Writing Poll

[muchtooarrogant]

EDIT: For some peculiar reason, although I'm getting notifications on everything else, LJ isn't updating me, or as far as I can tell, anyone else on comments posted here.

I know some of you on my friends list are probably tired of seeing all these LJ Idol entries from me, and if so, I apologize. However, since it is the major focus of my free time lately, I can't promise that things will change much, at least until I get eliminated from the competition. LOL I do try and tag each one though, to allow for easy scrolling.

Now then, to the four or so of you who are left… A writing poll!

Last time in Idol, I wrote a continuation of the story I posted for Episode One, When You Pray, Move Your Feet. After doing that, I started wondering which story of mine would be the favorite here? Why? Egocentrics aside, or as much as they ever are with me anyway, I'm thinking about trying to write an ongoing series, and wondered which past story you guys would most like to see continued. (Don't worry if its nonfiction, I can always add fictional chapters. *grin*) So, poll time!

[Poll #1816192]

Thanks for humoring me!

Dan

Comments

[looselips67.livejournal.com]

Seriously? In order to properly answer this poll I would have to go back and read all the stories. *sigh* As much as I love your writing, I'm going to have to take this poll when I have more time on my hands. In which case it may never happen. LOL!

On second thought, I'll take my best guess at it.

[looselips67.livejournal.com]

OK, I voted but the story I would really like to see more on is the one with the Boy and his terminally ill sister. Elizabeth was the Mother I believe. Yeah, that story rocked!

[muchtooarrogant.livejournal.com]

That was my NaNoWriMo story from a few years back. The main problem there is that I've already written eighteen chapters, and so catching up for the Idol audience would be pretty hard.

You're right, I do need to finish that one some day though. *grin*

Dan

[sarcasmoqueen.livejournal.com]

I want to read more stories about animals, more specifically dogs

[muchtooarrogant.livejournal.com]

LOL Ummm, okay. My dogs in particular, or will any dogs do? If, for example, I gave Tony a German Shepherd, and had him come along on all the dates with Kellie? *chuckle*

Dan

[rebelheart.livejournal.com]

This was difficult, Dan. I have enjoyed 100% of your writings I've read. I'm still working through your older stuff.

You're incredibly talented, interesting, and I appreciate the cohesive story lines.

[muchtooarrogant.livejournal.com]

Wow, thank you! That's a huge complement, and is much appreciated!

Dan

[jem0000000.livejournal.com]

Can my favorite entry be a tie? Narcissism and Food Memory.

I always forget previous chapters before the poll goes up; a week is a long time to go between installments.

Finish what you started!

[theafaye.livejournal.com]

I don't have time to go back and read your previous entries, but I will say that doing the ongoing thing in Idol is HARD. I did it with a-cheese-fan last season and although it's a lot of fun (I home gamed it after getting voted out first time and I love tweaking prompts to fit an existing story), you have to make sure that every story is standalone. Every. One. Every week you have new voters and not all of them will have read previous entries (or if they have, they might not remember them in amongst the 130+ other ones they read) and few people can be bothered to go back and fill in the blanks. In a Gatekeeper round where the selected judges often make a principle of not reading Idol until they're needed, you can almost guarantee an exit. I also have a tendency not to vote for cliffhangers unless I think the story is strong enough to carry one (some open ended stories are never finished and that can work really well if it's set up properly).

So I guess it comes down to why you want to do this and why in Idol. If you want to survive in Idol as long as possible and you want to do the ongoing thing, I'd recommend a consistent universe rather than a consistent story. If you want to write an ongoing story and Idol is just the inspiration and you're not bothered about poll results, then go for it.

I enjoy your writing and I think you're strong enough to do an ongoing thing well, but that's tempered with a caution that often the voters don't remember our universes/care as much about them as we do.

[muchtooarrogant.livejournal.com]

Oh, I guess I should've made those Checkboxes instead, huh?

A week's a long time? Growing up, I read serialized stories in sci-fi magazines, and you had to wait a month before reading the next installment of those. *shrug* These kids today.

Unfortunately, you're probably right. Judging by my place in the polls, people weren't all that impressed with my continuation last week. Now, all I have to do is decide whether or not I care. LOL

Thanks for your feedback. It is, as always, much appreciated!

Dan

[muchtooarrogant.livejournal.com]

First, thank you for taking the time to post such a detailed and Idol knowledgeable response!

I can't honestly say that I don't care about the polls, as I'd hardly have started competing in Idol if that were true. Still, I think the primary reason I wanted to try Idol out was more for the ongoing push to write something every week. The unexpected side benefit has been all the wonderful people I can now count as friends.

So, decisions, decisions. LOL

Again, thanks so much for your feedback, it was very helpful!

Dan

[jem0000000.livejournal.com]

Before Idol, I read books at the rate of one every day or two. A week for a chapter feels horribly long to me.

I read the serialized mysteries -- once I have all the magazines, that is. I skip them and read the short stories if I don't have enough issues to finish at least most of it. But I keep the old ones, just in case another one finds its way to me.

You're welcome! But if you don't care about the polls, why did you post one?

Jem

[muchtooarrogant.livejournal.com]

Hahaha, you had a lot more patience than I ever did with serials. I'd read the beginning, and then go crazy waiting for the continuation.

" You're welcome! But if you don't care about the polls, why did you post
one?"

I apologize, that was me being grumpy. I wasn't talking about the poll I posted here though, but my standings in the last LJI one.

The results here were very scattered, except in their desire for new content. The idea of a series was applauded, just not which one. LOL So, parsing the results as best I can, I think I'd do well to stick to short stories.

Dan

[jem0000000.livejournal.com]

It helps that I get them used, so there's never any guarantee of getting enough issues to have a whole story.

Lol, you could always do a "series" of stand-alones in the same universe. Maybe tell Tiffany's story, or a story about one of Tony's friends that has little or nothing to do with Kellie or Tony? Not that I don't like Kellie and Tony, but what I would really like is to see you challenge yourself. *smile*

Jem

[jacq22.livejournal.com]

I am a newbie, and find it difficult to remember all the writer's works. But it would be great to have more dog stories LOL. I do enjoy your writing.

I agree about the countless friends we make, and I have learned so much, I am busy but trying to hang in and read all the stories each week...just got back from painting for two hours, guess its good to be busy.