  Contests & Activities
This week: Edited by: spidey  
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Welcome to the Contests & Activities Newsletter. I’m spidey , and I'm your Editor this week. I'll be discussing Interactive Stories. Pay attention, as there will be a quiz on this. (Okay, not a quiz, but there is a contest! Read through the newsletter for details!)
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| ASIN: 1542722411 |
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Amazon's Price: $ 12.99
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Interactive Stories
Interactive Stories are "choose your own ending" stories started by an Author and continued by any Writing.Com member that wishes to participate. At the end of each chapter, readers are given a few plot choices and must choose the direction of the story. When you come to the end of a storyline, it's your turn to add a chapter!
A step-by-step guide to creating an Interactive Story
Step 1:
Click on "Writing" at the very top of any WDC page, and then click on "Interactive Story" within the Writing: Interactive Section. (Or you can click on "Create an Item" within the Site Tools selection in the Site Navigation Tool at the left of the screen.)
Step 2:
Choose a topic. Perhaps you have a specific plot in mind, or just a vague idea. 
Step 3:
Enter the title and brief description. Rate it according to its contents, and select genres and keywords (to make the item pop up when members browse genres or search for specific words).
Step 4:
Write your item body, which should include a general description of your interactive story. If there are any details or instructions for writers to add, here is where you'll illustrate them. For instance, you may want to give information about characters or the basic plot. Also list any rules you may have.
Step 5:
Email Notifications. You can choose to be notified of new additions to your interactive story. This is a great way to keep track of where the story is going and to make sure additions follow any preset rules.
A few things to keep in mind:
1. Keep rating consistent! It may be a good idea to remind viewers to keep to the overall rating of the item. You are not in control of what writers may add, but you will need to be sure the rating accurately reflects the contents of the story.
2. Amount of detail is important! You want to give your viewers a general idea of the story, of your intentions for where it will lead. However, sometimes if you give too much information (complex plot lines, very detailed character descriptions), you may end up scaring posters away. Give enough information to give viewers a good idea of the basic story, and let them be creative on their own!
3. Reward additions! It's not necessary to give gift points to each user who adds to your interactive story, but it's a good idea to at least thank them for their addition. It may also keep them coming back to add more! 
Did you know?
You can look at the most active Interactive Story Posters! Follow this link to see a list of the Top 100 posters: http://www.writing.com/main/authors.php/action/interactives/hours/24
You can link individual chapters! Each chapter has its own ID number, and you can link it using the {chapter:} tag. For instance, by typing {chapter:454567}, I get a link to one of my own additions: "Something Suspicious" in the interactive story, "The Case of Aloft National Bank Robbery" [18+].
You can see your own chapter additions! Using the Site Navigation Tool on the left of the screen, select "My Places" and then "My Chapters" to see your interactive chapter additions!
Enter your Interactive Story & Chapter Addition in my contest based on this Newsletter:
(Winners from the last round are listed below in the Ask & Answer section!)
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A few example Interactive Stories:
The most-viewed Interactive Story:
A few new interactive stories that could use your additions!
A contest for Interactive Stories! The deadline has just passed, but if you're looking for "Choose Your Own Adventure" type of items, take a look at the entries!
Contests & Activities
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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: B01CJ2TNQI |
Product Type: Kindle Store
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Amazon's Price: $ 5.99
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My last newsletter gave information on Contest/Activity Promotion.
Nice outline for promotion. I had forgotten about the billboard, and I've even used it for that.  Thanks for the reminder.
One thing I wonder about is why more people don't band together. I've seen sig auctions do it for other sig auctions, and a couple of contests do it, but not many. They put a little section in that says something to the effect of, "If you enjoy this contest/activity, you may enjoy these as well." Then they provide links to like-minded contests/activites.
Now I'm just spitting in the wind because I know I haven't done that in the contests I run, but then, I don't come across other contests like the ones I run. ~ Satuawany 
Thanks! You have a great idea here! Contest owners joining together can only be good for all!
Finally, I'm happy to present the winners of the last round of my contest, "Invalid Item" :
Most Creative:
Most votes:
Honorable Mentions:
| |  | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#1378287 by Not Available. |
Congratulations!
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| ASIN: B00KN0JEYA |
Product Type: Kindle Store
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Amazon's Price: $ 4.99
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Contests & Activities: January 30, 2008 Issue [#2194]
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