Hi,
This is probably a really basic question and everyone knows but I'm having a blonde moment so maybe indulge me?
How are the Story Picks on the home page selected? I noticed some are competition entries and some are not.
If they are based on number of 5 votes over the past few days, if they are competition entries, is that not giving them an advantage over other entries and signalling which ones will be shortlisted?
I've always wondered how they get selected, Thanks x
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How are the Story Picks and Top Authors selected
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Candyman
There are two opportunities for authors to be awarded a “top pick,” aka Recommended Read (RR).
1) Through competitions. The top ten are all awarded a RR at the end of the competition, never before.
2) All other RR awards are based on the Story Verifier and how they felt how the story emulated the quality needed to be awarded a RR. Some, but not all, of the expectations are grammar, punctuation, theme, and minimal need for corrections.
Hope that helped.
1) Through competitions. The top ten are all awarded a RR at the end of the competition, never before.
2) All other RR awards are based on the Story Verifier and how they felt how the story emulated the quality needed to be awarded a RR. Some, but not all, of the expectations are grammar, punctuation, theme, and minimal need for corrections.
Hope that helped.
"I expect nothing. I fear no one. I am free." Nikos Kazantzakis
Active Ink Slinger
Quote by lottiedoll
Thank you but I was actually referring to the list on the right hand side of the Home page.
How are these stories and authors selected to feature on these lists?
That question intrigues me too because I sometimes feature in that list and have even been top of it from time to time but I often wonder how it is actually arrived at.
Writius Eroticus
The algorithm is a closely-guarded secret, locked in sprite's liquor cabinet. So, good luck getting to that.
An educated guess, though, is that it probably involves a tally of the number of views/votes/comments over a given time period (hour, day, something?) multiplied by some random numbers selected by the giant hamsters that keep the cogs turning in the fiery pits below the grounds of Lush HQ.
I suspect the phenomenon you see regarding more 'compiness' in the list is because there are a lot of eyes on competition pieces and they garner a lot of votes, views and comments in a short space of time, since most entrants (and the Lush readership at large) read and comment on each other's stories while the competition window is open.
An educated guess, though, is that it probably involves a tally of the number of views/votes/comments over a given time period (hour, day, something?) multiplied by some random numbers selected by the giant hamsters that keep the cogs turning in the fiery pits below the grounds of Lush HQ.
I suspect the phenomenon you see regarding more 'compiness' in the list is because there are a lot of eyes on competition pieces and they garner a lot of votes, views and comments in a short space of time, since most entrants (and the Lush readership at large) read and comment on each other's stories while the competition window is open.
Please browse my digital bookshelf. In this collection, you can find 115 full stories, 10 micro-stories, and 2 poems with the following features:
* 29 Editor's Picks, 75 Recommended Reads.
* 15 competition podium places, 11 other times in the top ten.
* 21 collaborations.
* A whole heap of often filthy, tense, hot sex.
Easily amused
Quote by WannabeWordsmith
The algorithm is a closely-guarded secret, locked in sprite's liquor cabinet. So, good luck getting to that.
An educated guess, though, is that it probably involves a tally of the number of views/votes/comments over a given time period (hour, day, something?) multiplied by some random numbers selected by the giant hamsters that keep the cogs turning in the fiery pits below the grounds of Lush HQ.
I suspect the phenomenon you see regarding more 'compiness' in the list is because there are a lot of eyes on competition pieces and they garner a lot of votes, views and comments in a short space of time, since most entrants (and the Lush readership at large) read and comment on each other's stories while the competition window is open.
I always wondered about this, though I kind of like nobody knows the actual algorithm. Harder to game that way. I also figure the Top Authors are folks with more than one story that's new and active, thus more views.
My story isn't showing up in the picks, but I'm not that well known here, and it's kinda in the shadowlands between genres anyway. Still, I'm competitive a f, so I'm trying not to worry.
Tintinnabulation - first place (Free Spirit)
Comet Q - second place (Quick and Risqué Sex)
Amnesia - third place (Le Noir Erotique)
Site administrator
Quote by WannabeWordsmith
The algorithm is a closely-guarded secret, locked in sprite's liquor cabinet. So, good luck getting to that.
An educated guess, though, is that it probably involves a tally of the number of views/votes/comments over a given time period (hour, day, something?) multiplied by some random numbers selected by the giant hamsters that keep the cogs turning in the fiery pits below the grounds of Lush HQ.
I suspect the phenomenon you see regarding more 'compiness' in the list is because there are a lot of eyes on competition pieces and they garner a lot of votes, views and comments in a short space of time, since most entrants (and the Lush readership at large) read and comment on each other's stories while the competition window is open.
I saw on another thread that Jen ( I think) said how votes and views really matter and it's not all down to the judges. If there are 90+ stories in the competition, are the comp stories in the story picks being given an unfair advantage in terms of potential views?
Looking at some of the comp stories on that list, some of them are not even scoring that many votes or scoring an average of 5 so I'm just curious as well.
I don't have a story in this comp so I don't have an axe to grind.
