  Contests & Activities
This week: When All Else Fails, Read the Directions Edited by: Shannon  
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Welcome to the Contests & Activities Newsletter. I am Shannon and I'm your editor this week. |
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When All Else Fails, Read the Directions
How many times have you purchased something from the store, brought it home and assembled it only to find you've got "extra" parts left over? It's frustrating, not to mention time consuming. If you'd just read the directions, you could have completed the task in half the time.
My mom always used to say if you're going to do something, do it right the first time. This applies to writing and contest entries as well. Now, I've said this before, but I think it bears repeating: There's nothing worse than spending hours, days or weeks writing an entry for a contest only to find it's been disqualified for not following the rules. We've all done it. Heck, I did it back in May! It was like being sucker punched, but I had no one to blame but myself. Apparently I need to pay closer attention to Mom's advice.  Lesson learned, and it won't happen again (at least not that I'll publicly admit. Deadline? What deadline?).
Make sure you read the guidelines carefully. Read them twice. Print them out and tape them above your desk--then check them one last time before submitting.
If you run a contest, make sure your rules are easy to understand, and stick to them. You may be tempted to overlook certain breaches if you really like an entry (Man, if this only had a word count! It's by far the best entry this week. It deserves to win.), but it isn't fair to all the entrants who did follow the rules. People need to know you won't play favorites, that you have integrity, and that your word means something. Once you lose people's trust, it's nearly impossible to get back ... and your contest will suffer for it.
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There are many contests and activities to choose from here on WDC. I've tried to include a wide variety here, so hopefully you'll find something to light a fire under your muse.
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And be sure to check out the comprehensive Contests and Activities listings. Each of the 125 items listed includes a short synopsis, providing you all the information you'll need to choose the contest or activity that's right for you.
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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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Feedback
The following feedback is in response to "Contests & Activities Newsletter (September 2, 2009)" :
Humming Bird  says, "Such a nice newsletter, thanks for including my raffle." Aw, you are so welcome, Falguni. Thank YOU for being such a sweetheart and friend.
Fyn  says, "Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis is, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, 'a factitious word alleged to mean a lung disease caused by the inhalation of very fine silica dust. The 45-letter word was coined to serve as the longest English word and is the longest word ever to appear in an English language dictionary. It is listed in the current edition of several dictionaries. [2] This word was invented in 1935 by Everett M. Smith, president of the National Puzzlers' League, at its annual meeting. The word figured in the headline for an article published by the New York Herald Tribune on February 23, 1935 titled Puzzlers Open 103d Session Here by Recognizing 45-Letter Word. And finally, a sentence: Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis succeeded electrophotomicrographically as the longest word in the English language and one no one would ever use! LOL" Okay, that is freaking hilarious! You deserve a MB for effort, not to mention originality and spontaneity. Thanks for making me laugh, fyn!
J. A. Buxton says, "Having worked as a medical transcriptionist for years, I am familiar with the following word and even used it in one of my AOL quiz chats: pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis. Here I've used it in a sentence: My doctor said I have pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis, and not the H1N1 flu. The word is fictitious and was made up in 1935 by Everett M. Smith. This 45-letter word is supposed to be the longest in the English language. It's alleged to mean a lung disease caused by inhaling fine silica dust or sand. It can be broken down by its combining or root words as follows:
PNEUMONO' = Greek pne'mōn lung
ULTRA' = Latin Ultra (beyond)
MICRO'SCOPIC' = English microscopic
SILICO' = Latin deriv. of silex silex
VOLCANO' = Latin olcānus, var. of Vulcānus Vulcan
CONI = Ancient Greek konis (dust)
OSIS = Greek a process or condition."
You guys are just too dang good! I can honestly say I didn't expect to receive any responses to this pseudo-assignment, but your feedback has made my day! A MB is on its way to you as well, J.A.
Submitted Items
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Contests & Activities: September 30, 2009 Issue [#3261]
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