Writing Contests, thoughts thereon

[Prurient Purveyer]

I was challenged to come up with a Writer's Challenge,in a "you do better" sort of a way and despite my innate modesty I have thought of something which might be worth a look- possibly.

Here's how it works.

By the end of every calendar month members can nominate their favorite story posted in the month just ended. Not the writers; the members. So nominations can start during the month, close off would be, early in the next month.

Maximum of 25 entries- I understand that's the most with which the system can cope as I understand it.This would be a poll just to be clear on that.

One story per writer so if, say, Rutger5's stories get seven nominations only the first one counts.

Voting is open, ie you can see who voted for whom.

As much lobbying and drumming up support for the story as you like but none by the writers themselves.

Voting period, seven, nine, fourteen days?

And the prize is the title of Writer of the Most Popular Story for May, or June , whatever.

Does it compete with CAW?

I hope not, its not meant to, after all CAW is writing to a set theme or topic and this is any story posted in the previous month.

So that's it, rip it apart, improve it ( wouldn't be hard) it is just a suggestion.

[ELaken-Palmer]

Great. Just what we need here. Let's have it be every other third story from each writer in even numbered months. There should be 25 entries from 27 writers and only non-registered members cast non-binding votes for two stories. Winner takes nothing. I like it.

[Prurient Purveyer]

Originally Posted by ELaken-Palmer

Great. Just what we need here. Let's have it be every other third story from each writer in even numbered months. There should be 25 entries from 27 writers and only non-registered members cast non-binding votes for two stories. Winner takes nothing. I like it.

I didn't really expect anything better from you. You really are a wanker.

[ELaken-Palmer]

I guess what I was trying to say is the very last thing we need is another writers contest with no winner. I would bet that, if you came up with a couple hundred dollar prize, you WOULD have a good idea and LOTS of interest.

[Prurient Purveyer]

Originally Posted by ELaken-Palmer

I guess what I was trying to say is the very last thing we need is another writers contest with no winner. I would bet that, if you came up with a couple hundred dollar prize, you WOULD have a good idea and LOTS of interest.

There would be a winner.

Why say there wouldn't be one?

[Daddycums]

Unfortunately, I agree with ELP. CAW was meant to be a fun, friendly little competition and a few people spoiled it for the rest of us by cheating and bickering.

I'm not opposed to your idea, but what makes you think it would turn out any different?

[wantsomefun]

I'm not going to bash your idea. It has merit. However, there are a couple of things that I wonder about:

1. Who runs it? Who sets up the poll? Who monitors the votes and sees to it that all stories are included, but no writer is represented more than once?

2. How would you deal with the potential problems of cheating? Who polices that?

3. How do you publicize it? You want to include the members-at-large, not just the writers, which is as it should be. But, how do you propose to publicize it and get the general readership to understand what's going on?

4. If we continue with the CAWs, with or without any of the changes that have been discussed, can a single story compete in both contests?

5. Would a potential entry have to be posted to the Sex Stories site, the Sex Stories forum, or both? I suspect that a lot of casual readers go to one place or the other to find reading material they like, but not to both.

You may be on to something here, but there might be a few things that have to be addressed. Your idea sounds like it could be fun, but I question whether a few individuals won't fuck it up for you.

[ELaken-Palmer]

Myself, I find it a big, fat JOKE that people bitch about story contests and then propose one of their own. GET SERIOUS, PP, and give us all a break.

[ejls]

Originally Posted by Prurient Purveyer

I was challenged to come up with a Writer's Challenge,in a "you do better" sort of a way and despite my innate modesty I have thought of something which might be worth a look- possibly.

Here's how it works.

By the end of every calendar month members can nominate their favorite story posted in the month just ended. Not the writers; the members. So nominations can start during the month, close off would be, early in the next month.

Favorite story from where? The Sex Stories Site? The Forum? Would you need permission from the writer to include their story in this challenge?

The writers are members and readers. Why wouldn't they be allowed to nominate a story?

Maximum of 25 entries- I understand that's the most with which the system can cope as I understand it.This would be a poll just to be clear on that.

Who would be establishing the poll and who would be responsible for posting the correct links to the nominated stories?

One story per writer so if, say, Rutger5's stories get seven nominations only the first one counts.

Voting is open, ie you can see who voted for whom.

Vote strictly on popularity, not on merit?

As much lobbying and drumming up support for the story as you like but none by the writers themselves.

If not by the person who authored the story, then by whom? The person who nominated it would be the campaign manager?

Voting period, seven, nine, fourteen days?

