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Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/13431-Hold-On-Dont-Delete.html
Contests & Activities: November 05, 2025 Issue [#13431]




 This week: Hold On, Don't Delete
  Edited by: Dawn Embers 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

Contests & Activities Newsletter by Dawn

A little discussion about the troubles of having folder limits, too many documents but wanting to enter contests. Some thoughts as a contest owner and other thoughts as someone entering the contests over when to delete an item or change to limited access.


Letter from the editor

There are times when a tough decision has to be made after entering a contest. The initial fun is over once the story or poem is done and things have been posted in the contest forum. That spark is gone. Next comes the boring wait for the round to end. Then the time it takes for the judge to come up with the results. Sometimes it's easy to forget about an item while a judge takes there time. Some contests have longer waits and that includes the site official contests. The judges are humans and have lives offline so that means we can't always get back with winners right away. So. there can be a wait happen.

Problem with this is that not everyone has a portfolio space big enough to hold 500 items. Some of us have been on the site, writing, for over 20 years and don't want to delete the old ones for nostalgia. Not everyone wants to pay for or do the reviews to earn gift points (not all have that time) in order to support the fees of a bigger membership. All of this leads to limited space for static items. Not every contest allows for book items. Not everyone is even allowed to have a book.

This does make things difficult.

What do you do when a contest round hasn't been judged but you don't have enough space?

I don't have a great answer. I would suggest get more space but I do understand that isn't easy for everyone and it's possible that it might not happens. So, I do understand, as a judge, that there are times when you want to put something away in order to make space for a new item. However, that does make things a little difficult as a judge. Let's consider this asa judge. After putting up a contest, doing the work with the forum and everything that it takes to hold a contest. After hoping for people enter and it actually happens, that all is great. But when you go to try and read or put together a review of an item entered, you no longer have access. It is sad when something can't get a review after winners are announced. It is unfortunate when an item is no longer viewable before the judging even ends.

For the judges, it would help if we could get things done right away, within a week. I know that and yet it doesn't always happen because I'm also writing and dealing with health issues. Other judges have jobs and families that take up time. So, there can be a struggle on both sides of the contest field: owning/judging or entering.

I've seen items deleted too early as a judge and while I do understand the struggles for keeping things in a portfolio, I can also feel for the contest owner or judge. So, I do have a minor request. If you are going to enter a contest, please try to wait for a judge to finished before deleting or changing the status.if you don't want random people reading it, put a passkey on it and give the judge the code. You go through all of that effort to enter a contest, give them a little time in return.


Editor's Picks

 
SURVEY
Quotation Inspiration: Official Contest Open in new Window. (ASR)
Use the quote provided to write a story and win big prizes!
#1207944 by Writing.Com Support 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 28 Open!
#2293351 by Cranberremy Sauce Author IconMail Icon


Daily Flash Fiction Challenge Open in new Window. (13+)
Enter your story of 300 words or less.
#896794 by Arakun the Scary Raccoon Author IconMail Icon


FORUM
Thankful Poetry Contest Open in new Window. (13+)
An uplifting annual contest welcoming short poems about thanksgiving and gratitude.
#2235153 by 🌻 pwheeler ~ love joy peace Author IconMail Icon


FORUM
Creature Features Open in new Window. (13+)
Round 33 open!
#2211262 by Angelica Weatherby- Fox/dragon Author IconMail Icon


The Bard's Hall Contest Open in new Window. (13+)
November Prompt: Dear Mom/Dad, from exchange student
#981150 by StephBee Author IconMail Icon


 
FORUM
Wintry Writing Wonderland Open in new Window. (ASR)
A contest for creations celebrating winter holidays
#2349573 by Šuŋgmánitu Tȟáŋka Author IconMail Icon


FORUM
The Lodestar Contest Open in new Window. (13+)
Looking for a guiding light. Monthly short story rounds from July through December.
#2130938 by Satuawany Author IconMail Icon

 
Submit an item for consideration in this newsletter!
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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

How long are you willing to wait for a contest before you delete an item?

Happy Novel Writing Month and good luck to those working on novels. Whether writing a novel or anything else, I hope it goes well.

Yay! image to motive writing thanks to a friend



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