Contests & Activities: February 22, 2006 Issue [#898]
<< February 15, 2006Contests & Activities Archives | More From This Day | Print This IssueMarch 1, 2006 >>

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Contests & Activities


 This week:
  Edited by: gailey Author IconMail Icon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

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

Newsletters in general provide some great reading, both from the selected links to Writing.Com members' items and from the informative help and advice given in the editorials. The Contest Newsletter is your portal to understanding the mechanics involved with the contests. Even though some of the links may have become invalid, previous editions of each newsletter still provide useful tips and advice that you might have forgotten. Take a search through them whenever you get a chance. You might find the exact information or incentive you need to go forward with an idea you've had or write an entry you've been thinking about.


Word from our sponsor

ASIN: 0995498113
Amazon's Price: $ 19.95


Letter from the editor

** Image ID #971112 Unavailable **

HELLO and WELCOME! *Smile*

In last month's edition, the focus was on what you can do to expand your portfolio and share your experiences here with family and friends. In this edition, the topic reverses. Instead of bringing others to you portfolio, the focus is on using your Writing.Com experience to share with others elsewhere and contests is a good place to start.

Have you entered a contest hosted by a magazine or website? Some are monthly, quarterly, and even annually. Some require an entrant's fee and some are free to enter. Prizes are usually monetary and are a set amount, although a few might be based on how many entries (and entry fees) they receive. Entering contests on Writing.Com can prepare you for entering other contests. Fine-tune an entry, use "Spell Check", determine the word count if it's a story, then make sure it follows the contest guidelines and submit it.

Another way your membership here can help your writing is if you decide to read items in a genre you don't normally read within and attempt to write something for that genre. You have the opportunity of reading an assortment of items enabling you to learn "voice", plot, pattern and word techniques. When you think you might have a few of the basics down-pat, try writing a piece for that genre. Ask for constructive comments about it. Edit the story or poem using the advice you're given and when you feel that it represents your best effort, submit it to a corresponding genre publication. If they accept it, great! If not, you're still on the right road because you've expanded your writing style.

Writing a book could not be easier than writing it in a book item in your portfolio. Place it on "private" and go at your own speed. Check spelling, grammar and punctuation as you go along and keep up with the word count and edit whenever you think it's necessary. Learn as you go, edit as you go, add as you go and before you realize it, you'll have a novella, novel or collection of short stories or poems completed and ready to submit to an editor, publisher or agent. Or ready to copy/save/print for a handmade book or submit for a "print on demand" book.

Another way of making the most of your portfolio is using the assortment of items that you can house there as "practice" items. Learn reviewing skills by reviewing products. Learn interviewing skills by interviewing members. Practice new poetry styles.

Remember that "practice makes perfect" and the contests on Writing.Com give you a lot of ways to get that practice. In this way you are using your portfolio for two major reasons: (1) to experiment and learn more writing skills, and (2) to feature and showcase what you've written.

Till next time, enjoy sorting through the items listed here! *Smile*


Editor's Picks

CONTESTS

Deadline: Monthly
THE DROP-OFF BOX  Open in new Window. [13+]
Monthly newbie contest.
by Tammy~Catchin Up~ Author Icon

 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

Deadline: Feb. 25
 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

Deadline: Feb. 26
 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

Deadline: Feb. 27
 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

Deadline: Feb. 28
 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

Deadline: March 05 (bi-weekly)
 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

Deadline: March 10
 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

Deadline: March 12
 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

Deadline: March 13
 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

Deadline: March 15
 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

Deadline: March 17
 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

Deadline: March 31
 An Inspirational Tale Open in new Window. [E]
Write a Inspirational short story or poem and try & win an awardicon worth 10,000GP's
by S.M.Heavens Author Icon

 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

Five Contests:
 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor


AUCTIONS

Deadline: Weekly
 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

Deadline: Feb. 24
 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

Deadline: Feb. 25
 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

Deadline: Feb. 28
 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

Deadline: March 04 (bi-weekly)
 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor


RAFFLES

Deadline: until 1000 tickets are sold
 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

Deadline: March 01
 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor


ACTIVITIES and INTERESTS

Win Gps as the mystery unfolds:
 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

Check back for the "Blue Light Special" on March 03:
 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

In the meantime, ramble in here:
Image Protector
Poets' Practice Pad Open in new Window. [18+]
Write poetry from prompts just for the fun of it; formal or free verse, you pick.
by Joy Author Icon

Created 09-28-2000 and still going strong:
Story Cafe Open in new Window. [ASR]
All invited, Speak your mind, got a New Story?, Opinion?, Need help?, Like a story?.
by The Milkman Author Icon

Drop your shields and enter here:
 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

Express your thoughts here:
 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

Find a great resource here:
 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor



 
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!

ASIN: B085272J6B
Product Type: Kindle Store
Amazon's Price: $ 9.99


Ask & Answer

THANK YOU to each person who sent in comments!! *Heart*

Hello. This is a rich newsletter. It contains many helpful ideas that we have never thought about. Interaction of members is of a great help. One learns through this site from other's work and from the reviews he's getting. This interaction is the best way of building our knowledge. Thanks for the links and for this useful newsletter.
essence of thought Author Icon

Thank you for including "Invalid Item" Open in new Window. in this issue. This newsletter is such a great resource when wondering "What is there to DO?" No excuses for boredom with this in your Inbox!
Holly Jahangiri Author Icon

You've given a wonderful list of things to do, good ideas to become involved as a family or community. They are reminders for us that tend to stay on the same page forever and forget there's places to go and things to see in other areas of WDC. Keep reminding us to get out of our rut! Thanks for a well written newsletter.
esprit Author Icon

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Thank you to Pass it on Author Icon for the "Contest and Activities Newsletter" image. *Smile*

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Listing a contest, raffle and/or auction in this newsletter is not a guarantee of it.

*Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet* Don't Be Shy! Write Into This Newsletter! *Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet*

This form allows you to submit an item on Writing.Com and feedback, comments or questions to the Writing.Com Newsletter Editors. In some cases, due to the volume of submissions we receive, please understand that all feedback and submissions may not be responded to or listed in a newsletter. Thank you, in advance, for any feedback you can provide!
Writing.Com Item ID To Highlight (Optional):

Send a comment or question to the editor!
Limited to 2,500 characters.
Word from our sponsor
ASIN: B083RZ2C5F
Product Type:
Amazon's Price: Price N/A
Not currently available.

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