I love holding contests. This is my third, and I had a lot of fun on my last two. Therefore, I'm going to keep going in the same vein that I have been and have an options contest. I feel that they're the most flexible and inspiring.
Also, I will comment on your poem if you enter. If you put the effort into entering, I will put the effort into offering my honest opinion and suggestions.
Rules:
1. No rhyming poetry unless it's really subtle, okay? I'm only doing this because I personally don't like rhyming poems, and I feel that I judge them unfairly as a result.
2. No hard erotica or really overdone subjects. You should be trying to avoid the latter anyway, right? You can swear all you want, though, as long as it fits with your piece.
3. I know that spelling and grammar mistakes happen, but please make the best effort you can. The better your mechanics, the better impression you make on your reader.
4. Put the number and any specifics of your option in your notes. I've had a lot of people not do this in my previous contests, so if you forget I'll remind you. If you don't fix it by the end of the contest, I'll have to exclude you from judging.
5. I give critical reviews. I don't think I am ever mean, and I always appreciate the effort a writer puts into a piece. That said, I am going to be as honest as possible. Please don't be offended; I don't want to hurt any feelings.
6. No random punctuation. This is important, so I am going to repeat it again: No random punctuation. Really, it just makes a writer look stupid. Now, if the punctuation is not used normally, but it makes sense with the poem and has a CLEAR purpose, that's different.
7. Enter as many times as you want. Actually, entering multiple times is encouraged. You can enter prewrites, but they HAVE to pertain to the option, and you have to edit your notes to include the option number.
Okay, on to the options.
Option 1- Song Titles
I love my Windows Media Player, so I'm going to start hitting random and listing the song titles. Either use the title as a line in your poem, the title of your poem, or as inspiration for it. No matter which you choose, please include the song title in your notes. If you happened to enter either of my previous contests, I'm sorry if any of these are repeats.
1. Eight Easy Steps
2. Light My Candle
3. Wordplay
4. Dancing For Rain
5. Nothin' But a Good Time
6. Take It Away
7. Daylight Fading
8. Belly Dancer
9. True Love Way
10. The Phrase That Pays
11. Meant to Live
12. Ball and Biscuit
13. Calling You
14. Surely As the Sun
15. My Paper Heart
Option 2- Word Bank
I don't see why people seem to like these so much, but they do. Who am I to take such a popular option away? Please use at least half of the words.
1. outskirts
2. prepared
3. combat
4. beyond
5. despairing
6. splintered
7. lucky
8. enough
9. expert
10. moonlight
Option 3- Movie Inspiration/Titles
For this option, please write a poem either inspired by the movie (it can be about the actual movie or just based on the overall theme/feel/events) or write a poem using the movie title as your title. That way you don't actually have to have seen the movie to use this option. I love movies, so this seems like a really fun option (to me, at least).
1. Little Miss Sunshine
2. Sixteen Candles
3. Now and Then
4. Pan's Labyrinth
5. Saved!
6. Almost Famous
7. Less Than Zero
8. Waitress
9. 1408 (also a short story)
10. The Stand (technically a minseries, but whatever, it's also a book)
Option 4- Poems About Paris
I visited Paris in April, and I miss it terribly. I would like to see some poems that are either about your experiences in Paris (if you've been there) or what you imagine Paris is like (if you haven't).
Option 5- Five Lines or Less
Very short poetry is extremely difficult if you really want to make it a worthwhile piece. So, go for it, but don't just dash something out. Put in some effort. That's really important for this option.
Option 6- Random Words/Phrases
These are just some random words and phrases for you to use as inspiration. Either use the word/phrase as your title, a line in your piece, or as inspiration for you piece. No matter what, include the word/phrase in your notes.
1. the second dream
2. we got back
3. take the elevator
4. the way they look against
5. for the glamour
6. completely obsessed
7. tried and beheaded
8. what will it take to show you
9. handwriting
10. needs to come home
Okay, that about wraps it up. I really hope you enter. I love reading and commenting on poems!
Also, I will comment on your poem if you enter. If you put the effort into entering, I will put the effort into offering my honest opinion and suggestions.
Rules:
1. No rhyming poetry unless it's really subtle, okay? I'm only doing this because I personally don't like rhyming poems, and I feel that I judge them unfairly as a result.
2. No hard erotica or really overdone subjects. You should be trying to avoid the latter anyway, right? You can swear all you want, though, as long as it fits with your piece.
3. I know that spelling and grammar mistakes happen, but please make the best effort you can. The better your mechanics, the better impression you make on your reader.
