gallivandog: OMG... I've just been up since the witching hour, it's now 0638hrs and I've only managed to accrue about 15 Member dollars, about twenty five Reviews which I hope have been constructive....six and a half hours... am I mad? oh well, i'm off up the mountain to screem at the sky, I hope my back holds out, i'm not getting any younger
    nor84: Suggestion: Review the writing on the home page, which usually pays more, while continuing to review other newly-posted writing. -


gallivandog: Hi all, its been a while, so I thought i'd drop back in and see how you're all getting along. I've been AWOL for about three years now, trying to figure out the meaning of life and get my head in the right place. I think i've solved some of my issues...hahahaha. Anyway, I wondered how many of my old writting friends are still kicking around the Fanstory site?
I have decided to pick up where I left off, well, somewhere close to where I left off. I've been doing qiute a bit of scribbling and trying to improve my writing style and had a few great adventures during my absence.... Africa was the best of all, but I think i've matured a bit and accepted that i'm never going to change the world into a better place, at least not on my own.
I'm still prone to writing Dark poems and still sit alone into the wee small hours trying to produce a master piece.. hahahaha, hope to catch up with some of you over the next few weeks.
I hope you're all well and still writing and hopefully some of you will remember me and get in touch.
Write on Friends!


gallivandog: Hello everyone, I thought I should share something with you that I am hoping will generate a bit of light hearted discussion or friendly banter. I was wondering and have been for quite some time how the hell I am supposed to get some of my work in the top ten without spending a weeks wages or staying awake for days on end writing reviews, do people really spend that much time giving honest constructive reviews to promote their work?. I know that many folk do give constructive and encouraging reviews and those I have received I appreciate very much indeed. Being the cynic that I am, I would wager that a high percentage of this site are "cut and paste" specialists. I seldom promote my work for two reasons, the first is that I just don,t have the time to sit down and give a detailed and honest review of everything I read and further more feel under qualified to do so in many cases,secondly I just cant afford it. I would be very interested to know how much it would cost to push a single poem to the top of the rankings, I spent £30 one night and I think I only got to page two, and then never got the amount of reviews suggested.
I have just returned to FS after taking some time out, and would like to assure all those people I follow that I do enjoy reading your work, but genuinly don't have the time to provide everyone with a review that you deserve. Any discussions or thoughts are welcome, but please keep it simple so as I can understand.
Dave, XXXX for the ladies and Firm handshakes for the Guys
    Gungalo: Photobucket

    CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING CHOSEN
    AS THE FIRST WINNER OF THE COVETED
    DARK CLUB CROWN.
    -
    ulster3: Wow! Gallivandog...this is wonderful that you won! I'm running right over to read this dark work now, because I didn't get time to read and comment on all the entries. I'm a slow reader, and a slow typist, so I can really relate to what you say above. I have just returned, myself, having taken some time out. I do love the site, and the people are so especially nice and creative, but it does get hard to have a life, write, and keep up with reviewing. BTW Congratulations too on your publication. Personally, I don't cut and paste, even on replies to reviews. Maybe that's one reason why I'm so VERY slow. Virtualhugs 'n xxxx. Keep right on! -
    gallivandog: Wow.... That's a surprise, I am chuffed and actually quite amazed that I was sellected this week,so, Thank you Gungalo, You're a Genius and thank you Ulster3 for your kind words and becoming a fan of my work. I will post soon to defend my crown for next week. Yahoooooooo!
    Dave -
    kiwigirl2821: Dave Dog! You did good ole son! Loved it ... congratulations on being the 1st winner of the Dark Club...get writing dude...lol...the week is already getting dark! xoxo -
    Gungalo: Your write was amazing guy and you well deserve the crown. Can you hold onto it this coming week? We shall see eh? Thanks again for joining us all in the Dark Club!!! -
    Fleedleflump: Hi Dave. I have promoted to the top spot two or three times in my two and a half years on here. It costs around 90 member dollars, depending on how much the other high positioned posts have had spent on them. That usually takes me a week or so of reviewing at the expense of writing. The quickest way to get what you need is reviewing the new releases on the 'next up' page, hoping to get the free member cent pumps, then work down the list of highest payers.

    In terms of review quality, I reserve detailed critiques for those I follow and poems that warrant it (often the less impressive ones). If I have read and simply enjoyed a poem, I'm happy to say that. It's certainly a faster review and something nobody hates hearing.

    The other way to make cash is winning contests, but that can be a minefield! Plus, there are so many prompts now that frequency has bred contempt and very few enter or vote on most of the daily ones. Still, if there's a contest that's up your alley, it's usually worth gambling the entry fee.

    There certainly are cut-and-pasters around, but you soon get to know them from their give-away reviews. You don't have to join them to review more pieces.

    I've never spent 'real' money for promotion dollars, and given how much it costs I don't think it's worth it.

    For usual posts (I post about twice a week) I always try to scrounge together the $10 for the base promotion - you get more reviews and it encourages people who stumble across the piece to read it. It is NOT WORTH adding any additional promotion at all, unless you're going to the front page with it. This I can say with some authority and experience. You either get 5-10 reviews (for the base certificate) or about 100 if you spend the wedge.

