Extension

[clauderainsrm]

It was pointed out to me that people are still getting used to being over here on DW, and the notifications are, well, typical DW shoddiness.

So I'm going to extend the deadline until Thursday. So instead of being a "short week", it's going to be about a regular one (for this mini season at any rate)

It's one of the advantages for you of me working 70 hour weeks. :) I'm feeling more generous toward everyone else's schedules.

Enjoy the extra time.

If you got something in already, and you are happy with it - go read everyone else! If you haven't, you don't need to throw something together at last minute today.
therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1113150.html

I can't keep doing this. But you've been patient and understanding with me - so I'm trying to extend that same courtesy.

Comments

[troof_therry]

Thanks for doing this. It's been a hell of a couple weeks. Were it not these extensions I'd already be out.

[clauderainsrm]

I'm glad to know that there are people that it's *helping*!

[banana_galaxy]

My God, Gary! I stayed up past midnight last night finishing my entry, then went over it this morning to fix up any minor errors I had, and then once I went to share the link, noticed the extension.

Like, I understand the reason, but I also feel like part of the challenge is being able to hit the deadline. I prefer more reading time than more writing time. Please give us more reading time after this too then? I don't always read much until the poll is posted because there are usually so many last-minute entries posted. So I'll find myself doing other things to occupy my time during the week.

[roina_arwen]

Yes, this.

Once my entry is posted, I’ll read whatever is in the prompt thread when I have time, and mark my spreadsheet with Yes or No (as to whether the entry will get a vote or not), so when the poll gets posted I can just work from my spreadsheet to read the ones I haven’t read yet. It works for me, anyway..

[banana_galaxy]

That's what I try to do too, but with the switch to Dreamwidth last week, I mostly waited for the poll because I wasn't sure if usernames might change and I'd be confused as to whose entry I was reading, and then the shorter voting period meant I didn't actually have time to read things as I would've liked. That's why I'd have preferred a reading extension.

[roina_arwen]

Makes sense to me! Fortunately there don’t seem to be too many username changes as of yet.

[clauderainsrm]

If I'm being candid, Thursday was picked because it is the next chance I will have to actually finish up a poll and deal with any technical challenges that might arrive. It's a BUSY week. (even compared to the last couple)

I agree that part of the challenge is to hit the deadline. But part of a mini season has always been an easier pace to things. If I had been thinking, Thursday would have been the actual deadline. But I was in "old school" mentality of "they can make it!" when I should have been in "we're still in transition" mode.

[banana_galaxy]

It's more the changing deadlines that I take issue with, than the extension (or the length of it) itself. I don't mind a lot of writing time so much as I just feel frustrated when I worked hard to meet a deadline, only for it to get pushed back, because maybe I would've managed my time differently, or chosen to wait before posting and asked a friend to read over it first.

I also keep forgetting this is a mini season and so it's meant to be more relaxed. I think part of that is also because I want to be writing more for my story more often, but not if no one's going to be reading any of the in between bits so they miss the context. I don't want to do that to the Idol readers who are enjoying my continuing story. That's not on you though.

[dsrmousey]

You still can have someone read it over and make changes with the deadline moved! I wrote something too in between hospital tests and consults where's I didn't think I'd be able too but now I'd like a second pair of eyes also. So I feel you.

[banana_galaxy]

I know, but I usually ask a friend to do that before I actually post and link the entry. In this case, I'd already posted it before I knew there was a later deadline, so at that point I can't be bothered. Especially considering the person I usually ask when I think there's time is someone who already leads a busy life and usually takes 2-3 days to actually have time to sit down and read it.

[dsrmousey]

I feel ya. I usually ask my son, but his beloved cat of 14 hrs just died. You're a higher caliber of writer but I can meet a look at yours if you'd like and I trust you to check out mine. Peace~~~D

[banana_galaxy]

I'll be okay. The person I usually ask doesn't really give me any comments about anything to change anyway, he basically just gives me a reassuring "I like this" comment to ease my anxiety before I post. XD I think he's only had time to look over 2 entries so far this season?

[dsrmousey]

Ok. I'm about to tweak mine and post it. I'd feel honored if you found some time to look it over an give me an honest opinion. ✌☺

[banana_galaxy]

I am flattered that you respect my opinion and consider me a good writer, but I don't really have the time to do that sort of thing this mini season.

[md_meezer]

Very much appreciated on my end. Work has been crazy with inventory happening this week and time has gotten away from me. I was sitting down at the pc to be in Pursuit of words for an entry when I read this one. :)

[clauderainsrm]

I'm glad to hear that. Looking forward to checking out your entry this week!

[roina_arwen]

I understand giving people more time, but I also think that with the 3 Strikes format, If they miss the deadline, they aren’t automatically out.

I think we have 11 out of 43 who already have two strikes, and yes, that’s a good sized chunk to potentially eliminate.

Maybe giving a two day extension instead of four days might be a fair compromise?

[clauderainsrm]

I'm not available in two days. If I'd known what was going to happen with my life, I would have held off starting this until things calmed down. But since I didn't - like everything else, I have to adjust on the fly. I'm sure that I'll end up getting some stuff wrong, but hopefully I'll get more right.

[roina_arwen]

Yeah, I get it. Stuff happens. It’s just sort of frustrating to those of us who consistently work to hit deadlines.

Thanks for all the work you do to keep this friendly competition going!

[clauderainsrm]

Yeah, I get that. I try to be unfair in the way that helps the most people. :)

[murielle]

You know that giving us more time on deadlines is the sure way to our hearts. <3

[bleodswean]

I've been up since six trying to sort a bunch of paragraphs into an entry so this is GREAT news!!! Thank you!

