Site Administrator Myr Posted June 6, 2009 Site Administrator Posted June 6, 2009 We will be doing a writing contest soon. There will be cash prizes. Everyone that participates with qualifying entries will get a little reward. We are still finalizing the details, but here are some important things: 1) All entries will not have the author listed. (this is to prevent the big name factor) 2) Participants are not allowed to reveal to anyone, aside from their editor, which work belongs to them. 3) People who violate the anonymity of the posted works will be disqualified from the prizes. 4) you have to write something original that does not tie back into works you've already posted. (obviously, I would hope) The content will be Novella length (exact numbers still in discussion, but definitely more than 25,000 words and less than 75,000 words) It probably won't be themed. It will probably be 2 contests (general fiction and Sci-fi/fantasy) You'll probably get around 3 months to write. Thoughts?
kitten Posted June 6, 2009 Posted June 6, 2009 I like the basic idea and especially the anonymity. Presumably when the results are announced all authors will be revealed? The idea of a separate section for sci-fi/fantasy is also good. Also, it might be good not to have a sign-up sheet or any public area where people say they are considering submission. Otherwise it may be relatively easier for dedicated fans to guess which story is by their favourite author. Maybe even spellings should be standardised - not all authors spell 'favourite humour' in the same way. Or am I overthinking this? I guess the 3 months is a compromise time - just about long enough (though probably not for me!!) but not too long so writers don't forget and readers don't get tired of waiting. Kit
DragonFire Posted June 6, 2009 Posted June 6, 2009 I think it's a great idea, and agree with Kit that the anonymity adds an interesting element. As regarding the spelling, well, I concur. You can tell instantly which side of the pond you're on within the first couple of paragraphs. Saying that, it's not difficult to change the dictionary on word from proper English to American English! Like the idea for two categories as well. All I need to do now is find the time!
Site Administrator Myr Posted June 6, 2009 Author Site Administrator Posted June 6, 2009 Time is one reason I'm giving warning about this now, so you can start plotting ideas. And the Anonymity is critical, because several of the big named authors have already expressed interest in the idea and it would be horribly biased if the names were there. This way, each work has to stand on its own merit.
Kia Zi Shiru Posted June 6, 2009 Posted June 6, 2009 I like the idea, I also like the length, it might be a bit of a struggle for me but I think I can come up with some interesting idea's (and hopefully someone to help me kick my ass, but that I might try in my circle of friends).
Libby Drew Posted June 7, 2009 Posted June 7, 2009 Ooh! I love this idea, but I'm partial to "anonymous" contests/fests. Sounds like great fun!
Former Member Posted June 7, 2009 Posted June 7, 2009 I'm loving the idea...perhaps it'll be the last step I need to recommence full-time writing
kitten Posted June 7, 2009 Posted June 7, 2009 2) Participants are not allowed to reveal to anyone, aside from their editor, which work belongs to them. Will it be limited to just the single editor and no beta/zeta reader? What about those authors who apparently have large 'writing teams'? Presumably the size of the team be limted? Also, again maybe I overthink this, most authors feel more comfortable writing about places and things they are familiar with, so won't the location of the story and country-specific terms give a strong clue to the author? Kit
Libby Drew Posted June 7, 2009 Posted June 7, 2009 Will it be limited to just the single editor and no beta/zeta reader? What about those authors who apparently have large 'writing teams'? Presumably the size of the team be limted? Also, again maybe I overthink this, most authors feel more comfortable writing about places and things they are familiar with, so won't the location of the story and country-specific terms give a strong clue to the author? Kit I would hope the number of betas/editors wouldn't be limited, but I can't imagine it would be. As long as those people are tight-lipped on your project, it shouldn't be a problem. You could be right about your second point, but that's part of the fun, isn't it? One of my favorite aspects of anonymous fests is guessing who's who. Sometimes I'm right, but others...you'd be surprised how hard it can be. Jordan can probably back me up on this. I've been shocked by the "reveals" more than once. Especially if the list of people participating isn't common knowledge. Such fun!
