|
Post by mollyscribbles on Jan 24, 2024 21:01:02 GMT -5
I was hoping to get my Neolodge article done in time to submit for #1000, but doesn't look like I'll make it. Ah, well. At least I don't need to worry about making the wordcount.
|
|
|
Post by Twillie on Jan 26, 2024 9:29:42 GMT -5
We got an update from Tori, one of the community ambassadors, on the neoboards regarding neomails for this issue: Here’s a similar message from her on the r/Neopets discord: It sounds like it’ll be a surprise who all got in this time, so in case you were still checking, no need to keep an eye out for a neomail now!
|
|
|
Post by Stella on Jan 26, 2024 10:05:14 GMT -5
Oh wow, thank you for the update, Twillie . I wonder why they did that!
|
|
|
Post by Huntress on Jan 26, 2024 10:45:14 GMT -5
Huh, that's certainly a choice. Can't help but wonder if they're trying to minimize related drama with this - we all know that the whole "who gets in, who doesn't get in, which entry deserved it more and which didn't, flurry of desperate last-minute resubmissions aaaa" tends to make things sour for special issues. There'd still be the same sour, but less pre-release bargaining and maybe the excitement for the issue overshadows the Feelings somewhat.
I'm only hoping that it won't be (too) delayed this time around. Normally I see the new NT when I wake up on Saturday morning. Been trying not to get too terribly invested in this one because I really don't need my sleep messed up any more than my current coughing fits already do x'D
|
|
|
Post by Breakingchains on Jan 26, 2024 14:34:00 GMT -5
Oh interesting.
God I'm gonna be holding my breath when that issue drops. xD; I'm losin my miiiiiiind y'all
EDIT: Ouch. To miss issue 1k of all things.
Ah well. It's my fault for submitting so late in the game. ;_; Congrats to those of you who made it in!
|
|
|
Post by downrightdude on Jan 26, 2024 17:19:31 GMT -5
Something Has Happened! You are now eligible to use 'Neopian 1k Edition' as an avatar on the NeoBoards!
Check the NT today to get a NEW AVVIE!
|
|
|
Post by Duke Pikachu on Jan 26, 2024 19:31:43 GMT -5
*Sigh* I didn't get in. Guess I went too zealous? I'll wait till the next Anniversary issue and rewrite my article, excluding a lot of things I included just for the 1000th issue. Though, if you'll let me rant: I COULD have rewritten my article and resubmitted it in time if they SENT ME A REJECTION LETTER!
"Hey, your article is a bit too ambitious, but we get this is a big anniversary issue so we're going to give writers some time to rewrite their articles to be more tame. Here's a tip: Treat this NT like any other issue so write your article as you would for any other issue."
But no, instead to "surprise" us, they didn't inform anyone who got accepted or notably rejected. And while it's nice this issue came out "on time", I wouldn't mind to have waited another week to allow for rewrites.
But of course that would to mean TJST would have feel the same way as we do. And they don't. They don't care this is issue 1000. They don't care how big of a milestone this is. Old TNT would likely very much cared as they would have been for the entire run. But no, TJST took over the NT when like, what, 3/4s of it had already been published? They didn't start it, they simply adopted and kept it going; nothing more, nothing less. Now it's only something that's special to the users as many of us have been here longer, some much longer, than TJST so we have that "been there since the beginning" feeling with it. But I guess for TJST that's just not enough for them.
I'll interrupt my rant to give them some praise. Nice that they both made a new Avatar and Site Theme, and it's especially nice to hear they're now going to start awarding prizes for every submission and not just on special issues! So that & the items they made are nice.
Thanks for listing for my rant. After this I'm not going to be sour about it, no point, but at least now I know how TJST truly feels about this stuff. Next time something like this happens: I'll ask myself this: Was TJST involved with it? If so, maybe they care. If not, they don't care so don't put a lot of effort into it; it'll just go to waste.
|
|
|
Post by Twillie on Jan 26, 2024 20:43:54 GMT -5
Who or what exactly is TJST?
It is disappointing not to get into Issue 1000, and I sympathize with that and honestly think they should have published more submissions than they did. It's not fair though to say that the current staff simply don't care at all. TNT has been through several iterations, and the Times has evolved many times along the way, so I don't think there's a clear delineation of "Old TNT that cared" and "New TNT that's just doing business." A number of the staffers have also had a history with Neopets before joining TNT, so we can't say for sure their personal feelings on the matter.
