  Contests & Activities
This week: Focus on particular contests. Edited by: THANKFUL SONALI back on Jan 4  
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Four different contests, four hosts, four sets of answers.
What does it mean, to run a contest on Writing Dot Com? |
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Dear Reader,
A visit to the 'contests' page can be really exciting, and a bit bewildering! So many contests to choose from. Varied prompts, styles of writing, deadlines ... it's a whole world of creativity out there.
But what does it take, to think up and run a contest? I decided to ask some of our members just that.
Here they are, with their answers:
Dragon is hiding  , with "Invalid Item"
1. IN BRIEF, TELL US ABOUT YOUR CONTEST
We are a contest hosted, run, and judged by the Teens group. Anyone and everyone is welcome to enter!
2. HOW DID YOU HIT UPON THE IDEA, TO RUN SUCH A CONTEST?
I adopted the contest when Shaye  decided she had to leave the site, and since then, I've had it in my portfolio!
3. HOW DID YOU PICK THE JUDGE(S)?
Anyone in the Teens group who wants to judge is welcome to jump in any month.
4. WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT YOUR CONTEST, ON SITE?
We're run by teens!
5. WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST FULFILLING ASPECT OF RUNNING THIS CONTEST?
I have a new appreciation for people who run, host, and judge contests - it's more time-consuming than a person would imagine!
6. WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF RUNNING THIS CONTEST?
Encouraging participation
7. WHAT DO YOU FEEL YOU HAVE LEARNT, RUNNING THIS CONTEST?
Running a contest and keeping it up to date is much harder than it looks!
8. ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO TELL US ABOUT YOUR CONTEST OR CONTESTS IN GENERAL, ON WRITING DOT COM.
We have partnered with the Pet News Contest this month for a mashup contest!
9. ANYTHING ELSE THAT I MIGHT HAVE LEFT OUT THAT YOU FEEL IS IMPORTANT
All entries to the Teen contest receive a trinket!
(Editor's note -- I have to add a  for that last one!!)
Soh ~ Luminousa  , about "Invalid Item"
1. IN BRIEF, TELL US ABOUT YOUR CONTEST
This contest is created to spread awareness about the importance of mental health, as it is the need of the hour.
2. HOW DID YOU HIT UPON THE IDEA, TO RUN SUCH A CONTEST?
I had come across many excellent pieces on WDC written on depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, autism and more, which I felt other members here must also read. I also wanted people here to come out with their own experiences so that writing and sharing can serve as a cathartic experience.
3. HOW DID YOU PICK THE JUDGE(S)?
I had decided to judge the contest by myself first. A few friends suggested that it would be a good idea to take on another judge. I wanted someone who is knowledgeable on the subject and the best person I could think of was Aisha as she has done her Masters in Psychology and given that we're of similar age and interest, I felt she would be the best person to judge with me.
4. WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT YOUR CONTEST, ON SITE?
It helps people to come out with their stressful experiences and connect with others who have similar experiences.
5. WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST FULFILLING ASPECT OF RUNNING THIS CONTEST?
The most fulfilling moment while running this contest was when one of the participants said that the contest helped her give expression to the years of pain and trauma she had suffered and had undergone a healing experience as a part of the process. I'm sure other participants had similar experiences too and I'm very glad to have helped people in this way.
6. WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF RUNNING THIS CONTEST?
The judging is the most difficult part of the contest. Aisha and I are in a constant confusion and guilt wondering whether we have chosen the deserving ones and hoping people won't see it as being partial. In a way all entries are very good (though a couple of them sometimes don't involve the prompt so much) and it is very hard to declare the winners.
7. WHAT DO YOU FEEL YOU HAVE LEARNT, RUNNING THIS CONTEST?
I admire the way people think and express. Judging aside, every person's piece is a beauty in itself and I find a different point of view every time on the same prompt. There's always a new way of looking at the same thing.
8. ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO TELL US ABOUT YOUR CONTEST OR CONTESTS IN GENERAL, ON WRITING DOT COM.
It is not easy to run a contest and I say everyone who's running a contest here is doing a wonderful job setting the creative juices of WDC members flowing in different directions.
Pesky Amanda A.K.A. LadyNazlia , about "Invalid Item"
1. IN BRIEF, TELL US ABOUT YOUR CONTEST
It is a Monthly Prompt Based Competition to push writers to their limit and beyond with strange prompts.
2. HOW DID YOU HIT UPON THE IDEA, TO RUN SUCH A CONTEST?
A new friend that I made on WdC challenged me to get more involved and one thing that I love about this community are the contests and challenges. So, instead of just participating in all of the different contests, she suggested that I make one or try to be a judge in one for myself. I told her that I thought that would be so much fun and then she told me to brainstorm ideas. I have been writing with a lot of random prompts recently and some of them have been quite challenging. So I thought, "why not turn that into a contest? Pesky Prompts that make you ask, "what were they thinking when they created this?" and that is what I did.
3. HOW DID YOU PICK THE JUDGE(S)?
I will personally be judging but I also asked my inspirer for the contest to join me in judging and she delightfully agreed!
4. WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT YOUR CONTEST, ON SITE?
It focuses on difficult/challenging prompts as opposed to your standard prompts that range in difficulty.
5. WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST FULFILLING ASPECT OF RUNNING THIS CONTEST?
I have only just begun today but just the creation of the contest page was super exciting! I felt like I was an important part of this community instead of just a normal member. I can't wait to see what happens when people actually start entering the contest and we have pieces to judge!!!
6. WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF RUNNING THIS CONTEST?
Narrowing down the topic of the contest. I knew as soon as it was suggested that I should create one but I wasn't sure what to do with it. I didn't know how to choose a topic that was unique but also fun and interesting.
7. WHAT DO YOU FEEL YOU HAVE LEARNT, RUNNING THIS CONTEST?
1. Creativity is key. (reminded of this)
2. How to create a contest on WdC.
3. How to make messages and items look more interesting by adding code.
4. People are generally pretty friendly and willing to help on WdC.
8. ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO TELL US ABOUT YOUR CONTEST OR CONTESTS IN GENERAL, ON WRITING DOT COM.
I love the contests on WdC. they are probably my favorite part of the who site because they are such a wonderful and fun way to challenge myself as a writer. The only thing I love more is getting feedback about my writing.
9. ANYTHING ELSE THAT I MIGHT HAVE LEFT OUT THAT YOU FEEL IS IMPORTANT
I am still a newbie but I wanted a contest open to everyone. That is why I created this contest, to allow myself and others to grow as writers by writing and reading things written by others.
Max Griffin 🏳️🌈  about "Invalid Item"
1. IN BRIEF, TELL US ABOUT YOUR CONTEST
This contest is a place for authors to showcase their skills with third person limited point of view. It's also an opportunity for authors to hone their skills, since point of view is the primary focus of the contest.
2. HOW DID YOU HIT UPON THE IDEA, TO RUN SUCH A CONTEST?
This contest is a partnership with Carol St.Ann  , whose contributions are co-equal with mine. We do a lot of reviewing, and it's become clear to us that point of view is one of the big challenges to beginning--or even experienced!--authors. We thought a contest that forced authors to focus on this one element of craft would have value to the community.
3. HOW DID YOU PICK THE JUDGE(S)?
We both read all the entries and discuss rankings. We often, but not always, ask the winner of the prior round to be a guest judge. We would be happy to have volunteer judges to help out, and at least once have had a volunteer from the "The Novel Workshop Forum"
4. WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT YOUR CONTEST, ON SITE?
As far as we know, this is the only contest that has point-of-view as the primary focus.
5. WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST FULFILLING ASPECT OF RUNNING THIS CONTEST?
Reading the creative and talented authors who have submitted stories to our contest is easily the most fulfilling aspect. When those authors write back with thanks for our critiques, that's great too.
6. WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF RUNNING THIS CONTEST?
Choosing the winners from the always excellent entries.
7. WHAT DO YOU FEEL YOU HAVE LEARNT, RUNNING THIS CONTEST?
We give each entry an in-depth review. Thinking about what works and doesn't in a wide variety of stories helps us do the same thing with our own work. Thus, we have improved our ability to read our own stories critically.
8. ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO TELL US ABOUT YOUR CONTEST OR CONTESTS IN GENERAL, ON WRITING DOT COM.
WDC is full opportunity. If you're looking for great things to read, it's here. If you're looking for online social opportunities, it's got that, too. And if you're serious about improving your craft as an author, it's a great place to learn and grow. Our contest is less on the social side of WDC and focuses more on the craft of fiction, but that's the great thing about this place. There's something for everyone!
9. ANYTHING ELSE THAT I MIGHT HAVE LEFT OUT THAT YOU FEEL IS IMPORTANT
Thank you for the invitation to discuss our contest. We've been running it since Augst of 2014, and it's been a blast. We plan to continue to run it as long as the talented authors of WDC find value in our efforts.
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So you have it, straight from the hosts themselves!
And if you'd like to talk about YOUR contest, please do so here. "Talk about your contest!"
Hope you enjoyed hearing from them. Thank you, Dragon is hiding , Soh ~ Luminousa , Pesky Amanda A.K.A. LadyNazlia and Max Griffin 🏳️🌈 for sharing your thoughts with us!
Contest On,
- Sonali
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Activities!
Some contests!
An unusual auction!
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Thanks for the response to: "Contests & Activities Newsletter (September 21, 2016)"
iKïyå§ama 
Thank you a million times over for a newsletter that actually sort of tugged at the heartstrings (is that weird? )
You've managed to capture exactly what I had hoped while creating "Project Write World" , and you've broken it down in such simple terms; that I hope future participants get inspired to be more proactive in their designated groups. Your team has laid out a wonderful blueprint, which I hope others will follow, so that this contest continues to be a success and I receive less 'quitting' emails *lol*
Thanks again for your wonderful newsletter, and for always being a champion for "Project Write World" !  |
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Contests & Activities: December 14, 2016 Issue [#8021]
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