https://youtu.be/Zt28r1V6lR0

So, being that I am the kind of writer that loves validation and positive reinforcement, I was very excited to discover the phenomenon of user-run contests. But after reading through some 300 or so, and entering 100+ (as of the time this was written, now it's way more), I've encountered certain trends that drive me insane. I thought I'd go ahead and make a little guide of sorts, on the off-chance that another user might find it helpful in some way when planning/running their own awards contest.

If you read through all the chapters, you will notice a lot of repetition. This is intentional. I wanted to put the points I wanted to make wherever they might apply, for readers that only read certain chapters. 

Please feel welcome to suggest other points/issues for inclusion.  I don't guarantee that I will agree/publish your input, but I'm sure there's plenty that hasn't occurred to me yet.

(1) The awards that I ran (in 2017) was initially pretty much a flop, but (using some of the techniques mentioned here) gained a decent amount of popularity.  Feel free to check my contest book out to see what I consider a decent effort. 

(2) What follows is just my opinion. While you are welcome to disagree, I don't want to debate.

(3) This book's subject matter is exclusively Wattpad user-run awards contests based on the written word.

(4) After having worked on my contest for several months, I realized that this whole book needs an overhaul and update.  I'm going to do it bit by bit as I'm able.

(5) Some of the chapters are a bit heavy on graphics.