LJ Idol Presents:

Only 5 of the remaining 10 contestants submitted for the Quick Fire this week.

I'm hoping that everyone else was just saving themselves up for the main event!

Putting something out in 24-hours isn't always easy, so those who were able to do it - definitely thumbs up to you.

The Judging this week wasn't easy. People did have strong opinions on the pieces - but looking at the ballots, there were a couple folks at or near the top of one who were at the bottom of another! Which again, to me means I picked the right group of people to be Judges!

This week is certainly a fun group.

They were:

Dominica Malcolm is a writer/editor at Solarwyrm Press, co-founded by Jax Goss, whom she met through LJ Idol. At Solarwyrm, she has published a speculative fiction novel, Adrift Press, which had it's beginnings in LJ Idol, and Amok: An Anthology of Asia-Pacific Speculative Fiction. She will soon be publishing a second anthology, Marked by Scorn: An Anthology Featuring Non-Traditional Relationships (which is still open for submissions until Feb 15th, if anyone has something to submit - visit http://solarwyrm.com/2014/07/10/call-for-submissions-marked-by-scorn/ for details), and will also soon be published in an anthology about polyamorous families.

When she's not writing or publishing, she can usually be found in the San Francisco Bay Area, frequently watching stand-up comedy, or watching, performing, or developing her skills in improv. For more information, check out her website/blog at http://dominica.malcolm.id.au "

rejeneration - If you track the history of the success of fiction through LJ Idol history, you are going to come across a few names. Before you will hit a dead stop. There will be others that have done it, but only a few that did it well enough to literally change the dynamic of the conversation about the role of fiction in Idol.

This is one of those names. An argument could be made that it's *the* name that changed things and set up the "next stage" of development that came during Season 5.

We've never met face to face, but she is definitely someone that I consider a friend and a major supporter of Idol over the years. You (briefly) got to meet her this season when she attempted to use Facebook to play. Why? Because she wanted to test the limits and break new ground. Because that is who she is and what she does.

Another person that I am proud to call my friend is Kerry Hiatt She didn't give me much of a bio though, so I stole it from LinkedIn. :)

"I’m a freelance journalist, author, copywriter and editor based in London who occasionally dabbles in writing for TV and radio. Magazines and newspapers I’ve written for include The Guardian, The Daily Mail, The Daily Express, The Independent, Psychologies and Time Out. I was a staff writer for a leading travel trade publication for two years and now specialise in travel; however, write extensively on dating lifestyle, relationships, food and careers.

I also work for publishing companies and independent authors on a freelance basis providing editing and book publicity services."

(She's no longer based in London. But the rest of it is still accurate. In addition: she currently works as a reader for a London-based literary agent. The *day I asked her to be a Judge* she had just finished running "a live critique event with a literary agent to offer advice on how to how to improve query letters". AKA I caught her at the right time - and she's definitely someone you want reading your stuff! :D)

The final Judge is *also* someone that you want reading your stuff. If you are on Livejournal, he's pretty much everywhere. How big of a deal is he? He's one of *the* central figures of the ONTD empire and his user name is his actual first name: brenden! (not to mention the fancy livejournalinc.com email address! :D)

He is literally one of the people who keeps this site we love going.

Seriously, I'm extremely flattered that he agreed to be a Judge this round.

Actually, I'm flattered to have gotten all of them!


Now I've introduced them, it's time to announce their decision. It was another close one. But I've checked it several different ways, and it's still the same winner, regardless of what method I was going to use. So I guess that means it's the right answer. ;)

The Winner of this week's Quick Fire - and immunity for Week 37 is lrig_rorrim! Congratulations!

In true Season 9 fashion, it came down to *a single vote*.

There were 10 entries and 5 of them came within a single vote of either winning or forcing a major tie-breaker of some sort! (and every single writer who submitted something received a vote!) If that doesn't tell you just how good the quality of the writers are this season nothing will.

Well, except a note from one of the Judges saying that they are really impressed with your work!

When I invite people to come in as Judges, they are definitely doing me a favor, and I always worry "I hope I'm not wasting their time with this". Thank you, for once again, not wasting their time! :)

Before I get to the result, I'd like to thank the Judges for taking the time and effort to come to this conclusion.

Your Quick Fire Judges this week were:

You know her. You love her. You covet her icon collection. She's roina_arwen I know she's wanted to do this sort of thing for a *long* time (and considering that, unless my mental math is faulty, she's the longest-constantly tenured member of Idol, that's quite bit of time!) so I'm glad that I was finally able to cross that off her bucket list. :)

Next up is someone else that you should know. Granted, you may only know him from his stint as a Gatekeeper. But people who know joeymichaels know him as something of a legendary figure in these halls. I'm really glad that I could coax him back one more time to help out!

I was also fortunate enough to ask an old friend of mine, from back in my fanfic days, to show up and help out. Brent Lambert is a talented writer and an all-around good guy. He's someone that I've always enjoyed knowing and watching grow over the years - but lately he's really stepped up and done something that makes me go "Damn, I KNOW THAT GUY!"

