Unfinished Stories

[dnassman]

I think there are some very good ideas coming out here. We need civman to come back and hopefully take on board what has been discussed.

[Kramerman]

My one and only story is massive. It is almost a novel in progress. I will probably never finish the story (though I am thinking of starting a new thread in a 'sequal', though it would really jut be a break up of the story into a new thread), though I have been working on it considerably since it went to the story contest. Though, I never wrote really for the story contest anyway, I just wrote to write the story. And on top of this since I am an exception with my large story, and not a rule, then I would have no problem to the proposal that only finished stories may be in the contest.

Kman

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Ive come back a couple of days early due to poor weather in the English Lake District,thanks to everyone who has responded.There seems to be general agreement that only completed stories should progress to the contests.Certainly no one has posted an outright objection.

Civman I'm not sure if you have seen this but I need to know how to poll opinion on this,also what do you think about my original point.

I noticed that no new posts since the 9th,so has this lost steam,it looks as though its had lots of views though.

[WTE_OzWolf]

It is my belief that a story should only be included in the stories contest after it is complete. If this means there is a bigger gap between each individual contest, so be it.

I basically had Generations complete when it got nominated and won, but Odyssey of a Hero was work in progress (which was luckily finished by the time the finals of the contest ran). The Cost of War won the contest while still only being 75% complete.

I can understand why people will be discouraged if their story doesn't get anywhere in the contest, that's why I would like to see only completed stories get nominated and for a story to be complete, the author has to say: It is complete!

[Sonic]

I have to both agree and disagree. I myself writing story ("Three Superpowers") because I like to do that, not because I would like to win in the contest. But, howver, if I'd really take one of the last places in the contest, I'd maybe stop writing my story. Not because after contest is over I wouldn't think there would be any reasons to continue, but because I would feel that story isn't popular and people doesn't likes it.
So I think maybe it is even good - if some person writes a story that is not so good (and not so much people reads it) and that story shows bad in contest, writer could start another story instead of putting new chapters to a story few people reads and enjoys. Maybe that new story would be better and make fun to a lot more people than the first one. And author won't be wasted much time on bad story.

[Yoda II]

Chrisius Maximus, you do have a point about stories not being completed it annoys be that stories that have not been completed can enter the polls and go on to win while completed stories don't even get nominated.

[Yoda II]

Hee Hee look at em go

[Yoda II]

Originly posted by ChrisiusMaximus I am a builder in real life

You mean theres a real life

[TheDarkCavalier]

ALERT ALERT!!

BTW, What's real life? It's like Civ III?

[Yoda II]

pepper is lethal

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

[Metaliturtle]

I am one of the biggest perpetrators of incomplete stories, and for me it is the lack of feedback, all the feedback I get is lame stuff like "this is funny" I don't care that it's funny, I want to know why. When someone quotes something from my stories and then puts hahaha after it, it's a little better, but not much. My first story was one where the band Metallica ruled a country, and nobody even replied to it. My second was CGW which most are familiar with, and it was good because of the feedback. Sometimes it just takes a push to get a story going.

The main reason my activity has dropped off is the lack of responses, because honestly, the contest doesn't mean much to someone who doesn't like the apolytonware. That's right Mark, THE PRIZE SUCKS!!

But the suckiness of the prize didn't stop me just like the lack of a prize wouldn't have stopped me, I honestly write here to improve my writing overall, and because it's fanfiction I don't have to worry about settings and characters and such, a game provides them for me.

Making it so unfinished stories cannot win the contest is fine, but bear in mind all of the reasons which they are unfinished.

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Metaliturtle thanks for your response,it has been sometime since there has been some serious points added to this thread,about three weeks.I thought it was probably dead guess its kinda how it feels to get no response to a story or at least positive response critical or otherwise.

If I'm honest I dont think I've ever commented on one of your pieces,please accept my apology for this I dont usually have much time to post but I will try to return the favour by reading one of your stories and posting my thoughts.

I was hoping that civman would se this and respond maybe he will yet I noticed hes been busy with an nes or two.I'm content to leave this to run for as long as people want to comment on the issues raised but think there may need to be a poll sometime and I have no idea how to do this and would like some help.

Metaliturtle my reason for wanting to see stories completed is purely selfish in essence,in that I the reader want closure be it a happy ending or not but I fully understand your point and we as readers should do more to encourage the writers here.

Once more thank you for your response.

[SKILORD]

sorry.

I'm very guilty of unfinished work.

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Please dont feel guilty the intention is not to condemn but encourage you to write more,and as Metaliturtle pointed out there also needs to be more feedback from readers to stories.

[DarkCloud]

Chrisus- if you want that- then please be sure to post in threads with ongoing stories- it helps encourage the readers. If you are reading them and the reader is asking questions, etc. then please respond- that will help