Results - Week 37 Part 2

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

You folks certainly do know how to keep life interesting, don’t you?

I was preparing for a battle to the death, fight to the finish, no-holds barred/no bars held 24 run-off. Instead, we get a drop: http://n3m3sis42.livejournal.com/1120057.html

n3m3sis42 - It was a truly brilliant run! You have a hell of a lot to be proud of, and having talked to you, I know you are well aware of it!

Going from not even being sure that you could write, to the Top 4, and getting noticed by someone from the Tesla Science Center? Yeah, I’d say that was a journey. (Even if, like Mirror Girl, it took me an embarrassing amount of time to make the connection with your name! :D)

Thank you for sharing that journey with us!

With posting her entry: http://pixie117.livejournal.com/688662.html

that means pixie117 joins notodette and whipchick in the last hurrah before the finale!!
http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/600343.html

Congratulations to the three of you. Now go kick some butt!

***

Before I let you go, a pet peeve of mine and something that shouldn’t be ignored It’s seems silly to be saying it now, but I’m saying it as much to Season 9 as I am to people who are currently assembled to see how this season ends!

I keep hearing “Idol is this” and “Idol isn’t that” to somehow justify why certain people make it further and others don’t. I understand, ego is involved. People like to assume that if only it wasn’t for this one little thing - that they would be sitting at the end. Maybe on any other day, they would be. You play out any given season 10 times and I’m sure there would be quite a few different combinations. It doesn’t take anything away from the people who won in our particular time line. Nor should it.

They are amazing and whoever walks away with this thing this season is going to be a worthy addition to them.

You know how much dumb luck comes into play in the writing industry? Ask any professional writer about their big break - I guarantee that it involved persistence and dumb luck, and a hell of lot of writing their fingers to the bone.

Idol is very much about the writing. It’s about the love, the passion, the times you want to pull your hair out and times you would just rather punch someone, it’s what you don’t get in a workshop and the stuff that if you are smart enough to apply it, can and will get you wherever it is you want to go.

Hearing people say that it’s not, it riles me up. I don’t say that Idol is “not just a writing competition” because it’s LESS. I say it because it’s MORE.

I think that’s something people frequently misunderstand, or misinterpret deliberately.

I like a variety of writers who come through this doors for a number of reasons. Some I think are technically awesome. Others move me on a primal level. Some, I don’t know - I just like ‘em. I think everyone who shows up is offering something worth hearing, and is bringing something vital to the mix, and to the experience.

The key is to figure out what that is, and allow your own ego to take a back seat for long enough to learn something.

This is something special here. It’s worth celebrating.

How do I know? Because of things like this: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/600657.html?view=62859601#t62859601

You don’t have to win to gain from this experience. You have to show up. You have to commit, and you have to turn around and do something with what you learned.

My winners are awesome. My contestants, in general, are awesome. Remember that, and treat each other - and Idol, like you remember that.

Comments

[similiesslip.livejournal.com]

I could be wrong but I think we all kind of define Idol for ourselves. It is what WE make of it, kind of.

Similiar to a party...some of us have a great time, some of us say it sucked. It's the same party...just some people put more into trying to have fun..some people decide to be negative.

(this is just an opinion, not meant to offend Gary or anyone else.)

Thanks for all your work, Gary.

[similiesslip.livejournal.com]

And some people use a party to grow and learn from others or relax.

Others use it to..annoy others or tear down the reputations of others.

Just again, a metaphor.

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

Your Idol experience is what you make of it.

Idol itself is the combination of those experiences, across the years and the seasons, packaged in a pretty bow, strapped to a case of leaky old dynamite.

[p-m-cryan.livejournal.com]

My congratulations to the Top 3. Sincerely meant, with no artificial colours, flavours, or additives.

[ravenshrinkery.livejournal.com]

*blushes profusely*

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

REALLY proud of you! That is incredible.

[alycewilson.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on your well-earned successes!

[oneonthefence.livejournal.com]

A sincere congrats to the Top 3, and Gary - I'm glad we briefly talked today. This is well said, and I respect it profoundly. Thank you for being more articulate than I could ever be. :)

[emploding.livejournal.com]

It takes a strong person to sacrifice this close to the end, and it says so much about the characters of the people in the game <3

[similiesslip.livejournal.com]

I agree.

[n3m3sis42.livejournal.com]

Thank you. <3

It wasn't an easy decision, but it was the right one.

[alycewilson.livejournal.com]

For me, "Idol" has been a wonderful way of stretching myself and learning what works. Just like my graduate writing workshops taught me to accept and use criticism, "Idol" taught me the ins and outs of really writing for an audience. The feedback I've had in my three seasons of competing (and my one of home-gaming it), have taught me an immense amount that I never would have received even if my work had appeared in a dozen magazines during that time.

I've also met some wonderful people with whom I can share not only thoughts about writing but also about parenting, fitness, and life in general. Writing can be a very private activity, and writers often tend to be insular. It's good to network, for many, many reasons.

Like similiesslip, I'd like to thank Gary for his work, as well as the LJI community as a whole.

Sorry to see n3m3sis42 bowing out. You were a great competitor, and I've loved getting to know you.

