I had only been on the site a couple of months when you held your 2007 contest. I was a little nervous about entering, and was encouraged that you had no special requirements of experience or time spent writing to enter.
I entered two pieces. The first was commented on by Raven judge Das. He gave a thorough and comprehendable evaluation of the piece I had entered. He then explained it would probably be considered "prose", and disqualified in further judging. (Yet instead of just commenting "Try again", he gave me this fabulous review on the piece that I had submitted!) He invited me to resubmmit to the then-closed contest with another piece. At this point I was terribly anxious that anything I had that was not strictly rhymed might be prose instead of poetry. Das was remarkably patient, and continued to respond to my many questions about prose vs. poetry. He then walked me through getting an alternate entry authorization code, the removal of my original entry, and the submission of an alternate entry. It is hard to imagine anyone being more helpful and PATIENT with an anxious and jittery technologically-challenged wanna-be writer! I could not have been treated more kindly.
My second piece was commented on by Northern Raven. Again, the evaluation was thorough and understandable. He/she expressed a point of view I had never considered as I wrote the piece, which helped me understand how to improve it. I feel the review was beneficial to me as a writer.
The judges gave me some of the best and most thorough reviews I have recieved on any of my work, and I appreciate their time and feedback immensely!
Though neither of my entries moved on, I look forward to entering your next contest. I hope you will continue to have such outstanding judges giving thorough critiques and insights into improving the quality of writing of those participating. I have so appreciated the Raven staff I have come in contact with!
Thank you!
A contest entry
- The 2007 Raven Contest: Feedback by Raven Contest.
525 points, ended December 5, 2007, 6 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 5 of 5
-
I do agree Das is wonderful he help me who was a judge to feel better about making and sharing comments with others in our ap world. It was my first time as judge for the contest. I haved been honored and bless my the experince. I am glad to read the feed back contest and learn. I think it been a growing experince.
-
Wow, I need some of that knowlege, I have no clue...glad you got it, that's great
-
-
Thanks, 2lullabyhaven, for your comment. Actually, I'm still not sure I "get" how to distinguish prose from poetry
But I'm trying! 
-
-
informed
thanks for the info . . glad you were helped by their reviews . . improving quality is always a plus . . good luck in the contest . . !
-
Hello Mirthryl. Thank you for your thoughts and comments. No one need feel nervous about entering the Raven Contest as it is open to all. The rules are always posted and if contestants are in doubt about any aspect of them, we are more than happy to explain them if they contact us.
Some entries into the contest were borderline prose/poetry. All judges followed contest rules and referred those works to the REO, who read and made the final decision on entries remaining or being substituted in the contest. For those who would like to know, prose is like ordinary speech and is written without metrical structure. There are many forms of poetry and it does not have to rhyme but it should have metrical structure among other attributes. Many poems also lack punctuation, which may greatly aid the understanding of a piece when read by someone other than the author, especially where a work could possibly be considered borderline. It is hoped that all contestants who experienced the issue over prose/poetry were given appropriate advice with equal patience and courtesy as Das gave to you. It is our aim for the contest to be a smooth and pleasant experience for all concerned.
All reviews given were as comprehensive as time allowed for individual judges and were delivered and hopefully received as constructive advice. During the course of the contest all judges received messages of thanks for their full and genuine opinions. Some authors also responded by giving us further information on their work, perhaps further background or keeping us informed if they had made changes etc. Just as authors appreciated our comments, the judges also appreciated the feedback because this was the first year for the Raven Contest and any information given may be used to improve the contest for future years.
Taking part in the Raven Contest appears to have been a pleasurable and constructive experience for you and I’m sure all judges would like me to pass on their thanks for posting your positive comments as they encourage other authors to enter this contest. We hope to see you enter again in 2008.
Adding your comment:
1 - 5 of 5
