Escape Artists

The Arcade => Flash Contest IV => Completed Contests => Flash Fiction Contest IV - Pseudopod => Topic started by: Bdoomed on July 20, 2015, 09:43:22 PM

Title: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Bdoomed on July 20, 2015, 09:43:22 PM
A special Flash Fiction contest portal will open on Submittable (https://pseudopod.submittable.com/submit) at midnight EDT on 8/15 and close at midnight on 9/15. If the portal disappears, submissions are formally closed and will not reopen.



In order to be a valid submission to the contest, each story must adhere to the following rules:

1. The story must be no more than 500 words long, not including its title. Do not use the title to skirt around the word count. Word count will be determined using Google Docs.  

2. The story must adhere to the general Pseudopod submission guidelines. Most importantly, it needs to be a horror story; other genres, including science fiction and fantasy, are discouraged. As a general rule, we will take a very liberal view of what constitutes horror, but authors should note that past experience shows that stories which attempt to skirt the genre restriction tend to fare badly in the voting.

3. The story must be original and previously unpublished. Stories will be posted on a members-only portion of the forum, so first publication rights will not be spent if your story does not win.

The person submitting the story must be the story's author (or acting for the author with express permission) and hold full publishing rights to the story. A story that is derived from a previous published work in another format (i.e. not a short story) is fine (assuming doing so isn't in violation of copyright, obviously).

If you are not sure whether your story counts as published or not (for example, if an earlier version has appeared on your blog but nowhere else), please write (PM or send a query to brian@escapeartists.net with the subjectline "QUERY") and ask before submitting. Please do not submit stories that have been entries in a previous Escape Artists contest.

4. The story should be submitted in its final form, as the author intends it to be read by the voting public. We may or may not allow minor typo corrections if those slip in, but as a general rule, we will not allow authors to submit changes to stories, especially not after submissions are closed.

5. Each author may submit up to two stories.

Included the body of the submission should be the title and the text of your story. Any byline will be stripped when the stories are posted in the contest, and will be revealed when either the story fails to advance, or ultimately wins. Feel free to request a pseudonym for the byline, but we will need a legal name if you win for prize purposes.

Please blog, tweet, email, send postcards, telephone, summon demons, and otherwise get the word out.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Unblinking on August 14, 2015, 06:09:53 PM
How much are the winners paid?
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Fenrix on August 14, 2015, 06:59:36 PM
How much are the winners paid?

$30, so pro pay.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Unblinking on August 14, 2015, 07:22:51 PM
How much are the winners paid?

$30, so pro pay.

Woot!

And here's a market listing for it:
http://thegrinder.diabolicalplots.com/market.aspx?mid=1164

Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Drewbikscube on August 15, 2015, 04:54:53 AM
First timer. Is there a prompt for this contest?
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Fenrix on August 15, 2015, 05:07:44 AM
First timer. Is there a prompt for this contest?

No prompt, other than horror. Check out the previous three rounds to get some ideas of what has been successful before.

Submittable portal is here: https://pseudopod.submittable.com/submit/43701
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Drewbikscube on August 15, 2015, 05:21:26 AM
First timer. Is there a prompt for this contest?

No prompt, other than horror. Check out the previous three rounds to get some ideas of what has been successful before.

Submittable portal is here: https://pseudopod.submittable.com/submit/43701

Thanks! :D
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Unblinking on August 21, 2015, 06:31:07 PM
1.  Any chance the official Submittable guidelines can be updated with the pay rate so potential entrants don't assume a lower amount than is offered?  The pro pay is a good hook for getting more entrants, should tout that proudly, I think.
2.  Are manuscripts supposed to have names stripped off them?  I did for mine because I wasn't sure.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Bdoomed on August 21, 2015, 08:51:04 PM
1.  Any chance the official Submittable guidelines can be updated with the pay rate so potential entrants don't assume a lower amount than is offered?  The pro pay is a good hook for getting more entrants, should tout that proudly, I think.
2.  Are manuscripts supposed to have names stripped off them?  I did for mine because I wasn't sure.

1. Good idea, will pass this up.

2. All manuscripts are scrubbed of names before they're posted, but please do include them, as we'll use them once the story either wins or loses (unless specifically requested otherwise).

Quote
Any byline will be stripped when the stories are posted in the contest, and will be revealed when either the story fails to advance, or ultimately wins.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Unblinking on August 21, 2015, 08:53:37 PM
1.  Any chance the official Submittable guidelines can be updated with the pay rate so potential entrants don't assume a lower amount than is offered?  The pro pay is a good hook for getting more entrants, should tout that proudly, I think.
2.  Are manuscripts supposed to have names stripped off them?  I did for mine because I wasn't sure.

1. Good idea, will pass this up.

2. All manuscripts are scrubbed of names before they're posted, but please do include them, as we'll use them once the story either wins or loses (unless specifically requested otherwise).

Quote
Any byline will be stripped when the stories are posted in the contest, and will be revealed when either the story fails to advance, or ultimately wins.

So... if I have already submitted, and did so with name scrubbed from the manuscript, then what should I do?  Leave it be?  Resubmit?  Submittable should still have my name associated with it, just not within the body of the file itself.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Bdoomed on August 21, 2015, 08:57:38 PM
Don't worry about it.  Like you said, lovely thing about Submittable is that your name is attached to it anyway.  If you win, however, we'll be asking for a byline along with other things.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: SpareInch on August 22, 2015, 01:49:49 PM
Oh right. I stripped off all the header info from the MS for my first entry, apart from the title. But not to worry, eh? As said, it's all in my submittable account anyway, so you still get it.

I just put my second in with it all there. You'll have to be happy with one of 'em, right? :P
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Bdoomed on August 22, 2015, 10:16:06 PM
:)
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Schrodingrr on August 28, 2015, 01:02:54 AM
Just submitted my first entry! :D
Big thanks to the mods who organize this thing every year. It's always a fun time!
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Bdoomed on August 28, 2015, 06:43:11 PM
Psh, big thanks to you and everyone else who enters!  Wouldn't be much fun without our contestants!
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Chicken Ghost on August 30, 2015, 08:23:32 AM
Heard the call this morning.  Wrote.  Submitted. 
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: tracyp039 on August 30, 2015, 09:47:53 PM
I'm a first timer about to submit as well. Everything is win win, personally, even if I don't get published I'm pumped to hear the winners. Good luck everyone  :)
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: DoWhileNot on September 02, 2015, 10:35:12 PM
Hadn't checked the forums in quite a while, and Woo Hoo!  Another contest!