Hey, Gary, next season, you know what would be interesting? After you get past the Top 25, if any contestant drops out, do what "Project Runway" does and bring back the last eliminated contestant. And I'm not just saying that because, this particular week, that would have been either me, milk_and_glass or java_fiend. ^_^

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

But then you'd botch your contribution to the group challenge and we'd have to eliminate you all over again!

[alycewilson.livejournal.com]

LOL! That happened last week on "Project Runway," I think. Although I was wondering why they didn't bring back two people, since two dropped out that week.

Can you imagine group challenges in LJI? Everyone has to compete in groups of three or four and complete a "mini collection"?

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

Yep. That was last week. :)

Personally, I thought he should have exited the week before.

Can I imagine it? As a matter of fact, I have. ;) (note: not saying it's coming next season. Just that I've considered the idea)

[alycewilson.livejournal.com]

There's a lot of really whiny designers in this season of "PR." Not sure why that is. I often want to say to them, "Have you ever WATCHED the show? You're complaining about having 24 hours to make an outfit, but at least this week you got to make it OUT OF CLOTH!"

A group challenge in LJI could present numerous logistical challenges, not the least of which would be figuring out how to handle voting. I'd imagine even doing the intersections was enough of a pain for you.

[theafaye.livejournal.com]

Careful with teetering towards the edge of spoilers now... I might have to buy PR on DVD, but I do still watch it after the fact and I remember comments like this for YEARS!

[alycewilson.livejournal.com]

Whoops! I'll keep that in mind in the future. What I just said doesn't really reveal anything important. I'm not even to the stage yet in the season where I remember people's names. :) Right now, it's early enough that the people cut will be the people you don't recognize in the reunion episode.

[theafaye.livejournal.com]

I figured it probably wasn't massively important, but I figured I'd mention spoilers anyway because Idol has often ruined a reality show for me because Americans forget that those of us in the rest of the world don't always get to see things at the same time - in fact, some seasons of PR I've seen years after airing because it's taken that long to get them on DVD.

[alycewilson.livejournal.com]

The current season is available on Hulu, but it seems like for some odd reason they're having the shows expire within a couple weeks. That means that, sadly, you couldn't just start with Episode 1 and see the whole season.

[theafaye.livejournal.com]

I'm in the wrong country for Hulu. I tried to access it before but I'm blocked. So realistically either I download it from an illegal site or I wait for the DVD release. I quite like having it on DVD but it does mean that I have to wait for ages.

[alycewilson.livejournal.com]

DVDs are great, because you can watch them when Internet connections are spotty. I'm so glad I bought a portable DVD player years ago: it's come in immensely useful for entertaining KFP when we're traveling.

I don't like to support illegal pirating sites, so I'm often frustrated by the way some networks seem determined to make their episodes difficult to find in legitimate ways.

[theafaye.livejournal.com]

I don't *trust* illegal sites. Far too many viruses floating around the place. I'd realy rather pay and support the series makers - but they do make it so hard for me to give them my money, which is daft! And then they complain when people *do* pirate!

[alycewilson.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's like it's so *inconvenient* to have to take people's money!

[wolfden.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if I should be excited or sad that I actually understood (and watched that last week).

[comedychick.livejournal.com]

Maybe change the phrase to "more than just a writing competition," then?

I agree with what you're saying about what contestants can get out of it, though. I haven't made the top 10 before, but I sing Idol's praises for the fact I have a novel nearing completion. A novel I would not have had the idea for if it had not been for the game. It started out as an idea for a short film I could shoot with a fellow contestant I met in season 6, then I posted the screenplay and people wanted more, so I did a followup, and people still wanted more. Now I'm thisclose to finishing it as a novel. I met my editor in season 7. He was one of my early supporters of the story/characters.

I have grown so much as a person and a writer thanks to Idol. And made some incredible friends.

On the results note, sorry that n3m3sis42 had to bow out like that, but at least that gives pixie117 a bit of extra time to work on her entry without biting her nails waiting for poll results. ;)

Good luck to the final three!

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

"Maybe change the phrase to "more than just a writing competition," then?"

I think MORE than just a writing competition describes it, as well as something like this can be described in one line.

It's when people and egos get involved or folks trying to explain something away, that you start hearing that implication that it's somehow "less". Which is just a reading comprehension fail, and not much you can do about it.

[theafaye.livejournal.com]

Nobody will ever win Idol who can't write. Fact. I've even diplomatically explained this to 04summer_rain04 who is still convinced she's going to WIN next time around.

[lawchicky.livejournal.com]

I love what you wrote about LJI here :) It really is MORE than a writing competition. I will forever be grateful to you for what you've done in creating and maintaining this community.

/sappy

[pixiebelle.livejournal.com]

You know, you're right... It is MORE than a writing contest. That's the best way to describe it. There's writing and talent does help, but there's the social side... The strategy side... There really is so much more than the writing, not less.

I had never intended to make it sound like it was anything less. It's been an amazing experience all around. I've met amazing friends, I've grown as a writer (so much so that apparently people think Kevin is writing my stuff). I've gained confidence, I've had fun.

