FAQ - Rough
Given how unique this mini-season is, I'll do something else unexpected.
I have a rough FAQ. But even when I post the final version - people always have questions!
(I was planning on linking to an older FAQ for all the technical tips. This was more of a mini-season specific one)
So let me know what is unclear/needs further explanation or that you would like to see addressed:
What is LJ Idol?
Maybe you already know. In which case - just skip this section.
But if you just randomly clicked a link to get here, or maybe someone said “Hey, check this out!” and
you did - Welcome!
LJ Idol is a writing competition like no other! It’s the first of its’ kind and even though there are
imitators, there is no substitute. Founded in 2006, we’ve been tying writers to a runaway roller coaster
for nearly ten years - and for some reason, they keep coming back for more! I suspect there is
something wrong with them. Then again, they are writers, so that’s a pretty safe bet.
How does this work?
I give you a “topic” each “week”. (Note: topics are more like prompts and weeks aren’t exactly a
calendar week.) You write something and post it. Those posts are linked in a poll - people vote, and
someone goes home!
Who am “I”?
I don’t know who you are. Maybe you should introduce yourself.
I’m Gary. The founder of LJ Idol and your host.
It says this is a mini-season. What is a mini-season?
A full season of Idol lasts about a year. Sometimes a little more. Yes, I said a year.
A mini season is about 5-6 months.
A full season of Idol has around 300 contestants.
A mini season is limited to around 100.
Full season topics come from me.
Mini season topics come from the contestants.
Full seasons are free. (Although you can become a Patron!)
Mini seasons have a donation of $5 per contestant. (There’s a special for Patrons) This helps keep the numbers under 100, and is used to fund a special project. The first two mini seasons helped me purchase an engagement ring and kickstart a brand new life!
This one is a little more practical: I lost my job a few months ago. Around that time, I also lost a dental
crown, in the front of my mouth. I have a new job now, and my new insurance kicks in soon. But
whatever I had saved up was used for bills. By the time my insurance is available, I will have saved
enough for about half of what I need for a dental bridge. My hope is that the mini-season will help get
me the rest of the way!
What is the theme of this mini season?
This is the first time that we’ve had a subtitle. Yes, the first time in almost 10 years where there has
been a subtitle. Which should tell you - it’s something new:
FRIENDS AND RIVALS
What is the difference between this and a standard mini-season?
Last season, several contestants asked me “Can we have something where people can play as teams?”
Normally, I may have laughed at this - and pointed. I would have definitely pointed.
But something clicked in my head of how to not only honor this request people were making, but to do
it in a way that was consistent with Idol.
So here is a “fast break-down”:
You can compete as either a team or as individuals. There will be two sections of the poll each week. At least one contestant from each will be eliminated.
From the individuals, it will be the usual.
From the teams - Teams can be 4-5 individuals. You must send me a list of those members (send to
clauderainsrm@gmail.com) 24 hours *before* the deadline for the first poll. Yes, you can name your own teams. :D
If your team drops below 3 members, it is dissolved and all members become individuals for at least one round. After which, they can join another team - or form a new one - as long as you notify me within 24 hours of the topic deadline.
Every member will write an entry. Every member will be in a poll. The scores in the team section will be averaged. The team with the lowest score will be subject to elimination… I say “subject to elimination”, but for those of you familiar with Survivor: You have lost the immunity challenge and must go to tribal council. The person with the lowest total of votes will be elimination. If it’s a tie - well, I have a plan for that. You’ll see. You won’t like it. Don’t end up with a tie. : )
The team sections will continue until there is only one team left, OR the Top 25, whichever comes first.
Byes
If you know American football, you know about bye-weeks. If you don’t, and have never heard the term
before: You get the week off.
In terms of Idol, it’s a week where you don’t have to write anything and won’t be eliminated because of
it.
Friends and Rivals has two bye weeks per contestant that you can take at any time between the start of the season and the Top 20!
Here’s the kicker though - Teams can elect to *pull their byes into a pool*, meaning that any member of the team can use those weeks as needed. Once the team is disbanded, the remaining byes are split
between the surviving members. If one of those members joins a new team - who elects to pool their
byes, all of their byes will go into that new pool!
One thing that was introduced in Season 9 - for individuals - is the ability to give another contestant
one or more of your byes. That will continue to be a thing.
In both of these cases though, once you are out of byes - and you miss a week’s topic, you are
eliminated.
So try to save them for emergencies.
Ass-hats
Don't be one.*
(*I determine who is being one. If you disagree, all appeals are fielded by me. You are wrong. :D
This goes for all rules, interpretations of the rules, unwritten rules and anything to do with Idol.
Sometimes I may decide I've been too harsh in my assessment though and will reverse a call on the field. That doesn't mean you aren't still wrong. Because you totally are!)
Han Shot First
It's a new rule of Idol, one that I never thought I would need to make. But I think it needs to be fully stated: Han shot first.
You can think that Greedo did all you want. You can say that the "new version" shows that Greedo firing, and Lucas saying things to back that theory up. But again, you are completely wrong about that and should be forced into the Sarlacc pit!
