2009 News & Views: Discussions and Announcements for the Survivorphile

[CrimsonMaiden]

So the story I am writing for the Holiday contest has taken a couple of odd twists. First of all, it is fast approaching novella length. And secondly, it seems to have spun off a completely separate idea (my confession...my husband has me watching too many SG-1's with their alternate universes). My question is...I know that we can submit more than one story to the contest. But if we do, is it the first story that is accepted that counts or do we get to pick which story to count towards the contest points and which to use for a category? Obviously, I need the two points for the novella. So do I have to submit the other one first in order for it to count towards the contest category?

I don't know that it would matter, but if it were me, I would enter what I wanted to count for the contest first and then submit the second one afterwards. That way, you can be certain no one will try to cause a ruckus over it.

 

[wife2hotblk]

I don't know that it would matter, but if it were me, I would enter what I wanted to count for the contest first and then submit the second one afterwards. That way, you can be certain no one will try to cause a ruckus over it.

Sorry, Crimson, but I did not see this response from you before submitting the first one. But I am so proud of both that points and contests don't mean squat. It's Christmas Presents - Nice and Christmas Presents - Naughty if anyone is curious.

 

[wife2hotblk]

Challenge

OK...so it is down to the final stretch. None of us have even reached the first cap and submitted 3 stories in all 35 categories. So that is my friendly challenge, a race to fill cap level one at least. I am in, obviously.

 

[Sean Renaud]

I doubt I'll be able to make it. I can't quite seem to get a grip on what this thing wants for illustrated stories so they keep getting rejected.

 

[Boxlicker101]

OK...so it is down to the final stretch. None of us have even reached the first cap and submitted 3 stories in all 35 categories. So that is my friendly challenge, a race to fill cap level one at least. I am in, obviously.

To do that, I would need to post 23 stories in less than a month. I have that many in process, but I don't think I would be able to do it.

That's even including as completed those categories where I have an immunity.

ETA: It looks like you and Sean Renaud fighting for first place. I will be lucky to beat out Bakeboss for third.

 

[Sean Renaud]

I'm pretty sure I'm a lock for second when all is said and done. Of course it all kinda hinges on how much wife has that I have no idea about. She could be light years beyond me. It also hinges on if I can get the illustrated section to stop kicking my ass! (or get one more immunity) Makes me said for the three I wasted either not checking fast enough or what not.

 

[Boxlicker101]

I'm pretty sure I'm a lock for second when all is said and done. Of course it all kinda hinges on how much wife has that I have no idea about. She could be light years beyond me. It also hinges on if I can get the illustrated section to stop kicking my ass! (or get one more immunity) Makes me said for the three I wasted either not checking fast enough or what not.

You are pretty much a lock for at least second. You have all your categories filled in and 276 points; Wife has at least 264 when she gets her scorecard updated. Bakeboss and I have almost the same score and, to catch up with Wife, either of us would need another 18 or so stories, even supposing she does no more posting.

I'm assuming that nobody is sandbagging and waiting to post a whole pile of stories to their scorecard on the last day of the contest.

 

[Sean Renaud]

It would be a helluva sandbagger to catch up. The thing is that I have no idea how many extra stories wife's got. I glanced at her board a few times and then went to look at her stories and realized I didn't want to recreate her scorecard. Point being she put (Level Capped) when she put three but does she have three stories or five in that category? If I get fill everything I've already got a lot of stories in the tier 2. Some of them just happened, some of them ended up in the wrong category. But I don't know if she is. But I think I've got second for sure and maybe first.

You know what sucks or is great depending on your POV. I had planned to kind of cruise into the top fifteen and then sometime in early August I realized I was really a contender for the top three and so I had to put real work behind it instead of lazily write what came to mind.

 

[Boxlicker101]

It would be a helluva sandbagger to catch up. The thing is that I have no idea how many extra stories wife's got. I glanced at her board a few times and then went to look at her stories and realized I didn't want to recreate her scorecard. Point being she put (Level Capped) when she put three but does she have three stories or five in that category? If I get fill everything I've already got a lot of stories in the tier 2. Some of them just happened, some of them ended up in the wrong category. But I don't know if she is. But I think I've got second for sure and maybe first.

You know what sucks or is great depending on your POV. I had planned to kind of cruise into the top fifteen and then sometime in early August I realized I was really a contender for the top three and so I had to put real work behind it instead of lazily write what came to mind.

