Green Room - Week 31 - Day 6

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

Happy Hanukkah to those who celebrate it. Even to those who don't celebrate it.

My main criteria for a holiday is "Does anyone give me presents?" Since I have not yet received any for Hanukkah, I am doubting that it exists. However, there are still more nights for me to be proven wrong!

(Note: It's the same reason why "Your Birthday" doesn't really register to me. As far as I know, fourzoas is the only one with a real one)

There was a comment tucked into the space of the sparsely commented Green Room from yesterday. One that I thought merited more attention, so I'm grabbing it and putting it right here in front of you! Of course, you could very well ignore it again. ;)

The parts in quotes are the original statement. The rest is me adding my own charming commentary. Which is both charming and commentary.


"I think this season, maybe more than others, has a lot of Identity stuff going on."

I definitely agree with this statement.

"What is LJ Idol when LJ is allegedly "dying"?"

It still very much has a place in LJ, and in writing communities in general. I think we are still are doing some cool things, even if it's on a platform that doesn't have the attention that it had when we started.

"What does it mean for LJI to be cross-platform, on twitter, facebook, and ello and all that?"

My take (and plan) for posting cross-platform is the same as it was on Day 1 in Idol when I decided that people would post *links to their posts* on the Idol site rather than their actual stories. Several people (including my assistant at the time) argued that they should be posted here, and that the community should be entirely self-contained.

I maintained "it's THEIR stories, they need to be posted *in their space*". It's the same reason I set things up to have open voting, with people encouraging their friends to show up to Idol to vote.

I put up a topic and then send you out to your space. You post it there and gather attention for it... then you bring that back into Idol for voting... the voters then go out from this center hub to *other people's posts*... and the cycle continues. It's all about creating word of mouth and new blood into the system, so it's not just the same people sitting around reading the same old things.

That's how I look at cross-promotion with other platforms.

I *hated* it when LJ introduced it. So anyone saying "YOU ALLOW IT!". I didn't have a choice. It is literally "LJ is doing this. You adapt or you throw up your hands saying OMG IT'S NOT THE SAME!!!" and pull the plug.

But as time has gone on, I've slowly been figuring out ways to use it. My intent is to throw it out there in these various places and bring back new readers/writers. People who may have forgotten about LJ, or never heard of it. People who thought "that's dead" can see "wow, there's something cool going on over there".

Throw out the net, and bring them all back into LJ... hopefully encouraging them to set up accounts in the process. (I don't* require it, because again, that would mean me saying "Yeah, those 3 votes don't count... sorry person who was eliminated by 2 votes. Take my word for it, those were from Twitter")

That's why I did the interviews and have been trying to get the word out about Idol - to bring more people into the fold. Which, hopefully, gets more people to read your entries! :)

"Who is it "for"?"

LJ IDOL has been "for" the same thing from Day 1 until this very moment - to amuse me. :)

It started because I wanted to have some fun with friends. It's continued because it was a way to make new friends and have some fun with them.

You, as writers and readers, *get something out of it* as well. Which is awesome - it's designed to be that way *because I want you to keep coming back*!

(So anyone who says "Gary will understand why I want to work on such-and-such instead of play Idol this season". On some levels - sure. On other levels - I want all my friends to come over to my house and play in this sandbox! Why wouldn't I???)

"What comes next, for any of us, including you? These are all things we've been asking - quietly or loudly or muttering continually under our collective breaths - all season, trying to figure it out."

Which probably hasn't been helped by the fact that *I* don't know either! :)

I made the "Season 9 will be the final season, unless something unexpected happens" back when - honestly - I was feeling like "maybe I won't be around that long". It was a goal, a commitment at a time when every season had a huge "Maybe I'll come back and do this again - and maybe I won't."

I wanted to lock it down. Set it in stone. There WOULD be a Season 9. After that was entirely up to "unless something unexpected happens".

Along the way, several unexpected things *have* happened. Both good and bad. What that means for the long term Idol - I have no idea.

