  Contests & Activities
This week: Practice Makes Perfect Edited by: spidey  
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Welcome to the Contests & Activities Newsletter. I'm spidey , and I'm your Editor this week!
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Practice Makes Perfect
My husband is an artist. At an early age, he started drawing and he'll be the first to tell you it took him years to do it well. He's of the opinion that anyone can learn to draw, and with practice, anyone can learn to do it well. I've been wondering if the same can be said about other skills, including writing.
Most writers will agree that practice will make you a better writer, and some even swear by daily writing to improve. To me, this is good news to newer writers! How often have you thought, "I'm just not very good at writing..." or something similar? I know I have! It's easy to get discouraged when you see successful writers turn a phrase in a way you'd never even imagined attempting. I read some authors (published and WDC members), and think, "I'll never be that good!"
The thing is, I think I (and you) can! It just takes practice!
Some will argue that people are born with inherent gifts in particular areas, that our brains are designed to give us an advantage in certain areas, like creativity or math, for instance. I also think, though, that practice does a LOT. It takes the desire to want to practice, to spend the time it takes to get good.
So the next time you ask yourself, "Can I really make it as a writer?" follow up that question with, "Am I willing to put in the work?" If the answer to the second question is yes, the first might be, too! Sure it takes a certain amount of luck, of knowing the right people, but it also takes hard work. I'm a firm believer that hard work will pay off.
Don't get discouraged if you think another writer may be better or if you feel like you'll never be as good as the published, professional writers. As long as you keep at it, you have the potential to be a GREAT writer!
And a great way to practice is to participate with Writing.Com's many contests & activities! Set a goal for yourself and stick to it! It will help you become a better writer! 
Always keep on writing!
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These items were submitted with feedback last month!
Contests:
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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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My last newsletter, ("Contests & Activities Newsletter (September 5, 2012)" ), discussed losing.
Spidey, you finished and I'm proud of you. It's not easy running a 5K. You're point is well said: We may lose, but it's the trying, the effort, that counts. ~ StephBee 
That's so true! And thanks!
A very encouraging NL, Spidey. Thanks.
None of us can win everything.
And congrats for finishing your race even if in last place. Also congratulations to all contestants who enter writing contests here in WdC. Win or lose, they're all winners. ~ Joy 
I agree!
Fall seven times, but stand up eight.
Japanese proverb.
Great article! ~ Emeraldawn 
I love that saying!  Thanks for sharing it!!
Thank's for a wonderful article. Congrats on your achievement and also a wonderful comparison. ~ Vicky bornman
Thanks!!
Great story about the running. I, too am a runner who started rather late in life. I began originally to take my mind off quitting smoking, plus my wife is a life-long runner, so she sort of helped persude me to get into it, too. I can relate to the euphoric rush you get when you pass someone considerably younger, but with me, I don't even have time to start a victory dance before someone older than me zips past - I guess to prevent me from getting too overwhelmed with myself. I remember distinctly when I completed my second marathon - in a time I was pretty happy with - and as I neared the finish line, a guy about 5 years older than me passed me. That was bad enough, but the fact that he had just lit - and was running with & smoking - a victory cigar was a bit difficult to handle! ~ Indelible Ink 
Wow, that's really rough! And not very considerate of that smoking runner! I've had by-standers smoking near the finish line, and I can say it really irritates a runner's lungs! I can't imagine someone smoking AND running at the same time! Thanks for sharing your story!!
In Collage, I had to do an English class over, because I didn't get the main assignment done in time. Passed the next semester though. As it is, I've entered plenty of contests- win some, lose some. I learn though. Wish I could win the WDC sponsored ones though. ~ BIG BAD WOLF is Howling 
Win some, lose some - Great attitude! And just keep trying!
It's challenging for me to enter a contest; the prompt never prompts me. I wrote for two this month, and you're correct. If I win matters not. I'm so excited I was able to contribute for the first time.
When you talked about the EMS guy following behind , it reminded me of my broken bones incident. When I was able to move around a little, the staff followed right behind me with a wheel chair. In the early days of physical therapy, I had a belt tied around me in case I lost strength.
I'm still recovering, but I won't give up. The doctor tells me I may never return to 100% but that does not keep me from trying.
And, don't forget rejection letters. They are as confirming as an acceptance if you have your head on straight.
I rambled. Sorry. ~ Nixie🦊
Thanks for the response!! Never give up!
I was a triathlete for 7 years, until a back injury forced me to the sidelines. I won a few competions in my age group, and it was a great feeling. But I always stuck to the main reason I entered the race...finishing is winning.
The same holds true for the writing contests here on WDC. Winning comes from using the contest prompt to write a good story. Writing...isn't that the reason we joined WDC? That was my reason for becoming a member.
So if you don't win a writing contest, but you did have the opportunity to exercise your creativity, then you might not have won, but you certainly didn't lose.
Bikerider ~ Bikerider 
Well said!!
Thx spidey for includind this In & Out in your newsletter. The WDC is 12 and it's worth writing about.
Good topic that chooses to highlight the positive in the face of loss. Run on, write on, and see you next time!
Copenator out! ~ Steve adding writing to ntbk.
Thanks!!
Once I wrote a poem about running. I enjoyed getting in touch with my body, the sunrises, the time to contemplate. I started keeping track of my time. I got faster and enjoyed it less. Then I quit running. That's why I don't force writing or enter contests. ~ Doug Rainbow
I'm experiencing a similar feeling with running right now. It's important to remember why we do the things we do! Thanks for the feedback!
Questions to think about:
Do you think writers have an inherent ability for writing? Or does "practice make perfect" influence a writer's success more? |
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Contests & Activities: October 03, 2012 Issue [#5290]
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