I think of sandbagging as being unethical, so I would never do it, but it wouldn't be difficult. Somebody would have to write and post maybe 150 stories, including those in the theme contests, but only enter a few in the scorecard. Then, when people like you or me or Wife or Bakeboss are thinking we have our positions secure, post them all to the scorecard in the last day and end up with the highest score. The only way to tell if sonmebody might be planning on doing this is to check on everybody's index, and this seems like more trouble than it's worth.

I hope you know you can't count those tier two entries until you have filled every category with three entries or an immunity.

 

[wife2hotblk]

To alay everyone's fears, I have no more completed stories. I posted three yesterday, but Sean it is a totally fair fight (with me at least). If you can manage to complete the 1st tier, then you will win. My goal is simply to write 3 stories in all categories and then one final essay or how to - Why YOU Absolutely Must Enter Survivor 2010: If you ever want to be a real author. Now mind you, I have not played the immunity game so I truly will have 3 stories in each category and I know that in the event of a points tie it does come down to who wrote the most stories.

As for the illustrated category, don't try to go all fancy. It is as simple as writing a Word document and pasting in one original picture taken by you. In fact, it took my Blackberry Summers forever to be approved, because I put in too many pics and it was too big a file. Anyone having trouble with audio or illustrated can PM me for help. I had fun learning with those.

I do suspect that we will get sandbagged in the end, but to me we are all the real winners for just competing and doing so fairly.

 

[Sean Renaud]

I've got a couple immunities but if I can break over the top I've got a bunch of stories that are completed (and posted already) in the second teir but they don't count for points.

I really don't think I'm gonna play in 2010. This turned into real work at some point. I mean I guess it's okay since I'm not working as many hours as I'd like but still.

 

[wife2hotblk]

I definitely am not competing again. This contest has done what nothing else ever did...turn me into a writer. So now I want to get to the next level PUBLISHED author. Besides over the past few months, my stuff has taken a distinctly 'woman' feel and belongs more in romance than erotica. But I honestly do hope that one of us wins.

 

[CrimsonMaiden]

Sean, as wife said, for the illustrated story, simply embed (paste) a picture into a WORD document and upload it. Just make sure the document itself doesn't have any weird coding in it and it will upload just fine.

 

[CrimsonMaiden]

ScoreBoard has been updated.

 

[YoursSINSerely]

Hi Red. I've been looking for more information about the immunities. Apparently, I've posted too many of them on my scorecard already. I can see from the rules that there has too be a certain percentage of stories to the amount of immunities.

My question to you is: Can I remove one the immunities that I have already taken and put on my scorecard and replace it with a new story that I'd like to post? Or, can I just remove any of them? Does it make a difference?

I've kind of read through the survivor rules and dont' see where it actaully says that I can't erase an immunity. Actually, I think I'm way over my quota. If you remember, I was winning one every week and putting them on my list before I really read all of the rules.

Thanks. I'll try to get my card up to date before the end of the year.

 

[CrimsonMaiden]

Hi Red. I've been looking for more information about the immunities. Apparently, I've posted too many of them on my scorecard already. I can see from the rules that there has too be a certain percentage of stories to the amount of immunities.

My question to you is: Can I remove one the immunities that I have already taken and put on my scorecard and replace it with a new story that I'd like to post? Or, can I just remove any of them? Does it make a difference?

I've kind of read through the survivor rules and dont' see where it actaully says that I can't erase an immunity. Actually, I think I'm way over my quota. If you remember, I was winning one every week and putting them on my list before I really read all of the rules.

Thanks. I'll try to get my card up to date before the end of the year.

You can't erase immunities. You just leave them be. If you go over the allotted amount (did we keep the ratio for this year? I could have sworn we did, but I looked all over the rules post and couldn't find it.), then they just don't count. Immunities close the cap to further submissions, so you can't erase one and replace it with a story.

 

[Boxlicker101]

Quote:
Originally Posted by YoursSINSerely
Hi Red. I've been looking for more information about the immunities. Apparently, I've posted too many of them on my scorecard already. I can see from the rules that there has too be a certain percentage of stories to the amount of immunities.

My question to you is: Can I remove one the immunities that I have already taken and put on my scorecard and replace it with a new story that I'd like to post? Or, can I just remove any of them? Does it make a difference?

I've kind of read through the survivor rules and dont' see where it actaully says that I can't erase an immunity. Actually, I think I'm way over my quota. If you remember, I was winning one every week and putting them on my list before I really read all of the rules.

