WEEK 3 RESULTS (for real!)

[Melina]

Good morning, all, and sorry I've kept you waiting. Jenna is fast asleep by now, so she asked me to post the results. So-- the votes have been tallied, and this week we are losing...


Pepperlandgirl


Sorry, Pepper--your entries were consistently wonderful. I hate to see you go. Congratulations on making it this far, and good luck in all you do!

Congratulations to the rest of the finalists, and see you back here for the next round!

Melina

[three seven]

http://www.geocities.com/thingumybobwotsit/shocked.gif

I know the standard's consistently high and there's so little to choose between everyone and yadda yadda yadda, but I'm shocked. I really did expect to see you in the final Pepper.

Just goes to show that, unlike on the TV show, you guys can't rely on overall form to carry you through.

Congratulations to the survivors - you all raised your game last week, and I don't envy you having to do the same again this week!

[poetinahat]

http://www.geocities.com/thingumybobwotsit/shocked.gif
I know the standard's consistently high and there's so little to choose between everyone and yadda yadda yadda, but I'm shocked....

Me too, Pepper. I read and relished your story; it's deft and enjoyable, and I'd have bought the book. Congratulations for that!

I know it must be nerve-wracking for you contestants, but we schlubs out here in Readerville are getting a real treat from all of you. Rah!

[Kappie]

Congratulations to te survivors! Pepperland I enjoyed your entry, you've got a lot of talent. Good luck to you:)

[Sarita]

I know the standard's consistently high and there's so little to choose between everyone and yadda yadda yadda, but I'm shocked. I really did expect to see you in the final Pepper.
Wow. I'm shocked as well. Everyone did some amazing writing this week. I just can't believe Pepper is leaving us... Do I get to cry like Paula did when Constantine got kicked off?

Pepper, be proud of yourself and your writing, you have every reason to be. Will you post in the just for fun thread, so we can continue to enjoy your entry every week? :D Thanks so much for sharing your work with us each week.

[firehorse]

Yeah, I'm kind of in shock. Pepper, you are a fantastic writer, and I also fully expected to see you in the final three. You have such an amazing voice. I know that someday we'll all say, "Oh, I knew her when..."

Please keep posting your stories - and submit them!

[BlueTexas]

Pepper...

I've enjoyed each of your entries :) Let us know when your next book is out!

[dragonjax]

Pepper, I'm sorry to see you go. But I have no doubt that great things are in store for you. You are a very, very talented writer, and I look forward to buying your books in the near future.

[DJP]

You have such an amazing voice. I know that someday we'll all say, "Oh, I knew her when..."

I agree, Pepper. Good luck in your writing career.

[mommie4a]

I know we haven't seen the last of Pepper - you've already accomplished so much more than folks twice your age, who've written for that much longer too. Congrats on all that and more and do please post in the JFF. I love your writing.

Congrats to the remaining contestants!

[ChunkyC]

I echo the others. This round was probably the toughest yet for me to decide. You are a great writer, Pepper. Keep it up!

Congrats to those moving on!

[jdkiggins]

Pepper,

I'm shocked as well. You're an excellent writer. Until it was mentioned here, I didn't know you'd had a book published. Congrats on that too! You're a winner no matter how we look at it. :)

Congrats! to all those moving on to the next round.

[maestrowork]

(((((Pepperlandgirl)))))

Like others, I am shocked. I thought your piece was very well written and you have consistently sent in wonderful work. I hope to read more of your work in the future.

For the rest, congratulations. I can't wait for the next round. Keep up the good work.

[MacAllister]

I thought Pepper would be in the final three, for sure, too. Wow. Stunned.

All the best to you, Pepper. :)

[Birol]

Sorry to see you go, Pepper. Please stay around though. Hope to see more of your writing elsewhere.

[pepperlandgirl]

Sorry to see you go, Pepper. Please stay around though. Hope to see more of your writing elsewhere.

Heh, I've been on the AW boards one way or the other for the past year or so. I'm not going anywhere. (BWWAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA)

[MacAllister]

<g> Thats the best difference between our Idol and the American Idol set-up....We get to KEEP our peeps, even after they get voted off the island. :)

[Mr Underhill]

Wha-aaa-aaa...? :Wha:

Normally I would only give away my top three or so contenders, but this week I'll make an exception. I voted for you, pepperlandgirl. And I'm glad I did. (The other two on my short list this week were firehorse and trumancoyote.)

Maybe I should go on over to the JYV thread and "simonize" some of the other entries?

