Saturday, January 23, 2010

A Change in My Contest Commenting

After a good bit of thought, I believe that it would be much more helpful if I give more detailed feedback to anyone who wants it rather than giving bare-bones feedback to everyone, regardless of whether they want it or will read it. So, here is the invitation! If you want feedback on your scoring, email me at jevanswriter at yahoo dot com with your entry number, and I will respond to you as soon as I can. The focus here is on those who didn't quite make the Forties Club. If you made it, then you succeeded at the main challenge. Those who placed had the most original ideas and deliveries of the Forties Club members in my opinion, but that is certainly subjective. Nevertheless, I'm always gratified to see how much my choices correlate with the overall Readers' Choice votes. In this case, it's even more remarkable given a total of 237 entries.

I think I'm still limping from the sheer size of this last contest, but I do think it was a blast! Unless I suddenly become sane, I'll be looking to do a summer contest somewhere in the neighborhood of July.

18 comments:

JaneyV said...

I kinda like you bonkers!

DILLIGAF said...

I would love more detailed criticism.

I ain't a writer. I just 'do my thing'.

Anything that could help me 'do my thing' a bit better would be genuinely appreciated.

Come on mate!!! I can take it!!!

I want to know. What do you genuinely think of my 'effort'.

I faithfully promise I will not be offended in any way shape or form.

You're a blogmate.

That means (to me) you are a friend.

You can say owt you like and it won't affect that.

I expect a real critique in the near future!

Cheers old bean

4D

Jean said...

a limp? oh gawd, whathavewedone???

email on the way. More, please, sir.

Kate said...

Thanks, Jason, and good luck. You've already gone above and beyond, but people enter these things specifically to get feedback, so I suspect you will get a LOT of requests. As a member of the Forties Club, I'll take the hint and refrain.

At least *grits teeth* I'll try, LOL:)

I hope you can find a way to make the next contest a little more manageable. Maybe limit the number of entries like Miss Snark?

Anonymous said...

I've got nothing but respect for how much you've put into this. Just wanted to drop in again and offer my thinks and best wishes. Hope you survive that limp!! :)

~ Corra

Anonymous said...

Ha! I mean offer my 'thanks.' I need my 'thinks' to get through college. :D

~ Corra

Leah McClellan said...

I can only imagine how much effort you put into this contest. I sure do appreciate it! I've been a lazy writer (distracted or unfocused might be more like it) and the contest gives me inspiration.

I'm OK without additional feedback--I think 40s club and HM is plenty! :) I think I've got a pretty good sense now of what's needed in 250 words according to your criteria (which I like a lot and I think applies just about anywhere or for anyone).

I'm going to tweak just a couple of words in my piece and possibly expand on something if I don't delete it. The readers' feedback was excellent and very helpful, for what was said and what wasn't.

Thanks, and I'm looking forward to the next one.

Leah

tea and cake said...

Can I just say - I really appreciated the comments/feedback you gave to me when I entered the 'Halo' comp.

Tabitha Bird said...

A bit crazy is always preferable :)

Great contest. Maybe I'll catch you in July for the nest one.

the walking man said...

i think I can pass on the comments Jason. I see the flaws in mine after I posted and received a few bits of feedback from others.

T.A. Novak said...

I will look forward to your comments in reference to my piece rather than broad generalities. Email already sent.

Tessa said...

Roll on July! I think I'll try a narrative piece rather than a poem for that challenge...

In the meantime, I'll be really grateful for a crit from you, Jason, if you have the time. I'll go email right now.

laughingwolf said...

jason, i forgot: those in the 40s club received honorable mention, or how does that work again?

JAX said...

This was fun, Jason, hope to do it again soon. I'm flattered to have made the forties club.
JAX #200

Anonymous said...

Thank you, everyone. :) You all are seriously cool, you know that?

I've given feeback on about 20 to 25 entries so far, and I have around 15 more in my mailbox. I'll be able to get a good number out tomorrow.

Laughingwolf, as to your question, Forties Club is for all entries which scored at least 40 out of 45 in my scoring system. I don't have an exact count, but I'm guessing it was probably 60 - 80 entries. But that's a guess. I recognized 5 placements and 20 honorable mentions out of those.

strugglingwriter said...

That seems like the most fair use of your time and best for the writers. Good decision, Jason.

Paul

Unknown said...

Jason: You are truly amazing to put all this effort into your contests and I hope you will continue to do so. Thank you so much for my personalized critique. I look forward to July's contest!

laughingwolf said...

thx jason... guess i did not make it this time.....