Thanks. I'll try to get my card up to date before the end of the year.

You can't erase immunities. You just leave them be. If you go over the allotted amount (did we keep the ratio for this year? I could have sworn we did, but I looked all over the rules post and couldn't find it.), then they just don't count. Immunities close the cap to further submissions, so you can't erase one and replace it with a story.

As I recall, but I'm not certain, there is no limit to the number of immunities used, although there have been in the past. The reason for the change is that immunities don't count any points.

 

[CrimsonMaiden]

As I recall, but I'm not certain, there is no limit to the number of immunities used, although there have been in the past. The reason for the change is that immunities don't count any points.

I knew it wasn't in the rules post any more. I looked through the plotting thread for this year but didn't find much discussion on it. It looks like it just got dropped and never totally discussed. I don't know if it was an oversight or what. Might be something we should discuss for the coming year.

 

[YoursSINSerely]

Thank you to Crimson Maiden and her assistant for the information so far and I really want to make sure I'm tallying up my card the right way.

Let me just throw out some numbers here: Let's say I have 15 immunities and 5 stories written. I should leave all the immunities where they are and count them as a category being completed? When I get to the bottom where the bonus points are for filling up "x" amount of categories, I still qualify for the bonus points, right? Even though I don't have that correct ratio thing, right? I know I have more immunities won than I have stories written. That's why I'm asking.

 

[CrimsonMaiden]

Thank you to Crimson Maiden and her assistant for the information so far and I really want to make sure I'm tallying up my card the right way.

Let me just throw out some numbers here: Let's say I have 15 immunities and 5 stories written. I should leave all the immunities where they are and count them as a category being completed? When I get to the bottom where the bonus points are for filling up "x" amount of categories, I still qualify for the bonus points, right? Even though I don't have that correct ratio thing, right? I know I have more immunities won than I have stories written. That's why I'm asking.

The ratios are not in the rules, so they can't be enforced for this year's contest. So, yes leave them.

 

[PositiveThinker]

Either we have rules or we don't have rules

The ratios are not in the rules, so they can't be enforced for this year's contest. So, yes leave them.

Well, since another contestant opened up this can of worms, I'd like to add my two cents.

Yourssincerely can keep all her immunities because there is nothing in the rules about the number of immunities that can be used, yet, immunities cannot be erased and a story added, even though there is nothing in the rules about that.

I think I'd like to have some clarification. Either we have rules or we don't have rules. The way that I read the rules is, if something is not there in the rules, then it is not a rule and is okay to do it.

Is that correct?

So, I ask, again, with all due respect, can we erase immunities and add a story? And if we cannot, where is the rule that says we cannot do that.

I apologize for nit picking this, but it could conceivably become an issue in the next week or so.

I thank you for your indulgence.

 

[Middleagepoet]

Well, since another contestant opened up this can of worms, I'd like to add my two cents.

Yourssincerely can keep all her immunities because there is nothing in the rules about the number of immunities that can be used, yet, immunities cannot be erased and a story added, even though there is nothing in the rules about that.

I think I'd like to have some clarification. Either we have rules or we don't have rules. The way that I read the rules is, if something is not there in the rules, then it is not a rule and is okay to do it.

Is that correct?

So, I ask, again, with all due respect, can we erase immunities and add a story? And if we cannot, where is the rule that says we cannot do that.

I apologize for nit picking this, but it could conceivably become an issue in the next week or so.

I thank you for your indulgence.

I think the rules are very clear here and it is not an issue of erasing immunities or not, it is an issue of capped categories:

From the rules: Immunities apply to each category's cap level. If you use an immunity on any given category, that will close down that cap level to any further submissions. That immunity will be worth no points.

It seems clear once an immunity is used the cap level is closed down to any further submissions and the immunity is worth zero points. Even if you could somehow unimmunize a category, there is no mention of a way to uncap the level. Even if an immunity is erased, the category remains, as outlined in the quote above, capped.

Of course the author is free to add stories in that category for uncapped levels, but as for the capped category levels, the rules seem very clear.

MAP

 

[CrimsonMaiden]

You can't erase immunities. You just leave them be. If you go over the allotted amount (did we keep the ratio for this year? I could have sworn we did, but I looked all over the rules post and couldn't find it.), then they just don't count. Immunities close the cap to further submissions, so you can't erase one and replace it with a story.

