Critmas: The Results.

Sat Jan 12, 2019, 1:44 PM
8 years ago, I started a small community challenge to encourage people to offer a little bit of critique for their fellow deviants. Back then, it was a simple challenge with no team, no bonus games and a handful of awesome people participated. We were happy with the 100+ delivered in just 12 days. Fast forward to now and some individuals got more than our total in year one. This is crazy and I love it!

Just to put into perspective, here are the totals for the previous years:

2011- 120
2012- 120
2013- 158
2014- 366
2015- 206
2016- 917
2017- 1213

2018- 1375 critiques delivered.


YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME!


48 of you signed up to the challenge, with 41 active and an amazing 31 people completed the threshold of 12 critiques! The bonus challenges also proved popular, with 3,606 bonus points scored on the challenges!

I was a bit unsure about putting the bonus challenge in, but wanted to try something different and have learnt what does and doesn't work as a result. There will the bonuses next year although there will be an improved approach!

Before I share the results, I need to offer some huge thanks! To operate critmas properly, there is a massive spreadsheet of stats, data and funky colour charts. To help maintain that I had a team of Adjudicators who worked tirelessly to support getting your critiques checked, overchecked and scored accordingly. You guys dished them out as fast as we could add them in so without them I think you would have been waiting till March for your results if I was alone. Therefore please give a huge :heart: to JessaMar , doughboycafe  and akrasiel for whom I am extremely grateful!

I also need to share the love for our wonderful queen of the ducks squanpie because her artwork for the teams bought them to life. I hope you guys gave her some good critique as the duckbutt challenge was dedicated to her!

The Results: Teams



Critmas2018 by BeccaJS

POINSETTIA PIKES ARE THE WINNERS!


Critmaspp by BeccaJS


Well done to 
:
neurotype-on-discord
PennedinWhite (Team Captain!)



Commiserations to the other three teams and your players. May you think deep what could have been and come back next year fighting fierce!

Critmastt by BeccaJSCritmasmb by BeccaJSCritmashh by BeccaJS


I heard rumours of discord chats, secret journals and sneaky strategies- but for me that is what the team element is all about! I haven't seen anything yet so if anyone wants to reveal the secrets of their teams, please do because I find it hilarious!

The Results: Individuals


Whether you are someone who chased every bonus point like you were possessed or played it cool and casual to get your critiques written, everyone who achieved 12 or more critiques is a winner. So before we look at individuals, well done to the 31 people who managed the critmas challenge- each of you will receive 300 points each.

However, I know there are a few who are rather competitive and some who are just plain insane. Whatever drives you there has been some individuals hitting the high numbers this year and it wouldn't be fair not to present these results in order of the highest critiques and points.

Top 10 by Critiques

Critmastop10crits by BeccaJS

Top 10 by Bonus points


Critmastop10bonus by BeccaJS

Top 10 overall


Critmastop10 by BeccaJS

Individual prizing


The points awarded are broken down based on a series of things achieved. There was additional points awarded for: Abcdearious, duckbutt, getting all 12 challenges complete, and getting both 25/12 & 1/1, There was also points awarded for those who hit 100, 50 & 25 critiques accordingly and then the winning team also won extra points. Because it will take me forever to put each score breakdown in this journal, totals are below. If you insist on knowing your breakdown, you can comment below.

Special awards:

Highest score: ninebark
Christmas or Critmas? SlytherclawPadawan   (awarded due to 90% of critiques being Christmas themed!)
Best Santa: neurotype-on-discord  (day 1 challenge winner)
Best countdown: xlntwtch (day 8 challenge winner)
Superduckbutt: squanpie 
Adjudicators of awesome: JessaMar , akrasiel , doughboycafe 
Oh Captain my Captain: Meterious , ThornyEnglishRose , doughboycafe , PennedinWhite 

Spot prizes are awarded using a random name generator with all those scoring 12 or more critiques applicable. 


C= Critiques B= Bonus points T= Total Score


ninebark    Mistletoe Bows C- 151 B- 450 T- 601
total points awarded: 750
Spot prize: Bullet; Blue 1 x $15 Amazon gift cards from LiliWrites 


SlytherclawPadawan Poinsettia Pikes  C- 134 B- 347 T- 481
total points awarded: 750
Spot Prize Bullet; Blue Journal Feature from LiliWrites 

Malintra-Shadowmoon  Tannenbaum trebuchets C- 124 B- 278 T- 402
total points awarded: 550
Spot Prize Bullet; Blue Journal Feature from LiliWrites 

dailydragonlair Poinsettia Pikes  C- 123 B- 221 T- 344
total points awarded: 600
Spot Prize Bullet; Blue 1 x $15 Amazon gift cards from LiliWrites 

