1 Topic by Tamsin Liddell (edited by Tamsin Liddell 2025-08-31 02:26:29)

Topic: Probably a stupid question

So in another forum, I just saw this little snippet:

Dirk B. wrote:

In case you're not aware, you can "edit" chapters that you've already posted, which doesn't cost extra points

Isn't this a bit of a loophole? One could hypothetically post a one-word chapter, publish it, then edit it to its full 3K-word length.
*eyes her many currently unpublished chapters, including multiple 9-pointers*
Can't imagine who'd think of doing that….

Quote Post 1

Re: Probably a stupid question

Yes, it's possible to do that, but it would be rather pointless. Here's why: The points system used to be a lot more onerous. You had to read roughly 5 words for every 1 that you wanted to post. The new ratio is only 3 to 1. That means you only need to trade reviews with three other people on a regular basis (assuming everyone's posts are generally of similar length) in order to keep posting your own material.

Since most people try to have many more regular reviewers than that (often six or more) in order to get the most value out of the site, points are quickly irrelevant. Their main value at this point is to keep people off the site who just want free feedback without bothering to do any work at all. You could post War & Peace here, but if you don't maintain regular reviewers, you'll be hard pressed to get more than a handful of reviews before interest in your posts fizzles.

Also everyone is too honorable to ever try anything that devious. ;-)  But bless your devious heart for having figured that out as quickly as you did. :-)

Quote Post 2

Re: Probably a stupid question

Dirk B wrote:

Yes, it's possible to do that, but it would be rather pointless. Here's why: The points system used to be a lot more onerous. You had to read roughly 5 words for every 1 that you wanted to post. The new ratio is only 3 to 1. That means you only need to trade reviews with three other people on a regular basis (assuming everyone's posts are generally of similar length) in order to keep posting your own material.

Since most people try to have many more regular reviewers than that (often six or more) in order to get the most value out of the site, points are quickly irrelevant. Their main value at this point is to keep people off the site who just want free feedback without bothering to do any work at all. You could post War & Peace here, but if you don't maintain regular reviewers, you'll be hard pressed to get more than a handful of reviews before interest in your posts fizzles.

Also everyone is too honorable to ever try anything that devious. ;-)  But bless your devious heart for having figured that out as quickly as you did. :-)

I recognized that loophole ages ago, but what isn't pointed out is that there would be practically no point value for the reviewer and I suspect that the vast, vast majority of readers would see that and shake their head while moving on to something a bit more fruitful. Of course, you could also go in the opposite direction should you wish to provide your reviewer with a bonanza of points for no work -- keep it secret of course, lol. Take care. Vern

Quote Post 3

Re: Probably a stupid question

It doesn't work the other way unfortunately. If you post 1000 words, then edits bring it down to 100 words, the story only pays for 100 words, not the original 1k

Quote Post 4

Re: Probably a stupid question

Kdot wrote:

It doesn't work the other way unfortunately. If you post 1000 words, then edits bring it down to 100 words, the story only pays for 100 words, not the original 1k

So it lowers the reward for shrinkage, but doesn't affect it for expansion? That seems unfortunate.

Dirk B wrote:

That means you only need to trade reviews with three other people on a regular basis (assuming everyone's posts are generally of similar length) in order to keep posting your own material.

I'd uploaded all of Piscau prior to publishing any of it. The total cost for me to publish it was 180.01 credits.

That's not including the "Joan Dark" stuff, which so far has cost me 56.8 credits and the next three (so far) are going to be 23.59.

Also, I'm not sure the ratios add up correctly.
The points earned for reviewing my published "Joan Dark" are 15.09, with a "new author bonus" of 7.63. Total of 22.72.
That's 40% of the total cost, when you include that bonus, but only 26.6% once the bonus goes away.
And I only earn a bonus if I read new authors. So while I'm providing a bonus for people who've been here, I'm not getting those same earnings even for their new works.

