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How much Norfolk blood runs through N.i.B guest editors and W.O.M. winners ?

(51 posts) (26 voices)

Started 10 years ago by cupid stunt
Latest reply from Oxbridge

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cupid stunt

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I'm going to split my spleen with this rant, it's not personal to anyone, it's just my frustration on a certain situation I've noticed.

Every winner of the W.O.M award deserve their Newsbiscuit mug. The writing standard is still as good as it was from the start of Newsbiscuit. I've been here from the start of Newsbiscuit. I want to see variation of writers taking the limelight from the small pool of 'regular' limelight hoggers.

I'm frustrated, maybe constipated, about seeing the same people in the limelight, who just happen to be guest editors on the site, and also just happen to be the same people who 'tested' the current version of the site months before anyone else.

How incestuous is Newsbiscuit for looking after it's own inner circle of roughly 8-12 regular contributors, rather than given some of the newbie writers a look in for either the Front pager, ticker or N.i.Bs ?

Every now and then, I've seen funnier submissions by newbie writers that never make the front page than the one selected, these have not even made the ticker. It's roughly always the same 8-12 writer's material being selected for whatever category. It get's my goat right up.

I worry this lack of opportunity is putting newbie writers off, if they keep seeing the same names over and over again being the Front page or writer of the month.

If I'm going to get responses on a variation of the argument "If you're unhappy, write your own stuff and submit it, if you think you can do better." My riposte is to those responses are "If you think you can do better than that argument variation, write it down and submit it for my consideration for a response."

Other than that, I don't care what people think of my rant, I needed to get it off my chest to the already stated situation I noticed and wasn't happy about.

Yours constipated,

Mr C. Stunt

Posted 10 years ago #
rikkor

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Dear Cnut, or Gerontius or Plucky or whatever guise you are taking at this moment: let it go. There are only eight or ten readers of this whole thing, so why are you worried about the self-promotion?

Posted 10 years ago #
Quaz

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There are readers? I only come on here because I can't get down to the shopping centre to shout at the pigeons on account of my tag.

Posted 10 years ago #
jp1885

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As a sometime NiB editor, I do try to use suitable NiBs from new writers and those who haven't troubled the front page for a while (whilst occasionally sneaking in one or two of my own - my guilty pleasure I'm afraid) and I'm sure the other NiBbers do the same.

As for the FPs and the tickers, that's Jo'F's domain (unless he's on holiday) - so you'd have to ask him. I can only assume that the 8-12 'inner circle' contributors have the knack of writing stuff that JO'F finds funny, and being a busy man doing whatever he does, stuff that he can post up as an FP without having to rewrite it much.

I do take your point however, and share some of your concerns. When I first started Biscuiteering it was a big deal to get more than 4 or 5 FPs a month. Last month was dominated by Ludo and myself, which must have caused a lot of people to think 'not him again - why do I bother?' To these people I'm tempted to say 'up your game then!'

Oh, and some of us still have the negatives of JO'F's 'fact finding' trip to Bangkok.

Posted 10 years ago #
Zadok the second

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Dear Mr Stunt,

I think I understand your situation, but I'm not sure your conclusion is correct.

You make the assumption that new writers will be put off by seeing the same names acheiving "success". I'd like to suggest that the standard of the writing is the thing, not the number of people who apparantly achieve [success] (however that success is defined).

Think of this - if there were, for example, a quota (no-one allowed more than five front pages in a month, say, or at least five must be by first-timers) the quality of the writing might - not definitely would, but might - go down.

Long ago I realised I would never deliver sustained, consistently funny contributions to really stand any chance of getting Writer of the Month. I have had a couple of front pages in my time, but I just don't have what it takes to get a bullseye as frequently as the 'cabal' you have identified of 8 - 12 writers.

But it is not a closed shop, at all. Stuff works or it doesn't. Pages happen because they are good, not because of the name at the bottom. People - including new writers - will be attracted to the site because the front page stories are consistently good, rather than because the site has an 'all shall have prizes' ethos.

I'm very sorry, but your rant comes over as sour grapes.

Posted 10 years ago #
Oxbridge

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Some sympathy, but you have it the wrong way round. You get to be a NiB guest editor (as I was last week) by establishing a track record and you get a track record by being chosen for the FP regularly. You may or may not agree with JO'F's choice on a given day - I don't today, despite jp1885 being a mate of mine - but his choices are very unlikely to be that far out.

There is no closed shop, writers come and go. Golgo13, for instance, was unknown until about two months ago, then he came within a whisker of WoM in his first month.

