Exhibit B: FAQ

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

FAQ


What the hell is this?

If you were expecting a traditional Idol, you will have to wait for a little while longer!

However, if you can’t get the thought of playing Idol out of your head, but don’t have as much time as a traditional season takes, you might be luck!

This is LJ Idol: Exhibit B!

I’m not familiar with LJ Idol at all, what is it?

It is a writing competition on Livejournal that has been around for 8 seasons (about 7 years).

Last season’s FAQ might be helpful, particularly the technical notes about how to post images and tags.http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/484986.html

This particular FAQ assumes that you have some passing familiarity with Idol and how it works. BUT if you don’t know, always feel free to ask. If I’m not personally around, there is usually a veteran or fifteen around that will be more than willing to answer! :)

How is Exhibit A different than traditional Idol?

A lot of the elements are the same: I give you a topic, you write something and post a link to it in the topic thread by the given deadline. There is a vote, and people on the bottom are eliminated.

That part hasn’t changed. What IS different though:

- This will only last 3 ½ - 4 months (as opposed to nearly a year).
- It will be limited to 75 to 100 people. (as opposed to a growing number in the hundreds)
- This will NOT count toward “time survived” in Idol. Nor will it count to disqualify someone who wins from playing the “Real Idol”. WHICH ALSO MEANS THAT PREVIOUS IDOL WINNERS CAN PLAY!
- There is a suggested $5 (US) donation. If you can’t donate, no problem. But donors will be given priority in the available slots. People may also choose to donate more, and “sponsor” someone who otherwise couldn’t play.

Send your donation via paypal (or amazon, details for that are on the front page) to clauderainsrm@gmail.com or clauderains@rocketmail.com. Please include your username and TWO TOPICS. That’s right, send me your topic ideas as well. They may not be used this special season. But at least one of them will show up before the end of Season 9. Just another benefit!

- A collection of some of the best work may be included in an e-book to be published after the mini-season is over.

How does Exhibit B differ from Exhibit A?

It’s one letter further in the alphabet!

I also have some twists in mind that people have been clamoring for - including one that takes place pretty much from Week 1 Day 1 that should shake a few people up! What is Idol if not an excuse to shake some people up? :)


Is this a fundraiser?

Yes. All money raised through donations will go directly to the fund to get a “specific item” to ask a certain person a life-changing question.

Idol IS my “second job”. (Although, time-wise it tends to be my first! Shhh...) and the choice was between working a traditional job, and not giving you Idol for at least another year OR giving you a special event Idol that people can opt into! This is the second, and last, mini-season before the start of Season 9!

Note, it’s a donation so once you are eliminated, no, you can’t get a refund! ;)

Also, if you donate, and then you can’t make Week 1 - you can apply your donation to someone else to sponsor them.

If you don’t want to, that’s fine. I’ll see you sometime later! If you DO though, thanks, and I hope you have a good time!

What does the winner receive?

Officially? An icon and Internet Fame!

Unofficially? There are some private individuals who might be supplying some items for the Community Chest, much like we had in Exhibit A. More details as they decide to talk about them. These aren’t from me, but rather people who wanted to “give to the cause” in their own way by encouraging people to sign up!

Where do I sign up?

The official sign up sheet will be posted shortly! Tell your friends!

Comments

[alycewilson.livejournal.com]

Wow, Gary! That is a great cause to support. :) I'll be there.

[kathrynrose.livejournal.com]

To be fair, It's more like "person has been clamoring for..."

::glares sideward at "person"::


Some people are fine and dandy without the twists.

[porn-this-way.livejournal.com]

*insert trollface macro here* :P

[halfshellvenus.livejournal.com]

Haha!

I have to second this. The twists just increase the pain of an already painful process. ;)

[fourzoas.livejournal.com]

YES!

[oneonthefence.livejournal.com]

I'll be sitting out due to surgery and, um, some potential news/business involving a manuscript I've been working on... :)

But break legs, everyone who is involved! I'll be voting from the sidelines, as always.

[jem0000000.livejournal.com]

Good luck! :)

[halfshellvenus.livejournal.com]

Aww. How can you win this if you keep getting sidelined?!?

