Holiday Contest Anyone?

MJWare · Nov 22, 2014

We've had quite a few good contests and prompts in the past (one that's even lead to a published book--congrats SheilaJG), but I haven't seen one in a while now.

I'd like to offer a $20 Amazon gift card as a prize for the winner if we can get a contest going for the Holidays. I could organize the entries, but I'd need some volunteers to be judges, three maybe?

And a theme, could be anything holiday, but we're writers we should be able to do better than that. Ideas?

So, who's up for a holiday writing contest? And anyone willing to be a judge?

Samsonet · Nov 22, 2014

Ooh! Yes, please!

CheG · Nov 23, 2014

That would be cool! Maybe I could even enter! Blah- really uninspired lately and just trying to finish a novella.

SuperKate · Nov 24, 2014

Great idea! I'm happy to judge if no one else wants to, though I feel a little unqualified. As for topics, hmm... Holiday mishaps? Unexpected guests? Snow day?

Sage · Nov 25, 2014

I'd love a kidlit holiday contest. I was surprised that SFF didn't have the secret Santa going this year yet.

CheG · Nov 25, 2014

Sage said:
I'd love a kidlit holiday contest. I was surprised that SFF didn't have the secret Santa going this year yet.

Gasp horror! No secret Santa?

Sage · Nov 25, 2014

Hopefully it will come after Thanksgiving? It felt like it started pretty early previous years, though.

Mary_MO · Nov 25, 2014

Ideas, ideas, ideas....hmmm lets see.

1)That long snowy christmas night. (sounds more like a poem)

2)Santa's list.

3)Christmas presents/Christmas wish

4)The Grinch and Santa are really friends? (yeah, I'm not sure where that came from.)

5)A Christmas fairytale

I hope that helps with the theme ideas. Pretty basic, but that's all I've got.

MJWare · Nov 29, 2014

So we need at least 2 more judges and to finalize an idea.

I think, finding the judges will be the hard part.

Anymore volunteers?

Sage · Nov 29, 2014

Aren't these contests usually judged by votes sent by all contributors and anyone else who wants to read and vote? There have been a couple of contests in Novels that have eventually been decided by three judges, and the problems with that is that if you have an excellent story that has an element that one judge doesn't like (like first person POV, or fantasy, or a picture book and the judge knows nothing about what makes a good picture book text, etc.), the judging can be skewed. Even in those contests in Novels with judges, there were rounds where the public voted for their favorites to whittle them down for the judges to a top 3 or so, otherwise how will the judges agree on a winner with 25 entries and them all potentially liking different entries, even if they were to pick a top 3 each. The other problem with having judges is that you do actually need to find someone who you can say is more qualified to decide on which story is the best, compared to letting all authors/readers of kidlit vote.

SuperKate · Nov 30, 2014

Sage's idea sounds great to me. What do you think, MJWare?

Debbie V · Dec 1, 2014

More ideas:

1. Christmas past
2. Christmas future
3. Every idea presented for a winter holiday that isn't Christmas.
4. New family members at the holidays (kids deal with this all the time, from a new baby to the oldest brother's new wife)
5. Combining traditions.
6. New home for the holidays.

I'd judge a final tier of stories if that's the route this goes, but every entry would be too much.

Supergirlofnc · Dec 1, 2014

I like the idea holiday fairy tale. Or what about a holiday fable? How long would these entries be? (I'm going to be deep in revisionland for the next few weeks so I'm not sure if I'll be able to participate)

JustSarah · Dec 3, 2014

What would the prompt be about? I'm not very good with themed issues though.

I mean I can do it, but for me that's like trying to write with my right hand. I just can't do it.XD

Smish · Dec 3, 2014

So you guys want a contest, huh? I suppose I could be persuaded to have a holiday contest similar to kidlit contests of the past. I'll donate a prize, too.

alleycat · Dec 4, 2014

We want a contest! We want a contest! We want a contest!

Sage · Dec 5, 2014

Yay, Smishy's in to make it official!

MirandaintheMidwest · Dec 6, 2014

Some ideas:

1. The worst present ever (maybe that actually turned out to be just what was needed?)

2. Christmas or New Year's Eve spent in horrible places (stuck on highway, by the landfill, on an airplane), yet the day turns out to be just what was needed.

3. A Christmas ornament with a story behind it

4. A holiday that keeps repeating itself a la Groundhog Day movie

5. New Year traditions from around the world

These ideas may be too specific and too directed, but I thought I'd put them out there. Thanks, MJWare, for offering the opportunity.

Morrell · Dec 6, 2014

Great idea! A holiday contest is exactly what we need.

Smish · Dec 8, 2014

Okay, be on the lookout this weekend for the contest prompt. If anyone is willing/able to donate a prize, send me a reppie or a PM.

Smish

MJWare · Dec 8, 2014

Smish said:
Okay, be on the lookout this weekend for the contest prompt. If anyone is willing/able to donate a prize, send me a reppie or a PM.

Smish

Finally, someone who know what she's doing!

Thanks for taking the reins on this. Count me in for the $20 Amazon gift card.

heza · Dec 15, 2014

So, are we doing this thing?

What do we need to get started? If it's more prizes, I can donate an Amazon gift card, too.

(Can we still enter if we've also donated a prize?)

Smish · Dec 15, 2014

You can absolutely still enter if you donate a prize. Gift cards are generally the easiest prizes to get to the winners.

The weekend was busier than expected, so I'll be posting the contest prompt this evening, even if all the prizes aren't finalized yet.

Smish

Supergirlofnc · Dec 15, 2014

I can donate an amazon gift card too. Thanks Smish and MJWare for putting the contest together!

Smish · Dec 15, 2014

Thanks, Supergirl!

Holiday Contest Anyone?

Kidlit gang, Junior member.

Just visiting

Supreme Guessinator

Supreme Guessinator

Kidlit gang, Junior member.

Supreme Guessinator

Mentoring Myself and Others

New fish; Swimming with the current

Reads more than she writes.

Still around

Supreme Guessinator

Reads more than she writes.

Kidlit gang, Junior member.

Reads more than she writes.

New fish; Swimming with the current

Reads more than she writes.