First story is half written... madly brainstorming for the second.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Unblinking on September 03, 2015, 02:20:31 AM
In previous runs, it's been nice when the rounds of the contest could be set up so that a writer's two entries wouldn't compete directly against each other unless they both managed to make it to the finals.  Is that going to be the case this time?
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Bdoomed on September 03, 2015, 07:03:48 AM
I do try to keep same-author entries from competing against each other for as long as possible.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: DoWhileNot on September 04, 2015, 05:35:16 PM
Looks like I'll have a couple family members participating like last time.  We assume we'll be following the same rules as before and will not be voting for each other's stories.  Bdoomed, I'll let you know privately who we are.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Portrait in Flesh on September 07, 2015, 03:13:34 AM
So the voices in my head weren't kidding.  Flash IV is out and about and shaking its naughty junk in everybody's face.

And with only a little more than a week left, I...don't know if I can get anything out. 

/me shakes tiny fist at the sky
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: gman58 on September 08, 2015, 01:26:43 AM
Just submitted my first entry!  Thanks to all at Pseudopod for the opportunity!
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Unblinking on September 09, 2015, 07:40:50 PM
Not to put the cart before the horse, but is there an idea of what the schedule for the Podcastle and Escape Pod contests will be?  To have an idea when I need to have written my entry stories. :)
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Fenrix on September 09, 2015, 08:25:56 PM
Not to put the cart before the horse, but is there an idea of what the schedule for the Podcastle and Escape Pod contests will be?  To have an idea when I need to have written my entry stories. :)

2016  :)
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Gabe on September 13, 2015, 11:00:27 AM
Hi, I'm new.  Just making my post to show I'm a human.  I'm terrible at forums so my apologies if I posted this weirdly/in the wrong place.  Nice to meet you.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Anthony Creamer on September 14, 2015, 12:16:26 AM
I'm human too... although right now I'm playing a lizard in a game /grins

look forward to reading these, is there a forum we need special access to or they just get posted somewhere in this forum?
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Fenrix on September 14, 2015, 03:14:17 AM
I'm human too... although right now I'm playing a lizard in a game /grins

look forward to reading these, is there a forum we need special access to or they just get posted somewhere in this forum?


The stories will show up in this sub-forum area starting October 1. We have two more days of submissions yet before we can finalize the brackets.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Anthony Creamer on September 14, 2015, 04:24:55 AM
Looking forward to it.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Unblinking on September 14, 2015, 04:04:51 PM
What if someone is a spambot, but still loves to write and read fiction and discuss the merits of stories?  I'm asking for a friend.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Fenrix on September 14, 2015, 04:29:02 PM

What if someone is a spambot, but still loves to write and read fiction and discuss the merits of stories?  I'm asking for a friend.


Unless they're fans of Harlan's I HAVE NO MOUTH, they would probably have a better time submitting stories to the future Escape Pod contest.

You know, I would love to see a spambot whose base personality programming is both Harlan Ellison and his fiction. That would be simultaneously terrifying and awesome.

REPENT CAPTCHA, SAID THE SPAMBOT MAN!
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Unblinking on September 14, 2015, 05:05:04 PM
Unless they're fans of Harlan's I HAVE NO MOUTH, they would probably have a better time submitting stories to the future Escape Pod contest.

Two of the three flash stories I've had published in Pseudop

You know, I would love to see a spambot whose base personality programming is both Harlan Ellison and his fiction. That would be simultaneously terrifying and awesome.

REPENT CAPTCHA, SAID THE SPAMBOT MAN!
[/quote]

Love it.  :)

Although I do think there's plenty of space in the concept of spambots to be a horror story.  Ferrett Steinmetz's Dead Merchandise comes to mind (though it would admittedly be very hard to fit something like that into 500 words). 
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: SpaceMonkeyX on September 14, 2015, 05:28:55 PM
Just here to say I'm a real person.  Looking forward to reading the submissions!
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: archaevist on September 14, 2015, 06:34:59 PM
Oh gosh, I thought the contest ended tomorrow at midnight, it looks like it ends tonight at midnight! GLAD I CHECKED! Submitting now. 
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: NRKnight on September 14, 2015, 06:35:22 PM
A bit late, but I finally got my two pieces ready for the contest. Can't wait to see who 'll come out on top!
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: NRKnight on September 14, 2015, 06:42:05 PM
Oh gosh, I thought the contest ended tomorrow at midnight, it looks like it ends tonight at midnight! GLAD I CHECKED! Submitting now. 

I think you may be able to rest easy. While it's definitely better to submit sooner than later, it looks like we still have one day and nine hours according to the submission portal.

But obviously don't rely on that. Because even if it's right, there's always things that could go wrong!
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: archaevist on September 14, 2015, 06:57:17 PM
You're right! I just panicked, haha. I'll get my second story up to snuff
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Fenrix on September 14, 2015, 07:05:01 PM
You're right! I just panicked, haha. I'll get my second story up to snuff

Using submittable, you can always withdraw and then submit the new version.

As long as Submittable allows you to enter stories, that's the submission window. The portal remaining open through midnight on the 15th *should* be consistent with how it was programmed.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: samurai_ty on September 14, 2015, 07:15:47 PM
Hey all, hopefully you'll accept a Johnny-come-lately entry.  Well, sub closes tomorrow, but I've always cut things close.  It's my first submission, please be gentle!
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Moritz on September 14, 2015, 08:10:43 PM
Hey all, hopefully you'll accept a Johnny-come-lately entry.  Well, sub closes tomorrow, but I've always cut things close.  It's my first submission, please be gentle!

I just finished my piece and will sleep over it before submitting. Also - we can't be gentle, cause the process will be anonymous  ;)
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Erner919 on September 15, 2015, 01:54:10 AM
Gah. That didn't feel like selling my soul to the devil at all... Got it done, though! :)
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Portrait in Flesh on September 15, 2015, 01:57:02 AM
I have the roughs of mine done, but I want to make assurance doubly sure and stuff that submissions are open until midnight on the night of the 15th/morning of the 16th (say, about 23:59 in military time on the 15th for those of a military bent who like to save things to the very last minute).

I've just gotten home from a three-hour battle with my local pharmacy, and my poor wee brain is hurting, so please, please, please say this is the case. 

