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 ![Newsletter Header  [#401436]
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  This week: Edited by: gailey   More Newsletters By This Editor
  
 
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 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
 
 
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 | Newsletters in general provide some great reading, both from the selected links to Writing.Com members' items and from the informative help and advice given in the editorials.  The Contest Newsletter is your portal to understanding the mechanics involved with the contests.  Even though some of the links may have become invalid, previous editions of each newsletter still provide useful tips and advice that you might have forgotten.  Take a search through them whenever you get a chance.  You might find the exact information or incentive you need to go forward with an idea you've had or write an entry you've been thinking about. 
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 |  ** Image ID #971112 Unavailable **  WELCOME!
 
 <><><>    <><><>  OCTOBER  <><><>    <><><> 
 For contests and activities, each month is an inspiration.  There are holidays, observances and specially named days and weeks.  Some are religious, some are humanitarian in nature, and some are humorous.
 
 The month of October is no exception.  If you check out a few websites that specialize in keeping track of each month's events, you'll discover that October is filled with ideas that you can use for contests and activities.
 
 According to: http://www.butlerwebs.com/holidays/october.htm and  http://www.holidayinsights.com/ October provides the following celebrations and observations:
 
 
  Newspaper WeekCustomer Service Week
 Pet Peeve Week
 School Lunch Week
 Reading Week
 Magic Week
 Peace, Friendship & Goodwill Week
 
 Columbus Day
 Poetry Day
 Boss's Day
 Dictionary Day
 International Internet
 United Nations Day
 Increase Your Psychic Powers
 Hermit
 Punk for a Day Day
 Babbling Day
 
 Rosh Hashanah
 Ramadan
 
 And, of course, Thanksgiving Day (Canada) and Halloween.
 
 There is still plenty of time to celebrate October and more than enough time to host a contest or activity that acknowledges or pays tribute to it.  Put on your thinking cap, see what you can come up with and totally enjoy this month.
  
 
 <><><>    <><><><><><>    <><><> 
 
  "Invalid Item"  is a competition for all cases, all genres, and all stories and poems that are 25K and under, with a rating of 18+ or under.  THANK YOU to everyone who entered this past round.  I always enjoy reading the entries. 
 
 CONGRATULATIONS to the following ROUND 13 WINNERS: 
GRAND PRIZE POEM
 
GRAND PRIZE FICTION
 
Honorable Mention Poem
 
Honorable Mention Fiction
Round 14 ends Oct. 26.
 
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 Till next time, enjoy sorting through the items listed here!   
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 | CONTESTS 
 HURRY ----> Deadline: Oct. 10
 Deadline: Oct. 31
 
 
 
 
 Deadline: Oct. 25
 
 
 Deadline: Nov. 01
 
 Deadline: Daily
 Deadline: weekly
 
 FOR NEWBIES
 HURRY --->  Deadline: Oct. 10
 Deadline: Oct. 31
 
 FOR TEENS:
 Deadline: Oct. 15
 
 
 AUCTIONS 
 Deadline: Oct. 15
 Deadline: Oct. 22
 
 
 ACTIVITIES and INTERESTS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 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!
 https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
 
 
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 |  Thank you to everyone who sent in comments!  I truly appreciate it.  
 WOW! What a huge list of things to do... thanks for saving me a little time!
 windac
 
 I was hoping to keep you all busy, Windac.
  
 Thank you for mentioning my forum "all about Genre" in your newsletter. I appreciate the exposure! I thoroughly enjoy reading the newsletter.
 Have a lovely day!
 Margaret
  
 You're very welcome, Margaret.  Thank you for the kind words.  Here's wishing you a wonderful day too!!
  
 Thanks for including my "YOUR SONG" contest. Much appreciated.
 Mitch
  
 Glad to do so, FLIP.
  
 Thank you for featuring my biweekly contest. When I was reading your list of reasons to hold contests (and some reasons were there that I hadn't considered), I found myself trying to decide which ones applied to my contest.
 Meg: Writes Daily in 2006
  
 Terrific, Meg!!!
  
 Great job, Gailey. But you forgot my "The Dialogue 500"
    billwilcox
 
 Thanks, W.D..  Added it to the list above.
  
 Thanks for latest links. Good choices.
 Please feature: "Invalid Item"
   for serious writers. Appreciate it
 April Sunday
  
 Thanks, Teffom.  Added it to the list above as well.
  
 Aw, Gailey. I appreciate the thanks, and you're welcome.
  
 A newsletter full of things over which to pore, deliberate, investigate and participate in. It looks to be a veritable treasure trove this week. Thank you!
  Puditat
  
 I hope you enjoyed the items, Puditat.  "Treasure trove" sounds good.
  
 I would like to enter contests, but I'm not sure how to do it. I know that I can click on one of the groups that are advertising and get further information on what the contest is about. I think I need step by step instuctions when it comes to submitting the item for a contest. Can I get that anywhere on this site or can you simply list the steps for submitting or something. Thanks. I apologize for being too lazy to search the site for answers to all my questions, but my time is so limited.
 robi4711
 
 I hope this helps, Lucy.
  Most contests call for an entry to consist of a "bitem link" to an item in your portfolio.  So, the first step is to create an item in your port.  Once this is completed, you are ready to enter it in a contest's message forum.  You do this by making note of the item's six-digit ID number that is near the top right of it's title. Then: 1) click on the contest forum,
 2) scroll down to "POST A NEW MESSAGE" and click on it,
 3) type in the subject of your post (such as "entry") ,
 4) type in the "bitem" link so you'll be linking the item from your portfolio to the contest forum message.
 
 To "bitem" link an item from your portfolio, place the item's six-digit ID# after the word bitem and a colon. Enclose this between two squiggly brackets (no spaces within the brackets).
 
 
 {bitem:ID#} 
 5) scroll down the message block and click either PREVIEW POST to see how the post will look once it is submitted, or click SUBMIT POST when you're ready to post it.  By clicking PREVIEW POST, you have a chance to edit it for mistakes, or rewording, etc.
 
 Here's a good item that explains the types of links available:
 
 
 <><><>    <><><><><><>    <><><> 
 Help support this amazing community by visiting:
 http://www.writing.com/main/list_items/type/sponsored
 http://www.writing.com/main/store
 
 
 
 If you have any questions or comments, please email me or one of the other Contests Newsletter editors and please say which editor you're sending it to:
 laurencia
 janie
 Melissa is fashionably late!
  
 Listing a contest, raffle and/or auction in this newsletter is not a guarantee of it.
 
 
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