Here's what I *can* tell you: I have a project that I want to run after this season ends. I keep calling it my "special project" but I've told a few people about it off-Idol, it was my last email conversation with Nathalie actually) so I might as well say it "out loud":

It's a couple week "Idol Jr" - for kids. There were a couple kids participating this season, and in the past. My own bonus-daughter-to-be *wants* to play Idol. But there's no way I'd throw her into the shark tank! But maybe a thing with prompts and voting (but no eliminations) with kid-friendly topics might be fun.

*shrug* That's the plan anyway. We will see if there is any response to it.

After that, I want to run a mini-season in the late Spring.

No guarantees after that. BUT it will put us awfully close to our 10th anniversary. That's really tempting. If there was going to be a full Season 10... it would certainly fit, wouldn't it?

So there you go - *most* of my thoughts on the subject of "what's next?"

All of this, of course, is entirely dependent on my friends showing up to play in the sandbox - and bringing *their* friends with them! So I hope that you will!

"And as we're all part of this collective community, that also means figuring ourselves out, and this space out. "

Which has been a conversation that's been going on from the very first moment I posted in here, and continues to evolve with each new group making their contributions to the dialogue.

***
We have a Vote going on: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/816301.html
We have a Killing Floor/Home Game happening: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/815412.html

and because no post would be complete without it - there is only ONE shirt to sell with the original design before the first run of Idol t-shirts can happen: http://teespring.com/LJIdol I'm debating if I should leave them open, or close them (thus giving the order to print early and making them a Limited run) and just sell the alternates http://teespring.com/LJIDOL3 for a bit.

Comments

[theun4givables.livejournal.com]

I really, really like the idea of doing a Season 10 on the 10th anniversary of Idol, personally.

I also really like the idea of doing a Kid Idol; I think that'd be really cute for our members who have kids who want to participate. The lack of eliminations is also a great idea for that.

As far as the mini-season goes -- I'll probably sit on the sidelines for it. :) This is also an exhausted marathon runner speaking, here, so don't take my word for it. ;) We'll see how I feel when it comes around. :D

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

"I really, really like the idea of doing a Season 10 on the 10th anniversary of Idol, personally. "

It's something that has been playing around in my head for awhile. Of course that would mean that once again we'd be starting a season in Spring. Unless we started it in the Fall and it ended around the 10th anniversary... like I said, it's something that I'm working out in my head.

"The lack of eliminations is also a great idea for that."

People who have had their kids participate rarely tell them how they did in a poll anyway. I figured - have the polls, because people love a poll. But don't have it mean anything *negative*.

"This is also an exhausted marathon runner speaking, here, so don't take my word for it. ;) "

That's months away at this point. You have time to rest.

[kandigurl.livejournal.com]

I decided to poke my head in on the Green Room and see what's going on - I'm glad I did. This post was so powerful.

I will definitely be participating in the mini-season if it happens. I think those work better for me, since I get distracted by every shiny that comes along and can only focus on Idol for so long at a given time (which is why part of the challenge for me is to just keep showing up week after week, and why I tend to disappear immediately after I'm kicked out - I'm usually burnt out by then).

BUT if there is a season 10, I will definitely come back for that. I will try again, because I like excuses to write (since I rarely give them to myself). And I love that you give us a reason to keep coming back to LJ. I love that you have the tenacity I don't, to keep Idol going for ten years is amazing - I would have been distracted by thirty-six other things by this point.

Anyway, I guess what I'm saying is - even if I'm not consistently around, I love LJI, I have infinite respect and admiration for your dedication to it, and I'll keep putting on my "Focus, Damn It" hat any time you open the doors again. :)

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

"I decided to poke my head in on the Green Room and see what's going on - I'm glad I did. This post was so powerful. "

I'm always glad when you poke your head in here!

"I will definitely be participating in the mini-season if it happens. I think those work better for me"

Awesome. I think that it's something much different than the "full season Idol experience" and requires a different skill set to survive it. Maybe that's just me, since the winners of the mini-seasons seem to have done pretty well in this full season.

"BUT if there is a season 10, I will definitely come back for that. I will try again, because I like excuses to write "

Fantastic!

"And I love that you give us a reason to keep coming back to LJ."

