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This week: In and Outs of Contests Edited by: fyn  
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It is nice to have valid competition; it pushes you to do better.~~Gianni Versace
Live daringly, boldly, fearlessly. Taste the relish to be found in competition - in having put forth the best within you.~~Henry J. Kaiser
When I go out on the ice, I just think about my skating. I forget it is a competition.~~Katarina Witt
When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself.~~Earl Nightingale
Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers. It may not be difficult to store up in the mind a vast quantity of facts within a comparatively short time, but the ability to form judgments requires the severe discipline of hard work and the tempering heat of experience and maturity.~~Calvin Coolidge
There is no mistaking the dismay on the face of a writer who has just heard that his brain child is a deformed idiot.~~ L. Sprague de Camp
The reason one writes isn't the fact he wants to say something. He writes because he has something to say. ~~F. Scott Fitzgerald
The pen is the tongue of the mind.~~Miguel de Cervantes |
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Contests. To borrow from a song, "I've looked at [them] from both sides now." Judges/contestants. The proverbial 'two sides to every story' story!
Each has responsibilities, rules or directions to follow, actions to take and a level of honor and integrity to uphold. Let's start with the contestants.
1 Responsibilities. Entrants must follow the rules or guidelines. This requires reading all of them, not simply skimming the rules. It also requires paying attention to such things as line/word limits, where and when to post, highlighting words as required, and in general, doing what is asked.
Noticed in an ongoing contest where it specifically states to post entries under the prompt posting. The majority haven't. Why, I wonder? Not following directions? If there are required words to use, make sure you understand the words and use them correctly. If you are unfamiliar with the word, look it up! EASY! Far better than using it incorrectly! Also says to make required words orange...not the whole poem. Just the words. Hmmm. Paying attention to rules or guidelines is paramount! It is SO important. Doing so shows care, attention to detail and a respect for the contest or publisher. Another posts a very short poem when the host said she didn't want a super short entry. Why shoot yourself in the foot? Reading directions and following them is (have I said this yet?) IMPORTANT!
1b. A case in point. (Judges can be a bit sneaky when they really want to be sure people do read ALL the directions!
When you are in a contest, DO read the rules!! ALL of the rules. After being called diabolical and mean, I decided to have some fun the last day of the recent Construct Cup contest. I decided to see if folks would read all of the directions for the final prompt. I went completely over the top with words to use or not use, with specifics for each verse and with specifics for each line as well. Additionally, many of the phrasings from day to day were static, unchanging. I added something to the very end. Would they read everything and see it? This was the prompt.
Prompt for: Sept 30, 2015 (fyn)
Subject or Theme: Write about the contest itself; what you think, what you liked or didn’t. What you LEARNED!
Now, Ren said I could have free rein with this one. I could be as mean as I liked! WARNING WARNING! Read the directions as they are complicated!
Word(s) to Include: arc, pathetic, host, supercilious, bloody, injest ,
wander, ponder, trepidation, silence, cumulous, fortitude, braindead, paw,
stapler, convoluted, shun, magenta, magnitude, egregious, promontory,
feather, a “well known classical author,” symposium, chapter, endeavor, triumph,
spirit, proficient, ban, belief, luminous, spazz, evolve, picturesque, sharp,
quantum, fractal, tremulous, quaking, shiver, rue, mayhem, diabolical.(or any derivatives of these words)
Forbidden Word(s): a, an, of, on, for, to, the, from, too, if, up,
down, in, out, I, me, you, he, she, him, her, my, them, their, are,
is, has, was, us,it, did, use, write, pen, type, text, read, come,
go, do, did, done, go, be, mean, rotten, horrible. (or any derivatives of these words)
Additional Parameters:
24 lines of 4 stanzas of 6 lines.
