2006 Survivor Literotica: Planning & Plotting

[LuciousBi-Writes4U]

I agree whole heartedly with the idea of not allowing past winners to compete again. Maybe the ban doesn't have to be forever, but at least for a year or two. Just like in holiday contests, the winner isn't allowed to win another contest for six months- makes it fair for everyone.

I think there needs to be a maximum number of points that can be earned by immunizations. Because I gotta tell you, as someone who only won one all year, it would really piss me off to fall behind someone in points if most of their points came from immunizations.

I also think it would be really great if bonus points or a bonus immunization or something could be earned for having a certain number of H's. Quality writing really ought to be awarded, at least to a degree.

Overall, I think the set up for Survivor is awesome and y'all have done a fantastic job with it.

I agree, the top (1st place winner) should have to sit out the next year...but only one year! I think that gives other people a little bit of a boost. if we all think that the same people are going to win each year then why bother competing at all right???
CHEERS AND GOOD LUCK ALL IN THE FINAL ROUNDS!!!


BUT i don't agree with the max number of points for Immunization...a lot of us don't even use them. or only use a portion of what we get...you don't have to use them, it is a free choice thing!

 

[LuciousBi-Writes4U]

What I mean is that it looks as if some of the writers participating in Survivor more or less make it an extracurricular career out of writing stories for Survivor; "Abigail Adams' Anal Adventure, ch.1-34", "Bondage in Betty's Boudoir", etc.
Those of us who write as a hobby can never compete with that. It separates us into two groups - hobby writers, who write when they have time and inspiration; and Proffesional, Elite writers, who spew out a few stories a day.

Like I said, I will probably not compete next year. It's no fun anymore, because it feels like I'm walking on foot in a race against someone on a Harley.

BUT... there are those of us who write for a living...and we shouldn't be penalized for it either! this site is all about being a place to find and discover your talent and the talen of other new writers and poets and artists... I started the survivor contest as a joke and hobby to my normal erotic writing on a daily basis...and LOL I have loved it in the end...first time i have competed and i am in 7th...who would have thought! besides...I run three businesses and raise a 3yr old full time while trying to write and run the businesses I AM the day care! LOL and I have managed it...if you enjoy the contest enough you'll make the time to write in it no matter how busy you are!

 

[vic_elor]

Wow, 30 Lit pages eh?
My longest multichapter endeavour clocks in around 15 lit pages, and to me that seems HUGE.
Of course I have a short attention span.

(Ooooh a shiny rock!)

there is a lot of room for fudging so you could count it as a novela.... literal pages are a better measure the literotica pages any how.

 

[JamesSD]

BUT i don't agree with the max number of points for Immunization...a lot of us don't even use them. or only use a portion of what we get...you don't have to use them, it is a free choice thing!

You're writing from your perspective at the top of the scoreboard, where you've got most of the categories filled.

I would have had to have won at least 9 immunities to even consider not using one. I'm in 20th, and filled all of 14 categories (13 with stories, 1 with immunity).

The proposed rule doesn't affect anyone who would choose not to use immunities. It does prevent someone from relying too heavily for immunities for their score (although when it comes to the prizes I'd imagine this is a non-issue)

 

[Svenskaflicka]

BUT... there are those of us who write for a living...and we shouldn't be penalized for it either! this site is all about being a place to find and discover your talent and the talen of other new writers and poets and artists... I started the survivor contest as a joke and hobby to my normal erotic writing on a daily basis...and LOL I have loved it in the end...first time i have competed and i am in 7th...who would have thought! besides...I run three businesses and raise a 3yr old full time while trying to write and run the businesses I AM the day care! LOL and I have managed it...if you enjoy the contest enough you'll make the time to write in it no matter how busy you are!

I'm quoting Lauren Hynde's FAQ here:

The objective of the contest is to write as many new and original stories in as many different categories listed on the main story index in the course of the year as possible

As many new and original stories... that doesn't rhyme with "Story One, chapters 1-47" to me. That's what I'm against. I think it's against the spirit of the contest to just go on and on with the same story instead of coming up with new fresh ideas for new stories. It's that factory-made feel I get from seeing 40+ chapters of the same story that i don't like. That makes me think of someone who spews out variations of the same theme instead of coming up with something new.

What I'm trying to say, although I seem to be unclear, is that this contest is focusing so much on quantity that the quality of the stories is dropping fast. It makes me feel as if I'm wasting my time spending time and energy to come up with new ideas all the time, if I'm to be beaten by loads of stories where the author seems to have been writing not a story but a bunch of chapters whose only goal is to have 750 words, so they'll equal another point. That's not a story! A story has a beginning, a middle, an end, and if it is a chapter in a longer story, it belongs in Novels & Novellas and nowhere else, and there each chapter should be a vital part of understanding the rest of the story.