[pepperlandgirl]

Thanks Mr. Underhill...obviously, I wish more people agreed with your choices. :)

[sharon]

I'm so sorry that this was your last week in the contest, Pepper. You are an extremely talented writer and I have enjoyed reading your entires.
I know that I say this each week but, 'The talent here is amazing'! Each week that I read the entries... Wow, it's such a delightful surprise!
Good luck to all in the coming weeks! Pepper, you're awesome!
:idea: Just a thought... on American Idol, don't the top 10 finalists make a recording together? Personally, I would love the opportunity to purchase an
e-book of our contestants entries after the contest ends. :Clap:

[JennaGlatzer]

Neat idea, Sharon. :)

Pepper, if it's any consolation, you are currently winning the Atlanta Nights Fake Cover Competition... http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12146

:Thumbs:

[Susie]

Congrats to all the finalists and you are a very talented writer, Pepper.

Warm regards, Susie:)

[Celeste]

So sorry to see you stepping out of the finals, Pepper. I really enjoyed reading your work. But I'm sure we haven't seen the last of you and your talent. You will have many successes ahead of you, for sure!

I applaud you for the fabulous work you've given us the pleasure of reading...:Clap:

celeste

[William Haskins]

how many people voted this time?

[JennaGlatzer]

100. The other 2000 members are slackers.

Anyone have ideas for how to get our voting #s up?

[Sarita]

Anyone have ideas for how to get our voting #s up?

I bet Haskins has some interesting torture techniques...

I wonder if you could give each of the moderators a list of X number of people to PM with the links. (ducking for cover from the swats of the other mods...)

My company does quite a few online surveys and the only way to boost response is individual contact. :(

[zeprosnepsid]

100. The other 2000 members are slackers.

Anyone have ideas for how to get our voting #s up?

Maybe make them write genre work or even non-fiction.

I've read all the stories for the past 2 rounds and haven't voted because I don't like any of them enough. I'm not saying anything bad about the contestants writing, but I don't read or enjoy realistic stories about real people and their real problems. There was some mixing it up amongst the entries, but mostly every story has been appealing to the same kinds of readers. I noted this about the finalists when they were picked, their original entries were also these realistic dramatic entries (for the most part). But as noted, it's just my preference in what I read, not the way they write.

But I'd start voting if they start writing things I'm interested in. So maybe picking writing topics that will make the stories different will reinvigorate voter's interest. Because as it stands now, I think only certain readers are interested because all of the stories are so similar.

Just being honest.

[William Haskins]

make voting a prerequisite for posting in the neverending PA thread. that should get about a thousand more votes a week.

[trumancoyote]

But I'd start voting if they start writing things I'm interested in. So maybe picking writing topics that will make the stories different will reinvigorate voter's interest. Because as it stands now, I think only certain readers are interested because all of the stories are so similar.

Are you sure you've read them every week? I don't think that's true at all.

[stormie]

I enjoy reading the stories and am amazed at such good writing in a short period of time.

[KTC]

I think it might be something as easy as shorter entries. A lot of people might not want to read the amount involved to give a fair vote. Myself, I've voted every time so far. Come to think of it, as the contestants dwindle the amount to read will too. So maybe shorter entries won't be necessary as there will be less of them?

Congrats to all the entrants. Pepper, I've loved your words since I first logged on. Congrats!

[Ella]

WOW is right. Sorry to see you go, pepper.

Can one of the super admins PM every member, to bring the contest to their attention?

[SueB]

Hey Pepper, really sorry to see you out now. I was shocked. Won't say who I 'expected' to see drop out, but it certainly was not you. I think there was one clear winner this week. I could be wrong, but if I'm not, most of us voted for the same piece. That, unfortunately, can give a scewed view of the other entries. I think that if the one overall winner had not been in the mix, well then you might have received a larger percentage of votes than several others. Make any sense? Anyways, congratulations on all of your accomplishments in the past and in the future!
Jenna, Perhaps you could offer a new writing contest, for the real voters during this contest?

[three seven]

Anyone have ideas for how to get our voting #s up?Bribery.

[maestrowork]

Upping the difficulty would be interesting (make them write in a genre that they normally won't write)...


Or have them write a highly controversial non-fiction piece (religion? politics?). That would REALLY heat up the competition. LOL.

Start fan wars. You know, the Clay vs. Rueban fans. Have them justify when their idols are the best and why the others will lose...

Basically, confrontation, conflict, and controversy make for a good show. We've been TOO nice. ZZZZZZZZZZ

(I'm a trouble-maker, ain't I?)

[firehorse]

Start fan wars. You know, the Clay vs. Rueban fans. Have them justify when their idols are the best and why the others will lose...Somebody (ahem) could make banner sigs for each contestant:

Texas Two-Steppers (or Blue's Boosters)
Darla's Devotees (or Disciples)
Ridin' the Rhush [you already picked the best one, Becky]
Joanne Junkies (or JDK is AOK)
Zach's Zealots (or Crazy about Coyote)
Hooked on Haskins (or Haskins' Henchmen)
and... Firehorse Fanatics (or Fools for Firehorse)

Uh-oh. I think I have a future naming Ben & Jerry's flavours. In Southern accents.

