1. I was going to change the question to "that are no longer in the competition" because there is absolutely no way that I would answer that about people *in* the competition. Depending how people feel about me, that would either be too big of an advantage (having my 'endorsement') or too big of a target! :D But in light of that earlier "Gatekeeper question" and the fact that my favorites tend to return for something like that, I'd rather not put a spotlight on them either. :)
Everyone should just assume that I secretly enjoy reading them. Either that or I hate all of you equally! :)
2. If I didn't answer that first one, there is no way that I will answer this one! :D
HOWEVER. I was thinking about it on the bus ride in, and I can look at who is left and say "how many contestants" from Week 1 are left that I thought "they have a real shot at winning this" are left.
Of course, this doesn't mean that other people didn't show up in Week 2 with something that impressed me. Or that by Week 25 I didn't think "Damn, they are on fire..." Just my initial gut feelings on the subject.
*checks* There are 10 of them left. Some of them (IMO) don't have the chance that I *thought* they did - and several people that I really didn't know well enough have a *much* better chance of taking this than I would have ever thought during the first week.
3. Seeing the personal growth, not just as writers, but as people. Getting to know folks. (which is one reason why I encourage them to email me. This season there are some that I have gotten to know quite well, and others I've only seen what they put here and in their writing.)
4. As other people have pointed out - it's over that. I advertised the season as being "about a year" long. I also projected a little over 300 contestants and it was under that. So adjustments have been made along the way.
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Everyone should just assume that I secretly enjoy reading them. Either that or I hate all of you equally! :)
2. If I didn't answer that first one, there is no way that I will answer this one! :D
HOWEVER. I was thinking about it on the bus ride in, and I can look at who is left and say "how many contestants" from Week 1 are left that I thought "they have a real shot at winning this" are left.
Of course, this doesn't mean that other people didn't show up in Week 2 with something that impressed me. Or that by Week 25 I didn't think "Damn, they are on fire..." Just my initial gut feelings on the subject.
*checks* There are 10 of them left. Some of them (IMO) don't have the chance that I *thought* they did - and several people that I really didn't know well enough have a *much* better chance of taking this than I would have ever thought during the first week.
3. Seeing the personal growth, not just as writers, but as people. Getting to know folks. (which is one reason why I encourage them to email me. This season there are some that I have gotten to know quite well, and others I've only seen what they put here and in their writing.)
4. As other people have pointed out - it's over that. I advertised the season as being "about a year" long. I also projected a little over 300 contestants and it was under that. So adjustments have been made along the way.