The Big Review

Rydia · 2015-06-13T09:18:19Z

Coming soon to a writing site near you... The Big Review Where? YWS When? 01/07/2015 (1st July) What? The Big Review is a contest where reviewers are pitted against each other in a contest to find out who writes the most helpful, best quality reviews. And who better to judge this than the authors themselves? Every entrant is guaranteed at least two reviews because the contestants will be reviewing each other's writing. Even after being knocked out of the contest, as long as the contestant followed the rules, they will still be on the books to receive reviews from the remaining participants. Why? A lot of the review contests we do on YWS focus on how many reviews a person can write or how long they can make them. This isn't about that. This is about you as writers saying which reviewer helped you the most with your work, whether it was the shortest review or the cheeriest review or the one which cut you to shreds and made you want to cry in the corner. It's up to you to decide which one was the most helpful to you. How? Contestants will be given the names of three YWS'ers every Sunday night. They will then have Monday through Friday to write a review for each of those YWSers. They may review the same piece as another contestant or a different piece. Then by Sunday at 8:00pm GMT, the contestants must award 1, 2 or 3 points to each reviewer so they will give 3 points to the best review, 2 points to the next best and 1 point to the review they found least helpful. At the end of round 1, the contestants will be divided into two groups. The half with the highest points will become group 1 and those with the lowest points will be group 2. Nobody is knocked out in the first round. For the second round, each reviewer will be going head to head with another reviewer. They will not necessarily review the same contestants (though group one will review group one and group two will review group two) but their points will be compared at the end of the round. Where there is an odd number of contestants, a group of three will be formed and only the contestant with the highest points will remain in. At the end of every week, the contestant in group 2 with the most points will move up to group 1. Where there is a tie or a contestant fails to rank their reviewers, I will decide, unless it is my own points which need adding up. I will then ask someone neutral to decide. The ways of being disqualified are as follows: 1. Failing to complete three reviews. This will result in you being dropped from the contest and you will not be included in the review roster. 2. Failing to rank the reviews you received. You will be able to remain in the contest, but you will no longer receive any reviews yourself. If you know you will be away then please let me know at least one week in advance. This will enable me to not include you in the review roster for that week and you will get a pass through to the next round. Everyone can use this privilege once only but not to pass through the semi finals or finals. This contest is expected to last for six weeks, depending on how many join. At round four it is likely that contestants will be placed in groups of three or four with only one survivor in order to prepare for a small number of semi finalists. Can I join? If you've got at least three published works then sign up below to participate. The contestants are currently: 1. @Rydia 2. @Arkhaion 3. @AdjiFlex 4. @Tuesday 5. @Megrim 6. @Wolfie36 7. @Wolfare1 8. @Pompadour 9. @IronSpark 10. @Meandbooks 11. @Pretzelsing 12. @hermione315 13. @megsug 14. @Carlito Prizes If you make it to the end of the contest, you will have written approximately 18 reviews. You will have received in return approximately 18 reviews. You will also receive a participant's badge and the winner will receive a winner's badge. As if that wasn't enough, you will also win one favour from me and can cash this in however you please. Whether you want me to make your story a Staff Pick, or join a storybook or make your name pink for a day, so long as it's a reasonable request and not harmful to YWS or her members then I am at your disposal.

Mea

Gender

Points 90000

Reviews 1085

Mon Aug 03, 2015 2:35 am

Mea says... · Mon Aug 03, 2015 2:35 am

Here's my scores:

Spoiler

Carlito - 3
SpiritedWolfe - 1

(I appreciated both, I just felt SpiritedWolfe's wasn't quite up to par.)

We're all stories in the end.

I think of you as a fairy with a green dress and a flower crown and stuff.
-EternalRain

I think you, @Deanie and I are like the Three Book Nerd Musketeers of YWS.
-bluewaterlily

Quote

Rydia

Supporter

Gender

Points 6235

Reviews 2631

Mon Aug 03, 2015 4:45 pm

Rydia says... · Mon Aug 03, 2015 4:45 pm

Round 5

Sorry about the lack of reminders this round! I was hoping to have more internet than I did this weekend :/ Anyway, onwards with the results and I'll give the finalists a little longer to make up for it!

