Challenge 2009-3 - Tuesday March 31, 2009

Spring has sprung! Well, almost... if you're in the Northern Hemisphere.

Spring is a time for rebirth, new beginnings, and fresh faces. With that, I introduce myself to you. Your most gracious queen, Jeri_Dee, has stepped down from her throne, and I'm going to try my best to hold things down here at Kween_of_the_Queens. Should I tell you who I am, or let you guess? Hm. Interesting. If you ever have any topic suggestions, I'd be more than willing to take them.

On to the topic! There's a lot of questions here. Feel free to answer one or all of them. Deadline will be the end of March. You can complete it in your own style. If you wish to include pictures you can, however this is a written assignment. Enjoy!

How do the mild days and freshness of spring affect your mood and outlook on life? Does Spring make you hopeful of good things to come? When winter ends and spring begins, do you really notice the transformation of life happening all around you? What do you notice the most?

The Musts:
You must have your entry set to public. You must link to either this site or the blog ring. You must come back to this site to let me know that you have posted for this challenge. I will then link to your entry.

I've been messing around with this. It's code to add a small graphic and link back to the original topic to your post. Just copy the text in the box and add it to your entry, if you'd like to. (You have to be in your HTML editor when you paste the code, or else it won't work. To get to that you click the "Edit HTML" check box up in the right hand corner of your Weblog Editor. Here's a picture.) I'm like 99.9% sure I did it correctly.


It should come out looking like this:

Challenge-2009-3

It links back to the topic so you don't have to add that. Totally optional. I'm not going to make you use that hideous thing, hah. If you like the idea and can make a nicer looking one, by all means, do so!

Enough rambling. Enjoy the topic! Get the word out. Rec. Star. Post things. Sorry about the two time stamps. I'm still figuring out the best time to do it.

Jeri_Dee
mileyfan08
FourthChance
TastyAnonymity
endlesssummer128
mercurialmusic
TheCheshireGrins
ModernBunny
The_second_x
peacenow
susu
into_the_lens
impossibleangles

Don't forget to answer the poll!

Posted 3/31/2009 at 3:54 AM

21 Comments

Hello. I've missed the last couple of challenges but have been fairly steady with the blog ring.... But I don't really have a guess of who this is... I'll work on my post soon. peace

Posted 3/19/2009 at 1:59 AM by peacenow

Hi and welcome ( whoever you are....  )  ~  V

Posted 3/19/2009 at 2:52 AM by venice

I've posted my entry!  HERE it is!


Jeri Dee

Posted 3/19/2009 at 3:13 AM by Jeri_Dee
Posted 3/20/2009 at 12:16 AM by Anonymous

ooh, what fun! long live the queen! i shall do my post later today (hopefully).

Posted 3/19/2009 at 8:17 AM by mercurialmusic

Posted here

Posted 3/20/2009 at 5:45 AM by endlesssummer128

Welcome!    I haven't posted the last couple challenges, but this one was fun and easy.  Thanks.   BTW,  I tried that link and it just copied onto my blog as is, didn't magically turn into that cool banner.  Maybe cuz I'm still using the 'old format' here on xanga, I dunno.    So anyway,  call me an over-achiever, but mine is done already:  FourthChance


Thanks again for taking on this most impossible task!   Maybe you're an over-achiever, too?  hehe   


Later!

Posted 3/19/2009 at 6:16 PM by FourthChance

Here is mine! Such a fun topic!

Posted 3/19/2009 at 3:56 PM by mileyfan08

Hi,  and welcome!  I've missed the last few challenges, but I will be posting for this challenge, probably tomorrow.  I'll let you know when I do!

Posted 3/19/2009 at 4:31 PM by AMethodToMyMadness
Posted 3/28/2009 at 12:14 AM by SuSu

i finally did it. posted here.

Posted 3/21/2009 at 4:13 PM by mercurialmusic

Mine is up at last... I love the link graphic . peace

Posted 3/26/2009 at 11:3 PM by peacenow

You don't want to hear mine. I'm not a big fan of spring. Allergies.

Posted 3/22/2009 at 8:38 PM by runaheadofme

Here is mine!

Posted 3/22/2009 at 6:40 PM by TheCheshireGrins

@peacenow - Looking forward to it. 
@venice - Hi and thank you.
@CelticDawn - Thanks! Looking forward to reading!

