2009 News & Views: Discussions and Announcements for the Survivorphile

[wife2hotblk]

Thank you, Lauren.

 

[wife2hotblk]

Question about the Earth Day Contest in terms of the Survivor contest:

Does it have to be erotic fiction or can it fall in the How To or Essay category? I have a couple fo wonderful blog pieces (yes...I write 'normal' stuff too) that are about environmental issues and would like to combine those and submit. Also, can I include photos even if it is not in the illustrated category?

 

[PrincessErin]

.....

 

[Boxlicker101]

I don't know if you can add illustrations to stories not posted in the illustrated section however all contest stories can be in any category you want.

If you have illustrations then I would put that story in the illustrated story category and just make sure to put in the notes section when you submit it that it's for the Earth Day Contest.

Erin

A contest entry can be in any category, including Illustrated or How To. As for including an illustration in a How to essay, I don't see why not, as long as it's related to the essay. Certainly if it's a graph showing average rainfall or a diagram showing showing how to install solar panels or something of that sort, I see nothing wrong in including it in a How To. You can certainly try it.

Laurel and Manu are the ones who decide on category anyhow, but I can't imagine them objecting. On the other hand, if it's just a landscape photo, just barely related to the subject, they might post it to Illustrated. You would probably get more votes in that category anyhow.

ETA: Never mind that reference to votes. I was thinking about the Earth Day Contest when I mentioned it.

 

[CrimsonMaiden]

Question about the Earth Day Contest in terms of the Survivor contest:

Does it have to be erotic fiction or can it fall in the How To or Essay category? I have a couple fo wonderful blog pieces (yes...I write 'normal' stuff too) that are about environmental issues and would like to combine those and submit. Also, can I include photos even if it is not in the illustrated category?

Contest entries can be in any category. You can put illustrated stories in other categories, though it's not common. I believe if you put something in the notes field stating it's illustrated but you want it in another category and why, they will consider putting it where you want it to go.

BTW, I guess y'all have figured out that since I'm posting, I'm back online. Still not going to be around full time yet (still unpacking), but I will pop in and help out if someone needs something when I'm on. Hopefully within a couple of weeks, we'll be totally settled. Moved into a smaller place, so it's getting hard to find places to put everything.

 

[KarennaC]

Welcome back, Crim!

 

[PrincessErin]

.....

 

[CrimsonMaiden]

Okay, I am attempting to get everything caught up. Scorecards and immunity thread are caught up. I will do my best to get the ScoreBoard updated by the end of the day, so if you want your current score included, shoot me a pm.

 

[CrimsonMaiden]

Okay, it took me longer than intended, but the ScoreBoard is now updated to relfect current ScoreCard scores of those who were already listed on the board. Those who have had ScoreCards created since the last ScoreBoard update have not been added yet, but I will get those included ASAP.

 

[Transverse]

2009 Author Survivor Contest

Is it possible to add stories I've already written to the contest? I didn't know about it back then, so can I add them to the list of entries?

 

[CrimsonMaiden]

Is it possible to add stories I've already written to the contest? I didn't know about it back then, so can I add them to the list of entries?

Any stories posted to literotica between Jan 2, 2009 and Jan 1, 2010 may be counted for points in the contest (as long as they follow contest rules, IE, they can't be chapter stories - unless in Chains or Novellas.)

 

[CrimsonMaiden]

ScoreBoard has been updated, and I *think* I've got everyone on there now. Take a look, and if I've left your name off, let me know!

 

[Boxlicker101]

I have a quibble to make about Rule 6, which pertains to chaptered stories. There is no objection to requiring that individual entries, with the exceptions of Novels & Novellas and Chain Stories, should be stand alone stories. However, not accepting a story solely because Lit. Management has designated it as a chapter does not seem right.

Case in Point: My most recently posted story should have been named "Mother's Milk: The Next Morning." That was the name I gave when I submitted it. It was and is intended to be a sequel to a story I posted last year, and it does involve the same two characters and refers to events in the previous story, but it is a story that can stand on its own. The Management of Lit., as is their right, chose to give it the name "Mother's Milk, CH 02."

Besides that, I have an ongoing series about Angel Jones and another one about Marian and Ryan. To indicate these stories are about ongoing characters, I tried to name them "Angel 1", "Angel 2", "Angel 3", etc. and "Marian and Ryan 1" etc. Each of these stories, although capable of standing on its own, has been designated as a chapter.

What I am asking is that the rule be softened somewhat to say that merely because a story has been designated by Lit. as a chapter does not disqualify it, as long as it is capable of standing on its own.

 

[CrimsonMaiden]

I have a quibble to make about Rule 6, which pertains to chaptered stories. There is no objection to requiring that individual entries, with the exceptions of Novels & Novellas and Chain Stories, should be stand alone stories. However, not accepting a story solely because Lit. Management has designated it as a chapter does not seem right.