(As an aside, I do plan on submitting during the day tomorrow, but I also hadn't planned on being subjected to the rack today at the local chemist's for so long.  Time has not been my friend lately.)
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Jaboui on September 15, 2015, 04:37:24 AM
Any way we can get the officials to give us a rough ideas of how many entries they received? I'd love to see how many are entering the Thunderdome.  :)
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Not-a-Robot on September 15, 2015, 07:36:54 AM
Hey all, hopefully you'll accept a Johnny-come-lately entry.  Well, sub closes tomorrow, but I've always cut things close.  It's my first submission, please be gentle!

Hey Sam,

It's a good place to send your first sub.  You'll get feed back no matter what.  Normally, if you get rejected, you get a letter saying: "Thanks for the submission to... ...we don't think that this story is a good fit for us right now," which doesn't help at all.  Here, good or bad, you're bound to get something helpful out of it, even if it hurts.  Writing is hard.  Let me repeat that:  Writing is hard.  It takes a lot of practice, so what ever happens: keep at it.

Now for something completely different:

I am not a robot, not even a spambot, not even a reformed spambot, but if I were, and I were in this contest, this would be my first time. 

What are the etiquette rules?  I am assuming that you can't vote for yourself, but do you abstain from voting in a group that you are in, or do you abstain altogether?  Or do you just send everyone emails about Tumbumwah, African Prince that has died, and how they can receive a diamond encrusted palace if they send you their bank account and social security numbers?   
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: adrianh on September 15, 2015, 11:40:05 AM
Submission in. Huzzah.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Fenrix on September 15, 2015, 02:07:25 PM

What are the etiquette rules?  I am assuming that you can't vote for yourself, but do you abstain from voting in a group that you are in, or do you abstain altogether?  Or do you just send everyone emails about Tumbumwah, African Prince that has died, and how they can receive a diamond encrusted palace if they send you their bank account and social security numbers?   


You can absolutely vote for yourself.

You can campaign for people (friends and family) to participate in the contest. You can NOT encourage those friends and family to vote for your story (this violates the anonymity that is central to the contest.) You also cannot bribe sock puppet spambots with diamond palaces to vote for your story en mass (because again anonymity).


Any way we can get the officials to give us a rough ideas of how many entries they received? I'd love to see how many are entering the Thunderdome.  :)


Stats will be posted once submissions close. I will say that we passed 150, which was my spot in the betting pool.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: spiritualtramp on September 15, 2015, 03:13:03 PM
I should be submitting my two at lunch!
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Jon Padgett on September 15, 2015, 08:08:03 PM
I'm in.

Eye Of the Tiger!
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Portrait in Flesh on September 16, 2015, 01:32:25 AM
I have released the hounds and it looks like they weren't bumped back to me.

Whew.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: SpringerBot on September 16, 2015, 02:32:21 AM
Found out about the contest yesterday. Wrote and edited my first flash fiction story and submitted 90 minutes before the deadline.

Bam!

Good luck everyone! I look forward to reading the entries!
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Thunderscreech on September 16, 2015, 04:02:36 AM
I procrasturbated so long I almost missed out, but I got my zero-baketime casually edited attempt in just in time.  Not a genre I feel comfortable in, but anyone who reads my entry should be able to tell that right away.  :D

Looking forward to reading everything that's out there and getting some good feedback!
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Bdoomed on September 16, 2015, 06:21:00 AM
Wow, you all astound me!  218 entries submitted this year!  I am very excited to be hosting once again and I can't wait to get this party started (or should I say bloodbath?)

During the rest of this month I will be setting everything up and getting the stories in groups, getting them posted, etc.

One disclaimer: stories often lose specific formatting when they get transferred over to the forums.  As stories go live, if you are an author and notice a discrepancy of how you want your story formatted, please please PLEASE let me know and I will do my best to fix it as soon as possible.  As I get the stories on here from Submittable, I am trying to retain as much formatting as possible, as well as maintaining/promoting readability.  I am not perfect!  So again, please let me know if you need your story's formatting edited once it goes live.

Hope you all have a fun contest!  The first group should go up on October 1st!
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Moritz on September 16, 2015, 08:03:35 AM
Congratulations to everyone who submitted! We made the 0eth round!

My goal this time is to make it at least into the 2nd round  ;D
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Not-a-Robot on September 16, 2015, 09:21:43 AM


You can absolutely vote for yourself.



WOOHOOO!!   The contest hasn't even started and I already have one vote!  Does it get any better than that?
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Unblinking on September 16, 2015, 03:40:43 PM
One disclaimer: stories often lose specific formatting when they get transferred over to the forums.  As stories go live, if you are an author and notice a discrepancy of how you want your story formatted, please please PLEASE let me know and I will do my best to fix it as soon as possible.  As I get the stories on here from Submittable, I am trying to retain as much formatting as possible, as well as maintaining/promoting readability.  I am not perfect!  So again, please let me know if you need your story's formatting edited once it goes live.

A note along those lines:
To participants in the contest, when you are reading the stories, keep in mind that if there ARE strange mid-sentence line breaks or other weird formatting issues may just be an issue with getting the stories transferred to the forum, and may not actually be meant to be there by the author.  So I try to give those a fair shake when they come up anyway.  (I'm guessing it'll be less common this time, last time we put story in body of email, and email wreaks havoc with linebreaks in particular)
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Mithos on September 16, 2015, 05:20:46 PM
Got two submissions in, can't wait to see what everyone came up with! Only been listening to Pseudopod for a couple of months now (I started listening during a nonstop road trip across the continental US, so I probably owe my life to them ;) ) and after looking at previous contests, I'm incredibly excited to see what scurries out from beneath the bed this go-round!
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: 8BitDlite on September 16, 2015, 05:46:09 PM
Looking forward to seeing everyone's work. (And I second the comment from Unblinking about being kind to formatting weirdness.)
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Animachina on September 16, 2015, 09:42:26 PM
Oh them nerves!  ;D
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Portrait in Flesh on September 16, 2015, 11:07:19 PM
Looking forward to seeing everyone's work. (And I second the comment from Unblinking about being kind to formatting weirdness.)

Formatting/display issues can be forgiven, but the Stern Finger of Puritan Disapproval will waggle away relentlessly at poor proofreading of the actual story itself.

More likely than not, that is.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Jaboui on September 17, 2015, 01:37:43 AM
We need stories to vote for!  The suspense is killing me... I hope it lasts.  :)
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: MCWagner on September 17, 2015, 02:28:53 AM
Whew.  Battled a major writer's block over the last month but got two entries in.  (Hope I did it right... I'm always paranoid that I shoved them in through the out door or something.)

