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This week: The Importance of Genre Edited by: Dawn Embers  
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An Elf (written) Contest & Activities Newsletter
A number of contests try to focus on specific genres. They vary from Fantasy to Romance to Horror and many others, whether it's just a single prompt or if it's the entire focus of the contest itself. But how much should one pay attention to the genre when writing for the contest? Is it okay to just skirt the genre? This newsletter explores these questions and asks the reader if they have any answers. |
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Some contests focus on a specific genre and others do not. Either can be fun but let's consider the ones that do focus on genre for this newsletter. Every now and then I am reading entries in other people's contests (yeah, I do that at times) and an entry will cause me to raise an eyebrow in question at it. The story might be good but it doesn't fit within the required genre. This is also something I come across on occasion in my own contests too for I have done both genre specific and no genre type contests over the years and it make me wonder. How important is the genre?
To me, it is important.
If I'm a judge for a contest that has a specific genre requirement, no matter if it's romance or fantasy, then I use the genre as part of my decision making. It's similar to the prompt. Very useful to follow if you want to win in a round that requires either. Most of the time I don't go as far as disqualifying if something seems questionable in question of genre but I come close. It depends on how far off an entry is to what I required. If I have a fantasy round of What If, for example, and a story comes off more in the sci-fi realm, I don't disqualify but I do mention the fact that it veered off course for me in my review. And it doesn't mean a story can't place but it does lose a couple points if the genre is missed to a small degree.
However, if I ask for stories and get poems, I'm one of those judges that says sorry but it's disqualified. There are rules in contests and they are there for good reason. But when I start to notice genre sliding in entries on a regular basis, I begin to wonder how strict must one be when it comes to the genre the contest requires.
Another example is in the genre of romance. I don't read it much but I write it some and I read a whole book on writing romance (gift from stepsister one year), so I'm aware of the requirements of the genre, at least in the publishing and specific reader requirements. I follow what I've learned the genre requires. Romance focus of plot and happy ever after, or at least a happy for now type of ending. Not everyone judges that way, but if I'm judging romance, that is what I expect. And romance can be a bit of a stickler, whereas some genres have a bit more of an open nature to what qualifies, but still, every genre has certain things it expects.
Question remains, how much should one follow the genre when entering a contest?
I don't have the answer yet, but this ramble of a newsletter has a point. I'm asking you. How important do you think the genre is for a contest? Should it be followed as much as word count and item type? Is it okay to slip a bit on genre as long as the writing and plot are great? What do you think? |
Here are some genre specific contests and such that I found around WDC.
Fantasy
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Science Fiction
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Horror
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#1801607 by Not Available. |
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#1933849 by Not Available. |
Gay/Lesbian
Age Range (YA/MG, Children)
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#1949221 by Not Available. |
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Questions of the week are posted above but the basic question is this: How important is genre when entering a genre specific contest?
Wow. Last time I wrote for this newsletter was all the way back in August. Long time. Way back then, I wrote about being late in judging a contest round and received a few different replies. Thanks to all who commented and here are a couple of them that caught my attention.
By JACE 
Guilty! Been there, done that! How ever you want to say it, I suspect most folks who have judged a contest have been in the same shoes you describe.
One thing I didn't see mentioned was a scenario in which the judge bit off more than he or she could chew, which may just be an extension of reasons for being late. In my case, I offered a review for each entry. Since I personally can't give some fluff review, this turned into a lengthy time to complete my judging. I usually offered my apologies and extra incentives when that happened.
Excellent newsletter!
- That is a good point. Sometimes we end up getting far better results in a contest and it takes longer to judge than anticipated because of that. I think as long as the judge gives updates and keeps everyone in the loop while they work their way through what they didn't expect, that people tend to understand. Far more than the disappearing act, at least.
By ruwth 
Dawn, I love my contest: "The Christian Writing Contest" but due to health and life struggles I am don't get the new prompt up or the winner announced as quickly as I would like. What do I do? I keep trying and keep plugging along. I have also started posting my weekly goals on "Writing.Com General Discussion" . Doing so gives me an added push to get things done including my contest responsibilities.
- Goals are a great way. I do that when I need to get caught up in my reviewing for contests cause picking the winners doesn't take near as much time as it does writing 7-9 reviews. Posting a goal to the public can give incentive plus any that watch see you trying to get things done, and that's more what they like to see. That you're trying and the contest round isn't ignored.
By KRHolbrook 
I've just recently created my own contest, so I've yet to be late to it. However, there's no doubt in my mind that it will one day happen. I have ADD and can't focus on one thing for too long (which is why I make the contests last for a week, not a day). Plus, my daily life is hectic due to me being sick a lot. As for how I would handle it? I'd apologize to the users and choose the top three that were the best and give each in-depth reviews, which is the top prize. Late judging happens. Some people become irked about it, but life sometimes gets in the way.
- Hope it has gone well since you commented months ago. I know life can sometimes get in the way but we do the best we can and there are some who will understand and some who won't. I'm often amazed at how patient some members of the site can be when it comes to a contest, and very appreciative of the ones who understand the struggles it takes to maintain a contest.
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Contests & Activities: April 30, 2014 Issue [#6295]
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