Questions. I have questions

[humantales]

The first one has to do with all the Last Author Standing communities/challenges/whatever that have been cropping up in the last several months. I see people on my f-list joining them and, since I haven't heard any complaints, they're clearly well-run and enjoyable.

I have a very wide competitive streak. Judging from the evidence (comparative reviews, etc), I am either not an especially good writer, or not writing the kinds of stories people want to read, or some combination of the two. I look at a writing competition and all I can think is "A way to put the outsiders down". Don't get me wrong; I don't think that's what's happening. I'm just wondering what you get out of it. Does it work like a workshop or what?

That's my question: What do writers participating, but not winning, in the LAS challenges get out of it? I'm not likely to join any--I don't do well with constant deadlines--but I'm curious.

I think I'll shelve the other things I want to say until later. It's late; Goofy won't be home until stupidly, stupidly late; and my brain's not functioning well any more. Sweet dreams.

Comments

[yamx]

Well, I'm like super-late answering this, but I joined Kink-LAS because I was afraid of writing smut and wanted to force myself to practice. Short fics with a specific prompt and a deadline seemed like the way to go. I thought I made make it through three rounds, or maybe four... It hasn't worked out that way. ;) But I achieved what I set out to do: I'm no longer shy about writing/posting smut. As an asexual, I consider that an achievement.

I won't win, I'm sure (if there's even going to be more rounds...), but no matter what happens now, I count the experience as a win.

I joined Drabble-LAS because I love drabbles and I'm worried the form might be dying, so I figured I should. (Plus, they're drabbled. Not a huge time investment.)

I'm tempted to join the next round of Original Fic-LAS to force myself o practice world/character-building, but probably won't, as I have to many other commitments.

So, no, winning was never really the purpose of my joining anything. (Which is not to say I'm not happy when I do well in the voting, of course.)