This week: Is It Time? Edited by: Legerdemain  
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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.
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Is It Time? Do you have time?
Seasons change and holidays come and go. Often contests and activities are geared toward the current holiday or season. These things haven't changed much over the years. So if all that comes to mind when looking for inspiration in the middle of summer is a story about an owl in fall, write it! You don't necessarily have to enter it in current contests, you can enter it in one in the fall. Keep in mind that the WDC site contests do ask for stories newly written for that contest. In that case, make yourself an outline for referral when that contest time comes up. then create your static and write the complete story for that contest.
Horror and scary stories can often fit into several genres and not only suit the Halloween season but work for gothic or sometimes even steampunk-type contests.
Additionally, if you're thinking about having a contest or activity in 2024, you don't have to wait until that season to put it together. Create that forum and set up your rules at any time. You can even upload banner images and format the whole contest/activity page. This gives you time to save gift points for prizes, find helpers for the activity, and have a few beta-readers look at the page.
Just remember, you can create a contest or activity template in your portfolio, even if you don't have a theme in mind or have the time to host one. Just leave it on private until you're ready. A little prep work can prevent a lot of stress in the future. So you can relax and enjoy fellowship with your fellow community members.
Enjoy!
This month's question: Do you prep for future seasons or holidays? Send in your answer below!  Editors love feedback!
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WDC JANUARY SITE CONTEST
Excerpt: The task is simple: Write a letter to yourself and tell you what your goals are for 2024!
The task is simple: Write a short story using the image prompt above as inspiration!
This forum is designed to get your creative juices flowing. 10,000 gps will be given away every 24 hours!
Prompt: January 14-20: Teammates. Sometimes there is a spark with someone else on the team or one of the teams, whether it's allowed by the sport or not. I'm flexible here. It can be same team or it can be from a rival team. Just has to be the same sport and league/level. Show us what can happen when two characters playing a sport click outside the game.
Prompt: Write about a dark character:
 What's their story?
What draws them toward the dark side?
Do they get better or worse?
Incorporate whatever you need to create a character I can love and hate at the same time.
In honour of January being number ONE in terms of months, all prompts will be one word.
--- Prompt #1: Resolution --- Prompt #2: Ink --- Prompt #3: Regret
Excerpt: WDC members are a hardy lot always looking to make their writing effort a bit easier. Many members have created How-To articles explaining and defining some particular aspect of this complex site. Due to the sheer numbers of these informational items, it's difficult to find and publicize them.
Thus, the purpose of this contest--to identify and codify these How-To articles in the File Cabinet.
Looking for a few good bees!
This puzzle is a challenge!
CNotes have Trinkets attached. The final cost of the CNote is independent of whether a Trinket is attached or not.
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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
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This month's question: Do you prep for future seasons or holidays?
Send in your answer below! Editors love feedback!
Last month's "Contests & Activities Newsletter (December 20, 2023)" question: How do you handle complaints or criticism?
W.P. Gerace  : Greetings Legerdemain, I do hope you are doing well today my friend. I want to answer both your questions if it's ok. The first one do I feel Inspired belonging to WDC? Yes that is 1000% yes. My problem is personal and I have been inactive both on WDC and my writing and have had some personal struggles and issues that have been a huge block to my creative process. It was largely financial but I finally figured a way where I can still write. For a moment I thought I was going to have to take on a second job which would not leave much time for writing and here on WDC. Thankfully I have finally figured it out. I know that sounds ODD but this site does Inspire me. Before all this I regularly participated in the Writer's Cramp Contest as I used it as a warm up exercise before I started my own writing. Thanks to this I have tons of stories in my port now. It is almost 2024 and I am finally getting ready to get back into this and make this year the year I get much writing done. The second question how do I handle complaints/criticism I have to say I am kind of used to that to a degree since I work in Customer Service well now I am in Quality but when I was on the phones Customer Complaints/Criticisms is common. When I would get this whether the complaint was valid or not I would apologize and say I am so sorry that occurred and always offered to submit their Feedback/Complaint as that is a job requirement where I work and it should be noted of course for the customer as we work for ways to improve things. When it comes to me and my job I get tons of feedback from my Team Leader. There are a lot of things I am working on to make myself a better Team Member. I don't get upset per se but it worries me as I do want to get better at my job. I know that was a mouthful sorry friend. I would like to wish you and your family a beautiful blessed Healthy Prosperous New Years :) :
Bob  : I was known as the guy who wore his heart on his sleeve. You bump it, it hurts.
When I took up writing, other writers said, "no matter what others say about your work, write."
So, I wrote, and wrote, then after a few years I began showing it to beta readers and by George, most of my reviews were complementary. Got my heart on the inside now and I don't really care what folks think or say, I like to write and will as long as the gray matter holds up.
tj ~ endeavors to persevere!  : I haven't done any contests or activities, but I would handle them with simple logic, if you don't like it, don't do the contest or activity.
