[W.F. Lantry]

Chris,

If you're in Delaware, I'm guessing we're talking midnight eastern daylight time? Or is it midnight PDT, in honor of our friends on the west coast?

Just checking,

Thanks,

Bill

[Chris Childers]

Err, well, maybe I should have specified, but it doesn't seem to have ended up mattering. At 6:35 EST Thursday morning, entries are now closed. Decision time!

Chris

[Roger Slater]

Chris, would you mind privately informing those whose translations you have chosen? In past bake-offs, we learn if we have been chosen only upon seeing our poem be posted, or upon seeing the twelfth poem get posted without ours having appeared. Unless there's a reason not to that I'm overlooking, I'd prefer, for no good reason, knowing when we get started whether I'll be up or not. It's up to you, of course.

[David Rosenthal]

Originally Posted by Roger Slater

Chris, would you mind privately informing those whose translations you have chosen? In past bake-offs, we learn if we have been chosen only upon seeing our poem be posted, or upon seeing the twelfth poem get posted without ours having appeared. Unless there's a reason not to that I'm overlooking, I'd prefer, for no good reason, knowing when we get started whether I'll be up or not. It's up to you, of course.

I disagree. I enjoy the anticipation as each poem or pair of poems is rolled out. I wouldn't want to know ahead of time.

David R.

[Chris Childers]

Other thoughts on this?

[E. Shaun Russell]

Well, not telling the participants may boost readership. More people might tune in just to see if their poem was selected to be critiqued.

[Roger Slater]

But if I know in advance that my translation will eventually be posted, I can make snarky criticisms of everyone else's work in order to influence the vote. Or maybe I can make overgenerous comments about everyone else's work to try to set the tone for my own work.

Seriously, I'd prefer knowing. I also learned the gender of my child before he was born, though others prefer waiting until puberty.

No biggie, Chris. Whatever you decide.

[Terese Coe]

I'd prefer knowing in advance, by email. If we're required to keep it confidential, that's fine.

An awful lot of waiting goes on in this po biz—more than enough already!

[Mark Allinson]

I agree with Bob and Terese - I can't see any harm in advising all submitters if their translations have gone forward, or not.

[David Rosenthal]

Originally Posted by Mark Allinson

I agree with Bob and Terese - I can't see any harm in advising all submitters if their translations have gone forward, or not.

Except if some of them didn't want to know ahead of time! I am sorry if this sounds like an overreaction, Mark, but that comment seemed a bit dismissive of my earlier post, along the lines of, "I can't see any harm in spoiling David's enjoyment."

Anyway, like I said, I think some of the fun is in watching to see if I made it or not. If I made it and was that would be spoiled; if I didn't make, and I knew that everyone who did was notified, I'd know I didn't make and the fun would be spoiled anyway. Maybe if submitters indicated whether or not they wanted early notification when they submitted, that would solve it in the future, but now...?

Having said that, it really isn't that big of a deal, and I seem to be the only one feeling this way, so I'll go along with whatever you decide Chris.

David R.