Eliminations Week 20

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

Bad news first. . .

This is the post I’ve been dreading making, because there really is no “good elimination post”, and given the amount of people going this week it was going to be hard regardless of who ended up on the list.

Unfortunately that is what happens, sooner or later everyone but one person is going to be eliminated from the game. It’s the nature of the beast.

I’m actually writing this before I know any of the results, before the first Gatekeeper vote has come in. I’m writing it, and saving it – because I know whatever happens it’s going to be tough to say goodbye. Thank you to all of you for writing your hearts out, anyone getting *this* far into the game has absolutely earned their spot.

I have no idea where this thing is going to bounce, but I do know whatever the outcome it’s going to be a group of amazing writers staying, and another group of amazing writers leaving.

The contestants who, unfortunately, did not make it past the Gatekeepers are:

(Note from 3/31: IT WAS CLOSE with a lot of you, and there certainly are some shockers… I’m going to go back through later tonight and say a little something personal, but for right now I better just cut and paste the names and hit send…)

*deep breath* The 11 leaving us today are:

chazari
jennielynn1127
laurelian
minikin
roina_arwen
sircaliban
spydielives
tryslora
twirlandswirl
walkertxkitty
wildcatwrites

Comments

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

Well damn. :(

Some good people on that list.



On the plus side, at least I finally got the first comment...

[minikin.livejournal.com]

DId you run home for lunch today, or what? You saw the results before I did!

Congrats on first comment. :)

I was surprised by many of the names on this list. Ah well.

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

I somehow got access through my work's internet... *shhh!*

But yeah, lots of good writers going home this week... maybe you, me, and Spydie shouldn't have had lunch together the other day - I think we jinked each other! ;)

[tryslora]

*bows* It's been a pleasure, and thank you to everyone for being so wonderful. I'll still be here reading and voting for the rest of the season!

[spydielives.livejournal.com]

Thank you, everyone.

Thank you Gatekeepers. You had a very difficult job.

Congrats to those who have made it.

And lastly, good bye to my fellow amazing writers who did not.

[elva-undine.livejournal.com]

Oh my goodness. There are some fabulous people up there...

[jennieknits.livejournal.com]

This sucks more than I thought it would. :(

*hugs to all*

[tulip-in-yellow.livejournal.com]

*hugs* I liked your entries and I'm sad to see you go.

[lilmissmagic71.livejournal.com]

I can't take it. This one was so much harder than I even anticipated! NOOOOOOO! both my pards! and SO many of my favorites... OH NOOOOOO!

I'm not sure how to process this one.

Not happy to be first to post

[desert-rose.livejournal.com]

I'm sad, so am going back to bed now!

I know this was a very very difficult decision for our Gatekeeprs to make. All 11 of you really put your hearts out there this week, and did amazingly well in the contest!!

*hugs* to you all!!

Please keep playing the Home Game whenever you can, as I love your writing!!

[kathrynrose.livejournal.com]

Wow. This is hard.

::group hug::

[heykatie.livejournal.com]

Holy shit! Wow. This opens the contest right up. Some BIG contenders on there!! Well done to all of you. You've definitely been amazing folks. I am humbled in your presence!

[shay-writes.livejournal.com]

*sobs*

This was a tough one. Each week the eliminations keep getting harder and harder.

*snugs for everyone*

[monkeysugarmama.livejournal.com]

After waiting for this all weekend - I wish I didn't have to see it actually.

Everyone who made it to 32 were great writers. I am just glad so many are on my flist now so I can keep reading what you have to say, Idol or not.

[libra-dragon.livejournal.com]

Good job to everyone! this just gets harder and harder.

[tulip-in-yellow.livejournal.com]

There are some great writers in this group leaving us. It's sad to see them leave.

[porcelain72.livejournal.com]

A few of those folks I genuinely expected to see make it to the bitter end. Sorry to see you all go.

[chite.livejournal.com]

Wow.

I know that I would have been sad to see anyone go. But this is really, really hard.

*raises a glass to everyone*

[norda.livejournal.com]

Wow.

[bateleur.livejournal.com]

Ouch - three of my favourites out in one go (and the others didn't suck either)!

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

Now I'm curious as to who your 3 favorites are!

[bateleur.livejournal.com]

spydielives
tryslora
twirlandswirl

I didn't say because it's slightly unfair - I haven't had time to read all the entries every week and because I already knew I liked their stuff from earlier seasons I've seen more of those three than the other eight on account of choosing to read them more often!

