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Printed from https://writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/9350-Reviewing-Contests-and-Activities.html
Contests & Activities: January 23, 2019 Issue [#9350]




 This week: Reviewing Contests and Activities
  Edited by: Leger~ 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

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~ Author Icon



Word from our sponsor



Letter from the editor


Reviewing Contests and Activities


We see lots of review requests for stories and poetry, but what about contests or activities? Not only can you help your fellow member improve their activity, but by doing a review, puts it on the review page for more people to discover and visit the activity. As long as the review is less than 31 days old and has 250 characters, and meets your rating filter, it's going to show up.

What do you say in a review like this? If it's an activity, look to see if the activity is carefully explained with beginning and ending dates and times. Does it have clear rules? Does it tell you how to join the activity? Is it group only?

Contests have ending times. Does the contest have the countdown timer on it? This is a super helpful tool. I know it is documented here: "Note: Thanks to a request in [Link To Item #sugges..." and has a note that it will be added to WritingML Help.

[Refresh to load countdown.]


And for activities, a Progress Meter might be an invaluable tool. You can find the code for it in the WritingML Help and display fundraising progress or anything else.

 
 
19% complete


These kinds of tools are great help and something you can suggest in your reviews. And don't forget the basics, spelling, grammar, and formatting. I know I can create an item and go over it ten times and never see the simplest mistakes. And I certainly appreciate when someone points them out. It keeps me from looking too silly and helps my contest or activity look clean and sharp.

So, don't forget to send some comments to a contest or activity host when you visit their item. Your suggestions could be quite helpful!


This month's question: What suggestions do you make most often to contest or activity hosts? Send in your answer below! *Down* Editors love feedback!


Editor's Picks


Image Protector
FORUM
The Dialogue 500 Open in new Window. (18+)
Dialogues of 500 words or less.
#941862 by W.D.Wilcox Author IconMail Icon

Excerpt: This contest uses only spoken words or internal dialogue!
(Please, none of that he/she said, no "background"-- just dialogue! Hence the name! Write like people speak. Use contractions. Flavor with accents. Branch out. When writing dialogue, anything goes. Throw out all the rules of grammar you've been brainwashed with, write like people talk!


Image Protector
FORUM
Elizabeth's Poetry & Short Story Contest Open in new Window. (13+)
Open for November POETRY submissions.
#2113830 by ElizabethHayes-DaughterofIAM Author IconMail Icon

Prompt: Write me a poem about the New Year. It can be a poem about one of your resolutions (I prefer to call it goals.) or what the New Year means to you.

Image Protector
FORUM
Show, Don't Tell Contest Open in new Window. (18+)
Show Don't Tell Contest Message Forum
#2162666 by Max Griffin 🏳️‍🌈 Author IconMail Icon

Excerpt: Show, don't tell! How many times have you heard that? We all know it's one of the toughest things to do. Some editors and agents will decide whether or not to read your submission based only on how well your first sentence does this. Our contest is all about showcasing and practicing this important skill.

The most basic rule for our contest is that you must show all the facets of your story as opposed to telling them.


 
Image Protector
GROUP
Christian Blog Group Open in new Window. (ASR)
This is a new blogging group.
#2178478 by QueenOwl ~ A New Day Dawns Author IconMail Icon

Excerpt: I was hoping it would take off and we'd have a good Christian blog/Bible study on here. I created the forum but it has only been myself posting there. Hopefully starting a group will do the trick as everybody in the group would then receive the daily prompts.

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2165201 by Not Available.

Excerpt: If you complete 10 reviews in one month, you'll be entitled to a Merit Badge. If you're lucky, and I have a way with words, I might even try and negotiate some of the rarer MBs that the featured contests have.

Image Protector
FORUM
Weekly Goals Open in new Window. (13+)
Motivate yourself to conquer your goals this week! Post on Monday; update us on Friday!
#1949474 by The StoryMistress Author IconMail Icon

Excerpt: On Monday, post your goals for the week and we'll send you 1,000 Gift Points.
Come back on Friday, post your updates on your goals, and I'll send you an additional 1,000 Gift Points!


Daily Flash Fiction Challenge Open in new Window. (13+)
Enter your story of 300 words or less.
#896794 by Arakun the twisted raccoon Author IconMail Icon

Excerpt: Flash fiction is fun to read and a challenge to write. It must contain all the elements of a larger work of fiction, but in a much shorter space.

 
Image Protector
SURVEY
Dear Me: Official WDC Contest Open in new Window. (E)
What are *your* goals for the new year? Think it over, write a letter and win big prizes!
#597313 by Writing.Com Support Author IconMail Icon

Excerpt: Do you have big plans for yourself this year? Will you finally finish that story that's been haunting you for so long? Will you try your hand at a brand new genre? Do you want to read and review a certain number of items by April? Will you take that first step toward self-publishing your latest masterpiece? Set some goals and resolutions for the new year and you could win big prizes!

The task is simple: Write a letter to yourself and tell you what your goals are for 2019!


 
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: 1945043032
Amazon's Price: $ 13.94


Ask & Answer

This month's question: What suggestions do you make most often to contest or activity hosts? Send in your answer below! *Down* Editors love feedback!

Last month's question: What would you like to try in the new year?


Dominique Author Icon: I'd like to try to master writing in each tense and with various narrators so I can establish a voice and style in writing that I am finally certain of and comfortable with. Once I do that, I can begin to work on writing a book.. at least the beginning stages of one anyway. That's my goal. I wish I could say my goal was to write a book but I know I'm not there yet so I might as well make realistic goals this year to not disappoint myself.

LadyGreen Author Icon: I'd really love to try rock climbing. I've always wanted to do it and I recently found out there's a climbing gym nearby. I have a long way to go before I can join, but I know I can make it!

BIG BAD WOLF is Howling Author Icon: I'd like to try to get more Preferred Authors, Moderators, Senior Moderators, and perhaps Staff to add to interactives, especially those belonging to Registered Authors. Nothing brings a bigger boost of confidence in one's interactive than seeing that someone with a fancy colored case adds to it on a regular basis.


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Word from our sponsor
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Amazon's Price: $ 4.99

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