I've tried to argue about the dropping quality of stories in earlier survivor contests, but I've always been met with "GOOD authors will make sure to write quality, not quantity, so there's nothing we need to worry about" - but what if the authors aren't good? What if they prefer writing loads of crap instead of well-plotted stories with a good language? If you get away with it, and is rewarded by nicer prizes for it, then why would you care about quality at all?

 

[Guest]

I've written something about three times and started over because I don't want to offend by what I have written.

Svenska, the top placed writers have many H's on their stories, so the quality argument doesn't necessarily hold water. Yes, I have some stories that have missed the mark, but the majority of my stories are over 4.00 and close to half of those that have voting enabled have H's. I'd say that's not crap.

Goldeniangel has a huge number of H's on her stories. Again, one of the top placers and not crap.

Velvetpie, I believe had voting disabled on her stories to begin with (though I could be wrong.) I'm not sure how many of her H's are from this year, but I know she has a good amount dotting her profile.

Boxlicker does as well, and he's slotted as fifth at the moment.

I hear complaining about quality (and Svenska isn't the only one who has metioned it) and yet the readers seem to think these authors write "good" stories, plus some of them have won a few monthly category nominations.

As far as chaptered stories go... they are allowed for all other authors on Literotica so there is no reason why they should be banned for survivorphiles. That's a double standard. The rules have always been that stories submitted follow Literotica guidelines. As long as they fit the submission criteria, have erotic content if they are in an erotic category, or relate directly to the category they are in (like celebrities, nonhuman, etc.), then there is no reason for them not to count, whether they are chapters or not.

Personally, it's just a difficult for me in some cases to add a chapter to an existing story than it is to come up with a new idea. Between the story ideas forum, my friends, and other venues, story ideas aren't really that hard to come by.


In my opinion, what a lot of this boils down to is time. Some people just have more time to devote to writing than others.

 

[geronimo_appleby]

no! not another year on the survivor!

 

[Svenskaflicka]

I've written something about three times and started over because I don't want to offend by what I have written.

Svenska, the top placed writers have many H's on their stories, so the quality argument doesn't necessarily hold water. Yes, I have some stories that have missed the mark, but the majority of my stories are over 4.00 and close to half of those that have voting enabled have H's. I'd say that's not crap.

Goldeniangel has a huge number of H's on her stories. Again, one of the top placers and not crap.

Velvetpie, I believe had voting disabled on her stories to begin with (though I could be wrong.) I'm not sure how many of her H's are from this year, but I know she has a good amount dotting her profile.

Boxlicker does as well, and he's slotted as fifth at the moment.

I hear complaining about quality (and Svenska isn't the only one who has metioned it) and yet the readers seem to think these authors write "good" stories, plus some of them have won a few monthly category nominations.

As far as chaptered stories go... they are allowed for all other authors on Literotica so there is no reason why they should be banned for survivorphiles. That's a double standard. The rules have always been that stories submitted follow Literotica guidelines. As long as they fit the submission criteria, have erotic content if they are in an erotic category, or relate directly to the category they are in (like celebrities, nonhuman, etc.), then there is no reason for them not to count, whether they are chapters or not.

Personally, it's just a difficult for me in some cases to add a chapter to an existing story than it is to come up with a new idea. Between the story ideas forum, my friends, and other venues, story ideas aren't really that hard to come by.


In my opinion, what a lot of this boils down to is time. Some people just have more time to devote to writing than others.

I don't think an H means that the story is GOOD, it just means that it is popular. However, discussing "what IS quality?" would take us ages, and I don't care that much about this. I used to, but not anymore.
When there was a chance to win, if you worked hard enough, this contest was fun. Like, when you had number one at 230 points at number two at 210, and you knew, that just MAYBE you could make a final effort to win... As it is now, we have the leading writer at 600+ points - 600+!!!
Is there ANY way I can explain to you why this is making a lot of people say "what's the point?" without you waving me aside with a "oh, never mind, she's just jealous!"?
I used a comparison earlier about a person on foot trying to race with someone riding a Harley. But, I'll step out of this discussion now, before anyone says something "insightful" like "well, why don't you get yourself a Harley, then?"

Like I said, I seriously doubt I'll enter Survivor next year. It's lost that feel of amateur challenge that made it fun.