What WoM has changed, for good or ill, is to up the ante and create competition, generally though not always among established writers. In the early days, three was usually enough to win it. The one time I won, this time last year, I equalled the record with five and frantically did extra subs to try and beat the record in the last few days of the month.

By the end of the year, DarkBill was getting 10-12 per month and Ludo has done the same recently, with jp1885 falling short last month on 7, far more than anyone used to get, ever. This may put the odd newbie off, which would be a pity, but it has also improved the overall quality, which is surely for the better.

Posted 10 years ago #
Oxbridge

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And while I'm on, I've never been to Norfolk. My sister lives there and you seriously don't want to get me started on that...

Posted 10 years ago #
jp1885

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You may or may not agree with JO'F's choice on a given day - I don't today, despite jp1885 being a mate of mine

Bastard. That's the last time I let you play Lucky Pierre in the botting chain!

Posted 10 years ago #
editor

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The only extra detail that ought to be mentioned is that you cannot be Writer of the Month unless you are in the Masons and were in the same house as me at Eton. But apart from that allegations of a clique are an outrage.

Posted 10 years ago #
ramblesnake

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Freemasons, if you don't mind. Masons sounds like we do something useful.

Posted 10 years ago #
ChrisHarrison

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As someone who has been reading and posting here for a month, my perspective is that the choices made for FPs and NiBs are roughly correct, based of course on limited evidence. I did feel last month that Ludicity maybe got away with a couple that were not his/her Grade A material, and I personally happen to prefer JP's writing, but that's a subjective thing. However, taking a broader view of things, there is no doubt that the quantity and quality of Ludicity and JP's output is exceptional and, sorry, they were head and shoulders above everyone else in August.

Going back to me being a newbie, I had two FPs (well one and a half) and a NiB, so I think there is hope for newbies. I didn't write a huge number of subs and I think my success rate was reasonable. I feel I have been treated equally alongside more established writers, and clearly the next challenge, should I choose to accept it, is to be funnier and more often.

The biggest issue, and truthfully the biggest question mark for me, is that there is a style on NewsBiscuit which 'works', ie which tends to be what John and co like, and therefore makes it as an FP or whatever. So writers who want to chase FPs and the like have to learn to write in a NewsBiscuit style. Whether one derives any satisfaction from that, rather than developing one's own style, is an individual choice I guess. Or, be yourself, hope that the idea is strong enough and that one of the editors has time to rewrite it into an NB style (although seeing your idea in someone else's words is not particularly satisfying).

In my summing up, I would say that the recent domination by a handful of talented writers is pretty fair, but I would make a plea for a little more flexibility in the selection of subject matter and writing style.

Chris

Posted 10 years ago #
jp1885

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I personally happen to prefer JP's writing

Cheers Chris, there is much wisdom in what you say. You may now take Oxy's place in the botting chain.

Posted 10 years ago #
Gary Stanton

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Can I just say that I thought "The Best A Man Can Get" was an excellent read.

As was the other one.

Highly recommended.

Posted 10 years ago #
andhrimnir

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I've had 54 tickers.
Was in South Lawn when McCrum was in charge.
I've been a Junior Warden for ten years and Tyler before that.

Clique my arse.

Posted 10 years ago #
Zadok the second

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On a related point, Neat-o allows for some democratisation by - in effect - having a temporary "People's Ed".

Speaking of which, what has happened to the Neat-o?

Posted 10 years ago #
Scroat

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Meant to ask about the Neat O myself. Someone won and then didn't set another one.

Dicky37?

Posted 10 years ago #
Sharpehunter

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Well all I have to say on this matter is, you should have gone to Brentwood shouldn't you? Then you could have shared the same hallowed bed-time shenigans as Douglas Adams, Robin Day, Noel Edmonds and Jack Straw to name a few (which let me tell you, would have ensured that you had a sense of humour), although it is clear that William Hague didn't attend.

You see Cupid Stunt, Newsbiscuit is not unusual, it is rather uncomfortably similar to those Jerusalem's of British Comedy such as the infamous Cambridge 'Footlights' (which I admit produced some pretty crap stuff) and that is in essence the only way Newsbiscuit differs, it does produce some very amusing and excellently written articles (I'm still working on it, as Saltire says I'm a C*nt) but hey I'm still trying..

All in all, I can't complain. I suspect that since cominng to Newsbiscuit I have had several NiB's an FP (I think) and quite a few tickers, although I can't remember what any of them were (and most likely neither can the people who read them!).

Posted 10 years ago #
Oxbridge

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"I personally happen to prefer JP's writing

Cheers Chris, there is much wisdom in what you say. You may now take Oxy's place in the botting chain."

