I’m relieved to see that I’m not the only one disappointed in the timeliness (or lack thereof) of the contest coordinators’ end in all this. I’ve resisted, as I’m sure the other contestants have, being vocal about this, but as I’ve spent my Saturday hitting refresh, I think I’ll share some thoughts.
The writers in the contest (if my personal experience is any indication) have committed themselves fully. We spend days, nights, lunch breaks writing so that we can have something we’re proud of ready by the deadline.
Similarly, the people who read and vote before the voting deadline commit themselves to the process.
As I see it, Jenna announces the theme and, not counting the thought she puts into that, it’s essentially 5 minutes to make the post. The writers then go off and invest days in creating a story from scratch and meet the deadline.
At some point after that (sometimes involving waiting), Jenna announces that the voting is open (again, a 5 minute post).
Once the voting is over, presumably the only time-intensive element is Melina pulling up her PM page and, since the votes are in the subject line, taking a pad of paper and making 5 columns (one for each contestant) and making marks in the appropriate column as she scans the message list.
With 100-130 votes, even at a mere one mark a minute, this is a two hour job, at most.
That, coupled with the fact that she can log onto any connected computer in the world and access this information, makes it a somewhat streamlined and not-too-difficult task.
Now, one could easily say, “Relax. No one’s making you hover over the computer like an idiot.”
Well, this is true. I’ll admit to a certain amount of ego and natural human curiosity, and I think that’s an understandable state of mind for someone in the midst of a two month long competition involving the writing of up to 9 original pieces.
In the case of this time (and last), timely announcement of results and the accompanying new theme can mean the difference between being able to devote part of my weekend to starting my new entry (if I advance) and struggling to be creative during the chaos of the work week.
Maybe that’s part of the lesson. That professional writing means jumping through hoops to meet editorial requirements, then being a patient little lamb while you await the fate of something you’ve sweated out of your soul. But I don’t find that a particularly necessary component of this contest.
Ultimately, yes I know, it’s just an Internet contest. But that doesn’t mean we have to treat it like one. That certainly doesn’t figure into how seriously I personally take each entry. I write to the best of my ability, as if I were applying for a fellowship or seeking publication.
And, as we muse about how we get more people engaged in voting, I wonder if momentum is not lost in these unnecessary ebbs and flows.
I want to end by saying that this is not a personal attack on Jenna or Melina, or anyone else. But when you volunteer to coordinate something like this, you make a social contract to live up to that responsibility.
The contestants, throughout the contest, have conducted themselves with utmost professionalism. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect the same from the coordinators.
The writers in the contest (if my personal experience is any indication) have committed themselves fully. We spend days, nights, lunch breaks writing so that we can have something we’re proud of ready by the deadline.
Similarly, the people who read and vote before the voting deadline commit themselves to the process.
As I see it, Jenna announces the theme and, not counting the thought she puts into that, it’s essentially 5 minutes to make the post. The writers then go off and invest days in creating a story from scratch and meet the deadline.
At some point after that (sometimes involving waiting), Jenna announces that the voting is open (again, a 5 minute post).
Once the voting is over, presumably the only time-intensive element is Melina pulling up her PM page and, since the votes are in the subject line, taking a pad of paper and making 5 columns (one for each contestant) and making marks in the appropriate column as she scans the message list.
With 100-130 votes, even at a mere one mark a minute, this is a two hour job, at most.
That, coupled with the fact that she can log onto any connected computer in the world and access this information, makes it a somewhat streamlined and not-too-difficult task.
Now, one could easily say, “Relax. No one’s making you hover over the computer like an idiot.”
Well, this is true. I’ll admit to a certain amount of ego and natural human curiosity, and I think that’s an understandable state of mind for someone in the midst of a two month long competition involving the writing of up to 9 original pieces.
In the case of this time (and last), timely announcement of results and the accompanying new theme can mean the difference between being able to devote part of my weekend to starting my new entry (if I advance) and struggling to be creative during the chaos of the work week.
Maybe that’s part of the lesson. That professional writing means jumping through hoops to meet editorial requirements, then being a patient little lamb while you await the fate of something you’ve sweated out of your soul. But I don’t find that a particularly necessary component of this contest.
Ultimately, yes I know, it’s just an Internet contest. But that doesn’t mean we have to treat it like one. That certainly doesn’t figure into how seriously I personally take each entry. I write to the best of my ability, as if I were applying for a fellowship or seeking publication.
And, as we muse about how we get more people engaged in voting, I wonder if momentum is not lost in these unnecessary ebbs and flows.
I want to end by saying that this is not a personal attack on Jenna or Melina, or anyone else. But when you volunteer to coordinate something like this, you make a social contract to live up to that responsibility.
The contestants, throughout the contest, have conducted themselves with utmost professionalism. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect the same from the coordinators.
Last edited:
