The Holiday contests

[Alex756]

OK, I'm going to open a big can of worms.

"Holiday Contests"

What do people really think of them?

Having never been organized enough to have an entry ready for one, My holiday 2002 entry is still 3/4ths done on an old hard drive I believe , I have no 1st hand experience.

I see where alot of people call it a popularity contest and all that, but I was also thinking it was a good way to get exposure for your writing, be it positive or negative.

I know alot of people on this board have watched the holiday contests a hell of alot closer than I have, so I was just fishing for some opinions

-Alex

 

[Dar~]

I had fun doing my Earth Day entry. The support thread was interesting and amusing and I got my first H from it. I still have very few votes on my entry, but I totally enjoyed the experience and am going to enter a halloween story.

 

[oggbashan]

I'm biased...

..because I run the Last Place Contests for those contests.

I think they are worthwhile because:

1. It concentrates the mind - you have a theme and a deadline to meet.

2. It gives you much more exposure for a longer time than the 'New' list. That can have good and bad aspects. More exposure = more reads, hopefully more votes, more PCs, more feedback but also more from anonymous and more from trolls.

3. It provides interaction between the members of the AH as we read and comment on each other's entries and encourage the others to contribute.

4. The last place contest is just for fun. Some good stories (not necessarily mine) have ended up with low scores and ratings perhaps because they are not as easily accessible as obvious stroke scenes, and sometimes because they have limited appeal to the wider audience who look at the contest entries.

5. You can win real money - not bad for a free site.

Og

 

[Quiet_Cool]

I'm with you, Alex. My last story was posted about 6 months ago and was started with the 2002 Halloween contest in mind.

But Og, as usual, speaks what I believe is the truth. I should jump in for Halloween again, just to get ready for NaNo, in November.

Q_C

 

[Alex756]

Ok I'm excited for halloween now, I'm 75% done (which means I'm going to be vote slaughtered cause this puppy is big) but there is a last place contest! *giggle*

Really I'm looking at it as a chance to get exposure.

One of the most worthwile things I did on lit so far was putting up a story to the sacrificial alter in the discussion circle, and I learned alot from that process. I think more than about 10 conversations with a publisher

So I am preparing to have my next sacrificial lamb ready come the begining of october

-Alex

 

[sophia jane]

Contests are a great way to get exposure. Also a great way to get to know some of the other writers through the support threads.