'm recalling correctly, is that you can't write a story based on any artwork you submit. You have to pick another picture to write about. Is that right?
Mike
>>Calipony
Honestly I'm surprised too after being gone for almost a year. I'd think that at least the population would half but nope. Really shows the passion in writing colorful cartoon ponies some people have.
Here's to another year for this site.
Honestly I'm surprised too after being gone for almost a year. I'd think that at least the population would half but nope. Really shows the passion in writing colorful cartoon ponies some people have.
Here's to another year for this site.
>>n3k1dsk1llz
Welcome to the writeoff! You can go to the Art Submission or Fic Submission pages for a better idea of when the deadlines are, depending on which you'd like to submit for.
>>Trick_Question
#IBelieveInTrickQuestion
>>Baal Bunny
You're right; you can't tie a story to your own art.
>>Kritten
Howay the Writeoffs!
HOWAY I SAY!
Welcome to the writeoff! You can go to the Art Submission or Fic Submission pages for a better idea of when the deadlines are, depending on which you'd like to submit for.
>>Trick_Question
#IBelieveInTrickQuestion
>>Baal Bunny
You're right; you can't tie a story to your own art.
>>Kritten
Howay the Writeoffs!
HOWAY I SAY!
Well, I've got a piece of art in! So GroaningGreyAgony Haze will have something to base a story on while the rest of us try to choose between his 37 submissions.
>>horizon
Easy there. Don’t want to get a rep as a premature illustrator, do you?
Seriously, welcome back. We only ruined the whole Writeoff a little bit while you were gone.
Easy there. Don’t want to get a rep as a premature illustrator, do you?
Seriously, welcome back. We only ruined the whole Writeoff a little bit while you were gone.
*sees 29 writeoff entries total under the BlueChameleonVI account*
*sees that it is the minific round this week*
*cracks knuckles*
*grins evilly*
*sees that it is the minific round this week*
*cracks knuckles*
*grins evilly*
>>BlueChameleonVI
Uh oh... it's gonna be like that one time that SharpSpark(?) wrote half the fics... D:
(Tho tbh if I had the free time to crank out more than one I think that'd be gutsy and fun) :D
Uh oh... it's gonna be like that one time that SharpSpark(?) wrote half the fics... D:
(Tho tbh if I had the free time to crank out more than one I think that'd be gutsy and fun) :D
>>CoffeeMinion
If you're talking about I Regret Nothing, that was Everyday, it looks like.
If you're talking about I Regret Nothing, that was Everyday, it looks like.
>>Bachiavellian
Just looking over that competition, I could tell with the 100+ entries there was a lot of sleepless nights for both writer and reader.
Also, isn't posting multiple entries a good way to rack up negative points? I thought I saw one person do just that, though I can't recall who it was off the top of my head.
Just looking over that competition, I could tell with the 100+ entries there was a lot of sleepless nights for both writer and reader.
Also, isn't posting multiple entries a good way to rack up negative points? I thought I saw one person do just that, though I can't recall who it was off the top of my head.
Hmmmm:
The more I look at FamousLastWord's contest having a deadline of Oct. 6th and with PaulAsaran scheduled to review my still-unfinished-after-four-years story "Grouchisaurus Rex" on Oct. 21st, the more I think I might focus my time this weekend other places than here. If any of the artwork grabs me by the brain, of course, all bets are off... :)
Mike
The more I look at FamousLastWord's contest having a deadline of Oct. 6th and with PaulAsaran scheduled to review my still-unfinished-after-four-years story "Grouchisaurus Rex" on Oct. 21st, the more I think I might focus my time this weekend other places than here. If any of the artwork grabs me by the brain, of course, all bets are off... :)
Mike
>>Bachiavellian
>>PinoyPony
the record for multiple entries without getting any disqualified stands at 16
(and one of them won)
someone should reverse what I did, and write one minific for every picture. or 17 minifics all based on the same picture.
>>PinoyPony
the record for multiple entries without getting any disqualified stands at 16
(and one of them won)
someone should reverse what I did, and write one minific for every picture. or 17 minifics all based on the same picture.