*cue personal cheering section*

But really, surgery and other RL issues are far more important. Good luck with all of it.

[dreamsreflected.livejournal.com]

Hell ya!

[mothermelete.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you'll be writing more, I love reading your entries :)

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

Holy crap, that was quick! I wasn't expecting an announcement for another week or so ;)

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

I wasn't either, but things kind of fell into place and I decided to run with it! :)

[comedychick.livejournal.com]

Yeah, me too. Not that it makes any difference to me. I don't have time to play.

[jem0000000.livejournal.com]

Lol, my reaction was, "Already???" and frantically logging in to LJ. (A friend IMed me.)

[zephyrly.livejournal.com]

I was thinking of donating another monster. It turns out that I'm actually kind of good at designing these things! I'm a professional monster midwife!

Also, we should set up an official schedule for CAH game nights.

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

I know of a lot of people who would be very interested in one of their very own! (including me! Drat not being able to compete!)

[mothermelete.livejournal.com]

I'm still too much of a weenie to actually give this a shot yet, but I'll be reading and voting again!

[kathrynrose.livejournal.com]

But this is the perfect time to give it a shot! Much lower key than the "real" game in October. Friendly people (most of us, anyway). Get your feet wet.

Seriously. What's the worst thing that could happen?

[kandigurl.livejournal.com]

Can I just donate now?

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I went ahead and posted the Sign Up Sheet, because people weren't waiting anyway. ;)

[kathrynrose.livejournal.com]

Yay! kajel is playing! Yay!

[kajel.livejournal.com]

It only took me half the afternoon to figure out how to make the donation! Note to self, pay attention when Kate says 'Profile page'.

[cheshire23.livejournal.com]

I want to but this is pretty much the *worst* timing possible in terms of time and money. *sadface*

[kathrynrose.livejournal.com]

Well, I dunno about the time factor, but there are people out there giving scholarships.

[alycewilson.livejournal.com]

What address do we use for the donations?

[kathrynrose.livejournal.com]

The links are on the profile page. :)

[porn-this-way.livejournal.com]

GRRRR YOU PEOPLE!

I was taking a nap, which very well could have turned into a full night's sleep (my first in weeks!), but nooooo, my phone went off with its "LJI alert" tone, which translated to "pounce on this shit NOW before it fills up", which then translated to "poke around the sign-up page and see who your fellow torture subjects are this round", and now I'm wide the hell awake, bouncing all over LJ like a lunatic. THANKS ♥

[kandigurl.livejournal.com]

BWAHAHAHAHAHA.

[phoenixsansfyr.livejournal.com]

Biochemistry is calling my name this summer (and I have some older fiction that I'm doing finishing touches on to submit to Tor), so I will be on the sidelines cheering this time! And mayhap will donate a goody again a bit later on if we do that again :) good luck all!

[jem0000000.livejournal.com]

Oh my goodness Tor! :) I love their stuff.

Good luck! :D

[kandigurl.livejournal.com]

I've been commenting on everyone's intent to sign up posts and realizing maybe that's not the thing to do since no one else was doing it. WHATEVER. I'M A REBEL.

[jem0000000.livejournal.com]

I did a couple. Can I join your rebel group? I have cookies.

...that doesn't sound quite rebel-ish, does it?

ETA: Just realized you meant the comments. Generally that clutters the thread, so Gary might delete your comments there. You can totally comment on the posts themselves, though -- just click through the link. :)

[witchdollie.livejournal.com]

i have been gone for a bit (a couple of years, actually).. what is the "Community Chest"? exactly?

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

Community Chest was introduced in Exhibit A, and is just an extra thing that I threw into the mix for the special mini-seasons.

People donated stuff as prizes/incentitives and if you reached a certain point in the game (as many spots as there were items) you were eligible to pick something.

http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/633787.html is what was available last time around!

[eeyore-grrl.livejournal.com]

When will it be starting? I'm about to get married then go on a honeymoon where I won't have internet access... I may have to wait and try my hand at a "real" season next.

[agirlnamedluna.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on your wedding :) hope you enjoy the honeymoon ^^