It seemed like it was almost The Hunger Games, just more sadness and edginess and not a whole lot of exhilaration and action.
I'm not sure why. I like making photos, so I entered the contest. If I had lost, I would just say "Oh well." and totally forget. And, it's not like anyone can never get the book. It's coming out in January.
Hmm. Maybe a photo contest wasn't the best idea I had. *ducks down*
I think it had to do with the fact that the public voted, and we could all see how many votes we all got.
It's not anyone's fault, I guess things like that just happen. Maybe it's best to stick with the things that can be judges my Ms. Miller. Because these giveaways are really fun, and I like reading all the entries that people create. (Plus, I think you're probably the only author that does this, which I think is awesome on so many levels)
I just find it weird, because its really no different than Ms. Miller choosing herself.
She was doing is a favor by letting us choose. And, I thank you for that, Ms. Miller. ;)
I think most people (like me)like the contest because of the cool ideas people have and maybe enter the because its fun taking part. I don't see why people get upset if they don't win, one can still buy the book! So please, everyone, if you can't handle this, stop taking part. But it would be sad for those who take part just for the sake of it to stop doing these contests...
I had a couple of pictures that made the finalists. I didn't "win," but aside from the slight chagrin over not getting an ARC of Darkness Dwellers, I had a LOT of fun. And I learned not from being "beaten," but by how I was beaten.
The short short story contest a while back may have been more approachable simply because working with words is less technically messy for those who routinely post and lurk here. I took advantage of some sewer infrastructure on my commute home from work late one night to some of the pictures I used -- this being a resource for imagery not all have access to, or would be allowed access to. I was genuinely pleased Kirsten said "yes" to drawings and illustrations for precisely that reason. I know that when I was in junior high my parents would freak if I said "Can I go out to the flood control channel to take pictures of manhole covers at night?"
As for how did I do on that short short story contest? I wasn't beaten. I think the proper word is "trampled." And, again, I learned a lot (and read some really great stories!).
Thank you, Kirsten, for holding these occasional contests and for being so accessible to your readers.
I completely agree with Julia- it was getting so competitive, and seeing how many votes our photos/drawing got could be disappointing. Maybe the people who won books already could still enter future contests but not be able to actually win a book so we all get a chance. And Robert- I take it you drew Luz, & just so you know, she was beautiful. :)
I'm not really a superstitious person in general, but the losing was a bit harder for me because I had expected a tiny bit to be a winner because I just had a fortune cookie, right before I entered (this sounds really random), and it said something like 'you will soon receive an unexpected gift from an acquaintance'. Mostly I just hoped to win because I've been entering every contest I see of yours. (But if I do someday get Kiki #3, even if I have to buy it myself, if I send it to you will you sign it?)
I feel that people might have been less annoyed if there was a rule against voting for yourself. Then they couldn't be angry at people for voting for themselves, that might seem "selfish" to some people...
Whoa Robert you drew Luz????!!! That's SO good. I'm not good at drawing people. Just things from my imagination, such as street potatoes, Pyscho goats, and Gnu Butter.
I'm a strange 12 year-old girl. (Or, as I say, "irregular.")
to julia: maybe you would feel differently if you hadn't won. Winning is more of a big deal when you can't just go out and buy books whenever you like. I agree, though, that being able to see how many people voted for us and especially who voted for who may have been a bad idea.
I think that a photo/drawing/photo editing contest is sort of difficult for some people who don't have the time to scout the area to find interesting things that have to do with this theme or those who are simply not good at artsy things. (like me :P but I didn't enter in the first place so I'm totally okay with it)
I think contests should continue.They're fun! And, even better, you should put an excerpt from the darkness dwellers on your blog! Like the book version of a movie trailer. Please? As a Christmas gift? Or, post by Sunday and make it a Hannukah gift? Happy 6th day of Hannukah, I think. :)
No, I didn't draw Luz. I wish I had that skill. I took No. 2 (splotchy lighting on a manhole cover at night -- whoever did No. 7 did a MUCH better job of it) and No. 10 (the hand caught in the hatch with the photo manipulation).
Lessons learned from this exercise include a) you can spot illuminate a scene in darkness with a headlamp (no flash required!), b) really cheap cameras work well, c) really cheap photo fixing and manipulation software, like the stuff that comes with the camera, can do wonderful things and d) some of the folks who frequent this blog can DRAW!
18 comments:
It seemed like it was almost The Hunger Games, just more sadness and edginess and not a whole lot of exhilaration and action.
I'm not sure why. I like making photos, so I entered the contest. If I had lost, I would just say "Oh well." and totally forget. And, it's not like anyone can never get the book. It's coming out in January.
Hmm. Maybe a photo contest wasn't the best idea I had. *ducks down*
I agree. This is supposed to be fun, not super competitive. Please keep doing giveaways though, Ms. Miller!
