FAKKU Writers' Lounge

Can you only write if prizes are involved? I might not be in the loop of things, so I don't quite understand the apparent hostility towards the Valentine Contest.


On the world-building / what-if-scenario topic:

You probably first have to decide if you want to have a realistic scenario or a fantastical scenario. The first requires a lot of research to be believable, the latter usually is easier to do since the reason for the what-if-scenario can be something that is not fully grounded in reality.

@CofeePrince: You went for a realistic route I guess. It might be good to have some time frames for your what-if-scenario. In general though, I find it hard to believe that nationalist movements will take off like that. The EU is definitely a pot that is close to boiling over right now, but it looks more like the direction of civil war than nationalist governments. I'm no expert on politics though, I'm not that interested in them.

Interesting scenarios to imagine at the moment (at least for me) are how technology may continue to change our world. 3D printing is on the rise, for example. When they become affordable enough, what could the implications be on the markets? Would people still buy figures and related hobbyist-items or just download the blueprints and print them out themselves? How many more bootlegs might appear? There are plans to 3D print organs for transplants as well - and that is just one technology.

Define contest before you speak.

you know, the Valentine's Event is not really a contest. I'm making this more similar to the Halloween Event - with no judging whatsoever.

what makes it differ was the prize-givings, and this time I'll let the prize-giver pick their top favorites =)

I'm not really sure what makes you real pissed off about. but in my opinion, there's always a reward and real merit from writing for the sake of writing itself. there's something much more about writing, than just something in for a competition.

you might not agree with me on this part, that's fine.

I already said what I want to say.

I know it's an event, but he said contest. Lawl

Writing for the sake of writing is something that everyone does even when there isn't a contest as well.

I'm not 'pissed off' as you call it.

I'm just really disappointed that this is the direction the community is taking. I said 'I'm out' because it's about time I stop caring. It's still my thread, so I'm still replying. o3o

I can kind of see the middle ground.

First, it's like Rise says, a prizeless event has no weight, especially one without judging. 'No weight' as in no one has an incentive, competition is non-existent, and without either, there is no pressure. The general assumed result is that entries will be lackluster compared to if there was judging or prizes. Also, the event is pretty much catered to only current writers here meaning that we generally wouldn't get new writers joining.

However, I also don't really see the harm in holding it. The only potential harm I could think of is that it might be devaluing future contests. I still hold that the summer and winter contests (honestly winter is plenty), is enough competition.

In a nutshell, High's event is sort of like saying 'Here's a theme! Anyone up to write about it?' It's not a contest, it's like a personal challenge or goal. A cooking group might do something like 'Weekly Challenges! See if you can make something from ingredient x and post it!' A sports group might do something like 'Monthly Sports Meet-Up, join for some fun!' Well, I think High is doing 'Valentine's Theme, see what you writers can come up with!' Everyone participating above is not looking for a prize. Cooks might benefit from learning new techniques. Sports people might just be doing it for some pwnage and food. We writers get potential feedback as well as another story to boast about under our belts.

These events aren't like Rise's and Xenon's contests, but they aren't supposed to be. There is no weight, and I think that's the idea. I think the purpose is to just give people an extra push and purpose for writing. 'Event' is the key word, I agree that 'contest' would be incorrect.

By the way, the voluntary prizes amuse me. I'm not sure how that would work. How would you choose the best work? Sounds like you'd need a judge or a poll. If so,that might just bring us back to square one XD

I probably won't be entering because I'm lazy as hell (and you know the MCAT of doom), but I did want to try and solve this problem.

I welcome any opportunity to write. I will be writing at work, I will be writing at home, I will be writing to communicate. I need practice and I want people to read what I write. Events like these are easy to hold, fun to participate in, gives excuses for people to read the work of other people and it is like a film festival. No winners, no losers but with happy and not so happy audiences nonetheless.

As with previous contests, I cannot import the prizes that are offered. Why do I still participate in these contests? Because it is fun making people suffer what I write!

That said, xnine, you can come up with anything that is not already written. I spent two weeks penning 8 nonsensical articles and it felt good. I would even welcome you rewriting that winning contest entry of yours.

My understanding is that normally, Writing and Fanfiction has two annual contests with judges and prizes: one in winter and one in summer. It looks like those aren't in danger of going away, so I don't see what the problem is with having these little events in between. I don't even see how they could devalue the contests as Xnine suggests might happen. They're still the only actual contests after all. Really, if anything, the events will just make the section more lively.

On an entirely different note, does anyone know how the word "extraordinary" came about? It's something that's been bothering me for a while.

well, I think there's already the Winter Contest going on, and people do need a break for competitive events once in a while. For the competitive ones, there's still the Summer Contest, right? I'll try to help out the best I can, so don't you worry.

if I were to voice my opinion, the community still prefer the competitive ones I think, that is, if we judge by the festive response down the Winter Contest. it's not that it's going towards a new direction - we just need to freshen things up. even if I'm not that up for competing, I still find it fun just to watch you guys doing your best =D

anyway, just take it easy.



well said. you said it better than what I could ever do =)

about the prizes, I'd just let the prize-givers do the judging and pick their top favorites for the prize giveaway. I'll also try to think of the prizes too, maybe if I'm not that lazy I'll come up with something to reward their best of efforts.





that was also well said, you two. I have similar views about it, so there's nothing much could be said about that =D

anyways, I don't know much about the semantics thingy. Xenon or Raptor might know more about it.

