Writing Challenge - How it Works (from July 2019)

[Deb Porter]

Writing Challenge – How it Works (as from January 2019)

The FaithWriters.com Writing Challenge runs over four separate periods every twelve months:

* July to September;
* October to December;
* January to March; and
* April to June.

There are nine topics each quarter, with a one-week break between Weeks 5 & 6(See the Challenge Schedule Forum for exact details each week.) There is a two to three week break at the end of each quarter. Time to catch your breath and work on other projects.

The new topic is announced at 11 AM (New York time) Thursday during the quarter.

The Writing Challenge is open to GOLD and PLATINUM members, with one entry allowed per member per topic.

SILVER members are assigned four credits to allow entry to four Challenge topics during their SILVER membership. These credits can be used at any time--all in a row or spread out over time.

Once the new topic has been announced, you have one week to submit your entry. Entries for that topic will close at 10:59 AM (New York time) on the Thursday after the topic was announced, unless the cap of 200 entries is reached prior to closing time. Winners for that topic will be announced one week later.

There are three levels of entry for each topic:

* Level 1 & 2 - Challenge Beginners/Intermediate
* Level 3 - Challenge Advanced
* Level 4 - Challenge Masters

These levels provide an opportunity for members to be encouraged and rewarded at their level of ability. Each member is responsible for choosing their initial level of entry and should read the Level Selection Guidelines to help make that choice.

Entries must be between 150 and 750 words long, and should use the topic as their central focus. Entries that fall outside those word count limits will be disqualified and removed; however, every attempt will be made to contact the author in time to edit and re-submit their entry.

All entries must be conceived and written AFTER the topic is announced. No previously written material should be submitted. This is because the Challenge is designed to act as a tool to help writers develop their ability to write to topic, deadline and word count.

Entries may be in any style or genre; however, they MUST be from a Christian world-view (ie nothing shown being good that the Bible clearly speaks against). This message may be directed to the Christian reader or may be evangelistic in nature. Either is acceptable. In the case of fiction, the message may be subtle or allegorical. In that case, a scripture can be included at the end of the entry in order to highlight the intended message for the reader.

Please note: Entries should not be overly sensual or violent, and language deemed inappropriate for Christian readers will be removed, even if used in the portrayal of a non-Christian character.

For those who previously submitted articles, poems, and fiction without a specific or obvious Christian message or spiritual truth, don’t despair. Our Christian faith embraces every aspect of life. As Jesus showed, spiritual truths can be communicated through everyday things. So you can continue to submit entries that may not have an obvious Christian message, PROVIDED you include a scripture at the end that points the reader to the spiritual truth in your story. We believe this addition will cause the reader to think beyond the entertainment value of your story and be intentionally directed to the real heart of the message. In saying that, please ensure that the scripture is relevant to the entry.

Once entries close for a topic, all entries will be displayed for reading and comment by members https://faithwriters.com/wc-active-levels.php

Entries are judged using eight specific rating categories. Each entry is judged on its own merits, based on those categories. You can find out more about the rating categories HERE viewtopic.php?f=54&t=31273

The judges’ ten highest rated entries for each topic will receive the EDITORS’ CHOICE AWARD on their entry. Any entry from any level has the potential to place in the Editors' Choice.

Awards will be given to the best entries in each level--Beginner/Intermediate, Advanced and Masters. Please note: Awards will only be made to entries that meet the judges' standards for the level of entry. In other words, if (for example) there are only four entries in a level, it does not necessarily mean every entry will receive an award. This proviso has been introduced to ensure that a FaithWriters' Challenge award reflects good writing based on the level of entry.

At the end of each quarter, the best entry from each of the three levels, submitted during that quarter, will be announced as a Level Champion for that quarter.

The three best entries submitted during the year (July to June) will receive a BEST OF THE BEST award, with cash prizes on offer. The Best of the Best winners are announced on July 1 each year. The Best of the Best 1st place winner each year will win $100.00, 2nd place will win $50.00, and 3rd place will win $25.00.

After an entry is submitted, it cannot be viewed publicly until after entries close, and it will not appear in the author’s list of Challenge entries until after the winners are announced. Also, the author’s name will not appear on the entry until after the winners are announced. This is to ensure anonymity for judging purposes.

Once submitted, check to make sure your entry is safely in the list:
http://www.faithwriters.com/myaccount/wc-entry-list.php.

Entries cannot be edited by the author once they are submitted, so it is very important that all editing be done before submission. It is also VERY IMPORTANT to be aware that entries cannot be removed from the Challenge once entries have closed for that topic.

The winners will be announced one week after entries close for that specific topic. The list of winners can be found here https://faithwriters.com/wc-archives-levels.php and on the FaithWriters’ Message Boards in the Writing Challenge Results forum You will also find all the highest rankings for each level in that forum (provided there were sufficient entries for a topic to warrant a highest rankings list).

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(Silver members, once you have used your four credits, don’t miss out on all the Challenge fun. You can join in by simply upgrading to a GOLD or PLATINUM MEMBERSHIP from as little as $5.95 a month.

The Challenge is an excellent tool for helping writers hone their skills and receive feedback. Many of our members have had success submitting old Challenge entries to various publications.)