BATTLEFAIRIES Tannenbaum trebuchets C- 101 B- 294 T- 395
total points awarded: 550

neurotype-on-discord Poinsettia Pikes  C- 65 B- 189 T- 254
total points awarded: 750
Spot Prize Bullet; Blue Journal Feature from LiliWrites 

CobraToon Poinsettia Pikes  C- 57 B- 177 T- 234
total points awarded: 600

Meterious Holly Handgrenades C- 50 B- 185 T- 235
total points awarded: 600

RowanandKatrina Poinsettia Pikes  C- 50 B- 151 T- 201
total points awarded: 550
Spot Prize Bullet; Blue Journal Feature from LiliWrites 

ChimeraDragonfang Poinsettia Pikes  C- 42 B- 137 T- 179
total points awarded: 600

ria-illustrates  Tannenbaum trebuchets C- 36 B- 49 T- 85
total points awarded: 400
Spot prize: Bullet; Blue A copy of the book Sol.Terra Complete Collection by C-A-Harland from LiliWrites 


achoohoo Poinsettia Pikes  C- 33 B- 104 T- 137
total points awarded: 550

doughboycafe Tannenbaum trebuchets C- 33 B- 88 T- 121
total points awarded: 650

heartdialect Poinsettia Pikes  C- 30 B- 146 T- 176
total points awarded: 550
Spot Prize Bullet; Blue Journal Feature from LiliWrites 

GrimAlpaca Tannenbaum trebuchets C- 29 B- 48 T- 77
total points awarded: 350
Spot Prize Bullet; Blue Journal Feature from LiliWrites 

xlntwtch Tannenbaum trebuchets C- 27 B- 72 T- 99
total points awarded: 500

JessaMar Mistletoe Bows C- 26 B- 73 T- 99
total points awarded: 500

IamNoHere Mistletoe Bows C- 19 B- 28 T- 47
total points awarded: 300

IntelligentZombie  Mistletoe Bows C- 17 B- 47 T- 64
total points awarded: 350

comatose-comet Tannenbaum trebuchets C- 17 B- 31 T- 48
total points awarded: 350

craftsbyblue Mistletoe Bows C- 16 B- 100 T- 116
total points awarded: 400
Spot Prize Bullet; Blue Journal Feature from LiliWrites 

ThornyEnglishRose Mistletoe Bows C- 15 B- 76 T- 91
total points awarded: 450

TEK427 Poinsettia Pikes  C- 14 B- 41 T- 55
total points awarded: 450
Spot Prize Bullet; Blue Journal Feature from LiliWrites 

jonwassing Mistletoe Bows C- 14 B- 20 T- 34
total points awarded: 300
Spot Prize Bullet; Blue Journal Feature from LiliWrites 

Lily-Lucid Tannenbaum trebuchets C- 13 B- 27 T- 40
total points awarded: 300
Spot Prize Bullet; Blue Journal Feature from LiliWrites 

psto1464 Tannenbaum trebuchets C- 13 B- 22 T- 35
total points awarded: 300
Spot Prize Bullet; Blue Journal Feature from LiliWrites 

nosedivve Tannenbaum trebuchets C- 13 B- 17 T- 30
total points awarded: 300

akraisel Poinsettia Pikes  C- 12 B- 42 T- 54
total points awarded: 550

Amarantheans Mistletoe Bows C- 12 B- 33 T- 45
total points awarded: 350

Yuukon Holly Handgrenades C- 12 B- 22 T- 34
total points awarded: 300
Spot Prize Bullet; Blue Journal Feature from LiliWrites 

Metanaito-kyou Holly Handgrenades C- 12 B- 21 T- 33
total points awarded: 300

AfroChica94 Poinsettia Pikes  C- 10 B- 5 T- 15
total points awarded: 110

RoyalOats Holly Handgrenades C- 8 B- 5 T- 13
total points awarded: 8

BlackBowfin Tannenbaum trebuchets C- 7 B- 25 T- 32
total points awarded: 7

PennedinWhite  Poinsettia Pikes  C- 6 B- 1 T- 7
total points awarded: 206

FuschiaButterfly1  Mistletoe Bows C- 6 B- 0 T- 6
total points awarded: 6

squanpie Holly Handgrenades C- 5 B- 21 T- 26
total points awarded: 155

LiliWrites Holly Handgrenades C- 5 B- 7 T- 12
total points awarded: 5

Daphne-Brown Holly Handgrenades C- 4 B- 1 T- 5
total points awarded: 4

Spixelspixels Holly Handgrenades C- 3 B- 5 T- 8
total points awarded: 3

Over2000Blizzards Mistletoe Bows C- 1 B- 0 T- 1
total points awarded: 1


Points pool generously provided by: communityrelations Zara-Arletis*, BeccaJS , akrasiel*, LiliWrites , BlackBowfin*, Memnalar*, BloodyWing*, neurotype-on-discord *, ThornyEnglishRose *, GrimAlpaca* & LadyLincoln *

*received via donation pool. Points and prizes may take a while to send out to everyone to please be patient whilst this is being organised.

