  Contests & Activities
This week: Be a Good Contestant 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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Be a Good Contestant!
In this newsletter I'll cover a few suggestions on how to be a good contestant. You probably found the contest on the "Writing Contests @ Writing.Com" page or plugged somewhere on the site. You wrote a fabulous item and entered it in the contest, but didn't win.
Did I win?
When entering, note the closing date and stop in the contest to see! I've been guilty of entering a contest and then promptly forgetting about it. It's a courtesy, even if you didn't win, to stop in and congratulate the winners and thank the contest host for running the contest.
Why didn't I win?
Some contest entries are reviewed by the contest host, some are not. If there are a lot of entries, don't expect the contest host to give you a three page in-depth review. But, they may comment on what it was that didn't make it a winner. Or, if you're really curious, you could email the contest host and ask.
My entry post was deleted, why?
Did you post your entry according to directions? Learning the bitem link can make or break your entry. Did you just paste your poem in the forum anyway? Reading the directions and following them to the letter is important. If the contest says it closes at midnight, your 12:01 am entry shouldn't be considered. If one minute late is okay, should one hour, one day?
My story was 'kind of like' the prompt!
That could be. Often members enter an item they've already written into a contest that has a similar prompt. Should that be the winner when another member wrote an item specifically for that contest? If both stories are equally well written, I would probably choose the second item. Also, if my contest has three prompts and only two are covered in the story, it is disqualified.
Why do I have to follow the rating guidelines anyway?
Some judges don't like to read harsher stories. Not everyone has the same taste in content. If the contest rating only allows items rated up to [18+], entering an erotica story will earn an express elimination. Be sure your item is properly rated and fits within the contest guidelines. Rating content guidelines are important to know everywhere on this site.
I forgot what contest I entered this in!
There are a few things you can do to remember. Jot the contest closing on your calendar. As mentioned above, a courtesy post at the contest closing goes a long way. I also plug the contest it was entered in at the bottom of the item. This way a random visitor to your portfolio can better understand why your item was written the way it is. The item might not even make sense without knowing what the contest prompt was! If you didn't take notes but vaguely remember entering, you can check your My Account > My Activity - Forum Posts in the site navigation panel on the left side of your page. Most contests are held in forums and this listing records all your forum posts.
Woot! I won! Now what?
It certainly is nice to have your item sport an awardicon showing you've written a winner! If your item won GPs, note the contest and your placement in the bottom of your item. Visitors might find it and enter subsequent rounds, which helps the contest longevity. It's also a very nice reminder that your work was acknowledged. Again, visit the forum and thank the host and other contestants with grace and dignity.
Overall, the best advice I can give is to read the instructions carefully. As a judge, I'm always sad to see a fantastic entry eliminated because the contestant just didn't take the time to read the instructions. Good luck and write on!
This month's question: What do you see as a common problem with contest entries?
Send in your answer below!  Editors love feedback!
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| |  | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#1829531 by Not Available. |
Join in the fun!
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This item number is not valid.
#1848696 by Not Available. |
Any Story, Any Word Count
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This item number is not valid.
#1848884 by Not Available. |
Round ends March 15th.
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This item number is not valid.
#1833610 by Not Available. |
Contest rules require a Basic membership or higher.
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This item number is not valid.
#1771385 by Not Available. |
Round 3 opens 12th of February 2012 and closes 31st of March
Auction supports " Need Help With An Upgrade???" .
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This item number is not valid.
#1750653 by Not Available. |
20 prizes!
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This item number is not valid.
#1831282 by Not Available. |
Excerpt:
Learn something new.
For older folks, who still want to have some fun.
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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: What do you see as a common problem with contest entries?
Last month's question: Have you ever turned a smaller contest entry into something larger?
dejavu_BIG computerprobs  replied: In answer to your question; Have you ever turned a smaller contest entry into something larger ? Yes, I wrote a 500 word short story for a contest prompt with our group, it then turned into a 7,000 word short story for a writing course and got me one of only fourteen spots in a Novel course where it's now becoming a novel, helped along by a wonderful mentor Author in Oregon.[ Some writers just never know when to write 'the end'
Aennaytte: Free & Wild in GoT  responded: Answer to your question: Yes, I've had that happen to me that a character whom I created for a contest "took over." The first time was when my husband asked me to write a page and a half about my role-playing character. When I came up for air, I was three novels and three prequels deep into it. That was how I found Writing.Com. Thank you also for featuring my reviewing forum. "Anniversary Reviews"
Mara ♣ McBain  answers: Yes, I've taken a short piece and expanded it into a longer work, but one of my favorite things to do is to use characters from my WIP in short story contests. I already have a feel for these characters and I think that shines through even in a limited WC. These bits can then possibly be used later in your WIP!
blake1197 submits: I wish there was more poetry contests on the site that were easy to locate, that would me one step closer to having enough GP to get an upgraded membership. Check "Writing Contests @ Writing.Com" !
Birdmom  sends: The submission format is confusing. It's not well explained. I would submit more but am probably ineligible because I am not submitting it in the correct format. Some id number is supposed to be included but I have no idea where to find it. I am not sure that my submissions are being considered as I cannot figure out how to submit them. Please advise how to do this correctly. Thank you.
The item ID number you need is on the left side of the page next to your title when looking at your portfolio page. It's a seven digit number. Do not use the # sign when entering the number in your link. Your bitem link will look like this {b-item:1234567} when entering it in a message forum. "Invalid Item" is a good place to learn to link and practice in a message forum setting.
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Contests & Activities: February 29, 2012 Issue [#4901]
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