I was a senior story moderator for more than two years and burned out. I think that many of you have no idea of how difficult the work is, even when stories are good. There are stories submitted that seem to be random thoughts poorly spelled with no punctuation at all, just a mass of words. It makes your eyes hurt to try to read that even if you know you will reject it. You have to provide the writer with a list of things to do to improve it. Another thing that we do not talk about much is the number of stories that cannot see the light of day because the content is so far over the line - violence, , sex with underage participants, and/or other noxious elements. You feel like taking a shower or being sick after reading something like that and have to take steps to deal with the person who submitted such dross to the site.
So, finding a story that shines is worthy of an RR if you are a moderator. It stands to reason that those capable of quality writing should continue to receive them, just like someone with a high batting average continues to hit in baseball. The only caveat is an obvious one. Choices are subject to the personal taste of the moderator. That is the world of writing. Not everyone likes everything.
To say that the system is corrupt and subject to cronyism is offensive and an insult to story moderators and the hours of work they do gratis. As Buz said, if you want an RR, submit quality writing, and to do that you have to work at it and learn. This is not like children's sports where you get a trophy for showing up.
Changing the topic just a bit...
If we could focus on RRs as recommendations rather than accolades...
Then I think it would make a lot of sense to sort RRs in the RR menu tab by when the RR was awarded, and not by when the story was approved. For stories that get the nod well after the moment of initial approval, the RR doesn't do much except serve as a pat on the back for the author.
For anyone using that tab to find new stories to read, it's not all that helpful if the freshly awarded RR is buried way down in that page or even on the second page.
E.g. Story gets approved without an RR. I don't happen to see it because umpteen stories get approved every day. 3 weeks later a mod reads it and gives it an RR. Great for the author. But that recommendation is essentially invisible to the general readership of the site. How am I as a reader to know about this recommendation?
I definitely use RRs as a guide for discovering new authors. They are in fact recommendations. I'd like to miss fewer of them.
I have a handful of RRs and I have to say that I am extremely proud of them.
Although, I have considered that some of my musings are superb, I also recognise that some are most definitely not. The thing is, what seems great to me (because of how I look at the stories) may not be any good as a story to the rest of the community. I have been pretty upset at the response to some of my work that I felt was clever. Now, that may be because they are crap, and that's fine. Not everyone has the same connection to a story. If everyone thought like me, I would be famous.
I have worked hard to get those RR's but I cannot say whether they were deserved or not. A moderator obviously saw something in them, and for that, I thank them.
I agree with most RRs, and I always try to read them - because I want to improve. Though I also think that there is something good in every story - something to learn from. I want to be able to write a story so that every one of them gets an RR and hopefully, one day an EP will pop up. I have been here 5 years, written over 140 stories and have about 6 or 7 RRs, but that's fine. I am trying to be serious about how I write though. I like uncertainty, nervousness, brazenness and things like that.
I tend to submit stories now and ask for comments from the moderator as to why they did not award an RR. Not because I am arrogant, though it can come across like that I guess, but because I want to understand why it doesn't float their boat. What's missing? What haven't I done? Is the story that boring? I want to know Why?
Some moderators ignore my request completely, I wish they wouldn't as it doesn't help me in the long run, but other's do try and critique it. I know they have a lot to get through but for someone serious they should make the effort. To be honest, I am more than happy for a moderator to take my stories apart and tell me how crap they are, providing they know (100%) what they are talking about. I am also prepared to take that from people who have an opinion of what they thought was wrong with my stories.
Can there be a policy for moderators that, if asked why a story fails to get an RR, they respond truthfully. For me, that would not hurt my feelings at all. I would start to understand what is required.
I used to be a pervert. In here, I'm normal!
Watch this space...She is really - cumming soon!
This is not complicated. Some more accomplished authors get more awards than other's because they are putting out quality work. Every author thinks his or her writing is worthy, but that just isn't so. I leave my older work up to remind me of the progression I've made. I know there are miles to go yet.
The mods do their best to single out the outstanding work. There is more than grammar and syntax in play. It must have a original memorable story line, good character development and a well designed conclusion. I read stories that I think we're outstanding that if it were up to me, I'd give an RR. However, it is subjective for each mod to to develope their own criteria. I personally think the mods do a great job.
Thanks for civil discussion, good to see tough subject treated with discussion, not idiocy by most of you. As for mediocre writing, next time I cash my check for the words I put together, I will laugh just a bit. 99% of those writing do it for free, so my validation can be put in the bank lol....
provided because this seems to be a sensitive subject and I am going to comment because I am a sensitive person. I have submitted and had verified/posted seven stories. All have received over 15 comments, some twice that. Five of them have average scores of 5, the other two have an average score of 4.97 and 4.95. None of them are recommended reads...nor do I give a rats ass (actually I don’t have a rat so I can’t). 