 

[velvetpie]

I don't think an H means that the story is GOOD, it just means that it is popular.

You must not have any. An H does not just mean that it's popular; it also means that it's good.

When there was a chance to win, if you worked hard enough, this contest was fun. Like, when you had number one at 230 points at number two at 210, and you knew, that just MAYBE you could make a final effort to win... As it is now, we have the leading writer at 600+ points - 600+!!!
Is there ANY way I can explain to you why this is making a lot of people say "what's the point?" without you waving me aside with a "oh, never mind, she's just jealous!"?

No, it just sour grapes again. Those of us that are participating in the contest have worked our asses off too hard for some jealous, incapable writer to come along and say that just because we have achieved high scores, the contest isn't 'fun' anymore.

Like I said, I seriously doubt I'll enter Survivor next year. It's lost that feel of amateur challenge that made it fun.

That's your choice. There will no doubt be plenty of writers that have the mettle to try to win this contest without your participation. You should quit your bellyaching, get over your jealousy and just write!

 

[cloudy]

You must not have any. An H does not just mean that it's popular; it also means that it's good.

No, it just sour grapes again. Those of us that are participating in the contest have worked our asses off too hard for some jealous, incapable writer to come along and say that just because we have achieved high scores, the contest isn't 'fun' anymore.

That's your choice. There will no doubt be plenty of writers that have the mettle to try to win this contest without your participation. You should quit your bellyaching, get over your jealousy and just write!

This was just rude, and uncalled for.

Her thoughts are just as valid as anyone else's, and there was absolutely no reason to be as insulting as you have been.

 

[LuciousBi-Writes4U]

This was just rude, and uncalled for.

Her thoughts are just as valid as anyone else's, and there was absolutely no reason to be as insulting as you have been.

You said it Cloudy.... this is my first year at Literotica at all. and i was in survivor and out of 72 submissions i have 26 H's and if the poetry votes were change from 10 down to 5 to get an H i'd have 20 more H's...we poets may get read a little but no one bothers to vote! LOL

here's my weigh in on all the little bitching points just the way i sent them to Laurel herself!



I have left some things in the discussion field about the major ideas people have suggested.

I like all of the scoring and stuff as is except...I messed up this year and didn't understand that using an immunity closed down that category...and i think that should be changed. for those of us that are real contenders getting a 2 in a category only really adds up to being allowed to skip writing one story in that category for that week.

I think 1 immunity per-category but it doesn't close that category so we can still use that category to get our 10 pt bonuses would be more fair...and more fun...and that is why we are in this...for the fun and the competition!

the Immunity questions floating around...unlimited...you don't have to use them or even sign up for a number if you don't want to...they are just a tool of the game! Everyone needs to quit belly aching like two yr olds! LOL i got two i never even used! LOL
and the number can be changed at anytime...that is asa fair and random as you can get!

Being really into poetry I would like to see you extend the cap to 20 with a 5 pt bonus for 10 done and an additional 10 pts for having 20...poerty is a lot more of a challenge for some of us...

the H factor...i say 1 additional pt for each story that hits an H...added when the H hits and then it doesn't matter that they come and go! I currently have 31 out of 72 submissions and there were others that hit for a while but have lost some over the year...

oh and in general for the whole of literotica normal submissions and survivor contest stuff...we poets don't get as many votes...even if people read they don't vote often...i think the requirement for the H needs to be dropped for all poerty categories to 5 votes to get an H if so I would have 20 more poems with H's on them right now!! and yes...to me the H's say I'm a decent writer especially since i am new here and don't have a popularity pool llike vix and velvet and brightly do... so i do judge my skills by the H's!!

my buddy goldeniangel and I have had a slew of them this past year... and i don't care what anyone says...being able to write this prolifically and do it with the highest of quality is indeed a rare talent that we should be rewarded for...plus having people like us at the top of the scoreboard helps to NEGATE all the winning about survivors not submitting Quality works! You know there has been plenty said about that already!


oh, and 1 last thing winning survivors should not be eligible to win for the following year, but can participate with out scoring if they'd like...just to keep there bonds and affiliations with other survovirvilles. i definetly don't think they should have to sit out more than 2 yrs...

and the Hall of Fame is a great idea...even if we let them continue to compete in later years! anyone who writes this much should be honored for it and the prizes are bonuses for those of us who really care about how and what we write so to be put on a pedastal for all to see in a hall of fame would be greatly gratifying!

let me know when you set up the sign up link for 2006...I want in from minute1 this year!!


it was my first year in the contest and i loved it!
hell...it was my first year at literotica...I just found you guys last november...and I love this place!!