The bolded part above is the part stated in the rules that tells you that you can't erase an immunity and replace it with a story. If you use an immunity for a cap level, it closes that cap level to further submissions.

 

[PositiveThinker]

The bolded part above is the part stated in the rules that tells you that you can't erase an immunity and replace it with a story. If you use an immunity for a cap level, it closes that cap level to further submissions.

Yes, I understand of course, and not to beat a dead horse, but you must admit that you, Crimson, and Middleagedpost are interpreting rules and not reading them as written or not written, for that matter.

There is nothing written in the rules that states a competitor can erase his immunity and replace it with a story, just as there was nothing written in the rules that stated a competitor can use any and all of their immunities, whether or not he or she has any stories posted.

I'm no lawyer, but as the rules do not specifically read that we cannot erase an immunity, I think it shouldn't be open to interpretation at the midnight hour.

A rule is a rule and if there is no rule, then, well, here we go again.

I remember last year when a certain writer was told that he could not count chapter stories, even though there was not a specific rule stating that. He was put through holy Hell and back. Now, this year, we have that rule banning chapter stories, I call that rule the Bostonfictionwriter rule.

Matter of fact, we have this dumb capped story contest because of Bostonfictionwriter, again. I think the contest was much better last year. Just write whatever you want, as much as you want, in any category you want.

I have always said that, especially for the Survivor Contest, all stories should be a minimum of 1,500 words. Boxlicker still believes that my stories are 800 words. Obviously, he can't count beyond 800.

And before Middleagedpoet gets on his high horse, I've read a few of his 800-1,100 word stories and I'm shocked that they were placed in the categories that they are and not dumped into the correct categories that they should be placed.

I dare say that if I wrote any of these stories and posted them in the categories that he posted them, Boxlicker would be first to be screaming, as if he had been goosed by a plunger.

I remember Bostonfictionwriter last year had more than 100 stories dumped into the non-erotic category. Have you people read some of Middleagepoets stories? Tell me if they fit in the categories they are posted. Seriously. This contest has never been fairly run.

As matter of fact, I don't believe anyone has a story switched to a different category, other than Bostonfictionwriter. I'd be curious to know. I'm sure Boxlicker will have something to say about this, he always does. He thinks he owns the site.

I think we should have a rule for the Survivor Contest that a story should be readable and interesting and not a random amount of minimum words thrown together on a page and submitted just so he or she can win a contest. I'd be embarrassed to post some of the stories Middleagedpoet has written. Seriously, have any of you read any of his stories? They are a joke. I swear the guy writes like PrincessAirHead. Gees, maybe he is PrincessAirhead.

Yet, there is no rule that states you can't look like an idiot. There should be, though, no doubt, many of my detractors would state that I'd win the prize with this ranting post alone. Nonetheless, at least I write real stories.

We should have a rule next year, only real stories can be submitted in the Survivor Contest. They must be interesting.

I dare say that this contest smacks of a level of favoritism that went unchallenged last year and the year before. Some posters are free to post whatever nonsensical stories anywhere, in any category, even if it doesn't apply, when other writers who write "real" stories are not appreciated by this site and abused by management.

I'm not naming names, here, but it seems to me that the Survivor Contest is a long running joke and here we are again making up rules that are not rules.

Hey, at least I'm proud of every one of my stories. At least, I'm not copying pages out of a book, so as to write a how to story on popping a cherry, which isn't even a how to story, as it doesn't explain how to pop a cherry. Go figure. Yet, there it is the 800 word story posted in the how to section, unchallenged.

Now, my 3,000 word how to story, how to survive xmas alone, was moved to the non-erotic category. What else is new?

I'll tell you what, so as to give everyone a fair chance in this contest, I'll start writing all my stories left handed and with my eyes closed. I betcha I still write a longer and better story than middleagedpoet.

Thank you for allowing me to receive clarification on phantom rules. Let me know what other rules you make up as you go along, so that I can stay on the same page, as everyone else.

 

[Boxlicker101]

Yes, I understand of course, and not to beat a dead horse, but you must admit that you, Crimson, and Middleagedpost are interpreting rules and not reading them as written or not written, for that matter.

There is nothing written in the rules that states a competitor can erase his immunity and replace it with a story, just as there was nothing written in the rules that stated a competitor can use any and all of their immunities, whether or not he or she has any stories posted.

