Contests & Activities: December 11, 2012 Issue [#5405]
<< December 4, 2012Contests & Activities Archives | More From This Day | Print This IssueDecember 25, 2012 >>

Newsletter Header
Contests & Activities


 This week: Awardicons
  Edited by: NaNoNette Author IconMail Icon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

There was a day, last week or a decade ago, that you typed "writing" into your search engine. You wanted to show off some of your poems, short stories, or maybe even get feedback for a whole novel. You found Writing.com.
On this site, you found all that you searched for: Portfolio space, helpful reviewers, encouraging groups, style and grammar lessons from peers. Nothing prepared you for the amazing bounty of: Contests & Activities!


Word from our sponsor



Letter from the editor

*Ribbon* *RibbonB* *RibbonG* Awardicons *RibbonO* *RibbonP* *RibbonV*


*RibbonB* What is an awardicon? *RibbonB*
An awardicon can be a virtual ribbon, cup, or themed trophy. They come in denominations from 10,000 gift points all the way up to 500,000 gift points. Awardicons are an ideal way to give recognition to an item here on Writing.Com. The ribbons up to 75,000 gift points make great incentives to enter contests since they can be staggered to have a higher value according to the higher ranking winner. The trophies up to 500,000 gift points look very good on group pages. Those trophies are also great to highlight message forums for contests or activities.

*RibbonG* How can you get an awardicon? *RibbonG*
The most straightforward way to try to get an awardicon is to find a contest here on Writing.Com that offers ribbons or trophies to the winning entries. Many contests offer ribbons of different values for the first three spots.
You can also bid on a package in an auction that offers a reward. Some reviewing services offer awardicons as part of their packages.

*RibbonO* When should you send an awardicon? *RibbonO*
An obvious use, as mentioned above, is to offer awardicons when you run a contest.
You can also send an awardicon to an item that you came across that you really like.
You have to find an item in a member's port to award if they won it in a package you offered through an auction or review package.

*RibbonP* How can an awardicon be controversial? *RibbonP*
In every month, pretty much for any occasion, there are raffles and auctions on Writing.Com. Those activities are held to raise gift point funding for contests or member-run charities on Writing.Com. To entice people to bid on packages, or to buy raffle tickets, some packages contain the offer of awarding an item in the winner or high bidder portfolio. This might lead to an item receiving an award simply because an awardicon was promised without any quality control.

The theme for this newsletter was kicked off by Jeff Author Icon a couple of months ago with a blog post. In that blog post, SoCalScribe voiced his concern that some awardicons are given out without real merit. To find out what the community thought about it, he developed a survey. "Awardicons SurveyOpen in new Window. Now that the survey has been around for a couple of months, he took the time to compile the answers in pie charts. The results are very interesting, especially since some of the results seem to be in exact opposition of each other. I invite you to take a couple of minutes to check this out.
 Awardicons Survey Results Open in new Window. (E)
Results from the Awardicons Survey as of 12/8/12.
#1907550 by Jeff Author IconMail Icon


Complete listing of all awardicons available on Writing.Com. Awardicons Shop  Open in new Window.
Also, check out "AwardIconsOpen in new Window. for more advice and the technical aspects of giving and receiving awardicons.


Editor's Picks

SURVEY
What a Character! : Official WDC Contest Open in new Window. (E)
Create a memorable character using the given prompt for huge prizes!
#1679316 by Writing.Com Support Author IconMail Icon

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1896662 by Not Available.

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1354469 by Not Available.

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1905026 by Not Available.

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1754258 by Not Available.

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1895733 by Not Available.

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1906900 by Not Available.

FORUM
ACRO*BATICS [Round Over] Open in new Window. (13+)
I supply an acronym; you make up what it stands for. My favorite entries win gift points!
#921363 by Davy Kraken Author IconMail Icon

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1876861 by Not Available.

FORUM
The Simple Fundraiser  Open in new Window. (E)
Fundraiser to support four active groups.
#1889041 by NaNoNette Author IconMail Icon

 
Submit an item for consideration in this newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Word from Writing.Com

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!



Ask & Answer


Did you join Writing.Com in 2012 and offer a contest or other activity to the community? Submit the item ID via the submission tool below. You will get featured in my January 2013 contests and activities newsletter.

In response to my last newsletter "Starting a GroupOpen in new Window.

Quick-Quill Author Icon wrote: I joined WDC in 2007 I fumbled around for a few years then was invited to take some classes. I then found the Paper Doll Gang and took the beginners class and learned how to navigate WDC, I met wonderful people who encouraged me and helped me grow and become part of this community! I Nominate Paper Doll Gang (not for contests) but for support.
Early on I found Alice's curiosity shop. What a great place to stretch the imagination. I thought back to FRIDAY the13th TV series and pulled inspiration from that and her prompts. She took a leave and I haven't checked back in a while.

hopelesslyoptm wrote: I would love some help promoting this new contest. I am particularly interested in helping newbies and so the contest features upgrades as prizes. Write a story in 1500 words or less, and the best three entries will win an upgrade. "Invalid ItemOpen in new Window.
Thank you!

BIG BAD WOLF is Howling Author Icon wrote: To be honest, my favorite group is one I helped start- Non-Humans R Us. It's mostly for Fantasy, Sci-Fi, and Scary/Horror writers that like to use non-humans as their primary characters- mainly. "Non-Humans R UsOpen in new Window.

Elle - on hiatus Author Icon wrote: I started a group to try and gather together all the New Zealanders on WDC - "Kiwis on WDC!Open in new Window.. So far there are only four of us, but I am sure there are more Kiwis out there. We are hoping to host a summer Christmas contest in December which might help bring us more exposure.
The group I am most active with, and get the most out of, is definitely the WDC Power Reviewers. They are active, supportive, friendly and fun. Big thumbs up to all the 'captains' who put so much work in to keep it that way.
Elle

ellen_granger9 wrote: I happened to read this newsletter by chance. I found it so interesting that I decided to let you know! *Smile*
Well, I guess it has happened to me too.. But,then, here's consolation for myself- it happens Everywhere!
On Wdc, my favourite group is the Paper Dolls Gang. Very heart warming, encouraging, and real people who inspire selflessly, even when I get back online just once in a while in my hectic days!
Why wouldn't I try hard to be active in here? *Smile*

*Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet* Don't Be Shy! Write Into This Newsletter! *Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet*

This form allows you to submit an item on Writing.Com and feedback, comments or questions to the Writing.Com Newsletter Editors. In some cases, due to the volume of submissions we receive, please understand that all feedback and submissions may not be responded to or listed in a newsletter. Thank you, in advance, for any feedback you can provide!
Writing.Com Item ID To Highlight (Optional):

Send a comment or question to the editor!
Limited to 2,500 characters.
Word from our sponsor

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