>>PinoyPony
Only if you do poorly! The negative points thing comes from a 20% (of total possible - the score first place gets) point penalty being subtracted from the score of secondary entries. So as long as your stories do better then the bottom fifth, you won't get negative points - and even if you do get negative points, they won't be more than 1/5 the score of the top entry. (edit - you'll have to do better than above the bottom fifth... I don't understand scoring. Still, do well enough, and you'll still get positive points on a secondary entry.)
To be honest... I think, as long as your writing skill isn't far below average, submitting multiple entries is more likely to gain you points than loose them, especially because with more stories, you're more likely to average our to your 'true' writing level.
Well, maybe concentration or time demands would balance that out... Dunno. But writing multiple decent stories can be a great way to climb the leader board.
Only if you do poorly! The negative points thing comes from a 20% (of total possible - the score first place gets) point penalty being subtracted from the score of secondary entries. So as long as your stories do better then the bottom fifth, you won't get negative points - and even if you do get negative points, they won't be more than 1/5 the score of the top entry. (edit - you'll have to do better than above the bottom fifth... I don't understand scoring. Still, do well enough, and you'll still get positive points on a secondary entry.)
To be honest... I think, as long as your writing skill isn't far below average, submitting multiple entries is more likely to gain you points than loose them, especially because with more stories, you're more likely to average our to your 'true' writing level.
Well, maybe concentration or time demands would balance that out... Dunno. But writing multiple decent stories can be a great way to climb the leader board.
>>Not_A_Hat
>loose
>>PinoyPony
Anyway, pretty much what Not_A_Hat said. It can go either way provided you aren't terrible at writing... and seems as though you're more likely to gain points, in theory.
>loose
>>PinoyPony
Anyway, pretty much what Not_A_Hat said. It can go either way provided you aren't terrible at writing... and seems as though you're more likely to gain points, in theory.
>>Not_A_Hat
Thanks! When in doubt, ask questions. The more you know!
Knowing my luck though, if try to pull that stunt, it'd land me in the hole. I'm a rookie after all.
Though, it has worked for me in the past. Maybe I'll give it (another) whirl. Who knows what will happen?
Thanks! When in doubt, ask questions. The more you know!
Knowing my luck though, if try to pull that stunt, it'd land me in the hole. I'm a rookie after all.
Though, it has worked for me in the past. Maybe I'll give it (another) whirl. Who knows what will happen?
>>Haze
Ahhh yes, that's the one I was thinking of!
>>Not_A_Hat
I've only posted multiple stories twice. I lost points both times, though. Ever since the second experience I've been pretty hesitant to try again.
Of course, there's an argument to be made that both "second stories" were legitimate stinkers. I envy those with time enoughFor Love to spend properly fleshing out multiple stories!
Ahhh yes, that's the one I was thinking of!
>>Not_A_Hat
I've only posted multiple stories twice. I lost points both times, though. Ever since the second experience I've been pretty hesitant to try again.
Of course, there's an argument to be made that both "second stories" were legitimate stinkers. I envy those with time enough
>>MLPmatthewl419
The harder it is for the creator to make something, the easier it is for the audience to enjoy it.
The harder it is for the creator to make something, the easier it is for the audience to enjoy it.
>>CoffeeMinion
Another way to get negative points is to write something that doesn't tend to do well with voters, even if it's up to the author's normal standard. Say, something incredibly violent or a random comedy or a feghoot. Doesn't matter how good they are, they just rarely do well, because their appeal isn't universal enough. This is also why I don't vote by how much I enjoyed a story but by an attempt at a more objective evaluation of how well it was done, though often the two line up reasonably well.
Another way to get negative points is to write something that doesn't tend to do well with voters, even if it's up to the author's normal standard. Say, something incredibly violent or a random comedy or a feghoot. Doesn't matter how good they are, they just rarely do well, because their appeal isn't universal enough. This is also why I don't vote by how much I enjoyed a story but by an attempt at a more objective evaluation of how well it was done, though often the two line up reasonably well.
Usual reminder: I'll be in #mentors Saturday, off and on through the afternoon, but pretty solid through the evening, until about 2 AM Eastern. You can also reach me via PM. The earlier you ask, the more attention I can pay to your entry, as things can get a bit stacked up later, and I'm trying to get through them quicker so I can go to bed.
>>Pascoite
I'm gonna +1 this because I think it's important food for thought.