Case in Point: My most recently posted story should have been named "Mother's Milk: The Next Morning." That was the name I gave when I submitted it. It was and is intended to be a sequel to a story I posted last year, and it does involve the same two characters and refers to events in the previous story, but it is a story that can stand on its own. The Management of Lit., as is their right, chose to give it the name "Mother's Milk, CH 02."

Besides that, I have an ongoing series about Angel Jones and another one about Marian and Ryan. To indicate these stories are about ongoing characters, I tried to name them "Angel 1", "Angel 2", "Angel 3", etc. and "Marian and Ryan 1" etc. Each of these stories, although capable of standing on its own, has been designated as a chapter.

What I am asking is that the rule be softened somewhat to say that merely because a story has been designated by Lit. as a chapter does not disqualify it, as long as it is capable of standing on its own.

If we start making exceptions to rules, then what's the point of having them? I do understand your quandry, so here are your options. If you consider those stories to be stand alone, then I suggest you submit an edit with a title change and do not make it similar enough to the already existing story for Lit management to change it to a chapter. I have a feeling they did this because of the "series" feature which was just released. Your other choice would be to PM Laurel, explain the situation and ask her to fix the titles back. However any story with same title and the only difference is a number beside it is going to be considered a chaptered series and not eligible. If Angel 1-3 is NOT a continuing story line, then you need to rename them and get rid of the numbers. Moderators will not have time to go through each participants card and read stories with numbers after them to determine if they are stand alone or not. Having your stories conform to the rules is your responsibility.

 

[sr71plt]

If we start making exceptions to rules, then what's the point of having them? I do understand your quandry, so here are your options. If you consider those stories to be stand alone, then I suggest you submit an edit with a title change and do not make it similar enough to the already existing story for Lit management to change it to a chapter. I have a feeling they did this because of the "series" feature which was just released. Your other choice would be to PM Laurel, explain the situation and ask her to fix the titles back. However any story with same title and the only difference is a number beside it is going to be considered a chaptered series and not eligible. If Angel 1-3 is NOT a continuing story line, then you need to rename them and get rid of the numbers. Moderators will not have time to go through each participants card and read stories with numbers after them to determine if they are stand alone or not. Having your stories conform to the rules is your responsibility.

I agree with Boxlicker on this. Prequels and sequels are not ipso facto the same thing as chapters of a novel. (Ever seen a James Bond movie?) The use of linking titles is a means to try to signal to the reader that they are linked stories, but complete stories in their own right. Literotica doesn't give the writer any other means of linking them in the reader's eye from looking at the lists.

It's Literotica that is being too restrictive on this, not Boxlicker trying any survivor's contest end run. It affects a whole lot of creative authors who aren't anyway involved in the survivor's contest.

 

[CrimsonMaiden]

I agree with Boxlicker on this. Prequels and sequels are not ipso facto the same thing as chapters of a novel. (Ever seen a James Bond movie?) The use of linking titles is a means to try to signal to the reader that they are linked stories, but complete stories in their own right. Literotica doesn't give the writer any other means of linking them in the reader's eye from looking at the lists.

It's Literotica that is being too restrictive on this, not Boxlicker trying any survivor's contest end run. It affects a whole lot of creative authors who aren't anyway involved in the survivor's contest.

Did I say Box was trying an end run? I gave him his options on what to do. The rule is that chapters are not allowed (with the exception of the two obvious categories). There is no gray area. It is the participants responsibility to follow the rules. There is plenty of time left in the contest for titles to be fixed if said stories are truly not chapters. Linking stories is fine, but it is up to the participant to work out those title issues with Laurel. The Survivor Contest forum is not the platform or area for you to protest the new series feature's effect on other authors.

Please remember this forum is specifically for Survivor related discussions. All off-topic discussions will be moved to the off topic forum.

 

[wife2hotblk]

Further question about this chapter thingy. I have several stories that people are requesting more. While the stories I plan to write definitely will be stand alone rather than chaters, is it permissible to say at the end of the story...If you enjoyed this story, you may want to also read XYZ...with a link to the earlier story. Or would doing this somehow flag it as a chapter, which it really isn't?

For instance, I have alot of interest in my Mind Control story Charles in Charge. My plans though are for a future to focus on Charles and his motivation for these 'experiments.' The female character would not even be the same person.

 

[LadynStFreknBed]

Further question about this chapter thingy. I have several stories that people are requesting more. While the stories I plan to write definitely will be stand alone rather than chaters, is it permissible to say at the end of the story...If you enjoyed this story, you may want to also read XYZ...with a link to the earlier story. Or would doing this somehow flag it as a chapter, which it really isn't?

