Iron Poet XX

[Exegesis]

If the problem is time, and what we mainly lack are judges, would it make sense to go ahead and begin the prompts with a title note that it's still recruiting? If necessary you could just pin the deadline to 'a week after the last person signs up'.

[FinnLassie]

That gives a disadvantage to the contestants who sign up later, though. That's nae fun.

[Vaynor]

Exactly, while it would give the appropriate amount of minimal time to all of the contestants, it would give more maximum time to the majority of them which would be unfair. I'd prefer to just wait until we have all the spots filled; time isn't really an issue.

[Dr Bwaa]

Indeed. After all, we've never had one of these not fill up.

Given the potentially long time between signup and the start of the contest, though, I do think it would be a good idea to do a "check-in", either in PMs or in the thread, once we're ready to go, to make sure everyone's still willing and able to participate. Vaynor, I can coordinate that if you think it's a good idea but don't want to deal with it yourself.

[Weezer]

I'd like to join as a contestant. Been a while since I've given this a spin

[Vaynor]

We have had at least one contest that I can remember start with only 8 contestants, I believe.

I try to send PMs to the contestants when the first round starts to let them know the contest has begun, but I often forget to do so. If you would like to send such a PM, it would be greatly appreciated. I don't think we need to do anything as elaborate as a check-in. If they sign up for the contest but don't even check their private messages often enough to notice that the contest has started, it's likely they would not be participating anyways.

[Targ Collective]

I respectfully request that I be notified by PM every time I'm up to compete. Otherwise I may miss things - don't check here every day.

[Dallas-Dakota]

If there's still a contestant spot, I'd like one.

[Vaynor]

There was exactly one left, you're in luck!

Now we just need two more judges and we're good to go.

[FinnLassie]

Oh, I'm getting excited...

[Duck999]

Judges! Judges! You can judge. First you have to volunteer though...

[Vaynor]

Come on guys, we just need two more judges! Or, if one of the competitors would like to volunteer to swap if we get new competitors, that would work as well.

[Exegesis]

Two contestants could judge until we have devoted judges. They'd be able to judge the other's match, and Vaynor could be the third judge on those two matches. I'd be willing to be one of them.

[FinnLassie]

I think it's better to have set judges from the get go.

[Exegesis]

So do I, but since a month has failed to bring them we may as well make do. If one more person volunteers as temp judge, we could be set to go with Vaynor's approval.

[FinnLassie]

I personally do not want to be judged by another contestant, and will drop out if that'll be the case.

To be fair, it's probably slow right now as it is still summer holidays for the most people. I'd say to still wait.

[Septimus Faber]

Not to sound selfish, but if FinnLassie drops out can I nab the vacancy? I don't really mind being judged by another contestant and this sounds like loads of fun. If this isn't possible, I totally understand, and it *is* a little rude of me to be asking, really.

[CWater]

...This is taking really long. Maybe I could judge? Just so we get this started.

(Septimus can have my contestant spot in that case I guess.)

[Garwain]

Hi guys, I'm willing to judge this round. I did participate and judge in earlier rounds, but it's been a while. Should be fun though. I mean... serious business!

[TheWombatOfDoom]

Horraaaaaaaaaaaaaay. That means we're good to go! Oh course now everythings super busy, like normal when a round starts. Ah well.

[3SecondCultist]

Horraaaaaaaaaaaaaay. That means we're good to go! Oh course now everythings super busy, like normal when a round starts. Ah well.

I wouldn't have it any other way, would you? I find that my own creative impulses are usually the most honest when time is scarce.

[TheWombatOfDoom]

I wouldn't have it any other way, would you? I find that my own creative impulses are usually the most honest when time is scarce.

Oh crap, hi 3sec! I forgot you were in this! While it sometimes works, sometimes I get really distressed and end up having it not work out because I didn't have time to fully explore the idea. Basically, first drafts, but no revisions.

[3SecondCultist]

Oh crap, hi 3sec! I forgot you were in this! While it sometimes works, sometimes I get really distressed and end up having it not work out because I didn't have time to fully explore the idea. Basically, first drafts, but no revisions.

It's okay - I almost forgot that you were in this as well, Wombat. And yes, for the most part I do agree with you. The thing is, I am usually so hell-bent on getting it as right as possible the first time, that I don't usually spend that much time to do minor revisions. Waiting a day or two before coming back to the page and making tweaks is a skill I've been trying to work into my practice. Many, many teachers have instructed me thus. I've been trying to do this with my play-by-post games, actually. If you look at the edit times versus the posting times, there are discrepancies.

Anyhow, I'm excited to get started! Looking forward to reading your poetry.

[TheWombatOfDoom]

It's okay - I almost forgot that you were in this as well, Wombat. And yes, for the most part I do agree with you. The thing is, I am usually so hell-bent on getting it as right as possible the first time, that I don't usually spend that much time to do minor revisions. Waiting a day or two before coming back to the page and making tweaks is a skill I've been trying to work into my practice. Many, many teachers have instructed me thus. I've been trying to do this with my play-by-post games, actually. If you look at the edit times versus the posting times, there are discrepancies.

Anyhow, I'm excited to get started! Looking forward to reading your poetry.

And yours! And everybodies!

[Septimus Faber]

EDIT: this post was based on a false assumption, sorry.

[jesley]

I am a beginner as poetry writer..I would also like to participate.

[Garwain]

Google found my earlier participation on round 16 and judging on round 17. It was nice to read those competitions again, so don't dissapoint me with this round !

Spoiler: judging criteria

Show

Just so you know upfront: I will judge, taking into account four criteria: execution (rhythm, flow, etc), story (was I interested?, could I relate or connect emotionally?), use of prompt (cleverness), and then my overall gut feeling. Try not to disregard any of these criteria. Obviously the general rules of the thread are to be respected to be taking into account.

[TheWombatOfDoom]

Google found my earlier participation on round 16 and judging on round 17. It was nice to read those competitions again, so don't dissapoint me with this round !

Spoiler: judging criteria

Show

Just so you know upfront: I will judge, taking into account four criteria: execution (rhythm, flow, etc), story (was I interested?, could I relate or connect emotionally?), use of prompt (cleverness), and then my overall gut feeling. Try not to disregard any of these criteria. Obviously the general rules of the thread are to be respected to be taking into account.

Question - you mentioned judging THIS round. Do you mean just the first round of the contest, or for this incarnation of the contest?

[Garwain]

Question - you mentioned judging THIS round. Do you mean just the first round of the contest, or for this incarnation of the contest?

We're already discussing semantics before the show starts.. I'll try to be more precise: I'll judge the poems submitted during Iron Poet Round XX contest except the poems of TheWombatOfDoom which suffer a major deduction already.

[paradoxymoron]

If CWater and Garwain have agreed to act as judges, does that mean we're good to go?