  Contests & Activities
This week: Expectations 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: 197380364X |
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Amazon's Price: $ 15.99
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Expectations
This month, ~WhoMe???~  requested members send in comments on what they'd like to see in the Contest/Activities newsletter. Someone sent in this comment: A suggestion for future newsletters would be to address an issue that comes up frequently, unfortunately. And that is people not following through with their package promises. I'm not sure what exactly you'd write, but maybe just remind people not to make promises they can't keep. I've been burned so many times running my raffle that I don't accept donated packages anymore. I just do a straight raffle, which I know is not as fun, but I can't afford to cover everyone's donations should they bail, and it's not fair to those who expect a nice gift coming their way. 
Another member said: I HATE contests that end and are STILL UNJUDGED after the NEXT contest has also ended one month later! I'm in one of these LIMBO situations now and am reluctant to inquire because I don't want to influence the sponsor one way or the other. It's very frustrating. My entry piece is indefinitely tied up. I halfway wonder if the contest's sponsor has forgotten altogether!
What should a host do about unfulfilled expectations? First of all, make the rules clear in the beginning. Clear definition of when a round will end, or when judging will be finished, helps participants know the time line of how the item is run. When everyone is aware of deadlines, things run a bit smoother. When a glitch does occur, post a note in the activity so everyone is aware of what is going on. Communication is key. Repeated delays leaves a sour taste in everyone's mouth. If you're supposed to judge a contest and a family emergency comes up, let the entrants know and find a new judge to fill in for you as quickly as possible. We all understand that the "real world" has priorities over an online contest, but keeping true to your promises makes your contest / activity more trustworthy and will gain more participation.
As far as donations go, if you donate something to a contest or activity, keep your word. If you promise a merit badge and come up short, let the contest host know, don't just cut and run on them. Work it out! You make the host look bad when the problem could be solved with perhaps a delayed completion date and some marathon reviewing to gain gift points. Don't promise what you can't deliver. Better yet, don't promise what you don't already have. It's as simple as that. If you get caught up in trying to help someone out and donate more than you can deliver, ask the host to take the donation down before bidding starts or change it to what you can deliver. If you promised reviews and run short on time to complete them, let the bidder know you need more time. Personally, I'd rather take a late but comprehensive review than nothing at all.
If you're hosting a contest or activity and a donator lets you down, refund the gift points bid on the item. You're not obligated to fulfill the donation from the other member. Sure, the bidder will be disappointed but they will at least have their gift points back. Email reminders to donators can be helpful; sometimes members just forget they promised a package to a raffle or activity. Again, communication is helpful.
Finally, if a contest or activity is run badly, and there is no explanation or note about it in the item, then don't participate in that member's items again. Lack of participation will force a host to reevaluate their item and try to improve it, or close it altogether. We all want to have fun in our community, but be aware of what you are joining. Check the forum postings and see if there are complaints or issues. Join in activities where you see posts from happy participants who enjoyed the activity. I also hope if you end up participating in a shoddy contest or activity, that you wave it off on your merry way and join others. Our community thrives on participation and we can't let a few bad apples ruin the fun.
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#1660628 by Not Available. |
Excerpt: I will provide a new monthly prompt and the newest Knights enter their flash fiction stories (300 - 500 words) and two weeks later, their stories grow muscles, meaning you will rewrite it into a much larger piece. The best 1500 - 3000 words story will joust to the death with Nomar Knight's version of the same prompt.
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#1460918 by Not Available. |
Excerpt: Could it be your backpack that one of the Sr. Mods chooses to hide in? Can you guess which one they choose? Check it out!
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#1575236 by Not Available. |
Excerpt: August's Category: Words that Really Matter --- September: WDC's Birthday Round
Excerpt: Enter this fun daily contest and win 10,000 GPs!
Excerpt: "We prize tales that emulate the writers of classical terror. The shadow in the corner, the presence in the attic, the specter trailing one's every step--these elements are timeless, and will always be frightening. Your objective is to create a timeless tale of terror and leave our judges with shivers." Round ends August 31 and a new round begins in September.
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#598781 by Not Available. |
Excerpt: TITLE PROMPTS - PICK ONE - ENTER TO WIN! 1. a chance I didn't take / 2. photo in the album / 3. faded, blue ribbon / 4. wind gossiping with the trees / 5. stars won't shine tonight / 6. scarred saddle / 7. if I only knew
Excerpt: 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. Are you up for it?
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#1590482 by Not Available. |
Excerpt: This poetry contest aims to bring together serious poets and give them a monthly dose of inspiration or exercise, depending on how you choose to look at it.
Excerpt: We now do raids on the 15th of every month, which is the reviewing of any item on writing.com. We may also be involved in other activities. There is no obligation -- you can participate whenever you can.
Excerpt: Each portfolio gets their own set of Sliders -- think magnetic poetry. You create the "Words", which can include phrases, emoticons and other "Small" writingML" -- like "item" and "post", but not "bitem" or "image"... and anyone can move them around! Like what you've created on the board? Take a snapshot and save it! Visitors to the sliders page can view past snapshots.
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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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This month's question: What other types of activities would you like to see in our community? Give hosts some ideas!
Last month's question: What other fun uses have you found for Virtual Dice?
NickiD89  replied: I use the Virtual Dice each time I match up players in my activity "Merit Badge Bonanza!" . First, I make a list the players and assign each player a number. Say I have 25 players total. I use: one virtual die; die sides numbering from 1 to 25; repeat the roll 25 times; and I check the box for "no repeat numbers." The result is a two column list, the left column is each roll (#1, #2, #3, etc.) which represents my original list of players, and the right column is the jumbled list of numbers generated by the die. The player whose number came up for the first roll (top number in right hand column), is paired with player #1, and so on. Easy and fun!
Adriana Noir  said: Cool newsletter, Leger! The virtual dice can also be used to help make up your mind, when you can't decide what idea to work on.  Thanks for featuring my contest!
Thaddeus Buxton Winthrop sent in: Thanks Legerdemain! Lots of valuable information to keep busy by reviewing, joining a new group, or just to "gift" someone some gift points. Thanks for the advice and your time.
THANKFUL SONALI Library Class!  commented: Great info on the virtual dice, and thanks for plugging "Get the Picture!" !  - Sonali
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Contests & Activities: August 18, 2010 Issue [#3911]
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