WRiTE CLUB 2015

I’m thrilled today to welcome author DL Hammons to Thoughts in Progress to talk about a wonderful event that has just begun – WRiTE CLUB 2015. This is an amazing opportunity for authors and those wishing to break into writing.

Please join me in welcoming DL as he tell about WRiTE CLUB. Welcome, DL.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to hijack your blog today Mason, and talk about WRiTE CLUB. It’s a contest that’s near and dear to my heart, and as soon as I introduce it to your readers, it will be to them as well. This year the contest turns wooden – and goes syndicated! 

That’s right, it’s the five year anniversary of the “little contest that could”. But more importantly, a rumored association with the DFW Writers Conference is happening! That means lots of exciting changes which I’ll be detailing below. 

First off, let me explain what WRiTE CLUB is? What started off as a modest writing competition, whose inspiration was loosely derived from the movie FIGHT CLUB, has grown into a writing community sensation. There are numerous versions of this concept floating around the internet, but nothing like we do it here. This unique approach, combined with visitor participation, continues to set it apart from the other writing competitions and is responsible for its phenomenal growth. Its essence embodies simple, good-natured competition, with lots and lots of fun sprinkled on top.

Over the course of ten weeks I hold bouts in which the winners will advance to elimination rounds, and then play-offs, which will ultimately lead to a single champion. Bouts between who…or what…you ask? Anonymous 500 word writing samples, submitted under a pen name by anyone who wishes to take part, that’s who. The writing can be any genre, any style (even poetry) with the word count being the only restriction. It’s a way to get your writing in front of a LOT of readers, without having to suffer embarrassment or the agony of exposure. How cool is that?

And the winners of each bout are determined by WRiTE CLUB readers!

So what’s at stake…other than exposure? In previous years the most exciting part was the winner of the final round was chosen by a panel of publishing industry professionals! Agents, Editors, Publishers, Marketers, and well-known Authors! Check out their bios on my website (in alphabetical order by last name). But that was before. Now, the WRiTE CLUB Champion will be announced during the DFW Conference, receive a three-chapter critique of their work by several of the judges – and – FREE ADMISSION TO THE DFW CONFERENCE IN DALLAS FOR 2016. That is a $400 value and an experience that cannot be missed! Wait, that’s not all – both finalist will also receive a $75 Amazon gift card!

Are you bouncing up and down with excitement, wondering how to submit your sample? Just visit my blog - http://www.dlhammons.com/2015/03/write-club-2015.html -- and all the rules and procedures are there.

How do I maintain the anonymity? My wife is the only one monitoring the email address where submissions are sent she logs in every entry and assigns a number – then remove the writer’s name.

Submissions are open from now until April 30th. After that date a panel of a dozen judges will read all of the entries and pre-select 40 of the best writing samples to climb into the ring.

You are allowed to enter up to three different writing samples – all in separate entries under the same pen name – but only one will be eligible to become part of the 40 contestants. 

Last year we had 168 entries, so just getting selected to participate in the contest is reason to celebrate in itself. 

The 40 participants will then be randomly matched to compete beginning on May 18th (see the schedule below), with everybody hoping to make it into the play-off rounds and moving towards the ultimate goal – WRiTE CLUB Champion. No one (other than my wife)…not even the judges being used to pre-select the 40 contestants, will see the true identity of any sample.

Here’s the list of our celebrity judges this year:
Lauren Oliver, Russell C. Connor, Sarah Negovetich, Christopher Rhodes, Dawn Frederick, Marisa A. Corvisiero, Ella Kennen, Shannon Hassan, Michelle Johnson,Lydia Moëd, Katelyn Detweiler, Cheryl Pientka, Laura Maisano, Tex Thompson, Dan Koboldt.
 
Are you willing to WRiTE for what you want? Then crack those knuckles and get ready to flex that imagination. And whatever you do, tell your friends!

WRiTE CLUB – The contest where the audience gets clobbered! 

Thanks again, Mason!

DL, thank you for stopping by and sharing this wonderful opportunity with the readers of Thoughts in Progress. This is a fun event for writers and readers.

Thanks everyone for stopping by today. If you’re an author or would like to give writing a try, be sure to sign up now.