 Contests & Activities: February 11, 2026 Issue [#13597] |
This week: Is It Dead Yet? Edited by: Legerdemain  
More Newsletters By This Editor 
 
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
| This newsletter aims 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. |
Is It Dead Yet?
Sometimes you'll start an entry for a contest and run out of time or words before the story is finished. What do you do with that stump of a story? There are a few choices. You can finish the story if you have all the ideas to complete it. Then you can save it for another contest or display it in your portfolio.
If the story is fractured, salvage what you can. Did you have a great character but not a great story line? Create a character sketch and include dialogue from the individual because it shows their personality, too. Did you like the story/plot, but your character fell short? Outline it and save it for another character.
Not a winner? Don't delete! There's always something to salvage. Sometimes you merely need a longer word count to improve things. Word counts in contests on WDC are often only a few thousand, and your story needs more, or begins to turn into a novel. Keep pushing through and write all you know.
So create a folder, store the work until it's ready, and Write On!
This month's question: What do you do with your incomplete work? Send in your answer below!  Editors love feedback!
|
February WDC Site Contest
Genre Prompt for February 2026: Gothic
| | PromptMaster ! (18+) A relaxed poetry competition inspired by Taskmaster! January round open! |
The contst runs monthly and gives prompts for poetry.
Have you wanted to write a horror short story?
Do you have an idea for a horror story?
Have you lost a bet and have to write a horror story?
Well, here’s your chance to give it a go!
Looking for horror romance this month.
I will choose the animal, and you can choose the type of monster to show me. Develop a character that will haunt my days.
FEBRUARY PROMPT/ A man loves his girlfriend so much he literally rips out his heart and gives it to her.
I post a prompt a day. You complete at least 20 poems a month, then tag me for your prize.
| | | Scribblers' Den (18+) A backstreet tavern where scribblers can meet to discuss their Craft. |
Excerpt: Hello and welcome. My name is Jack, and for around a decade, my "muse," whatever you conceive that to be, has been lying in a coma.
See if you can identify the following Valentine's Day words.
This Madlib must be newly created with a Valentine theme and must use the following words: Cheese Puffs, Hockey, and Money.
Send a cute cNote to your Valentine!
|
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
This month's question: What do you do with your incomplete work? Send in your answer below! Editors love feedback!
Last month's "Contests & Activities Newsletter (January 14, 2026)" question: What other organization hints do you have?
Wannabe  : Clean house - yup, that is an awesome suggestion after being away from the site for a couple of years and returning to my portfolio. That is exactly what I have been doing. The list you provided is a great reminder of things to do.
I appreciate the plug for the Daily Writing Challenge as well. When I used to run this challenge, I would have dozens of people signing up. This time not so much.
Mousethyme-no romance  : Use folders. They may count as an item in your port, but it goes back yo the organization thing.
TJ says, "keep on keeping on!"  : Huh? Have you seen my port? I don't have any hints, but I sure could use some. 
Always Humble Poet PNG- 📓  : Those all sound like excellent hints. I'm going to start implementing a few of them in my port, just as soon as I find my dictionary and look up this word "organization" of which you speak.
I don't give much thought to arranging things in my port. Probably because I think of my port as a dark closet at the top of a dark stairway in a dark town where no light ever shines and visitors are a rarity. Oh, an occasional lost soul straggles in, but then, I almost never publicize my work. I keep most items set at "Registered Authors+" and I think... Well, maybe I should remove the sign beside the door that reads, "Beware of the Leopard!" and the banner over the door that reads, "Leave every hope behind, ye who enter here." I guess I'm a tad reluctant to share my work widely. N'est pas?
Thanks to everyone for your responses, much appreciated! L~
|
To stop receiving this newsletter, click here for your newsletter subscription list. Simply uncheck the box next to any newsletter(s) you wish to cancel and then click to "Submit Changes". You can edit your subscriptions at any time.
|
This printed copy is for your personal use only. Reproduction
of this work in any other form is not allowed and does violate its copyright. |
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