I have a rough FAQ. But even when I post the final version - people always have questions!
(I was planning on linking to an older FAQ for all the technical tips. This was more of a mini-season specific one)
So let me know what is unclear/needs further explanation or that you would like to see addressed:
What is LJ Idol?
Maybe you already know. In which case - just skip this section.
But if you just randomly clicked a link to get here, or maybe someone said “Hey, check this out!” and
you did - Welcome!
LJ Idol is a writing competition like no other! It’s the first of its’ kind and even though there are
imitators, there is no substitute. Founded in 2006, we’ve been tying writers to a runaway roller coaster
for nearly ten years - and for some reason, they keep coming back for more! I suspect there is
something wrong with them. Then again, they are writers, so that’s a pretty safe bet.
How does this work?
I give you a “topic” each “week”. (Note: topics are more like prompts and weeks aren’t exactly a
calendar week.) You write something and post it. Those posts are linked in a poll - people vote, and
someone goes home!
Who am “I”?
I don’t know who you are. Maybe you should introduce yourself.
I’m Gary. The founder of LJ Idol and your host.
It says this is a mini-season. What is a mini-season?
A full season of Idol lasts about a year. Sometimes a little more. Yes, I said a year.
A mini season is about 5-6 months.
A full season of Idol has around 300 contestants.
A mini season is limited to around 100.
Full season topics come from me.
Mini season topics come from the contestants.
Full seasons are free. (Although you can become a Patron!)
Mini seasons have a donation of $5 per contestant. (There’s a special for Patrons) This helps keep the numbers under 100, and is used to fund a special project. The first two mini seasons helped me purchase an engagement ring and kickstart a brand new life!
This one is a little more practical: I lost my job a few months ago. Around that time, I also lost a dental
crown, in the front of my mouth. I have a new job now, and my new insurance kicks in soon. But
whatever I had saved up was used for bills. By the time my insurance is available, I will have saved
enough for about half of what I need for a dental bridge. My hope is that the mini-season will help get
me the rest of the way!
What is the theme of this mini season?
This is the first time that we’ve had a subtitle. Yes, the first time in almost 10 years where there has
been a subtitle. Which should tell you - it’s something new:
FRIENDS AND RIVALS
What is the difference between this and a standard mini-season?
Last season, several contestants asked me “Can we have something where people can play as teams?”
Normally, I may have laughed at this - and pointed. I would have definitely pointed.
But something clicked in my head of how to not only honor this request people were making, but to do
it in a way that was consistent with Idol.
So here is a “fast break-down”:
You can compete as either a team or as individuals. There will be two sections of the poll each week. At least one contestant from each will be eliminated.
From the individuals, it will be the usual.
From the teams - Teams can be 4-5 individuals. You must send me a list of those members (send to
clauderainsrm@gmail.com) 24 hours *before* the deadline for the first poll. Yes, you can name your own teams. :D
If your team drops below 3 members, it is dissolved and all members become individuals for at least one round. After which, they can join another team - or form a new one - as long as you notify me within 24 hours of the topic deadline.
Every member will write an entry. Every member will be in a poll. The scores in the team section will be averaged. The team with the lowest score will be subject to elimination… I say “subject to elimination”, but for those of you familiar with Survivor: You have lost the immunity challenge and must go to tribal council. The person with the lowest total of votes will be elimination. If it’s a tie - well, I have a plan for that. You’ll see. You won’t like it. Don’t end up with a tie. : )
The team sections will continue until there is only one team left, OR the Top 25, whichever comes first.
Byes
If you know American football, you know about bye-weeks. If you don’t, and have never heard the term
before: You get the week off.
In terms of Idol, it’s a week where you don’t have to write anything and won’t be eliminated because of
it.
Friends and Rivals has two bye weeks per contestant that you can take at any time between the start of the season and the Top 20!
Here’s the kicker though - Teams can elect to *pull their byes into a pool*, meaning that any member of the team can use those weeks as needed. Once the team is disbanded, the remaining byes are split
between the surviving members. If one of those members joins a new team - who elects to pool their
byes, all of their byes will go into that new pool!
One thing that was introduced in Season 9 - for individuals - is the ability to give another contestant
one or more of your byes. That will continue to be a thing.
In both of these cases though, once you are out of byes - and you miss a week’s topic, you are
eliminated.
So try to save them for emergencies.
Ass-hats
Don't be one.*
(*I determine who is being one. If you disagree, all appeals are fielded by me. You are wrong. :D
This goes for all rules, interpretations of the rules, unwritten rules and anything to do with Idol.
Sometimes I may decide I've been too harsh in my assessment though and will reverse a call on the field. That doesn't mean you aren't still wrong. Because you totally are!)
Han Shot First
It's a new rule of Idol, one that I never thought I would need to make. But I think it needs to be fully stated: Han shot first.
You can think that Greedo did all you want. You can say that the "new version" shows that Greedo firing, and Lucas saying things to back that theory up. But again, you are completely wrong about that and should be forced into the Sarlacc pit!