Jessica’s Comments (group member since Feb 06, 2009)

Jessica’s comments from the Goodreads Status Update Writing Contest group.

We're giving people the option because some may be more familiar/comfortable with the Twitter interface for posting a series of status updates. Twitter's raison d'etre is status updates, so the method of posting is pretty straightforward. In contrast, the Goodreads homepage is multi-functional, and people are still learning to use the page number/status updates feature as one of the many features available.

Feel free to use either space for telling your story! You could post in both places, if you are so inclined, but I would suggest un-synching your Goodreads and Twitter feeds to avoid overlap.

Sheila wrote: "Probably a silly question: Does #goodreads count towards the 140 characters?"

Unfortunately, yes. Sorry to cut into your writing space, but it is a necessary evil for finding the stories on Twitter.

Sheila, yes feel free to post on Twitter instead of Goodreads. Please read the special Twitter instructions:
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...

David, after the final day of the contest I will post easy-access links to all the stories and also create a poll to vote for a winner.

If you'd like to read the stories as they happen, click "add a comment" next to any one status update on the writer's profile. On the right of the next page you will see "all [writer's name:]'s updates."

For example, for writer Gilee Corral, you can see her story here:
http://www.goodreads.com/user_status/...

Annette, that's a pretty good summary! One clarification: to write the story, go to your homepage, and then you enter status updates on the right side of the page in the "I'm currently reading" box. See this post for detailed step-by-step instructions:
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...

Paula wrote: "I forgot to put ""START STORY: read my submission for the Goodreads Status Update Writing Contest"" for my first post! Is that going to disqualify me??"

Paula, don't worry. Those start/stop posts make it easier for us to find and read your story, but we won't disqualify anyone for this minor technicality.

Due to popular demand, we're opening up the contest to Twitter! You can now either post your story using your Goodreads status updates or on Twitter.

A few important notes:
* If you are using Twitter to tell your story, you still must officially enter the Goodreads contest by posting a link to your Twitter profile AND your start date/time in the ENTER THE CONTEST HERE topic in this group. If you do not, we will never know your story happened!

* All Twitter story posts (from first post, all story posts, to last post) must begin with #goodreads. This will enable us to find and read your story on Twitter.

* Don't forget to synch Goodreads and Twitter, so your friends in both places can read your story. On Goodreads, select "my account" from the "hi [your name:]" dropdown list. Select the "apps" tab and enter your Twitter account info to synch up!

Hi everyone, and thanks for the feedback. I'll be posting additional instructions on how to read stories and how to write stories (which we're opening up to posting on Twitter) shortly.

To enter, post in the ENTER THE CONTEST HERE topic with the date and time of the start of your story. Then when you are ready, go to your homepage to start writing (also see the "How to post status updates" topic for more info).

Sure, feel free to re-tell a previously written story! The inspiration behind the contest is to use a new medium of technology, the "status update," for creative
storytelling. How the status update figures into your storytelling is up to you!

The winner will receive an Amazon gift certificate, as well as publication on Goodreads as the first status update story contest winner!

Tanja wrote: "the system is telling me "cannot do it, operation aborted""

These are not warnings we use on Goodreads, so they must be coming from your computer, not our site. It sounds like actions that require javascript are not working for you. Make sure you have javascript enabled in your browser. Javascript is a browser feature that most sites require for use. Here is a page with a decent description of how to enable
javascript:
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/howto...

Let us know if other technical issues pop up!

We know there are a lot of creative people on Goodreads, so we're really curious to see what you guys dream up for this contest. Please give us feedback here. What do you think about using status updates for creative purposes?

We recently redesigned the homepage to make adding a status update easier! But if it is still unclear, here are some step-by-step instructions.

Note: Feel free to include both general status updates and page number updates in your story. (Maybe one of your characters is reading a book?)