1st stanza: no words using the letter ‘a’
2nd stanza: no words using the letter ‘e’
3rd stanza: no words using letter ‘i’
4th stanza: no words using the letter: ‘s’
1st line in EACH stanza must use alliteration within it
2nd line in EACH Stanza must include at least two versions of a heteronym.
3rd line in EACH stanza must use 12 syllables.
4th line in EACH stanza must use at least 3 'required' words.
5th line in EACH stanza must use 7 words.
6th line in EACH stanza must start and end with the same word
Remember, do not use forbidden words ANYWHERE, including title or the brief description. Discount all prior directions except Theme.
Some were saved because one of the contestants clued others in. Others missed it entirely. Did you? And, just to prove it could be accomplished, I did write a poem fulfilling the guidelines--assuming they didn't read ALL the directions! (Both of the judges typically had to post a poem a day to the prompt as a sample.)
2. Actions to take. Whether submitting to a contest here on WdC OR to entering a piece of your writing/manuscript to a contest or for publication, the piece should be as error free as you can make it. It should be read over, revised, edited, proof read and spell checked. It should be submitted in the requested format whether a bitem link or double spaced in a word doc. It should be submitted within the allocated time frame and submitted where/how it is supposed to be submitted. Posting in the wrong place, under the wrong forum or as a reply to another's post may well get one disqualified, have it be missed or some other disaster.
If a daily contest comprising five, ten or thirty days, be sure you have the time to invest before committing to same. Deciding halfway through a contest that you don't have the time is simply not cool (unless a major emergency erupts!) It isn't fair to the judges who have invested their time to read/score/judge your work only to find that you decide to bug out.
Another good idea is that of 'audience.' Try to both know and understand your audience whether it be a judge or a publisher. Beyond the audience you are writing for in general, being aware of the audience who is judging ( or, in the case of a class you might be writing for, the teacher) can help you do better. Always, the audiences, are critical.
3. Honor and integrity. If rules say a 'new' item, be sure it IS new. Not a quickly re-edited and posted variant of something already in your port. Do not delete the former item and create a new one. That's not being honorable! YOUR work only. That should be a given. Sadly, it isn't always.
On to the judges side of things.
1. Responsibilities. Judges MUST be fair, impartial, honest, consistent and dependable. Writing contests are not popularity contests. They are about writing whether to picture, prompt, quote or general directions. Judging should be reasonably quick. If one is a judge, time constraints (family, jobs, other commitments) should have been addressed before committing to said contest.
2. Actions to take. When devising a contest, the contest host must be sure that the rules are fair across the board. For example, on a contest with a twenty-four hour turn-around, if the host decides to allow late entries, then it must still be fair to those who did get their entries in on time. Getting ZERO points for the day, perhaps, or only half the possible points at best. This will keep it fair so that some people do not have two or three days to work on their poems when the others had less than a day. Fair is fair, after all.
Judging criteria should be spelled out. For example: Points (and how many) are lost for a, b and c. (where a, b and c might be typos, following directions, writing to prompt, using specific words, etc.) This criteria should be available to the contestants on request as it can clear up any confusion a entrant may have. A good contest will do this. This makes it a the best possible combination of objective and subjective judging!
No judge will like all the diverse subjects/genres or types of writing submitted. Does NOT matter. What matters is that the piece is well written, goes with the prompt. Judges also need to read the pieces every bit as much as contestants need to read directions. Skimming is wrong. Judges really need to read and reread pieces, to delve into the meat of the writing and look for not only creativity, but all the layered nuances that might (or might not) be present. They need to examine flow, constructs, plot holes, uses of rhyme or meter or assonance or alliteration. It is not simply a matter of 'I like that,' It is a matter of why and what the writing accomplishes. Judges need to be competent to judge the material they are judging.
They must be timely in their judging and not leave folks hanging. Realistic timeframes should be clearly stated in contest rules and then followed.
