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 Action/Adventure: December 31, 1969 Issue [#3740] |
  Action/Adventure This issue's editor: spidergirl More Newsletters By This Editor   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   Welcome to the Contests & Activities Newsletter. I'm spidergirl, and I'm your Editor this week. I'd like to discuss Presentation.    Presentation When hosting a contest, it's critical to have a good presentation of your contest page. It's like this in many aspects of life, isn't it? Who would turn in a resume with glaring spelling or grammar mistakes and expect to be taken seriously? Would you go to a job interview with a mustard stain on your clothing? Be honest, are you ever turned off to a contest because its rules weren't clear or it contained spelling errors? I know I have been. We all make mistakes, sure. But errors like these can be indicators to your viewers. They can send signals of negligence, carelessness and inattention to detail. While these traits may not be held by the contest host, if you allow errors or mistakes within your presentation, viewers may believe them to be true. A few ways to prevent these: (These should be done BEFORE making the contest public!)  Read over your contest page again and again. And again. Often our eyes adjust to computer screens and we're more likely to skip over errors without actually seeing them. Slow down your reading and pick over every line with a fine-toothed comb. Make sure you're not missing anything. Print it out. Sometimes we're more likely to catch mistakes reading something printed on paper rather than a computer screen. This is just one more way to make sure you're not missing anything. Ask someone else. Find another member you trust and ask if they'd look over your contest. Use a passkey or copy & pastethe body of the contest. Often, we can use an outside opinion to clear up any questions, concerns or confusions. As a contest host, there may be some aspects you're taking for granted, so it's good to get an outside opinion. A few ideas for AFTER you make the contest public: Advertise and ask for reviews. Offer auto-rewards for your contest, and ask for honest feedback. Then adjust accordingly. Don't be afraid to make changes! As a contest host, you have several duties to those who may view your contest, and one is to provide clear instructions. Don't be afraid to ask for help and other opinions on your contest or activity! Always keep on writing!  
Contests:
Activities:
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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! Submit an item for consideration in this newsletter! http://www.Writing.Com/main/newsletters.php?action=nli_form  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! http://www.Writing.Com/main/newsletters.php?action=nli_form Don't forget to support our sponsor! InstantPublisher.Com: Self publishing made easy and affordable. All file types accepted with many options. Starting at $100 for 25 copies in 7-10 days! Visit us today!  Ask & Answer How do I deal with disappointment? I go ahead and feel rotten for a while (15 minutes to 12 hours). Then I get off my duff and either go on to something else or try to correct whatever created the disappointment. ~ glyn.impress Excellent advice!!  Questions to think about: How have you reacted to contests which contain spelling errors and/or had a lack of clarity in its description or instructions? Do you move on to another page, or do you contact the contest's host to try to help? Or does it affect you at all?  To stop receiving this newsletter, go into your account and remove the check from the box beside the specific topic. Be sure to click "Complete Edit" or it will not save your changes. |
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