  Contests & Activities
This week: It's the Holiday Season! 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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It's The Holiday Season!
You probably knew that already, hm? Well, since it is here, and you're reading this, (which means you didn't hide in a cave to hibernate), I thought I'd write about a holiday topic - STRESS. While it's nice to get emails from long lost friends, and even disconnect from the matrix, attend some holiday parties and visit friends, we all deal with extra stress during the holidays. Trust me, when crazy Uncle Harry comes to the party, everyone is stressed he'll have one too many eggnogs and climb up on the roof again. The last place you'll want to encounter stress is here in our WDC community.
So here's a little advice, limit yourself to a few favorite things you'd like to do. Because the closer it gets to the holidays, the less time you'll have to do the things online that you thought would. Pick an activity or two that would require half the time you think you'd have because everything takes twice the time you thought it would. Plus, social networks and emails get busier and you'll spend time puttering with those.
Once you commit to those activities or contests, please try to stick to your commitment. Otherwise, someone else will be spending part of their holiday disappointed or upset. Who needs that extra stress? Give yourself a little time each day or week to keep up with your commitments and maybe bake a few less fruitcakes. And if you have extra time to give to our community, say hello to a newbie, or send another member a kind review. We all love to receive a smile from someone new.
Write on and happy holidays!
This month's question: What are your tips for less holiday stress? Send in your answer below!  Editors love feedback!
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Pay to lock up your friends and receive a review.
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December prompt: The ancient spell book, found deep within the castle tombs was not meant to be opened by the one who found it. What havoc will it wreak in the hands of this unfortunate soul?.
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Enter your Christmas lyrics.
Accepting participants until December 11th.
A poetry challenge, December's round ends on the 20th. For members of 2 years or less.
Prompt: Location: Africa. Bring alive in your stories the seductive sands of Morocco, the shiny shores of Senegal, the legendary land of Egypt and the newfound treasure of Nigeria! And much, much more! Deadline is Dec. 15th.
Are you from New Zealand? Join this group!
A great way to spread good cheer and possibly win a pile of gift points!
December prompt: Write a fictional memoir of your character's visit to a foreign country in first person point of view.
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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 are your tips for less holiday stress?
Last month's question: How do you handle a complainer?
Jeff  replied: Great advice in this NL, Leger! As someone who's run many contests and been a leader for many groups, I've seen all kinds of complaints and nasty accusations flung around. One of the things that's really saved me is resisting the urge to fire an email back right away. When you first receive a complaint, especially if it's completely outlandish or unreasonable, all of that emotion that comes with receiving an unflattering email can cause you to write a reply yourself that's more abrasive and less productive than it should be.
Whenever I get a complaint, if I feel my temper flaring or I start thinking, "Oh yeah? Well here's what I think of that!" then I make myself wait an hour, two hours, or even a day to cool off before I respond. I find doing that makes my responses much more even-tempered, objective, and reasonable... which usually results in conflict resolution after one or two emails rather than long chains of emails where we're bickering with one another. 
Emily  asks: What happens when you have a legitimate complaint (such as the owner of the contest promised prizes, and simply never sent them), and the owner of the contest does nothing? I spent 20 days participating in this contest over 6 months ago. I have raised concerns, as have the rest of the competitors, but nothing has been done. I doubt anything will be done now ... Unfortunately, the site doesn't monitor each member contest for legitimacy. (That would take a lot of staff!) I wrote a newsletter about this in raffles and auctions, the rules could apply in member contests too. "Contests & Activities Newsletter (April 25, 2012)" |
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Contests & Activities: December 04, 2012 Issue [#5401]
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