kitten Posted June 7, 2009 Posted June 7, 2009 I would hope the number of betas/editors wouldn't be limited, but I can't imagine it would be. As long as those people are tight-lipped on your project, it shouldn't be a problem. I guess it depends on how the winner of the competition is to be decided - i.e. if it is by 'popular acclaim' voting similar to the annual Readers Awards then I think that either there should be a limit to the number in the 'writing team' or members of the team should not be allowed to vote in the competition. My reasoning for not allowing members of a large writing team to vote is that there is a good chance that most of the writing team will be fans of the author so someone with a large writing team may well start off with more votes 'in the bag' than someone with just an editor and one beta/zeta reader. Furthermore, if several authors have large writing teams then there will be a lot of people who know in advance the identity of at least one author and even if they were not biased in their votes the whole point of having anonimity of authors breaks down. This would be even more important if certain people were members of more than one writing team, because then they would know the identities of more than one author. Myr wrote: 2) Participants are not allowed to reveal to anyone, aside from their editor, which work belongs to them. An author could theoretically avoid disqualification under this rule simply by gathering together a large team of beta/zeta readers. Isn't having ten voting beta/zeta readers the same as the author telling ten potential voters that he's the author of the story? Kit An author's entry will be disqualified if Kit
Libby Drew Posted June 7, 2009 Posted June 7, 2009 I guess it depends on how the winner of the competition is to be decided - i.e. if it is by 'popular acclaim' voting similar to the annual Readers Awards then I think that either there should be a limit to the number in the 'writing team' or members of the team should not be allowed to vote in the competition. My reasoning for not allowing members of a large writing team to vote is that there is a good chance that most of the writing team will be fans of the author so someone with a large writing team may well start off with more votes 'in the bag' than someone with just an editor and one beta/zeta reader. Kit Ah. Well, that's true of course, though I've never taken part in a competition where any writers or editors are allowed to vote, so I didn't realize that would be the case here. That said, the majority of my plot builders/copy editors/betas aren't a part of this community, so that's not an issue in my case. Plus I doubt I'd feel comfortable putting a work of this length forth without having it scrutinzed with a fine tooth comb by my usual betas. It's all food for thought.
J_Ross Posted June 7, 2009 Posted June 7, 2009 (edited) I've been shocked by the "reveals" more than once. Especially if the list of people participating isn't common knowledge. I have never been right... *not ashamed* Being wrong is so much fun. An author could theoretically avoid disqualification under this rule simply by gathering together a large team of beta/zeta readers. Isn't having ten voting beta/zeta readers the same as the author telling ten potential voters that he's the author of the story? I hadn't even thought of that. The contests/fests I've participated in have always been less about the winning (LIES) and more about the fun. *shrug* Maybe a good way to avoid this would be to make your writing team known before you write? I disagree with a limit because there are people that have a dedicated group of people that work on everything they write, and would only be comfortable posting their writing after having it go through those. I wouldn't be opposed to having those that worked on anything I wrote not voting for ME in particular, but I don't think they should be excluded, because it's entirely likely they'll find something they liked more. I don't know. I don't think it'd be a good idea to keep sign ups private. Or, if you do, I think it'd be a good idea to maybe list those authors that are participating publicly, for people to see. It would help, I think, with bringing in readers. Readers who are already fans of one author come in, looking for their 'favorite' and while doing so, find someone else they like. Read someone's writing they wouldn't have normally read. This is why I love anonymous fests. I have a group of authors that I stick to because it's easiest for me, but I LOVE finding new authors. I just don't have the time to go looking. So, when I know an author I love is participating in a fest, I end up reading quite a bit more than I normally would looking for that authors contribution because I love everything I've read by that particular author and I can't WAIT for something new. In the process, I always end up finding a couple new authors to follow. That's actually how I found Libby's fic. Also, guessing? It's fun, especially if you follow more than one of the authors participating. Really, though, I think it'd be a good idea to use whatever big names you have to bring in the readers. Tell the readers their favorite authors are participating so they'll come in and tear through the stories looking for their favorite author. Just a suggestion. AND one more. I don't know how it is here as well as I know LJ, but I do know that some authors can be identified by their editors. Maybe it'd be a good idea to leave their names off until the reveals as well. However it's done, I look forward to it! Edited June 7, 2009 by J.Ross
Kia Zi Shiru Posted June 7, 2009 Posted June 7, 2009 (edited) I'm trying to get around the editor/beta-reader thing by probably asking some of my usual fans and some of my friends to look at my stuff.... And shopping can be good for more than one thing, I just got an idea for my entry another forum I hang around a lot usually has 1 person who has a list of all the authors that participate, so maybe the authors can send a list of their beta/zeta/editors and afterwards the same person can do the counting of the votes, or the people on the list just have to be very honest.... Edited June 7, 2009 by Kia Zi Shiru
Libby Drew Posted June 7, 2009 Posted June 7, 2009 I have never been right... *not ashamed* Being wrong is so much fun. However it's done, I look forward to it! Being wrong is fun, and says a lot about being a reader/writer in general, I think. I always believed I'd be able to spot my favorite authors a mile away. It wasn't as easy as it seemed! You looking forward to it...that means you're doing it, right?
