Week 1 Green Room - Day 4

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

One more day to get in your entry!!!

I ended up thinking a lot about the competition last night, and found myself mentally going back to the early rounds of Season 2 and Season 3 and comparing them. There were so many "slow starts" in those bunches, and based on some of my reading, there are going to be slow starts in this group as well. People who you read and don't immediately go "wow!" Sure, there are a LOT of people who will get that reaction, but given the sheer amount of people involved, there are going to be plenty of the other group as well.

I was thinking about how many of the "slow starters" got further in the competition than people would have given them a chance to get early on, because they stuck with it and most importantly, they started to find their "voice" and were putting out some of the best stuff they had ever done.

I guess what I wanted to say this morning is if that is you, if you look at your entry and go "wow, I can't hang/I'm doomed" then just take a moment to relax, have some fun and see what you can come up with next week. Because every topic is going to be someone's cakewalk and someone else's mine field.

If it's not you, and you see someone you think is struggling, just take a moment to be encouraging. Yes, it's a competition so maybe you'd rather them fall to the wayside to make way for your overwhelming victory.*g* But even a little tips, or simple leading by example of showing them what you believe a good entry looks like, that can make the world of difference (and ultimately help because hey, who wouldn't vote for someone who's been nice to them!*g*)

Comments

[libra-dragon.livejournal.com]

Morning!

wow, I can't hang/I'm doomed" Yeah I would say that this thought has run through my head a few times...ok I lied probably with every few entries I read. I suppose I am my own worst critic to the nth degree. I am trying to just let it go and what will be will be, and I will learn somethings along the way.

I hope everyone is have has a good Thursday (is there a way to make it Friday any sooner?)

[mme-furiosa.livejournal.com]

How did you get to be so generous? You're right, though. When I read over entries well-rested and focused, I can almost always find merit in them. When I'm exhausted or distracted, it is infinitely more difficult.

[spydielives.livejournal.com]

...who wouldn't vote for someone who's been nice to them!

*raises hand* Me?

Oh, wait... was that the wrong answer?

*giggles and runs away*

[shay-writes.livejournal.com]

The more entries I read, the greater the sense of doom becomes.
We are a talented bunch.

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

Absolutey. That's the main reason why I gave up reading earlier than usual yesterday. There's no sense in making half-assed comments if you only read the piece half-assed to begin with.

[chazari.livejournal.com]

Now I have to wipe tea off my monitor. *Goes to get towels*

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

Um, I meant absolutely.

Obviously I'm still fuzzy-headed *lazy grin*

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

I'm not looking at it so much as doom as "Hey...where did all the competition come from?"

OTOH, I tend to focus more on the friendships I'm making rather than the competition itself, or else I'll be a basketcase *shudder*

[lacombe.livejournal.com]

Just for the record, I like nice comments, but everyone here is formally invited to jump in with constructive criticism at any time. No one ever did their best by having everyone be nice to them. If you want the same back from me, let me know, but I'm not going to be critiquing anyone's LJ Idol entries uninvited. Also- if you want me to, please let me know how sensitive you feel about it and how tough you'd like me to be. Do you want content criticism, grammar crit. or both? I'd like both on my side.

Just saying.

[spydielives.livejournal.com]

Constructive criticism?

Yeah, I always wanted that too. So mark me down as one of those people.

In fact, I will add a column to my spreadsheet for anyone else who wants to be open to that sort of thing. Then I will remember when reading. lacombe, you are on the list!

[lacombe.livejournal.com]

You're pretty dang cool, kizz.

[tryslora]

I am absolutely amazed this season. I'm only a page and a half into the comments for reading (yes, I'm waaaay behind) and I have eight people to vote for. There's been a TON more I haven't noted because I'm literally trying to keep to the ones which knock me flat on my arse, which means I'm passing by ones which just make me go WOW. Which is sad.

I'm sorry not to be commenting on most of the entries... I honestly don't have time, but wow wow wow, I am utterly blown away by the talent I see out there. Sometimes what gets me is the beautiful way with words. Sometimes it's the story being told. Sometimes it's the way I'm drawn in and am THERE in the story. I've already identified a few people I think have that triple threat I was looking for last season when I voted (no, I'm not telling who *grins*) and I think it's going to be an AMAZINGLY tough season.

Just... wow.

[spydielives.livejournal.com]

Is it just me, or do the comments look different today?

[lacombe.livejournal.com]

How tough would you like me to be? Do you want content criticism, grammar crit. or both?

[(Anonymous)]

I've really been appreciating the encouraging comments my two efforts have gotten.

It's scary putting myself out there, but I'm sure it will do me good in the long run.

[lacombe.livejournal.com]

I don't like this layout- it's too tough to see who's responding.

[ambwilson.livejournal.com]

Thought I was logged in. That was me.

[lacombe.livejournal.com]

We're all very proud of you for being so bold and for putting yourself right out there, Anonymous.

[shay-writes.livejournal.com]

*smiles*

[spydielives.livejournal.com]

I will often post my drafts (though they are written in a word processor first), without much editing once I think I have something good. So... if I screwed up grammar, spelling, word choice, or even punctuation, I would like to know?

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

Awww...*blush*

You're so sweet, Jacques :)

[shay-writes.livejournal.com]

This is the sort of thing that's confusing me. I've seen people say how great the entries are, but they have to narrow down who they actual vote for.

Why? Is there a limit? Why not vote for everyone who moves you? Maybe I'm missing something.

(you're not the first person to say this)

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

I tend to be all about constructive criticism, too. I don't know about anyone else, but I've been editing myself this round because 1) it's the first one, and 2) I think encouragement is more important than criticism at this point. I can definitely see the criticism coming into play as the weeks go on, though.

Plus there's the "how will s/he take it?" factor. I don't want to piss off anyone, but I don't want to keep posting plaudits either...y'know?

[mme-furiosa.livejournal.com]

seconded!

my favorites so far this week:

[belenen.livejournal.com]

http://controlld-chaos.livejournal.com/58302.html
http://bubbles20061980.livejournal.com/66211.html
http://amadruadaboleyn.livejournal.com/347081.html
http://n-decisive.livejournal.com/164391.html
http://chiara607.livejournal.com/124625.html
http://rotheche.livejournal.com/31827.html
http://wherdafux-d-cat.livejournal.com/308380.html
http://blue-eye.livejournal.com/374756.html
http://amenquohi.livejournal.com/470936.html
http://ankita-1.livejournal.com/155966.html
http://superhappytime.livejournal.com/4055.html
http://golden-sands.livejournal.com/77362.html
http://imafarmgirl.livejournal.com/311328.html
http://fidgety.livejournal.com/461794.html
http://flisleshnitz.livejournal.com/231364.html
http://jennielynn1127.livejournal.com/327399.html
http://mme-furiosa.livejournal.com/51404.html
http://rosepurr.livejournal.com/852618.html
http://rm.livejournal.com/1206195.html
http://beemerbike.livejournal.com/23961.html
http://spydielives.livejournal.com/1591968.html

It's really insane how many amazing writers are involved! There were plenty of others I liked too, just not as much as those in that list. And I think I got a little burnt out on reading, so some of them didn't make as much impact as they otherwise would have. I hope we're allowed to vote for more than one because I will never be able to narrow it down to only one!

I expect to be eliminated pretty early just because the talent in here is overwhelming, but I'm still going to vote and follow the topics in my LJ. This has been an amazing experience already! I'm very excited to be involved. :D