I can't pretend to be fully objective with my voting. If a story hits me square in the Author Appeal, I'll probably nudge it upwards. I've also had an instance where I struggled to decide if I should bottom-slate something that really didn't work for me or just abstain on it, and I ended up doing the former. So I'm far from perfect.
But even so, I agree with the general principle of trying to judge a work more on its execution than on personal taste, and I think it's an important thing to try to hold to. I doubt we'd want the Writeoff to stagnate into just what's popular among the crowd; we've gotta find ways to reward people who take risks and come at things from funky angles, as long as they do it well.
I'm gonna +1 this because I think it's important food for thought.
I can't pretend to be fully objective with my voting. If a story hits me square in the Author Appeal, I'll probably nudge it upwards. I've also had an instance where I struggled to decide if I should bottom-slate something that really didn't work for me or just abstain on it, and I ended up doing the former. So I'm far from perfect.
But even so, I agree with the general principle of trying to judge a work more on its execution than on personal taste, and I think it's an important thing to try to hold to. I doubt we'd want the Writeoff to stagnate into just what's popular among the crowd; we've gotta find ways to reward people who take risks and come at things from funky angles, as long as they do it well.
Alright, got the arts in! This was refreshing, I needed a little creative fun. Looking forward to seeing all the entries tomorrow!
I was planning on doing a story this round, but my schoolwork built up and I've already planned on doing some traveling today. I'll sit this one out creation-wise, but I'll be sure to actually review stories this round.
>>horizon
…Did I really curse myself by saying my weekend was free? D:
Well, now that I’m back from a short-notice trip to help out my medically ailing parents … heck, it’s only midnight, I’ve got three half-cups of caffeine scrounged up to take the edge off my exhaustion, and I’ve got two equally stupid ideas to destroy my reputation with.
Let’s do this. 😭
…Did I really curse myself by saying my weekend was free? D:
Well, now that I’m back from a short-notice trip to help out my medically ailing parents … heck, it’s only midnight, I’ve got three half-cups of caffeine scrounged up to take the edge off my exhaustion, and I’ve got two equally stupid ideas to destroy my reputation with.
Let’s do this. 😭
>>horizon
Damn, man... quite the weekend adventure, eh? I'm glad you got to submit stuff, dude.
Damn, man... quite the weekend adventure, eh? I'm glad you got to submit stuff, dude.
Radio Writeoff
Is currently planned for Friday afternoon, when I get home from work, which should be a bit after five, Mountain Time. Approximately three days and
Quill and I and possibly Dubs will discuss Writeoff stories from this round, so please vote for the ones you're most interested in hearing us talk about.
Anypony up for some ART MASHUPS?!
Diptych in Butt and Blue
Some Call it "Waccy Wallflower"
She Didn't Listen Either
Diptych in Butt and Blue
Some Call it "Waccy Wallflower"
She Didn't Listen Either
>>CoffeeMinion
Yes, I am up for art mashups! :D
In fact, have a trip-tych:
Good trip ** Bad trip ** Worse trip
Yes, I am up for art mashups! :D
In fact, have a trip-tych:
Good trip ** Bad trip ** Worse trip
Hey, Writeoff participants! You — yes, you!
If anyone feels opinionated, we're over halfway through art judging, and there are a number of pieces still low on commentary. Here are the art pieces most in need of reviews as of this post:
The Last Thing Left to Do is Let Go (1 comment)
A Novel Fantasy (1 comment)
No Turning Back (1 comment)
Diptych in Black and Blue (2 comments)
i wish I had a scanner (2 comments)
Toy Chest (2 comments)
First Rise (2 comments)
Also, about half of the stories have just 1 comment so far. Rather than me copy and paste 20+ links, though, you can just go to the fic gallery page and click on the speech balloon header to sort by number of comments. (I just submitted an issue request asking Roger to list comment stats on the art gallery page, too.)
If anyone feels opinionated, we're over halfway through art judging, and there are a number of pieces still low on commentary. Here are the art pieces most in need of reviews as of this post:
The Last Thing Left to Do is Let Go (1 comment)
A Novel Fantasy (1 comment)
No Turning Back (1 comment)
Diptych in Black and Blue (2 comments)
i wish I had a scanner (2 comments)
Toy Chest (2 comments)
First Rise (2 comments)
Also, about half of the stories have just 1 comment so far. Rather than me copy and paste 20+ links, though, you can just go to the fic gallery page and click on the speech balloon header to sort by number of comments. (I just submitted an issue request asking Roger to list comment stats on the art gallery page, too.)
