*Magnify*
SPONSORED LINKS
BY ONLINE AUTHORS
Printed from https://shop.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/2280-.html
Contests & Activities: March 12, 2008 Issue [#2280]

Newsletter Header
Contests & Activities


 This week:
  Edited by: esprit
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  

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

Losing a contest or being rejected by a publisher doesn't necessarily mean your writing is weak. It means the judges saw something special in the winning piece. It may have simply been the formatting or the colored fonts - or the mood of the judge. Or the cover letter, or the full moon, etc. etc. etc. Who knows why one wins over another?

Your guest host this week is esprit


Word from our sponsor

ASIN: B07P4NVL51
Amazon's Price: Price N/A


Letter from the editor


Why You Should Enter Contests



You know those irritating members who get on your nerves by consistently winning over and over? As soon as you see their names on the list you give up, don't you?.

How did they get to be so good? Were they born that way? Do you think they won their first contests? Uh huh - they practiced with every contest they had time to enter; win or lose, they kept writing.

As I browse the forums such as General Discussion, I see questions from new writers on how to begin their novel. They're stuck with no ideas and the first line just won't come.

My suggestion is to not try to write a novel - enter a contest. Don't even think novel. Think scene. Short scene. Short story. Flash fiction.

Take advantage of the prompted contests. The Poetry Slams. Fifty and hundred word contests. They are there to get the imagination going. They teach deadlines and how to stick to a word count. The prompt is used to cure the lack of ideas. Everything is there, all you have to do is fill in the blanks. Contests are good practice for turning in a piece of writing on time, for following instructions, to improve proofreading, and on and on; use them! So what if you don't win? It isn't about winning, it's about learning. Come on, try. You gotta make it your Mantra to convince yourself. Repeat: It's not about winning.

FORUM
The Writer's Cramp  (13+)
Write the best story or poem in 24 hours or less and win 10K GPs!
#333655 by Sophy


This most popular contest changes the prompt and genre every day. Typos don't count either. It's all about the story and following the rules of the host. Good practice!

Those of you who need ideas will find contests wonderful in loosening your imagination, and your fingers really will be on fire. Some of these contests even give you the first line. Exactly what many have trouble with.

Don't enter a contest with winning topmost in your mind. Remember your Mantra. Read the other entries and notice the variety of ways a prompt can go. Your imagination is growing and needs this exercise. Someday you'll win, but you won't be finished. Keep practicing and you'll become one of the irritators. Then you can pass on that unrealistic Mantra you've grown to hate.


** Image ID #715135 Unavailable **
Logo for Writing.Com Moderators - small.
noticing newbies committee sig

** Image ID #1220053 Unavailable **


Editor's Picks

Writing Contests @ Writing.Com  [E]
Writing Contests on Writing.Com are posted here.
by Writing.Com Support


*Bullet* Horror
 Absolute Monthly Horror Contest  [18+]
Monthly contest for my group - Absolute Horror
by Pennywise


*Bullet* Imagery
 Invalid Item  []

by A Guest Visitor


*Bullet* Voice
The Ventriloquist CLOSED  [18+]
Short story contest, based on character prompts, focusing on voice
by Anne Light


*Bullet* Western
2008 Short Fiction Competition  [13+]
Choose from three prompts and write a short story in the featured genre to win prizes!
by Jeff


*Bullet* Ideas
 Invalid Item  []

by A Guest Visitor


*Bullet* Poetry
 Invalid Item  []

by A Guest Visitor


*Bullet* Easter
 Invalid Item  []

by A Guest Visitor


*Bullet*
 Invalid Item  []

by A Guest Visitor


*Bullet* Fantasy
The Unofficial Fantasy Contest (CLOSED)  [ASR]
Contest is currently closed.
by The Messenger


*Bullet* Comedy
 Invalid Item  []

by A Guest Visitor


*Bullet* History
 Invalid Item  []

by A Guest Visitor


*Bullet* Lyrics
 Invalid Item  []

by A Guest Visitor


*Bullet*
 Invalid Item  []

by A Guest Visitor

 
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

Don't forget to support our sponsor!

ASIN: B01IEVJVAG
Amazon's Price: $ 9.99


Ask & Answer

Feedback is always appreciated, thanks.

Editors:

Tigger thinks of Prancer
Melissa is fashionably late!
spidey

Your guest host this week was esprit

** Image ID #1180377 Unavailable **

*Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet* Don't Be Shy! Write Into This Newsletter! *Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet*

This form allows you to submit an item on Writing.Com and feedback, comments or questions to the Writing.Com Newsletter Editors. In some cases, due to the volume of submissions we receive, please understand that all feedback and submissions may not be responded to or listed in a newsletter. Thank you, in advance, for any feedback you can provide!
Writing.Com Item ID To Highlight (Optional):

Send a comment or question to the editor!
Limited to 2,500 characters.
Word from our sponsor
ASIN: B07YJZZGW4
Amazon's Price: $ 19.99
Not currently available.

Removal Instructions

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.


Printed from https://shop.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/2280-.html