Writing and Contests
Just an observation.60 total reviews
Comment from Jim Wile
Yes, that is pretty pathetic. I haven't seen it personally, but I don't often read other people's reviews to know that.
Thanks for pointing this out, and perhaps the culprit(s) will read it and take heed.
I do have a beef with the way contest prizes are rewarded, though, and if you agree with it, someone as influential as you might be listened to if you were to point it out to the management, as I have tried. It is this:
If there is a tie for first place, the first place prize money is split in half, rather than splitting the sum of the first and second place money in half as is done in every other contest I know. Take a golf tournament as an example. First place is always decided by a playoff when there is a tie, so let's talk about a tie for second place instead. If two or more tie for second place, they split the second and third place money between those two. It would be ridiculous to split only the second place money between the 2 players who tied for second, because then the third place player (really the fourth place player) would receive more than the two second place players.
When I tried to point this out, I even gave an example of a 4-way tie for second and how it would be necessary to split 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th place money equally between them, otherwise the 6th place player would end up getting way more than the four who tied for 2nd by getting the originally designated 3rd place money.
My argument failed to persuade them. Maybe you would have better luck.
reply by the author on 02-Mar-2023
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Yes, that is pretty pathetic. I haven't seen it personally, but I don't often read other people's reviews to know that.
Thanks for pointing this out, and perhaps the culprit(s) will read it and take heed.
I do have a beef with the way contest prizes are rewarded, though, and if you agree with it, someone as influential as you might be listened to if you were to point it out to the management, as I have tried. It is this:
If there is a tie for first place, the first place prize money is split in half, rather than splitting the sum of the first and second place money in half as is done in every other contest I know. Take a golf tournament as an example. First place is always decided by a playoff when there is a tie, so let's talk about a tie for second place instead. If two or more tie for second place, they split the second and third place money between those two. It would be ridiculous to split only the second place money between the 2 players who tied for second, because then the third place player (really the fourth place player) would receive more than the two second place players.
When I tried to point this out, I even gave an example of a 4-way tie for second and how it would be necessary to split 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th place money equally between them, otherwise the 6th place player would end up getting way more than the four who tied for 2nd by getting the originally designated 3rd place money.
My argument failed to persuade them. Maybe you would have better luck.
Comment Written 02-Mar-2023
reply by the author on 02-Mar-2023
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Jim, you make a lot of sense, but I have no influence. Thanks for the comments. Terry.
Comment from karenina
So....how do you REALLY feel?
You say it, Terry! Amen!
Nobody ever got any higher by crawling over people. It's unsustainable and eventually, people will get hip to the game.
I've seen this phenomenon on occasion and it irks me.
(I do not enter a lot of contests, admittedly, but I've certainly given six-star reviews to other entries in the same contest I am in!)
I am sure there are all kinds of ways to game the system...
Ragging on someone else's work is the lowest.
Blind or not, poetry or prose, I'm happy to see someone excel...
On the merits.
Otherwise, what an empty "win" that must be!
Karenina
reply by the author on 02-Mar-2023
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So....how do you REALLY feel?
You say it, Terry! Amen!
Nobody ever got any higher by crawling over people. It's unsustainable and eventually, people will get hip to the game.
I've seen this phenomenon on occasion and it irks me.
(I do not enter a lot of contests, admittedly, but I've certainly given six-star reviews to other entries in the same contest I am in!)
I am sure there are all kinds of ways to game the system...
Ragging on someone else's work is the lowest.
Blind or not, poetry or prose, I'm happy to see someone excel...
On the merits.
Otherwise, what an empty "win" that must be!
Karenina
Comment Written 02-Mar-2023
reply by the author on 02-Mar-2023
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Karenina, thank you for the six, and your thoughts. Terry.
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You're welcome.
Comment from Wendy G
This can happen, but fortunately not too often. Well, I hope not. I just gave six stars to someone in the same contest, because he genuinely deserved it, and his entry was better than mine. I have at times voted for someone else, not myself, because their work deserved to win. Ah, maybe I'm a bit silly, but I still try to vote for the best work, with no consideration to who wrote it. That's how it should be in my humble opinion. Marking people down in reviews, for no valid reason, just shows a lack of integrity.
Wendy
reply by the author on 02-Mar-2023
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This can happen, but fortunately not too often. Well, I hope not. I just gave six stars to someone in the same contest, because he genuinely deserved it, and his entry was better than mine. I have at times voted for someone else, not myself, because their work deserved to win. Ah, maybe I'm a bit silly, but I still try to vote for the best work, with no consideration to who wrote it. That's how it should be in my humble opinion. Marking people down in reviews, for no valid reason, just shows a lack of integrity.
Wendy
Comment Written 02-Mar-2023
reply by the author on 02-Mar-2023
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Wendy, there is no question you are one of the good ones! Thank you for your thoughts. Terry.
Comment from T B Botts
Hi Terry,
I guess I haven't been involved in enough contests to really make any observations per se'. I like that there are writing prompts in the contests- I find that challenging, but I don't spend too much time worrying about who got what score. Perhaps some folks are taking this a little too seriously. Thanks for sharing your views. Have a blessed evening.
Tom
reply by the author on 02-Mar-2023
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Hi Terry,
I guess I haven't been involved in enough contests to really make any observations per se'. I like that there are writing prompts in the contests- I find that challenging, but I don't spend too much time worrying about who got what score. Perhaps some folks are taking this a little too seriously. Thanks for sharing your views. Have a blessed evening.
Tom
Comment Written 01-Mar-2023
reply by the author on 02-Mar-2023
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Tom, thank you. Terry.