TO POST YOUR FIRST STATUS UPDATE:
IF YOU HAVE ONE OR MORE BOOKS ON YOUR CURRENTLY-READING SHELF:
-click "home"
-select "add a general status update" from the drop-down list under "I'm on page X of" (which is on the right side of the homepage in the "I'm currently reading" box)
-type your story segment
-click the save button

IF YOU HAVE ZERO BOOKS ON YOUR CURRENTLY-READING SHELF:
-click "home"
-click "Add a general status update" (on right side of homepage in "I'm currently reading" box)
-type your story segment
-click the save button

TO POST YOUR SECOND (AND ALL THEREAFTER) STATUS UPDATE:
-click "home"
-click "update status"
-click anywhere inside the text box (the previous post's text will disappear) and type your next story segment. DO NOT click "clear" unless you want to delete (remove from your story) the previous post.
-click the save button

TO VIEW ALL YOUR STATUS UPDATES:
-click "home"
-click the time beside any update (X minutes/hours/days ago)
-click "all [your name:]'s updates (right hand corner)
-Or put your User ID (the number you see in the URL when viewing your own profile) at the end of this URL:
http://www.goodreads.com/user_status/...

TO DELETE STATUS UPDATES
-click "Hi [your name:]" in the upper right hand corner
-on your profile, click the X next to any update in your feed you wish to delete. If you story grows long, please note that you will only be able to delete recent posts, so it might be a good idea to plan your story out in advance, rather than post on the fly and make lots of edits.

* It might be a good idea to plan out all your story posts in advance, but it is up to you!

* The status update limits you to 140 characters per post. Instead of seeing this as a hindrance, how can it help define the story?

* Don't forget about time of day. A post at midnight can have different meaning than a post at noon.

* The medium is your Goodreads status updates, so you can tell a story about yourself, but stories do not have to be told in the first person. Feel free to tell either a fictional or nonfictional story, introduce multiple characters, plotlines, etc.

* Feel free to include both general status updates and page number updates in your story. (Maybe one of your characters is reading a book?)

* Here's a fun example of Pride and Prejudice told through a Facebook feed:
http://www.much-ado.net/austenbook/

Post your thoughts on using status updates for creative storytelling! We're curious!

* Post in this topic to enter the contest. Your entry post must state the date and time of day you will begin your story. If you do not post in this topic, we will never know your story happened!

* ATTENTION: Twitter users. Please post a link to your Twitter account AND the starting date/time of your story. All story posts on Twitter must start with #goodreads.

* Remember, all stories must be posted before March 1, 2009.

* Stories pasted into this topic are INELIGIBLE. Stories must be posted via status updates or Twitter. BEFORE ENTERING, PLEASE READ the Contest Rules AND Instructions!

Good luck and happy writing!

* All stories must be posted using your Goodreads status updates or on Twitter. If you are using Twitter, please read the special instructions below. Stories posted anywhere else (such as in this group forum or in the writing section of your Goodreads profile) are not eligible for the contest.

* All stories must be posted before March 1, 2009. Goodreads staff will pick a shortlist of nominees. Everyone on Goodreads will be invited to vote for a winner in March! The winner will receive a book gift certificate.

* To enter the contest, you must post in the ENTER THE CONTEST HERE group topic below. Your entry post must state the date and time of day you will begin your story. If you do not post in this topic, we will never know your story happened! This includes both writers posting using Goodreads status updates and writers using Twitter.

* Stories must not exceed a 24-hour period. For example, if the first post of your story starts on February 16, 2009 at 10 am PST, the final post of the story must appear before February 17, 2009 at 10 am PST. This doesn't mean your story must last for 24 hours. It can be only a few minutes or several hours long. It is up to you.

* Stories may use any number of status updates (from 1 to as many as you can post within 24 hours).

* The first post of each story must be:
"START STORY: read my submission for the Goodreads Status Update Writing Contest"
And the last post must be:
"STOP STORY: final post of my story for the Goodreads Status Update Writing Contest"

* The medium of storytelling is your Goodreads status updates, so you can tell a story about yourself, but stories do not have to be told in the first person. Feel free to tell either a fictional or nonfictional story, introduce multiple characters, plotlines, etc.

* Feel free to include both general status updates and page number updates in your story. (Maybe one of your characters is reading a book?)

SPECIAL TWITTER INSTRUCTIONS
* If you are using Twitter to tell your story, you still must officially enter the Goodreads contest by posting a link to your Twitter account AND your start date/time in the ENTER THE CONTEST HERE topic in this group. If you do not, we will never know your story happened!

* All Twitter story posts (from first post, all story posts, to last post) must begin with #goodreads. This will enable us to find and read your story on Twitter.

* Don't forget to synch Goodreads and Twitter, so your friends in both places can read your story. On Goodreads, select "my account" from the "hi [your name:]" dropdown list. Select the "apps" tab and enter your Twitter account info to synch up!