I will start to post some of the intros soon--I want a few more to preserve anonymity but I wondered how people wanted it done.

Option 1
I can either start a single thread for all of the intros. i think people may break these up with comments making it harder to find the latter ones as you may have trawl through many comments.

or:

Option 2
I can start a new thread for each of the 13 lines. People can then comment if they wish.

or:

Option 3
We do the first version but we ask people not to post comments. So then each participant can reach their own decision, regarding which is their favourite intro, without being influenced by what someone else has said. This is my favourite option, but you may disagree.

Please air your views. I am happy to go with the majority decision on this. If it appears tied, I will go for the last option.

Also voting is a n issue that has crossed my mind.

I am happy to do a table showing the scores etc, but then someone will be at the bottom of that list. I have no desire to put anyone off writing so I have a few options.

a) Publish complete table.

b) Publish scores for top three stories, plus top three for intros. Anyone who wants a complete list can request it and I will email it to them privately.

c) Publish scores for first four. You will receive your crits back and will therefore know your own score (plus if people requested your story), but no-one else's, except the published winners.

If there are options I haven't covered do tell, other wise could you vote on the above options e.g.

Option 1
a

You haven't thought about keeping it real with the possibility that an author thinks that their work is the best. Granted, that could be resolved by making only four requests (and only you would know). <shrug> It's a thought.

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I thought that we were going to request the stories via your email (to preserve anonymity), as well as return the crits, and vote. If that is still the case, there's no need to post more than an ENTRY thread. Post and remind all participants not to post on that thread, to email you with requests, crits, and votes.

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Yeah, the first bit is how it will work. You will request a story (I select the other three randomly) via your email (to preserve anonymity), as well as return the crits, and vote. The second bit was me being diplomatic. I didn't want someone to start commenting on the intro's, hence why I posted this topic.

Regarding your own work and keeping it real. I think the point of the competition is to see how your work stands up against someone else's in a the eyes of others. I stated earlier that people will not be allowed to vote for themselves because some people may find it difficult to be objective regarding their own work. They may for example be overly modest regarding their work, someone else may have the opposite problem. It is easier level the playing field by saying you can't vote for yourself or select your own story. Besides you have to vote on the stories you are sent--and I won't send you your own!

You didn't mention how you wanted me to reveal the winners.

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The second bit was me being diplomatic. I didn't want someone to start commenting on the intro's, hence why I posted this topic.

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1) You're supposed to be running this--don't be diplomatic in the structure (only in the diplomatic stuff, like voting ).

2) When you post the topic with the 13s, put in boldface font: Do not post in this thread. This is for viewing only. I think that should cover it. But, maybe not--though most of us should be able to read (understand printed word) and write to be understood.

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I think the point of the competition is to see how your work stands up against someone else's in a the eyes of others. I stated earlier that people will not be allowed to vote for themselves because some people may find it difficult to be objective regarding their own work.

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During the last competition (which I threw), people had the opportunity to vote for themsleves, but no one did. It was interesting to see that.

I didn't read anything covering voting for yourself, that's why I asked. I probably just skimmed over it. (I didn't assume you'd send anyone their own story. That would be foolish: They'd already have it.) (Oh, and it may "level the playing field, but I don't believe that it will "keep it real" or "honest".) <--This was not to argue the point, just to drip out what's circling the drain in my mind.

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You didn't mention how you wanted me to reveal the winners.

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You should be telling me. I imagined that it would either be revealed in the 13s thread, or in a topic of its own.

I will reveal the top three in terms of votes. You will receive crits back so will know what your own score is. I will send anyone who wants to know the entire results for their own benefit.

I will post 13 lines on a single thread. People will be asked to make no comments on them in the post. IT WILL BE FOR READING ONLY.

I decided, and I am sure I said it somewhere in a post, that I would begin posting as soon as stories come in. I will do so in groups of posts. I have some others that I have not yet posted yet.

I have a full time job and this particular competition will use a fair bit of my time, what with emails and secret ballots etc., so I have to do stuff as it happens.

Not that I am complaining--I am not.

I don't think how long it has been posted will influence people either way, personally. Some may say that if your intro has been up for longer it may become 'invisible', others may say the opposite. I think if it is the best it will shine compared to the rest. While I appreciate your concerns, it is only really for fun. After the competition you can all swap your stories if you want.

I agree you may not wish to read them if you are still writing. You are not obliged to, in that sense you can operate in a vacuum. You need only check towards at the end.