[firehorse]

I've noticed that in the newsletter, the Idol info is halfway down the message, and I often don't see it. I know the ad space up front is important, but would it be possible to do a dedicated mailing, as was done with the New Novelist software?

I'd like to think this contest means something, but if only a hundred people are voting, it seems like it's probably coming down to a popularity contest - the thing we feared at the beginning.

[jdkiggins]

Great list Firehorse. I'm so happy my initials aren't JFK.

[Rhush]

Ha! I like "ridin' the rhush". Sounds kinda pornographic and exciting! :hat:

[jdkiggins]

Upping the difficulty would be interesting (make them write in a genre that they normally won't write)...
Jenna just did that for me this week. Teenagers of today are out of my realm. This is almost like writing in the YA genre for me...and that's a genre I don't get into. :)

Or have them write a highly controversial non-fiction piece (religion? politics?). That would REALLY heat up the competition. LOL.
They already killed you in the 3 Word Post thread, didn't they Ray? :roll:
(I'm a trouble-maker, ain't I?)
You betcha you are!!!!

[jdkiggins]

Firehorse, if you could come up with a Ben & Jerry's flavor name in the line of something erotic, deadly and tear-jerking, I bet we'd all run to get an ice cream cone. :)

[astonwest]

(religion? politics?). That would REALLY heat up the competition. LOL.
Indeed, that would probably bring everyone out of the woodwork to vote, but I imagine folks would probably be looking past the quality of the work...

[rhymegirl]

What I don't understand is why is it that 300-something people entered the competition, yet only 100 or so are voting? Where are those other 200 people? Did they merely enter to win the prizes, then when they didn't get to be a finalist, drop out of sight, leave the forum, leave town?

I'm not in the competition anymore and yet I am voting!!!! Jenna, if you need someone to write a persuasive piece to convince people to vote, I'll write it for you.

[maestrowork]

There are always those people, Kate. And if you check their post count, they probably have only "1" post -- the entry itself. They're not part of this community (at least not yet). They just registered and entered to win...

Not to mention, many of these 100 voters didn't even enter in the first place (e.g. Birol, Mac, Sara, Three Seven, etc.)...

[Kim Gogo]

It's so hard to see anyone leave at this point b/c I enjoy reading everyone's entries. There's no doubt that everyone has talent and it's hard to see someone leave. It isn't b/c of questionable talent at all. Someone hit the nail when they said that one or two of the writers are so good that it perhaps leaves very little votes for the others. In hindsight, t might have made more sense to vote for your top three favourites.

Nonetheless, Pepper, I'm sorry that you have to depart the contest.

In terms of getting people to vote, I don't have a clue how to get people to commit. Someone said in an earlier post that it might have been the length and quantity to read, but as mentioned, as the numbers get fewer and fewer, the quantity to read lessens, so that concern becomes less of one as time progresses.

I missed one week b/c of unexpected commitments and felt guilty the whole week, but knew I couldn't take the time to read all of the entries and juggle my other obligations. What I'm trying to do to remedy the pressure of reading so much material is check in each day after entries are posted and read a couple per day, and determine at the end of each day, which is my favourite so that, by the time all entries are posted, I've narrowed it down to two. Would it bring in more voters if the length of time to post was longer? Perhaps. At this point, it may not make a difference. It may be one of those things that we just have to live with.

kim

[rhymegirl]

In response to what Ray said:

Okay, but that doesn't explain everybody. Someone said in one of these posts that he's not voting because he hasn't liked any of the types of stories enough to bother voting. I don't think that's a good excuse. You are supposed to judge the quality of the writing, not the genre. I don't love EVERY kind of story, but so what? I think I can judge whether a piece is well-written or not.

[mommie4a]

I agree with Kate.

Furthermore, I just feel a sense of loyalty/commitment - I don't really know what to call it, to the process of the contest, period. I entered, I didn't make a final, I'm still pushing myself to do SOMETHING for the fun entries because it's a good exercise. And I think reading and trying to choose a best entry as the contest progresses is just as important a part of being a writer and thinking of oneself as part of a writing community, as it is to be an entrant, a board member, moderator or Jenna herself.

I roll my eyes with the murders and dark stories and vengeful stuff. Not my thing. But I know my stuff isn't everyone on here's thing either. So I read it as it compares to the others for quality and choose. To say there weren't any that were worthy...that's ridiculous (sorry, whoever said that - I just don't buy that. I don't know what you're looking for or what you're expecting, but there's plenty of good to great writing in each entry).

I wish I could think of a way to get others to read and vote. Honest, I'm such a pansy - just being part of the process is good enough for me. That's why I vote in elections etc. anyway.

[maestrowork]

Somehow my earlier post disappeared...

