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Printed from https://writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/12808-Making-Deadlines.html
Contests & Activities: October 23, 2024 Issue [#12808]




 This week: Making Deadlines
  Edited by: Leger~ 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

This newsletter aims 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~ Author Icon


Word from our sponsor



Letter from the editor


Making Deadlines


Most contests have deadlines. The question is, how do you handle your deadlines? You definitely want to have your entries in by the due date. As a contest owner, you want your entries in on time and within the rules set in the contest. As an entrant, you want your entry to be in on time so it is not disqualified.

Is it good or bad to enter early? I feel it's good to enter early, but only if your entry has been edited to perfection. Contest judges often start reading entries early, especially if a lot of people enter. The advantage is a judge most likely takes a little more time reading an early entry. After twenty or so, it is hard to focus on the story if many of them are common themes.

How do you make your story stand out from the others? The first would be to think outside the box. In other words, if the prompt is a picture of a train or the text is "train", use the prompt in a unique way. Don't take the picture and merely have your character on a train, or looking at a picture of a train. If the genre is open for interpretation, you could write a science fiction story with time travel. All the story requires is a train, don't make it all about the train.

The other thing to consider is the contest itself. Are you linking the contest in your item? Are you helping promote the contest for more exposure? It's good etiquette to congratulate the winners when the judging is complete. If you're in a contest that is held regularly, it's nice to welcome them to the contest by email or IM. (Some forums don't want OT or off-topic messages.)

The last thing I want to mention is our smartphones and all the different apps available to us. Use your calendar, use your reminders. With the busy holiday seasons coming up, they can be an invaluable tool when business and family distract your mind from your writing. As always, Write On!

This month's question: What are your suggestions for helping members meet deadlines? Send in your answer below! *Down* Editors love feedback!


Editor's Picks

WDC October Site Contest
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Short Shots: Official WDC Contest Open in new Window. (ASR)
Use the photo to inspire your creativity. Write a short story and win big prizes!
#1221635 by Writing.Com Support Author IconMail Icon

The task is simple: Write a short story using the image prompt as inspiration!/i}

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The Prompt Me Contest Open in new Window. (13+)
Weekly winners will have a chance to win the monthly MB give-away!
#2000519 by Cubby Author IconMail Icon

Week 5: Oct. 27 - Nov. 2: *HAND1* Include the word HANDPRINT (two sentence limit)

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Tales of Seduction ~ Oct. Round OPEN Open in new Window. (18+)
Nov Prompt: Power Outage
#1702029 by Purple Holiday Givings Author IconMail Icon

October Prompt - Costume Party
It's Halloween! Singles at a Costume Party work to gain each other's attention.
Who's hot? Who's not? Mingle. Make it Sexy, Flirty, Fun! Good Luck!


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The Grim Reaper Contest - Closed  Open in new Window. (13+)
This is a Horror Flash Fiction Contest. See you in October 2025!
#2046245 by Fictiøn Ðiva the Wørd Weava Author IconMail Icon

There are no Horror Photo Prompt and no Horror Subgenre Prompt this October.
I can't wait to read your creepy, spooky, unsettling Horror Flash Fiction!


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The Science Fiction Short Story Contest Open in new Window. (18+)
A contest inspired by the serious need for more good sci-fi
#2140378 by BlackAdder Author IconMail Icon

Welcome to the October edition of the Science Fiction Short Story Contest! In honor of the coming Holiday of Halloween, I'm asking for scary stories of when technology goes wrong. Whether it's as down-to-earth as a virus in your computer replacing the words in your Final Exam Essay with lyrics from Taylor Swift, or as gruesome as Stephen King's "Maximum Overdrive," I'm looking to hear your stories of trusted technology gone wrong. Any entry from the painfully comical to the deadly serious will be accepted, so long as it roughly fits the theme and falls between about 500 and 2000 words.

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Hook of the Book Open in new Window. (18+)
Can you write the most engaging opening sentence for a story?
#2293351 by . . . Jeremy Author IconMail Icon

And that's your challenge: write the most engaging opening line(s) of a story inspired by the picture prompt shown.

 
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Grill a Christian Open in new Window. (13+)
A writing contest exploring life, the universe, and God. Christian moderation-all welcome.
#2327636 by LightinMind Author IconMail Icon

OCTOBER PROMPT: What does it mean to you to say that God exists or does not exist?

 
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Stephen King Books  Open in new Window. (ASR)
There is something under your bed. Find Twenty Five Books King wrote.
#2328854 by Spooky, Cute & staiNed Author IconMail Icon

Who doesn't love Stephen King?

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NaNoWriMo Write-A-Thon Open in new Window. (ASR)
A NaNoWriMo fundraiser... compete as a NaNo writer or donate by sponsoring one!
#1546312 by Jeff Author IconMail Icon

Welcome to the 16th Annual NaNoWriMo Write-A-Thon, the activity where you can compete in NaNoWriMo and raise GPs for some great Writing.com causes at the same time!

 
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GET THE PICTURE ?  Open in new Window. (13+)
Writing Activity, No Competition - image-based prompts!
#2327233 by Solace.Bring Author IconMail Icon

Here's a place to share CONCISE, INSIGHTFUL, ENTERTAINING impressions!


 
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Ask & Answer


This month's question: What are your suggestions for helping members meet deadlines? Send in your answer below! *Down* Editors love feedback!

Last month's "Contests & Activities Newsletter (September 25, 2024)Open in new Window. question: What is your go-to activity when you only have a little time?


Massive Friendly Derg Author Icon: Depends on how little the time is. Sometimes I daydream being a massive derg and sometimes if I feel inspired I write a WDC item or post on the Newsfeed.

ruwth Author Icon: "The Prompt Me ContestOpen in new Window. [13+]

THANKFUL SONALI Library Class! Author Icon: 1. Sticking stamps or address labels
2. WDC (because I usually need a lot of time here)

Stargazer ~ DavidtheDreamer Author Icon: "Haiku 0112Open in new Window. [E]

JMariah Author Icon: I answer emails.
The only problem with that is that some challenge catches my eye. And before I know it the hands of the clock have spun several times; I'm late for an appointment, or food is burning.

Carycomic Author Icon: Finding the cheapest movie on PPV On Demand and fast-forwarding to the scene I want to watch most.

It's what I like to refer to as "Transcendental Vegetation." TV, for short. *Wink*

TheBusmanPoet Author Icon: Chilling out listening to music.

s Author Icon: On WdC? Small Talk "SMALL TALK Open in new Window. [13+]
In life? I write.

ruwth Author Icon: This is my go-to activity when I am short on time or energy: "The Prompt Me ContestOpen in new Window. [13+]
"TrinketsOpen in new Window. [E]
Kile Johnson Author Icon: Writing.

Jaycin Alexis Author Icon: It kind of depends on where I am and how little my time is. But probably it'd be doomscrolling.

HollisFrances Author Icon:
exercise! I love those endorphins.

What are endorphins? Endorphins are chemicals (hormones) your body releases when it feels pain or stress. They're released during pleasurable activities such as exercise, massage, eating and sex too. Endorphins help relieve pain, reduce stress and improve your sense of well-being.

Tannus Author Icon: I am digging a hole in my back yard. I'm down about 700 feet. Do you known how hard it is to get dirt up to the top when I'm down there? Thankfully, I haven't hit any water. Found some interesting creatures. Moles aren't to bad, but it's the bigger ones at 550 feet! *Scared*

jackson Author Icon: Relaxing

Bob Author Icon: For old men like myself it's usually prayer.

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