And for the boards here...I am not going to get petty or argue with anyone...you may or may not like my opinions or suggestions...but hteir mine...you don't have to! LOL so don't bother butting nasty negative feedback behind this post...if you disagree for a valid reason then post it...other wise... ya know...don't waste time or board space!

I am not here to be popular...and i'm not i know only the survivors and people i met through my chain stories this year...so if you are me and you have the number of H's i have...it isn't becuase people just see your name and vote 5 without even reading it!! IT IS BECUASE I WORK HARD AND POUR ALL I HAVE INTO EVERY ONE OF MY STORIES!!

Ocassionally one misses...but for the most part...I've done very well having only a few things below 4.50. I think that's becuase i read and enjoy listening to the feedback from other members and readers on what can be improved, what they like the most about the stories etc.

Any way.... let's all be good sports this year and have a fun and competitve contest!

see you all in Survivor 2006!!

 

[velvetpie]

This was just rude, and uncalled for.

Her thoughts are just as valid as anyone else's, and there was absolutely no reason to be as insulting as you have been.

Can't help responding to someone who has been as insulting toward myself and other writers on this site as she has been. You missed her opening salvo. I believe that Lauren has removed it.

My thoughts are also as valid.

 

[Guest]

This first part is directed to what Lucious posted. If you can still write in a category after using an immunity for it... then there is no reason to have immunities in the first place. Immmunities are there for people to use for a category they can't or won't write in (like audio, illustrated, or one that doesn't appeal to them.)

H's are too arbitrary to award points for... this had been bandied about for more than this year and the conclusion has always been the same. It's not a fair way to award points. Especially considering how easy you can lose one. Case in point... I had a troll who relentlessly bombed my stories and left nasty pcs back in the summer. Some of my scores never recovered totally even though Laurel was really good about doing sweeps.

Also, for most of my audio stories and illustrated stories, I've turned off voting. That crowd seems to be looking for something specific and my stuff isn't it, which I learned early on and stopped turning on voting. I suspect my illustrated ones get voted down because I'm a BBW. I'd just about bet if they were in another category without the pic, the ones which had scoring on would have quite a bit higher score. It also seems on audio that unless you're scripting and recording masturbating to an orgasm, you aren't going to score very high. While there may be a few actual stories that are (like bearlee's stuff), from what I've seen it takes having "mic sex" to get the good scores. I know that was kind of rambling, but it's an example of how arbitrary H's can be, and I didn't even get into the whole Loving Wives controversy.

As far as popularity goes... I haven't been around (with this name) any longer than you have. While, yes, this name is an alt, it was kept a secret as to my regular identity until recently. So I've built my readership the same way everyone else has... by submitting stories. I don't have a mailing list or an author's group, and I don't drum up readers by going to the story feedback forum. Even my fans point out when I write a clunker (which does happen), and I'd hope they vote accordingly. Considering I do have scores under 4.00 (though the majority are at or above), I'd say they aren't just voting 5s without reading the story.

Okay, hopefully that was kept polite and on point. The last thing I want to do is offend anyone.

On a last note... once again, can we try and keep this thread from degrading into a name calling, personal attack, flame war? Whether you agree with what someone says or not, there are ways of phrasing it without coming across as insulting and rude.

 

[cloudy]

Can't help responding to someone who has been as insulting toward myself and other writers on this site as she has been. You missed her opening salvo. I believe that Lauren has removed it.

My thoughts are also as valid.

I never said they weren't, because, as you point out, they are.

I may have missed something she said, granted. So, that's a reason for you to be bitchy?

I was taught differently. I don't have to put others down to make myself feel good. To each his own.

*shrug*

 

[velvetpie]

I never said they weren't, because, as you point out, they are.

I may have missed something she said, granted. So, that's a reason for you to be bitchy?

I was taught differently. I don't have to put others down to make myself feel good. To each his own.

*shrug*

Oh, please. Achievement does not equal bitch. I, too, was taught differently. I also don't have to put others down to make myself feel good, but I will not allow someone to downgrade or degrade the hard work that we have put in this year.

Sorry if you construe that as being 'bitchy' but as you pointed out ... to each his or her own.

 

[cloudy]

Oh, please. Achievement does not equal bitch. I, too, was taught differently. I also don't have to put others down to make myself feel good, but I will not allow someone to downgrade or degrade the hard work that we have put in this year.

Sorry if you construe that as being 'bitchy' but as you pointed out ... to each his or her own.

oh, meow.