How long to read all of the entries?

And the prize is the title of Writer of the Most Popular Story for May, or June , whatever.

Where is the challenge you mentioned in your opening paragraph? If there is nothing to tie all the stories together, how can they be compared? Are the writer's allowed to vote, if they are not allowed to nominate or campaign? Who runs the next month's challenge?

Does it compete with CAW?

If a writer does not write in that month, or does not want their stories considered, are they allowed to nominate, campaign or vote?

I hope not, its not meant to, after all CAW is writing to a set theme or topic and this is any story posted in the previous month.

So that's it, rip it apart, improve it ( wouldn't be hard) it is just a suggestion.

Just my thoughts.

[Chagrin]

Hey, it can work. If movies can have the Oscars and the Golden Globes, I see no reason not to have multiple award shows

Whoever wants to support it can, and we see who comes out top dog, PCs or Macs -- I mean, CAW or... your thing. Hmm... a catchy name would be a good start

[Prurient Purveyer]

Originally Posted by Prurient Purveyer
I was challenged to come up with a Writer's Challenge,in a "you do better" sort of a way and despite my innate modesty I have thought of something which might be worth a look- possibly.

Here's how it works.

By the end of every calendar month members can nominate their favorite story posted in the month just ended. Not the writers; the members. So nominations can start during the month, close off would be, early in the next month.

Favorite story from where? The Sex Stories Site? The Forum? Would you need permission from the writer to include their story in this challenge?

The writers are members and readers. Why wouldn't they be allowed to nominate a story?

Maximum of 25 entries- I understand that's the most with which the system can cope as I understand it.This would be a poll just to be clear on that.

Who would be establishing the poll and who would be responsible for posting the correct links to the nominated stories?

One story per writer so if, say, Rutger5's stories get seven nominations only the first one counts.

Voting is open, ie you can see who voted for whom.

Vote strictly on popularity, not on merit?

As much lobbying and drumming up support for the story as you like but none by the writers themselves.

If not by the person who authored the story, then by whom? The person who nominated it would be the campaign manager?

Voting period, seven, nine, fourteen days?

How long to read all of the entries?

And the prize is the title of Writer of the Most Popular Story for May, or June , whatever.

Where is the challenge you mentioned in your opening paragraph? If there is nothing to tie all the stories together, how can they be compared? Are the writer's allowed to vote, if they are not allowed to nominate or campaign? Who runs the next month's challenge?

Does it compete with CAW?

If a writer does not write in that month, or does not want their stories considered, are they allowed to nominate, campaign or vote?

I hope not, its not meant to, after all CAW is writing to a set theme or topic and this is any story posted in the previous month.

So that's it, rip it apart, improve it ( wouldn't be hard) it is just a suggestion.

Good thoughts they are too:

First off , from where. Initially I thought the Story Site but some members post on the Forum and I don't see any reason why stories couldn't be nominated from the Forum as well.

Second Who can nominate. Sorry, wasn't clear obviously , the only rule in that regard is that a writer cannot nominate him/herself. So yes a writer can certainly nominate another writer.

Permission, it would certainly be good form if the member wanting to put a story forward got the writer's consent first.

The poll would be run by the Moderators and or Administrators of XNXX. This poll is a meant to be a sense of community building exercise. If it doesn't have the site's backing it would most likely just be something a small group of people are interested in but meaningless to the vast majority of members.I'm not sure on that but I think its worth a try.

It isn't for the writers nominated its for the readers to have their say on who's story is most popular. Note ,not best because you can't say "best" by a vote. The most that can be said is it is the most popular.

But wouldn't that be something" Most Popular Story" ?

Lobbying, yes by anyone interested in drumming up support for that story.

Before I started writing I read here for years and I had my favorites, I think I read all of bailey's gems, and those terribly naughty I like dogs stories even though it sounds disgusting. BUt I was a fan and this is for people who are fans of whichever writer to put their work or one of them forward and do what they can to pursuade other readers to the same opinion.

Merit or popularity.

The aspect of the story the readers are asked to judge on can be specified but I think whether a story is judged best or most popular is a moot point. Largely I think when asked to rate stories people do judge on quality.

Voting timeframe. Undecided. Two weeks would be my thoughts.

The challenge. Yes, you're right, there isn't one. Its an opportunity for Readers of the stories here to give something back to those writers who' s stories are nominated.

Comparison. There can't be any, its a "the Most Popular contest" so in that respect it isn't going to be fair to all genres. For all that it would still be true that of the stories nominated it was the most popular or rated best depending on how one interprets stats.

