I was thinking as I saw the recent competition winners, runner-ups and top ten story competitors announced. Might I suggest, as a way to encourage "rookie" writers to step out of their comfort zone and write a competition story, that in addition to winner, second place, third place and runner-up announcements, that the judges also nominate a first-time competition writer as an honorable mention. Sure, their writing wasn't good enough to break the "glass ceiling," but I believe many aspiring writers never try or give up because they believe they're not good writers. Just a thought...
I'm NOT suggestion any new badges; just a First-time competitor honor mention just for trying. It wouldn't even have to be every competition (although I think it would be great if it was). It could take the form of something like "Rookie of the Year" award given to the best first-year athlete. So it could be to a rookie writer that exhibited the best writing for a year in a competition. They wouldn't have to enter every competition either. Just a bit of encouragement to a writer that shows promise and just needs to hone his or her skills to become truly competitive.
I just know more than a few writers who won't enter a competition because they believe it isn't worth their time. A defeatist attitude to be sure. But like I said, I was thinking of a way to encourage more people to write and more people to write in a competition. This was my first competition. I had no expectations. I know there are just too many more experienced and tremendously better writers than I'll ever be. But I was just thinking of a way to give a bone sort of speak to the best rookie (i.e., first time contestant). It would be a one-time shot... just like professional sports. A Lush competition equivalent to Rookie of the Year in professional sports. A first-time writer who took the risk to write and enter a competition. Being relatively inexperienced in competitions (this was my first entry although I had started four stories before), I know it takes even more courage to step out (especially if the competition theme is not "you") of your comfort zone and write something in a competition. Like I said, not a badge or anything, but just to let a rookie writer in a competition hey, we (the judges) did notice you and keep trying - you've got potential. You know, under the runner-up list, it could Rookie Writer "honorable mention." A way to encourage a new writer to keep trying.
My brief thoughts, I have some sympathy with Meagananne1986, the only downside of the competitions is that you can feel the absence of feedback. I know that in my first competition entry last December I wondered how to understand the results.
Getting an RR outside the top 10 helped (I have chosen to see that as 11th, smiles,) so maybe the idea of rookie awards has merit. Though was I truly a rookie even then? Have published about 8 stories elsewhere and a handful here before the competition.
To be honest I adore the competitions and have felt like the competitions are the thing that is improving my writing and letting me enjoy new writers. Every competition I have been introduced to people I haven't read before and every competition there are stories I adore out side the top 10. Sometimes I think oh that story should be rated higher, but the lovely thing about this site is it is relatively bias free.
And although I still think of myself as a bit of a rookie when it comes to competitions, well I am still in my rookie year, I have loved the feedback, the increasing number of good authors who comment on my work and the sense of progress with placings, apart from the Notorious story, of 11th, 10th, 7th, and 5th.
The observant amongst you will have noticed I left one off that list. Oxford Street won the Pride competition which was the most wonderful support my writing had ever had. I would have truly loathed it if there had been restrictions on who could have entered that competition. This isn't a horse race which needs handicapping, it needs to be a true challenge.
And in particular I would expect mods who enter to do well, as I hope (and it has been my experience) mods are selected as they can write.
Please don't go changing too much, but I do think some mechanism of feedback to newer writers is good.
I like the idea of encouraging newer writers in some way but not through a Comp. Many of the talented writers here work hard at their craft and a competition should be just that. Life is a challenge, writing should be too.
Mods should not be barred, see above.
I like the idea of winners stepping aside for the next Comp. I think a lot already do this anyway.
I'm still waiting for the Canada themed Comp. What would fit better for Xmas? We do own the North Pole.
What about a comp that's just for the mods at some point?
With judges that aren't mods?
It would be interesting and fun ( I think )
Some of these ideas have been bounced around in the past. The bone of contention in each case I believe was that it is unfair to exclude anyone (except judges obviously) from any competition. Mods are just normal members who volunteer to help verify stories or look after the forum/chatrooms, why should they be excluded from anything?
With regards to providing detailed critiques of entries, that would be a monumental undertaking. Judges would have to submit notes on each story they read, then those would have to be collated and rewritten into something meaningful for each entry. None of this is needed in the current process so would be a lot of extra work.
With regard to competition rules, any that apply are posted on the competition page itself.
I don't enter every competition and, even recently, have had entries not even make the top 10. Nothing technically wrong with the writing, just didn't fit or was eclipsed by other great entries. There are no guarantees.
As sprite says, it's not about being in the club it's about the merit of each story and how it fits the theme of the comp. A lot of thought goes on behind the scenes to pick topics that will challenge writers and produce a variety of imaginative entries. That was demonstrated beautifully in the Horrorween competiton where it wasn't all blood and gore. We had zombies, vampires, werewolves, ghosts, gargoyles, spells, magic, mystery, history, steampunk, intrigue... and trees!
Excluding one group or another wouldn't be my first choice to celebrate the diverse nature of authors' imagination in our competitions, but neither am I averse to a no-mod (bearing in mind there are people who have been mods and are still active storytellers... are they excluded too? And what about people who make another account to appear "rookie"? Tricky to make a level playing field) or all-mod (judged by a select panel of non-mods) competition. The latter might be a lot of fun, and give the judging panel a break.
Please browse my digital bookshelf. In this collection, you can find 116 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.
You're right, I didn't think it through and wandered off-topic. It's a daft idea. Ignore me!
Please browse my digital bookshelf. In this collection, you can find 116 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.
