Lochie_old Posted November 17, 2008 Author Share Posted November 17, 2008 It doesn't change anything, I doubt many others will enter though with the change being this late, good story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eminence Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 Mine's entered. If I'm honest, I think you should reconsider and just close the theme back to what it was initially. I don't think it's fair to those that have either started their piece - or those who have entered - to then say it can be a 'free' entry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oxidizer Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 In a way the 'free' theme can still work with both of your horrific Christmas pieces, it's just a matter of interpretation. But yeah, I think it should probably revert back to the 'Christmas horror' theme. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eminence Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 It can obviously work as anything can be entered, it's just that with an open entry then nobody is challenged to write with a specific genre, style or narrative in mind. Furthermore, it's just obvious that if there's a theme, then that's what the stories in the competition should be for the month. Not an insult, Phusion, but you tend to rush into decisions. There's this, and then sometimes closing voting slightly early, things like that. Just have a little patience, and let things run their course - with over 10 days left, there was no need to declare that people aren't entering so the theme has to be changed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lochie_old Posted November 18, 2008 Author Share Posted November 18, 2008 Yeah, you have a good point, [small=-1]as always[/size], just that everyone was like "Oh noes how can we work with Christm-" Eh, I'll just stop. We'll go back to Christmas Horror if that makes everyone happy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oxidizer Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 I'd have preferred 'free' but what with there already being two Christmas horrors posted it made the most sense. Also: redunkulous That word is simply squishable. Awwz! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Unvirginiser Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 Yeah, you have a good point, [small=-1]as always[/size], just that everyone was like "Oh noes how can we work with Christm-" Eh, I'll just stop. We'll go back to Christmas Horror if that makes everyone happy? Well, some of us saddled up and rose to the challenge. Was going to write a story about a guy's family dying in a house fire on Christmas eve, where he slowly slips in to madness. Then the war story hit me. If you really think it's a broad subject. The word "Horror" can be perceived and evolved in lots of ways by you young talented writers out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanted Assailant Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 Hay gais, I thunk about what to write conserning' Crismus Whorer. Whoopsies Yah'. It'll be posted up, somehow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stefan. Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 So is it free or Christmas Horror? Because I want to write something unrelated to Christmas or horror. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lochie_old Posted November 22, 2008 Author Share Posted November 22, 2008 Christmas Horror. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hayden Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 So is it free or Christmas Horror? Because I want to write something unrelated to Christmas or horror. Yeah we all do but Iminicus's a whore so write Christmas Horror or write nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iminicus Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 So is it free or Christmas Horror? Because I want to write something unrelated to Christmas or horror. Yeah we all do but Iminicus's a whore so write Christmas Horror or write nothing. How the f*ck am I a whore? Is it because I called bullsh*t on the topic being changed not even halfway through the month? At Phusion: What is the point on allowing the previous month winner to decide the next topic, if you decide to change it when you don't see any noticeable attempts? Doesn't that defeat the point? Due to the way this month has been handled I am not entering nor will I continue to enter into this competition, unless the rules and guidelines are all written down. Where does it say that you can change the topic through the month? Also, isn't the whole point of this competition to get people using their imaginations? Just because you lack the imagination to write to the month's topic, Phusion, doesn't mean others don't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eminence Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 The topic was reverted back to the original one after Phusion's initial decision was rectified, so don't worry about it. I don't know what Hayden's going on about, because you were completely correct to be annoyed that the topic was changed - you're not alone in disagreeing with it. But, don't threaten to not enter again for some reason or another - if you don't want to, then don't. We don't need the speech to go with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vercetti21 Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 I'm going to have to agree that future theme-changes should not be allowed, and while we're at complaints about the rules, no sudden early poll-closing unless it's a landslide victory, as I and others didn't get to vote last month which could have changed the outcome of the winner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark-2007 Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 I think the voting scheme needs to be rehauled. Three or four members who rarely, if ever, post in WD, voted last month. That's not a bad thing, don't get me wrong; but the way the votes went was a bit odd. Iminicus' story topic only has 1 comment in reply, as opposed to many more on the previous months' winners' topics. I'm thinking maybe there should be some rule where you have to list positives and negatives about each story when you vote in the polling topic. Nothing too long, just compare the stories with each other, pointing to why one of them got your vote, rather than just saying "I liked this one, I liked it's [very general positive here]." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Unvirginiser Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 I think the voting scheme needs to be rehauled. Three or four members who rarely, if ever, post in WD, voted last month. That's not a bad thing, don't get me wrong; but the way the votes went was a bit odd. Iminicus' story topic only has 1 comment in reply, as opposed to many more on the previous months' winners' topics. I'm thinking maybe there should be some rule where you have to list positives and negatives about each story when you vote in the polling topic. Nothing too long, just compare the stories with each other, pointing to why one of them got your vote, rather than just saying "I liked this one, I liked it's [very general positive here]." Exactly, f*ck the poll, a paragraph post per vote. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhoda Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 It's a good idea chaps. Polls open the floodgates for people voting for stories just because of the member, maybe some kudos from member groups and what not. I'd suggest for next month we do away with the poll and see how we go with paragraphs instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lochie_old Posted November 25, 2008 Author Share Posted November 25, 2008 Mm, some choices I've made have been a tad hasty. But this is why I like feedback, it helps us get better structure. For voting a paragraph per a vote may be a bit off-putting to those who don't frequent Writers' Discussion enough. But as Mark did point out last months' voting scheme was a tad strange (I mean, I've never really seen those guys around here before), but lets not try and play detectives. For this months voting I'm all for paragraph per vote, but how are we going to judge these paragraphs? 100 words maximum? At least 3 lines? It's all tricky stuff, lets elaborate with our suggestions and we can get this thing working to its full potential. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oxidizer Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 To be fair, the only reason the theme was changed midway was because no one at the time could come up with anything that fit. As for the voting thing, maybe only those who leave decent feedback to each entry can vote, as thaty'd be proof that they've actually read and reviewed the entries? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iminicus Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 I think the voting scheme needs to be rehauled. Three or four members who rarely, if ever, post in WD, voted last month. That's not a bad thing, don't get me wrong; but the way the votes went was a bit odd. Iminicus' story topic only has 1 comment in reply, as opposed to many more on the previous months' winners' topics. I'm thinking maybe there should be some rule where you have to list positives and negatives about each story when you vote in the polling topic. Nothing too long, just compare the stories with each other, pointing to why one of them got your vote, rather than just saying "I liked this one, I liked it's [very general positive here]." And your point being? So what if my story didn't warrant hundreds of replies. Replies don't make the story. If you base all your choices on replies, then you shouldn't be allowed to vote as your choice has been influenced by outside forces. About the 'outside' members voting. I actively seek and encouraged people from around the forum to participate. Instead of individual topics for each story, how about one topic containing all stories. That way replies/views don't corrupt people's opinions on the work? So, have a definite time of when stories have to be PM'd to Phusion or anyone else who wants to take over for the month. Some rules/guidelines: 1. Stories need to be under 3000 words, this allows people to explore a promising idea in more depth. 2000 was okay, but I scrapped stories from entry due to them approaching the 3000 mark. With 3000 as the limit on words, we can allow a broader range of stories to be entered. Instead of requiring 2k, just cap them in length at 3k words. Entries must be PM'd to the Month's MC by the 26th of each month. This allows 3/4 days of reading and voting. 3 days for months with 30 days and 4 days with months of 31. Voting closes at 12 am Greenwich Mean Time on the 29th of the Month or the 30th of the month depending on how many days in the month. IE: November closes on the 29th, December closes on the 30th. This allows a day of change over. Change over will be the winning entry having its topic pinned for the next month. The previous month's winner unpinned. The new topic given before the beginning of the new month. And all other things needed to be done. All stories will be posted in one collaborative topic on the 26th or 27th of the month. This will be done by the Month's MC. The winning entry will then be reposted in a seperate topic on the 30th or 31st of the month. If possible topics/genres/etc should try and connect to the month in which they are associated with. IE Halloween during October, Christmas during December. However, this completely up to the Winner to decided. Genre/topic/etc is final. There will be no changing anytime during the month. If no one enters for the month, the previous winner can choose a new topic for the next month. Isn't the whole thing about allowing the winner to choose the topic/genre/etc to encourage different takes on one general idea? Making the month a free month