Comment from judiverse
I don't believe I've been in a contest where I've been harshly criticized like that. I'm sure it does go on, though. I agree they should just focus on their own writing rather than criticizing other entries. Also, I believe some entrants write their own glowing comments in the space provided during the voting. The best entries often do not win for various reasons. Some writers have a large following and thus get the votes. Some promote their work to the hilt so it is already a known quantity and voters are impressed by the number of reviews it's received. Call me a cynic. judi
reply by the author on 02-Mar-2023
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I don't believe I've been in a contest where I've been harshly criticized like that. I'm sure it does go on, though. I agree they should just focus on their own writing rather than criticizing other entries. Also, I believe some entrants write their own glowing comments in the space provided during the voting. The best entries often do not win for various reasons. Some writers have a large following and thus get the votes. Some promote their work to the hilt so it is already a known quantity and voters are impressed by the number of reviews it's received. Call me a cynic. judi
Comment Written 01-Mar-2023
reply by the author on 02-Mar-2023
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Judi, thank you for your comments.
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You're very welcome. judi
Comment from lancellot
Oh, I hear you.
Except some voters are stupid. Just saying, that's human nature. Yes, I've seen that from contestants. Most times it's newbies who think if your entry has a low star rating over it, as opposed to an Exceptional, voters will be swayed by that, as if voters don't read all the entries. (I know crazy, right?).
It is a tactic to win. I disagree with it, but it happens. There are many tactics beyond just writing a good poem or story. Some make their characters seniors, or women, or mothers. Some add a photo of an old person or baby. Some put long winded notes thanking God and everyone. Others highly promote to "Buy" votes, or get more eyes on their entries than others.
FanStory has gone so far from what it was originally intended as, I barely recognize it anymore.
Like you, I don't write as much anymore here.
reply by the author on 02-Mar-2023
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Oh, I hear you.
Except some voters are stupid. Just saying, that's human nature. Yes, I've seen that from contestants. Most times it's newbies who think if your entry has a low star rating over it, as opposed to an Exceptional, voters will be swayed by that, as if voters don't read all the entries. (I know crazy, right?).
It is a tactic to win. I disagree with it, but it happens. There are many tactics beyond just writing a good poem or story. Some make their characters seniors, or women, or mothers. Some add a photo of an old person or baby. Some put long winded notes thanking God and everyone. Others highly promote to "Buy" votes, or get more eyes on their entries than others.
FanStory has gone so far from what it was originally intended as, I barely recognize it anymore.
Like you, I don't write as much anymore here.
Comment Written 01-Mar-2023
reply by the author on 02-Mar-2023
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Lance, thank you Sir for your comments.
Comment from Dr. Nad
Well that was interesting. I know that things change over time and I've been here since 2014 and there's a difference in reviews now from reviews used to be. Now reviews tend to be commentary and not critiques that help writers. I really didn't like the critiques very much to be honest when I got here because they were critiquing me. I must say that they help me quite a bit and you might not think I'm much of a writer today, but I'm definitely better than it was when I got here and that helped just a thought.
reply by the author on 02-Mar-2023
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Well that was interesting. I know that things change over time and I've been here since 2014 and there's a difference in reviews now from reviews used to be. Now reviews tend to be commentary and not critiques that help writers. I really didn't like the critiques very much to be honest when I got here because they were critiquing me. I must say that they help me quite a bit and you might not think I'm much of a writer today, but I'm definitely better than it was when I got here and that helped just a thought.
Comment Written 01-Mar-2023
reply by the author on 02-Mar-2023
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Thanks for your comments. I too am a much better writer than when I joined.
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You're most welcome my friend. Have a blessed day.
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You're most welcome my friend. Have a blessed day.
Comment from patcelaw
The point is that you have made in this work is exactly why I do not care to enter many contest. I think it is a rather fixed thing. I have been on fan store now for almost 9 years and I have only won 3rd Place in the contests. And my third place win was when it happen to have been a contest that there were only three entries. Patricia
reply by the author on 01-Mar-2023
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The point is that you have made in this work is exactly why I do not care to enter many contest. I think it is a rather fixed thing. I have been on fan store now for almost 9 years and I have only won 3rd Place in the contests. And my third place win was when it happen to have been a contest that there were only three entries. Patricia
Comment Written 01-Mar-2023
reply by the author on 01-Mar-2023
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Patrica, thank you for your comments. Terry.
Comment from Pam Lonsdale
Contemplating the navel then playing with something else is certainly a guy thing:-)
I honestly hate the contests here where members are allowed to vote and never enter them. I'm here for the people - the majority are awesome. The rest I ignore.
I notice you're not fully retired:-). Good thing.
reply by the author on 01-Mar-2023
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Contemplating the navel then playing with something else is certainly a guy thing:-)
I honestly hate the contests here where members are allowed to vote and never enter them. I'm here for the people - the majority are awesome. The rest I ignore.
I notice you're not fully retired:-). Good thing.
Comment Written 01-Mar-2023
reply by the author on 01-Mar-2023
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Pam, thank you. Terry.
Comment from Ric Myworld
Yes, sir, there are always a few willing to do whatever it takes for a digital blue ribbon, and those who'd rather bash and destroy confidence, than praise and bolster it. As I've said before, if it weren't for a few good people, I'd have quit and given in the first week of my membership. Thanks for sharing.
reply by the author on 01-Mar-2023
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Yes, sir, there are always a few willing to do whatever it takes for a digital blue ribbon, and those who'd rather bash and destroy confidence, than praise and bolster it. As I've said before, if it weren't for a few good people, I'd have quit and given in the first week of my membership. Thanks for sharing.
Comment Written 01-Mar-2023
reply by the author on 01-Mar-2023
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Ric, thanks. Terry.
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Terry, how do you get by writing three words on these replies? I get tired of rambling along 150 characters that most would rather not have to bother with?
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LOL, I just figured you didn't need any words from me...you already know enough!
