Quote: oldcowgrazing @ April 23 2008, 10:52 AM BSTI think they underestimated the number of people who'd apply (1300 i think it was) so maybe they've rushed the process. Which isn't a good sign as they're more likely to skim over the first page and dump it on the 'no thanks' heap if nothing grabs them.
To be fair, if you only have ten pages to impress, you need to grab them on the first page!
Still not convinced it's rushed though. I think these things are easier to do than people credit.
We had an email from Micheal yesterday. It went like this:
Many thanks for your submission to the college. With 1300 entries it has turned out to be a very competitive scheme, and I'm afraid you haven't made the final 40, though you weren't far away. I'm sorry to disappoint.
Best wishes
Micheál
Gutted, and yet happy to have been fairly close. But mostly gutted.
What's the betting everybody who didn't make the last forty "weren't far away"?
Quote: oldcowgrazing @ April 23 2008, 10:52 AM BSTWhich isn't a good sign as they're more likely to skim over the first page and dump it on the 'no thanks' heap if nothing grabs them.
I love the postmortems on these comps... I remember the Last Laugh board being ripe with conspicracy theories and complaints that the readers hadn't read all the enteries... well they couldn't have or mine would have got through etc etc...
Anyway.... If you've not grabbed the reader by the testicles in the first few pages then there is very little chance of the writing getting any better in the last few...
For all those that entered but didn't make the short list, be happy for those that got through and move on to your next project...
kjs
Can we keep Last Laugh comments to the Last Laugh Thread.
Quote: KJSmyling @ April 23 2008, 11:11 AM BSTI love the postmortems on these comps... I remember the Last Laugh board being ripe with conspicracy theories and complaints that the readers hadn't read all the enteries... well they couldn't have or mine would have got through etc etc...
Anyway.... If you've not grabbed the reader by the testicles in the first few pages then there is very little chance of the writing getting any better in the last few...
For all those that entered but didn't make the short list, be happy for those that got through and move on to your next project...
kjs
Well I didn't enter the comp because I didn't meet the criteria so my comment wasn't a complaint or a conspiracy theory, just a speculative response as to why the script of the process seems to have changed.
But you're right those who entered but didn't make it should shrug and move on.
Quote: KJSmyling @ April 23 2008, 11:11 AM BSTI love the postmortems on these comps... I remember the Last Laugh board being ripe with conspicracy theories and complaints that the readers hadn't read all the enteries... well they couldn't have or mine would have got through etc etc...
Well, exactly.
Quote: oldcowgrazing @ April 23 2008, 11:18 AM BSTBut you're right those who got through should shrug and move on.
yeah you're right, you have to be philisophical about these things.
With any luck it'll be a success and they'll do it every year.
Quote: Marc P @ April 23 2008, 11:22 AM BSTyeah you're right, you have to be philisophical about these things.
Well quite. 
I've edited my previous post as it should have said "those who entered but didn't make it should shrug and move on".
Quote: chipolata @ April 23 2008, 11:11 AM BSTWhat's the betting everybody who didn't make the last forty "weren't far away"?
Thanks for that, then.
Quote: chipolata @ April 23 2008, 11:11 AM BSTWhat's the betting everybody who didn't make the last forty "weren't far away"?
Certainly, given Micheal's comments on his blog, I'd think any statement to that effect will be genuine, and only the 'nearly' people will get that email.
I got a 'you nearly made it' email too. And I know a few others who did. So I think quite a lot of people were 'nearly' good enough. I'm gutted.
Quote: nubbit @ April 23 2008, 11:50 AM BSTI'm gutted.
*Hands nubbit a chocolate digestive and a cup of sweet tea* Or would you prefer something stronger?
Quote: nubbit @ April 23 2008, 11:50 AM BSTI got a 'you nearly made it' email too. And I know a few others who did. So I think quite a lot of people were 'nearly' good enough. I'm gutted.
Well, Nubbit, that is excellent, you obviously came in the 40 but not in the shortlist 20 and that seems to be closer than anyone else got on here.
The also rans will be told next week, no doubt, that's if the Beeb are bothering to inform the rest