He is in the process of starting R.R.A.P. (Race Relations in the Arts and Politics) which will be officially launching on Feb 1st. I'll definitely be pointing you in his direction when that happens.

One of the people who really excited and impressed me this season, with dedication to LJ Idol and just that general "This is what is about!" spirit was eternal_ot, combining both compelling writing with an incredible attitude toward life. (Note: One of the things on her "list of accomplishments" is that she is GETTING ENGAGED THIS WEEKEND!)

Last, but certainly not least, is something who spends her time entertaining the world in her travels as well as doing some freelance editing over at Unkind Editor
Most times you would say "When she's not doing that..." but this is whipchick, so she is ALSO writing her fingers to the bone and doing things being the winner of LJ Idol Season 8!

Thank you to all of you for helping out this week! I know it wasn't an easy decision, but I hope you had fun reading the entries!

***

Now that's out of the way - we have our Results.

One contestant, who participated in this Quick Fire, now has IMMUNITY for Week 34, and a guaranteed spot one step closer to a chance to get into the finale!

Who is that?

jexia!

Congratulations!

***
Are you interested in reading the entries yourself, but haven't had the chance to do so? Then go check them out: http://therealljidol.livejournal.com/826465.html

There was another big decision today, finalized an hour before the poll.

As advertised, the Jury was charged to make the biggest decision ever handed to an Idol Jury. It is the most influence ever handed to that body to impact the Finale, and true to form, it came down to one vote, one ranking to be precise.

Before we get to that decision, I want to thank them. There are so many people who are eliminated, and we never hear from them again until it is time for them to step back into the spotlight for a new season. By serving on the Jury, and by casting your votes every week, you continue to help and support Idol, and your fellow writers. It is an act that comes from wanting the best possible results, and genuine caring about the outcome. Which I very much appreciate, and I know the community does as well.

Thank you for your service, and I officially disband you for Season 7. :)

I hope you will continue to stick around and see how this plays out.


What was the decision though? What did it come down to a single ranking of the Top 6?

I asked the Jury to rank their favorite set of entries, and whoever had the lowest point total - who was left in the competition after this vote would be walking away with a huge prize. A crucial prize.

As I said, it came down to one vote. But 5 of the 6 were within four points. (and the 6th wasn't very far off either) In other words, a single ballot ranking could have produced completely different results. I think that speaks volume to the diversity, and talent of this group.

What is this amazing power? It's the Final immunity. To be kept for themselves, or given out (before the voting starts next round) to someone else.

The person awarded this by the Jury has been given the power to determine one member of the Final 3.

By "Final 3", I mean just that - the Finals, the Finale, the Last Gasp of Season 7, Why We Are Here.

We have 4 contestants remaining, and one of them has a guaranteed spot, thanks to the Jury of their peers, to keep, or give away.

Who is that contestant? Oddly enough, it's the same person who came within one vote of leaving us this week! Apparently, he just likes living on the edge!

Congratulations to nishi_kaze!

Before we get to the results - there is a matter of the Jury. They have been charged to, collectively, make the decision who will receive immunity each week. The only catch being, no one can receive it more than once. With so many quality entries this week, and the unpredictability of polls, it's always a challenge to reach a collective decision. How much of a challenge?

This week the contestant who won did so by 1 vote. There were 7 other contestants one vote down from winning!!!

In the end though, the first person to be granted immunity by our Jury was applespicy! Congratulations!!

That was the good news. Unfortunately, we also have the bad news to deliver. Granted, getting to this point in the competition has got to be "good news" as well. But I know that doesn't stop leaving from sucking.
I know this week is going to upset a lot of people's predictions for the season. On the other hand, the curse of being labeled the "front runner" is pretty much intact.
Today we are saying goodbye to

beeker121
joyfulfeather
tamaraland
and
team_jessie

Thank you to all of you. I know that we will not be seeing the last of you, because you are now joining the Jury, to help determine how the rest of this season is going to play out!

This was the final week of the Jury, their last chance as a body, to cast a vote to help influence how the rest of the season was going to play out.

Thank you once again for everything.

This week, as it has been, the Jury was divided and opinionated on the subject of who should received the coveted immunity for the week, making them safe in both polls.

In the end though, it came down to the final vote cast (just like in the polls themselves) and the two selected were

notbatman
and
theafaye

Congratulations to both of you. Not only for being selected for immunity, but also for making it into our Top 9.

Every week it's a little bit more difficult to pick who will be given immunity, and the jury is charged with picking from this really tough field one contestant to make safe from the vote.

In practical terms, it means that they don't have to worry about being eliminated this week. In bigger terms though it's a "we liked what you did"/"kudos" from your former competitors, and it's hard to beat something like that.

Thus far it's been tight every single week, and this time was no exception.

In the end though, they selected beautyofgrey!

Congratulations on your immunity and your guaranteed spot in the Top 13 of Season 6!

Once again, the jury has cast their votes and a decision has been reached.

The contestant receiving immunity this week, and thus safe from elimination, is java_fiend.

Congratulations!!

Be sure to read his entry - and all of the others - at http://community.livejournal.com/therealljidol/348239.html