Writing and Contests
Just an observation.60 total reviews
Comment from Mary Vigasin
This should have been entered as a rant! I cannot imagine tearing down another's entry into the contest. Then do not review someone's entry!
Your tongue-in-cheek was funny and delightful.
Best regards,
Mary
reply by the author on 02-Mar-2023
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This should have been entered as a rant! I cannot imagine tearing down another's entry into the contest. Then do not review someone's entry!
Your tongue-in-cheek was funny and delightful.
Best regards,
Mary
Comment Written 02-Mar-2023
reply by the author on 02-Mar-2023
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Mary, thank you, and I am glad you also got the humor. Terry.
Comment from Mary Shifman
Well, I agree with you, of course. Not long ago, I got a # 4 and a snippy review about a story I'd written for contest. The criticism was about everything but the writing itself. I pointed out that I'd gotten several six stars for it so it couldn't be all bad. The reviewer then questioned the integrity of those reviewers. who had given me sixes. I checked the contest entries and sure enough, they had one in the contest.
On the other hand I got a lovely review from someone who pointed out that my poem wasn't actually a haiku, and offered ideas how I could make it one. I chose not to change it because I'm not going to take first, anyway and I like it the way it is! Still, I appreciate all constructive criticism.
reply by the author on 02-Mar-2023
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Well, I agree with you, of course. Not long ago, I got a # 4 and a snippy review about a story I'd written for contest. The criticism was about everything but the writing itself. I pointed out that I'd gotten several six stars for it so it couldn't be all bad. The reviewer then questioned the integrity of those reviewers. who had given me sixes. I checked the contest entries and sure enough, they had one in the contest.
On the other hand I got a lovely review from someone who pointed out that my poem wasn't actually a haiku, and offered ideas how I could make it one. I chose not to change it because I'm not going to take first, anyway and I like it the way it is! Still, I appreciate all constructive criticism.
Comment Written 02-Mar-2023
reply by the author on 02-Mar-2023
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Yep, Mary you experienced the good and bad of what can happen. I never intended to overlook the good. Thank you. Terry.
Comment from GARY MACLEAN
So....You got something to say? I feel the same way. I have personally experienced the negativity of contest reviewing and rating and it doesn't make sense. Pay attention to your own work!!
Good statement, and quit talking about retiring.
reply by the author on 02-Mar-2023
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So....You got something to say? I feel the same way. I have personally experienced the negativity of contest reviewing and rating and it doesn't make sense. Pay attention to your own work!!
Good statement, and quit talking about retiring.
Comment Written 02-Mar-2023
reply by the author on 02-Mar-2023
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GARY, SO GOOD TO HEAR FROM YOU!!! Terry.
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I'm finally getting my breath back and I'm taking it slow, an article or two a day is all, but I really want to be back on so I'm giving it my best. Thanks for the welcome.
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Gary, that is great, so glad to hear the news. Terry.
Comment from w.j.debi
I like the humorous way you call out bad reviewers. Tearing others down does nothing to help one's own score.
Your essay is well organized, concise and straightforward. I like your narrative voice.
reply by the author on 02-Mar-2023
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I like the humorous way you call out bad reviewers. Tearing others down does nothing to help one's own score.
Your essay is well organized, concise and straightforward. I like your narrative voice.
Comment Written 02-Mar-2023
reply by the author on 02-Mar-2023
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Thanks for your kind comments. Terry.
Comment from Mrs. KT
Good morning, Terry,
Interesting essay.
You state:
"I am talking about writing contests on FanStory. The contest can be either blind or not blind. For some reason, one of the entrants reviews another entry or several and gives a low rating."
If I am going to review a member's work in a contest in which I have also entered, one of two practices occur:
1. If the work has not followed the requirements of the prompt, I may give the work a rating of 4 stars to alert the writer to make changes before the work enters the Voting Booth with the understanding that there is time to make edits. On the two occasions I personally misread a contest prompt since joining FanStory in 2007, I appreciated the "heads up" for two reasons: the 4-star rating alerted me to make changes, and by making those changes, I didn't hold up the contest.
2. I also make it a practice to give positive reviews to excellent writing in a contest in which I have entered - blind or not blind- along with pointing out "nits" if warranted.
Just last week, however, I posted a lengthy poem for a contest. The very first review I received was from the contest's sponsor. This individual slapped it with a 4-star review. This individual's review had nothing to do with the poem. I don't believe he/she even read it. No suggestions for improvement. Discouraging? Absolutely. And it definitely made me question the sponsor's integrity and intentions...
You also state:
"Other times I have seen an entrant give a highly critical review calling into question another entry writer's integrity."
