Are these questions people have actually asked you on a frequent basis?  No. It should probably be called, “things I think you would want to know, but even if I post them someone is going to ask me anyway. But at least when they do other people can point and laugh and say “It was in the FAQ, didn’t you read it?” 

Will there be pointing and laughing?  Probably. At very least one of those things. 

What is LJ Idol?  LJ Idol is a writing competition that I started back in 2006 combining my love of writing with my love of reality competition shows.  It’s a game. It’s a community. It’s a way of life.  

2006? Seriously? Yes. Seriously. Next year will be our 20th anniversary. 

It’s called LJ Idol but it’s on Dreamwidth. Why?  It started on Livejournal, but like a lot of people, it moved over here during the last big exodus.  At this point LJ Idol is an established name, the brand would stay regardless of where we moved. 

How does this work?  You want to know how regular Idol works? I post a topic and give writers a deadline. They write and post it. I add all of those links to a poll and then people vote. Whoever has the least amount of votes is eliminated. 

“Regular Idol”? Is this not regular Idol?  Oh no. Not even close to “regular Idol” This is a “special event”  . It's absolute chaos. It’s Idol on steroids mated with Calvinball and their kid shot out of a confetti cannon right at your head.   This is THE WHEEL OF CHAOS!

Is there an actual wheel?  Yes. Well, OK, it’s an online “random picker generation”.  I am loading a bunch of topics into one and twists into another.  Every week I will spin both. Whatever it tells me is what is happening that week. 

Is it an actual 7 day week? No. It’s an Idol week. Which is from the moment I post the new topic to the moment the poll closes and someone is eliminated. 

What sort of twists? Veteran players answer - it’s all of your favorites, and least favorites. Some new stuff.  Newbies answer - Anywhere from how the poll is set up, how many people are eliminated to literal “game changing” options that will make you want to rage quit if you don’t decide to just go with it. 

Will there be a “Second Chance Idol” for people previously eliminated to get back into the game  *chuckles* Kind of.  

How long will it last?  Until there are fewer than 4 contestants OR until I decide to pull executive privilege and pull the ripcord to end things.  It could last 1 week, we could be still playing this thing until the 30th anniversary.  I have no idea.   I do WANT to give people time to rest and recover before the big 20th anniversary season next year. So hopefully before that. 

“Am I going to hate it?”  Yes.  You definitely will hate it. But hopefully you will love it more.  I’m telling you at the onset that it’s not going to be regular Idol and that it’s going to be crazy.  Take a box of Captain Crunch “Oops All Berries” and replace it with LJ Idol “Oops, All Twists” and that’s what you are getting yourself into. 

“When is the Sign Up?”  This weekend.  Unless I roll a dice and the fates decide it’s sooner!! 

Until then, ask me more questions then I can add “Questions That Were Actually Asked Once”!!