Can a writer who doesn't post a story in that month nominate, campaign, hire a hall , organize a tickertape parade etc. Darn tootin'. But only for someone else.


Who organizes next time? Well if XNXX didn't run this so it was official then it would most likely die but to answer the question whoever nominates the winning writer would have to run it but they could ring in support in case their computer skills are as bad as mine.

[Prurient Purveyer]

Originally Posted by wantsomefun

I'm not going to bash your idea. It has merit. However, there are a couple of things that I wonder about:

1. Who runs it? Who sets up the poll? Who monitors the votes and sees to it that all stories are included, but no writer is represented more than once?

2. How would you deal with the potential problems of cheating? Who polices that?

3. How do you publicize it? You want to include the members-at-large, not just the writers, which is as it should be. But, how do you propose to publicize it and get the general readership to understand what's going on?

4. If we continue with the CAWs, with or without any of the changes that have been discussed, can a single story compete in both contests?

5. Would a potential entry have to be posted to the Sex Stories site, the Sex Stories forum, or both? I suspect that a lot of casual readers go to one place or the other to find reading material they like, but not to both.

You may be on to something here, but there might be a few things that have to be addressed. Your idea sounds like it could be fun, but I question whether a few individuals won't fuck it up for you.

A lot of this I covered (or tried to ) in my reply to EJLS so apologies if I'm repeating myself.

1. Who runs it? Who sets up the poll? Who monitors the votes and sees to it that all stories are included, but no writer is represented more than once?

I wanted this to be a forum run event. In the event its not then my pick is the member who nominated the winning entry. Something of a wake up call for the frivolous nominator but hopefully any one nominating would be deadly serious. Hopefully.

The nominations are taken from the entry thread for that month so any multiple entries would be picked up before the poll was put up.In any case it would be spotted beforehand by at least one of the many Trainspotters who live here.

2. How would you deal with the potential problems of cheating? Who polices that?

What are the potential problems of cheating? Sock voting? Sneakily getting one's story entered? I would leave the poll in place and if the winner is there by sock votes then he/she should be challenged. Hard one because I am loath to see IP addresses checked for a contest;I think the members right to privacy has to over rule our right to the truth.

The votes are open so you can see who voted for whom. Would you want sock votes? (No good asking me ,I won't be in it) You'd consider it a bit tacky wouldn't you? But while ,yes, cheats can get in my hope is that those taking part will feel a moral responsibility to act honestly.

3. How do you publicize it? You want to include the members-at-large, not just the writers, which is as it should be. But, how do you propose to publicize it and get the general readership to understand what's going on?

It has to be publicized on the Story Site, there just isn't enough readership on the Forum- unless it was headed something like " Cheer Leaders Blow job Quest" then instead of Betty Joe and Cindy they got the contest

As far as getting the general readership to understand it well it isn't that hard ( little Actress to the Bishop line) ; if you're a member you can nominate, if you're a member you can vote. I think the real challenge would be to get the first nominations. It might be like no mans land in those school dances, boys on one side girls on the other.Also it might be intimidating for a fan to be asking the writer if he can nominate one of his stories. So it would be big boy pants time.

But it has to be a buzz for the writer surely. Its not just a vote or a save to favorites its someone telling you he thinks so much of your story he wants to nominate it.

4. If we continue with the CAWs, with or without any of the changes that have been discussed, can a single story compete in both contests?

Absolutely; there is no reason why a story couldn't win the CAW and this one.

5. Would a potential entry have to be posted to the Sex Stories site, the Sex Stories forum, or both? I suspect that a lot of casual readers go to one place or the other to find reading material they like, but not to both.

I don't see any reason why it can't be both. The poll has to be on the forum so the members come over here to see whats nominated and, God willing, read a few before voting.

I think any contest can be fucked up. There was a case in the UK in a running race where the winner caught the effing bus then got out a few Ks before the finish and powered away for the win.

At this stage I'm floating a Readers' Nominated Contest as a concept; what degree of policing would be involved I'm not sure.

[Twistedsister]

It could be a good idea but, after seeing the crap that goes on with annony voters and comments in the main sex stories section, it will be a farce like it is there. Where they vote stories down so theirs go up.

[Prurient Purveyer]

Originally Posted by Twistedsister

It could be a good idea but, after seeing the crap that goes on with annony voters and comments in the main sex stories section, it will be a farce like it is there. Where they vote stories down so theirs go up.

Well aware of the crap that goes on for sure but this is a poll; all you can do is choose to vote or not vote.It isn't anonymous either.