$1,000 Writing Contest (short story or poem) - Writers Forum

johnnywraith · 04-17-2006, 09:01 PM

Johnny is paying $1,000.00 USD, out of his own pocket, to host a writing contest. 1st place wins $1,000.00.

No entry fees.

Johnny takes no rights to your work.

Click on the signature below for details.

Thank you.

mammamaia · 04-17-2006, 10:12 PM

raises a bunch of questions...

how do you think giving away a grand will help you sell your own work?... makes no sense to me...

and how come only one prize?...

on what will you base the selection of the winner?...

are you going to award the prize to what you [or whoever?] think is the best entry, or just draw one out of a hat?

aliceedelweiss · 04-17-2006, 10:15 PM

I'm starting to think he just wants people to go to his site.....pff.

mammamaia · 04-18-2006, 12:06 AM

i'd want to see proof of a bond, or that prize held in escrow, before i'd trust him to pay it...

StephenP2003 · 04-18-2006, 12:15 AM

I'm glad you guys are here to scrutinize posts like these, otherwise a lot of people might fall into some of these potential scams.

Wisp · 04-18-2006, 03:55 AM

I like how he speaks in third person...

StephenP2003 · 04-18-2006, 06:16 AM

Stephen was amused by that as well.

johnnywraith · 04-18-2006, 09:18 AM

Doodlebit LLC, a Missouri, USA, limited liability company, will be issuing the $1,000.00 check, on Johnny's behalf, to the 1st-place winner. See www.doodlebit.com

There will be nominal 2nd and 3rd prizes, likely Johnny Wraith t-shirts, or prizes of equivalent value. It all depends on whether JW shirts are designed and printed in time.

A judge panel will pick the winners, and provide a written response supporting the 1st-place winner. In the end, the test will be "which story or poem do the judges collectively like best, and why?"

K-P · 04-18-2006, 12:36 PM

K-P wonders why Johnny refers to Johnny in the third person.

Chris Miller · 04-18-2006, 12:47 PM

I’m feeling a little bad for how you all are treating my friend and colleague, Johnny, here.

Mama, who said anything about this contest being a venue for Johnny to sell his own work? The contest is his way of trying to draw interest in and attention to his forum. He’s been around (legal counsel) for enough dot coms to know that “hits = $” and how to make the conversion. Plus he’s really interested in not just his own writing, but the writing of others. Can or will I vouch that he will pay? No, I cannot. But if he does not pay, his site and his reputation are toast, and I believe that both are very important to him. And also, because I am an admin there and the senior adjudicator in this competition, I will be very embarrassed (for my association) and pissed off (for his wasting my time) if he reneges. My own fledgling competition, which is not free, paid out only 80$ last time around, and has basically morphed into a blog. I can assure you that if I were not a judge in this free one, I’d definitely enter something. (I do have stuff posted in another members-only forum there.) Like I said, what is there to lose?

Yes, it’s a little different and weird. One, it’s free. And what other contest lets you read and critique competing entries? (I will probably avoid reading comments until after, myself, if I can).

There are a lot of competitions out there that are not free. What assurance do I have that even they pay out? I have never seen any proof of bond or funds in escrow, mama, or that monies were paid out. I never even get to see the winning entries.

Plus, if it were a “scam” how would it work? And what would you, the contributor, lose? The contest is in a secure (login only) forum in the format of a critique circle. You don’t even lose 1st print rights (unless you win the thou maybe). At worst, it’s an opportunity to post your work, maybe get some feedback, and maybe win a prize that won’t hurt your CV. At worst, it’s no less than what you get in any WF.

PS.

If any of you do post anything, please keep it anonymous. Use a new handle. Don’t put your name on the work. This can all be gleaned after adjudication from your login info.

Chris

johnnywraith · 04-18-2006, 02:48 PM

Chris,
Thanks for the support.
I was a little surprised to be questioned so harshly, given I'm not asking for IP rights or entry fees.
I did say something about my intent to publish earlier, but took it out because it detracted from the contest and didn't add anything.

To the critics:
In the future, JW will be publishing my stories and the stories of others, but be assured that contributing authors will be compensated.

And as far as the winner being posted publicly on the JW site, I give the author sole discretion over being posted publicly. As I have said, I am asking for no rights.

mammamaia · 04-18-2006, 05:10 PM

thanks for admitting i wasn't imagining things with my question about the reference to your own writing, johnny [that i assume was deleted before that pal came to your defense]...

as for the 'critics' and our skepticism, i'm surprised that you could be surprised, when you have to know your scheme is so out of the ordinary that it's legitimacy would be questioned... unless you're so new to both writing and internet 'contests' that you've no clue what goes on, that is...

for the record, my comments about the bond and the money were merely banter, not serious suggestions... i thought that would be readily apparent... probably should have added a winker, for the overly-serious reader...

that aside, i'm puzzled as to why/how a web design/hosting/whatever site would be a suitable venue to 'guarantee' or dispense the winnings...

Selorian · 04-18-2006, 05:35 PM

It's interesting this man is offering a cash prize for one measley story with a free entry that hurts no one and you ask for credentials while you yourself offer free advice to help build a persons career as a writer and you refuse to offer any when questioned. I guess in both instances it comes down to trusting someones word.

Good luck with your contest, and thanks for making such an oppurtunity for writers.

K-P · 04-18-2006, 05:46 PM

It's really quite sad that all these "contests" and varying sites scam aspiring writers out of their much needed dough, and all it does it create an air of mistrust between everyone. Now, everytime someone makes an offer like Johnny did, we immediately think of him as suspect. It's really a sad situation here.

Anyway, I'll be entering Johnny's contest. And I'm not quite sure what I'll do with the 1k I'll win. Maybe I'll fly everyone on this forum to the Alaskan wilderness for a trust powwow, ala Alex Supertramp.

mammamaia · 04-18-2006, 07:08 PM

selorian, i wasn't asking for credentials, so don't know why you felt you had to make that comparison... and i do not 'refuse' to offer mine... i just choose not to do so in public, since my old material life isn't relevant to this one and i prefer not to go there, if i don't have to... any who really want to know, can email me and get all pertinent questions answered... and some do...

it is sad that seeing so many scammers makes us skeptical, but it's a fact of internet life... and i wasn't mean or nasty, as some get about such stuff... merely asked some logical [i thought] questions...

where any are called for, i hope all will accept my heartfelt apologies for being perhaps a too over-protective 'mamma'...

love and hugs and best of luck to all who enter, m