And so ends another year


Thank you to everyone who participated, promoted, helped score, supported your teams, kept sanity checks (CRLiterature team!) and made this event a success.  Without you guys, it wouldn't have been worth it! Have a Happy New Year and make 2019 awesome!

If you want to look at other awesome events that happen around here, please check out CRLiterature 

As for me? I am going to have a catch up on all the other dA things I have ignored for this and then probably have a week off to recover! :faint:

:iconbigheartplz:


Critmas 2018- Let's go!

Sun Dec 23, 2018, 10:00 PM

NB: CONTEST NOW CLOSED! NO MORE CRITIQUES WILL BE ACCEPTED.


:new: We are coming into the last few days of the challenge! The Pikes are very much ahead, but one of the Tannenbaum trebuchets has become the first to achieve 100 critiques! (@Malintra-Shadowmoon). Oddly we have 12 players yet to drop any critiques in.  The final battles are coming teams!

1090 critiques verified so far! :eager:

:new: Help a verifier with the challenges! If you are going for bonus points, please state where in your submissions!

:bulletorange: Scores are starting to appear and only show fully verified critiques! Bear with us as you are pumping them hard this year so lots need checking still and it is only day 2!

:bulletorange: Daily challenges will pop up the day before to help you guys prep! Make sure you write and submit it on the day of the challenge!



 The teams have been declared. The gauntlet launched and now we are hitting the big shiny “GO”

Ladies and Gentlemen, Critmas 2018 is now officially open! You may begin submitting critiques! Go forth and fight the good fight!

 If you are:

  1. Confused at what this is and what you need to do
  2. Can’t remember your team
  3. Need to sign up still (you can sign up all the way through so don't worry if you are a day or 2 behind!)
  4. Need a refresh of the rules

 Please refer to this journal of joy: 

CRITMAS 2018:new: AND WE ARE OFF! Don't worry, you can still sign up now if you are a tad late!
:bulletyellow: Plenty of space for people to sign up- remember as long as you aim for just 12 critiques you are a winner of this challenge!
:bulletyellow: squanpie has created some absolutely beautiful team artwork to represent this years teams. You have permission to use this as your team banner how you see fit (but be sure to credit)! Thank you so much :heart:


Ladies and gents, this is the moment you've waited for...

November, NaNo pfft, that is over! Winter is coming and with it brings a greater show. The armies are rising again!
Those sneaky secret-storing Samurai Snowmen have melted now. Previous winners are just a legendary tale. Four new teams are rising, each fuelled with one desire- To be the best at delivering critique!


Welcome to Critmas 2018!

 Or speak to one of the glorious team captains!  MeteriousThornyEnglishRosePennedinWhite & doughboycafe 


The League (last updated 04/01 15:45 gmt)


Critmashh by BeccaJS  321 (86 critiques)

Critmasmb by BeccaJS 907 (213 Critiques)

Critmaspp by BeccaJS1606(443 critiques)

 1219 (348 critiques)


Individuals (critiques only)


ninebark    Mistletoe Bows 122
Malintra-Shadowmoon  Tannenbaum trebuchets 107
SlytherclawPadawan Poinsettia Pikes  100

dailydragonlair Poinsettia Pikes  88
BATTLEFAIRIES Tannenbaum trebuchets 85
neurotype-on-discord Poinsettia Pikes  65
CobraToon Poinsettia Pikes  51

Meterious Holly Handgrenades 49
ChimeraDragonfang Poinsettia Pikes  35
RowanandKatrina Poinsettia Pikes  34
doughboycafe Tannenbaum trebuchets 33
GrimAlpaca Tannenbaum trebuchets 29
JessaMar Mistletoe Bows 26
achoohoo Poinsettia Pikes  25

xlntwtch Tannenbaum trebuchets 21
heartdialect Poinsettia Pikes  18
IntelligentZombie  Mistletoe Bows 17
ThornyEnglishRose Mistletoe Bows 15
comatose-comet Tannenbaum trebuchets 14
jonwassing Mistletoe Bows 14
Lily-Lucid Tannenbaum trebuchets 13
nosedivve Tannenbaum trebuchets 13
psto1464 Tannenbaum trebuchets 13
ria-illustrates  Tannenbaum trebuchets 13
TEK427 Poinsettia Pikes  13
:Yuukon Holly Handgrenades 12

craftsbyblue Mistletoe Bows 11
akraisel Poinsettia Pikes  10
RoyalOats Holly Handgrenades 8
BlackBowfin Tannenbaum trebuchets 7
LiliWrites Holly Handgrenades 5
squanpie Holly Handgrenades 5
Amarantheans Mistletoe Bows 4
Daphne-Brown Holly Handgrenades 4
IamNoHere Mistletoe Bows 4
PennedinWhite  Poinsettia Pikes  4
Spixelspixels Holly Handgrenades 3