Quite certain I am that "woman" you referred to in your recent responses to Sally Law and Jesse James Doty.
In my sixteen years as a contributing member of FanStory, I surely have pointed out violations of FanStory's site guidelines to writers and to the site administraton, if and when they occur. Although I was not an entrant in the Landay contest, this week, I reviewed a "poem," which is a well-known "joke" that has circulated throughout America for decades.
Was my review "highly critical?" Not in my mind; it was honest.
My solution to the writer or any writer? Document sources.
If a family member tells a joke, and I repeat it, that joke is not mine; I didn't write it - I repeated it. Document sources.
The following article provides information in that regard:
(Does Copyright Protect Jokes? (lizerbramlaw.com)
That's all I've got, Terry...
Except... I didn't know that thing about guys and their navels...
Might make for an interesting poem...
Thanks for sharing,
diane
reply by the author on 02-Mar-2023
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Good morning, Terry,
Interesting essay.
You state:
"I am talking about writing contests on FanStory. The contest can be either blind or not blind. For some reason, one of the entrants reviews another entry or several and gives a low rating."
If I am going to review a member's work in a contest in which I have also entered, one of two practices occur:
1. If the work has not followed the requirements of the prompt, I may give the work a rating of 4 stars to alert the writer to make changes before the work enters the Voting Booth with the understanding that there is time to make edits. On the two occasions I personally misread a contest prompt since joining FanStory in 2007, I appreciated the "heads up" for two reasons: the 4-star rating alerted me to make changes, and by making those changes, I didn't hold up the contest.
2. I also make it a practice to give positive reviews to excellent writing in a contest in which I have entered - blind or not blind- along with pointing out "nits" if warranted.
Just last week, however, I posted a lengthy poem for a contest. The very first review I received was from the contest's sponsor. This individual slapped it with a 4-star review. This individual's review had nothing to do with the poem. I don't believe he/she even read it. No suggestions for improvement. Discouraging? Absolutely. And it definitely made me question the sponsor's integrity and intentions...
You also state:
"Other times I have seen an entrant give a highly critical review calling into question another entry writer's integrity."
Quite certain I am that "woman" you referred to in your recent responses to Sally Law and Jesse James Doty.
In my sixteen years as a contributing member of FanStory, I surely have pointed out violations of FanStory's site guidelines to writers and to the site administraton, if and when they occur. Although I was not an entrant in the Landay contest, this week, I reviewed a "poem," which is a well-known "joke" that has circulated throughout America for decades.
Was my review "highly critical?" Not in my mind; it was honest.
My solution to the writer or any writer? Document sources.
If a family member tells a joke, and I repeat it, that joke is not mine; I didn't write it - I repeated it. Document sources.
The following article provides information in that regard:
(Does Copyright Protect Jokes? (lizerbramlaw.com)
That's all I've got, Terry...
Except... I didn't know that thing about guys and their navels...
Might make for an interesting poem...
Thanks for sharing,
diane
Comment Written 02-Mar-2023
reply by the author on 02-Mar-2023
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Diane, thank you for your comments. There is nothing wrong in pointing out to a contestant that they have not met the requirements of the contest; it is helpful, or at least it should be. If you are in the same contest, I think that is okay too.
I do create some contests. I try to make a point to review everyone who enters and thank them for their entry. If they missed a requirement, I do point that out. I don't try to make suggestions to improve their writing, my thinking is they are on their own at that point.
I was NOT talking about any review you gave this week, and you are NOT the woman I mentioned to Sally and James. It was in a different contest than the one you mentioned. I am not trying to call any individual out. I think that would be bad form.
Now, about that poem. you might like to write...LOL, go for it! Terry.
Comment from PoemsOfDD
Ahh, this is a refreshing read. You got a chuckle out of me. I'm all for speaking the truth. Many do not like to hear it though. I appreciate you for being open and honest in your observations on FanStory contests and the likes, or rather dislikes, of certain reviewers. This well written account is enlightening. Thank you for having the balls to speak up and write about it and not playing with your navel ;-)
reply by the author on 02-Mar-2023
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Ahh, this is a refreshing read. You got a chuckle out of me. I'm all for speaking the truth. Many do not like to hear it though. I appreciate you for being open and honest in your observations on FanStory contests and the likes, or rather dislikes, of certain reviewers. This well written account is enlightening. Thank you for having the balls to speak up and write about it and not playing with your navel ;-)
Comment Written 02-Mar-2023
reply by the author on 02-Mar-2023
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LOL, thank you for your comments! Terry.