Charming as fuck
Quote by carla_sunny
Are the comp stories in the story picks being given an unfair advantage in terms of potential views?
Doubt it. You need to be a member to score and I honestly don't know how much attention members pay to that list. Regardless, views are only a part.
Quote by carla_sunny
Looking at some of the comp stories on that list, some of them are not even scoring that many votes or scoring an average of 5 so I'm just curious as well.
Don't forget admins have access to who scores what and can pretty easily identify when someone deliberately down votes a story, so I wouldn't worry about that. Quality usually wins out regardless.
Quote by Jen
Don't forget admins have access to who scores what and can pretty easily identify when someone deliberately down votes a story, so I wouldn't worry about that. Quality usually wins out regardless.
This is also probably a really stupid question but what is the difference between someone deliberately downvoting a story and someone thinking a story was formulaic or cliched and voting it a lower score such as a 3 for example when others are gushing over it and giving it a 5.
Does the 3 not count and be seen as a downvote rather than someone's opinion?
How can whoever is removing the deliberate down votes tell the difference?
Her Royal Spriteness
Quote by carla_sunny
This is also probably a really stupid question but what is the difference between someone deliberately downvoting a story and someone thinking a story was formulaic or cliched and voting it a lower score such as a 3 for example when others are gushing over it and giving it a 5.
Does the 3 not count and be seen as a downvote rather than someone's opinion?
How can whoever is removing the deliberate down votes tell the difference?
if someone gives a story a 3, that's one thing. if someone gives every single story in the comp a 3, no matter the quality, it's likely downvoting. we'll leave the single 3 be while the serial 3s are likely to be removed.
You can’t truly call yourself peaceful unless you are capable of violence. If you’re not capable of violence, you’re not peaceful. You’re harmless.
Charming as fuck
Quote by carla_sunny
This is also probably a really stupid question but what is the difference between someone deliberately downvoting a story and someone thinking a story was formulaic or cliched and voting it a lower score such as a 3 for example when others are gushing over it and giving it a 5.
Does the 3 not count and be seen as a downvote rather than someone's opinion?
How can whoever is removing the deliberate down votes tell the difference?
Outside of competitions, it also depends who is being targeted. We reject the poorest stories, so really 1s and 2s shouldn't be getting published, although some won't be to people's tastes.
But if our top authors end up being targeted, the person targeting them will usually find themselves being quietly deleted. We will not stand for authors, who are the lifeblood of this site, being targeted for reasons unrelated to their actual stories.
If someone has constructive criticism then great, leave as feedback. But continual low scoring of the same authors with no feedback is generally obvious.
Quote by Jen
Outside of competitions, it also depends who is being targeted. We reject the poorest stories, so really 1s and 2s shouldn't be getting published, although some won't be to people's tastes.
This has probably been discussed somewhere else before but if 1s and 2s shouldn't be getting published, why have a scoring system from 1 to 5?
I did give one of the "top authors" a 3 for her competition story as I felt it was derivative and ripped off another author's story but I see that vote was discounted as it still has a perfect 5 score.
On that subject, is there a policy about stories being heavily inspired by another? I wouldn't say plagiarised as lines of text were not transplanted but the bones of the story were all heavily inspired.
Chatterbox Blonde- Rumps Mystical Bartender
Well I'd put it this way, if you consider 1 being so poor you'd never read it again, and a 5 being one you can't stop recommending to people you meet.
Only letting people say a story is great isn't really fair.
So they allow you the option of letting a writer know you didn't like a particular story.
Frankly if I got a one and I got actual proper feedback I'd be chuffed.
Forget the score, getting someone to actually say why they thought your story was rubbish is priceless.
Having the freedom to give someone an honest 2, because you felt their story was full of cliches, is fair critique.
Only being able to say it was good, very good or great removes that option.
It hurts to get a low score, but something even the best of us get from time to time.
It's not impossible to be inspired by a similar idea. There could be 2 authors both inspired by Kafka's story and write from the perspective of an animal.
It's also entirely possible for one of us to write a story that sends another writer down a different direction.
Though if I were to be inspired by another writer I'd send them a copy of what I wrote and ask if they wanted a co writer credit for giving me the inspiration in the first place.
I've seen a few stories where people put a writers note that "this story was inspired by X who wrote a wonder story and I used it as the basis for this one."
It seems totally fine with the powers that be. Now blatantly copying someone elses work and sticking a paragraph or two in it would get a finger wag at least.
I'd strongly recommend if you're feeling inspired reach out to your fellow writer. I love to support new writers, and if someone wanted to take one of my ideas to make their own story.
I'd love to work with them on it.
Hope that helps.
--update
If you did give someone a 3, if you put fair comments in the box I doubt they'd remove it. Just lumping a 3 and something vague is going to get it removed. If you don't like something enough to give it a 5 at least let the writer know what they could have done to get a higher score from you.
As a guide line if you want to use someone elses work either give them co writer credit or put them in the authors note so others can see where you got your idea.
Only letting people say a story is great isn't really fair.
So they allow you the option of letting a writer know you didn't like a particular story.