I'm no lawyer, but as the rules do not specifically read that we cannot erase an immunity, I think it shouldn't be open to interpretation at the midnight hour.

A rule is a rule and if there is no rule, then, well, here we go again.

I remember last year when a certain writer was told that he could not count chapter stories, even though there was not a specific rule stating that. He was put through holy Hell and back. Now, this year, we have that rule banning chapter stories, I call that rule the Bostonfictionwriter rule.

Matter of fact, we have this dumb capped story contest because of Bostonfictionwriter, again. I think the contest was much better last year. Just write whatever you want, as much as you want, in any category you want.

I have always said that, especially for the Survivor Contest, all stories should be a minimum of 1,500 words. Boxlicker still believes that my stories are 800 words. Obviously, he can't count beyond 800.

And before Middleagedpoet gets on his high horse, I've read a few of his 800-1,100 word stories and I'm shocked that they were placed in the categories that they are and not dumped into the correct categories that they should be placed.

I dare say that if I wrote any of these stories and posted them in the categories that he posted them, Boxlicker would be first to be screaming, as if he had been goosed by a plunger.

I remember Bostonfictionwriter last year had more than 100 stories dumped into the non-erotic category. Have you people read some of Middleagepoets stories? Tell me if they fit in the categories they are posted. Seriously. This contest has never been fairly run.

As matter of fact, I don't believe anyone has a story switched to a different category, other than Bostonfictionwriter. I'd be curious to know. I'm sure Boxlicker will have something to say about this, he always does. He thinks he owns the site.

I think we should have a rule for the Survivor Contest that a story should be readable and interesting and not a random amount of minimum words thrown together on a page and submitted just so he or she can win a contest. I'd be embarrassed to post some of the stories Middleagedpoet has written. Seriously, have any of you read any of his stories? They are a joke. I swear the guy writes like PrincessAirHead. Gees, maybe he is PrincessAirhead.

Yet, there is no rule that states you can't look like an idiot. There should be, though, no doubt, many of my detractors would state that I'd win the prize with this ranting post alone. Nonetheless, at least I write real stories.

We should have a rule next year, only real stories can be submitted in the Survivor Contest. They must be interesting.

I dare say that this contest smacks of a level of favoritism that went unchallenged last year and the year before. Some posters are free to post whatever nonsensical stories anywhere, in any category, even if it doesn't apply, when other writers who write "real" stories are not appreciated by this site and abused by management.

I'm not naming names, here, but it seems to me that the Survivor Contest is a long running joke and here we are again making up rules that are not rules.

Hey, at least I'm proud of every one of my stories. At least, I'm not copying pages out of a book, so as to write a how to story on popping a cherry, which isn't even a how to story, as it doesn't explain how to pop a cherry. Go figure. Yet, there it is the 800 word story posted in the how to section, unchallenged.

Now, my 3,000 word how to story, how to survive xmas alone, was moved to the non-erotic category. What else is new?

I'll tell you what, so as to give everyone a fair chance in this contest, I'll start writing all my stories left handed and with my eyes closed. I betcha I still write a longer and better story than middleagedpoet.

Thank you for allowing me to receive clarification on phantom rules. Let me know what other rules you make up as you go along, so that I can stay on the same page, as everyone else.

Hi, Freddie. I am assuming you are BFW, because the above post sounds like the sniveling and whining I used to read from him. That and the fact that you seem to have a gripe against me, although I don't ever remember even mentioning you by your current name. In addition to that, there is your purported knowledge of BFW in last year's contest, even though you, supposedly, did not join Lit. until a year ago, and your apparent animosity toward Princess Erin, who is not really a contestant this year.

I have had several stories posted to a category that I didn't ask for, and I have sometimes complained to Laurel about it. They were either changed or not. I have never actually complained here, although I have cautioned Survivor contestants that such things can happen. For instance, if somebody has capped the Lesbian category and submits a story about two women sharing a strapon and wants it in T & M, it will be listed as Lesbian.

I don't believe I own the site, but I have been here a long time and am always willing to provide aid to another author. I have been in this contest seven times now, and have always placed in the top ten, but have never won. I do answer questions sometimes and offer opinions, but those are just that - opinions.

I do agree that only decent quality stories should even be accepted by Lit. but, since there is no quality control in place, whatever is accepted by Lit. is also accepted by The Survivors' Contest, with the possible exception of Novels and Novellas and stories that are in chapters.