Posted 3/20/2009 at 1:37 PM by Kween_of_the_Queens
I tried. I almost posted about Spring's first complete butt to toes shaving of the legs (a sure sign of winter's end), but I thought I'd lose you. =P
Posted 3/30/2009 at 10:54 PM by impossibleangles

Sounds like a fun site :D, will post soonish

Posted 3/23/2009 at 1:14 PM by The_second_x

Ok mine's done

Posted 3/23/2009 at 4:41 PM by The_second_x

I posted, here.

Posted 3/28/2009 at 10:14 AM by into_the_lens

ok i kno this must seem sooooooo lame but i cannot figur out the direkshunz ergo imma gunna ryte about the the proposd topik/challenj enyway just for the funnofit

Posted 3/23/2009 at 1:11 PM by pansybradshaw

Well, I posted on the topic, after a fashion... :P


http://www.xanga.com/ModernBunny/696547712/spring-is-a-malicious-fraud/

Posted 3/22/2009 at 10:18 PM by TheModernBunny

Feedback. It's a good thing. - Friday March 27, 2009

So, I've been thinking. (A dangerous pastime; I know.) This blog ring has 140 members. This site has about 220 subscribers and 125 friends. Out of the last three challenges, about 11 people on average have responded. Are the topics just not interesting enough? Are writing challenges just not interesting enough? Is Xanga dying?

No really, I'm curious.

Below is a poll. If you would be so kind, I'd love for you to answer it.

Creative Writing
The creative writing challenges will require imagination and can take many forms, fiction, non-fiction, verse, or prose. Challenges in this category will run the gamut from a simple anecdote to assignments that will ask you to look at an object from many perspectives to create a single image.

Introspective
Introspective challenges will require you to search for answers in your own life and experiences to form a perspective that is uniquely yours.

Debate/Argumentative
In the debate challenges you'll find yourself choosing sides on an issue and concisely and respectfully presenting an argument defending your points. The more ambitious and creative may choose to argue more than one side.

Other
Anything else you can think of that would be interesting, I'd love to hear about it. If you want to describe your idea in the comments or a message, feel free.

Also! Don't forget about the challenge. You have four days left! Oo. Deadlines.

Thanks to mercurialmusic for helping me write this.
Dude, I had a headache.
Excuses, excuses.


Posted 3/27/2009 at 11:45 PM

25 Comments

Topics are great!  This site is great!  I have just been LayZeeeee.  Will try harder.

Posted 3/27/2009 at 3:10 AM by storyslut

i so did not help write this. lies! trying to give away credit! how dare you?

Posted 3/27/2009 at 3:13 AM by mercurialmusic

Recent topics have been too dumb, like "What is your favorite junk food?"  Really!  That isn't something I can write about.  It's something I can answer in one or two words. 


Also, I tend to avoid topics that get too personal.  There are scars that run too deep and  private parts of my life that I just won't share with anyone on the internet.


Politics and religion tend to be overworked also, along with lists.


Topics like tell us your favorite book, or tell us about your vacation are good.  Also topics that academic an require a little thought are fun for me.

Posted 3/27/2009 at 3:54 AM by thereluctantsinger

Xanga is not dying, but the population is changing.  There has been a lot of turnover.  Some people have left, many have taken new identities and started over as virgins.  I just took a quick look at the blogring, and 86 of its members have posted during the month of March, 101 in 2009.  That's a really active blogring compared to many of them.

Recent topics have been unimaginative, but a good writer can make any topic interesting.  If the challenge is no more than to get an interesting post out of a lame topic, it is still a challenge.

I have missed posting here for many months because I simply forgot to come and look for the new topic.  I just discovered that I haven't been subbed or friended to this site.  Do you sendt out messages announcing new topics? I'm subbed now, and I'll be a friend if you let me.

Posted 3/27/2009 at 10:15 PM by SuSu

yah want me to write a "pornographic" story or two?  Everyone seems to read those!! heh!1 Just kidding!!  Just kidding!!