 

[Guest]

I think that at least quality should be a factor but will we have writers one bombing each other? It's a vicious cycle.

And that's exactly a reason why there shouldn't be any points awarded for quality. There are way too many troll attacks as it is without having to worry about other survivor contestants bombing you into oblivion because they don't want you getting those extra points.

And don't anyone say, "oh no one would do that"... Oh yes, they would.

I think one of the reasons this contest was created was to encourage more stories to be submitted. It's certainly done that. Regardless of whether the contest was around or not, you'd still have the authors who prefer the short, stroke type story and then the ones who prefer the more lengthy plot developed ones... just as you have readers with the same preferences.

You start adding word count averages, etc to the contest and you end up punishing certain authors just because they prefer to write stroke. Since the site itself allows a minimum word count of 750, why is everyone complaining about people writing "short" stories? You can write a short story, and it be a good one. Yes, it's probably going to be of the stroke variety, but it can still be good.

I'm proud to say that out of my 300+ sumbissions, only 17 have dipped below a 4.00 in ratings and close to half of the ones above 4 are above a 4.5. I'm happy with that. I know that goldeniangel's stats are probably even better. I think those statistics pretty much say that although we have been prolific, we've still produced quality work. Which is why I don't understand why we still have the bitching about quality.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

In Survivor, nothing can possibly be done to award extra points to stories or poems with higher ratings. There simply is no way to keep track of it. Even if there were, all the other contests at Literotica are based on high ratings. Survivor is the one contest where, by definition, it doesn't matter. It's not what this particular contest is about. Quality control is assured by Laurel when she approves or rejects the stories submitted.

Nothing can possibly be done to control word counts, either. This year, there were 2817 submissions made by Survivor contestants so far. The only way to do a word count would be to copy and paste the content of each of those submissions into a word processor individually. The enormity of the task alone makes it impossible for one or two moderators.

 

[Guest]

I like solutions that are black and white. Where do I sign up for 2006 Survivor?!?

I'm sure there'll be a sign-up thread starting soon since 2006's contest starts on the 2nd.

 

[sweetnpetite]

BUT i don't agree with the max number of points for Immunization...a lot of us don't even use them. or only use a portion of what we get...you don't have to use them, it is a free choice thing!

I also do not think that there should be a max number for Imunities. Immunities are optional, and they are a boost, but also a handicap. I don't see how you could win by getting all immunities. They limit your points total in that entire category to 2. You can't get the minimum story amount in that category and you can't get the max, you can't get the story bonus in that category either. It's better to write a story in each cat than to get an immunity in each cat.

BTW- Immunities already don't count for category bonus do they? (doesn't a category only count as 'filled' if it's got a story in it) If they do, I need to recount my score.

 

[Guest]

I also do not think that there should be a max number for Imunities. Immunities are optional, and they are a boost, but also a handicap. I don't see how you could win by getting all immunities. They limit your points total in that entire category to 2. You can't get the minimum story amount in that category and you can't get the max, you can't get the story bonus in that category either. It's better to write a story in each cat than to get an immunity in each cat.

BTW- Immunities already don't count for category bonus do they? (doesn't a category only count as 'filled' if it's got a story in it) If they do, I need to recount my score.

Yes, for the how many categories bonuses at the end of the scorecard, I do believe immunities count. You might want to ask Lauren in the FAQ or immunity thread to be sure.

 

[sweetnpetite]

Yes, for the how many categories bonuses at the end of the scorecard, I do believe immunities count. You might want to ask Lauren in the FAQ or immunity thread to be sure.

wow, that's cool.

who's in the top 15 now and how long to we have to update our score cards?

 

[Guest]

how long to we have to update our score cards?

The rules say:

Entrants have until midnight Pacific Standard Time on 1/4/2006 to make any changes to prior month scores

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Where do I sign up for 2006 Survivor?!?

I'll put the registration thread up today.

 

[damppanties]

And that is your view and opinion... which you're entitled to. Authors use that category for not only longer stories but also series that could fit into multiple categories.

Have you even looked at that category? Many authors also chose to split their novels/novellas into chapters. In fact, the majority of the stories in that category are submitted by chapters. It's not just Survivor authors that do it. There's no way I'd ever submit a story even 10,000 words long in one piece (in survivor or otherwise). It's just too long to read at one sitting on the computer.

By the way... even if the rule was changed as you request... it would make no difference in the top 3. They'd still be the same.

How about counting Chapters 1 - whatever of each novella as one submission even though they're submitted as different chapters? Because essentially you're writing just one novella and splitting it into different chapters/submissions for ease of reading.