  Contests & Activities
This week: Motives to write for contests Edited by: NaNoNette  
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There was a day, last week or nearly a decade ago, that you typed "writing" into your search engine. You wanted to show off some of your poems, short stories, or maybe even get feedback for a whole novel. You found Writing.com.
On this site you found all that you had searched for: Portfolio space, helpful reviewers, encouraging groups, style and grammar lessons from peers. But nothing had prepared you for the amazing bounty of: Contests & Activities
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Product Type: Kindle Store
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Amazon's Price: $ 4.99
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Writer's Block
Enter in contests that challenge you to think outside of the box to break through writer's block. If you are normally a romance writer, try your hand at action/adventure. Alternatively, if you are normally a scared cat and would never watch a horror movie; write a story that makes you scared of your own reflection on your computer screen. Even if you don't like the story, submit it to the contest you wrote it for. At least, you will get another person's point of view. You may even have hit the nerve for the judge and walk away with a ribbon.
Write for prompt based-contests if you really don't know how to get started. Having to work with a person, an object, or a situation may be all you need to get your creative juices going. Contests that only give you a genre can also pull you out of a slouch. Maybe you don't know anything about the genre and you have to read up on it first. Research and reading works in that genre are the best way to get a feeling for what is expected of you.
Read stories in the judge's portfolio to find out what they like. Although there is no guarantee that you will place in a contest just because you read what they wrote, you will find out just how far a writer and contest host has pushed a genre themselves.
Enjoy going through the process of writing. Start writing for a contest you want to enter as soon as possible, no matter how far out the deadline seems to be at this time. Whether you have 24 hours, or three months, don't delay the first draft. Let it sit for a little bit before you go back to it. Many smaller mistakes, such as discrepancies in the plot, or repetitive use of words come out when you read your story with fresh eyes.
Polish your piece to the best of your knowledge, maybe ask a friend to look over it, and then let it fly. If you liked your final version, give it a chance with other readers and the judge. Don't be sad if you don't win a prize. Each story or poem that you write gives you a new learning experience. Merit badges, ribbons, or GPs are nice, but nobody can take away the fun you had writing. The insight you got from putting it all down can only be gleaned by doing, and you can still change it all up later.
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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!
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| ASIN: B083RZ37SZ |
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What makes you want to enter a contest? Winnig Merit Badges? Awardicons? Or would you rather write for gift points? Are you happy with writing and think the awards are just the icing? Let me know for the next time. 
Reactions to "Contests & Activities Newsletter (June 30, 2010)"
Karen  writes: I opened this e-mail expecting to read about contests and found it to be about reviews. What's up with that?
I agree that the newsletter was a bit one-sided by only showing off reviewing groups and activities. Reviewing is, however, at least in my humble opinion, an activity and has a place in the contests and activities newsletter. I have tried to have more variety in my choices today, but I have to say I got some notes via personal email (not featured here) and via the message submission tool that were positive about the reviewing group newsletter. I hope my next newsletters will be more enjoyable to you, including this one.
sarah.g writes: I prefer in-depth reviews. They offer more feedback on your story/poem. A few lines is also good, but those longer ones provide more constructive criticism, I feel.
You are correct, and I agree. The more in-depth a review is, the more you will get from it. One word reviews are an extreme, but I have gotten them. Sometimes a "wow" says more than a thousand words. Although I don't learn much from it, I can at least see I got a reaction from a reader.
Mike~Dolphins Fan 4 Life  writes: Great newsletter! Thank you very much for including my group in your list. I very much appreciate the gesture and the wonderful exposure it provides.
Keep up the great work! Have a wonderful day and a better weekend. 
 Thank you for leaving a message. You too have a wonderful week ahead and a great August.
Tornado Dodger  writes: NaNoNette
Thank you so much for highlighting "The Talent Pond" in the June 30th issue of Contests and Activities. I appreciate you very much.
 So much love. Thank you. |
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Contests & Activities: July 28, 2010 Issue [#3884]
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