I think it had to do with the fact that the public voted, and we could all see how many votes we all got.
It's not anyone's fault, I guess things like that just happen. Maybe it's best to stick with the things that can be judges my Ms. Miller. Because these giveaways are really fun, and I like reading all the entries that people create. (Plus, I think you're probably the only author that does this, which I think is awesome on so many levels)
I just find it weird, because its really no different than Ms. Miller choosing herself.
She was doing is a favor by letting us choose.
And, I thank you for that, Ms. Miller. ;)
I think most people (like me)like the contest because of the cool ideas people have and maybe enter the because its fun taking part.
I don't see why people get upset if they don't win, one can still buy the book!
So please, everyone, if you can't handle this, stop taking part. But it would be sad for those who take part just for the sake of it to stop doing these contests...
I had a couple of pictures that made the finalists. I didn't "win," but aside from the slight chagrin over not getting an ARC of Darkness Dwellers, I had a LOT of fun. And I learned not from being "beaten," but by how I was beaten.
The short short story contest a while back may have been more approachable simply because working with words is less technically messy for those who routinely post and lurk here. I took advantage of some sewer infrastructure on my commute home from work late one night to some of the pictures I used -- this being a resource for imagery not all have access to, or would be allowed access to. I was genuinely pleased Kirsten said "yes" to drawings and illustrations for precisely that reason. I know that when I was in junior high my parents would freak if I said "Can I go out to the flood control channel to take pictures of manhole covers at night?"
As for how did I do on that short short story contest? I wasn't beaten. I think the proper word is "trampled." And, again, I learned a lot (and read some really great stories!).
Thank you, Kirsten, for holding these occasional contests and for being so accessible to your readers.
Robert in San Diego
I completely agree with Julia- it was getting so competitive, and seeing how many votes our photos/drawing got could be disappointing. Maybe the people who won books already could still enter future contests but not be able to actually win a book so we all get a chance. And Robert- I take it you drew Luz, & just so you know, she was beautiful. :)
I'm not really a superstitious person in general, but the losing was a bit harder for me because I had expected a tiny bit to be a winner because I just had a fortune cookie, right before I entered (this sounds really random), and it said something like 'you will soon receive an unexpected gift from an acquaintance'. Mostly I just hoped to win because I've been entering every contest I see of yours. (But if I do someday get Kiki #3, even if I have to buy it myself, if I send it to you will you sign it?)
I enjoy them plus I get to see all of the other great work people have done. Seriously, it is awesome to see so much dedication to a beloved story.
I feel that people might have been less annoyed if there was a rule against voting for yourself. Then they couldn't be angry at people for voting for themselves, that might seem "selfish" to some people...
Last time I had a fortune cookie, it didn't even have a FORTUNE in it.
So it was just a plain old rubbery cookie. Bleh.
Whoa Robert you drew Luz????!!!
That's SO good. I'm not good at drawing people. Just things from my imagination, such as street potatoes, Pyscho goats, and Gnu Butter.
I'm a strange 12 year-old girl. (Or, as I say, "irregular.")
Good idea! I would like to still enter future contests, even though I wouldn't take another ARC. Contests are so fun.
to julia:
maybe you would feel differently if you hadn't won. Winning is more of a big deal when you can't just go out and buy books whenever you like. I agree, though, that being able to see how many people voted for us and especially who voted for who may have been a bad idea.
I think that a photo/drawing/photo editing contest is sort of difficult for some people who don't have the time to scout the area to find interesting things that have to do with this theme or those who are simply not good at artsy things. (like me :P but I didn't enter in the first place so I'm totally okay with it)
I definitely know how it feels to lose. I lost a trip to New York to the Turkish Embassy. I've lost the ARC contests probably about 4 times.
I would probably the blog.
I think contests should continue.They're fun!
And, even better, you should put an excerpt from the darkness dwellers on your blog! Like the book version of a movie trailer. Please? As a Christmas gift? Or, post by Sunday and make it a Hannukah gift?
Happy 6th day of Hannukah, I think. :)
Dear Everyone:
No, I didn't draw Luz. I wish I had that skill. I took No. 2 (splotchy lighting on a manhole cover at night -- whoever did No. 7 did a MUCH better job of it) and No. 10 (the hand caught in the hatch with the photo manipulation).
Lessons learned from this exercise include a) you can spot illuminate a scene in darkness with a headlamp (no flash required!), b) really cheap cameras work well, c) really cheap photo fixing and manipulation software, like the stuff that comes with the camera, can do wonderful things and d) some of the folks who frequent this blog can DRAW!
Robert in San Diego
I haven't entered in one yet, but I love reading the entries. I think you should continue, even if you run out of prizes. The contests are really fun.
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