Group 1

@IronSpark - 6
@Pompadour - 5
~~@Megrim~~

Group 2

@Carlito - 9
@Wolfie36 - 8
@Meandbooks - 7
@SpiritedWolfe - 6
~~@hermione315~~

At the end of the semi finals, both @hermione315 and @Megrim have decided to leave us but we thank them for participating and applaud their efforts in this grueling contest! That means @Pompadour will be switching places with @Carlito who has earned a position in the finals and everyone in group 2 will be knocked out. But three participants will be chosen at random to receive reviews from our wonderful contestants and those three are...

@Meandbooks
@Arkhaion
@Wolfie36

Round 6

Each of the finalists will review the same three participants, though you may choose to review different works. You have until Monday 10th August 6:00pm GMT to complete your reviews and then the people receiving reviews will have until Sunday 16th August 6:00pm GMT to score the reviews.

Ready... Set... Go!

@IronSpark vs @Carlito
@Meandbooks @Arkhaion @Wolfie36

Writing Gooder

~Previously KittyKatSparklesExplosion15~

The light shines brightest in the darkest places.

Quote

Rydia

Supporter

Gender

Points 6235

Reviews 2631

Tue Aug 11, 2015 8:36 pm

Rydia says... · Tue Aug 11, 2015 8:36 pm

The time for reviewing is now up and I have already received one set of results. If I could now ask @Meandbooks and @Arkhaion to either post their own points here or to send them to me privately before the end of the week, the winner will then be announced. If I don't receive either set of results by 10:00am on Sunday then I will judge any outstanding reviews.

Good luck to both finalists!

Writing Gooder

~Previously KittyKatSparklesExplosion15~

The light shines brightest in the darkest places.

Quote

Rydia

Supporter

Gender

Points 6235

Reviews 2631

Sun Aug 16, 2015 2:49 pm

Rydia says... · Sun Aug 16, 2015 2:49 pm

The results are in and I am finally ready to announce the winner of The Big Review! After more than 120 reviews were exchanged, only two were left battling for supremacy in the final rounds and there scores were...

Spoiler

@Carlito - 8
@IronSpark - 7

Congratulations! A very hard earned victory and you may now claim your prize of one favour from me. Just let me know what you want whenever you're ready

Participant badges and the winning badge will be awarded during the next week and there will also be a badge for the runner up. Thanks for making this really fun to organise everyone!

Writing Gooder

~Previously KittyKatSparklesExplosion15~

The light shines brightest in the darkest places.

Quote

Harker

Gender

Points 15167

Reviews 175

Sun Aug 16, 2015 3:26 pm

Harker says... · Sun Aug 16, 2015 3:26 pm

Awesome job, Carlito! Your reviews are amazing.

John. Queer guy, writer, fan of stuff.

~ Some men are born in their bodies, others have to fight for it. ~

Quote

Wolfi

Gender

Points 23875

Reviews 521

Sun Aug 16, 2015 6:13 pm

Wolfi says... · Sun Aug 16, 2015 6:13 pm

*applause* Outstanding job, both of you!

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.
I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled
and do not be afraid.

she/her | team monkeys | #unclassified

Quote

SpiritedWolfe

Gender

Points 26330

Reviews 767

Sun Aug 16, 2015 6:19 pm

SpiritedWolfe says... · Sun Aug 16, 2015 6:19 pm

Congrats to both finalists ~ You two did amazing!

[insert really cool and fun quote here]
Check out my novel shenanigans.
Or request a review from me.
[she/her]

Quote

Carlito

Gender

Points 33076

Reviews 1167

Sun Aug 16, 2015 8:34 pm

Carlito says... · Sun Aug 16, 2015 8:34 pm

Thank you!! I had such a great time in this contest. Everyone was so awesome

@IronSpark you were a formidable opponent as your reviews are also amazing

It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.

Ask a Therapist!
I want to beta read your novel!

Ask me anything. Talk to me about anything. Seriously. My PM box is always open <3

Quote