Time For a Writing Contest?

I'm about to come into some loot. I won a giveaway from Exaclair, maker of upscale stationary products. Around mid-July I'm getting a box with some notepads, ink, a journal, stationary, and stuff. Not sure what all will be included yet.

But this made me think that this might make a good prize for a Wordforge writing contest. We've not had one in some time. And what writer wouldn't like some nice writing supplies? I'm thinking we announce it by the end of this month, or at least prior to the 4th of July, and set the deadline for entries at 01 November or so. That gives anyone who wants to enter four months to come up with a short story. We'd need to work out the details . . . theme, length, etc . . . and set up the ground rules.

Thoughts? Worth pursuing?

Sounds good to me, I'd say put out a call as well for if anyone else wants to donate prizes, as happened last time.

Yeah. I was thinking of hitting up Garamet and the new guy for a commitment to review and critique the winner's story, too.

Writing contests have always been a good thing, I'm in.

Someone will have to collect the stories by e-mail/PM and post them so there is no popularity contests...just votes done purely by merit of the writing. I'd volunteer, but my attendance hasn't been particularly reliable as of late, unfortunately.

May I also suggest coinciding this with our 6th Anniversary? It's July 23rd (I believe) and would be nice if we actually did something for it this year. Maybe we can come up with some more fun stuff as well?

Great idea, Lanz and a very generous one to give away your prizes like that.

Yeah Tamar, that's exactly what I had in mind. Email the stories to someone, preferably someone who wasn't entering the contest themself, and have them post 'em up. Word docs or PDF would prolly be the best choice.

What's the theme this year?

I was thinking "end of the world" but I'm not committed to it. Anyone have a good idea?

Okay, "end of the world" it is then. Geez, you guys got quiet.

Ahmina PM Garamet and M. R. Sellars to see if they're interested in offering the "prize" I mentioned a few posts up.

Both of our resident authors declined.

Anyhoo, unless someone has some input, ahmina announce the contest in a couple days. Probably on Tuesday.

That's too bad. It was a nice idea.

Bring it on!

I haven't got my box yet so still don't know what the loot is going to be. And we need to line up a volunteer to post the stories. Anybody have a likely candidate?

Whoever posts up the stories won't enter to make it fair right?

I'd do it although I wouldn't mind entering, although if work is as busy as it has been lately I probably won't have time to enter.

Anyone definitely think they wouldn't want to enter?

I won't be entering, I'd be happy to do it.

Sounds like Kyle is going to be our man!

BTW, I still haven't gotten my box o' goodies. But I want to go forward with this anyway.

Okay, I got my box the other day and I've now posted the contest announcement. Here's hoping everyone has fun with this.

Do you reckon the announcement should be stickied in every forum? I only just noticed it up in the announcements forum, which I reckon no-one ever looks at.

I put it up in the Workshop as well.

Edit to add - I've posted the notice in Red, Gray, and Green now as well.

Just make an announcement from the AdminCP. It'll show up at the top of every forum.