For instance, I have alot of interest in my Mind Control story Charles in Charge. My plans though are for a future to focus on Charles and his motivation for these 'experiments.' The female character would not even be the same person.

I get a lot of the same thing. I assume most writers do. I've actually told readers that I can't do another chapter. You can write another story using the same characters. It just has to be a stand alone story in itself, not just a continuation of a previous story. As Box pointed out, I guess we have to make the titles different enough that the stories won't be grouped together by Lit as chapters.

 

[Sean Renaud]

To be fair that is partially a problem with Lit and hopefully one that will be fixed eventually. I would like to have the option to pick what goes into what series as far as that attatchment goes. I mean I have stories that aren't really linked (such as any story featuring Karen) where they aren't really chapters, not any more than any series of lovers held by a person usually are at any rate. Or stories that take place in the same "world" but don't directly interact. Think Spiderman and the X-Men. Things that one does sometimes spill over but rarely do they actually meet face to face.

 

[Boxlicker101]

I get a lot of the same thing. I assume most writers do. I've actually told readers that I can't do another chapter. You can write another story using the same characters. It just has to be a stand alone story in itself, not just a continuation of a previous story. As Box pointed out, I guess we have to make the titles different enough that the stories won't be grouped together by Lit as chapters.

One problem is that the authors don't necessarily even choose the title for the story, especially not now that the push is on to put stories in series and to separate them into Lesbian, Gay and Straight groupings. If Management wants to change the name of a story, they will, especially to call it a chapter of a previous story. They have been doing this for a long time, but it hasn't become an issue until this year.

The specific thing that caused me to ask about it last month was a story I wrote some time ago and named "Mother's Milk" which was a fetish story. Last month I posted a story that should have been named "Mother's Milk: the Next Day." Instead, it was given the name "Mother's Milk, CH 02." It is ineligible to be counted this year, even though it is a stand alone story. I'm not sure what I'll do. Changing the title of a story is fraught with problems. In the past, I have ended up with the same story or poem posted twice under the old name and the new one. What I will probably do is delete the sequel under its current name and post it as a new story under the correct name, but that is a nuisance, especially since it has been fairly well received by readers.

It might help to include something in the notes when you submit a story with a name that is similar to another that has been posted. Say something like: "This is NOT an additional chapter of the story titled XXXXX." This mahy or may not help.

 

[xPoisonx]

I posted stories before I entered the Survivor Contest but still within the time-frame so do these count for points?

If not, do the stories posted between the time I entered the Contest and got my points thread count?

 

[Bakeboss]

Question re Novellas

Dear Ms. Maiden
Once again my art follows my life as Bakeboss blunders along not reading rules correctly or even completely. I have been writing my novella and publishing it in chapters of 750 words or more, hoping to entice readers with limited attention spans into reading said novella. I now see I should be entering chapters of 7500 words or more. I am now hoping you will allow me to put together chapters already written (including chapters I & II already published) into one, thus qualifying it for insertion into the Novella section of our contest. If this is not allowed please let me know and I will start over.

I would like to thank you for all the time you spend on Survivor and hope you realize how much we writers appreciate the chance to stretch horizons. I was also wondering if you folks at Literotica have given any thought on a 'Humiliation' section as I am sure we of that ilk would enjoy it.

Once again thank you,
Bakeboss

 

[CrimsonMaiden]

I posted stories before I entered the Survivor Contest but still within the time-frame so do these count for points?

If not, do the stories posted between the time I entered the Contest and got my points thread count?

All stories with a posting date from January 2, 2009 to January 1, 2010 are eligible for points in the 2009 contest.

Dear Ms. Maiden
Once again my art follows my life as Bakeboss blunders along not reading rules correctly or even completely. I have been writing my novella and publishing it in chapters of 750 words or more, hoping to entice readers with limited attention spans into reading said novella. I now see I should be entering chapters of 7500 words or more. I am now hoping you will allow me to put together chapters already written (including chapters I & II already published) into one, thus qualifying it for insertion into the Novella section of our contest. If this is not allowed please let me know and I will start over.

I would like to thank you for all the time you spend on Survivor and hope you realize how much we writers appreciate the chance to stretch horizons. I was also wondering if you folks at Literotica have given any thought on a 'Humiliation' section as I am sure we of that ilk would enjoy it.

Once again thank you,
Bakeboss

I think it would be okay to do that in order to comply with the rules.

 

[xPoisonx]

Great, thanks

 

[CrimsonMaiden]

ScoreBoard has been updated and all needed score cards have been created. Sorry it took so long on the board update, but life has been incredibly chaotic here the past few months. Things are looking up, and I promise that from now on, things will get updated more quickly.

Just a heads up that we've only got a little over a month left for new entrants. After October 31, the contest will be closed to entry.

As always, if anyone has questions, please either post them here or send me a pm!