Site Moderator TalonRider Posted June 7, 2009 Site Moderator Posted June 7, 2009 I'm happy to see this is being well received. As Myr stated earlier, we, the Admin Team, still have some things to discuss. some of which you've brought up. I'm guessing that when we finalize our discussions, a full list of rules will be posted. As far as the voting goes, Myr has a program that will be used for this so it will be different from the way the Writers Support Team handles the Readers Choice Awards.
David McLeod Posted June 7, 2009 Posted June 7, 2009 National Novel Writing Month (www.nanowrimo.org) challenges people to write a 50,000 word novel in one month. A lot of people do it, and some have made it big time. Go for it! (I do not know why the text turned green.)
Phantom Posted June 7, 2009 Posted June 7, 2009 I can't wait! I have a good idea or two that I can use
J_Ross Posted June 7, 2009 Posted June 7, 2009 Being wrong is fun, and says a lot about being a reader/writer in general, I think. I always believed I'd be able to spot my favorite authors a mile away. It wasn't as easy as it seemed! I know, right? There are a couple people who've got really distinctive writing styles/voices and I'd swear up and down I'd know them ANYWHERE after just a short paragraph. Not that easy. I'd have sworn, recently that one of my favorite authors wrote a fic that I'd been fawning over relentlessly, only to find that the actual author was totally new to fandom and the fest fic was her first fic. It was all kinds of awesome. For me. You looking forward to it...that means you're doing it, right? Oh, come on, you know you want to. I was thinking about it. I'd like to, I've never participated in a contest/fest for original writing but I think it really depends on when it starts...ends. You know I'm probably lying, right. I'm pretty sure I'm in. *headdesk*
Libby Drew Posted June 7, 2009 Posted June 7, 2009 I know, right? There are a couple people who've got really distinctive writing styles/voices and I'd swear up and down I'd know them ANYWHERE after just a short paragraph. Not that easy. I'd have sworn, recently that one of my favorite authors wrote a fic that I'd been fawning over relentlessly, only to find that the actual author was totally new to fandom and the fest fic was her first fic. It was all kinds of awesome. For me. Oh, come on, you know you want to. I was thinking about it. I'd like to, I've never participated in a contest/fest for original writing but I think it really depends on when it starts...ends. You know I'm probably lying, right. I'm pretty sure I'm in. *headdesk* I'm under the gun on another editorial deadline, and these next two months are crucial. So, of course, yeah...I'm totally in. (You know me -- a total sucker for anon fests.)
Site Administrator Myr Posted June 8, 2009 Author Site Administrator Posted June 8, 2009 Our main concern with this, since money will be involved, is having the works judged by the work itself, and not because a whisper campaign started saying vote for this story... X wrote it. (Insert the name of a popular author here at GA at X) Granted, some styles will stand out. but some could surprise you. I've seen some things by authors that you'd swear were nothing like anything else they wrote. We will probably allow a beta reader. Under the understanding that if it becomes public knowledge who wrote what, you'll be disqualified from winning anything. Details are still being discussed. Myr
BeaStKid Posted June 8, 2009 Posted June 8, 2009 I will surely be interested. Considering that most of my team is off-site, I don't think there should be any problem. Only my editor is on-site...
Myk Posted June 9, 2009 Posted June 9, 2009 There are lots of solutions to the problems listed, give the admin team time to work that out. Obviously they now know there is interest, which I'm assuming was the reason for this thread. I think this is a great idea...its something that hasn't been done here before. Personally I think it would be cool to have a sort of 'judges panel' or committee to review the stories. That is not to say I think there should not be a place for members to vote, but that for numerous reasons it would be very practical/fun to have a sort of expet's review of the stories. Plus authors always love more comments
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