  Contests & Activities
This week: Groups at Writing.com Edited by: Leger~  
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The purpose of this newsletter is to highlight some of the current contests and activities on the site, help educate members on how to host contests and activities, and provide clues to submit quality entries to contests. Write to me if you'd like something in particular covered.
This week's Contests and Activities Editor
Leger~
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Groups at Writing.com
One of the things members encourage newbies to do is to join groups. Some of the groups on this site are extremely supportive of new members and really help them along, teaching them how to navigate and enter activities and contests. Some of the daily and newbie contests are geared toward helping new members get to know some seasoned members (I refuse to say old!) and gain a support network of other helpful members.
Group memberships can pile up in your account pretty fast if you're an outgoing and active member on the site. But what happens when you get involved with writing a novel or hosting a group of your own? You're still getting emails from groups you don't participate in, or have been added when you donated to the group in the past. It's like getting the birthday club letter from the Hello Kitty group when you're thirty and don't eat Choco Kitty sundaes any more.
What I've been trying to do, at least once a year, is to go through all my group memberships and remove myself from groups I'm not currently involved in or activity and contest banks. Group leaders can always add you in again later, it's not a one-time deal. I try to look at the list objectively and see which ones I truly have an interest in and which to ease out of. It's hard when a very nice member has asked me to join and perhaps look at a new page, or make a banner for them and have added me to their group so I could see the page. But why not make room in a group for someone else to join, if you're not participating?
If you're in a group and no longer wish to participate, you can delete yourself from the group list from your Group Memberships page. To find this page, go to your left column navigation panel, click My Account > Group Memberships (under My Activity). From your Group Memberships page, you can delete from a group (and leave a note to the group leader as to why you're leaving, if you wish) or you can send gift points to a group. The great thing about sending GPs to a group from your Group Memberships page is when you click Send GPs To Group; the group number is automatically added to your gift points page. No need to copy and paste!
Writing.com has a large variety of groups you can join. There are many different reviewing groups, some who pay gift points to reviewers in addition to the ones you earn in the WDC system. Why not get paid twice for some hard work you've done? Some groups help support authors in specific genres like sci-fi or fan fiction. Some support a common illness or mental health. Jump into the Groups listing by clicking Browse By Type and click Groups. Once you sort out raffle / auction banks and judge's groups, there are some awesome groups to be found in the listing. Check out some of the active ones, perhaps you find some fellow members to befriend and have a common topic to relate to. Join in the fun!
This month's question: Do you find groups helpful to your writing and reviewing skills?
Send in your answer below!  Editors love feedback!
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#1753427 by Not Available. |
Excerpt: This is a group for Writing.com members who would like to exchange reviews of stories, poem, novels, or nonfiction.
Excerpt: The Talent Pond was established to help writers of all levels realize their full potential through honest reviewing and heartfelt support; to also promote their works to the best of our abilities and make them feel they are the talent we believe they are.
Excerpt: We now do raids on the 15th of every month, which is the reviewing of any item on writing.com. We may also be involved in other activities. There is no obligation -- you can participate whenever you can.
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#1691036 by Not Available. |
Excerpt: The goal of this Newsletter is to discuss the craft of science fiction writing, as well as touch on actual scientific topics. Like the classic magazine, Analog, we highlight interesting topics in both science fiction and fact.
Excerpt: "Our group is designed to accommodate those members of WDC who have a love for writing and reading fantasy of all types. To share with each other their finished pieces along with their work in progress. A place where members can build confidence and master their writing skills."
Excerpt: As a member of the Angel Army, your goal is to welcome as many newcomers as possible. This includes, visiting several WDC Welcoming Forums to leave well-wishes, dropping off a c-note or two, reviewing their works, offering advise or granting upgrades to deserving members. Angels are also recognized for recruiting more members not just to this group, but to this wonderful site!
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#1697216 by Not Available. |
Excerpt: We are a writing group which is open to ALL members of the Writing.Com Community. Not only are we a group who focuses on writing, but we are also a support group for those with Fibromyalgia Syndrome.
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#559910 by Not Available. |
Excerpt: We created this workshop when we realized our novels were not being reviewed due their length. We all like having our pieces read, so we created a place where would-be novelists could congregate and share!
Excerpt: And while we strive to create an erotica community with activities other ways to connect with fellow erotica writers, this group's primary focus has always been - and will continue to be - the publication of the newsletter. We welcome members to participate as much or as little as they like; you're more than welcome to join our group for the sole purpose of receiving the newsletter every week
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#1745870 by Not Available. |
Excerpt: We are a writers group themed around writing personal histories.
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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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This month's question: Do you find groups helpful to your writing and reviewing skills?
Last month's question: How do you feel about changing rules in the middle of an activity or contest?
Steve adding writing to ntbk.  replied: Changing the rules in the middle of an activity or contest can harm the overall success of the event. To the extreme one may be forced to rewrite an entire entry, and the fairness factor is thrown out the window. Stick with the rules in the contest and then in the future change the rules to fit a more accurate assessment of what the event entails. Copenator out!
Jeff  answered: As a competitor, I get annoyed when the rules change with no notice... especially when it's done to favor a particular outcome (like extending the deadline to allow for more entries or someone who asked for more time, when the rest of us got our entries in on time). As an activity organizer, though, I can understand the desire to change the rules if something is unclear or not working. The balance I've found is that I will readily clarify a rule (not change it) during the activity... but I will only change a rule or significantly alter the guidelines if there's a majority consensus or a serious conflict... and I usually try to do something to acknowledge the people who did abide by the original rules. For example, if I extend a deadline, I'll often give the people who did submit in time for the original deadline some GPs, or some other acknowledgement of their efforts. 
Duchess Laughing Lemurs responded: Changing rules in the middle of a contest round is definitely unfair, I feel. If there are some memebers who have already submitted items, they may have to rush to make the piece appropriate for the change. Clarifications, on the other hand, can be made any time. I've made changes in my contest, but ONLY AFTER the previous round was over.
Pam sent in: Rules should be carefully thought out prior to the posting of a contest contest. I do not agree to changing them after the starting point. However, if there are circumstances beyond control, or there may not be enough participants, adjusting the rules may actually help a contest stay alive.
Riot  comments: Wow, thank you Leger! I really appreciate the plug you made in your newsletter for my activity "Ink Blot Hall of Fame" . To answer your question, I agree with you on changing rules halfway through. I think the best option is to clarify rules that may be misinterpreted, but to hold off on "changing" the rules until the next round. Thank you once again for an awesome newsletter!
Thanks for all the awesome feedback!
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Contests & Activities: March 02, 2011 Issue [#4265]
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