Posted 3/27/2009 at 2:17 PM by Stanelle

I'm fairly new to the blogring, but it seems like 11 has been about the average number of particpants, no matter what the topic is..I always mean to do the topic, but sometimes just forget about it if I don't do it right away. (some of the topics have been a little...too easy)

Posted 3/27/2009 at 11:23 AM by buckeyegirl31

1.  I don't think the topics are interesting enough.  I passed on the past couple of months because they were just so, well, lame, to be honest.   Figured since a new Queen took over, I'd make an effort.   2.  I enjoy writing challenges.   3.  yes, xanga is dying.


Future challenges?    Yes to any type of creative writing.   Yes to introspections.  Debate argumentive sound like fun, except they piss people off.  I think that's why the challenges got so lame.  Personally, I like anything that sparks a comment,  good, bad, or ugly.  There seem to be a lot of religious-sensitive people on this site, so stuff like abortion and child molesting clergymen is out of the question!  Not sure if you were around the year I wrote a rather cynical letter to Santa, my God you would have thought I told everybody my name was Mary and I gave birth to the AntiChrist!  It was the only time I received more than 10 comments on any writing challenge, and 95% were very upset!  (buncha ball baby pissy pants)


Other:  How about a writing challenge where we all write a story?  Like, you could start and write the first chapter.  Then the next person writes the next chapter, and on and on and on.  That might be fun.  You could let us decide how long or short our particular chapter is.  Then assign numbers and we'd go in order. 


I hope you can liven this place up a little.  Nothing at all against our previous Queen, she did what she could, but I think she was too 'nice' if that makes sense?  For example when she added the blurbie about not swearing.  Because somebody probably whined to her about an F word somewhere or other.  Geez, just substitute Fudge in your head when you read it, ok?   Three years ago the challenges were fun.  They just got stale.  I don't think anybody can run a show that long without getting old, you know what I mean?


Oh, and just a suggestion, maybe you should do some housecleaning?  If only 10 out of 140 members are participating, what happened to the other 130?   I know, everybody is busy.  And maybe a lot of the people just like to read and not write.  which is fine.  if they would actually comment or something.  I think it's rude to read a challenge someone spent lots of time on, and then not even say hello.  But then, I'm 'old school' xanga, I suppose.  manners, you know.


Well, thanks so much for taking on this most awesome challenge of running the show!   Have fun with that, and let's hope it doesn't all end in tears...


Have a great weekend!

Posted 3/27/2009 at 2:28 PM by FourthChance

i just haven't been interested in any of the past few months topics.  that's the only reason i haven't been participating...

Posted 3/27/2009 at 6:51 PM by NightlyDreams

I'll be honest, I haven't been too active on Xanga for the last few months. But just looking at the topics didn't really inspire me. I didn't see one and go "Oh! I wish I had been around for that one!"


You can't please everyone or spark everyone's interest with every topic. But I know the main thing I like about xanga is getting to know people's souls through what they post on here. Sharing meaningful stories and insights into life. Something that really makes me think.

Posted 3/27/2009 at 11:59 PM by silkenbutterfly

For me, I am just so technically challenged I just cannot figure out how to do the link and stuff.  Although you did give instructions on how to do it....  It frustrates me..So instead of being frustrated I just dont do it anymore.. I used to do and Jeri understood I am technically challenged. I would just tell her it was done and she would do the hard stuff for me...

Posted 3/28/2009 at 9:37 AM by misunderstood47

People seem to fade in & out of xanga and in & out of participating in blogrings/ challenges/ tags. Most people can't do every challenge for various reasons - busy, too personal, or something. I think that's to be expected. I'm still interested in participating. I'm not sure how to encourage people to participate. I voted for introspection but I'm also interested in creative writing challenges. Our previous Kween did clean out the subs but you might need to again. This is a participation oriented blogring. Some are not. Some just seem to exist. Well... there are a few thoughts. I'm too sleepy to think much more tonight. Good luck. peace always

Posted 3/28/2009 at 1:29 AM by peacenow

@Kween_of_the_Queens - I can remember challenges where there were about 30 - 35 who participated. Not sure if I ever saw many more. Some just join just to be joining. I don't think it's anything you've done or the previous Kween. This blog used to not be an automatic join. She had to ok it some how. Not sure how that worked. And many won't come over from mass messages. If you send a mass message go ahead and say in it you are trying to get member participation up and ask everyone if they are still interested in participating in the writing challenges. See who responds. Just a thought. peace 

Posted 3/28/2009 at 11:1 PM by peacenow

I just found it became too much. Too many people joined and by the time you tried to get to everyone to read what they wrote, it took far too long so I dropped out. It all became too impersonal for me. Tynee

Posted 3/28/2009 at 3:11 PM by TyneeGrannyB

I voted yesterday but I shall recommend!