3. Honor and Integrity. As I mentioned earlier, writing contests are just that; they are not popularity contests. Judges must be impartial and by this I mean that there should be no question of honest and fair judging. Nothing should ever be done to give any inference that this can be happening. There should be nothing to cast any doubt about the way judging is handled. It is called a conflict of interest. Don't be a judge if your best friend is entering or do not judge their work. It is too easy to let your mind be swayed by the connections or by feeling pressured to lean a certain way. Defeats the whole purpose of the contest. And, it is not fair to others who enter.
Typically there ends up being a curve where the majority of entrants will be grouped in the middle. A few will rise with a close point spread, where leaders change daily. Then there will always be those who fall a bit on the shy side, but even they tend to have a stellar day or three. Rarely is there more than a few point spread between the top three or four finishers. If there is, then something is off.
Judging is difficult work, but it can also be rewarding, enlightening and it is a great way to learn about both writing and judging. Depending upon the number of entrants, it can require a huge investment of time. It is not a job to be taken lightly.
Regarding both the entrants and the judges: there is a symbiotic relationship between them as both can teach and learn from the other. The best contests are those where the runners up feel that it was a hard fought competition and yet, appreciate the winner's winning, where they were able to learn something new and where they know, regardless of any outcome, that they offered their best work and that they will come back and try again.
Bottom line, in any competition, I think Howard Cosell said it best: The ultimate victory in competition is derived from the inner satisfaction of knowing that you have done your best and that you have gotten the most out of what you had to give.
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amyjo-Keeping it real and fun!  wrote: I had to gulp a few times reading this article. It could be called harsh, but when one is supposed to be learning discipline, oftentimes harsh is called for. I appreciate your words, and I need to take the time to "slow down". I am so excited about this site, and want to try everything. I get in so big a hurry, that I can overlook some simple things. Thank you for sharing this, and I want to take these things to heart. sincerely, amy
Osirantinous  says: An absolutely great article. If something's a work in progress indicate it as such, and readers will notice but accept errors and issues. If it's a contest entry, definitely see it as an 'interview' - your one chance to make an impression. The number of times I've seen entries penalized or even disqualified because rules haven't been met is quite amazing. And the number of job seekers stopped at the door because of appallingly written cover letters is just as high. We should always be putting our best foot forward, no matter the scenario or setting.
Quick-Quill  worries: I like writing but life has a way of interfering with my time and energy. Working two jobs doesn't leave me a lot of time to write. This years NANO may end up a bust. Its November and Holiday season in the retail world. IF I find there isn't the time to come to the computer and write I will do so with paper and pen. Just knowing each day I'm writing is enough. I don't know if I'm a hobbit or a "real" writer. I have one book published and want to know, deep inside, if I'm a one-hit-wonder or do I have it in me to write a book others will buy and read? Onward to November!
Good luck! One horse wonder? You? I doubt it!
Nixie Martell cheerleader  adds: Hi, Fyn,
I read in a book that publishers check dialogue first. If it doesn't grab their attention, chances are the book hits the bin. I was wondering what your take on this was.
[fyn interjecting: I know when I read a manuscript, I am looking for good dialog, good descriptions, WELL written with a lack of numerous typos, compelling story and it needs to make sense. Beyond that, would it be something I'd want to publish, would it be something I'd want my logo attached, is it marketable and will it have a good chance of selling. Then again, I believe in (and take the time to do so) reading entire manuscripts! There have been times where the first forty or fifty pages were not good, but the rest of the book was. These are editorial type fixes and can often be addressed if the rest of the book is good!]
Also about judging other people. I think it's more of a matter of sensing what another person is projecting. Judging has a bad connotation.
What you said about contest rules? I had no idea that judges might have secondary goals. Or maybe it just comes naturally. I don't enter too many contests.
I think everything we do, writing or reviewing, forum posts, or email responses, all tell a story about who we are. You're absolutely right. Our best effort in all facets of life play into the impression others have.
Thanks for this enlightening news letter!
