This week: Reviewing a Contest or Activity Edited by: Leger~  
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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
The purpose of this newsletter is to highlight some of the current contests and activities on the site, help educate members on how to host contests and activities, and provide clues to submit quality entries to contests. Write to me if you'd like something in particular covered.
This week's Contests and Activities Editor
Leger~
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Amazon's Price: $ 4.99
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Reviewing a Contest or Activity
We all search the "Writing Contests @ Writing.Com" listing for prompts or activities that interest us. We scroll over the listing and click on a few that interest us. Have you ever clicked on one and then closed it because the rules were too confusing? Or clicked off of it because you didn't understand the prompt? Did you ever contact that contest/activity owner and tell them?
We all like to be active on the site and at the same time, there are members trying to be active but are struggling to get contestants or participants. Perhaps they're not aware their contest is confusing, or their activity lacks the spark that makes people want to join in the fun. How can you help them? Review their contest or activity. This takes just as much effort as reviewing a static item; you need to take the time to help with spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Beyond that, you also need to give suggestions on how to improve the contest or activity. Is the deadline too short or quick? Does the judge take too long to announce the winners? (I'm of the opinion it should never take longer than a week from closing.) Are some of the rules confusing? Is the drawing date/time not listed?
To be a good contest/activity reviewer, you should be able to examine the item without trying to change the basic structure of that item. In other words, if the theme is about snowy castles, don't try to make it a beach activity. Try to add suggestions to continue the theme or help find ways to make the contest/activity more fun. On top of this, keep in mind your review will go on the reviewers page. This helps promote the item, but as a word of warning, don't turn your review into a roadside carnival barker - just mention the good and the bad and let members click and view. If the activity seems to need a LOT of help, send the review privately and hope the member receives the advice and makes good changes.
And to be really nice, if you find a contest or activity that is well organized and looks fun, review it and then sponsor a bid click ad to help promote it. Often, newbie members use all of their gift points for prizes and don't have a deep enough pocket to promote their cool contest. Give them a hand and sponsor! This is something that only takes a moment if you're short on time, but really helps a new contest or activity. I remember someone sponsored one of my first efforts and I was so thrilled to see it advertised in the Sponsored areas. I really felt like I belonged to the community. I never found out who it was, because bid click is done within each member's account, but I always remembered the kindness.
And perhaps, after reviewing and sponsoring, you'll find the time to enter! There's nothing more exciting than seeing lots of new friends joining in the fun on your page.
This month's question: Do you use bid-click to promote your items? Do you feel it helps? Send in your answer below!  Editors love feedback!
Editor's Picks |
Don't forget September is WDC birthday month - check the forums for fun activities and contests!
Excerpt: Sit a spell, read the posts, ask & answer questions, share your writing and opinion with others. If you'd like something specific to be added to the forum, let me know. Rant if you must. Whatever you need to get off your chest, this is the place to do so. After all, it's a tavern. Grab a cold one, sing a song, talk with the other patrons. Anything that soothes your soul is welcome here.
Excerpt: If you enjoy celebrating things, this forum is for you! We celebrate member’s Anniversary’s year round in this forum by sending them a review during their Anniversary month! Help members celebrate another year of membership by sending them Anniversary Reviews.
Excerpt: You can request a free, in-depth, honest , and supportive review of your short fiction. All of our reviews are public.
Excerpt: Vignettes do not tell complete stories on their own.
Excerpt: The contest is quite simple. I want to hear your dreams. Not just the run of the mill dreams, where you only remember bits and pieces. I want the dreams that have made an impact on your life. The dreams that you remember the most.
Excerpt: As you are inspired, add an 8 line, titled poem to this collection.
(The poem's title doesn't count as one of the 8 lines.)
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This item number is not valid.
#2280262 by Not Available. |
Excerpt: Put on your thinking hat!
Excerpt: ... that's Limericks written a line or two at a time!
Excerpt: With so many members within our community doing wonderful things—giving helpful reviews, writing inspiring stories, upgrading other members, and just being a great friend—there can never be enough thanks given! These Community Notes are a way of saying, "Thank you!"
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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
Don't forget to support our sponsor!
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This month's question: Do you use bid-click to promote your items? Do you feel it helps?
Last month's "Contests & Activities Newsletter (July 5, 2023)" question: What month do you participate most in our community?
kat  : I would have to say that the Writer's cramp and Daily Flash Fiction contests have been my go to activities. I absolutely loved the roots and wings contest and the children's writing contests but those seem to have gone away. I love reading and giving reviews to other people's work when it is something I like but if I don't like it or if I feel that it is not written well I have a hard time expressing that. Therefore I review other people's work sparingly. I look forward to finding more things to participate in on this site.
Annette  : The month that I participate most on Writing.Com changes from year to year. In 2022, I wrote a bundle of new things in January, and then practically nothing for the rest of the year. This year, I started getting active in June. It really depends on the rest of life and my internal desire to write. I hope I can keep my current momentum up through July and maybe the rest of the year.
Elisa: Snowman Stik  : I'd say either February or April. Sadly, it's not (usually) September.
Lilith 🎄 Christmas Cheer  : All of them, lol.
Santeven Quokklaus  : December. Not sure why, but the start of summer and getting to my birthday sees me hot WdC more often.
Blessed Christmouse  : My participation here tends to remain steady throughout the year.
N.A Miller  : all of them too... the best work is during winter though... no sense to go outside in the weather and deal with cold and wet... I seem to do most work during those months...
elephantsealer : I try to participate every month...
Paul  : At 81 pretty much every day is the same and that Carrie’s foreword to weeks, months and years. I’m hoping to see if it Carrie’s foreword to centuries, but I’m preparing for disappointment there. So, being as this is the only social site I visit my participation is constant.
TheBusmanPoet  : Everyday of every month in the newsfeed.
tj-Merry Mischief Maker  : Although I have taken a couple of furloughs in the past few years, I try to stay active in the community throughout the year.
Thanks to everyone for your responses, it's much appreciated! Leger~
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Contests & Activities: August 02, 2023 Issue [#12100]
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