LJ Idol Presents:

Awhile ago I asked the current contestants if they would mind if I posted a few fairly off the top of my head comments about each of them. They said that would be ok. I almost did it at 7, then 5, but I didn't want to space any of them out around a vote. . . so now seemed like as good of a time as any.

I reserve the right to edit once I start hearing people yell.*g* But it's the things that crossed my mind at the time when I sat down to think about each of them. They all are around the same length and cover the same categories.

We will be having four of these - one a day for the next four days, in alphabetical order according to user name. This is the fourth and final entry.

Consider each entry to be your chance for a mini fan club gathering to talk about what YOU LIKE about each contestant and their writing.

***
tulip_in_yellow

Odds of Winning: 1/4

Full Disclosure: She has been on my friends list the longest of the four.

First Impressions: I noticed her fairly early, and much like kittenboo had a good feeling about her lasting awhile. But considering the size of her friends list at the time I wasn't quite sure how it was going to happen.

Writing: The quote that I liked was that she has magical, accessible work that brings the reader along for the ride, which knowing her, could be just about anywhere. Which is completely true. She has a way of bringing a sense of place and energy to her writing.

She reminds me of tru2myart, both in the feel of her writing and tendiency to attack solid walls head first when she felt she had a point to make.

Social: She was a frequent Green Room commenter throughout the season and I think that had a lot to do with people checking out her work and getting to know her back when the field was crowded and kept herself a highly visible figure in the community.

"Game": She has a pimping for votes alliance with one of her closest friends since day 1.

Other than that, to match her own blunt style, I'd have to say that her "game plan" has consisted of telling people exactly what she thought of everything and everyone without very much of a filter. She's the only person I've ever seen who's *had a friends cut DURING a season as the race got tighter*. I think that sums her complete no nonsense approach nicely.

She was named as a target back in when several "power players" were trying to throw each other under the bus. Which is why, when confronted, her name was brought up and it was taken to mean she was one of my favorites by folks wanting to distort things for their own benefit.

Current Impressions: Serious threat to take it all. Solid writer with a stubborn streak a mile long. If there's a way to win through sheer determination and drive, she's the one most likely to find it.

She has a solid base of support within the community as a well as a network of friends and supporters who love her work, and that can make all the difference.

Awhile ago I asked the current contestants if they would mind if I posted a few fairly off the top of my head comments about each of them. They said that would be ok. I almost did it at 7, then 5, but I didn't want to space any of them out around a vote. . . so now seemed like as good of a time as any.

I reserve the right to edit once I start hearing people yell.*g* But it's the things that crossed my mind at the time when I sat down to think about each of them. They all are around the same length and cover the same categories.

We will be having four of these - one a day for the next four days, in alphabetical order according to user name. This is the second of four.

Consider each entry to be your chance for a mini fan club gathering to talk about what YOU LIKE about each contestant and their writing.
***

kittenboo

Odds of Winning: 1/4

Full Disclosure: She has been on my FL the second longest of the four.

First Impression: I'll be honest, I had a gut feeling she was going to do really well. I wasn't sure how it was going to happen, but there was a raw potential in her writing that I thought was going to be take her a long, long way. Obviously I was right.

Writing: The quote that I like the most was about one of her more "sexual entries", that it was "hot and surprisingly touching". I think that says a lot right there.

There's a raw emotional energy to her work, regardless of what she is writing about that I think shows through and captures her audience. I was actually struggling to figure out who she reminded me of, until a friend of mine pointed to dissolvedgurl who long time Idol followers will no doubt know is one of my personal favorite writers, and people, in general.

Social: She's gotten out into the Green Room, and formed bonds with a lot of people who didn't really feel like they were part of a "group", thus forming one of their own. But she's also managed to keep a fair amount of respect across the board. Which isn't easy to do.

"Game": She's one of the cases of someone who, for whatever reason, wasn't getting the attention she deserved early on. In fact I *thought* there was a chance she could have been eliminated at a couple points. She and some others bonded together in sheepstations and she really came out of it a stronger writer and competitor in general. She became a bigger fish in a smaller pond and has benefited from more one on one face time with some of her fellow players as a result.

She is also someone who had the potential to have "deep pockets" from the get-go, but didn't use them.

I think that gained her a lot of respect. It certainly gained mine.

She probably has the best head for the game that I've seen, BUT manages to keep it in check and concentrate on her writing. Which is a fine line to walk, and she's been doing it.

Current Impression: Serious threat to take it all. She has a solid voice and isn't afraid to take risks with her entries to stand out in the crowd. She has strong community connections as well as a network of friends and supporters who love her work, and that can make all the difference.

We started with 24 eager faces - each of them with one dream, to become the NEXT LJ IDOL

Now we have 5.

But who are these people and what have they done in this competition?

brandedeclipseThe Comeback Kid. She, and bhyphen were put up for elimination when Wikkidpixie used her immunity to save another contestant. Bhyphen had his alliance to save her, brandedeclipse wasn't so lucky and ended up being eliminated in a controversial and emotional close tie-breaker. She was brought back along with lifeofjason by simplysakka in yet another twist to this game. She knows what it's like to be voted out... and what it takes to stay in this game. She's been called, by a fellow competitor, "the best writer in the competition". After a couple *very* close calls - is this the end of her run OR has it motivated her support base to work even harder to keep her in?

deyaniera: The Veteran and Early Favorite. She's the only remaining player from last season still in this. She was favored to win going in last season, she was an early favorite to win this time. She's had some good weeks, she's had some scary weeks, but she's always pulled through. It was once thought that she, simplysakka and brujah would ride this thing out to the final three. Now, she's the only one left from that group. Is that a sign of things to come or will she continue her winning ways?

dissolvedgurl The Doubting Foreigner.In week one she declared that she was going to be the first one out. A lot of hard work and several scares - she's still here. As the only remaining non-American in this competition, does that give her an edge or single her out? Does it make a difference? Can she continue to overcome the odds and her doubts and find a way to win?

tru2myart The Sudden Legend. She started this competition still fairly new to LJ and knowing barely anyone. Now she stands with a sizeable friends list and support system. Her fellow players declared her "The Spirit of LJ IDOL". Is spirit enough? Has she come far enough to win this? She had won 20 extra votes - she used a few to save brandedeclipse, which eliminated the popular brujah... she then used her remaining votes, spacing them out so that they would have no impact on the outcome. Will her kindness help or hurt her as the competition gets tighter?

wikkidpixie The Powerhouse. Again, another person who declared herself to be the one most likely to be out first... and then out second and then... next thing you knew she was running the tables voting wise, dominating week after week. She even went so far as to make sure she got her entry in one week where she was on a vacation cruise! Has she used up her base too soon? Can she expand it enough to stave off the others?


Which one of these talented women will be YOUR NEXT LJ IDOL? That, dear voters, is for you to decide!!