  Contests & Activities
This week: Edited by: Puditat  
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3. Letter from the Editor
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Writing.com boasts a vast array of contests and activities.
 Crossword Word Search Interactive Story
Madlib Survey Poll
Quiz Campfires In and Outs
These are perfect opportunities to learn a new skill, take a break from work, or inspire a new piece of writing. Whether hosting or participating, having a go at any of these avenues will enhance your experience and increase your presence within the site.
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| ASIN: 0997970618 |
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Amazon's Price: $ 14.99
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Create a Hook
We all should know that a piece of fiction, or any writing, needs to have a great opening sentence, paragraph, and first page -- starting with that information which grabs a reader and will not let them go until they've bought into the tale you've so painstakingly written.
The same is true with a contest or activity. Is there something about the proposed activity that will inspire a person to give it a go? Our writing is creative, and so should anything else we offer up.
Here are some ideas to create a hook for your contest or activity. I am not suggesting you use them all for one thing, but use them as a stepping stone to develop your very own hook.
 Develop a theme.
Several larger events have been run quite successfully where they involve smaller contests with one theme tying them all together. Two that spring immediately to my memory are a pirates theme and an Olympics theme. Any size contest or activity can contain a theme.
Offer unique prizes (not necessarily expensive ones).
These can be pricy, but do not need to be. It may require some time and effort to acquire some willing donors, but please do not spam or harass people looking for handouts. You should be able to foot the largest cost of a contest yourself, but offering prizes from other people (such as reviews, port raids, etc) can help add appeal for a contestant.
Go over ALL the basics before going public.
Are the spelling and grammar correct? Does the piece look good? Dress it up with one or two images, or use WritingML codes. Do not overdo the decoration as your instructions/message might be lost amidst the busyness. Get a friend to proof it.
Make it different.
To make your activity stand out amongst all the others you need to make it different somehow. Prompt contests are very popular, both with hosts and entrants, but why not give it a twist. For example, Holly Jahangiri ran a well-supported contest where the prompts were names of items from her port. That was unique and lots of fun.
Trying to compete with a well-established activity can prove frustrating if yours does not offer a participant something new.
Offer a small token just for participating.
The options are really broad. It could be a signature they can use. eg. "I voted for Jack Sparrow" for a poll on favourite movie characters. This helps publicise your item also. Other rewards may be raffle tickets, Gift Points, reviews, free advertising (for one of their items within your emails/portfolio).
There are many ways to make your item both inviting and exciting. So...take time to think outside the boundaries of what you've seen already...work out the details and whether your idea will be feasible...plan every detail, including support from others if necessary...create a stunning item...and got for it!
Happy fishing!
Puditat
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This week's featured items cover a range of activities. I tried to pick ones I felt were very different for some reason or other. I hope you enjoy.
 I found this quiz difficult, but enlightening and interesting. Some of the answers really suprised me.
A madlib that is well presented with clear and helpful cues. Some of the cues stretch beyond the basics, so you can learn and have fun too.
A creative survey that doubles as a contest. It is amusing and helps get you writing with your funny bone.
A good example of a twist on a common subject. Get a laugh, be creative, and possibly earn a reward. Great fun!
Collaboration works well to create a continual link of ideas in a chain of poetry.
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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!
| ASIN: B00KN0JEYA |
Product Type: Kindle Store
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Amazon's Price: $ 4.99
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It is my privilege to be your guest editor for this issue and I hope you enjoyed my little offering. Don't be shy about sending in feedback. Though I cannot guarantee it will appear in a future issue, I will still see it. Puditat
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| ASIN: B0CJKJMTPD |
Product Type: Kindle Store
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Amazon's Price: $ 4.99
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Contests & Activities: August 01, 2007 Issue [#1856]
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