  Contests & Activities
This week: Read Before You Write Edited by: NaNoNette  
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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
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! |
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Read Before You Write
Read all the rules for contests or activities that you want to take part in.
Writing.Com is brimming with contests and activities that are designed to get you to write. Aside from the contests that are put on by Writing.Com staff, there are dozens of contest that are run by Writing.Com members. Because there are so many different people setting up contests, there are almost as many rules or cut-off dates to remember.
As you browse either the contests page or the forum page for contests, you can see just how much variety across all genres there is.
Every single contest has some sort of rules. You must read them and understand them.
 For all contests, your submission has to be in before a certain date and time.
 You are likely competing for a gift points, a ribbon, or a merit badge. If the host is generous, there might be a mix of those.
 There might be word count limits for stories or line count limits for poetry.
 Hosts can disqualify your entry to their contest if you don't follow the rules.
 Hosts are usually open to answering your questions if you don't understand one of the rules.
 When you already know that something about your entry is against the rules, don't put the host on the spot by asking if it's somehow okay for you to flaunt the rules. The host is put in a terrible spot. If they let it slide, they show that they don't respect the effort other contestants make. If they don't let you bend the rules, you might get your feelings hurt.
Before you enter into any contest. Read the whole page. Understand all the rules. Believe that all of the rules apply to you. Because they do.
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https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
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In my last newsletter "Buddy Up" I asked, "Tell me if you've found buddying up is a good idea and how much work would you be willing to put into somebody else's work." I got the following replies:
warriormom wrote: I especially like what you said about making those edits suggested by the reviewer. I am often disheartened when the time I spent on a thorough review is, for all intents and purposes, wasted because the author doesn't take time to at least make some of the edits. The first thing I do after I get a review is to check out the suggestions and make necessary changes.I've received some awesome ideas from reviewers.
Yes, writers don't have to take all of the advice, but if there is a typo - just fix it.
blunderbuss wrote: Hi Giselle
A really useful newsletter. I have just started using the new WDC Review request tool and it is working out amazingly well. I think I've found my buddy!
Great! And thank you for pointing it out. I think I missed this new feature.
Quick-Quill  wrote: I wish I had a buddy that wrote like me. I usually review items for people who will pick and choose from my port. I appreciate their feedback as it make my writing better. I've taken classes, but they too are involved with their work to become a buddy. Guess I'm on my own.
In "About this newsletter" I was transported back to Aug of 2007 when I did exactly what you described. Along the way I have at times checked out other sites only to find they are hard to navigate (when you are used to WDC) and connect with people. I am here to stay! This is my home where my review badges are growing so I know I am helping others.
I think I've seen two other writing sites. They made no sense to me. I am here to stay too. But, you're not on your own when it comes to writing. Keep searching Writing.Com. There has to be somebuddy for you. 
BIG BAD WOLF is Howling  wrote: Buddying up is very useful, especially when you're into interactives or campfires- the other contributors give you ideas you probably wouldn't have thought of without their input. "Miscellaneous Interactives"
Totally! You bring up a great example where buddies are needed to make it work.
Mark Allen Mc Lemore  wrote: This is a great idea, to have a buddy for reviewing stories. I want to start a local writing group just for this purpose. Howard Phillip Lovecraft had a group of fellow writers who all helped hone the Mythos he is known for. It is good to have people near and far who share your passion of writing. This is one thing I enjoy about WdC; there is so many people here, from every genre, who don't just write but read and critique.
Thanks for the newsletter,
Mark A. McLemore.
Thank you for your kind comments. And thank you for the fun songs too. 
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Contests & Activities: April 03, 2013 Issue [#5596]
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