4. Put the number and any specifics of your option in your notes. I've had a lot of people not do this in my previous contests, so if you forget I'll remind you. If you don't fix it by the end of the contest, I'll have to exclude you from judging.
5. I give critical reviews. I don't think I am ever mean, and I always appreciate the effort a writer puts into a piece. That said, I am going to be as honest as possible. Please don't be offended; I don't want to hurt any feelings.
6. No random punctuation. This is important, so I am going to repeat it again: No random punctuation. Really, it just makes a writer look stupid. Now, if the punctuation is not used normally, but it makes sense with the poem and has a CLEAR purpose, that's different.
7. Enter as many times as you want. Actually, entering multiple times is encouraged. You can enter prewrites, but they HAVE to pertain to the option, and you have to edit your notes to include the option number.
Okay, on to the options.
Option 1- Song Titles
I love my Windows Media Player, so I'm going to start hitting random and listing the song titles. Either use the title as a line in your poem, the title of your poem, or as inspiration for it. No matter which you choose, please include the song title in your notes. If you happened to enter either of my previous contests, I'm sorry if any of these are repeats.
1. Eight Easy Steps
2. Light My Candle
3. Wordplay
4. Dancing For Rain
5. Nothin' But a Good Time
6. Take It Away
7. Daylight Fading
8. Belly Dancer
9. True Love Way
10. The Phrase That Pays
11. Meant to Live
12. Ball and Biscuit
13. Calling You
14. Surely As the Sun
15. My Paper Heart
Option 2- Word Bank
I don't see why people seem to like these so much, but they do. Who am I to take such a popular option away? Please use at least half of the words.
1. outskirts
2. prepared
3. combat
4. beyond
5. despairing
6. splintered
7. lucky
8. enough
9. expert
10. moonlight
Option 3- Movie Inspiration/Titles
For this option, please write a poem either inspired by the movie (it can be about the actual movie or just based on the overall theme/feel/events) or write a poem using the movie title as your title. That way you don't actually have to have seen the movie to use this option. I love movies, so this seems like a really fun option (to me, at least).
1. Little Miss Sunshine
2. Sixteen Candles
3. Now and Then
4. Pan's Labyrinth
5. Saved!
6. Almost Famous
7. Less Than Zero
8. Waitress
9. 1408 (also a short story)
10. The Stand (technically a minseries, but whatever, it's also a book)
Option 4- Poems About Paris
I visited Paris in April, and I miss it terribly. I would like to see some poems that are either about your experiences in Paris (if you've been there) or what you imagine Paris is like (if you haven't).
Option 5- Five Lines or Less
Very short poetry is extremely difficult if you really want to make it a worthwhile piece. So, go for it, but don't just dash something out. Put in some effort. That's really important for this option.
Option 6- Random Words/Phrases
These are just some random words and phrases for you to use as inspiration. Either use the word/phrase as your title, a line in your piece, or as inspiration for you piece. No matter what, include the word/phrase in your notes.
1. the second dream
2. we got back
3. take the elevator
4. the way they look against
5. for the glamour
6. completely obsessed
7. tried and beheaded
8. what will it take to show you
9. handwriting
10. needs to come home
Okay, that about wraps it up. I really hope you enter. I love reading and commenting on poems!
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on August 13, 2007
- Rewards: Gold: 300, Silver: 150, Bronze: 50
- Final notes: I'm really sorry, guys. I screwed up on this one. I'm so, so sorry I went back on my promise to comment on all of the entries, and I'm sorry it took me so long to judge, but my life has just been way too crazy lately. I promise that I did find the time to read every entry. Thank you all so much for entering, and again, I'm very sorry.
Contest Winners
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• Commented on by judge. [remove]
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dyed dandelions / grant pyrotechnic wishes / when blown to the sky /• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
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• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
Gold trophy winner
Silver trophy winner
Bronze trophy winner
Entries [36]
1 - 36 of 36
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• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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by Kaleidoscopeyes 8 lines, 4 comments, on Jun 24 4:24 PM 2007. In Love• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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by Kaleidoscopeyes 36 lines, 7 comments, on Jun 29 2:59 PM 2007• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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The day has almost gone and I'm dancing as fast as I can / The night is soon approaching again / So don't let go yet, I'm still in a spin /• Commented on by judge.
