  Contests & Activities
This week: Edited by: Puditat  
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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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Product Type: Kindle Store
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Amazon's Price: $ 4.99
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SOS for Activities
There is nothing so disappointing as when your inspiration falls flat. I've been there. You think you have a really cool idea, but when you put that idea into practice and open it to the public arena, it seems like no one else thought your idea was that great.
Whether it be a contest or a campfire, there is the potential for any activity to fail on take-off. Or perhaps it hits with a bang, but soon fizzles into obscurity. I want to first look at some reasons why an activity might fail.
Reasons for lack of success:
~ Lack of originality
~ Lack of research
~ Insufficient reward for the effort required from participants
~ Too high a cost for participation (such as an elevated entrance fee)
~ Poor presentation, including bad spelling and grammar
~ Advertising: not enough or none at all
~ Lack of a goal or purpose
~ A timeframe that is too long or too short
~ The activity is too complex, or too simple i.e. not challenging enough
~ Targeting the wrong audience who might be interested in the activity
~ Ill-timed - i.e. it is on at the same time as a major, well-known activity that draws people's time and attention from your idea, or seasonal periods where there is less activity (for example: NaNoWriMo, Christmas Day)
~ Lack of your presence on the site.
~ Fundraising is for unknown or unspecified recipients (contests run solely to raise funds for the operator are less popular)
~ Lack of clarity in the activity instructions or awarding of prizes.
~ Wrong format chosen for the activity.
There will be many other possibilities why something doesn't do well, but these are some key factors. So, what does one do if the project flutters like a butterfly with a broken wing when you want to see it glide the skies like a proud falcon? You could take everything from the list above and do the opposite. Increase prizes if necessary, extend time frames (or shorten), etc. A few other points are elaborated on below.
Remedial action:
~ If people have already participated, fully inform these people of any change you make to the rules or running of the activity and give them a chance to drop out if they desire. This may seem to go against the goal, but it is a necessary act of courtesy.
~ Find some trusted friends who can give you an honest opinion about the idea and its set-up. I recommend making an item private and using a passkey before opening any activity to site members.
~ Spend extra time on presentation and get it right. A well-placed graphic, or controlled use of WDC emoticons gives a much more appealing and professional appearance. If the item looks well-managed people will trust the activity more easily. If necessary (and no one has already participated), take the item down from the public eye and work on it until it is as good as you can make it, then re-release.
~ Enlist the help of others. Guest judges can relieve any issues with perceptions of bias or unfairness.
~ Be realistic with what time frames you have and what you can achieve. Do not offer prizes which you can not deliver on. Make sure the schedule of the activity is capable of being worked in with your life off-line.
~ Be active within the activity yourself. For the most part you will need to at least check in daily. Answers questions promptly, advertise, offer advice and encouragement, send out reminders or make amendments (these will depend on what sort of activity you are running). If you offered a reward just for a person participating, make sure it is given out at the correct time according the the statements made in the rules.
Cancellation:
Sometimes things just get to a point where they are unrecoverable. We may even find that we've lost interest ourselves or have become incapable of fulfilling the activity's requirements. This is ok. It happens and is not the end of the world. As with life, not everything we do is going to go well. So if cancellation becomes the inevitable option you must take...do it, but do it carefully. This in itself would make a separate newsletter topic. So here are just a few basics:
~ Refund any entry fees paid or donations made to the activity!
~ Explain to all participants if there are any. You don't need to go into personal details, but apologise and thank them. Award prizes (possibly reduced) or at least some Gift Points as a gesture of thanks to those people. The amount and extent of this will depend on how many participated, and how much of the original time frame was fulfilled. Writing safeguards into the rules at the launch of an activity can eliminate hassles at this stage.
~ I recommend not deleting the item, at least not right away. Close the activity and even make it private, but leave it a while before deleting. This enables a transparency of what happened to it for anyone that might be concerned. It also gives you an opportunity to reinvent it if you so choose.
I hope this has given you some encouragement. At times it is better to call it quits on an activity not living up to expectations, but usually we can revive with a little careful planning and amendment. Sometimes in the search for originality we can strike an idea which is just not appealing for many people, but could just as easily be the hottest new car at the parking lot. Don't be afraid to try. Just be diligent, honest, and realistic. Most of all, have fun!
Puditat
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I looked for items that caught my eye for one reason or another. Maybe it was the item's originality, or it could have been because it is well-structured, or has an excellent presentation. I hope you enjoy the selection.
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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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Feedback from my guest editorial on 1st August:
 Great tips on how to host a winning activity! I've found that originality is key. Even if you offer spectacular prizes, no one will enter if the contest does not spark their interest.
Starr Phenix 
Originality could be a writer's middle name. We are in the mindset of creating original stories and so we demand that freshness from many areas of life. Thank you for the supportive feedback! 
Wonderful newsletter, Puditat. Great suggestions for creating a contest!
darkin
Thank you! 
Loved this newsletter!!!
GiGi
I'm very glad to hear that. I love such positive feedback. 
It is my privilege to again 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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Contests & Activities: November 28, 2007 Issue [#2088]
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