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Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/13327-Your-Attention-Please.html
Contests & Activities: September 03, 2025 Issue [#13327]




 This week: Your Attention, Please
  Edited by: 🐕GeminiGem🎁 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



for newsletters
Greetings! I am 🐕GeminiGem🎁 Author Icon, one of the regular editors of the Contests & Activities newsletter.


Letter from the editor

Your Attention, Please


I have been distracted this summer.

Granted, I did retire at the beginning of summer. The freedom from a full-time job is intoxicating. What should I do today? ANYTHING I WANT. For a neuro-spicy individual such as myself, this can be deliciously overwhelming.

In My Defense


Don't get the idea that I am complaining, because I most definitely am not. I am thrilled to be free of the workaday grind. I love that I have the time to indulge in multiple hobbies, do regular volunteer work with rescue dogs, and am slowly getting my house in the shape I want it to be in. The days slip by quickly because I am one busy retiree.

Sometimes I struggle to keep Writing.Com in the mix.

My activities like "Merit Badge Magic" Open in new Window. are still running, even if I am not as attentive as I have been historically. I suspect that things will settle down, and I will be back to spending way too much time here.

It is a lesson to be learned for those members who run contests and activities here. Sometimes, life changes and shifts. Priorities change, available time changes, etc. There may come a time when you need to do some sort of WdC reckoning. Do I take a break from running my activities and risk losing the support of the participating members? Do I dig in deeper and find the time to keep things running smoothly?

Just so you know, if you are an active member for a long time, you may have to make this decision multiple times. I know I have. My decision is usually to squeeze the time out of my busy schedule and keep my presence here. I hope yours will be, too.

Multi-colored Watercolor Divider


IN OTHER NEWS It is Writing.Com's 25th BIRTHDAY! There is always so much going on for birthday week. Click on the *Balloono*Party Central link on the left side of your screen, or here:

STATIC
Writing.Com Party Central 2025! Open in new Window. (E)
We're celebrating our 25th birthday - a quarter of a century! Stop in and celebrate!
#506157 by The StoryMistress Author IconMail Icon






Editor's Picks

 Ten Minute Misconduct Contest Open in new Window. (E)
A contest for short stories of any length, but hurry and get your submission posted!
#2107428 by T.S. Garp Author IconMail Icon

FORUM
Space Wars Open in new Window. (13+)
There is a war going on in outer space and the aliens need your help to bring peace!
#2280815 by Munchomonster- Octoprep Author IconMail Icon

FORUM
WDC Birthday Contest Open in new Window. (ASR)
See you in 2026! Winners announced in the forum post.
#2343349 by Munchomonster- Octoprep Author IconMail Icon

FORUM
Hook of the Book Open in new Window. (18+)
Can you write the most engaging opening sentence for a story? Round 26 Open!
#2293351 by Jeremummy Author IconMail Icon

FORUM
The Long Poetry Contest Open in new Window. (13+)
Closed for now
#2329179 by Charles's Cauldron 🎃 Author IconMail Icon

FORUM
Show Off Your Best at the Bee Hive  Open in new Window. (ASR)
The Bee's Hive Official Spot for Parties & Special Events - now CLOSED
#1092898 by SpookyBee Author IconMail Icon

FORUM
The Simple Fundraiser  Open in new Window. (E)
Celebrating 25 years of Writing.Com. Choose your prize from 15 exclusive merit badges!
#1889041 by Nosferette Author IconMail Icon

FORUM
Barrel of Monkeys Open in new Window. (E)
An annual interlinked musical blogging challenge! Runs every September.
#1987725 by Jeff-o'-lantern 🎃 Author IconMail Icon

The Bard's Hall Contest Open in new Window. (13+)
October Prompt: Something Horror this way Comes!
#981150 by SpookyBee Author IconMail Icon

FORUM
Writing.Com in Wonderland Open in new Window. (E)
a celebration 25 years in the making! Come step into Wonderland for fantastic prizes!
#1266628 by iKïyå§amhain Author IconMail Icon

 
FORUM
The Office - CLOSED Open in new Window. (E)
A 25th WdC Anniversary Celebration!
#2343627 by Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕ Author IconMail Icon

FORUM
Merit Badge Magic Open in new Window. (E)
A magical way to inspire your Muse! New themes to write about every month. Not a contest.
#2293943 by 🐕GeminiGem🎁 Author IconMail Icon

 
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

Ask & Answer

Feedback from my last Contests & Activities Newsletter "A Skewed View of the Official Contests" Open in new Window.

FYI: Jeff-o'-lantern 🎃 flatly denies owning a Dodgers cap, suspiciously stained or otherwise. He did not deny knowing Larry the Garden Gnome, or comment on betting on illegal wiener-dog races.

Perhaps it would be best if you went ahead and read the newsletter (assuming you haven't already). Link is above.



from Lilli Munster 🦇 ☕ Author Icon
Had me ROFL with this one! #IYKYK
I admit that I had entirely too much fun with this issue of the newsletter.

from JCosmos Author Icon
Great and slightly satirical take. I loved it. Is Jeff human or a bot? Hard to tell nowadays and CathGP3 and other Chatbots have broken through the recaptha barier figuring all they have to do when confronted with are you human is to lie and click yes and spamsters have all started using AI unfortuantely the literary spamsters in the PI are leading the way!
I have it on good authority that Jeff is a human bot crossbreed.

from Ja-Ja-JINX Author Icon
Perhaps you might mention that only paid members are eligible for the prizes in the WDC Official contests. It might save some disappointment down the road.
Valid point, Jace. If the Tarot cards don't read in a person's favor, there's not much we can do to help an entrant out, now is there?


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