Comment from Sally Law
Thank you, Terry dear. As kind as you are to assign this to the guys, it doesn't stop there I'm afraid. I've had a number of swipes from the females here guarding their interests. However, what I have seen lately has taken the cake. There's no place here for calling someone a liar in print. That's called gaslighting and it's unacceptable. If a writer has (actually) taken someone else's work, then report it to Tom. I have two times with the sources of the writer's plagiarism. Both times it was taken care of and in a way I could not have done because I'm just little ol' me.
Hopefully many will read your article will take it to heart and amend their ways. To hurt someone in order to advance in a contest will backfire in the end.
Sending you my very best.
Sal XOs
reply by the author on 02-Mar-2023
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Thank you, Terry dear. As kind as you are to assign this to the guys, it doesn't stop there I'm afraid. I've had a number of swipes from the females here guarding their interests. However, what I have seen lately has taken the cake. There's no place here for calling someone a liar in print. That's called gaslighting and it's unacceptable. If a writer has (actually) taken someone else's work, then report it to Tom. I have two times with the sources of the writer's plagiarism. Both times it was taken care of and in a way I could not have done because I'm just little ol' me.
Hopefully many will read your article will take it to heart and amend their ways. To hurt someone in order to advance in a contest will backfire in the end.
Sending you my very best.
Sal XOs
Comment Written 02-Mar-2023
reply by the author on 02-Mar-2023
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Sally, thank you for your comments. I did see this twice in the last week, and one was a woman. But I thought my little commentary needed a little touch of 'male humor' to make its point.
Comment from Jesse James Doty
I am not aware of this guy who you are talking about who tries to ruin others' chances in a contest they are in but I am sure they know who they are when they read this post.
I can guarantee that it is not me because I only did one contest and failed miserably in that one. Anyway, they know who they are, and let us hope they don't do it anymore!
Jesse
reply by the author on 02-Mar-2023
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I am not aware of this guy who you are talking about who tries to ruin others' chances in a contest they are in but I am sure they know who they are when they read this post.
I can guarantee that it is not me because I only did one contest and failed miserably in that one. Anyway, they know who they are, and let us hope they don't do it anymore!
Jesse
Comment Written 02-Mar-2023
reply by the author on 02-Mar-2023
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Jesse, I most definitely was NOT referring to you. I have seen this happen twice in the last week; one was a guy, and the other a woman. I just decided I wanted to say something. Thanks, Terry.
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I am glad you spoke out about it, 'so to speak!'
I have heard rumors about this sort of thing happening and it is sad to me.
Don't they have something better to do?
Jesse
Comment from Rachelle Allen
This is why I like guys. While women (well, okay, not ALL of us...) dance around an issue or leave catty little "hints," men just call it out, duke it out, and get it the hell over with. Bravo to you for bringing your floodlight to the scene, Terry. Let's hope it gas an impact. Xo
reply by the author on 02-Mar-2023
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This is why I like guys. While women (well, okay, not ALL of us...) dance around an issue or leave catty little "hints," men just call it out, duke it out, and get it the hell over with. Bravo to you for bringing your floodlight to the scene, Terry. Let's hope it gas an impact. Xo
Comment Written 02-Mar-2023
reply by the author on 02-Mar-2023
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Rachelle, LOL, thanks. Terry.
Comment from giraffmang
Of perhaps, it could be that the 'culprit' has more integrity than a lot of the writers on the site. Perhaps, the pieces being reviewed just aren't that good (not everything is an excellent or outstanding piece of work - far from it). Perhaps the low ratings and critique are made before the voting starts in an effort to help that author improve their work. Maybe it's done in a spirit of co-operation and mutual respect, rather than giving a bland five star review which says nothing and does nothing to help the competitor and they just sit there and snigger...
The perception of belittling may indeed be critiquing, as so few here actually put that into practice.
It's an interesting observation but as they say there's more than one side to every story.
reply by the author on 02-Mar-2023
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Of perhaps, it could be that the 'culprit' has more integrity than a lot of the writers on the site. Perhaps, the pieces being reviewed just aren't that good (not everything is an excellent or outstanding piece of work - far from it). Perhaps the low ratings and critique are made before the voting starts in an effort to help that author improve their work. Maybe it's done in a spirit of co-operation and mutual respect, rather than giving a bland five star review which says nothing and does nothing to help the competitor and they just sit there and snigger...
The perception of belittling may indeed be critiquing, as so few here actually put that into practice.
It's an interesting observation but as they say there's more than one side to every story.
Comment Written 02-Mar-2023
reply by the author on 02-Mar-2023
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Garth, I have no problem with someone who is honestly trying to help another writer. Terry.
