The Writer’s Desk ~ An Update & Lowdown January 10, 2013
Posted by nrhatch in Humor, Word Play, Writing & Writers.trackback
Based on entries received to date, the odds of winning The Writer’s Desk Contest are . . . good.
Very good, in fact ~ with only 4 entries in the cyber pool, the odds of winning are an enticing 1 in 4!
Translation for the math impaired:
Current entrants have a 25% chance of winning.
Wow! A 25% chance of winning is not as good as a 50/50 chance (flipping a coin), but it’s far better odds than rolling the dice (a virtual crap shoot).
So, why aren’t the entries rolling in faster?
After a wee bit of brainstorming (like barnstorming, without the barn, or the plane), here’s what I’ve come up with:
* Procrastination ~ I set the submission date too far in the future. Some people work better to deadlines. Other people, writers especially, like to procrastinate, dilly dally, drag their heels, put things off, etc.
Once the haggis starts steaming in the pot for the annual toast to the Scottish Bard, fingers will fly across keyboards and entries will squeak across the finish line in the nick of time.
* Tactical Delay ~ some writers may want to read a few/all/most other submissions before posting to make sure they don’t reveal too much or too little in their own submissions.
* The prize isn’t enticing enough ~ I refuse to believe that! Who wouldn’t want to win my copy of The Writer’s Desk and see Stephen King’s office?
* The entry fee ($0.00) is too high.
* The entry fee ($0.00) isn’t high enough.
* The minimum word count (33) is too high ~ people don’t have the time to write a sentence or two. Well, it’s best they don’t enter since they wouldn’t have time to savor The Writer’s Desk if they won it.
* The maximum word count (100) is too low ~ people are finding it difficult to cull their thoughts down to such a reticent level.
* People aren’t willing or able to illustrate their entry with the required photo because . . . they’re out of film, they’ve misplaced their camera, they are ashamed of the State of their Desk, etc.
* They are waiting for their muse ~ often our muses are MIA or AWOL when we need them most. We must wait for them to return before slogging ahead.
* Fear ~ yes, plain old garden variety every day fear. The fear of success. The fear of failure. The fear of exposure. The fear of the unknown. The fear that winning a copy of The Writer’s Desk will transform their lives in ways that are not welcome. Maybe, like the Cowardly Lion, they are scrounging around for the requisite courage.
If that’s the case, YOU can help them out by submitting YOUR entry today.
If we receive more than 25 entries, I am kicking a 2nd prize into the pot: The Courage to Write.
1st place ~ The Writer’s Desk
2nd place ~ The Courage to Write
3rd place ~ TBA (if we receive enough entries)
Whatever YOUR reason for delaying until now, YOU have plenty of time to toss your entry into the pot ~ Robbie Burns’ birthday is weeks awa’.
For complete rules . . . CLICK HERE!
Invite your friends to play along. Give all of us a voyeuristic thrill!
Aah . . . that’s better!
Comments
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I think procrastination is a big part of it. (Not that I’m good friends with it or anything…) My problem was that I simply couldn’t think of what to write (and the word ‘contest’ automatically makes it scary and intimidating.) The word count could also be a factor, but I’ve got quite good at writing little, so it was fine for me (though I pushed it to the limit!)
I hope the entries start coming in because it is such a fun idea.
P.S. I just noticed that I have two posts in your ‘worth a fly by’ section at one time…how cool 🙂
Next time, I’ll call it a “challenge” instead of a “contest” . . . less intimidating. 😉
Despite the assigned moniker, I thought that most bloggers would jump into the cyber pool with little hesitation or trepidation. And, maybe, they still will. Perhaps they’re just pondering the possibilities.
I love that FLY BY widget. It’s such a fun way to link up with other bloggers. And you are in there twice for good reason.
25 percent chance works for me!! (laughter).. c
I bet it does! 😆
Fewer entries means less “work” for me . . . because I’ll have fewer posts to read before selecting the semi-finalists. But I really WANT to see people’s writing desks. I’m nosy that way.
I write so much in the barn and in the fields, paper jammed in my pockets, that my desk feels like somewhere that I compile words. my inspiration is out side.. c
You’re not alone . . . some of the “writers’ desks” in The Writer’s Desk aren’t desks ~ they’re couches, beds, tables, kitchen counters, picnic tables in boathouses, etc.
That’s what I love about the book (and your entry). Writing is NOT one size fits all. 😀
Honestly I’m just embarrassed about my writing.
It usually takes me about an hour to write the single paragraph I include in my posts (and even then it makes no sense)! So… you know… forfeit! 🙂
So . . . that comment is 35 words. Post “it” with a fascinating photo, image, drawing or painting and you’re in the pool! If you don’t win, what have you lost?
Maybe you’ll come in 2nd and win The Courage to Write. 😉
But don’t let me BOSS you around. That’s YOUR job.
I will try!!
