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Printed from https://writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/12070
Contests & Activities: July 19, 2023 Issue [#12070]




 This week: Point of No Return
  Edited by: Annette Author IconMail Icon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

Where are all the contests and activities?

Here: "Writing Contests @ Writing.Com" Open in new Window. and "Activities @ Writing.Com" Open in new Window.


Word from our sponsor

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Letter from the editor

Point of No Return


This month of July, we have reached the point of no return. Not that anyone could ever turn back time and get a do-over.

What is really going on is that you had plans for this year. Some of those plans involved writing. Now that we are past the half-way point in 2023, it's time to take stock of your accomplishments so far. Which contests did you plan to enter? How many of those have you entered? Is there any activity that you meant to take part in but ended up not doing (until now)?

There is still time. Whatever your lofty writing, reviewing, creating, and reading goals were: get going. Every day is a new first day to start. Until recently, I thought I wasn't going to write anything creatively this year. Then "Flights of Fantasy Group" Open in new Window. opened up. While I am not doing every single thing that is being offered, this one group has gotten me to do a whole lot more than the rest of the year before.

If Fantasy isn't your thing, search around on the Groups  Open in new Window. page for an active group that helps you to work on your favorite genre writing. The reason checking out groups is a good idea is because some forums are only available to group members. Group pages will tell you what the group is about and how to join - and what is expected of you as a member.

The Forums  Open in new Window. page is a perfect place to see open and active forums. There are many that don't require group membership. All you have to do is jump in --- but read the rules first. Those are there to help everyone get the most out of an activity or contest.

This month is also a big month of fundraisers. If you're into collecting exclusive merit badges, you owe it to yourself to check out some of these places where badges are sold or raffled off: "Invalid Item" Open in new Window. "Flights of Fantasy Auction and Raffle" Open in new Window. "Merit Badge Exchange" Open in new Window. "Invalid Item" Open in new Window. "Welcome! My 22 Anniversary At WDC! " Open in new Window.

What have you got to show for?




Editor's Picks

Image Protector
FORUM
Fabulous Fantasy Contest  Open in new Window. (18+)
A fantasy short story and poetry contest. CLOSED
#2125220 by A E Willcox Author IconMail Icon

 
Image Protector
SURVEY
Rhythms & Writing: Official WDC Contest Open in new Window. (E)
Use the music provided to inspire your writing!
#2002964 by Writing.Com Support Author IconMail Icon

Image Protector
FORUM
Out of The Fog Contest-Opens Dec. '24! Open in new Window. (E)
A contest that comes out of the fog now & then, as if in a dream.
#2002225 by 👼intuey Author IconMail Icon

Image Protector
FORUM
Gangsta's Paradise Contest Open in new Window. (18+)
The low down and dirty story paradise ~ CLOSED
#1080342 by Creeper Of The Realm Author IconMail Icon

Image Protector
FORUM
Tales Shown, Not Told Discussion Forum Open in new Window. (18+)
A short story contest with a focus on showing, not telling.
#2295490 by Max Griffin 🏳️‍🌈 Author IconMail Icon

Image Protector
FORUM
Long, Long, Long Open in new Window. (18+)
Prompt-free contest for stories of the lengthier variety. New round May 2024!
#1782293 by Elisa: Snowman Stik Author IconMail Icon

Image Protector
FORUM
Random Rosy Raffle  Open in new Window. (E)
Deadline September 7, 2024 CLOSED
#2299064 by WakeUpAndLive Author IconMail Icon

Image Protector
FORUM
Tour de Ports Open in new Window. (13+)
Come join this month-long review raid across all port colors! Exclusive MBs & gift points!
#2298873 by . . . Jeremy Author IconMail Icon

Image Protector
SURVEY
ADOPT A MONSTER! Open in new Window. (13+)
Calling all Momsters and Popsters . . . loving monsters need homes! Adopt one today!
#2295027 by . . . Jeremy Author IconMail Icon

Image Protector
FORUM
The Tavern ~ Sit for a while and chat Open in new Window. (18+)
Feel free to share your opinion, ask questions, post your writing to get more attention.
#2295582 by Creeper Of The Realm Author IconMail Icon

Image Protector
FORUM
The Bard's Hall Contest Open in new Window. (13+)
DECEMBER is HOLIDAY RUSH: Shape Poetry Prompt!
#981150 by StephBee Author IconMail Icon

 
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Word from Writing.Com

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Ask & Answer

Replies to my last Contests & Activities newsletter "Motivation" Open in new Window. that asked How do you motivate yourself to enter contests?

Dave Ryan Author Icon wrote: Hi,
Re your motivation question - I don't really motivate myself as such. I just find myself occasionally having a go at a competition when I need to take a break from working on something else. There are about half-a-dozen competitions I keep an an eye on, just in case the prompt for the day/week/month looks promising. These tend to have a tight limit - 500-1000 words for prose or ~40 lines for poetry - so that it's not a huge investment of time to have a go.

That's a great way to work on your own projects while still taking part in the comradery of contests.

Beholden Author Icon wrote: How do you motivate myself to enter contests? That's easy - survival. It's all about those gift points. But that's not all I gain from contests. They also provide me with plenty of practice and we all know that practice makes not perfect, but better.

True words!

Creeper Of The Realm Author Icon wrote: There are times where I'll enter a contest without a full on inspiration but rather use it as a decent try at a new genre or something I'm having a very hard time writing. I never look at the incentive. It's either the inspiration I get from the contest or the subject/genre itself that will make me write. It doesn't always produce the best possible writing, but sometimes, writing anything is better than writing nothing.

I can't agree more.

Elisa: Snowman Stik Author Icon wrote: I must admit I'm too busy running my own contests to enter any myself. (I mean, aside from playing along in my journaling contest for funsies.) Plus admittedly I haven't really found anything that's prompt-free that I can really work with. Given how much stuff I do outside of WDC, I admit I haven't looked at this as closely as I maybe should.

You are so right that most contests have prompts. If you're willing to write in a given genre, but have the choice of choosing your own prompt, go check out "Fabulous Fantasy Contest " Open in new Window.. It has an open prompt option.

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