The Blogfest 2005 Writing Contest has only been running for two weeks and already the results are overwhelming. And not because we're getting far more entries than we expected. It's because along with entries, we're also getting heartfelt messages from writers all over the world. I've run a few contests before and received quite a few entries, but I've never been personally emailed and thanked by so many writers.
What's the difference with this contest? I think the main reason is that the idea actually came from writers. Even though the writers at our company work in publishing, they find it a little sad that there's so much focus on writing what can sell instead of writing what truly matters to you. They wanted a contest that would allow people to write whatever they wanted to write.
From that idea came Blogfest, a contest designed to encourage all writers to get the project of their dreams done. Unlike most contests, we decided not to offer publication and not to pay the prize for a completed work. Instead, we decided to offer the prizes based on how much the writing project means to the writer. This is one contest that isn't about whether or not your work can sell or about what your writing will mean to someone else. It's about what it means to you.
To enter, we asked writers to tell us about the one thing they've always wanted to write and to tell us what it would mean to them to write it. Now, after only two weeks, we have an inbox full of emails from people. Entries so far have included grandparents wanting to write their life story for their grandchildren, aspiring novelists, professional writers looking for the chance to write something for themselves and not for money, and a young woman wanting to capture and preserve her mother's family recipes.
These people have entered and then sent us an extra email just to thank us for the opportunity. They've told us how just writing about the project has made them so excited and full of joy. They have enthusiasm and feel delight just for thinking about finally writing. And we've started reading the entries and the joy is there too. As a publisher, I'm used to reading submissions and contest entries. It's often a joy but there's rarely as much life as there is in these submissions. Reading them, I can feel that people have that spark of excitement that is only motivated by something much greater than money or even publication. It's the joy of doing what your heart's always wanted to do.
There is more to writing than publication and money and this competition is bringing out the real spirit of writing.
My message to all writers is to think about what matters to them. Think about that one thing you've always dreamed of writing. I challenge you to write down what completing that project would mean to you. If you feel that spark, I challenge you to commit to your project and get it written. Not because you can make money from it, but because it means something to you.
This contest has made me see more clearly than ever that there is far more to writing than making money. There will only be a few winners to Blogfest, and choosing them is going to be the toughest job we do all year. But I hope this idea can reach further than that. I hope all writers will listen to their hearts and complete their projects. I hope that just thinking about actually doing it will wake up that writing spirit that is in so many people.
Shelley Wake is one of the organizers of Blogfest 2005 and the manager and editor of Writing Stuff ? the site that offers everything a freelance writer needs to succeed. http://www.writingstuff.com
shuttle from O'Hare Brocton .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareIf Ben Franklin were alive today, he would be...uh, very... Read More
Beyond three and four act story structure, lies the Hero's... Read More
It was reported that the great American author Sinclair Lewis... Read More
1. Turning your idea into a bookWith non-fiction books the... Read More
The self-indulgent writer listens only to the mumblings of sycophants,... Read More
Being a great writer is no longer enough if you... Read More
One Saturday afternoon, I sat in a packed conference room... Read More
Part 1 of this article discussed the experience you need... Read More
Poems. Just the mention of them makes me smile. Why?... Read More
As one of those fabulous Baby Boomers, you now own... Read More
It's important to have a space set aside in your... Read More
At some point, every serious writer is forced to sit... Read More
One of the nice things about being an author is... Read More
Right off the bat, I want to say that there... Read More
A good white paper is a paper that makes you... Read More
There's a little known secret we writers like to keep... Read More
I hate to admit this, but I rarely get an... Read More
If your articles aren't getting published very often, or you... Read More
Mix a martini, don't forget the olives, or pour yourself... Read More
When you sit down to write a steamy romance, a... Read More
No matter what you are writing, the first priority is... Read More
Summer's here and the time is write for dancing in... Read More
I started writing as a way of keeping safe memories... Read More
So, you want to freelance as an editor, writer, copy... Read More
How many of you take the time to really write... Read More
Chicago charter limousine service Hickory Hills ..Listen, consider this scenario.You have a deadline to honour. Time... Read More
What am I supposed to give Anthony as a wedding... Read More
Just about everyone is familiar with this beginning: "In the... Read More
In one of the exercises in my "Getting Started as... Read More
Writer's Block can strike like a King Cobra, paralyzing every... Read More
The Hottest Word on the WebDid you know marketing people... Read More
To write books for readers at an elementary reading level... Read More
Want to write your book? But, need a blueprint on... Read More
When you sit down to write a steamy romance, a... Read More
As one of those fabulous Baby Boomers, you now own... Read More
Simply put, it is the art of writing scripts for... Read More
Let's Discuss Publisher Ethics:If you are an ezine publisher or... Read More
During the past few months I have received many questions... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?By now you should have an idea... Read More
What a lack of research could do to you.When creating... Read More
It occurred to me one day that I needed something... Read More
I started writing as a way of keeping safe memories... Read More
Dave, I just got a contract for a book... Read More
Originality emerges from structure. Once you have a story idea,... Read More
How many times have you checked out a job board... Read More
Short Story Writing Tips -We've established what a title should... Read More
You are far more likely to successfully write and publish... Read More
Many writers stare at the blank page or clean computer... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?Complete a character questionnaire for each of... Read More
If you want happy customers to use your service or... Read More
Writing |