To submit your critiques for verification:


  1. Write your critique on the deviation and post.
  2. Click the timestamp of the critique you have posted and copy the direct link
  3. Paste the link(s) in the comments of this journal.
  4. You critique will then be verified by the adjudicators and any bonus points (see below) also confirmed.
  5. You may post more than one link at a time.
  6. This page will slow update with a league to see how both teams and individuals are progressing!
  7. Remember, once you hit 12 you are already a winner! 

 

Feeling competitive?

 
Look no further because this year we are trying some extra ways to get points!

The objective is still to give critique, but here are some ways to give your critiques that little extra challenge in exchange for more points!

 :bulletblue: There are 3 categories of challenges: 1. Achieved more than once, 2.Achieved once and 3. Daily challenges.
:bulletblue: Those achieved more than once can be done multiple times and are stacked (as in you can achieve more than 1 in one critique)
:bulletblue: Those achieved once really can only be achieved one.
:bulletblue: The daily challenge will be posted by myself every day of Critmas and you must post a critique on that day to achieve the bonus points.  
:bulletblue: Points earned in the daily challenge will go to your team and individual placement on the league.


Achieved more than once 

  • Critique delivered (1 point)
  • Critique team bonus (your team members)  (1 point)
  • Critique an Enemy (team members of other teams)  (1 point)
  • 5 in a day (5 critiques written and submitted for verification on the same day)  (5 points)
  • 10 in a day (10 critiques written and submitted for verification on the same day)  (5 points)
  • Critique a piece related to your team (ie. a poem about mistletoe) 1
  • Critique a piece that is Christmas themed (NOT winter) 1

Achieved once

  • Critmas Achieved (12 minimum met)  (10 points) 
  •  Super Critmas (25 critiques met)  (5 points)
  • Mega Critmas (50 critiques met)  (5 points)
  • Merry Critmas (100 critiques met) (10 points)
  • Christmas day bonus (write a critique on Christmas day)  (5 points)
  • Happy New Year (write a critique on New Years day) (5 points)
  • Abecedarius! (26 different critiques to 26 deviants beginning with a different letter of the alphabet) (26 points)
  • Duckbutt Bonus (Critique squanpie the amazing artist behind the team imagery)  (5 points)

Daily Challenge
 

Check for the daily update on this journal for the next challenge! (bear in mind the Christmas day will have a small delay as I have children!)

Daily challenges MUST be written on the day of that challenge- if you miss a day you miss the challenge. You can submit it later, but it has to be timestamped to the right day.

  • Challenge day 1 24/12 (5 points)- Christmas Eve- Write a critique as if you were father Christmas! Don't forget to determine if the recipient is naughty or nice! A bonus 5 points will be given to the best Santa.

  • Challenge day 2 25/12 (5 points)- Christmas day- Critique a deviation that has "gift" in the title.

  • Challenge day 3 26/12 (5 points) 3 French Hens! Critique a piece related to France or Chickens!

  • Challenge day 4 27/12 (5 points) Puntastic! Deliver a critique that has at least 5 Christmas related puns in (come on don't be elfish!)

  • Challenge day 5 28/12 (5 points)  Ghost of the Christmas Past- Critique a piece that was created before 2014

  • Challenge day 6 29/12 (5 points) Reflection- Critique yourself! (Yes it counts)

  • Challenge day 7 30/12 (5 points) Ghost of the Christmas Present- critique a piece that was created today (30th  December 2019)

  • Challenge day 8 31/12(5 points) New Years Eve- Involve some form of a countdown in your piece that ends with a celebration. Bonus 5 points for most creatively used.

  • Challenge day 9 (5 points) 01/01 HAPPY NEW YEAR! Lets start with the fact We love a lippogram! Deliver a critique without using the letter E!

  • Challenge day 10 (5 points) 02/01 10 Lords are leaping! Critique a member of dA staff or CV

  • Challenge day 11 (5 points) 03/01 Ghost of the Christmas future- Critique a piece submitted in 2019

  • Challenge day 12 (5 points) 04/01 What is a contest these days without dinosaurs? Reference dinosaurs at least 3 times in your critique!