Truth of the matter is that there's good and bad that comes with Issue 1000 like any other milestone, and the fact that they released a new avatar, site theme, NT related wearables, etc. shows that they put in some level of effort and care. It's alright to grieve what didn't make it in or critique what we didn't like about Issue 1000's publishing process, but I do ask that we refrain from personal attacks or speculation on others' feelings or levels of caring.
|
|
|
Post by Duke Pikachu on Jan 26, 2024 21:01:22 GMT -5
Who or what exactly is TJST? TJST = The JumpStart Team. Thinking more about it, I think not sending out at least Rejection Letters was a bad idea. The problem of wanting to make "who got in" a surprise has an opposite effect on those who don't get in. For those who got in, they open the issue up and they get a shower of confetti. For those who didn't, they open the issue up and get a punch in the face. I get wanting to go with the surprise factor, and there is way to do it without remaining completely silent. Before the issue is released send out two kind neomails: "Rejections" and "In Considerations". "Rejections" are obvious, your submission has been rejected, while it's disappointing to see it at least lets those people know not to look hopefully for their entry and be more massively disappointed if they don't see it. Meanwhile, the "In Considerations" would simply say those who received it that their entry is being considered for the NT issue; in truth everyone who receives those neomails have been accepted. Thus, they who the "surprise" is for, still get that excited surprise feeling as the NM made them think there was still a chance they weren't accepted, but with the benefit that no on is left disappointed.
|
|
|
Post by Twillie on Jan 26, 2024 21:36:57 GMT -5
Jumpstart no longer exists, and a number of current staff members weren't around during Jumpstart's ownership of Neopets, including the current NT Editor (Adler), I believe.
I think no matter what people would have ended up disappointed, and the method they chose just delayed the reaction. It was the same as a regular issue in that no rejections were sent out, as nowadays you never find out if you've been rejected until the next issue has already been published. Not sure if I think the delayed neomails this time were better or worse than what we usually get, although I do truly hope they don't make a habit of this. Of all the things the Times needs, more ambiguity is not one of them xD;
|
|
|
Post by Stephanie (swordlilly) on Jan 26, 2024 23:52:50 GMT -5
This was so sweet of them to do! It recognizes that the NT is a large community that includes casual readers, not just the handful of people who get picked. <3 Edit: Omgggg there are new handheld newspaper and writing quill items too! And a desk!!!! Can they re-release the Neopian Times Background too though please
|
|
|
Post by downrightdude on Jan 27, 2024 0:58:20 GMT -5
If there's one good thing that came out of this, it's the urge I'm feeling to work on a new series of series! I've bene in a slump for too long, and need to reclaim my title as Queen of the NT! Plus a short story about me getting rejected and wailing about Issue 1000. The Snaw loves being dramatically beautiful.
|
|
|
Post by Huntress on Jan 27, 2024 7:39:53 GMT -5
I'm honestly pretty heartened by this new notion of a prize pool, because this tells me that the NT is now being put on par with the other creative competitions (Art Gallery, Storytelling, Poetry et al). Meaning that they see it as a site feature worth keeping around and developing. I was really happy to see NT-themed wearables and other new items for the same reason - it shows that the NT is important enough to them to build up into an event like this. Issue 1000 kind of struck me as pretty small but also super tight - comics with copy-and-pasted site art or quick generated word puzzles no longer seem to be a thing, for instance. Their use of feedback neomails has been An Big Heck and in constant flux since after Droplet, anyway x'D If the entries get cleared after every issue and acceptances get finalized maybe a few days before the issue comes out then there's very little point in even sending any neomails. Originally, they were used to sort people into a shortlist or to tell them why the entry wasn't up for the shortlist, but without an actual shortlist it's just excess work. If there's one good thing that came out of this, it's the urge I'm feeling to work on a new series of series! I've bene in a slump for too long, and need to reclaim my title as Queen of the NT! SAME tho, I've been sitting on top of an unfinished series since 2018 and I promised to myself that I wouldn't make any more comics until I get that thing done and submitted @n@ I either do things on a burst of enthusiasm or I don't get them done for yeeeears. should probably go dump it in work reviews and drum up some thoughts.
|
|
|
Post by Christos on Jan 27, 2024 12:31:36 GMT -5
Looking forward to some retroactive prizes being awarded
|
|
|
Post by Stephanie (swordlilly) on Jan 27, 2024 13:39:24 GMT -5
I just got caught up on the news that the NT will start awarding prizes for regular issues now. That's huge o: That means there won't be such a mad rush to get into special issues anymore. If someone is in need of a couple million NP to be able to afford their next in-game goal, missing out on a Neopian Times Coin wouldn't be so deeply upsetting. They would still have a chance to earn something with the next regular issue, and the next.
I looked through some of this issue this morning and I agree, it seems tight - certainly more thoughtfully put-together than the last milestone issue. While I wish it was bigger - and know several people who had hoped to get in but didn't - the entries that did get in are not disappointing to look at.
Will post some reviews later!! <3
|
|