There should be a bonus for reading new stuff, not new authors. Give me an incentive to read stuff worth less than a point otherwise. smile

Please don't get me wrong. I'm on the hellscape that is Booksie, where they're too busy arguing about AI illustrations and bot accounts sending harmless messages. (Not sure what you've done to avoid that issue, but well done.) I've been there months longer than here, and only have six brief reviews, one of which is from a bot account. I'm not wanting that. smile

I'm just overwhelmed trying to juggle real life, my own writing, a couple of private proofreaders I've started with, and trying to figure out how to earn enough on here. smile

Quote Post 5

Re: Probably a stupid question

Below is what I posted regarding points when Sol made the change in April to pay more points (there was no change to how much it cost to post). I tested those numbers. I never did get around to updating the linked post with the points math for poetry, though....

https://www.thenextbigwriter.com/forums … ntest.html

I'll have a look at your numbers for you soon.

We needed to incentivize existing members to read the work of new members, hence the new member bonus. It really shouldn't be necessary to incentivize people to read new material since the author will no doubt ask you to do so if you review something old. Also, new stuff appears on your home page as they post it, so we tend to default to those unless we're still reviewing something old for them, assuming they still need the feedback. If in doubt, ask.

And you have several options for dealing with old stories in your own portfolio. When I finished writing the first draft of "The Rise of Connor" and wanted to stop new readers from starting to read it, I simply deactivated a bunch of opening chapters and added a note to content summary, steering them to v2.

I didn't want to take the whole thing down right away because some of my reviewers hadn't reached the end. That's still the case in a couple of instances because members come and go as life dictates, so I'm leaving it up for when some of those folks return but I moved it to the end of my portfolio.

Funny thing about Booksie. That's Sol's other site, which is where most of the new development goes.

Quote Post 6

Re: Probably a stupid question

Dirk B wrote:

Funny thing about Booksie. That's Sol's other site, which is where most of the new development goes.

No offense to Sol or any other Booksie wanderers, but I never really found myself a solid "reciprocation buddy" over there. I am speaking strictly of new people...people from Mars and the like. You folks are there, but I have you here. And if you're here, why am I there? Probably my fault (I’m about as smooth at networking as a cat in a bathtub). But honestly, this site spoiled me rotten from the jump—way back in 2008. This is home. I’ve learned more here than my brain signed up for, and I’ve made some downright stellar friends along the way.

That said… even though I’ve got enough points stashed to wallpaper from Georgia to California and back, the same ol’ battle rages on: posting points vs. reviewing points. Spoiler alert—it’s never really tit for tat. It’s more like tit for… half a tat and a lopsided doodle.

I wish there was a way to give away points to needy, homeless, and hungry writers... maybe we could give a gift card with points attached. But then again... Bernice the cat is on my laptop agammmmmmmmmppoup'oihuigyugi.

Quote Post 7

8 Reply by Kdot (edited by Kdot 2025-09-01 07:37:26)

Re: Probably a stupid question

I wish there was a way to give away points to needy, homeless, and hungry writers...

Would be nice, but gifting points doesn't work, sadly.

I'm watching it on [redacted] and you see writers gifting reviewers for reviews the writer likes. This builds an echo chamber... voices daring to dissent from the lauding masses don't get gifts, so they go review other content that gives them gifts instead.

The greatest thing this site gets right is allowing objective reviews

There should be a bonus for reading new stuff, not new authors

This will only encourage me to name every post "chapter one". You mean I'm posting chapter ten, but I get an advantage for calling it chapter one? Sold! Edit: Well, I concede this is technically incorrect, but I meant it's adding one more way to game the system rather than balance the system

Quote Post 8

9 Reply by vern (edited by vern Yesterday 21:30:32)

Re: Probably a stupid question

If you want/need points, all you have to do is review enough writing to earn those points. For instance, when I first joined, I reviewed for months gaining points before starting to publish chapters of my novel. Never fell behind from that point on by simply reciprocating those who reviewed me and additional works that caught my fancy. Reviewed some entire books without getting "paid" back. No problem. Works for me and I still have more points than I will probably ever use. Take care. Vern

PS: I also had people review my entire novel without expecting or receiving reciprocation. Just let them know up front of your expectations and/or time restraints as they did me and vice versa.

Quote Post 9