I am so grateful, G, that you are THIS committed to Idol! A lesser person would have bowed out or quietly disappeared in the night with the amount of STUFF you have going on. I'm here for WHATEVER changes or alterations you need to make to the game! Take care.

[hwango]

I feel conflicted! On balance, this is mostly good news, since I am very tired and this afternoon is the first time I've had to sit down and try to actually write mine, and it's always stressful to not even have the option to set an entry aside and return to it later if things are going poorly. I will still try to write mine this afternoon, but at least I can revisit it tomorrow or Tuesday if things go poorly, and that makes me happy.

On the other hand, I agree with the previously commented sentiment that I made life choices yesterday that I would not have made if I'd known I was going to have until Thursday, and that feels frustrating. I agree that I would much rather have the full week up front than find out after a few days that there's an extension. The original timeframe for this week was way too short for me because of where it fell in the week - weekends rarely have much time for me to write, and I didn't see the prompt until Thursday afternoon just before going to work. I've liked having a week to write not beause I need seven days, but because it means there's a window of time inside the seven days that fits into my schedule.

[banana_galaxy]

That's why I think a week to write up front makes sense to me, too - everyone has their own unique weekly schedules. Same with reading. For me, if there's a weekend included in the reading time, it's usually easier for me to get through the entries to read, because I work weekdays. Though I had other plans last Sunday, so that was more of a challenge.

[roina_arwen]

In my Perfect Idol World, especially when we have 50 or fewer contestants, I think 6 days to write and 4 days to read and vote is ideal (especially since one can pre-read early posters).

But that’s probably just me.

[dadi]

OMG saved! I'd actually not have managed...I nearly finished but I am away from home until late and simply wouldn't have been able to post in time! Thank youuuuuu

[dsrmousey]

Ok... I actually wrote something... But would gladly use a second pair of eyes. It's hard to write quietly uninterrupted in the hospital. I decided I'm going to try to stay in. I am having open heart surgery soon, so we'll see what happens and I'dd like someone to concrit it while we've the extra time. Please and peace~~~D

[bleodswean]

*gentle hugs*

I will try to make some time to check it over.

[murielle]

Oh hon! Going to be praying for you. ((((gentle hugs))))

[roina_arwen]

If you want a beta reader, please feel free to email me at pandria@aol.com (please put LJ Idol in the subject line).

[ofearthandstars]

If this offer is open to others, I'd love to take you up on it.

[roina_arwen]

Sure thing, happy to help!

[roina_arwen]

Notes sent!

[ofearthandstars]

Oof, I have been writing on and off all afternoon as this is the first free day of this week I've had to do so. I think I will sit on what I had to planned to post tonight a little longer (for fresh eyes for typos and such), but agree with others that it is a little disconcerting. (I felt that way last week when I'd posted prior to the extension.) Thank you, though - I am also going through hellfire at work, and it won't let up until August, so I feel like I am going to start burning through strikes soon enough. This is a bit of reprieve for me.

[murielle]

Okay, awesome! That means mine can be ... better. ;-)

[bleodswean]

Yep! Nice to have that extra time when you didn't think you would!

[murielle]

Especially as my original offering was a disjointed mess. Back to the drawing board for moi!

[favoritebean_writes]

Oh, thank you for the heads up. I've been working six day weeks, and I haven't had a chance to write anything. Yamyam_kat finished the prompt with time to spare, so I guess this is the inspo I need to relegate sleep for someone else, and get to work. ^_^

[alycewilson]

Yamyam-kat is truly inspirational. I wish I'd been able to get KFP to participate in this season. Maybe next time.

[favoritebean_writes]

Oh my gosh, thank you for this! I'm positive Yamyam_kat wouldn't be writing this much were it not for KFP and classmate friends. I do hope that an Idol minor just for the under 18 crowd happens again, because those sessions have been so inspirational for them. (And for us as parents, honestly).

[alycewilson]

Thank you so much, Gary! The deadline slipped my mind, and I had a nagging feeling it was coming up, so I came to the Dreamwidth site to check and saw this post. The past few months have been busier than normal, as I've been teaching two Science Explorers clubs a week, on top of my usual aqua fitness schedule and my transcription and writing gigs. It's going to get a little easier now: for the next four weeks, I'll just have one a week and then be finished for the year.

Interesting note: This will be the first time I've completed an entire school year with Science Explorers! My first year with them was 2019-2020, and we all know what happened then. They went virtual for the year after that, but they didn't need as many instructors and went by seniority. So it feels good to have this accomplishment under my belt, at last!

[pixiebelle]

Oh this is nice. I started a story but then had to deal with a lot of dizziness/head stuff that’s making it hard to focus. I may still miss Thursday but it gives me a little more time to try. Thank you!

I’m also not getting notified from Dreamwidth when there’s a post here, not reliably. Once in awhile, they do, just to show me the feature does work, but it’s not consistent. So that’s making it harder to keep up too.

[banana_galaxy]

All of my DW notifications have been going into my "Social" filter on Gmail, which means I'm slower to notice those because I don't get push notifications on my phone for the messages Gmail filters and thinks I'm less interested in. Is your problem like that? Maybe some are getting caught in a spam filter?

[pixiebelle]

I only check on my phone and I don’t have multiple tabs here like on my computer. It’s all one inbox.

[adoptedwriter]

I get those long days and weeks! Hang in there!

[clauderainsrm]

50+ hour weeks for over 6 months became 60-70 hour weeks over the past few months. Hopefully we can get more people in here to relieve my team (and eventually me)

[joyfulfeather]

Oh, thank goodness. I'm super stressed with work and completely lost track of days.