  • :new: Bonus challenge. Get your Crits out! No more challenges, the bonus is now all about plugging away to get those crits in! Can you help make your team victorious? Look at the gaps in your teams, encoourage your team mates to get to their next milestone (remember you need 12 to win!). This is what critmas is really all about- bring it on!


Go forth, critique and have an amazing Christmas break wherever in the world you are and whatever you are doing! :heart:






CRITMAS 2018

Sat Dec 1, 2018, 9:45 AM
:new: AND WE ARE OFF! Don't worry, you can still sign up now if you are a tad late!


:bulletyellow: Plenty of space for people to sign up- remember as long as you aim for just 12 critiques you are a winner of this challenge!

:bulletyellow: squanpie has created some absolutely beautiful team artwork to represent this years teams. You have permission to use this as your team banner how you see fit (but be sure to credit)! Thank you so much :heart:


Ladies and gents, this is the moment you've waited for...




November, NaNo pfft, that is over! Winter is coming and with it brings a greater show. The armies are rising again!

Those sneaky secret-storing Samurai Snowmen have melted now. Previous winners are just a legendary tale. Four new teams are rising, each fuelled with one desire- To be the best at delivering critique!


Welcome to Critmas 2018!






What is Critmas?


This is a multi formed challenge where the focus is about 2 things. 1. Giving 2. Critique.

The challenge for everyone is to submit at least 12 critiques (that's 1 a day) across the 12 days of Christmas (Dec 24th to Jan 6th). It doesn't matter what the art form is or your style of critique, it is all about giving back in the way most members on here value most; in giving feedback on their work.

The Critmas Story has evolved over the past 8 years and this year, we have another team event. Although individually the only qualification is to submit a minimum of 12 critiques- as a team you are trying to outwit the others to beat them and become the team champions of critique. How you do this is entirely up to how you operate as a team. 

The team element took this up to over 1200 critiques delivered by approximately 40 people last year. There were strategies, support and friendships formed as a result. I don't think I have ever laughed so hard, especially when you had spies, critique "bombs" and artwork to support the event. I want the same this year!



The 2018 Teams


To participate in Critmas, you need to "sign up" and upon being signed up, you will be assigned into one of these teams. What happens next is entirely up to you!

Beautiful artwork provided by squanpie the excellent!




Bullet; RedBullet; RedBullet; Red Holly Hand-grenadesBullet; RedBullet; RedBullet; Red 


Critmashh by BeccaJS
Deck the halls before they deck you! With grenades :stare:

Your team captain is: Meterious

"Book of Critmas Armaments, Chapter 12, Verses 24 to 36: 

And the great Lady Becca did raise her gaze to the heavens and say "Bless this, O Lord DA, that with it thou mayst blow thine Critiqueless enemies to blessed bits, in thy mercy." And the people did rejoice and did feast upon the fine words of praise and constructive comments and thoughtful advice and silly quips and impeccably worded phrases -And once the number twelve, being the number of the counting, be reached, then lobbest thou the Holly Hand Grenade in the direction of thine Critiqueless foe, who, being naughty in Becca's sight, shall be showered in Critmas cheer."


Team members
LiliWrites 
squanpie 
inkstaineddove
Daphne-Brown
arctophily
Rose-Em 


Bullet; WhiteBullet; WhiteBullet; White Mistletoe BowsBullet; WhiteBullet; WhiteBullet; White 

Critmasmb by BeccaJS
Aim for the heart, do not miss, I wouldn't trust the mistletoe's kiss


Your team captain is ThornyEnglishRose

"Noble archers, hold your heads high, for we are proudly skilled in hunting and in battle. Even at long range, we shall find those in need of critique, and to them we shall be the Robin Hood of Critmas. But to our rivals, we Mistletoe Bows signal the kiss of death. Onward now to glory!"

Team members

Bullet; BlueBullet; BlueBullet; Blue Poinsettia Pikes Bullet; BlueBullet; BlueBullet; Blue

Critmaspp by BeccaJS
There's a gift that is made for receiving and then there's a pike for plunging!

Your team captain is PennedinWhite 

"We may be a pretty bunch, but we sting as we slice through the competition. Not afraid of a challenge, we shall rise from the beauty of the art that desires to learn and grow. Our words shall rise above all others in power and numbers. So, my team, grab thy pikes! Prepare to flay in the ultimate rivalry!"


Team members

neurotype-on-discord 


Bullet; GreenBullet; GreenBullet; Green Tannenbaum Trebuchets Bullet; GreenBullet; GreenBullet; Green

Critmastt by BeccaJS
Nordic pines, you better fir them when they fire!