Please do Chris.

My ass hurts.

Posted 10 years ago #
ChrisHarrison

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Could be worse. Could be the Human Centipede *vomits on keyboard*

Posted 10 years ago #
jp1885

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My ass hurts.

Not as much as mine - and the bastard still didn't award me WoM for August.

Posted 10 years ago #
SingingHinny

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Exhibit A- Golgo 13. Member for the best part of three months and when last I looked had an above 50% strike rate for FPs.

Posted 10 years ago #
IABP

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You can either write FPs or you can't.
That's about the size of it.

Plenty of funny (and even funnier) stuff does not make the FP
That's about the size of it.

Posted 10 years ago #
shitsu_tonka

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This place is nothing like the Cambridge Footlights - which produced and continues to produce some excellent stuff in amongst the not so mirthsome - not for the years I was in it anyway.

The accusations of it all being a clique and a conspiracy is similar though. And in both cases it's utter balls.

Posted 10 years ago #
SingingHinny

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If I may...

The frequency of FPs from established writers owes to the quality of the writing as much as it does the actual idea and the funny stuff. I think there are loads of really good ideas on the writers board, and some that are funnier than the articles that actually make FP, although it is rare.

A great idea poorly expressed, or with writing that doesn't match the idea will ultimately loose out to a piece that is possibly slightly less raucous but well-written. The supposed 'clique' are ambidextrous' in this respect and strike frequently because their writing is both funny and well crafted.

Bastards

Posted 10 years ago #
FormerlyAlOPecia

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SingingHinny what are you on about?! All of my ideas are funny and worth a FP, but never make it. And I went to Brentwood. Well I lived there once - does that count?

If we have a "People's Ed" will they have to be gunned down by the Police?

Posted 10 years ago #
the coarse whisperer

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It would be reassuring to think that the powers that be get together in their St James's club and guffawing decide our fates over brandy and cigars. But it's balls.

What probably isn't balls is that if you want to get published round here you need to share the consensus view on what is funny. Judging from the FP that seems to be mostly observational comedy of middle-aged, middle class kind; namely social embarrassment, the ironies of relationships and cute stuff that kids and dogs get up to. Nothing wrong with that, but it's a very narrow definition of funny and often not remotely satirical. Nor is there any room for the surreal - Joan Bloggs's prose doodles were sometimes Spike Milligan brilliant but wouldn't get anywhere near the FP. I'm not complaining or nothing but JOF is oppressing us comedy proletarians with his cultural hegemony and false consciousness. Bastard.

Posted 10 years ago #
pinxit

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Agree with the e-pistle of Mr Chris.
It has taken me a little while to 'bed in' (sans 'botting') and suss out the very 'redolent of onions' NB corporate style.

It's all about talent and taste, innit...?

As a relative 'noob' *shudder * with luck and the 'kindness of strangers', I have made a NiB, a 'Left Alert' (had me worried that I'd adopted a Marxist stance) and a couple of beloved tickers. Some of my subs that I felt were not worthy of the NB elbow I have 'polished' and recycled in other places with slightly different sensibilities and sensahuma. An interesting experiment that, I hope, has taught me much about knowing the market and writing accordingly.

As for the clique/claque/plaque oh soddit, Mafia ... yes, the impression one forms when first signing up to NB is that of a tight knit luvvie community enJendered by the Chat Room. But once past that then, no - I really do believe that if it has a funny core thought, then an idea, from who/wherever it springs, has a fair hearing and chance of getting through.

Posted 10 years ago #
dicky37

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As a newbie I'm having a lovely time: couple of NiB's and a ticker at the moment...
Oops - didn't realise the thing about winning the Neat-O and having to set another. Will try and get onto it before Mrs37 hauls me off on hols.

Posted 10 years ago #
Sharpehunter

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Robert Rankin also has an obsession with Brentwood, if anyone is interested.. something about roundabouts as well I seem to recall! Or was that Basingstoke? No maybe Swindon? Does Ranking write about Swindon, or is that the geezer that does the Nursery Crimes Division books, whats is name....!

Posted 10 years ago #
The All New Jeni B

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Am I being a sensitive girly sort, or is there something you want to say to me pinxit?

As for the clique/claque/plaque oh soddit, Mafia ... yes, the impression one forms when first signing up to NB is that of a tight knit luvvie community enJendered by the Chat Room. But once past that then, no - I really do believe that if it has a funny core thought, then an idea, from who/wherever it springs, has a fair hearing and chance of getting through.[quote]

Posted 10 years ago #

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