All around? It's a great experience. I love the additional sides of Idol that makes it more than just your run of the mill writing contest :)

I've said this elsewhere...

[ellakite.livejournal.com]

... so I may as well say it here:

If a LJ Idol "contestant" comes away from participating with their writing skills improved... then they've won. That's the real prize.

I'll admit that I didn't understand that for a while... but I understand it now.

PS: My congratulations to the Top 3. U R teh awsum!

Re: I've said this elsewhere...

[p-m-cryan.livejournal.com]

Seconded.

[jacq22.livejournal.com]

Congratulations to the wonderful last three writers, a joy to see who got there. All three well deserving.

Gary your fair and balanced dealings and patient explanations deserve a big hug, and a thank you, so 'thanks' for making it all possible.

Idol was a great experience, and a challenge, loved it.

[theafaye.livejournal.com]

I've already told n3m3sis42 what I think of her slacking off like that, so I don't need to say it again here :oP

Congrats to all still in and all who've used Idol to go on to bigger and better. We're ALL winners!

[myrna-bird.livejournal.com]

Amen to that! We ARE all winners!
As many know, I joined Idol at my daughter's urging. At the time I wanted to please her. She kept telling me that I would not believe what being in the game can mean to a person until they do actually do it. A curious person always seeking new knowledge...I HAD to try it, right? Well, boy! Was she right ! I am thrilled that I can still learn something from my kids!

Idol has increased my confidence as a person, not only as a story-teller and writer. I LOVE my Idol friends and I am behind them 100% because they are doing what they love doing. I value every word they write and I really do try to read them all. I am astonished at the heart and soul that I find in so many entries. Many times it's what's NOT written down that touches my heart the most. I have laughed and cried and even said "Ewwww!" a few times but I always appreciate the talent and the drive that gets that entry in.

I love the experience of writing my own little stories; this year especially because I dared to push myself a little more. I am already imagining how I can continue to grow even more in Season 9.

Gary makes it all this possible and I am so grateful for the opportunity to participate with all the twists and deadlines and special polls and unexpected things that keep the game fresh and fun.

To the Final 3: Rock it out, sisters!

[medleymisty.livejournal.com]

Idol was a great experience for me.

I have a rather strict self-grown moral system, and that moral system kind of recoils at the idea of strategy and voting based on things other than just pure writing quality. Just like back in my Sims days, I recoiled at the thought of only reading stories by your friends or only reading the stories that were already popular, or, say, letting the gossip and rumors and lies about people in the community affect your opinion of their work, which should stand on its own and be evaluated on its own merits, regardless of what you think about the creator.

I personally believe that everyone deserves an equal chance, and deserves to have their stuff read and evaluated non-personally and without extraneous considerations. I think it's morally important to strive for a transparent eyeball sort of perception when it comes to art, to be open to it and to see it and accept it as it is, without any interference from social things or prejudices or whatever.

Idol beat that out of me, because the so called Hell Week passed my moral horizon. Ain't no way I'm going to chain myself to my computer and spend all my free time reading hundreds of entries when I have other stuff to write, other stuff to think about, my own life to live. So I had to let go, become a little less morally strict, see the other side a little more, and find some understanding for people who only read stuff by their friends or whatever.

Idol was great, and I made awesome friends, and I like the stories I wrote. It was a positive experience. I'll probably come back next season. Still not sure, but I'm leaning towards it.

Idol is nice and fun and really helps a lot of people grow and it's awesome, but it's not LIFE, at least for me. I guess, to me - LIFE is writing. Just writing. So for me, personally - that's what I focus on. I've never been a reality show fan. I haven't watched any TV at all in over a decade. I'm here for the writing, because writing is what I live for. It's who I am. It's how I make meaning of reality. So I write, because that's what I do, and I try to vote based on writing quality and supporting the underdogs, although as the season has worn on and it's forced me out of my strict moral standing a bit of personal feeling has creeped into my voting. But yeah - I'm here for the writing, first and foremost and always, and after that I really appreciate the friends I've made this year through Idol.

So that's what Idol is to me, and that's where I'm coming from, and, well, to be honest - all this drama and important speeches and constant exhortations to devote our entire lives to Idol and to feel like we're horrible people and bad writers who just couldn't hack it if we're not in the top whatever number...it's driving me away. I don't know - I've always been a slow writer. I like to spin complex tales, ones that require research and thought and time, and I have been known to take eight hours to edit a few paragraphs and beat them into the shape I wanted. So maybe Idol, with its focus on speed and quantity and strategy type stuff, just isn't right for me. So - I guess I'm sorry if I'm ruining anyone's experience. Still though - I am thankful that I found Idol, and that I met a lot of great people, and that I wrote some neat stories.

[theun4givables.livejournal.com]

Honestly, when it comes to voting, I feel the same way you do. I am always going to give everyone's writing a chance, even if I don't like them personally. This far into the season, I am very aware of who my favorites are and am more likely to vote for them, but I still give those who aren't my favorites a chance.

I don't mind the drama, though. I like that steam will get let off from time to time and that it most often occurs in a place where I can see it. It shows that everyone here is human and likely to make human mistakes. :)