Contests & Activities: August 31, 2016 Issue [#7833]
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Contests & Activities


 This week: Cheating, Part 2
  Edited by: spidey Author IconMail Icon
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Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

About:
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Welcome to the Contests & Activities Newsletter. I'm spidey Author Icon, and I'm your Editor this week!




Word from our sponsor

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Letter from the editor


This newsletter is called Cheating, Part 2 . So what's the difference between the two?

My last newsletter discussed cheating, which we all know is bad. One member, Nobody Special Author Icon wrote to me asking a really great question: How does someone cheat in a writing contest? (Actually, I received more than one response asking how someone can cheat on Writing.Com.)

My first reaction was, "Well, yeah, how would someone cheat at a writing contest?"

To me, cheating can be seen as breaking the rules in a manner which may skew results in your favor. It's not simply breaking the rules. We all break a rule on occasion, I would hope that in most cases it's accidental. That's why it's so important to read the rules! There can be rules for things like:

*Bullet* Word Count limits (or stating your word count somewhere in your entry)
*Bullet* Rating limits (rated 13+ and below, for example)
*Bullet* Deadlines (like 11:59 pm, WDC time)
*Bullet* Non-relevant entry (Some contests give rewards just for entering, like offering gift points or reviews. Submitting an entry that isn't relevant to the contest's theme just to try to get the reward may be seen as cheating)

Breaking one of these rules may not necessarily be cheating, but habitually doing so can be seen as manipulative and possibly cheating. It isn't fair to the other entrants who have followed the rules if you try to get the host to bend them for you.

Missing a rule may not get you into trouble, but if you consistently go against the rules, there can be real consequences, like getting banned from a contest or possibly even the site. Likewise, it's important to follow Writing.Com website rules, too. When you create your account, you are agreeing to follow site rules of conduct (just like any other website you may join).

So I hope I've answered the question! *Smile*




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Editor's Picks







Official Writing.Com Contests & Activities:

 
Image Protector
Good Deeds Get CASH! Open in new Window. [E]
Write reviews to win cash prizes!
by Writing.Com Support Author Icon

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Journey Through Genres: Official Contest Open in new Window. [E]
Write a short story in the given genre to win big prizes!
by Writing.Com Support Author Icon





Contests/Activities:

 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

Image Protector
Write from the Heart Poetry Contest Open in new Window. [E]
Write a heartfelt piece based on the prompt provided.
by Purple Holiday Givings Author Icon

{citem:1875052 }
 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

Image Protector
What Have You Learned On Writing.Com? Open in new Window. [13+]
A contest to show off your new skills. For Writing.Com's Birthday Week.
by NaNoKit Author Icon

 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

Image Protector
Paranormal Romance Contest Open in new Window. [18+]
Now, Open Exclusively to HSP students & members - a 2016 & 2020 Quill Award winner
by Jim Hall Author Icon





Some contest resources:
How to Create a Contest Open in new Window. [ASR]
Things you need to know before you open a contest. Includes a contest template.
by Angels in my Ear Author Icon

"Create/Edit a Message ForumOpen in new Window.
Newbie Hyperlinking 101 - Bitem Format Open in new Window. [E]
Learn the ins and outs of creating a link using the bitem format.
by NickiD89 Author Icon





Know of some gems that deserve exposure? Submit them in the feedback form or submission form at the end of this Newsletter, and I'll put them in my next one!




 
Submit an item for consideration in this newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Word from Writing.Com

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

Don't forget to support our sponsor!

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Ask & Answer



My last newsletter, ({nl:7678), discussed Contests and Activities.

Spidey, I love this newsletter....I chuckled at your description of Capture the Flag...or a game that is very similar.
Capture the Flag invites a certain amount of cheating...the more running, laughing, and sneaking about, the better. *Smile*
I remember loving the game when we played as kids, well into our early teenage years. As for cheating on W.Com.
The only serious experience I've had involved finding a young guy here (who was considered a talented writer) had
copied word-for-word poetry written by a writer outside Writing.Com. This guy was unreliable and
fabricated excuses for missing deadlines to be included in contests. He fell in love on W.Com. Alas, it turned out
nothing he shared about himself turned out to be true. He left and came back under a different name later on.
Once he was confronted with his copyright infringement, he left for good. Other than this, I don't know what writers do to cheat on W.Com...can you be more specific ? If we should be on the look-out for cheaters, I'd love to know what cheaters do here *Smile*
Thanks so much for giving us valuable food for thought. You write a good newsletter !

Warmest best,


~ GabriellaR45 Author IconMail Icon
.
Wow, I'm glad that type of user is a very small minority around here!I hope I've answered your question with this week's newsletter!


I don't understand exactly how one might cheat a WDC contest, though I'm not really that up on them. Edit after the deadline, pay people to get reviews so you'll know what to fix? In any event, kids are literally sociopaths if they're young enough; they don't have the same conceptions of right and wrong. And yeah, cheating in a contest where your only opponent doesn't just ignore but fails to comprehend the rules? Not exactly the same! Although as an adult, you should have been a more advanced child, like saying, "Uh uh, I got superman powers so you can't get me with a sword!" *Wink*

~ Joto-Kai Author Icon

I'll take that advice for next year's game! *Laugh*


What do you mean by "cheating?" Do you mean plagiarism? There are internet tools for dealing with that (frequently used by schoolteachers.)

~ Graham B. Author Icon

I hope my newsletter has answered your question! *Smile* I wasn't aware of the internet tools that teachers use, I'll have to look into that. I'm glad there's something teachers can use to fight against plagiarism!


The idea of cheating bugs me and I would not hesitate to report anyone who was deliberately cheating in order to get first prize. I know recognition and praise from your peers is rewarding but it is a very hollow victory. I think they need to be names and shamed

lezismore-moreislez Author Icon

I totally agree with you!


What would you do if you found someone cheating on Writing.Com? I think my mind doesn't really go into cheating mode if this makes sense. If I read their entry I think two and two wouldn't click together to be like ah ha! I caught you... I think some people may 'bend' rules. Rule bending is how I live my life, riding the line but not quite stepping over it.

I'm not bad, it's just I always get in trouble and I didn't mean to... at all. So, I'd basically assume the judge has got it down and probably it'd fly over my head anyways.


SB Musing Author Icon

Just be careful with rule bending! Habitual rule bending might be seen as attempting to cheat! *Wink*






I hope that I've answered the question of how you can cheat at a writing contest! If you have any other questions, feel free to submit to the Newsletter feedback!


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