Anyway, I think people are going to vote for whatever reasons. I try to vote for the best writing according to my criteria. Some people will vote for the same favorite writer every time, no matter what (true fans are made of these). Some people will vote for the kind of stories they enjoy, or vote for the writers who have a similar style as theirs.

That makes only having 100 voters difficult because it doesn't leave a lot of room for margin of errors.

[rhymegirl]

So what then is the solution to get people to vote?

[Birol]

I think we just need to talk it up and take some of the fun and games to other forums. If they think this is a fun place, they'll come over. It's more than just sig lines.

[Birol]

Jenna just did that for me this week. Teenagers of today are out of my realm. This is almost like writing in the YA genre for me...and that's a genre I don't get into.

Not to put ideas into anyone's head, but I don't think Jenna said you had to write about a teenager of today. I see lots of different ways to take this week's theme.

[William Haskins]

So what then is the solution to get people to vote?

we ask one of the graphics gurus around here to make a banner ad, like jenna's AW ad in the top right of the page.

ask jenna to place it prominently somewhere up top so it appears in every view, and link it to that week's entries or "vote now" thread.

[LieselGarmach]

Perhaps to get the voting up, it might be worthwhile to give each person who votes a chance in a drawing for a free subscription to the AW premium edition newsletter. For voting each week, you get one shot. If you voted every week, you get a bonus shot.

Or have all the prior votes been deleted? That would make it tough to know who voted all the previous weeks.

Anyway, it's a thought. I'd be voting anyway, even without incentive. I'm just sorry I took nearly the entire months of March and April away from here.

[Unique]

100. The other 2000 members are slackers.

Anyone have ideas for how to get our voting #s up?

Jenna, I agree. The other 2000 are slackers. I don't know the answer to get the number of voters up, although William's idea of a banner has merit.
This is how I ended up voting in the forum:

I have JDKiggins website bookmarked. I read her entry there. I sent her an email complimenting her on the story. She replied something to the order, 'being a member.' It reminded me, 'Hey! I am a member over there.' I had seen the announcement for the competition and completely forgot about entering....duh, me - nothing unusual there.
Fast forward....I realized I had Jenna's book re: Writer's Block on my kitchen table and had another DUH moment....her book - AW is her site. (Yes, I am pathetic, you can quit laughing now)
So, all that said, I decide to vote by who is telling me the best story. Not the best in grammar, punctuation, or spelling. Who puts me in the room. Do I smell it, feel it, taste it, sense it? Do I see the pictures in my mind? It doesn't matter if I like where they take me - all that matters is that I am there - right there. If the story plays like TV in my mind - it's a good story.
I let other people do the grammar/plot/technique thing....I'm just looking for a dang fine read.

[orlien]

I must be the odd one out, because I signed up at the boards just to be able to vote. Last week was easy - Firehorse. This week it was hard for me to decide. That might be the core of the problem of the low number of votes. You don't just sit back on the coach and pick the phone, as with American Idols, but you actually have to do some hard work.

I'm sure Liesel's idea would at least triple the number of votes.
What we also could do is add a little bit more excitement to the contest. A pitiless jury could be a very effective way to achieve this. (I think maestro said this as a joke, but I think it's actually a very good idea)
We need a public thread where the submissions are being analyzed by professionals. I personally would find this very educating.

But can the contestants take it if their works are torn apart in front of the whole world?

[ShadowGuide]

PepperlandGirl, I'm really, really sorry to see you go. I admit, I didn't vote this time. You made my short list, but I just couldn't decide - so instead of cutting one of my two faves out, I wimped out. Now I feel like scum of the earth because my vote might have saved you. Please forgive me. I thought for sure you'd make it to the top three. You are an amazing writer.

Jenna, as a voting option, maybe one week we can vote the one we think shouldn't move on? That I might have been able to do more easily than who is best.

I'm going to go slink back into my corner now and continue hitting myself with large blunt objects until I no longer feel like doody..... :Headbang:

[karlitea]

Well, I'm a newbie. It took me this long to start voting simply because this forum is soooo huge and it takes a while to familiarize yourself and find your way around.

Even when I heard mention of Absolute Write Idol, I wasn't entirely certain what it was. Had to go on a hunt.

I guess the real motivation was the editor letter in this week's newsletter. I don't read much of the newsletter (too much advertising IMHO) but I always read Jenna's letter.

So, went on the hunt...figured out what this was... read the entries...and voted.

I don't know how good previous entries were but this week I voted for BlueTexas because when it was finished I wanted to read MORE... and it was the only one I could say that about.

K! Hopefully I'll remember to come back and vote next week too!

Nikki

[paprikapink]

The Fine 100 -- that is, the folks who are consistently voting -- are the people who care and who ponder and give good vote. To heck with the rest of 'em.