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 Contests & Activities: June 30, 2021 Issue [#10856] |
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 This week: Hosting your first contest Edited by: spidey   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  
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One of the first things you need to do when creating a new contest (or activity) is assess how much time you can put into it. If you are limited on spare time, you may not want to host a very long contest or one that requires you to read long submissions (such as novels). Also, if you've never hosted a contest before, you may want to host a "one-shot" style of contest to try it out, rather than perhaps hosting a weekly contest or one with multiple rounds.
Another first step would be choosing a theme. I'd suggest picking something you enjoy, whether it's a specific genre or a style, like poetry or short stories. I wouldn't suggest trying something new for your first contest (but, of course, the decision is yours). 
Create your contest and don't forget rules! I'm a fan of lots of rules so everything is covered, but I can see the argument for the "less is more" approach, too. Just be sure to be clear and follow through on your rules. (Some things to think about are submission item length, rating limits, deadlines, prizes, and judging deadlines)
Ask for help! Don't be afraid to ask a fellow member for some advice, or post a link to your contest in an appropriate forum to ask if your rules are clear or if there would be any interest in participating. Also, if you need help raising gps for prizes, you can politely ask for help with that, too! (Even a simple, "Donations are welcome!" line in your forum would let members know you'd appreciate help in donations) You can also ask members and friends if anyone would want to help judge or co-host the contest.
Are you currently hosting your first contest or thinking about creating your first contest?