No pressure. I just want to make sure that people who are undecided feel welcome to jump into the cyber pool. 😀
😀 I’m a definite, Nancy, but it won’t be until next Wednesday when I get a quiet set of days. Christmas, the New Year and aftermath are crazy-busy, but I am determined to proffer my 100 words and candid pictures…
Excellent! I’m not really trying to “twist anyone’s arm” . . . but, if someone is sitting on the diving board weighing the odds, I want them to DIVE IN. 😀
I’d love to do this, Nancy. But I’ve got a house to move 😉 Hopefully you’ll still be holding this challenge later in the year 😀
It won’t be “this” challenge, since I’ve only got one copy of The Writer’s Desk, but there will be similar challenges.
The next could be The Courage to Write (if we don’t reach 25 submissions this time) or How to Find Your Writer’s Voice or The Tao of Writing. We’ll see what happens here. 😀
Best of luck with moving that house!
Thanks, Nancy, Once that’s done I’ll be getting stuck into the writing again 😉
I’m going to be following your journey . . . and shall attend the Grand Unveiling. 😀
Hahaha. The admission fee is way too high!
I thought so . . . how can I expect starving artists to come up with that kind of cash?
My two cents on why I don’t enter blog contests:
I feel like I have too many irons in the fire between blogging, fiction writing, the album I’m recording, my weekly article on PFC, and my editing job that I don’t want one more deadline/obligation, even if it’s just for fun. I visit my WordPress reader for fun and socializing, and, while I enjoy reading about the contests and nominations and all that, I prefer to cheer my fellow bloggers from the sidelines.
Good for you . . . if we add too much to our plate, we don’t have time to savor the flavors before the plate collapses.
LIke Eric, I am not inclined to join writing contests, but will be part of the audience and cheer our talented bloggers on!
I skip most of them unless (1) the prize appeals or (2) the requisite submission can be “short and sweet,” “funny and short,” or just “short.” That’s one reason why I limited this contest to a maximum of 100 words.
(The other reason is that I did not want to wade through 5,000 word submissions to select semi-finalists).
I went through both post (rather quickly), but the deadline didn’t jump out at me. Maybe that’s the reason for procrastination?? We all think we have more time.
Sounds fun, though
There is still plenty of time to enter, Barb. The deadline is Robbie Burns’ birthday . . . January 25th (2 weeks from today).
I’ll announce semi-finalists a week later (on Groundhog’s Day). Voting ends and the winners will be announced on Valentine’s Day.
Actually, for me it was that I’d written on this several times and didn’t want to rework either of them. Being so tired this week isn’t helping either. I’m sure I could come up with something new, but have to be awake long enough after work to think it through!
http://livingtheseasons.com/2011/10/10/companionship-provides-warmth/
http://livingtheseasons.com/2012/11/25/special-photo-challenge-inspiration/
Nancy
I’ll check them out and see if they’ll meet the challenge, Nancy.
Thanks for sharing the links, Nancy, but neither post meets the contest criteria. If you want to enter, there’s still time. But it should be a NEW post (33 – 100 words) with a photo or image of your writing desk or space.
Hope your energy rebounds soon.
None of the above, Nancy – have been away from the Blogosphere doing the tourist thing with family, so will get cracking on my entry pronto! 😄
Yay! BB’s gonna play! 😀
I just got back from 2 weeks away, visiting with my son in Chicago and my daughter in NH…my entry will go up tonight…I assume I post the link on the original contest announcement post. I’ll also post it on FB and Twitter and Google+.:)
Hooray! And yes . . . I’m trying to capture all entries on the original post. Glad you had a chance to visit your kids fresh into the New Year.
Hi Nancy, just found your blog thru Celi this morning. Only read three posts but already feel we’re kindred spirits. 🙂 Just as soon as I sleep off the jet-lag I’ll go take a serious pic of my writing desk. Now to go explore some more of your lovely blog.
Thanks, Veronica. Glad you found us. Rest up . . . then return with a link to your Writer’s Desk. 😀
If I’m in a really sadistic mood, I might get round to compressing my effort into 100 words, just to complicate things!
Yes. Please. 😀
Too good a challenge to miss!
Yay!
[…] previously posting far too long a rigmarole on the subject of my writing desk for the Spirit Lights the Way competition, I decided to accept the challenge of reducing it to 100 words exactly. Here you […]
Hooray! You’ve transformed your “non-entry” into an entry.
I’m with you . . . I get ideas anywhere and everywhere, and jot down bits and pieces, but I don’t really “write” until I’m seated in my office chair, tapping away at the keyboard. 😀
[…] over to Spirit Lights the Way for […]
CONTEST NOW CLOSED. Semi-finalists will be announced on Groundhog Day . . . 2/2/13.
Voting will run through Valentine’s Day.
Feel free to post additional links to your Writing Desks . . . even though they will not be eligible to receive The Writing Desk.
Thanks for playing along, following, and cheering from the sidelines!
[…] You can find links to all submissions HERE and HERE. […]