... though not in the traditional sense.
I have thoroughly enjoyed creating and maintaining this little blog. I get my programming fix and take care of that little writing bug, all at the same time. I've also enjoyed watching the rest of the family (specifically my parents) step up to the plate and take a crack at blogging. I've enjoyed these things so much so that I've decided to call for a contest.
I've struggled to come up with the right rules and the criteria for judgment, but here's the summary of what I've got so far:
Rules
- No minimum length.
- 1000 word maximum.
- Any format- prose, poetry, or anything else you can think of.
- Subject matter is entirely open- family stories, personal life and experiences, research projects, journalism or reporting, math, anything goes.
- Multiple submissions is great
Judging
- Peer judged. Those that participate judge all pieces according to the established criteria (and their own opinions)
- When the submissions are in, you'll get a judges form- just read each submission and fill out the form
Criteria
- Creativity. Of course. This includes the format- poetry could be a more creative form. Content is, of course, the major contributor.
- Style. By style, I mean voice, awareness of audience, and choice of language.
- Appeal. Try and make it interesting. You'll get marked down for putting people to sleep.
- Personal opinion. After all, the judges are human!
This is a draft- I'm looking for feedback here. As soon as the groundwork is set, we can make the call for submissions and start having real fun. Please post comments or email me with your ideas and criticisms!
Julie Metge