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Sleeping silently in this hell I call life / With his scent still clinging to my pillow / The one I love / The one I need / Beneath the new distractions' overpowering, alluring aroma / Promises are promisesby BenziRae 47 lines, 2 comments, on Jul 8 12:58 AM 2007• Commented on by judge.
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Time is always moving, never stopping. It lingers on and on and ...by Quest for Thought 4 lines, 5 comments, on Oct 6 8:15 PM 2006. In Nature• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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Society remains evenly divided
on when life begins and how it's decided.• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
illuminated / by the moon light / I thought of you / And realized / On the outskirts of my mind / Your high-school love notes linger / I reby Saree Wynter 28 lines, 3 comments, on Jul 8 4:03 AM 2007. In Love, Life, Other, Personal, Sad, Thoughts, Contest, My own style, My life, Longing• Commented on by judge.
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Jealousy Justice? / Anger Attempt to stop violence? / Ignorance Innocent tiby Anastasiya 4 lines, 9 comments, on Jun 27 5:42 PM 2007. In Acrostic, Point of View, Society, Thoughts• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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Skulking in the backstreets, / You and I with my knife. / "No such thing as / Innocence," / You say. / "No such thing as / Un-deserving." / And so it doesn't matter that / They whimper and / Cry beneath theby Shiro Okami 57 lines, 1 comment, on Jul 8 7:52 AM 2007• Commented on by judge.
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OPTION 5
happy moments live forever, still remembered, it'll be treasured...• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
OPTION 5
Doors are like problems. There are doors that need to be pulled while others need to be pushed. In passing through that problem• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
OPTION 5
past will still be part of the present and of the future;
life's changing but its roots are not.• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
OPTION 5
to love is worth living• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
The Blackness of the night..by pen-inhand 20 lines, 4 comments, on Feb 2 10:22 PM 2007. In Thoughts• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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by Shenton 4 lines, 2 comments, on Apr 6 5:47 PM 2007• Viewed by judge. Prewrite
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maybe you'll see me drenched in my determination and send a thrust my way.• Viewed by judge. Prewrite
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COMING ACROSS ONE OF YOUR OLD PARIS POEMSby NoWayJo 38 lines, 57 comments, on Oct 25 2:33 AM 2005• Viewed by judge. Prewrite
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by NoWayJo 12 lines, 10 comments, on Jun 13 7:14 PM 2007. In HAIKU/SENYRU• Viewed by judge. Prewrite
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As I walk this long tunnel. / I can see the light. / Every second closer to the end of time. / I can't stop but look back. / I can't stop bby nerd42189 4 lines, 1 comment, on Jul 21 11:38 PM 2007• Viewed by judge. Prewrite
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You stole my innocence
the essence of the person I was• Viewed by judge. Prewrite -
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All the seats are empty, / but you're in your spot on the floor. / Can I sit with you? / Put my arms around you? / Will you let me kiss youby Wonderland-Crumpets 4 lines, 2 comments, on Jun 22 3:20 PM 2007. In Love, Personal, Thoughts, Other• Viewed by judge. Prewrite
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Sitting on the outskirts of Insanity... / formulating my battle plan... / I was never prepared to do combat / with this bitch named Cocaine... / but... / I was drafted by that damn Love... / and now... / I mustby Sacrificial Love 37 lines, 6 comments, on Jul 23 6:26 AM 2007• Viewed by judge.
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Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war.-William Shakespears / Tearing across the country side like a wild boar. / Leaveing a path that looks postwar. / So drop the leash, release the beast. / Come now,by tomcat148 6 lines, on Jul 23 2:20 PM 2007• Viewed by judge.
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Tanned skin glistens / As they spin, / Dancing for rain, / Praying for lightening, / Calling for thunder. / No one realizes / They hate the sun. / They stop, waiting, / Hoping. They long / For weather• Viewed by judge.
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You bled in time with the music, / or rather, your blood was the music / and oh, how we danced.by Intravenous Jesus 2 lines, 1 comment, on Jul 23 7:18 PM 2007• Viewed by judge.
Add a comment
Comments
1 - 6 of 6
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Can we submit poems that have already won trophies/
What if they won honorable mentions (I guess this is a trophy...)?
Thanks. Nice contest, it looks great! -
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Yeah, sure, go for it!
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Excellent! I'm going to try to write up something for each option!
Thanks for such a great contest!
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You have great movie taste, just to let you know.
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Nice contest! Definitely bookmarked! Would love to enter lots of pieces- my muse is working already lol
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I am honored that you thought so highly of my poems. Thank you for your comments and points!
Adding your comment:
1 - 6 of 6