One quick note for everybody:  in one of the contests last time around, there was a bit of a dust-up over fraudulent voting.  Turned out the author was entirely innocent... a friend or relation tried ballot stuffing without their knowledge, got caught, and soured things a bit.  To that end, if you plan to encourage outside participation (without saying which entry is yours, of course) and you know you've got friends who might try something similar, please encourage them to play fair.  (Long way round of saying, if you know your cousin considers himself a "133+ haX0r" you can invite him to vote, but tell him to behave himself.)

Everyone was a little let down by the accusations of cheating last time, and I think we'd rather avoid that kind of drama.  I used to run a somewhat similar contest in the past, and, in my experience, a spirit of fair play is a fragile structure.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: starktheground on September 17, 2015, 12:04:39 PM
Quick question:

So, the voting is open to everyone on the forum and not just the contributors? I don't have a strong feeling about it either way, just curious. Thanks!
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Thunderscreech on September 17, 2015, 01:02:36 PM
Quick question:

So, the voting is open to everyone on the forum and not just the contributors? I don't have a strong feeling about it either way, just curious. Thanks!

"It's a 218-way tie!  What amazing luck!"
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Not-a-Robot on September 17, 2015, 01:11:26 PM
Quick question:

So, the voting is open to everyone on the forum and not just the contributors? I don't have a strong feeling about it either way, just curious. Thanks!

"It's a 218-way tie!  What amazing luck!"

As far as I gather from the announcements and everything else, all members are invited to vote.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Fenrix on September 17, 2015, 01:36:52 PM

Quick question:

So, the voting is open to everyone on the forum and not just the contributors? I don't have a strong feeling about it either way, just curious. Thanks!


Authors submit stories for consideration. The crowd decides which stories get thrown to the lions. We encourage all community members to read and vote for their favorites.


We need stories to vote for!  The suspense is killing me... I hope it lasts.  :)


I see you shiver with antici
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Moritz on September 17, 2015, 02:40:40 PM
"It's a 218-way tie!  What amazing luck!"

Well, there are groups first, so you vote a winner of each group. Even if only the authors participated, it would mean you could get more than your own vote, unless everyone was really weird and only voted in their own group for themselves  ;)
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Bdoomed on September 17, 2015, 04:31:42 PM
218, by the way, was the number in the submissions box.  There have already been some disqualifications for various reasons, a misplaced submission for the general submissions box, etc.  The number will most likely go down a little bit more as I continue to go through all of the submissions.

Authors, please note: If you decide to send your story elsewhere for consideration before/during the contest and it gets published elsewhere, you are required to disqualify yourself from this contest.  The contest is for original, unpublished works only.  We won't fault you for sending your story elsewhere.  If you get it published somewhere else, congratulations! Seriously, good work, but you should remove the story from this contest.

As Fenrix said, voting is available to anyone who joins the forums and makes a post, so long as they play fair.  A lot of this contest is based on the honor system, but there are ways we can catch cheaters.  We encourage all of you to tell your friends about the contest and get them to come join in on the fun, just don't tell them which story is yours until that story has either lost or wins in the end.  This contest is super fun when everyone plays by the rules, plays fair, etc.  Even if your story loses, you should walk away with a decent amount of feedback and well wishes.  Writing is brutal, and the goal here is to make that brutality at least a bit fun.

As always, feel free to contact me with any questions/concerns you have.  Best way to get my attention quickly is to e-mail me at Brian@escapeartists.net.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Fenrix on September 17, 2015, 04:53:46 PM
Also keep in mind that 99% of the stories have to lose the contest.

There is a nonzero chance that we may approach some of the runners up to purchase their stories. However, PseudoPod not historically been very forthcoming with additional purchases, so get your hopes too high.

That said, I know PseudoPod has purchased some stories that ran in other flash contests for the other Pods. Unblinking's story for the Escape Pod flash fiction contest about the happy little murderbot found a home in one of the Flash on the Borderlands episodes. I know I'm forgetting at least one more.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Unblinking on September 17, 2015, 06:03:59 PM
That said, I know PseudoPod has purchased some stories that ran in other flash contests for the other Pods. Unblinking's story for the Escape Pod flash fiction contest about the happy little murderbot found a home in one of the Flash on the Borderlands episodes. I know I'm forgetting at least one more.

:) 
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Not-a-Robot on September 17, 2015, 08:30:56 PM
Also keep in mind that 99% of the stories have to lose the contest.


Conversely, 1% of the stories have to win the contest.  That means, my cup is currently 1% full.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: starktheground on September 18, 2015, 12:53:01 AM
Neato. Sounds fun!
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: South of No North on September 18, 2015, 03:32:35 PM
A non-zero chance is all I need and almost all I ever get.
Looking forward to reading all the wild variations of horror to come.......and then judge  them.
This will be my first time in this kind of contest, a process so transparent. As well as potential to get truly honest feedback even in the " unlikely event " my story doesn't make it passed the first round.

Good luck everyone & hurry up Oct. First.


 
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: KiKo75 on September 18, 2015, 09:13:53 PM
Utter newbie to the Pseudopod/EA forums as well, although I've read several of the podcasts and previous contest stories. So, let's see, if I start Sept. 21 and maintain the rate of one-a-day, I can have all my fingernails gnawed off by Oct. 1st. Perfect! But seriously, thanks for the chance and I'm looking forward to reading stories and receiving feedback. Let's do this thing, fellow presumed humans . . . :)
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: benjaminjb on September 18, 2015, 11:12:56 PM
Bdoomed, thank you for all the work you put into this!

As the flash contest both got me back into writing and into interacting with some loverly people here, I'm enormously fond of it.

Can't wait to read everyone's stories!
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: DoWhileNot on September 19, 2015, 02:40:44 AM
Yep, I agree with everything said about the coolness of Bdoomed, but also everyone that reads and comments.  The quality of the critiques during the contests has been amazing.  These contests work great as writers workshops as well.  And it doesn't hurt if your story wins... or almost wins.  Almost winning here is just as good as winning with all of the support that everyone gives out.

Still, it can take some thick skin to read through the critiques and see where everyone totally missed the point of your story and then realize that maybe they missed the point because you did a crappy job of writing it.  *Rolls eyes at self*

I only managed one story this time... we'll see how it does.  I'm not expecting anything amazing except for good solid critiques.

Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Bdoomed on September 19, 2015, 05:18:58 AM
Aw, shucks, you guys.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: adrianh on September 19, 2015, 06:42:15 AM
Still, it can take some thick skin to read through the critiques and see where everyone totally missed the point of your story and then realize that maybe they missed the point because you did a crappy job of writing it.  *Rolls eyes at self*

I resemble that remark ;-)
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Windup on September 19, 2015, 03:00:34 PM
Yes, Bdoomed, thanks for taking on the participant & comment wrangling duties on this one. 

Like others, I'm looking forward to both the stories and the story comments.  C'mon, October 1!!!
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Witchlander on September 21, 2015, 12:02:46 AM
I'm also impatient for October 1st! I'm a first timer and I only submitted one so I'm not expecting miracles, but it sounds like a lot of fun! Thanks Bdoomed and everyone else involved.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Jaboui on September 21, 2015, 12:21:46 AM
Yeah, please let it be October 1st already!
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Windup on September 21, 2015, 01:19:07 AM

Still, it can take some thick skin to read through the critiques and see where everyone totally missed the point of your story and then realize that maybe they missed the point because you did a crappy job of writing it.  *Rolls eyes at self*

Yup.  Or in my case in the PodCastle contest: "That trope that you're using: it doesn't mean what you think it means."

BUT, it is definitely better to understand than to not understand.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: will on September 23, 2015, 01:34:44 AM
Hi, folks!

October 1st yet?

No?

:wanders away again:

Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: DoWhileNot on September 23, 2015, 06:06:45 PM
Hi, folks!

October 1st yet?

No?

:wanders away again:



Er, there's other stuff here besides the contest that ya might want to check out.  Just sayin.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Unblinking on September 25, 2015, 08:48:54 PM
I think my calendar's broken.  October doesn't seem to be approaching.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: will on September 27, 2015, 01:48:44 AM
Quote
Er, there's other stuff here besides the contest that ya might want to check out.  Just sayin.

Without a doubt.  So much forum. So little time. :-)
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: NaturalBornChiller on September 27, 2015, 10:42:33 AM
Hello! I'm looking forward to the contest, though this is my first time taking part. So we write up critiques for every story in every bracket and pick our favourite to go on to the next round? Will we post our critiques here in the forum? I know things will be clearer when October 1st finally rolls around, but I'm just trying to get some idea of what I've signed up for :).
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Fenrix on September 27, 2015, 01:14:58 PM
Hello! I'm looking forward to the contest, though this is my first time taking part. So we write up critiques for every story in every bracket and pick our favourite to go on to the next round? Will we post our critiques here in the forum? I know things will be clearer when October 1st finally rolls around, but I'm just trying to get some idea of what I've signed up for :).

If you putter around in the previous rounds, this will give you a good idea as to what to expect.

http://forum.escapeartists.net/index.php?board=16.0
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Windup on September 27, 2015, 01:56:50 PM
Hello! I'm looking forward to the contest, though this is my first time taking part. So we write up critiques for every story in every bracket and pick our favourite to go on to the next round? Will we post our critiques here in the forum? I know things will be clearer when October 1st finally rolls around, but I'm just trying to get some idea of what I've signed up for :).
While it's nice to make as many crits as possible, you don't have to crit every story in every round.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Unblinking on September 28, 2015, 03:02:08 PM
Hello! I'm looking forward to the contest, though this is my first time taking part. So we write up critiques for every story in every bracket and pick our favourite to go on to the next round? Will we post our critiques here in the forum? I know things will be clearer when October 1st finally rolls around, but I'm just trying to get some idea of what I've signed up for :).
While it's nice to make as many crits as possible, you don't have to crit every story in every round.

It is not, in fact, required to crit any story.  Or to vote.  Or to read any story.  You can just send your stories in and then wait to see if you win.

But I (and many others) finding the critiquing and being-critiqued to be a wonderful exercise and way to interact with like-minded people here on the forums.  I try to give some feedback on every story, but that's certainly not required.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Fenrix on September 28, 2015, 03:08:45 PM
Critiquing and responding in threads will carry additional reward. I have plans.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: dagny on September 28, 2015, 11:55:06 PM
I'm really looking forward to some criticism, honestly--I just started writing spec fiction, and I want pointers.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: South of No North on September 29, 2015, 05:24:42 AM
On Oct. 1st the Flash Fiction Contest begins and
On Oct. 6th Ligotti re-print of Songs of a Dead Dreamer & Grimscribe is released.
September is taking fooooreeeeeveeeer.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Unblinking on September 29, 2015, 03:00:06 PM
Critiquing and responding in threads will carry additional reward. I have plans.

For real?  Nice! 

Even were that not the case, critiquing and responding is its own reward.  :)
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: DJL on September 30, 2015, 01:56:56 AM
How does the actual voting work? Is it done by replying to the posted story with an "I choo-choo-choose you", or is there something more to it?
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Bdoomed on September 30, 2015, 02:28:59 AM
A poll will be at the top of the list of stories.  If you look at past contests, you can see what I'm talking about :)
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Ryan H on September 30, 2015, 03:27:08 AM
This is so damn exciting!!!!!!!

212 stories is a lot of work. I'm impressed by all this organization, Bdoomed!
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Unblinking on September 30, 2015, 02:14:01 PM
It's October 1st somewhere in the world!
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: archaevist on September 30, 2015, 07:29:01 PM
Voting when
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Bdoomed on September 30, 2015, 07:31:05 PM
Voting soon
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Fenrix on September 30, 2015, 08:25:38 PM
Stay on target.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Ryan H on September 30, 2015, 08:50:32 PM
Stay on target.

Trying, Gold Five  :)
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: archaevist on September 30, 2015, 09:54:47 PM
For real I thought today was October 1
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: MCWagner on October 01, 2015, 01:35:59 AM
Stay on target.

Trying, Gold Five  :)
They're right behind you!
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Portrait in Flesh on October 01, 2015, 03:24:57 PM
Stay on target.

Trying, Gold Five  :)
They're right behind you!

All y'all make Porkins proud.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Bdoomed on October 01, 2015, 03:32:53 PM
Stay on target.

Trying, Gold Five  :)
They're right behind you!

All y'all make Porkins proud.

So proud, he might just cry.

NO!  He can hold it, HE CAN HOLD IT!

