 Contests & Activities: March 18, 2015 Issue [#6881] |
  Contests & Activities
This week: Polish that Entry! Edited by: spidey  
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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
Welcome to the Contests & Activities Newsletter. I'm spidey , and I'm your Editor this week!
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Polish Your Entries! Make Them Shine!
Would you go to a job interview and expect feedback and a do-over if you make a mistake? Do you think you'd get a second chance at submitting to a publisher if your manuscript is filled with typos and grammar errors? Probably not.
I like to think of entering contests as a practice for submitting for publication. It's a great chance to flex your writing skills and for polishing your work for the enjoyment of readers. A just might be able to overlook a few typos or mistakes, but it can't be stated enough that it's a good idea to make sure your entry is polished as much as possible before you submit it!
 Proofread - This may seem obvious, but read over your work. Then read over it again! Concentrate on words and phrases, rather than the meaning behind them. Make sure your words are spelled and used correctly (spell-check programs only go so far!). We all have areas where we know we are weak (I can never seem to spell "occasionally" correctly the first try!), so watch out for those.
Print it out - I had a teacher that used to explain that our eyes are accustomed to skimming or even skipping words on a computer screen. You're much more likely to catch errors if you print them out and read them. It's also easier to highlight or make notes in the margins.
Let a friend read it - Find someone you trust to read it over for you. Finding someone who isn't familiar with the story will help you identify parts that may not be clear to readers.
Ask for reviews - Submit your item to "Please Review" [E] or one of the many review forums on the site. Offer an auto-reward for reviews. Advertise in your Highlighted Items, Bioblock, Newsfeed, Blog, etc. I have stories that have been in my portfolio for years, and people are still finding typos! 
Finishing touches - Be sure to select appropriate genres and ratings. (Use "Contest Entry" rather than "Contest.") That way readers will have an idea of what they're reading before they start, or readers looking for a specific genre will find it easier!
After the Contest:
 Take it to heart - If you get feedback from judges, take it seriously. Hopefully they'll give you detailed feedback which you can use to strengthen your writing.
Don't take it too seriously - Judges are human and have tastes just like anyone. Maybe your entry just didn't strike them at the right moment. It doesn't mean your writing or your entry was bad, per se. It might not have hit the right audience at the right time. That's why they say never give up!
As always, keep on writing!
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Official Writing.Com Contests & Activities:
A few recent Contest Entries:
Contests/Activities:
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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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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My last newsletter, ("Contests & Activities Newsletter (February 18, 2015)" ), discussed housekeeping on WDC.
I like to chat on forums or scounge around for some good contests and begin writing. At least that is what I am doing now as I haven't done a contest in so long. Another good thing to do is participate in any group activity you're in or do some reviews! I like to get in scroll and play the games for extra gp's. Sometimes you also end up making new friends on scroll!.
~ alysia
Great ideas! 
Questions to think about:
How do you polish your contest entries before submission? |
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