[SoftGameHunter]

Hi All,

Well, the June contest is over, and the winners have been chosen by you, the people. Or at least a few of you!

Let's give them all a round of applause here.

(Please note, I locked the thread for the winners so there will be a clean record of all future winners in that sub-board. You can comment freely here, however, or in threads of your own.)

So, now that it's done, what did everyone think? Was it too long? Too complicated? About right? Had good categories? Wasn't open long enough?

I'll go ahead and admit that I'd hoped for more votes. But such is life. Maybe the sheer volume of stories was daunting. By the way, we are currently on track for a somewhat lower total count in July if the mid-month trends hold. There are currently 20 new unique stories posted, with just two eligible for the Rookie Author award. All of our new authors from June are also eligible for July, so feel free to share with us, guys and gals.

My own feedback is that I think I had too many categories and made voting too time consuming. At least for a brand new contest. I'm inclined to drop back to just two categories next month: the Rookie Author award (which I believe in strongly) and a best overall. Perhaps everyone will just vote for their top four stories (that's an arbitrary number). We can award a gold, silver, bronze, and honorary mention. Thoughts?

Anyway, I still think we identified some great tales last month that deserve their time in the sun. Thanks and congrats to everyone involved.

[SoftGameHunter]

And, by the way, I'd like to personally thank everyone who voted for one of my stories, even in categories where I voted for someone else's.

Is there a list of the winners?

[vile8r]

Is there a list of the winners?

Darklord, go back and click on the tab "Winner's Circle".

[vile8r]

Perhaps everyone will just vote for their top four stories (that's an arbitrary number). We can award a gold, silver, bronze, and honorary mention.

I kinda like that idea SGH. I'm a little disappointed too with the voter turn-out. Maybe doing the top-four, or top-five, or whatever, will create a little more participation.

Good job you did, I thought.

Is there a list of the winners?

Darklord, go back and click on the tab "Winner's Circle".

Totally missed that. Congrats on the winners.  Great work to you as well SGH.  Keep up the good work.

[Beater]

Maybe it might be best to go with a policy of the author of a story having to request being involved in the monthly polls instead of just including all of them. It might keep the numbers of stories a little lower and allows for authors who don't want to be included to not be put on the spot.

Also have you considered what'll happen if only a small number of entrants qualify for a category like the rookie author award, hopefully this is a situation that won't happen but if only, say two or three might I recommend that you don't announce how many votes each story got. Might be over considering a bit but hearing that a story someone wrote got no votes might be a bit disheartening even though polls don't necessarily reflect on the quality of a story.

A great idea to introduce the monthly competition though.

[M_Eros]

I think I'd reduce the total number of categories. You might consider: Rookie, Best Overall Story, Best Short Form (3000 words total), Best Long Form (3001+ words).

I split out short and long because they typically require a different style of writing. Long-form stories are going to have more build up, more developed plot and so forth. Short are generally going to focus on the action. Both are valid ways of telling a story.

You might also consider adding a 'special topic' category in which you announce a specific topic or scenario for next month's contest. For example, the topic for the month might be 'betrayal'. The story would have to be posted during the targeted month and specifically submitted for the contest.

[SoftGameHunter]

Hi all. Just finished a long road trip, but I'm back.

I see a lot of good ideas with potential in the posts above. Splitting into long and short form stories sounds like it has potential. It still gives more than just one overall best, and it splits along a universally known set of properties about stories. I like this.

I also like the special topic, though I think I'm going to hold off on implementing it. For one, I'm on vacation right now, and its the middle of the month. Perhaps in a few months I might add that one given enough support.

Right now, authors can opt out, but we might do better having them opt in. Interesting. I wonder how many would go out of their way to opt in, and on how many of their stories. I sure would, but I'm competitive by nature. (I joined another board once, learned it had a contest, and my entry was my first post there.) But I think it would decrease the numbers of entries. I like to think everyone will just jump in, but I'm sure some writers know their work won't win, especially with so many entries. Any authors have any thoughts on this?

As for hiding the vote counts, I don't think that's an option with the board software, but I'll check. I don't know that I support that one, though I see its logic. Most contests do announce the score, at least at the end. I shall think on it (if it's even possible.)

Thanks for the feedback, all.

To be totally honest, I never submit a story with the feeling it may win. I consider my work to be mediocre at best, but to me it is the fun of being a part of it all, and just contributing.  Should I be lucky and win would only double my efforts the next time.

[M_Eros]

Right now, authors can opt out, but we might do better having them opt in. Interesting. I wonder how many would go out of their way to opt in, and on how many of their stories. I sure would, but I'm competitive by nature. (I joined another board once, learned it had a contest, and my entry was my first post there.) But I think it would decrease the numbers of entries. I like to think everyone will just jump in, but I'm sure some writers know their work won't win, especially with so many entries. Any authors have any thoughts on this?

Another challenge of requiring authors to opt in is getting them, especially new ones, to understand that they have to do so and how to do it. It will likely happen that new members and authors may not understand that to participate in the contest you have to specifically say you want to participate. Most new people to forums don't always explore the forums but rather focus on specific parts of it. Thus they might easily miss something like this.

In the end, this is more of a community building project, in my mind, since nothing other than pride is on the line here. As such, I tend to believe everyone should participate unless they specifically indicate they do not wish to do so.

If, however, the decision is made to 'opt-in' then it should be a very simple mechanic. Say, just a code that appears at the end of a new story title. For example: The Tenant (MC) with the '(MC)' indicating the story should be considered for the monthly contest.

[SoftGameHunter]

Right now, authors can opt out, but we might do better having them opt in. Interesting. I wonder how many would go out of their way to opt in, and on how many of their stories. I sure would, but I'm competitive by nature. (I joined another board once, learned it had a contest, and my entry was my first post there.) But I think it would decrease the numbers of entries. I like to think everyone will just jump in, but I'm sure some writers know their work won't win, especially with so many entries. Any authors have any thoughts on this?

Another challenge of requiring authors to opt in is getting them, especially new ones, to understand that they have to do so and how to do it. It will likely happen that new members and authors may not understand that to participate in the contest you have to specifically say you want to participate. Most new people to forums don't always explore the forums but rather focus on specific parts of it. Thus they might easily miss something like this.

In the end, this is more of a community building project, in my mind, since nothing other than pride is on the line here. As such, I tend to believe everyone should participate unless they specifically indicate they do not wish to do so.

If, however, the decision is made to 'opt-in' then it should be a very simple mechanic. Say, just a code that appears at the end of a new story title. For example: The Tenant (MC) with the '(MC)' indicating the story should be considered for the monthly contest.

Also a good point. New members frequently have trouble with board navigation, protocols, customs, etc. My guess is that I'll keep it as opt-out for now unless or until I see more demand for a change to opt-in or I think it over more and decide to change it.