I vote for the email idea - I think that works great!
Then make it clear that if you wish to participate, you must set aside an hour, check the words at the beginning of the hour, and submit your poem by the end of it. No “cobbling together” an hour out of time you theoretically spent working with other things in between. Again, honor system, but I think most people would be willing to hold themselves to it (and if they don’t think they can, then, well, don’t participate).
The email option would be very easy to set up and easy to verify, though. So if people feel that they’re physically incapable of setting a timer for themselves and not stopping when it goes off, or whatever, I think that would be a good alternative option to the spoiler box.
Hello, everyone, just me checking in again. I’ve set up an e-mail account with a vacation reply thingy and tested it out, and I have to tell you, it’s a cracker of a plan. I know I said I’d do a poll and all, but I’m thinking unless there’s any strong objections, I’d like to try the e-mail auto-reply solution. What does everyone else think?
Oh, and one more thing - I think logistically that it would be better if I don’t establish the Anthology thread until the last hour of the Sweatshop. That way, it’s all kept secret up to the very last…
Talk to you Friday,
Le Ministre
Again, the email idea is perfect. Just lemme know when you have an address ready, and I am in!
And so, the three words have been chosen. They are in an auto-reply e-mail at the following e-mail address - sdmbpoetrysweatshop at gmail dot com . The ‘rules’ have been mentioned in the same e-mail, but here they are as well, as they appear in that e-mail -
This is also the e-mail address with my user profile, and I will try to be scrupulous about logging out this weekend. Any time you see the little green button beside my name, you can send me a PM.
And now, I have to write a poem because I know the words…
Right - mine’s done, now I can relax.
Yay! Thanks for organizing–hopefully I can find an hour this weekend to participate!
Done!
Got it! Well done!
I’m also reassured to note that it worked out for at least one other person who wasn’t me - my track record of working with technology is not great.
Just under twenty four hours to go, everyone.
Done!
Though I have to say “Wankel/rotary/engine” were weird word choices.
Got it! Fine work!
Heh - I wonder if anybody’s gonna try those three, now…
Done!
Done and done. Thanks.
done. fun! what’s next?
Woot! Got mine done in about 20 minutes! Fun!
I’m in. Thanks for doing this again.
After being only a tease in the last two contests, I thought I’d try my hand this time for real. This was way harder than I thought, and I’m not really happy with my submission, but oh well, it was fun anyway, and having tried it myself certainly helps to appreciate the quality of previous (and doubtlessly, forthcoming) submissions, so it was worth it for that at least.
** freckafree, Elendil’s Heir, mauxlicious, Cuckoorex, AppallingGael, Half Man Half Wit** - I awoke to find six glorious poems in my Inbox that no one else had yet read; what a great pleasure!
Nine poems so far, and four and a quarter hours to go. Next - I will start the Anthology thread around 12 Noon EST and make the words and the poems public. Then, at 1 PM EST, I’ll establish the poll and we can start voting.
In the meantime, there’s still the opportunity to write a poem…
The Hamster King - Got that; good work!
Yay, just under the wire!