Welp, I commented on all the art, whether the Artists wanted it or not. :-p
Now get out there and keep reviewing stories, party people!
Now get out there and keep reviewing stories, party people!
If anyone still wants to vote on the
story discussion, please do it soon.
I plan to close the poll in about four hours, and podcasting should happen in about 24-25 hours, slightly dependent on when I get back from work.
Radio Writeoff
story discussion, please do it soon.
I plan to close the poll in about four hours, and podcasting should happen in about 24-25 hours, slightly dependent on when I get back from work.
I apologize for not getting more reviews in this time around (I haven't even done half of them yet). The ketamine treatments are sucking up a lot of time and work is taking the remainder.
This weekend is booked for me as well, with two events I must attend and seven letters of recommendation for a former student. I'm not sure how much more I'll be able to contribute this time. Best of luck to all.
This weekend is booked for me as well, with two events I must attend and seven letters of recommendation for a former student. I'm not sure how much more I'll be able to contribute this time. Best of luck to all.
>>Not_A_Hat
For those of us who are not hip to the ways of the kids these days (and their dang MTV), how does one find and listen to your podcast? (Other than by catching it on YouTube after the fact, which has been my usual method.)
For those of us who are not hip to the ways of the kids these days (and their dang MTV), how does one find and listen to your podcast? (Other than by catching it on YouTube after the fact, which has been my usual method.)
>>Trick_Question
Even if you can't do any more reviews, thank you for your work thus far! :twilightsmile:
Even if you can't do any more reviews, thank you for your work thus far! :twilightsmile:
Hey, fellow Writeoffers! Time to spread the love around a little. Prelims end in about 12 hours, and there are 18 stories left which haven't gotten up to three reviews yet:
2. A Second Chance?
3. Pinkie Pie Makes Limestone Smile
4. Warning: contains Pinkie Pie
5. Dessert
7. Grand Dreams, Wordsmith
8. The Twinkle Must Shine On
11. The Last Five Minutes on Earth
12. Boar Guest's "Book of Fanciful Beasts", Chapter 5
20. Shrine to a False Dashity
24. Aftercare
26. Pull Yourselves Together
28. Love is the Answer
30. Personality Test
38. Trixie's Secret Admirer
42. Help! My House Thinks It's a Castle!
44. The Party That Never Starts (For Me)
46. Double Jeopardy
47. The Beast With Your Face
If you've read any of those, care to offer your thoughts?
I'm heading out for a while to get in a jog and write tonight's RCL feature, but I'll try to hit the pile when I get back.
2. A Second Chance?
3. Pinkie Pie Makes Limestone Smile
4. Warning: contains Pinkie Pie
5. Dessert
7. Grand Dreams, Wordsmith
8. The Twinkle Must Shine On
11. The Last Five Minutes on Earth
12. Boar Guest's "Book of Fanciful Beasts", Chapter 5
20. Shrine to a False Dashity
24. Aftercare
26. Pull Yourselves Together
28. Love is the Answer
30. Personality Test
38. Trixie's Secret Admirer
42. Help! My House Thinks It's a Castle!
44. The Party That Never Starts (For Me)
46. Double Jeopardy
47. The Beast With Your Face
If you've read any of those, care to offer your thoughts?
I'm heading out for a while to get in a jog and write tonight's RCL feature, but I'll try to hit the pile when I get back.
The rest of my slate have a lot of reviews, so in lieu of doing those, I'm going to throw as many thoughts to the 2-review stories as I can before I pass out. Keeping it short for my sanity's sake.
Radio Writeoff
If you'd like to listen to the recording, find it here. I'll be linking to the stories we discussed below.
Google Drive Link
OKAY! The only 2-review stories left are ones that I've already done, so someone else is going to have to take care of those.
Going to go to bed before I start tasting blood in my mouth. See you all in the morning!
Going to go to bed before I start tasting blood in my mouth. See you all in the morning!
Well, I might have to hang up my reviewin' horseshoes for this round and leave my voting up to the holdovers from my prelim slate. Got some promises to keep elsewhere as we head into October. :rainbowdetermined:
Best of luck, all!
Best of luck, all!