Your team captain is doughboycafe 

"The advent of the trebuchet marked a revolution in warfare, allowing armed forces to overcome long odds and claim hitherto improbable victories. The critiques we reap will be our spoils, and our enemies will find no corner of deviant art to hide from our onslaught. Load your slings, and let fly, and may the bards sing of our victory come Christmas!"

Team members

BATTLEFAIRIES 
xlntwtch 


The Important Information


Please read these bits carefully!

What is in it for me?


Critique is one of those important things we need as artists and writers to develop our technique.  Anyone can give a critique; you just need to be honest and constructive. If you're new to it, this is a great opportunity to give it a go! 

Not sure where to start with giving critique? LiliWrites has compiled an awesome collection of resources to help you with your quest!  

If anything a bit of team building and community spirit is more than welcome and we'd like to get you involved!


Prizes


There will be prizes for the winning team, but also a chance of spot prizes for any participant who writes 12 or more Critiques in accordance with the rules. There is also a chance of being awarded points for completing challenges (see below).

I am collecting a points pool on my page, and the more points the better! Please if you are willing to donate points, or any other quirky prizes (features, critiques, prints etc) let me know and I will add this to the list below!

Points Pool: Total = 14,000

Bullet; Blue 4000 Points from communityrelations 
Bullet; Blue 2500 Points from Zara-Arletis *
Bullet; Blue 2000 Points from BeccaJS 
Bullet; Blue 2000 Points from akrasiel *
Bullet; Blue 2000 Points from LiliWrites 
Bullet; Blue 1000 Points from BlackBowfin *
Bullet; Blue 1000 Points from Memnalar *
Bullet; Blue 600 Points from ThornyEnglishRose *
Bullet; Blue 500 Points from neurotype-on-discord *
Bullet; Blue 155 Points from GrimAlpaca*
Bullet; Blue 100 Points from LadyLincoln *

*points donated via donation pool

Features:

Bullet; Blue 12 x Journal Features from LiliWrites 


Other exciting swag:

Bullet; Blue A copy of the book Sol.Terra Complete Collection by C-A-Harland from LiliWrites 
Bullet; Blue 2 x $15 Amazon gift cards from LiliWrites 



How do I play? 

  • Firstly you sign up and will be assigned at random to one of the 4 teams.
  • From December 24th, we go live for critiques and you can start giving critique. (You can sign up after this date, but obviously less time for critique!)
  • It doesn't matter who you give the critiques to, try to spread the joy to as many different people as possible
  • Please only critique pieces from deviantART posting in the comments of the deviation.
  • Once you have written your minimum 12 critiques, leave a comment in the launch day journal (separate journal on 24th December), linking your critiques for verification.(Click on the time-stamp of your post to get direct comment link).
  • Critiques must have a minimal word-count of 100 words per critique.
  • Past critiques CANNOT be included, only critiques given after and including the 24th December will be accepted.
  • You can pick any art form- not limited to literature.
  • Deadline for submissions: 6th January 2018, by 11:59 PM PST

Bonus Challenge Game!




So this year I am adding an extra challenge! 


Yes! Not only will you be giving critiques, but those critiques come with extra scores depending on how, who, when and what you critique! These challenges will be revealed in the journal on the 24th December as well as some bonus challenges appearing daily so keep your eyes peeled and find ways to achieve more points! :eager:


So who is signing up?



Thank you very much to the following groups for supporting this awesome project*:
:iconcrliterature: :iconthewrittenrevolution: :iconcommunityrelations:

All-The-Colorful-Art
YourLoveForArt
Creators-Guild
Rise-of-the-Artists
All-about-features
OurDreamsWillCome
DeviantsShowcase
devfeatures
Art--is--Love
DevNews
Unknown-Art-Alliance
AllColorsUnited
TandemFeatures
TheArtistLounge
Inspiring-Creation

*Can your group advertise this? Let me know and I'll add your icon to this list!

Thank you and I look forward to lots of you signing up!


:new: December is also time for December Forms Challenge! Check it out!
ProjectDFC: December Form Challenge 2018
It's tiiiiiiiiimmmmeeee....
This is the namesake event of ProjectDFC; the 2018 December Form Challenge is heeeeeerrrreeee!
Hello everyone!  Hi!  OneWithTheStars here and welcome to ProjectDFC's 2018 main event!
I haven't had the pleasure to be around for it during its entirety, however, we have a VERY exciting DFC this year!  We are celebrating the decennial of this absolutely marvelous challenge that has inspired monthly challenges of poetic forms, bringing together fellow poets as we torture challenge ourselves with just a sampling of the many, many poetic forms in existence around the world.  We also have a new contributor; please everyone give a hand in welcoming Amarantheans to our group!  She's a wonderful person I've come to know over the past couple of years and enjoys poetic forms as much as the rest of us.



