Email List + Submission Dates

[Silk]

Lord Ruler = Grammar Nazi

[Reaves]

I guess we should try this method of submitting a few more times, but I am not sure it's actually working all that well.    This round of submissions, seven people submitted. The number of critiques on each manuscript ranged from 2-5, and total posts from 4-7. That is a significant drop from the round before, when it looks like around 10 people submitted and the number of total replies ranged from 14-20.

This week, so far only 2 people have said they plan to submit. It doesn't take rocket science to guess that they won't get a whole lot of critiques...

Also, its impossible to tell whether some of those not critiquing are not reading, as well. When they do try to critique later on, their ability to make informed observations is limited, because they won't know what is going on in the story.

Basically my point is, we need a way to up the number of critiques. Whether we do that by finding a way to up the number of submissions, or by simply getting more people to write down their thoughts even when it isn't their turn to critique, I don't know. I'm not offering a plan right now, just pointing out we might need one.

[Flo_the_G]

I for one spent the first two rounds more or less deciding which of the stories appealed to me, which of them I'd probably pick up in a bookstore from the general impression, and those I intend to at the very least always read, and preferably always critique as well. I suppose I'm not the only one doing this, so I expect that the number of critiques will stabilise at this level.

[Reaves]

*sigh* maybe its just me and my conscientious urge to comment on everything. I don't know, I could be overreacting here. Thoughts?

[Silk]

If we don't get enough people willing to submit in any given week, we can always push that submission back to the following week. I'm not all that concerned about how many people submit per cycle, but am also worried about people getting a good number of crits each time.

Reaves, I think your concerns are going to come up with this system or the "anyone who wants to can submit on date X" system - either way, it's just a lot of material to deal with.  I think our first system with the two monthly submission dates would be the most reasonable in terms of people being able to get a good range of feedback and not being overwhelmed with reading material, but as we've also pointed out, it will also take a good long time for anyone to get their novel critiqued that way.

We're just going to have to experiment until we find a happy medium, I think - whatever is the best compromise.

Perhaps we could also consider our split submission dates (like the first submission) and up our word count guidelines. That way people would have a couple of weeks to deal with the material, and they could push more material through at once. Of course, then we'd still be reading more, so it might be six of one, half a dozen of another...

[Necroben]

To give others the benefit of the doubt, it could just be the Holiday's.  At least I hope so.

[AvalonDreamer]

Christmas/New Years pretty much killed my past three weeks, which is why I haven't gotten much out in the way of critiques. Honestly, I don't remember being conscious for saying I was going to submit, but thankfully I was a few chapters ahead from my plane ride...

I'm sure the crit count will up soon, just breathe ^ ^.

[Silk]

I wouldn't count on the passing of the holidays fixing everything. Some of us will have more time after they're gone; some of us will have decidedly less.

I still say we give it some time before we go getting too worried about it, though. We're also bound to have highs and lows in terms of who submits and critiques each time - this could just be one of those. Let's not get too concerned until we've figured out if it's going to be a consistent problem or a one-time thing.

[Chaos]

Ideally, Yusuke should be able to submit on Monday, but I haven't spoken to him since he submitted. So I'm pretty sure that's up to three

I, as always, side on the side of caution. We will just see how this goes. Wait and see, wait and see.

Besides, there is no explicit critique deadline. There's no reason to believe that these works won't get more critiques later.

So let's just wait and see. I know once my holiday break is over on the 13th, I will probably have less time, but I will strive to plan my next semester to include RE. And my own writing

[Frog]

Well, I thought about giving you guys a break, but since it’s Saturday and very few people have signed up, I might as well keep going. I have tons of stuff that is in desperate need of whatever help people are willing to offer, after all.
Sign me up please!

[Yusuke]

My apologies for not getting to the critiquing earlier in the week >.<;.  I just got done with my critique of Crashers, and Chaos said I really didn't need to do anymore.  However, I imagine I'll read CrystalHeart, since it's really sounding interesting to me so far.  Although, I've only read a little of it, so its critique will have to wait a little bit if that's alright.

Well, I guess I'm supposed to sign up to submit this week?  Guess I'll try Episode Five of Ascension, now that people should know it's not a book and will be an anime/manga lol.  It's really nice to get opinions like this, so I hope this "Reading Submission" thingy isn't closed down x_x;.  I find it to be exceptionally useful...

Chaos- Oh come on, you totally know I always come through in the end =D! lol

Anyways, sign me up to submit, assuming it's not too late?

[Silk]

You're good, I'll sign you up. (Still Saturday by my clock. Not that I can see us being too stringent about that as long as we don't have everybody in the group clamouring for a spot.) And don't worry if you're a bit behind on the critiques - heck, I haven't even opened any of the emails yet. (But I will. Promise.)

I don't imagine we have to worry about us shutting down either. Everyone seems to be finding it worthwhile so far - I know I'm certainly enjoying myself - we're just going through some growing pains, is all.

[Hayley]

Apologies, too, on the non-critting front these last two! Holidays = madness and far too much travelling around the country. Plus I've not had my laptop this last week. Planning catch up this week admist essay writing though!

If possible (I'm fully aware it's Sunday...) can I submit tomorrow please?

If not, just let me know, and will put it back til next week.

[Silk]

It's not exactly like we have a full lineup, so sure, you're in.

[Chaos]

Ostensibly, you could probably get away with submitting without even signing up

Not that I'm giving you any ideas.