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Printed from https://shop.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/5543-Gift-Point-alternatives-to-prizes.html
Contests & Activities: March 06, 2013 Issue [#5543]

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Contests & Activities


 This week: Gift Point alternatives to prizes
  Edited by: THANKFUL SONALI Library Class! 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

I love entering contests on Writing Dot Com. Contest hosts are great with varied ideas to stimulate creativity.

I love the prizes offered, too. It's just that - sometimes - I'm scraping Gift Points together to pay for my membership, and if I work hard on a contest entry and happen to win, I'd like the win to help support my membership!


Word from our sponsor

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Letter from the editor

Hallo!
I’ll get straight to it – I’m here to talk about contest prizes – specifically, Gift Point alternatives to other prizes offered by contest hosts. I’ve mentioned this before as a tiny point in an earlier newsletter, but I now think it needs a whole newsletter of its own.
         There are several attractive prizes offered on site – merit badges, awardicons, personalised signatures, raffle tickets, review packages and the like. Sometimes, the prizes are obtained by the host through her/his own efforts or the efforts of someone else, and at other times, the host pays for these prizes in Gift Points.
         What I’d like to say is – if you are going to spend Gift Points for the prize anyway, please consider allowing the winner to make a choice and receive Gift Points themselves as prizes.
         The reason is that several members (including yours truly) use GPs to pay for their memberships. Often, they’re in need of GPs to maintain a certain level of membership. If they’ve spent the time to write / review / play well enough to win big in your contest, they deserve to have their efforts help them keep the level of membership.
         I’m saying this from personal experience. When I was fairly new on Writing Dot Com, I put a lot of effort into a contest, and topped in it. I got an MB, an awardicon, a costumicon and a sig. The host must’ve spent a lot of GPs to give me those. It’s not that I didn’t appreciate it ... but a few days later, my upgrade gave out, and someone had to tide me over with a basic membership till I could earn the points to renew my upgrade. Had I received GPs instead of the other gifts, I might not have had to be dependent on someone for a basic membership! I had worked hard on site for the contest, but had to be dependent on a friend anyway!
         I sometimes see ‘previous winners’ of prestigious contests, some of them recent, and the item has gone invalid because the person could not keep up a level of membership. This breaks my heart. The item must’ve won an awardicon – but what’s the point, when it has gone invalid anyway, and nobody can read it or appreciate that ribbon! The winner must’ve put in a lot of effort to beat the competition, and must’ve had some agonising moments deciding to delete the item to make way for newer items.
         Please don’t get me wrong. I have nothing against the other types of prizes offered. I do love getting them, too. But what I’m saying is – if the person is struggling to keep up a level of membership and deserves a prize, shouldn’t the prize serve to alleviate the struggle? I’m not advocating any freebies here, just giving the same reward you would have given the person anyway, only, in another form which is more useful to them.
         I’ve written this to contest hosts in reviews, and mostly received a favourable response. Once, I’ve been misunderstood and been called ‘greedy’ – I know that the host there pays for membership in ‘real’ currency, and maybe didn’t understand my need for GPs to renew my membership, or maybe thought I was asking for GPs in addition to the merit badge and awardicon offered.
         I’m not trying to offend anyone here. I absolutely LOVE this site, I spend hours here, often entering contests! The reason I’m bringing up this is – I’d like to make it easier (less embarrassing!) for people to say ‘I need GPs’ when they enter contests. If you, as the host, could offer GPs as alternatives to prizes, and put in the contest forum something like:
FIRST PRIZE – An awardicon, or GPs as desired by the winner
and ask entrants to post in the forum if they’d like GPs as a prize, people who need GPs could have a way of asking for them. Otherwise, they may not realise that they have this option, and may be too uncomfortable to bring up the topic and ask outright.
         Again – I’m not asking for handouts. I’m just saying – if you’re going to spend GPs anyway, and if the person is deserving of a prize, please consider offering GPs alternatives as the prize. Then, items that win your contests will be preserved longer in the portfolios of those who triumph!

Thanks for listening!
Sonali


Editor's Picks

Contests!

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#1920223 by Not Available.


 
SURVEY
Hook Us! Open in new Window. (E)
Submit your query letter for a chance at our grand prize worth 1,000 dollars!
#1849470 by Writing.Com Support Author IconMail Icon


FORUM
The Writer's Cramp Open in new Window. (13+)
Write the best poem or story in 24 hours or less and win 10K GPS!
#333655 by Sophurky Author IconMail Icon


Items!

STATIC
Wise One Open in new Window. (E)
I sat with a turtle one day!
#1908798 by eyestar~* Author IconMail Icon


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This item number is not valid.
#1511810 by Not Available.


 The Closet Open in new Window. (ASR)
A woman trying to pick something to wear for an interview.
#1913042 by Candra Kongsaysy Author IconMail Icon


Recent winners of "Project Write WorldOpen in new Window. [13+]

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This item number is not valid.
#1916666 by Not Available.


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#1918436 by Not Available.


Midnight birth of a poet in hiding Open in new Window. (13+)
A poetic story of a once oppressed woman and her advice to those who oppress. 40 Lines
#1913641 by SWPoet Author IconMail Icon


Groups!

GROUP
WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group Open in new Window. (E)
Join the fun! We inspire reviewers through kindness and learning! Winner of eight Quills!
#1300305 by Maryann Author IconMail Icon


GROUP
The WDC Angel Army Open in new Window. (ASR)
Dedicated to promoting positivity, encouragement, and support to the WDC community.
#1188309 by iKïyå§ama Author IconMail Icon


Just for fun!

Three Word Mayhem! Open in new Window. (13+)
Mayhem is afoot!
#555590 by Jay's debut novel is out now! Author IconMail Icon

 
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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!
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Ask & Answer

Thanks to those who responded to "Contests & Activities Newsletter (November 11, 2009)Open in new Window.!

SHERRI GIBSON Author Icon
I agree about how amazing it is when writers come up with varying ideas when using a prompt. Loved the newsletter, and thank you for highlighting my contest as one of your picks.

NaNoNette Author Icon
Thank you for a feel good newsletter. *Delight* I know I feel good now.

My question:
Do prizes matter to you when you consider entering a contest? What's your favourite prize?

Thanks!

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