  Contests & Activities
This week: Get the Word Out Edited by: Legerdemain  
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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.
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| ASIN: 0996254145 |
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Amazon's Price: $ 12.95
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Get the Word Out
Getting participation in your contest or activity takes two things, a great idea and promotion. Lots of people come up with great ideas, create their contest or activity, and then wait for members to find their offering. And then wonder why few people entered.
Not only does setting up and running a contest take energy and time, so does promotion. Don't count on tons of people looking through the contest listings to find your item. Yes, you'll get people from there but take a little time to do more. Once you contest is running and the word gets out, you'll find repeat entrants.
 Get your contest/activity off the ground by making it clear, concise and visually interesting.
 Post your item on the "Writing Contests @ Writing.Com" or "Activities @ Writing.Com" page. Be sure to list the beginning and ending dates and prompt!
 Post it on your newsfeed! Tell your friends about the contest, have them take a look and promote it in their newsfeed!
 If you get permission, post it in your group forums.
 Have a few reviewers stop in with a public review.
 + Promote it on social media! Perhaps someone will join!
 Submit your item to the Contest & Activities newsletter, let our editors know you have something new going on.
 Consider advertising with "BidClick System: Sponsored Items, Links & Genres"
This month's question: What have you done to promote your contest or activity? Send in your answer below!  Editors love feedback!
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| |  | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#1935670 by Not Available. |
Excerpt: I want weird stories, tons of twists, ludicrous plot lines, general oddities and absurdity wherever possible. I revel in the insane, the inane, the incontinent…Wait, got carried away, just the first two. If you think your fiction is frivolous or your short story superfluous, this could be the contest for you.
Every round begins near the first of the month and ends at midnight on the last of the month. If there are less than five entries, only first prize will be awarded. If there are less than eight, only first and second. Ten or more entries, and I'll award first, second and third. Winners will be announced by the fifth of the following month.
Excerpt: I post a photo and you picture a story in the making. No need to write the entire story, unless you want to. All I need is a title and summary of the story, like what you might read on the inside flap of a book cover.
| | | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#1948893 by Not Available. |
Excerpt: As the title says, four times genre, the contest is focusing on four genres: Fantasy / Science Fiction - Horror - Children's - Romance/ Erotica
Excerpt: Place a sacrifice on the altar below to summon one of the sable spirits. Should the Scribe devour the offering, the Tome of Terror will bleed with new ink and unleash a secret of terror. Should the Scribe destroy the offering, the secrets will shroud themselves again, and the sepulcher will rot away.
| | | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#1947347 by Not Available. |
Excerpt: You're proud of your portfolio. You've put up some great work, and excellent feedback has helped you make it even better. Through the years, your skill has grown - nothing shows that better than when you happen to look through your old work and suddenly feel an urge to set it on fire.
You were once proud of it, but now you see it has so many flaws that no number of revisions could save it. The characterization is weak, the description is empty, the overall style is immature and poorly formed.
Don't burn it. Rewrite it.
Excerpt: The purpose of this contest is to showcase your talent as an author of erotica. Each submitted piece should therefore display both erotic and literary skills. The goal is to create an anthology of quality erotica stories and poems which will ultimately be published
Excerpt: Tell us about your life! What kind of things do you like to do? Where do you work?
Are you healthy? How many kids do you have? How many times have you been married? Where do you live? Do you enjoy crafts, mountains, beach? What hobbies do you like? Do you have kids, grandkids? How old are you, oh come on, be brave 
Excerpt: Do you need some pampering? Do you know someone who deserves a treat? We're here to shower you with acts of joy. Feel free to purchase a showering package for yourself or someone else! Everyone feels better after a refreshing shower!
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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
Don't forget to support our sponsor!
| ASIN: B07K6Z2ZBF |
Product Type: Kindle Store
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Amazon's Price: $ 4.99
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This month's question: What have you done to promote your contest or activity?
Last month's question: What feature would you like to see more in contests and activities?
Angels in my Ear  answered: I think there need to be more open rules. Many of us write not only from prompts, but inspiration. Because I write a lot of free verse, but am unable to enter my own contest, many of my poems are not eligible in other contests. Prompts are helpful, but by allowing open submissions, you are sure to garner more entries. I have an open prompt, and in my first 12 rounds have never had less than 20 entries in any round.
Elle - on hiatus  replied: Two things I'd like to see more in contests on WDC - allowing editing past the contest deadline, and no requirement to include the word count. I don't see what either of these gain the host, and they are common reasons for entries being disqualified. The editing one really bugs me - shouldn't we be encouraging authors to edit and revise their work wherever possible? Even fixing a typo is not usually allowed. Simply judge the version you have before you at the time of judging (and make it clear you will do so) and encourage authors to revise and edit wherever they see opportunity for improvement.
Jeff  sent: I like activities that are fresh and exciting. Contests with a single judge, review blitzes, and fundraisers that auction/raffle off packaged combinations of reviews, MBs and Awardicons are great, but I like it when an activity really puts in the effort to do something unusual. Maybe it's the judging mechanics, or unique prize packages, or even just the integration of a good theme... whatever it is, I like activities and contests that have that "wow" factor and offer something out of the ordinary.  |
| ASIN: B083RZ37SZ |
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Amazon's Price: $ 19.99
Not currently available. |
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Contests & Activities: August 13, 2014 Issue [#6492]
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