(https://geekhack.org/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=52512.0;attach=48398;image)
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: MCWagner on October 02, 2015, 04:24:24 AM
Stay on target.

Trying, Gold Five  :)
They're right behind you!

All y'all make Porkins proud.
Freshman year of college I sat through the whole 6 hour marathon of all three movies just so that, at the end of Jedi as the Millennium Falcon blows up the second Death Star, I could shout:

"THIS ONE'S FOR PORKINS!"
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Not-a-Robot on October 02, 2015, 07:04:19 AM
Stay on target.

Trying, Gold Five  :)
They're right behind you!

All y'all make Porkins proud.
Freshman year of college I sat through the whole 6 hour marathon of all three movies just so that, at the end of Jedi as the Millennium Falcon blows up the second Death Star, I could shout:

"THIS ONE'S FOR PORKINS!"

What's with Porkins?

I was always a Wedge fan.  That guy fights day in and day out and never takes the spotlight or any of the credit.  Hell, he doesn't even die in a flame of glory he just does his job competently every day.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Thunderscreech on October 02, 2015, 06:56:48 PM
https://youtube.com/watch?v=AW7U4U0XOkE

 Thankfully, the true genius of this character has been recognized and some modest improvements  have been made to the Blu-ray.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Infested on October 02, 2015, 09:46:44 PM
brilliant!
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Windup on October 02, 2015, 11:42:28 PM

What happens if you you click the "Remove Vote" link in the Poll?

Are all your votes removed, do you have the option to selectively remove votes and -- most important -- can you then vote again?

That's a feature I don't remember from other years.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Kabal on October 03, 2015, 01:26:58 AM
Yeah I did it twice. Like you never voted and you're free to recast.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Windup on October 03, 2015, 06:03:45 AM
Yeah I did it twice. Like you never voted and you're free to recast.
Thanks!
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Bdoomed on October 03, 2015, 06:16:31 AM
Yep, some years I don't think I had it set that way, but I figured you can change your mind upon thinking further on a story, or noticing something that bothers you/makes you like a story more, or perhaps you just accidentally clicked the wrong one.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: eytanz on October 03, 2015, 11:53:24 AM
In one of the past contests, there was an issue with people changing their votes before the poll closed - when one of their selections was ranked low, and there was a story they didn't like in the top three, they moved their original vote to the fourth place story to try to push their disliked story out. Which is why changing votes was disallowed, because allowing your knowledge of the vote distribution to influence who you are voting for is against the spirit of the polls.

I think the forum community these days is a bit less likely to engage in that sort of shenanigans than in the old days, definitely in a coordinated way, so I think allowing vote changes for cases where people genuinely change their mind is fair enough.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Bdoomed on October 03, 2015, 03:04:27 PM
As always, I reserve the right to change the rules and stop the ability to change votes should I notice some shady activities
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Chicken Ghost on October 06, 2015, 03:13:45 AM
Use your knowledge of voters' IP addresses to locate them and exact vengeance.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: starktheground on October 06, 2015, 12:40:08 PM
I have to say, I am thoroughly enjoying this. I really enjoy reading all the different creations. And it's fun to see what others like, and how the stories look from their perspective.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Witchlander on October 06, 2015, 05:52:47 PM
I'm having a great time, too! It's more of a time commitment than I realized. My nighttime reading/TV watching has now been replaced by reading flash fiction, but I'm happy to do that for a while.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Fenrix on October 06, 2015, 06:02:28 PM
There will be rewards for perseverance. Announcement forthcoming. I see you shiver with antici
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Jon Padgett on October 07, 2015, 02:54:56 PM
I'm really enjoying this contest process.  However, I'm increasingly distracted by the comments which follow each piece and have been ignoring them to the best of my ability (until my own votes have been cast). 

It's interesting to consider the psychological impact which these comments--particularly the first one following each submission--undoubtedly have upon voters, and this is the primary reason I've withheld my own observations and notes.  In fact, the Pseudopod staff may wish to consider ways in which groupthink can be avoided in the future.  Perhaps each piece could have a separate comments thread independent from the piece itself (which would be comment free).

I hope the tone of this post is not misunderstood.  The comments are indeed often interesting and helpful.  I just feel that they would be best separated from the submissions themselves.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Scattercat on October 07, 2015, 03:30:34 PM
So read the stories, vote, and then read the comments?  That's what I'd do if I were concerned about being influenced.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Unblinking on October 07, 2015, 03:37:32 PM
So read the stories, vote, and then read the comments?  That's what I'd do if I were concerned about being influenced.

It sounds like Jon is already trying to do that but is concerned that other people might be affected and may not choose to separate the two likewise?

I don't think it's an unreasonable point.  Attitudes may be affected by the comments.  I don't think that affect is bad necessarily, but it may affect the results.

But I would think it would be a bad idea to change the rules mid-contest without convincing evidence that the current way is clearly worse.  Because almost 8 groups have already been posted and separating the comments from the stories for most of those is too late to matter.  While not ALL things can be forced to be equal between Group 1 and Group 18 (the most notable being voter fatigue), I do think it's best to avoid introducing additional circumstance changes between the first group and the last.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: eytanz on October 07, 2015, 04:05:38 PM
I'm really enjoying this contest process.  However, I'm increasingly distracted by the comments which follow each piece and have been ignoring them to the best of my ability (until my own votes have been cast). 

It's interesting to consider the psychological impact which these comments--particularly the first one following each submission--undoubtedly have upon voters, and this is the primary reason I've withheld my own observations and notes.  In fact, the Pseudopod staff may wish to consider ways in which groupthink can be avoided in the future.  Perhaps each piece could have a separate comments thread independent from the piece itself (which would be comment free).

I hope the tone of this post is not misunderstood.  The comments are indeed often interesting and helpful.  I just feel that they would be best separated from the submissions themselves.

This was something that had come up as a possible issue when the last contest round came up as well. The thing is, this is not an issue that has a right or wrong approach, it's a matter of the style of contest. All the flash fiction contests we ran here in the past allowed commenting, and all of them let individual members decide whether or not to read the comments and allow them to influence their own votes. That's the type of contest this is, and personally, I think it's part of what makes it worthwhile, and this belief is shared by the other members of the EA forum team (and, as far as I know, the EA editorial team).

