Paige Hawthorne: Blog

The vast SOL infrastructure is riddled with corruption. Except ... not really.

SOL is just a guy, a dedicated guy. And a part-timer to help him out.

Imagine. Somehow keeping this labor-intensive site ticking along, seven days a week, 50-however many weeks there are in a year.

Dedication.

And free to all of us unworthy readers, writers, lurkers, and other deplorables.

Imagine.

Paige

Some well-meaning dimwits have recently, and unaccountably, nominated a few Winter Jennings stories for additional categories in the Clitorides contest. Now it's long been apparent that the SOL establishment - from the Board of Directors to the Executive Committee to the vast management team - has detested the entire Winter oeuvre.

Why? Speculation, but several readers have hinted that the SOL top echelon may well … um, let's just say that there may be significant bank being quietly contributed by certain 'high-score' writers.

In reality, none of my stories is likely to gain ground in the Clitorides horse race. They aren't, comparatively, that good for one thing. And the recent nominations have come late in the game. Too tardy to garner much support.

Not that I pay the slightest attention to reader scores.

Paige

Alarmed readers have alerted me that certain writers - G Younger, Jay Cantrell, Lazlo Zalezac - are galloping ahead of me in the Clitorides rodeo. Not that I pay the slightest attention to reader votes.

Fine. Who cares about a bunch of parvenues anyway? Obviously they are low-talent writers bribing their way to the top.

Still, for the sake of journalistic integrity, let's take an investigative peek at these renegades. Starting with the paltry number of downloads their stories probably generate. Hmm. Well. No need to consider downloads; they aren't that significant, not in the broader scheme of things.

So, reader scores. Um … oh my.

Messers Younger, Cantrell, and Zalezac seem, somehow, to be more talented and more popular than yrs. truly. A lot more. Credit due.

Paige

"The champagne is flat and the caviar has run out - will it never end?" I can sort of identify with that lament from the late, great director. I'm referring, of course, to the Clitorides Awards.

Not that I personally pay the slightest attention to author contests. Not any more than I do to the scores my little stories garner. But a number of readers (okay, one) has informed me that my Clitorides numbers are being overtaken by others.

Of course I, personally, am too busy toiling away on the next Winter opus to notice petty affronts such as that. But ... answer the call to duty. Vote for your favorite stories. No matter who the writer is. Chop chop!

Paige

I get it - you Winter-despisers must be in Full Woody now that the final chapter of "Winter's Secret" has been posted. You're finally rid of me.

Cue Leonard Cohen. "Halleluja".

Public Service Announcement: There is still time to low-vote this story. Not that I pay the slightest attention to reader scores. Oh, and don't forget to vote for other writers in the Clitorides contests. Another way to voice Winter-displeasure.

So, "Winter's Secret" is my chant du cygne. For 2017 anyway.

Well … Holidays ahead - Happy and all that. Cheers!

Paige