Hey, authors! Just a heads-up that I've created this round's folder in the Writeoff Association FIMFiction group. If you edit and publish your story over there, add it to the Writeoff group so we can go see (and upvote) its final form!
OBLIGATORY DISCLAIMERS:
* If your story is in the finals, DON'T PUBLISH TO FIMFIC YET! You'll break anonymity and get disqualified if you do. Once you can see your name on the Gallery page, however, you're good to go.
* The Writeoff group's story folders are locked to "Contributors" due to spam problems from outsiders. However, anyone who has ever entered even a single Writeoff qualifies for "Contributor" privileges to the group, and should be able to add stories to any folder. If you don't, tag me here or shoot me a FIMFiction PM and I'll fix that for you.
OBLIGATORY DISCLAIMERS:
* If your story is in the finals, DON'T PUBLISH TO FIMFIC YET! You'll break anonymity and get disqualified if you do. Once you can see your name on the Gallery page, however, you're good to go.
* The Writeoff group's story folders are locked to "Contributors" due to spam problems from outsiders. However, anyone who has ever entered even a single Writeoff qualifies for "Contributor" privileges to the group, and should be able to add stories to any folder. If you don't, tag me here or shoot me a FIMFiction PM and I'll fix that for you.
I'm gonna make a legitimate push to read and rank all the stories in the final round, but I don't know if I'll be able to comment on more an a handful. I'm sorry; I know participation has been down this month, and I, Posh, am Part Of The Problem.
Authors, please do forgive me. Even if I didn't say anything about yours, please believe me when I say I (most likely) read it, and (probably) love you.
Authors, please do forgive me. Even if I didn't say anything about yours, please believe me when I say I (most likely) read it, and (probably) love you.
Notes to Roger
0) The guessing ranking isn't fair. Coffeeminion guessed 2 right and 4 wrong, and got a higher score than two authors who guessed 2 right and 1 wrong. At the very least, ties should be broken by inverse number of wrong guesses, shouldn't they? I'm thinking maybe the score should be "number right minus half number wrong" or something like that. Just an idea.
1) Could you please add the gizmo bar (bold, spoiler, etc.) to the edit post window?
0) The guessing ranking isn't fair. Coffeeminion guessed 2 right and 4 wrong, and got a higher score than two authors who guessed 2 right and 1 wrong. At the very least, ties should be broken by inverse number of wrong guesses, shouldn't they? I'm thinking maybe the score should be "number right minus half number wrong" or something like that. Just an idea.
1) Could you please add the gizmo bar (bold, spoiler, etc.) to the edit post window?
OK, so now everyone knows. Blue Chameleon VI wrote a bucketload of fics, as usual. Ain't that typical, does it every time, and all that. And to get this out of the way: I'm not gonna lie, I kinda like that reputation. It's something, after all. Fame or notoriety, it's something.
But the more I do it, the more I realize it's going to put me on par with a spambot. Plus I imagine some people will be getting suspicious around this point. Yes, I do write that all in the allotted time, though heck knows how I'd go about proving that. So I'm just gonna say a couple of things, to make my position clear.
Yes, I do set out to write more than two fics per contest. It started with my second event here - before then, I submitted one entry alone, and it didn't final. That second time, though, I was lucky enough to submit three, all of which finalled, one of which won a medal. And then I wrote a load again, and did well, and I thought, say, perhaps I could get into the habit of doing this. Sort of a self-imposed challenge. Plus it gets more comments in faster, because it was the trickle of comments which frustrated me when I submitted just one entry at the start. And I figured the more experience I got, the faster the improvements were likely to be. It's not like I set out to become a multi-entry writing machine. It just sort of happened because of all the perks, so often that I got used to it and even enjoyed it.
Still, this isn't ALL I wanted to be, and I feel I should say something to reassure people I do have good intentions in all this, honest. With one or two exceptions, I don't submit entries for laughs. I do want medals. For this event, I sat down and read Pascoite's blog about flashfiction (see below)* and how to write it well. I took notes and incorporated it into my planning stage. Every fic I submitted, even the lowest ranked ones, had those principles in mind.
Because I genuinely want to be a great writer. Not just a prolific one. I'm genuinely trying to claim medals to prove as such, because if I can combine quantity with quality, well, that would really be something. At the same time, I've noticed my initial surprising performance, if anything, seems to be less in evidence lately. And there's no escaping that I look bad compared to many who nail it in one go.
