  Contests & Activities
This week: Changing the Rules Edited by: Leger~  
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The purpose of this newsletter is to highlight some of the current contests and activities on the site, help educate members on how to host contests and activities, and provide clues to submit quality entries to contests. Write to me if you'd like something in particular covered.
This week's Contests and Activities Editor
Leger~
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| ASIN: B07NPKP5BF |
Product Type: Toys & Games
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Amazon's Price: Price N/A
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Changing the Rules
When creating a contest or activity, I always recommend a few concise rules. Have accurate dates of beginning and end, rules for entry and precise list of prizes. Then along comes the question "What if?" and you need more rules and more definition. If you run a successful contest or activity, members will want you to host it again. A new round brings a new list of questions.
Were the rules clear enough? Did everyone understand the deadline? And most important, did I get enough entrants to make running the contest or activity another time - worthwhile?
Hopefully, members will have reviewed your item and given feedback on what might be lacking in your contest / activity if it wasn't as successful as you hoped. In light of suggestions, you might have to change the rules.
Here are some dos and don'ts for changing the rules:
 Clarifying the rules in place is always a good thing - but if you must do this DURING the activity, be sure to let your entrants know. Posted entries might have to be changed to fit the updated rules. Unless it is absolutely necessary, I don't recommend changing anything until after the round is over. If a member wants to drop after a necessary change in rules, I recommend giving the entrance fee back and apologizing.
Deadlines: If you don't get enough entries or participation by the deadline, then something has gone wrong. Extending the deadline generally just shortens the patience of the few people who may have participated. If you're just starting out and are unsure of how much participation you may get, state: If less than X number of people enter, prizes will be reduced to XXX - rather than extending a deadline. Changing a deadline is unfair to those who may have joined in the fun. Review the item to see if you need to promote your item more, clarify the rules or offer different prizes
After the current round of activity is finished, ask for the advice of those who participated. You can set up a survey that allows anonymous submissions. If a submission suggests six months is too long to run a raffle, consider changing your rules.
We all make mistakes. If an error occurs in a contest or activity you're running, admit there's an error and do your best to correct it. Ask for help in correcting it! We have a fine community here that would be more than willing to lend a hand if you make a mistake. We understand that everyone has busy lives and errors might happen.
Finally, take time to review contests and activities. Your feedback can be extremely helpful for fine-tuning a quality contest / activity. |
Promote your activity here!
Promote your contest here!
| |  | Invalid Item
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#1030344 by Not Available. |
This is a community based activity. All writers here want feedback. As such, you will be expected to write, revise and edit your own new, original short story of no less than 2244 words. The prompt needs to be incorporated, not as the main focus, although you can do that - but as something more important than an incidental element.
Send a review to a WDC member who has her/his Anniversary in that same month.
Flash fiction is fun to read and a challenge to write. It must contain all the elements of a larger work of fiction, but in a much shorter space.
Excerpt: Every couple weeks or so, I'll post a cliche, overused or just plain amusing quote. With each one, I'll leave a spot blank. This is where you put in your own word or phrase to breathe some new life into these sayings.
| | Pass the Write-Baton (18+)
Write what you wish, do your best, and pass the baton. 1000 gps prize per addition. Enjoy!
#1530602 by Joy  |
In this interactive we'll play Pass-the-Write-Baton. You will use the word or phrase in the choice line inside your piece. Before you go, you will leave any words or phrases on the choice lines for the next person.
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#1634851 by Not Available. |
Dress up your items with images!
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#1664519 by Not Available. |
In this contest, I am looking for original fairy tales or creative retellings of a classic. They can be set in the modern world, the more traditional kingdom, or any place else you choose!
This contest will be open to ANY sub-genre of fantasy flash fiction. This includes Sci-Fi, which is just as much a part of the fantasy genre as anything else.
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#1673236 by Not Available. |
Excerpt: A new prompt contest, stop in and support this contest.
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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: B07K6Z2ZBF |
Product Type: Kindle Store
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Amazon's Price: $ 4.99
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This month's question: What are the great features of successful contest /activities you've participated in?
Send in your reply below and I'll feature it in an upcoming newsletter.
Last month's question: How do you keep from procrastinating??
Jeff  answers: Great newsletter, Leger~ ! As someone who often must fend off a veritable blizzard of procrastination, I thought this was an inspired and inspiring take on the issue of waiting until the last minute - and trying to take on too many contests at once.  Great NL this week!
francie replies: I don't try. I wait until the last possible moment because I work better under pressure. Great NL
SantaBee  responds: Haha! I write myself a note. That helps a little. This is hard because I don't procrastinate very often. I simply can't afford to.
Adriana Noir  says: As a queen of procrastination, I loved every word of this newsletter. You are so very, very right!
A thinker never sleeps answers: I liked the snow metaphor, used to illustrate your point, this month. Very relevant with all the bad weather we've had this year. To keep from procrastinating, I sometimes plan to give myself a mini-reward, like a coffee or a snack, or even to watch one of my favourite TV episodes on DVD.
Fyn-elf  replies: Awesome, FUN newsletter about that insidious disease! How do I procrastinate about procrastinating? (smile) I work best (by far) under a deadline. So I wait until I know I have enough time before the deadline, but not too much time. Then the juices kick in and the words start flowing. Before that? Yeah...Blitz or Scrabble!
JACE  responds: Procrastination? I'm beginning to think I invented the concept. Your words ring so true, Leger, and I love your explanation. Even stories I start at the beginning of the month await the final days and hours before completion (IF they get completed). I guess some of us thrive on being stressed and uh, stupid. Great job! |
| ASIN: 197380364X |
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Amazon's Price: $ 15.99
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Contests & Activities: May 26, 2010 Issue [#3760]
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