CRITMAS* 2018 PRE-LAUNCH!

Tue Nov 13, 2018, 1:59 PM
*NO it is NOT a spelling mistake- Critmas means "Critique at Christmas" AKA this awesome event!

:new: Still looking for Captains! Adjudicator positions now all filled! 

It's back!


I can't believe somehow for the 9th year running we are launching Critmas again. The past few years it has just grown and grown and each year the expectation fathoms me- I worry it won't work, but the commitment from the community is just astounding.
 

What is Critmas?


This is a multi formed challenge where the focus is about 2 things. 1. Giving 2. Critique.

The challenge for everyone is to submit at least 12 critiques (that's 1 a day) across the
 12 days of Christmas (Dec 24th to Jan 6th). It doesn't matter what the art form is or your style of critique, it is all about giving back in the way most members on here value most; in giving feedback on their work.

The Critmas Story has evolved over the past 8 years and this year, we have another team event. Although individually the only qualification is to submit a minimum of 12 critiques- as a team you are trying to outwit the others to beat them and become the team champions of critique. How you do this is entirely up to how you operate as a team. 

The team element took this up to over 1200 critiques delivered by approximately 40 people last year. There were strategies, support and friendships formed as a result. I don't think I have ever laughed so hard, especially when you had spies, critique "bombs" and artwork to support the event. I want the same this year!


The Plan!


This year my intent is to not only create the critique element, but the scoring system will be points based. There will be extra challenges and secret missions which will earn you more points. I am still working all this out as it will involve some supportive adjudicators and an excel spreadsheet, but below are the key dates:

:bulletblue: Team Captains in place 17 November 2018
:bulletblue: Adjuicators in place 17 November 2018
:bulletblue: Official launch, Signup, team allocation 30 November 2018 
:bulletblue: 12 days critique event 24 December 2018 06 January 2019
:bulletblue: Event lockdown 06 January 2019
:bulletblue: Results/ prizegiving 12 January 2019 

More information on how everything will work will be in the official launch journal on 30th November.

Help needed


To make a success of Critmas 2018, I need some support. If you can help with any of these, or you are just ready to sign up to play then let me know!

1. Volunteer to be a Team Captain.

I need 4 team captains. You will be in charge of leading your team, encouraging them to participate and generally bringing the energy. How you do this is entirely up to you- last year we had sneaky stash files, helpful critique hints and some crazy plotting going on! I will be providing the captains with a helpful guide too :) Previous experience with Critmas preferred, but not essential. Drop me a note if you are interested!

2. Send points and prizes!

My points donation widget is currently borked, but I need points! Whether you can donate 50 or 5000, each amount is appreciated as it will really help towards how we score this eventually.  Additional spot prizes such as amazon gift cards, subs, features, dA prints, copies of your art, personal made things and random gifts also always welcome!

3. Help promote!

Whether that is status updates, journal posts or actually signing up and participating (I hope you all do even if signing up and aiming for 12 critiques!). If you group can support the event and share with its members. This will be imperative for the launch!

4. Get a launch notification!

If you let me know below that you wish to be noted when the signups start, I will be sending out notes to tell you when that journal is out! This will get you aligned to a team quickly and plotting can begin! :evillaugh:


Until November 30th! :eager:



The Corpses have Risen!

Wed Jul 11, 2018, 2:06 PM
Hello!

Firstly, well done to you crazy cats who participated in the corpse! For those who didn't, don't ignore this journal- come read, share your thoughts and maybe next time sign up!



Bring on the Corpse!*Just 2 days left to sign up!*
Like a Zombie strutting the Thriller dance, a personal favourite of mine is coming back for a new round!

In the past, corpses have been run by Vocableneurotype-on-discord and BeccaJS and this literary exercise is something anyone (including you!) can participate in. It's a bit of fun after all and something to keep us chilled out whilst the creative summer of writing approaches :)
What is an Exquisite Corpse?

Well there is a great little Wikipedia description that features a drawing with boobs, but to take the simple term for this activity, it is a form of writing where people take it in turns to add a line to what eventually forms a full poem. You don't get to see the completed pi
The Corpse Begins!:new: Update 05/07- Two teams are complete- just waiting for Team Beat-it! Cheer them on!
Update 01/07- Almost there guys, poem reveal once each team gets to the end of this round!
Update 24/06
- Team BAD did you want round 3? I'll stop when Thriller and Beat-It have completed 2 rounds! These pieces are... interesting how they are forming so far!
Update 19/06: If the teams continue to move this quickly- I am thinking of creating a ROUND 2- so a second stanza for each teams poem. If you have any feeling about this- agree/disagree/will do whatever, please let me know and I will decide in the next 24 hours!
Oh yes, we have 33 people ready to dance!
Thank you to all your wonderful people who have signed up to your survival! The signups are now closed and we are officially underway for the corpse! (Don't worry, if you have caught this late and ask very nicely, I may squeeze you in somewhere!)
Because we have so many wonderful people, I have s



The three teams have now completed their poems and below is the great reveal of all three! There is some fantastic little groups of lines that work really well together- let's check them out...