[spydielives.livejournal.com]

*crying*

I am so freaking honored by this - you have no idea.

*goes off to cry some more*

[bateleur.livejournal.com]

Aww! :-)

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

Spydie's a personal friend of mine, and Tryslora's on my Flist, so I totally agree with you there! =)

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

Both of them are friends of mine. It was a rough day to be someone I was friends with coming into this season. Not a single one of them got through.

[spydielives.livejournal.com]

*giggle*

That should be a warning to all your friends for next season!!

*ducks and runs away*

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

People should be warned about being friends with me anyway!

[spydielives.livejournal.com]

That goes without saying.

How come no one warned me! That is what I want to know.

*stomps foot*

[And where is my pony?]

Sorry to leave

[minikin.livejournal.com]

But I'll stick around the Green Room to follow the progress of the top 21. I was surprised to see some of these names here, but having read all the entries, I'll own that it was a difficult decision.

**hugs**

*Sticky Toffee Pudding Ice Cream for all!*

[suesniffsglue.livejournal.com]

Oh man. I actually gasped when I read this.

Sorry to see you all go. You're all extremely respected in my mind as fantastically talented people

[creature-girl08.livejournal.com]

Just WOW!

This isn't going to get any easier. People on this list that I thought would make it much further along.

Pouts!

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

Holy cannoli...

*mouth drops open*

*can't utter anything at the moment*

[kittenboo.livejournal.com]

sorry to see so many talented people go, it was a rough week, so many good entries to choose from.

[ewok-626.livejournal.com]

I about cried when Kithan texted me who was out. So many excellent writers leaving... :^(

Okay, who's going out for a drink with me tonight?!

[jennieknits.livejournal.com]

I AM! *cries*

[ewok-626.livejournal.com]

Wok is hosting a par-tay tonight! (http://www.live.yahoo.com/ewok_626)

Details:
~Party starts at 7:30pm Eastern Time
~Bring your webcams if you got 'em
~Bring your own snack food and drinks/booze to share

[johnmill79.livejournal.com]

Wow, I'd almost say you've gotta be kidding! I guess everybody who got to that point was good, though. Still, that's tough. Congratulations to those who marched on, and no reason to hang your heads to the rest of you.

[n-decisive.livejournal.com]

Just wanted to tell everyone on the list that I will miss seeing them in the polls each week. Please consider doing the home game and let me/us know if you have interest in being brought back if the chance comes up?

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

I doubt I'll do the HG route, but I know I'd love the chance to come back. =)

[spydielives.livejournal.com]

*grin*

If the spirit moves you, you know who to call...

[GHOSTBUSTERS!]

[dubheach.livejournal.com]

Ouch.
A lot of my favorites were cut. Thank you Gatekeepers, and thank you LJers for making their decision so difficult.

I'm still going to hang out in the Green Room after this heartbreak for my friends in the slim hope that I can make the first comment some day.

[spydielives.livejournal.com]

*love you*

Another farewell

[spydielives.livejournal.com]

I have been wondering where to put this, and I think this might be the most appropriate place. There may be one or two of you who still have this thread pinned, but for the most part, the comment will be here, fading off into obscurity without even being read.

My initial reaction to reading the results of this round was shock. Not at my own departure; I was ready for that (regardless of who the gatekeepers were).

While I, and others apparently, believed my writing was strong enough to go further, it was no secret that I fully intended to leave the competition in a few more rounds, on my own terms. I did not want to take a slot that belonged to a better-deserving competitor, and I have already gotten far more from LJI than I had ever thought possible.

What shocked me? There were some others who I thought should have made it past this round, and frankly there are those who I do not believe either wanted to continue or deserved (based on round 20 submissions) should have. That is merely my opinion, and counts for nothing.

I am truly dismayed by the displays of negativity, poor sportsmanship, and rude behavior that I have seen since the announcement, from both former players and their fans. I have read "unfair tactics" and "I can do it better" in numerous journals.

Each contestant, by submitting their entry each round, agreed to whatever terms clauderainsrm had decided for the game. I understand disappointment, but I worry that people are having trouble separating a "game" from themselves. Not so much that they are taking it too seriously, but that they invested so much of themselves in the destination (winning), they lost sight of the journey (growth, experience).

I am saddened, but there is little I can do, except wish each person who has been touched, in one way or another, by this simple idea of LiveJournal Writing meets American Idol meets Survivor, the very best. We are all winners, in the end, if we want to be.