Posted 3/28/2009 at 9:44 AM by TheCheshireGrins

@TheCheshireGrins - Thanks. <3
@misunderstood47 - That's fine. If you want to participate in a challenge, just tell me when you've posted it and I can make the links happen.
@Safeinsidemyyou - I can't please everyone, it's a fact. I'm working on pleasing as many people as possible though, at one time. Thanks for the feedback. I might try some introspective things that involve creative writing as well.
@peacenow - Oh, I definitely realize that a lot of people get busy, or just aren't interested in some topics, and that's fine. That's perfectly fine. Just, 10 out of 125 isn't exactly the best of participation, and I'm trying to figure out if it's something I'm doing (or the one running this thing) or just an overall desire.
@silkenbutterfly - A more challenging challenge?
@SuSu - I just got here myself. I have been sending out messages about new topics though, to friends and subscribers.
@NightlyDreams - Do you have any suggestions for a topic?
@FourthChance - I've been enjoying it so far. I've tried to promote the blog ring through my own site as well, and got some help in that area. I think the kind of interactive story sounds like a really good idea. It might be kind of hard to manage, but a great concept. Thanks for the feedback. I think I might do a little housecleaning. I'm just not quite sure of the best way to go about it at this point.
@Stanelle - Bow chicka wow wow.
@buckeyegirl31 - Harder challenges, coming right up.
@thereluctantsinger - All right. So nothing you can answer in one or two words, something that requires a bit of thought, and nothing too terribly personal, or as personal as you want to go with something. That about right?
@mercurialmusic - You, sir, are a liar.
@storyslut - Tsktsk. Lazy bum.

Posted 3/28/2009 at 10:38 AM by Kween_of_the_Queens

@Jeri_Dee - I remember the whole two people fighting over it thing. I was kind of stuck in the middle of that as well. I made the same offer to you then that I did this time. I think the intentions of the blog ring were really good, and lasted for quite some time. I think the people that frequent it have changed quite a bit. Not the actual person changing, but the audience itself shifting. We'll see what we can do about it. Please the masses as best we can. I'd still appreciate your help as much as possible, because honestly, I don't really know what I'm doing.

Posted 3/28/2009 at 9:33 PM by Kween_of_the_Queens

@Kween_of_the_Queens - That's about it.  I'll give a little bit of personal information, but not much.  I am into research and into things that do require some thought.

Posted 3/28/2009 at 4:35 PM by thereluctantsinger

Personally I think Introspective is the way to go.  I always find it easier to right abotu the things I know.  The last few challenges really held no allure to me, so I skipped over them.  I'm also a fan of creative challenges.  Basically any type of challenge that we can put soul into.  I'm not a fan of things liek "whats your favorite season and why".  It is boring and I just dont see any real reason to write about it. I'm not a big fan of debate, but if it intrigues me I would definitely give it a chance.  Like it has already been said, you cannot please everybody, but your effort shows that you will make a wonderful Kween.  Best of luck to you and I will definitely try to respond more often.

Posted 3/28/2009 at 3:16 AM by Safeinsidemyyou

@Kween_of_the_Queens - i just think the past few topics have been rather boring.  and i don't do creative fiction well.  i like reading it sometimes but writing it is not my forte.  i'm more into nonfiction writing.

Posted 3/28/2009 at 9:6 PM by NightlyDreams

The original intent of this blog ring was to have something, anything to write about on your blog.  I then moved into the concept of getting personal as a way to uplift, inspire, and make people feel good about themselves.  I wanted to concentrate on the positive as I was reading so much negitivity all over Xanga.  The lists were supposed to be just for fun.  There were those "challenges" that I got great response to and incorportated them into an annual event, such as Three Little Thankfuls in November and KoffeeKweens Halloween Extravaganza in October.  The "Extravaganza" was the Creative Writing Challenge that I though would really be an enjoyable event. I went so far as to set up a completely seperate site for these stories to be posted to and was not adverse to editing when called for (those who wanted it that is). It was good for the first 2 years, but it too petered out because so many of the members weren't into creative writing.  There were times when everyone wanted to participate, but the time constraints that I had decided to put on the challenges weren't condusive to their schedules and they missed it.  I even sent out reminders, which helped out a few times.  When I first started the blog ring, I had to go to each and every site, one by one as Xanga had yet to come up with the messaging system.  I even wrote to xanga to ask them if there was a way to let all of the blog ring members know that there was a new challenge!  It took them over a year to introduce the message system from that (and most likely many more) request.


I advertised on my own site every single challenge as well as going to the time and effort to offer banners that linked back to the site.  I also reminded the readers with each challenge that they had to link back to either the blog ring or the site in their challenge (another form of advertisement).


For first few months, I let the enrollment be open, then I closed it as I was trying to get people in the blog ring who really wanted to be an active member (I changed that when I turned it over to you).


In short, I did try everything that you are doing and I don't know what else to say to get anyone to participate.  Many blog rings have gone under because the membership didn't participate.  I also used to do what I called "purges" and I always let the members know in advance so that they could tell me whether they wanted me to keep their blogs in or not.  That happened 3 or 4 times.


I guess I just grew too frustrated.  For several months, the blog ring was the only thing I was taking care of.  I let my own blog go in order to take care of the blog ring.  I tried all I knew to do to keep it active and alive.  When that failed, the "lame" challenges started coming.  I don't know any blog ring that pleases all of the people all of the time.  This blog ring is actually listed under "Friends" and cannot be changed to "Writing" because, well, Xanga just won't let that happen.  I didn't realize at the time that I  should have listed it as a writing blog.  Curses to me, eh?


I knew that I just couldn't keep it up any longer and tried to turn it over once, only to cause a mini war between 2 of it's members.  I gave that up too, until I just couldn't take it any more and turned it over to the first person who was willing to accept it.


I apoligize for being "too nice"(I thought it was good manners), "too lame", and mostly, for hanging on so long.  I thought I was helping people to like and accept who they were.


I do hope that your fresh ideas will enliven this again.


Good luck my friend.  You have taken on a great adventure!


Jeri

Posted 3/28/2009 at 8:57 PM by Jeri_Dee

@Kween_of_the_Queens - Yes! That is exactly 100% what I mean! I understand people may not want to get too personal but... I think part of the point of xanga is about being personal, getting your ideas out there. I want to chew over it, savor posts, really get feelings from them. :D

Posted 3/28/2009 at 11:21 AM by silkenbutterfly

@Jeri_Dee - I don't always have time to do the challenges or sometimes my brain is just not in writing mode... but I've always enjoyed being a member & tried to do at least half of the challenges... Just wanted to let you know that. And very weird they won't let it be changed to a writing blog ring. There must be a way to do so.  peace always

Posted 3/28/2009 at 11:6 PM by peacenow

I think all the suggestions for topics are good.  Some people want to debate, some want to reflect, some want to just do a couple of sentences, some want to write a book.  With something for everyone, there should be people wanting to write every time.


I have to confess that I have been really bad about writing lately.  I just seemed not to want to HAVE TO write unless it was something that was my idea.  I still want to be part of the group but just haven't had the desire to participate.  I am sorry.


Good luck with taking over the site, I think you will do a good job.

Posted 3/29/2009 at 12:36 PM by myseniormoments

Just so you know...I just don't have the time I used to have....I love the challenges tho!

Posted 3/30/2009 at 5:53 PM by FlrtyLdyBug

@peacenow - ah honey, I know you participated a lot!  And I always appreciated you too.  There is just no changing blog rings things on Xanga...it's like when we first started and you couldn't change your name...now you can, but you've gotta pay for it or use credits. 


@Kween_of_the_Queens -  OH!  That was you? I should have paid closer attention and just let you have it then!  Anytime you need any questions answered, just message me and I'll answer to the best of my knowledge~Jeri

Posted 3/29/2009 at 12:50 AM by Jeri_Dee

Saturday March 21, 2009

Challenge-2009-3

Posted 3/21/2009 at 11:49 PM

Friday March 20, 2009

Challenge-2009-3

Posted 3/20/2009 at 11:3 AM