is allowed. If the winner can't think of an idea, they can make the month a free month. When voting for your favorite story; you must write a 3 line synopsis of what you liked about it. No saying just the story and author. You can also include feedback for other stories, if you so wish. That is all I can think of now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lochie_old Posted November 25, 2008 Author Share Posted November 25, 2008 1. Stories need to be under 3000 words, this allows people to explore a promising idea in more depth. I don't think 3000 words is really necessary, I've had people complaining to me about how they've tried to bolster the length of their story to have more quantity and when I've read through them its just a bunch of redundant sentences that make the story lack quality. If you're stories reach 3000 words, don't cap it, PM it to me and I'll decide whether it sticks to the theme at hand or goes off into a trail of random rambling. Entries must be PM'd to the Month's MC by the 26th of each month. I've enforced this before, people post their stories up for others to view anyway and to receive some criticism. I don't think many people have a problem with clicking links to different stories. 25th is also an easier deadline, it leaves us more time to vote. Voting closes at 12 am Greenwich Mean Time on the 29th of the Month or the 30th of the month depending on how many days in the month. IE: November closes on the 29th, December closes on the 30th. I agree with this idea, it'll allow for an easier transit. All stories will be posted in one collaborative topic on the 26th or 27th of the month. This will be done by the Month's MC. The winning entry will then be reposted in a seperate topic on the 30th or 31st of the month. I've covered most of that already. But to help bolster my defense I'd like to point out its easier to sticky an-already posted topic rather then re-post the story in a separate one. If possible topics/genres/etc should try and connect to the month in which they are associated with. IE Halloween during October, Christmas during December. However, this completely up to the Winner to decided. A rather interesting idea, but it just wouldn't be as fun. Original and unique themes are encouraged rather then cliche ones that will just clash with the month. Genre/topic/etc is final. There will be no changing anytime during the month. If no one enters for the month, the previous winner can choose a new topic for the next month. This one I half-agree with and half-disagree with. What if the topic was something completely moronic like "Bananas" (example), this whole competition was created so that activity would increase in Writers' Discussion, not discourage it. Making the month a free month is allowed. This is just lazy, if the winner can't think of a theme then the MC should at least be able. When voting for your favorite story; you must write a 3 line synopsis of what you liked about it. No saying just the story and author. You can also include feedback for other stories, if you so wish. , nail on the head. I am extremely grateful of your suggestions Imi, you are most welcome to PM me with anymore. Sorry if it seems like I've tried to tear apart some of them, but I'll definitely incorporate some of these in the January comp. Phil is taking over the December one, so hes most welcome to trial some of your ideas for next month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhoda Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 Just out of curiosity really, but what's to become of this month's competition? Is this still going ahead as usual despite rule changes? It'd certainly be easier seeing as we have entrants. Not many, but it wouldn't be fair to disrupt that. Though I don't see why we can't start to practice what we preach and write our few lines when it comes to voting in this week's competition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Unvirginiser Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 Yeah, I think roughly two or three lines should be enough to explain why the story gets your vote... and it should start this month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhoda Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 (edited) If I may make a suggestion, I think bringing in a "three kisses, one wish" system would work well. Hear me out, it's not as soft as it sounds: Great story, I liked it! Good description work, especially on the main character's surroundings. Really saw where he lived. The character himself was well developed, wasn't the perfect protagonist we're all used to seeing. Worked with the theme well, and was considerably different to the others. However, if I was to add a criticism, it's a tad short if I may so, so for next time, I suggest going more in depth, adding about 100 words. I think this would work nicely; it's long enough, it gives reasons for voting for the story, yet it offers room for improvement for next time, fair criticism all round. Edited November 25, 2008 by Masterkraft Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Unvirginiser Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 If I may make a suggestion, I think bringing in a "three kisses, one wish" system would work well. Hear me out, it's not as soft as it sounds: Great story, I liked it! Good description work, especially on the main character's surroundings. Really saw where he lived. The character himself was well developed, wasn't the perfect protagonist we're all used to seeing. Worked with the theme well, and was considerably different to the others. However, if I was to add a criticism, it's a tad short if I may so, so for next time, I suggest going more in depth, adding about 100 words. I think this would work nicely; it's long enough, it gives reasons for voting for the story, yet it offers room for improvement for next time, fair criticism all round. Get this man a god damn cigar! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts