  Contests & Activities
This week: Edited by: Crys-not really here  
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My name is Crys-not really here and it is my pleasure to be guest-writing the Contest and Activities Newsletter this week. 
In the 7 years I've been on the Writing.com, I have seen and run my fair share of both poor and good contests. Today, I'd like to share some of my guidelines for choosing contests to enter. I hope they are of some use to you when you look for fun, new contests. |
| ASIN: 0997970618 |
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Amazon's Price: $ 14.99
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4 Things I Look for in a Contest
With a ton of Contests and Activities around the site, how does one know how to narrow them down? Contests like "The Writer's Cramp" [13+] have a great reputation for being well-run for years, so they may be a no brainer for anyone looking for a reliable, fun contest. But what about all of the small, lesser-known contests? How do you find one that’s right for you?
When I evaluate a contest, I tend to look for some of the following things:
1) An original concept- This is a very important one to me. It’s easy to start a contest with a generic prompt and offer up some GP’s for the best entry. When a member sets up a contest that has some sort of theme or purpose, it shows that they have really thought about making it stand out. Genre-related contests are always popular: Erotica, History, Children’s, etc. So are contests that cater to a specific type of member. For example, there are a couple of fantastic contests aimed toward teenagers on the site. I also look for contests that twist genres together. Science Fiction-Romance, anyone? Paranormal-Erotica? Children’s-History? Action/Adventure-Comedy?
A contest that uses some sort of attention-grabber or aligns itself with a special event or group also tends to catch my attention.
2) A challenge.- Does the contest challenge me to break out of my usual genre or form? For example, I normally write free-verse poetry, so I tend to gravitate toward contests that allow me to learn about and experience poetry in form. Does the contest have a unique time frame like the Writer’s Cramp, where one must write and submit a piece within 24 hours? Is the prompt one that I haven’t heard a thousand times before? Does it in some way push me to become a better writer?
3) Sufficient prizes.- Is the contest going to reward me for my efforts? I’ve seen prizes anywhere from a couple of thousand GP’s to 10,000 GP’s or a merit badge and up. Contests that run more frequently will probably offer smaller prizes, and multi phase contests like "15 for 15 Contest --- Closed" [18+] that require you to enter every day for a certain period of time should probably offer more for your efforts.
4) Good organization.- Are the rules clear? If contestants have questions, does the organizer answer them in a reasonable time period? Is it clear who is judging the contest? If the organizer has run contests before, does he or she have a good reputation for running fair contests?
If you keep some of these ideas in mind the next time you look for a contest, you may just be surprised about all the gems you find! They are equally as important to keep in mind when starting your own contest as well.
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| Have a unique contest? I'd like to hear about it. It could be featured in an upcoming newsletter! |
| ASIN: 0997970618 |
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Amazon's Price: $ 14.99
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Contests & Activities: December 09, 2009 Issue [#3400]
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