Julie comments: I enjoyed your soapbox about proofreading! I am of the same opinion. When I submit a manuscript someday, I already know I'll be ahead of most of the competition simply because I take time to reread, proof, and rewrite! I find it astonishing that people don't even reread their work before posting it or sending it somewhere. For me that's not even a consideration. Because I used to take my science tests so carefully in school, my teacher gave me the nickname Heinz: slow but good. 
As for contests, I enjoy them all. I like flash fiction contests, and I also like contests with prompts because it makes me think and be more creative. I appreciate contests where style and grammar ARE judged, because hey, I want to be rewarded for taking my time! I have lots of ideas for contests I would like to run someday, and they all have a specific element of learning. For instance, imitating a specific author's style or passage from a book.
LaVonne adds: Amen! I loved this article. I also believe that anything a person does in life is worth doing right. As you said, we all make mistakes, but we should always be learning from them. I am still learning - how to be a good writer, how to be a good employee, how to be a good wife, how to be a good Christian. Thanks for your article and good advice. Blessings, LaVonne
Ren the Klutz! says: Terrific newsletter fyn!! Very well said and very true. What we do every day is a reflection on ourselves, whether it be online or in the physical world. I talk to my son about choices all the time, and speeding tickets is one of them. If I make the choice to speed then if I get caught I accept a ticket. It goes along with a piece I wrote about living with integrity. People don't like owning up to what they do, they prefer, many times, to point fingers instead (they forget they have three fingers pointing back at them).
dwarf2012 writes: Thank you for highlighting my poem. I also used to work as a therapist with girls (and a couple of boys) who had anorexia.
An excellent poem! You really got the point across!
Arizona Lawman writes: I enjoyed your newsletter Fyndorian. Being a newbie at WDC is both exciting and soul destroying, sometimes in equal parts. I've lived the last thirty five years as an actor, really my entire life has been as an actor of one kind or another. My life path could be described as a sort of a cross between Charles Bronson and Clark Gable. I've had no time for writing, but lots of experiences.
Yes, I have submitted work here that was not ready to be seen. Yes, it got me ripped in reviews, but I am learning and improving from those mistakes. I am tough, I don't mind being ripped, I've been there before. I hope enduring these trials has improved my work.
My only suggestion, as I told one reviewer, ask the question did you try to avoid that mistake? I had tried. I am not good at grammar. I run my work through every program I can find, yet I know there are mistakes. If a reviewer points to the ones I missed, I grateful and acknowledge that in the reply. If the reviewer is rude and course and insulting, I point that out as well. I have only experienced that once on WDC. I will not lie down and be trampled upon, without a word being said about the method of torture.
I am grateful I have found WDC. My life is slowing down, I have time to put those experiences to use in a fictional form. I wish to convey those lessons I have learned, through a method which does not employ preaching.
I hope to be able to publish the work one day, so I spend more time reviewing what I have written than I ever believed would be required. I find it nearly as interesting correcting, as I found writing the work.
This is the first time I have read your newsletter, Fyndorian. I look forward to reading more of your points to remember. Thank you, these points do help.
Angus  says: Hi Fyn!
Fantastic Newsletter! I agree 1,000% that a writer should strive to perfect his work before showing it to the public. I try to be perfect in my own writing, but let's face it, none of us are, and I do make mistakes. But I love it when my mistakes are brought to my attention! You made some excellent examples, and thanks for sharing!
mettab15 adds: I read 'the jobs are nowhere' first. Does that say something about me? Great newsletter! As someone who runs contests I love it when people follow the rules and edit their work. Especially if I'm the judge. I want to read great stories, not have to do DQ people. Right now I'm running a group daily Flash Fiction contest, and I've set some pretty complicated tasks (such as the last two letters of each sentence being the first two letters of the next). Some have multiple layers of rules with them, which are there to make things go smoothly. Luckily I've only had to DQ a few out of the many submissions.
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