It's a great site. There have been times when I've looked into transferring Idol to another site because of the whole "it's dying" thing, but Livejournal really does offer a template and an atmosphere that you just can't find, even in the knockoffs.


"I love that you have the tenacity I don't, to keep Idol going for ten years is amazing - I would have been distracted by thirty-six other things by this point. "

Believe me. I have things distracting me as well. One idea has popped up in my head recently that I would love to do... of course it *directly* ties into helping Idol. :) I'm a bit one-tracked when it comes to the things I love.

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

I will definitely be participating in the mini-season if it happens. I think those work better for me, since I get distracted by every shiny that comes along and can only focus on Idol for so long at a given time (which is why part of the challenge for me is to just keep showing up week after week, and why I tend to disappear immediately after I'm kicked out - I'm usually burnt out by then).

I've had the as-of-now unspoken inkling that this has been my issue all along, especially with the focus thing. I was saying somewhere recently that that the "ooh shiny" part of my brain tends to override things like focus and discipline unless I make it a point to hyperfocus, which has its own foibles. It started much earlier this season than it usually does. Given what RL has thrown at me this year, I suppose I shouldn't berate myself for succumbing to it.

In spite of all that, I'll be back. I always return ;)

[lrig-rorrim.livejournal.com]

Some of those words seem vaguely familiar. ;)

It's always great hearing your meta-thoughts on Idol, on where things are and where things have been and where they might be going.

I think it's particularly interesting that way back in the day, Season 9 was the thing you were setting in stone because otherwise you didn't think you'd get there. Here we are, and now it seems like an ending, but back in the day it was the milestone motivator for you; it was the thing to shoot for, so to speak. And now that we're here it feels different... (And of course, every ending is a beginning and a middle. Stories are messy.)

I think Idol Jr sounds like a fabulous idea! I even know a couple of kids who might be interested. Do you know what kind of age range you're going to have on it? One of them will be 13 in January, and I wasn't sure of the upper limit.

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

"Some of those words seem vaguely familiar. ;)"

I have no idea what you are talking about. ;)

"It's always great hearing your meta-thoughts on Idol, on where things are and where things have been and where they might be going. "

The only problem I have with putting them out there more is that people (in the past) have read that as "He doesn't know what he's doing/needs us to tell him what to do". When really it's just thinking out-loud and hearing feedback.

"I think it's particularly interesting that way back in the day, Season 9 was the thing you were setting in stone because otherwise you didn't think you'd get there. "

Yeah. It was my commitment of "OK. I'll keep doing this until THIS DATE. Unless I change my mind". :) It kept me going, and focused at a time when I could have just as easily said "fuck it" and dropped everything. I felt like there was still more to do, and say, with Idol. I think there still is.

I'll admit - hearing the Story Shelter interviews with Hawksworth and Darlena really helped me to see that. It's one thing fielding the "you suck" messages, but when someone has been able to "do something" with their writing and uses that platform to say "It's because of Idol"... yeah, that means *a lot* to me - and makes me think that maybe there are people looking up to them who will say "Wow. I want to try that place too!" :)

" Do you know what kind of age range you're going to have on it? One of them will be 13 in January, and I wasn't sure of the upper limit."

My thought was 14. Because we've had successful contestants in a full season who were 15. I think that's a good age break. My biggest concern is the people who will say "I'll WRITE LIKE I AM 10 - WHAT A GREAT EXPERIMENT!!" because that would be kind of annoying.

[dmousey.livejournal.com]

Yes! Yes! Yes! To Children's Idol and season 10! I'm in.

I would love to see what kids write and how they're thinking these days given all the tech stuffs available that weren't when I was young.

I'd like to write some children's books and that would lend some insight.

I understand it's a lot of work though.

As for a season 10, it would only serve to make me a better writer! A worthwhile goal (to me!) Right there. :)

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

"Yes! Yes! Yes! To Children's Idol and season 10! I'm in."

Woo hoo!

"I would love to see what kids write and how they're thinking these days given all the tech stuffs available that weren't when I was young."