Fair's fair, I'm not doing terribly. I mean, more than half made it to finals. That's not nothing. I don't want to demean anyone else's performance in the contest, and I'm almost certainly being overambitious. I just can't help but feel a little disappointed - and, if I'm brutally honest, a little guilty - to see a range from 48th to 8th and to remember I spent as much time on the losers as on the winners. And that people had to read both.
Not forgetting the overcrowding issue. Since I single-handedly raised the total from 43 to 52, I'm obliged to apologize to anyone who saw that and went "HOW MANY!? Forget this, I'm off!" I didn't set out to put you off, believe me.
That plus the whole possible "reputation as a spambot" thing worries me a little, so I just wanted to say this in case anyone had the wrong idea. Or rather the right idea, just not the whole one.
A genuine congratulations to the writers who knocked it out of the park, especially >>Aragon for such a fantastic double-whammy. Well-played, good sir! I salute your efforts and your results, wholeheartedly, and wonder how you did it.
* This blog, to be precise: https://www.fimfiction.net/blog/827477/writing-advice-flash-fiction-and-no-i-dont-mean-stories-about-flash-sentry-though-i-suppose-they-could-be
But the more I do it, the more I realize it's going to put me on par with a spambot. Plus I imagine some people will be getting suspicious around this point. Yes, I do write that all in the allotted time, though heck knows how I'd go about proving that. So I'm just gonna say a couple of things, to make my position clear.
Yes, I do set out to write more than two fics per contest. It started with my second event here - before then, I submitted one entry alone, and it didn't final. That second time, though, I was lucky enough to submit three, all of which finalled, one of which won a medal. And then I wrote a load again, and did well, and I thought, say, perhaps I could get into the habit of doing this. Sort of a self-imposed challenge. Plus it gets more comments in faster, because it was the trickle of comments which frustrated me when I submitted just one entry at the start. And I figured the more experience I got, the faster the improvements were likely to be. It's not like I set out to become a multi-entry writing machine. It just sort of happened because of all the perks, so often that I got used to it and even enjoyed it.
Still, this isn't ALL I wanted to be, and I feel I should say something to reassure people I do have good intentions in all this, honest. With one or two exceptions, I don't submit entries for laughs. I do want medals. For this event, I sat down and read Pascoite's blog about flashfiction (see below)* and how to write it well. I took notes and incorporated it into my planning stage. Every fic I submitted, even the lowest ranked ones, had those principles in mind.
Because I genuinely want to be a great writer. Not just a prolific one. I'm genuinely trying to claim medals to prove as such, because if I can combine quantity with quality, well, that would really be something. At the same time, I've noticed my initial surprising performance, if anything, seems to be less in evidence lately. And there's no escaping that I look bad compared to many who nail it in one go.
Fair's fair, I'm not doing terribly. I mean, more than half made it to finals. That's not nothing. I don't want to demean anyone else's performance in the contest, and I'm almost certainly being overambitious. I just can't help but feel a little disappointed - and, if I'm brutally honest, a little guilty - to see a range from 48th to 8th and to remember I spent as much time on the losers as on the winners. And that people had to read both.
Not forgetting the overcrowding issue. Since I single-handedly raised the total from 43 to 52, I'm obliged to apologize to anyone who saw that and went "HOW MANY!? Forget this, I'm off!" I didn't set out to put you off, believe me.
That plus the whole possible "reputation as a spambot" thing worries me a little, so I just wanted to say this in case anyone had the wrong idea. Or rather the right idea, just not the whole one.
A genuine congratulations to the writers who knocked it out of the park, especially >>Aragon for such a fantastic double-whammy. Well-played, good sir! I salute your efforts and your results, wholeheartedly, and wonder how you did it.
* This blog, to be precise: https://www.fimfiction.net/blog/827477/writing-advice-flash-fiction-and-no-i-dont-mean-stories-about-flash-sentry-though-i-suppose-they-could-be
>>BlueChameleonVI
Personally, I’m fine with you submitting loads of entries. I just want to see you do more reviewing.
Personally, I’m fine with you submitting loads of entries. I just want to see you do more reviewing.
>>BlueChameleonVI
I think the issue is less fearing that you're a spambot and more the fact that right now, the Writeoff is going through a clear unbalance when it comes to stories submitted v. stories reviewed.
