 Contests & Activities: December 10, 2008 Issue [#2757] |
  Contests & Activities
This week: Edited by: Leger~  
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3. Letter from the Editor
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5. A Word from Writing.Com
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Of which, if thou be a severe, sour-complexioned man, then I here disallow thee to be a competent judge.
The Complete Angler. Author’s Preface. ~Izaak Walton
Reason’s whole pleasure, all the joys of sense,
Lie in three words,—health, peace, and competence.
Essay on Man. Epistle iv. Line 79. ~Alexander Pope
Superfluity comes sooner by white hairs, but competency lives longer.
The Merchant of Venice. ACT I Scene 2. ~William Shakespeare
This week's Editor
Leger~ |
| ASIN: 0995498113 |
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Amazon's Price: $ 19.95
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Be a Good Contestant!
In this newsletter I'll cover a few suggestions on how to be a good contestant. You probably found the contest on the "Writing Contests @ Writing.Com" page or found it plugged somewhere on the site. You wrote a fabulous item and entered it in the contest, but didn't win.
Did I win?
When entering, note the closing date and stop in the contest to see! I've been guilty of entering a contest and then promptly forgetting about it. It's a courtesy, even if you didn't win, to stop in and congratulate the winners and thank the contest host for running the contest.
Why didn't I win?
Some contest entries are reviewed by the contest host, some are not. If there are a lot of entries, don't expect the contest host to give you a three page in-depth review. But, they may comment on what it was that didn't make it a winner. Or, if you're really curious, you could email the contest host and ask.
My entry post was deleted, why?
Did you post your entry according to directions? Learning the bitem link can make or break your entry. Did you just paste your poem in the forum anyway? Reading the directions and following them to the letter is important. If the contest says it closes at midnight, your 12:01 am entry shouldn't be considered. If one minute late is okay, should one hour, one day?
My story was 'kind of like' the prompt!
That could be. Often members enter an item they've already written into a contest that has a similar prompt. Should that be the winner when another member wrote an item specifically for that contest? If both stories are equally well written, I would probably choose the second item. Also, if my contest has three prompts and only two are covered in the story, it is disqualified.
Why do I have to follow the rating guidelines anyway?
Some judges don't like to read harsher stories. Not everyone has the same taste in content. If the contest rating only allows items rated up to [18+], entering an erotica story will get you an express elimination. Be sure your item is properly rated and fits within the contest guidelines. Rating content guidelines are important to know everywhere on this site.
I forgot what contest I entered this in!
There are a few things you can do to remember. Jot the contest closing on your calendar. As mentioned above, a courtesy post at the contest closing goes a long way. I also plug the contest it was entered in at the bottom of the item. This way a random visitor to your portfolio can better understand why your item was written the way it is. The item might not even make sense without knowing what the contest prompt was! If you didn't take notes but vaguely remember entering, you can check your My Posts list in your My Places drop down list in the Site Navigation panel. Most contests are held in forums and this listing records all your forum posts.
Woot! I won! Now what?
It certainly is nice to have your item sport an awardicon showing you've written a winner! If your item won GPs, note the contest and your placement in the bottom of your item. Visitors might find it and enter subsequent rounds, which helps the contest longevity. It's also a very nice reminder that your work was acknowledged. Again, visit the forum and thank the host and other contestants with grace and dignity.
Overall, the best advice I can give is to read the instructions carefully. As a judge, I'm always sad to see a fantastic entry eliminated because the contestant just didn't take the time to read the instructions. Good luck and write on!
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Excerpt: A short story contest that was begun in 2005.
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#1472675 by Not Available. |
Excerpt: A fun twist with a who-dun-it contest!
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#1479233 by Not Available. |
Excerpt: A contest for the beautiful haiku poetry form.
Excerpt: Try to fool the judge with your unusual plot twist.
Excerpt: For those with a wonderful sense of humor.
Excerpt: One of the longest running contests on the site. Check it out!
Excerpt: If you love acronyms, this is the contest for you.
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#1364200 by Not Available. |
Excerpt: Like history? Stop in here.
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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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| ASIN: 197380364X |
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Amazon's Price: $ 15.99
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Since I'm a guest editor, I don't have feedback to report, so I'll list a few holiday contests instead.
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#1497552 by Not Available. |
Excerpt: A dozen prompts to choose from.
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Excerpt: Write about a gift. Receive a gift.
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#1498455 by Not Available. |
Excerpt: Write your own "Twelve Days of Christmas" lyrics.
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#1500209 by Not Available. |
Excerpt: A unique holiday contest.
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#1450420 by Not Available. |
Excerpt: Join in the fun with a quiz!
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#1485641 by Not Available. |
Excerpt: Know someone with a holiday handle?
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| ASIN: 1542722411 |
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Amazon's Price: $ 12.99
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