Frankly if I got a one and I got actual proper feedback I'd be chuffed.
Forget the score, getting someone to actually say why they thought your story was rubbish is priceless.
Having the freedom to give someone an honest 2, because you felt their story was full of cliches, is fair critique.
Only being able to say it was good, very good or great removes that option.
It hurts to get a low score, but something even the best of us get from time to time.
It's not impossible to be inspired by a similar idea. There could be 2 authors both inspired by Kafka's story and write from the perspective of an animal.
It's also entirely possible for one of us to write a story that sends another writer down a different direction.
Though if I were to be inspired by another writer I'd send them a copy of what I wrote and ask if they wanted a co writer credit for giving me the inspiration in the first place.
I've seen a few stories where people put a writers note that "this story was inspired by X who wrote a wonder story and I used it as the basis for this one."
It seems totally fine with the powers that be. Now blatantly copying someone elses work and sticking a paragraph or two in it would get a finger wag at least.
I'd strongly recommend if you're feeling inspired reach out to your fellow writer. I love to support new writers, and if someone wanted to take one of my ideas to make their own story.
I'd love to work with them on it.
Hope that helps.
--update
If you did give someone a 3, if you put fair comments in the box I doubt they'd remove it. Just lumping a 3 and something vague is going to get it removed. If you don't like something enough to give it a 5 at least let the writer know what they could have done to get a higher score from you.
As a guide line if you want to use someone elses work either give them co writer credit or put them in the authors note so others can see where you got your idea.
Whatever was posted is always meant in love and respect never to offend.
I'm also highly likely to have posted this from a phone so there may be typos or odd word changes, auto correct can be a pain.
I've been listening to my kinky pencil here's my current work
Charming as fuck
Quote by carla_sunny
This has probably been discussed somewhere else before but if 1s and 2s shouldn't be getting published, why have a scoring system from 1 to 5?
I did give one of the "top authors" a 3 for her competition story as I felt it was derivative and ripped off another author's story but I see that vote was discounted as it still has a perfect 5 score.
On that subject, is there a policy about stories being heavily inspired by another? I wouldn't say plagiarised as lines of text were not transplanted but the bones of the story were all heavily inspired.
If you think something has been plagiarised, please PM me with the details thanks.
Active Ink Slinger
For the first time ever, I have noticed a story of mine in the 'Story Picks' list. I am not saying that I have not had any there before, just never noticed it.
It is nice having a story there but I am still intrigued by how it arrives there though, who picks it?
Just curious.
Paul
It is nice having a story there but I am still intrigued by how it arrives there though, who picks it?
Just curious.
Paul
Charming as fuck
Quote by PJH
For the first time ever, I have noticed a story of mine in the 'Story Picks' list. I am not saying that I have not had any there before, just never noticed it.
It is nice having a story there but I am still intrigued by how it arrives there though, who picks it?
Just curious.
Paul
It's all of the highest scored stories for the past month sorted by number of votes. It's automated, not handpicked.
Active Ink Slinger
Quote by Jen
It's all of the highest scored stories for the past month sorted by number of votes. It's automated, not handpicked.
Thank you for this, I did not realise that it was that simple.
I had visions of a Lush Executive Committee meeting and someone saying "that PJH is a brilliant author, let's pick one of his."
Mary Poppins
I’m pretty rubbish at writing as far as grammar goes. I also never quite know, or even fully understand where all the commas go. Still, having said that, my claim to fame is being top of the charts on both sites at the same time. It only happened once. I often get low scores from people who never leave a comment. I also get some lovely comments from people who don’t leave scores. I’m just happy that some people read my stuff and enjoy it. It’s really the comments that keep me writing. When they stop, I’ll stop.
Be nice to each other
Charming as fuck
Quote by PJH
Thank you for this, I did not realise that it was that simple.
I had visions of a Lush Executive Committee meeting and someone saying "that PJH is a brilliant author, let's pick one of his."
Maybe one day. Usually we spend all our time trying to sober Nicola up and trying to persuade Sprite to put some clothes on
Active Ink Slinger
Quote by Jen
Maybe one day. Usually we spend all our time trying to sober Nicola up and trying to persuade Sprite to put some clothes on
How does someone get an invitation to one of these meetings?
Site administrator
Quote by PJH
How does someone get an invitation to one of these meetings?
You DO NOT want to attend.... trust me on this.
Her Royal Spriteness
Quote by Jen
Maybe one day. Usually we spend all our time trying to sober Nicola up and trying to persuade Sprite to put some clothes on
fuck all of you. if god had wanted people to wear clothes, we'd be born with them on. letting my freak flag fly high, babies! WOO HOO!
You can’t truly call yourself peaceful unless you are capable of violence. If you’re not capable of violence, you’re not peaceful. You’re harmless.
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Quote by sprite
fuck all of you. if god had wanted people to wear clothes, we'd be born with them on. letting my freak flag fly high, babies! WOO HOO!
While some of us
look better dressed than un, you go, girl! I got a new 128 gig camera card and I'm ready for some non-bird nature photography 