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Hi! I am 🐕GeminiGem🎁 , one of the regular editors of the Contests & Activities Newsletter. |
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Time Ninja
Time can be stealthy, slipping by like a ninja. One moment you pick a contest to enter, then WHAM! The deadline is looming and you have a ton more work to do on your entry...or maybe you haven't even started writing your entry. No worries, I won't tell, mainly because I do this sort of thing more often than an adult-version of me should.
Sometimes, I can dig in and get the story done. I may even have a chance to do a couple rounds of editing. Trust me, no one wants to have to judge my first draft.
If you are one of those people who plan and manage their time well or write on a every day basis, kudos to you! I am not, although I sincerely wish I was. If you tend to be more like me, than maybe I can give you a couple of ideas on how I end up with a successful enter a contest.
If the contest has a very short deadline (I'm talking hours, not weeks), then I either start right away and know I can finish the story within 24 hours or less, or if I am unsure it isn't worth the effort because it probably won't happen happen for me.
My time delusions start when the deadline is weeks away. I may start the entry, then figure I have plenty of time, I will get it done later. When "later" pops up and smacks upside my head, I have to prioritize working on my story over things like scrolling social media, playing games on my phone, or watching TV. If I really am fired up, I will prioritize writing over other trivial things like house cleaning, errands I need to run, and dog bathes. I have writing to do! The dogs are just going to have to be stinky for another few days.
I always finish with enough time to sweep through and do some editing. I often wish I had time to do more, but that is for people who don't let time slip away until it is down to the wire.
The other thing I have done when a deadline slips by me is to look to see if there is a different contest where my entry would qualify. Sometimes that means I may change something about my story to fit the parameters of the other contest, like adding something to fit the prompt better, cutting the word count (or increasing it). If I have additional time with that contest, it is often worth it.
To find contests that are currently running, try this forum "Contest Clues" .
I use contests for inspiration and deadlines to force me to get my act together. I still feel very accomplished if I finish, even if it is too late to enter my chosen contest. After all, the goal is to write, right?
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To find a list of currently open contests
| | Contest Clues (E)
List of WdC Writing Contests, Challenges, Activities. Clues To What's Open, What's Closed!
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from Quilli ☕ 
As the QuillMistress, this is my favorite line:
"Another important tip  Get in the habit of always putting the word count and/or your line count somewhere in the body of your writing. I always put it at the bottom, but you could put yours right at the top."
The same can be said for poetry: Line count and form.
Thank you!
You are welcome! With any luck, it will resonate with anyone who writes on this site.
St. Patrick's Sox 
I just had the experience of doing everything to make sure my entry qualified only to lose to someone who didn't follow the prompt. Mistakes happen both ways
Oooo, that stings. If you feel pretty confident that the other person's item did not follow the prompt, then you could send an email to the contest judge/owner and ask about it. If you do this, perhaps ask it in such a way that doesn't come off as a challenge (even though that is what you are actually doing). It may be helpful to hear the judge's point of view, or maybe you may bring some helpful information to the judge. What they do with that information is up to that person, however. |
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Contests & Activities: February 19, 2025 Issue [#12992]
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