Arsuit : First I take it personally. Then I continue taking it personally. A week later, I come back to see if the points they made were valid. If they were, I incorporate the advice into my next works. If the points they made were factually incorrect, or merely demands for strict adherence to arbitrary rules, then I ignore them
jdennis  : Criticisms: First in, last out. Complaints: All out!
Scarypotato-doing bettertoday : I'm getting better about not being so defensive. Sometimes I respond to complaints and criticism. This usually involves me either telling them I'll fix it if I think they're right. Other times if I kinda think it's not something I need to put right, I'll try to explain why I did things the way I did.
I'm also a bit lazy, so instead of fixing that particular piece, I may just take that advice into account for future works.
Sorry. At least it's better than what I used to do. If someone criticized me back when I was a teen, I either would've cried or yelled at them.
It's good, I'm trying to be better at responding I think.
Victoria : Usually I get butthurt, then I process it over the course of a few days, and then I come to my senses and appreciate anything, if anything, that I feel is valid. I need that processing time to determine how I feel about the feedback because I tend to immediately agree with what others say when they criticize, but it doesn't always serve the story, and people aren't always correct. I have to trust my knowledge, too.
I had someone some years ago here at wdc rip apart my story in a review. It hurt. The story was my baby, and he was one of few who took issue with the writing. It took me a while, but he was right in many respects, and I've improved so much since then.
Complaints though? That's different. I'd have to take that on a case-by-case basis.
G. B. Williams  : I try to separate the two before determining whether or not I accept the complaint or the criticism. Once separated, I check the written piece to see if the complaint or criticism is legit. If I determine it is legitimate, I will make adjustments, especially if either comes with recommendations on addressing the issue.
If the complaint or criticism is just negative and nasty, I treat it as such and place it where it belongs, usually file 13!
elephantsealer  : Criticism, I can handle; however, complaints? Why would someone complain about my writing, for instance? Anyone capable of criticism with regard to anyone else's work may do so; but complain about my work? I can write anything and no one has the right to complain about my work. If someone does complain about my work, I would definitely "challenge" him/her because there is not one iota of right or whatever reason he/she would have the right to complain what I write. It is what I believe in, and I will write whatever it is I deem to write.
LightinMind : elephantsealer - Surely both content and beliefs are not irrelevant? A writer cannot expect people to simply accept their assumptions and so proper feedback must include their authentic reactions to your work. If you eliminate complaint you eliminate the honesty from conversation.
bryanmchunter: I tell the user that I'm sorry that they did not like my work.
joemjackson : bryanmchunter - Why?
TheBusmanPoet : I listen but I'll decide in the end what and how I write. Complaints I ignore.
LightinMind : Whether I listen depends on the truth element in the critique. Some negatives are just put-downs from people who think the world owes them respect but who have never learned to give it. From truth, I can learn something while a putdown is useless. Whether I connect to the person has to do with the love element. Do they say this to establish a hierarchy of some sort in their minds or is there a genuine concern or care behind it? Someone who criticizes me fairly but harshly is always in danger of a reciprocal review while someone who just puts down is more likely to be simply blocked.
kimauge : Until my book is done, I pass over complaints and criticism. But I can accept good complains or criticism.
Scifiwizard Retired : I write for fun but I welcome constructive criticism. What I write is not necessarily what everyone is looking to read. I am grateful to those who take the time to read and review my work and I consider the advice they give. Without critics, a writer risks missing a detail or error that could make or break their story and/or screenplay.
H❀pe of House Lannister : I had an accountant many years ago who told me that 10% of people would complain about the price - he told me this so I would expect to get complainers and not worry so much about that.
His conversation developed to say that if you don't have 10% complaining, that means even the complainers think you are cheap; which means you are way too low priced!
I think his rationale flows through into all areas of life.
Like the singing girl says it "haters gonna hate'.
Angelica- House Florent B & W : I've had very good criticism and poor feedback both. Most of the time the criticism is productive and aids in great editing work. The other kind is usually obvious due to off topic mode. Complaints are opinions that may help you decide if scene created desired effect. I try not to complain too much.
s : Complaints - it's par for the course. people can complain all they want.
Criticism - I am going to assume this is about writing, so I look to see what they did not like. If more than one person has the same criticism, then it's obviously a problem and needs adjustment. Critics are important.
John Johnny Johnson : I listen to what they have to say. If they're kind and constructive, I either incorporate what they say or apologise that that's not what I do. If they're rude, I tell them so and stop responding.
HollisFrances : I usually delay my responses to complaints or criticism to allow me the time to mull over what as relayed to me, who it was, and the tone in which it was given. I first have to do a self-check to see if I'm hangry, tired, grouchy etc., in an effort to decide if I am swaying the intent on the criticism/complaint one way or another. I may or may not ever respond. Or, I'll wait until the appropriate time to do so.
And right now, I've only had a half cup of coffee, I'm a little hangry, I haven't taken my B vitamins yet this morning and after mulling it over a bit, what business is it of yours to ask me a question like that anyway?! Mind your own business!
Pausing for maximum effect;
Just kidding. Merry Christmas.
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Contests & Activities: January 17, 2024 Issue [#12372]
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