work of the week threads - Writers Forum

Sigur Rós · 10-09-2006, 04:37 PM

I was thinking perhaps there could be work of the week poll in all the 'major' writing forums such as, poetry, short stories, fiction, non fiction, lyrics, yah, yah, yah.

And basically I guess you'd do it by getting a few dedicated readers for each forum that would read others works and at the end of the week get together and make a pole of their favorite works for people to vote on.

I thought this was a cool idea I've seen other sites do, anyone else like it or would want to be one of those readers?

p.s. if you were a reader I wouldn't suggest you have to read everyones work, but you would have to be a moderate poster... if this is a liked idea.

Bika · 10-09-2006, 09:03 PM

I like this idea

Selorian · 10-09-2006, 09:18 PM

See this thread. Although a neat idea, it has the potential of being nothing more than a popularity contest.

mammamaia · 10-10-2006, 11:48 AM

as i've said whenever similar things were proposed, i'd like to see this site remain one where folks share their work and find help when needed, rather than be forced to compete with each other for 'prizes' of even just a 'best' label...

i feel doing that would be unfair to all... even the 'winners'... with a varied bunch of 'judges' that changes by the hour, not all being qualified to judge the quality of other's writing, no one really wins... a popular person's work may 'win' while someone new or maybe not liked much for one reason or another will 'lose' even though their work may be vastly superior in quality...

so, even the 'winner' would lose by virtue of being unrealistically judged 'better' and thus think they don't have to improve their work, when they really do...

Hound · 10-10-2006, 03:48 PM

If all writers weren't jelous attention whores, then these awards and such would work out great, but alas...

Personally I will continue to stand by the idea of such things as these.

If we can't be civil about chosing and appreciating a 'work of the week' because we would rather see ours or our friends work there, why are we even using this site at all. We are supposed to be here to mutually share and appreciate one another's works.

Popularity contest? This isn't high school, no matter how many teenagers use this site, I being one myself. (19)

~Dave

Foxee · 10-10-2006, 04:43 PM

I think that a contest done this often and involving so many people would be difficult to do one time much less maintain it over time.

I do think that a competition would be good... in general I think it spurs people on to greater and greater efforts and any winners who choose to rest on their laurels will eventually change their mind as they get lost in the shuffle.

If we were to do a contest I'd say no more often than once a month, if that, and rather than doing a contest in each forum, choose a different genre for each contest. Simpler that way. This would add value to the site also as the winners could claim a publishing credit and/or braggin' rights.

Just my 2 cents.

valeca · 10-10-2006, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hound

If we can't be civil about chosing and appreciating a 'work of the week' because we would rather see ours or our friends work there, why are we even using this site at all. We are supposed to be here to mutually share and appreciate one another's works.

Popularity contest? This isn't high school, no matter how many teenagers use this site, I being one myself. (19)

~Dave

Ahhh, in an ideal world...

Unfortunately, we don't live in an ideal world...not even a virtual one.

Sadly, no matter the age, maturity isn't a concept all WF members subscribe to.

Sigur Rós · 10-10-2006, 07:00 PM

Why should we care for the whiny ones?

I say it's worth a try at least, because honestly if your so selfish as to complain that your work didn't 'make it' lol, you shouldn't be a writer in the first place.

Hound · 10-10-2006, 09:55 PM

My thoughts exactly... let's get this thing going. =)

~Dave

mammamaia · 10-11-2006, 12:29 PM

Quote:

This would add value to the site also as the winners could claim a publishing credit

no, they couldn't [not legitimately, anyway]... winning a popularity contest on a public forum is not being 'published'...

besides, it's already been dealt with more than once... per selorian:

Quote:

See this thread. Although a neat idea, it has the potential of being nothing more than a popularity contest.

Hound · 10-11-2006, 01:08 PM

Forget the 'publishing credit'. That never entered my mind and I still support this idea.

As for your other quote, I only need to be directed to the same place once, thanks.

I've read the other topics like this one, and yes, the general idea behind most is exactly the same. That is not to say it is a bad idea.

I stick behind what I say, in that if this site will be "torn apart" but something as simple as a writing award, than it shouldn't exist at all.

You see, if awards would be given out unfairly and complained about because of online and/or real friendships, then what about the critiques and edits on the various forums here... wouldn't some be harsher than others due to people being disliked by others, or easier because of the opposite.

It is the exact same thing.

~Dave

Ilan Bouchard · 10-11-2006, 02:00 PM

A bigger problem than the reactions of members is finding dedicated members that can do this. It may work on smaller sites but we get dozens and dozens of posts a day; at the end of the week the group of members would need to read over a hundred stories/poems and pair it down from there.

mammamaia · 10-11-2006, 02:14 PM

that's really the most major case against doing it... as ilan notes, the logistics alone are staggering and i doubt anyone [much less several] here can/will work full time on it, to make up the requisite panel of judges...

Hound · 10-11-2006, 02:51 PM

Hey, someone made a decent point against this thing. *shocked* lol

Anywho... although decent, it is still not a stone wall in our way. There is no need to read through everything. You could have people send in recomendations via PM or such about which they feel is the best. Take the top say 5 suggested pieces, and then read through those and pick the best one.

At least this way you have some selection but no too much, and although popularity of the person might get their work in, I doubt all 5 will get in solely based on the person and not their writing.

And if that is the case, or really if anyone's work gets in because of who wrote it, then that just speaks to the 'patheticness' of the people who suggested it. And hey... we can give them all loser awards or something. =)

~Dave

Selorian · 10-11-2006, 03:45 PM

I have no idea why this is still being discussed. It has been before and bringing it up again isn't likely to change the outcome. And as for the 'popularity contest' aspect, it seems even you, Hound, had to admit it could come into play with your last post. It's sad it may happen, and we should be beyond such pitiful ploys, but people are people.