Yeah. I think the thought process would be cool to see. I know that I've enjoyed seeing it in person in my real life.

"Being a Dad" is something that I've always dreamed of... and now I have it! It's an unexpected hybrid version without some of the responsibility and another level of angst... but what situation is exactly the way you thought it would be? :)

[kandigurl.livejournal.com]

A few of my artist friends have approached me about writing a kids book that they would illustrate. I have some ideas but I've never tried it before. I would also be interested to see what the Idol kids come up with. :) I think it would be refreshing to read!

[rayaso.livejournal.com]

Please, PLEASE have a Season 10! Your idea for a kids' LJ Idol would be great.

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

I'll put you in the "yes" column.

Hopefully people who aren't participating - and don't have kids participating, will come around to cheer them on!

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

I'd be all for a Season 10 on the 10th Idolversary. I'm up in the air about doing another mini-season, because a) this is exhausting, and b) it wouldn't count towards my Weeks Played total. But regardless of whether I choose to play the mini-season or not, I'll still be around the GR and possibly do a HG topic as time and inclination allows.

Just so you know.

FYI

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

If there were another mini-season, I'm leaning pretty strongly toward it counting toward weeks played.

[anyonesghost.livejournal.com]

I support all those ideas.

Of course, at the moment, I don't know that I'd commit to either a small or full season. I didn't have time when I started S09, really; I definitely don't have time now; I'll have even less next year. And I'm anxious to take everything I've learned and use it to push stories and novels out into the paying world.

That said, I'm sure I'd stop by de temps en temps. (Who knows, maybe I'll be better at commenting when I'm a non-combatant?)

Also, *cough* if the "no prior winners" rule is reinstated for Season 10, I'd be automatically excluded when I win Season 09. ;-)

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

That's the spirit!

Although, I'm not sure about the winner's ban.

My original fear of a winner running over a second season's competition was something that we came *close* to having this season. Real Life doesn't play out the same in multiple seasons though.

And of course We could still have a mini-season winner take the whole thing.

It's something that I will definitely have to think about.

[lrig-rorrim.livejournal.com]

When you win this, you'll still be around to gatekeep or mentor or otherwise be involved in the Hypothetical Season 10, though. I know you just can't stay away. ;)

[witches.livejournal.com]

i love the idea of a season 10 on the 10th anniversary and the mini idol the idol jr for kids. awesome ideas, seriously :3

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

The Idol Jr one has been in my head since, oh, Week 1 when the minors were voted out! :D

[rattsu.livejournal.com]

I wont have time for a season 10.... But that's what I keep saying, ennit?

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

You *do* have a habit of saying that... we have ways of making you write! ;)

[adoptedwriter.livejournal.com]

Celebrating the Big H. by having salmon and latkes for dinner😄! I bought the hub a snowman cookie from Starbucks for a present. Bought myself nice soaps that smell all incensey and spicy at the local " psychic" shop.
AW

[dreamwriters.livejournal.com]

Hi all! It's been awhile since I've had time to wander into the green room! I've had a busy few months. :D

Still job searching and trying to get my writing off the ground, but I also just got my first publication credit for an article on Reiki (http://www.psychrehabassociation.org/content/some-benefits-learning-and-using-reiki).

Maybe I'll start poking into home game stuff in the near future. :D

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

Congratulations!

It will be nice to see you back in the Home Game!

[reckless-blues.livejournal.com]

I'm up for a tenth season. I'll be here so long as there's a here to be. I don't consider myself a writer, it's not a big hobby for me, so I don't write at all except for an event like this providing outside pressure. It's nice to be able to do something more creative and emotional while I'm at school studying science and math.

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

You may not "consider yourself a writer" - but you certainly have talent. Not everyone has to be in it to be published.

People can write just because it's something they enjoy!

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

Happy Hanukkah to you, Gary! I got a nifty "Dr Who in Whoville" sort of t-shirt, with the TARDIS and Cindy-Lou Who. It's adorable. Also a Christmas ornament of the Firefly ship, and a set of pajamas. Then we went out to dinner at Steak 'n Shake. :)

I like the idea of a 10th season just because I like round numbers!