This is perfectly natural: we all have busy lives, reviewing a story and commenting takes time, and sometimes it can be a bit of a drag. But ultimately, a lower activity in the reviewing phase of the Writeoff is bad for the authors. It means less criticism, and a much lesser feeling of accomplishment -- we write because we want to be reviewed, not for the sake of it. The Writeoff is both a competition and a workshop.
The issue here then is that if you submit nine stories, you're hogging what little activity the Writeoff is having. A couple reviewers -- me included! -- tried to focus on the stories with three or less comments because it's legitimately unfair to see how others hog more attention than you when there's no real reason for it. It's not an issue of quality; some of the 'ignored' stories were actually some of the best ones in this round.
Adding to this is the fact that the ballot of each writer is randomized. If you write nine stories, that's eight slots in that random ballot that you're taking from other authors who might have only submitted one; you're taking votes from them, views from them, comments from them... Admitting that you do this, in part, because you like having more notifications is only proof of this, really. Those notifications are comments that don't go to the other participants.
If you want to submit more than one entry, by all means do so -- but then pull your weight. In all honesty: submitting nine stories, and then reviewing none, is a dick move. You're hogging attention and spamming the writeoff without adding your weight later. You significantly make the round worse for the less lucky writers. Again: Posh is a great example.
I don't think flash fiction is the best way to learn how to write. I think it's a way to hon skills that you get through practicing with more traditional stories -- but that's beside the point. What I'm saying is, there is something to talk about when it comes to the topic of submitting such a large number of entries, but I don't think it's your possible reputation as a spambot.
In other words: pull your weight. Review at least as many stories as you submit. Otherwise, plain and simple, It's not fair to other writers who don't have the time to write more than one entry, or who like to polish what they send so that it's as perfect as possible, instead of sending a number of entries and hoping for the best. This is making the Writeoff palpably less enjoyable for some, and I've heard people talking about seriously considering leaving the Writeoff for this kind of stuff.
I can and will both understand and defend your desire to get better, but you can't do that at the cost of other user's experiences, man.
I think the issue is less fearing that you're a spambot and more the fact that right now, the Writeoff is going through a clear unbalance when it comes to stories submitted v. stories reviewed.
This is perfectly natural: we all have busy lives, reviewing a story and commenting takes time, and sometimes it can be a bit of a drag. But ultimately, a lower activity in the reviewing phase of the Writeoff is bad for the authors. It means less criticism, and a much lesser feeling of accomplishment -- we write because we want to be reviewed, not for the sake of it. The Writeoff is both a competition and a workshop.
The issue here then is that if you submit nine stories, you're hogging what little activity the Writeoff is having. A couple reviewers -- me included! -- tried to focus on the stories with three or less comments because it's legitimately unfair to see how others hog more attention than you when there's no real reason for it. It's not an issue of quality; some of the 'ignored' stories were actually some of the best ones in this round.
Adding to this is the fact that the ballot of each writer is randomized. If you write nine stories, that's eight slots in that random ballot that you're taking from other authors who might have only submitted one; you're taking votes from them, views from them, comments from them... Admitting that you do this, in part, because you like having more notifications is only proof of this, really. Those notifications are comments that don't go to the other participants.
If you want to submit more than one entry, by all means do so -- but then pull your weight. In all honesty: submitting nine stories, and then reviewing none, is a dick move. You're hogging attention and spamming the writeoff without adding your weight later. You significantly make the round worse for the less lucky writers. Again: Posh is a great example.
I don't think flash fiction is the best way to learn how to write. I think it's a way to hon skills that you get through practicing with more traditional stories -- but that's beside the point. What I'm saying is, there is something to talk about when it comes to the topic of submitting such a large number of entries, but I don't think it's your possible reputation as a spambot.
In other words: pull your weight. Review at least as many stories as you submit. Otherwise, plain and simple, It's not fair to other writers who don't have the time to write more than one entry, or who like to polish what they send so that it's as perfect as possible, instead of sending a number of entries and hoping for the best. This is making the Writeoff palpably less enjoyable for some, and I've heard people talking about seriously considering leaving the Writeoff for this kind of stuff.
I can and will both understand and defend your desire to get better, but you can't do that at the cost of other user's experiences, man.