This is the contest that this is, and it seems to be successful in its current format - it's the fourth iteration, after all, and its gotten more submissions each time round. I certainly think that we could do it other ways, but I personally don't see the need, nor do I want to (which isn't to say I'm trying to shut down discussion on this, just giving the perspective of one of the people involved running contests here, albeit not the person in charge of this particular one).
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Jon Padgett on October 07, 2015, 04:17:28 PM
My comments were only meant to be a suggestion from one participant.  I certainly don't expect anything to be changed during the contest (that would be disastrous and unfair)--rather, the issue might be something for the editorial staff to reconsider in future iterations.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Fenrix on October 07, 2015, 04:50:46 PM
The way I voted in the prior rounds of the contest:

I would open the group in a new window and open all the stories in individual tabs.

I'd move the story to the left of the poll if I liked it. I'd close it if I didn't.

Then I would read the comments to help me narrow my choices down to three.

How have all of you been voting?
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Kabal on October 07, 2015, 06:01:05 PM
The way I voted in the prior rounds of the contest:

I would open the group in a new window and open all the stories in individual tabs.

I'd move the story to the left of the poll if I liked it. I'd close it if I didn't.

Then I would read the comments to help me narrow my choices down to three.

How have all of you been voting?

Pretty much the same. No amount of conversation is going to sway me on entries I just didn't like.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Unblinking on October 07, 2015, 06:49:25 PM
The way I voted in the prior rounds of the contest:

I would open the group in a new window and open all the stories in individual tabs.

I'd move the story to the left of the poll if I liked it. I'd close it if I didn't.

Then I would read the comments to help me narrow my choices down to three.

How have all of you been voting?

I haven't done that, but I don't think I could, because I often don't have time to read a whole group in one sitting, and some I read from different computers.  I just read them all, reading comments after the stories before making my own comments, and then vote in the poll and move on.

I'm a curmudgeon and I don't think there's much chance my choice will significantly shift from reading other people's feedback.  The one case where it might be more likely is if I just didn't understand a theme or event because I am not always great at details, and someone's explaining the point allows me to see that it's supported by the text, then I might be more likely to vote for it then.

Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Jon Padgett on October 07, 2015, 07:25:02 PM
The way I voted in the prior rounds of the contest:

I would open the group in a new window and open all the stories in individual tabs.

I'd move the story to the left of the poll if I liked it. I'd close it if I didn't.

Then I would read the comments to help me narrow my choices down to three.

How have all of you been voting?

In the first couple of groups, I didn't really think about the comments as I read them along with the fiction pieces.  As I went along, though, I began ignoring the comments until I voted just in case the comments were unconsciously swaying me one way or another.  Groupthink is human nature, no matter how independent-minded we may be as individuals.  At any rate, it's just an observation.  I'm not advocating for removing story comments--just separating them from the story text itself.  Thanks for hearing me out.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Bdoomed on October 07, 2015, 07:31:31 PM
The trick is to read all of the stories at 1am EST after I post them :D

be the first comment!
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Jon Padgett on October 07, 2015, 08:03:45 PM
The trick is to read all of the stories at 1am EST after I post them :D

be the first comment!

:laughter becomes weeping:
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: benjaminjb on October 07, 2015, 11:17:33 PM
The trick is to read all of the stories at 1am EST after I post them :D

be the first comment!

:laughter becomes weeping:

I call dibs if :laughter becomes weeping: isn't the name of a story or an emo album already...
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: starktheground on October 08, 2015, 12:02:44 AM
My two cents:
I like to read other's opinions but don't really influence my own. I usually-but not always-read the story and type up my comments before I read the other comments anyway. Then, copy paste and done.
I also don't comment on a story if I don't feel like I have anything productive or nice to say.
Which is why I may or may not have commented on my own...which may or may not have already been posted.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: MCWagner on October 08, 2015, 06:25:45 PM
The trick is to read all of the stories at 1am EST after I post them :D

be the first comment!

I'm trying, dangit!

This voices a concern I've had looking at a lot of the stories.  Quick one-off dismissal comments of stories that immediately follow them seem to get propagated throughout the thread, and it takes a good bit of effort to redirect later in the thread.  (This is true even when there's a basic factual misconception in the comment.)  Whether that affects voting or not is up in the air (picking three from a group of 13 means that there's usually strong feelings about the ones you vote for, which are unlikely to be reversed), but it does affect the overall tenor of the thread.  As three stories have already been pulled, I would suggest caution if you are one of the early commenters on a story:  try a some-positive, some-negative approach to get your points across without simply condemning the piece.

I know my own opinions can be swayed, not reversed entirely, but a negative thread can push me in a more negative direction than perhaps I initially intended...
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Devoted135 on October 11, 2015, 06:17:21 PM
I do exactly as Fenrix does, except that I tend to read/skim the comments along with each story. The comments have definitely swayed me on a small handful of stories, but that was for the story's benefit just as often as it was to its detriment. Personally, I think that separating the comment threads would increase the required clicking to the point of many fewer comments per story, which would weaken one of the contest's unique strengths.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: eytanz on October 12, 2015, 11:08:20 AM
So far, the comments have swayed me in a positive direction in a few cases, where I missed or didn't understand something in the story but when I saw it noted in the comments I reread the story and understood it better. I don't think there was a case where the comments affected me negatively, at least not on a concious level.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Moritz on October 13, 2015, 01:15:00 PM
Same for me.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Ryan H on October 13, 2015, 02:30:33 PM
Agreed. If there was something I liked in the story but the comments were more negative, I'm even more likely to add my own comment and point out what I enjoyed. And I'm probably going to show the story some love with a vote.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: 8BitDlite on October 13, 2015, 05:41:16 PM
Yeah, I think I'm swayed by the previous comments in that they impact what I choose to discuss about the story. If there's already a number of comments talking about the stakes being too low (for example), then I'm much more likely to mention the dialogue or sense of place.  I generally don't want to feel like I'm "piling on", and I know that critiques can certainly feel that way at times.

As far as voting, I don't think the comments affect me all that much.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Kolin Gates on October 14, 2015, 08:06:04 AM
As far as voting, I don't think the comments affect me all that much.

The first rule of Group Think, deny that it affects you!

I agree though, while comments do sometimes change the way I look at a single aspect of the story, I don't think they have ever made a story that I didn't like any better. The inverse applies, no matter how much battering a story takes, it doesn't change the core vote or no vote concept. Sometimes, I've been on the fence and ended up throwing a vote at one because there were too many, "Not my kind of story."