    Don't know if any of this helps or is of interest!

    Mike

    PS: Congrats on the Dark Club crown. I'll have to get darker for this week! -
    gallivandog: Thank you Mike, I appreciate you getting back to me on this,there is a lot of clarity in what you have told me, and it seems that you have to as I thought stay awake for days pushing out the reviews, I have to review as I see, so for me to write a constructive and fair reviw, it would take me ages. I do have a few poets that I review regulary, because I really do enjoy their writes and letting them know this. I can't afford to keep pumping stuff up, I spent £20 last night promoting that dark contest winner, and as yey I have had no reviews apart from those who follow my work. they say on the screen that I can expect up to twenty???????? I think not. LOL. I will stop spending cash now,as it does tend to get out of hand. I just wanted to assure myself that I was overspending, you have confirmed that for me, saving up review points is clearly the way ahead, I guess I will be here a long time, nowhere else to go..LOL
    Best wishes Mike Take care
    Dave -
    lwsjks: I agree with you Dave. I have spent my hard earned dollars here trying to promote a piece since I don't have the hours it takes to earn the member dollars by reviewing. The closest I have gotten to having one recongnized poem was "A Spirit at Peace" I think it got 10 reviews. In the contests I receive 1 or 2 votes is I am lucky. Makes me think I am on a different wave length than most. I have decided to let those who happen across my poems review them and I hope enjoy them a bit. By the way, congrats on the Dark Crown!! Linda -
    eyesthatsee: I actually started to write under this name because I wanted to see for myself if it was a popularity contest or if people were actually interested in reading what I write. I have had respectable reviews but, nothing like what I get under the real name...I must admit though for me there is fear in the writing as I don't really want people to know what I'm really experiencing...It's darker than most of you write but even here I noticed it seems definitely to be who follows you as opposed to just great writing unless you get lucky and someone spots you... I've read your work and follow you as I think you have a brilliant style. I have in past spent real dollars to promote but, not again...It has to be about the writing for me and if it isn't I don't want to put anything out there. TC warmly ETS -


gallivandog: Chuffed beyond belief, I just had one of my poems accepted for publication in June, the book is called " Colours of War " and the poem is called " Brothers in Arms " such a proud little Soldier... Woopie!!!


gallivandog: well, I have been so impressed with this site, having only been here for a few days I can see how people get addicted to writing. The community seems to be the strength of this site, working for one another to encourage writers to go to the next level. On a personal note, I would like to thank everyone who has read my efforts and offered great advice and encouragement I only hope that I have managed to reciprecate. One of my main aim's is to not have to rely on spell check so often, I am getting there slowly, but still have a huge spelling problem.



22nd Nov 10.
Sat here unshaven, Monday morning, just read my reviews and sooooooooo pleased with them, I finally managed to get some shut eye last night, but was up at the break of a squirrel's fart this AM, ready to take on the world. Posted what I think is a great moving story about the plight of the Bear, Hope someone enjoys it. Happy reading and Fair reviewing
    gallivandog: Hello every one, I assume that this will be read by some body, I am at my whit's end, suffering from technophobia. I have been trying to establish what a b.item file is in order to enter competitions Ahhhhhhhh!!!, what ever happened to the pen and paper. If anyone would be kind enough to explain, I would be forever in your debt, but PLEASE... no Technical explanations,or jargon, just K.I.S.S PLEASE. Thank you in advance, waiting at my computer for HELP..... -
    Cedar: First, let me welcome you to this site. It's a great place to write,
    read and learn. If you would like to enter contests, on the home page, just click on contests for a complete listing of all the various contests. If you see one that you would like to enter, click one the name of contest for all the necessary information. If I can help you in anyway, go to my profile page and click on "contact"
    at the upper left of your screen.
    Welcome again my friend. -
    sweetthanesue: welcome to the site Dave and hope you enjoy a great learning journey with us. The profile right hand column main fanstory page click on forum and then look for links that interest you and click on. great place to learn and get assistance and I was lucky another member directed me there. happy reading and writing warm regards -
    gallivandog: Thank you Cedar and Sweetthanesue, I must confess, this is a fantastic writing site,I am slowly getting the hang of things, but it is true what they say about teaching old dogs new tricks. I seem to be spending an awful lot of money Via Pay Pal to purchace Member Dollars, but my work never seems to achieve the reviews promised,although I am well chuffed with the reviews I have been getting, I just cant seem to get off page three in the listings.. LOL -
    gallivandog: Today I have mostly been learning Iambic Pentameter. Fantastic, it's starting to make sense to me -
    prophetess: No, Dave, I hope you have gotten into the swing of reviewing. It looks as if you have. Lol. leave paypal alone until it's time to renew. :-) -
    juliaSjames:
    Dave

    Congrats...I notice that you tied for second place in the Hobbies prompt. Hope you'll make it to #1 the next time you try.

    peace and blessings, julia -
    gallivandog: Thank you Julia, are there no secrets on this site?..LOL next time eh? -
    lwsjks: Are you ok? Am a bit worried after your last post then the long silence. -