Team Thriller


This isn't the first time I cleared the mess
I found your red doll with a button eye loose
Half-blind, she relied on strange means and measures
Her futures weighed on balance scales
Her past silently gazes
As the future looms ahead
There is nothing left to fear
Our direction now is clear,
As the sweet soil beckons us back to bed,
we are thinking still of dancing by mid-summer's setting sun
In the evening hours, we evoke the shadows of the past.

Last night the stars hid away
A billion billion diamond eyes winking
Winking and squinting as if blinded by a thousand suns
She sought the truth on hands and knees; stone and earth, sand and grit.
only lies she found, into the darkness all the way leads
and while light and truth lay behind, her path forged onwards
through the crucible, and into the night
the wolf man continued his harrowing plight
While silent as air, a ghost train derailed
for the last time, forgotten
lost in oblivion forever more.


Team Thriller were: BeccaJS  Memnalar MagicalJoey  squanpie WilhelmTheloniousF GreenBlade16 The-Inkling  Amarantheans  joe-wright JessaMar  Malintra-Shadowmoon  


Team Bad


This isn't the first time I cleared the mess
They were six, three humans, two elves and a puss
They had forgotten about the crows, though.
Eyes a-melting, gibbets threat'ning
The path to my escape gets further away
from me, will I ever see another face
broken mirror - am I not blind now
I took the rock - heavy-weighted - and ruined it.
Breathed in the stale dust of its unmaking
Hallowed halls loomed, murky walls pulsating
the remnant of a living thing, it calls

It calls, like a dusted book, begging to be open
A desperate shrill for salvation
It can only be heard by those with the gift
Open your third eye, and fly, soar
Fear of falling shouldn't hinder you
as you let go; go on
reach out be free now
stretch your wings til they strain, never til they break
there is nothing to prove when already you own the sky.
So turn your gaze away, and conquer the ground
Pound the alarm
--let's shut it down

Let's shut the book now
for the story ends, but
it is never forgotten because
Indelibility is eternal
Tormenting memories rarely fade
Don't let them lead you astray.
for each only our own path is true
head in heart and pinned to the sleeve
Thinking gone by, emotion rules
the mind has prepped its guillotine.


Team Bad were: BeccaJS Mythiril  Yuukon  DC-26 Pack69Alpha Domaex maxnort BlueBlueFox  Zara-Arletis  Teague-Drydan neurotype-on-discord 


Team Beat it


This isn't the first time I cleared the mess
But with luck, it would be the last
She counted her hopes in the stars
and shuddered as her teeth clattered onto the pavement
She lied helplessly as his shadow began to flood her sight
Was it fear she felt, or thrill, or relief, in the face of this heedless creature from the night?
Creature of shadow and starlight, of fire and blood and steel
pale throated victory sleeps slowrising;
wings flutter--a phoenix in a bottle, fire bounded.
fire bursts, new life from the dead spreads
in vast flames on swirling carousel we swoon and burn
praying for strength to make it through the night.

Before I choke on the fumes of smoke
I can only try to flee from the pyre
But the flames, they whisper my name, whisper my name
they dance and stretch like ghosts on the pyre, leaving only scorched bones.
Smoke and ashes curl and twist, a semblence of life born from lifelessness.
Behold! From nothing to something to everything and beyond!
The brindling behemoth thing reckons universal edges
cut tight to the bone; wings flutter
she flies with no feathers, only bones
vulture rattling into the great unknown.


Team Beat-it were: BeccaJS  QuixoticApricot RangerRed09 Zed-of-Venice  fingerrocks crazydave11 SpearHawk philologie  beeswingblue  xlntwtch Aijoku akrasiel


Questions and a Challenge!



Questions:


1. Which team do you think had the best poem?
2. Which lines, or group of lines worked for you?
3. What is your interpretation of each of the poems?
4. What title should each poem have?
5. Have you enjoyed this?


A challenge!


You now have the opportunity to create your own poem based off the back of one or some of these! Whether you create a found poem, take a couple of lines to even edit one of them, please have a go and share your results in the journal comments- remember if you do to credit the original team who wrote your extract- why not even collaborate?


Until next time :salute:

Feeling like you need a new challenge? Check out theWrittenRevolution and their Game of Genres!

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