This week: A Contest Primer Edited by: JACE  
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Contests and Activities fall under the umbrella of Writing.Com Community pursuits that are often hosted or maintained by WDC members.
I'm JACE , and I'm your guest editor for this week's Contest & Activities newsletter. This week I'd like to talk about the ins and outs of hosting a contest. For more information on the different kinds of activities found on WDC, check out "Community Activities" .
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Have you ever thought about running a contest on WDC?
Perhaps you have a passion for a certain subject and would like to explore that further involving other members. Perhaps you have an idea for a contest that is unique--one that you've not seen on site. Or, perhaps you'd like to step out of your comfort zone and try something new.
Running a contest is not for the faint-hearted. You'll need some organizational skills to ensure your contest is not only run well and efficiently but also esthetically pleasing to view. And you need the intestinal fortitude to follow through with the many aspects of your contest.
Hosting an activity (such as an auction or fundraiser) or a contest can be as rewarding to the host as to its participants. Over my 13-plus years here I've hosted several successful auctions, five or six different contests, and judged many more contests (both official WDC and member-run) and review competitions. I not only enjoyed myself while doing so, but I learned many things in the process.
My point today is to give you some points to think about when planning a contest. Specifics of how to use WritingML or the exact order of things to include, for example, are beyond the scope of this newsletter. Contests are best run using the Message Forum feature. Use of the forum requires a Basic or above membership. That's not to say running a contest can't be done using another feature--an In and Out, for example. But a forum is much easier.
So, how does one create and run a contest? Here are some suggested considerations:
 Create a Message Forum. For specific guidelines on creating the forum, look at "Create/Edit a Message Forum" .
 Decide on the theme of your contest. Pick a subject that interests you (obviously). Or, a group might sponsor your contest, which provides some distinct advantages over trying to create, publicize and maintain the contest yourself.
 Identify the contest rules:
Who is allowed to enter (everyone, group members only, etc.)?
What is the frequency of entries (weekly, monthly, etc.)?
How long does the contest run, including the deadline?
Are there size restrictions (word count, number of lines, etc.).
What is the prompt?
Will entries receive a review?
What are the prizes, including any special conditions for awarding prizes?
 Layout/formatting considerations:
Choose a cover that reflects your theme.
Identify any images needed to enhance the layout.
Select a color scheme for any text.
Use WritingML as needed to make the contest layout aesthetically pleasing. You can find support documentation for WritingML under Writing.Com Tools in the Navigation Menu.
 Other considerations:
How will you fund the contest?
How will you publicize the contest?
Check your contest forum regularly to answer questions and codify entries.
Judge entries promptly after the deadline and notify winners via the forum and email.
Obviously, creating and hosting a contest can be as complicated or as simple as you can make it. Check out a number of contests for ideas regarding layout, formatting and rules. There's no sense re-inventing the wheel.
I hope you'll consider hosting a contest ... or at the very least, becoming a judge to support an existing contest. I know you'll be rewarded.
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Check out some of these contest forums. What do you like ... or not like about their content, formatting and appearance? Do they entice your participation? Consider doing a review of one or more contests detailing your likes or concerns about their layout.
You can find Contest and Activity listings under the Community tab in the Navigation Menu.
The Forum for this long-running (more than 16 years) contest is short, sweet and to the point.
This is a new, soon-to-open contest dedicated to the art and craft of fiction. The layout may still be in flux.
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Some contests are sponsored by specific groups with entry content focusing on that particular genre.
Other contests pay homage to specific segments of society, such as Veterans.
One of the oldest contests on WDC, this one is a daily contest. As such, this contest requires constant supervision.
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Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
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As a first-time editor of the Contest & Activity newsletter, I have no feedback to include here. But, please feel free to comment of this newsletter. I'll be happy to respond, even if to individual email.
Now go and enter the contest of your choice. And best of luck to you. |
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Contests & Activities: May 19, 2021 Issue [#10772]
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