More than anything, I'm trying to be objective and look at each story individually and without my personal distaste for a subject present. I think that you can go either way with that though, obviously you will like stories that speak to your life.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Chicken Ghost on October 15, 2015, 02:12:40 AM
I've generally been putting stories in "maybe" and "no" lists immediately after reading.  A few of the maybes I've visited the comments to help make a decision.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: DoWhileNot on October 15, 2015, 03:09:12 AM
For better or worse,  I know that group think DOES effect me.   I'm very careful therefore when I'm reading the stories not to read the comments right away.   I keep a notepad by me while I read and give all of the stories a score and a brief couple of notes about my impression.   It's only after that that I go ahead and read the comments.

I'll vote for whichever stories get the highest score regardless of what the comments say or how they influence me.   On a scale of 1 to 10, so far nothing has been lower than a 4 or higher than a 9.5.  Lots of 9.5s though.   This has been a great contest so far.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Not-a-Robot on October 21, 2015, 10:05:47 AM
The way I voted in the prior rounds of the contest:

I would open the group in a new window and open all the stories in individual tabs.

I'd move the story to the left of the poll if I liked it. I'd close it if I didn't.

Then I would read the comments to help me narrow my choices down to three.

How have all of you been voting?


I read the story, then I read the comments,
Most of the time I go, "Yeah, I agree" or "What the hell are they all thinking?"
Then I vote and find out that nobody has the same tastes as I do.
Have I been affected by group think?  It's a possibility that I can't rule out, but I have had many instances where I have disagreed with the comments and voted my own way.

I like the commenting, and I think that it's sometimes a good thing.  For instance, I have learned a ton about banshees, and I know that group think DOES effect me.   I'm very careful therefore when I'm reading the stories not to read the comments right away.   I keep a notepad by me while I read and give all of the stories a score and a brief couple of notes about my impression.   It's only after that that I go ahead and read the comments.

I'll vote for whichever stories get the highest score regardless of what the comments say or how they influence me.   On a scale of 1 to 10, so far nothing has been lower than a 4 or higher than a 9.5.  Lots of 9.5s though.   This has been a great contest so far.


Uhh oh...
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Chicken Ghost on October 22, 2015, 04:52:14 AM
I've been reading them and recording them in a "maybe" list and a "no" list.  I usually don't read the comments until I've decided.  If I've only got 3 in the "maybe" list (only 2 or 3 groups so far) the rest is easy.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Not-a-Robot on November 01, 2015, 02:37:11 PM
Just a quick question for the future.

In case anyone would want to get a head start on things for 2016, would the PC and EP flash fiction contests have the same word limit as this contest?  Or is that not known yet?
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Fenrix on November 01, 2015, 02:44:54 PM
Just a quick question for the future.

In case anyone would want to get a head start on things for 2016, would the PC and EP flash fiction contests have the same word limit as this contest?  Or is that not known yet?

Odds are good. I think some in the past have been 750, but 500 is a good size to shoot for.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Bdoomed on November 01, 2015, 09:21:00 PM
Definitely a safe bet at 500.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: eytanz on November 03, 2015, 11:46:48 AM
I ran the previous EP contest with a 750 word limit as an experiment, but afterwards the consensus was that while there were some stories that took advantage of the extra words quite well, overall it did not make a big enough impact on the quality of the stories to be worthwhile the longer reading times necessary. I haven't discussed it with the editors yet - and the final decision is theirs - but I think the next EP contest will be 500 words.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Scattercat on November 03, 2015, 05:10:18 PM
I know I'll be advocating 500 tops.  The 750 stories were just too saggy overall, unless interest drops dramatically and we were only expecting like twenty people to submit.  XD
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Unblinking on November 03, 2015, 11:02:26 PM
As a writer, I really want 750 words, because in both my entries this time I had to cut vital information that I could've fit with another couple hundred words.

But as a reader/voter/participant, I'm good with 500 because I was already worn out by the end with 500 words apiece!
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Chicken Ghost on November 04, 2015, 07:47:14 AM
Now we almost know how slush readers feel.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Unblinking on November 04, 2015, 05:30:20 PM
Now we almost know how slush readers feel.

I've also been a slushreader, but when I am I don't give out detailed comments to every story I read, and I don't necessarily read every story front to back like I do here, so this is still more time-consuming.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Chicken Ghost on November 05, 2015, 04:16:36 AM
So when you were doing that, what would make you go "nope, next?"
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Unblinking on November 05, 2015, 02:57:44 PM
So when you were doing that, what would make you go "nope, next?"

For specific things: awkward writing (which doesn't happen too often).  I'm really tired of serial killers and zombies so if a story has those then it needs to make up for it in some other way, it could be an interesting new angle or perspective, or particularly clever language, or really anything to show that it's not a member of the rank-and-file.

But most early-nopes boil down to the general category "didn't catch my interest".  I usually give a story at least a few hundred words to grab my attention, which is more than some readers will do.   If I can set that story down and not wonder what happens next, then it's probably not for me--I've experimented with reading further after I get that initial sense, but I don't recall a case where my initial disinterest was reversed. 

The cause of that can be a variety of things, and it's important to realize that such disinterest is largely a matter of taste--I have similar disinterest in a fair amount of professionally published stories. 

My interest can be triggered by a variety of things--a character I can empathize with, a weird and fun situational idea that I haven't seen before, a cool speculative element, clever or funny use of language.
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: Fenrix on November 05, 2015, 03:00:29 PM
This is a killer:

“I don’t care what happens to these people.”

http://www.pcwrede.com/the-eight-deadly-words/
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: MCWagner on November 05, 2015, 06:46:41 PM
As a writer, I really want 750 words, because in both my entries this time I had to cut vital information that I could've fit with another couple hundred words.

But as a reader/voter/participant, I'm good with 500 because I was already worn out by the end with 500 words apiece!

When I started participating in these contests, I was really wanting that 750 word limit, as I tended toward the lengthy and wordy (NO!  Say it ain't so!).  Now that I've been at it a while, I realize the 500 really does improve your writing.  Textual efficiency has a huge learning curve, but once you master hammering your own work into such a small space, you start noticing lazy writing elsewhere.  Needless words, bad, convoluted structure.  The tighter the wordlimit, the better your writing has to be to even make sense in such a small snippet.  (Up to a point, presumably.)

So I'm also in favor of the 500 word limit...
Title: Re: Pseudopod Flash Fiction Contest IV Rules
Post by: FireTurtle on November 05, 2015, 07:04:01 PM
What MCWagner said!