 Contests & Activities: August 12, 2009 Issue [#3203] |
  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'd like to discuss Writing Reviews for Contests & Activities. |
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Reviewing Contests & Activities
Everyone loves reviews, right? Helpful, encouraging, constructive criticism helps us a great deal, and contests & activities are no exception!
Reviews for contests & activities have many benefits for the reviewer and the reviewee!
Benefits
 Reviewing a contest or activity will help you take a close look at its rules, prizes, etc. (Perhaps it can help you in creating your own contest or activity)
Make sure your review gets on the Public Review Page! It's a great way to help advertise!
Reviews help the host clarify or fix any confusions or mistakes.
There are a myriad of benefits to reviewing (such as Community Recognition, Public Review Credits, Daily Review Rewards, and The Review Mixer)
How? - So how does one review a contest/activity? There are several things you can look at critically. Here are a few:
Rules/Instructions - Is everything covered? Think as if you were going to enter the contest yourself (and consider doing so!). Are you left with any questions about entering?
Clarity - Are all points conveyed clearly? Look closely for grammatical errors, typos, broken ML, etc.
Format - Is the page pleasing to the viewers' eye? Is it cluttered with WritingML and/or images? Or could it use a little color?
Title/Ratings/Genres - Are these appropriate and fitting for the item?
Appeal - Does the contest/activity speak to a broad audience? Is the idea unique or attention-grabbing?
Prizes/Rewards - Are they fair? Generous enough to attract participants?
Remember to send reviews to Contests & Activities! They need love, attention and helpful criticism, too!
Always keep on writing!
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Contests & Activities :
A few new contests & activities that could use your reviews:
Know of some gems that deserve exposure? Submit them in the feedback form or submission form at the end of this Newsletter, and I'll put them in my next one!
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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
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My last newsletter discussed Contest Ratings. 
I think there's a definite need to have different levels of contest ratings. The host has to decide who his target audience will be, and rate the forum accordingly. Having contests at the different levels allows ALL folk something which they can enter.
I think writing for a specific rating outside my normal desired choice really challenges me, and in turn, makes me a better, more rounded writer. (I hope.) ~ JACE 
Very true! Choosing a rating that suits the host will most likely attract just the entries the host had in mind.
Very informative. Good job describing the rating and what to expect. ~ StephBee 
Thanks!
Q1-The experts say creativity is easier within limits & harder without any. Limits don't stifle the exercise of creativity; they enhance it. Complaining about stifled creativity just means that isn't where they prefer to write. That is a completely different thing. Often the point of a prompt is to try something outside your usual.
Q2-The WDC community is a free market system. Member-run contests usually have content rating restrictions because the owners do not want to read offensive material. That is perfectly okay. Contest owners offer prizes and judging, therefore it is their right to set whatever rules they want. They do not need to cater to those who want something else. The invitation is for writers who are willing to follow the rules.
There is no question of influencing writers. Nobody makes them participate. Those not happy with the contests voluntarily run by others, are free to get together & create their own. That is the way it works. ~ northernwrites
Wow, great answers!! I totally agree.
I don't think that rating limits stifle creativity. They simply reflect the tastes of the contest host - if a host isn't comfortable reading certain genres or ratings, he or she should make that clear. There's nothing stopping a prospective entrant from taking the prompt, writing a story his or her own way, and not entering the contest if the piece exceeds the rating. ~ Lorien 
That's so true! It's a great way to look at contests.
Question to think about: Do you review contests & activities? Why or why not? What's different about reviewing, say, a forum versus a static item?
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