You guys are the ones who aren't taking easy though...

Like, by not dropping this.

Something so lackluster that can barely get 10 entries? I don't see the merit to even arguing about this.

you know. if you're reading what leonard had said and probably the others who also participated in the last Halloween Event. it's not about the number of entries, it was not about the other things at all.

we just participated to write, we just participated to join in a some kind of fun - just that.

oh well. I really run out of words to say lol =)

anyway, Xenon probably could explain this much better than I did. he pulled out a fantastic effort with his piece.

at the Halloween Event I only translated my old story and just post it there.

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/extraordinary

Thanks, but that doesn't help. I guess I should have been more specific. It's always bothered me how the word is used to describe things that are out of the ordinary, but when you break it down, you get extra ordinary, which means something is more ordinary than usual.

Allow me to quote from the link I have provided you:

From Latin extraordinarius, from extra ordinem, "outside the order"; equivalent to extra- +†Ž ordinary. Extra means outside. The origins of the word is Latin instead of English.

Wikitionary is not really a dictionary. It tells you the origins of the word and how it is used throughout the ages.

Oh, I missed that part. Thank you for solving one of life's greatest mysteries.

That line is at the very beginning of the entry for extraordinary under 'etymology'! How could you have missed it?!

More on the etymology:





Stop being a drama queen. I'm beginning to think you actually see something wrong with this instead of just clearly trolling. There's absolutely nothing wrong with us having a writing event to keep the W&F users excited and active. Prizes and judging or no, you're acting ridiculous. I'm not sure if you're just making an excuse to rationalize why you won't end up participating anyway, but I'd prefer if you just outright admitted to being a lazy bum. If you want judging and prizes, you should have run your summer contest this year, and you should do it again in a couple months so as to get what you want. This community is run by action. Don't like something? Run it differently. No one is taking Summer from you. If you don't do it, no one will.

-Xenon, Badass Judge

Do you even understand trolling? Or are you gonna say that blatantly supporting everything is the exact opposite of trolling now?

What does running a prize-less event that takes a seasonal slot do to attract more users? I doubt it does anything. I don't even get the excitement.

Sure you're having your own personal fun with such a thing, but it deviates from the original objective of getting new users into the section, this is the reason why hosting anything even became a thing on the Writing Forum. Are we looking for Xnine, High, Leonard, Mibu, or d to participate every year? Or should we do that AND expect more new faces to pop up with potentially good stories?


You seem to greatly prefer the former.


Even Noel did it better by at least having a translation prize (it's not that hard to PM a scanlation group member, especially with so many people uploading on Fakku these days). I'm not saying High can't host, I'm saying he should prepare something beforehand, and if he can't judge, he can just make a poll.

There's nothing wrong with writing for the sake of it, but this feels like wasted potential. Because Solid-tier event can only do so much to only have the few active kids participate, and that's it.

you know, attracting new users by writing contests does not mean they will be active here in the long run.

some people are just attracted to one place or another, and by getting events and stuff. what we're doing is just cherishing what we had up this moment, on building a solid community so we could open arms for more people to join in.

to put it in as a metaphor, we're strengthening the foundations before building up another story of a building, to ensure it doesn't crumble up that easily.

guess this is the main reason why you're feeling lonely and start acting out tsundere again lol. can't blame ya for that, some of us really disliked lonely places =D

anyway, I'm also thinking to get new people to join, and most importantly, make them comfortable like at home and could prolong their stay. not just popping out at the contest and leaving just like that.

I really appreciate your eye opening input and you're one of the most prominent contributors of this section. though I think, ranting about it won't make new people join right away. we should try to stick together somehow. even if you're expressing distastes for this event, it's fine.

but yeah, please just calm down. just play games or have kinky fantasies all day. no one really hates you here for being who you are, there's no need to be upset =D



anyways about getting on new people, I also invited some of my friends from outside this site to join in. I don't know if they will return my call but I'd be sure to keep in touch with them again.

you know instead of throwing sarcasms out there

if you want me to just go away, i will

categorizing my personality or accusing me because i care does hurt, no matter how tough i act

you know, I'm not really the person for sarcasms man. seriously you're really making me sad when you said you're just gonna go away =(

look, I'm truly sorry about what I said. I really didn't mean anything ill by that. please just calm down, okay?

you know, we're really looking forward to your contributions. I know you're busy with things in real life, but yeah, people keep nagging you because they're really waiting for you to step in once again. like someone said, it just doesn't feel the same without you around =D