Something about competitions
Let me be very stratight forward here (and no hard-feelings please!). Lots of competitions are Renieng here on Indi and ofcourse, not everyone can win. Some have to win and others have not to. Why, who, how is irrelative as something which might look good to one may not look good to others and vice-versa. It's a subjective thing.
Why I started thread because I saw few of my friends visibly upset about losing competitions (I already said no hard feelings, and this thread is not targetted to someone specific) and they are my very close friends from blogging world. People whom I look upto!
The question here is why you participate in contests. Reasons may be many; for winning prizes, or it gives traffic, or we get a good (?) topic to write on, or just a personal satisfaction.
I decided to participate in a contest after a very long long time (last I participate was in Close up Fire-freeze contest) and it was at the last moment. I was left with two hours only to complete the post, or perhaps three. The important thing is the post turned out to be better than I expected and I was able to find out a new face of my writing. It gave me a lot of satisfaction. I don't want to say that I don't want to win now, of course I want to. But, the satisfaction of being able to write that post is much more than what I'll get if I win the contest.
So, what's your reason?
Absolutely!! These contests should be taken in the right spirit. I know the emotions run high, when we toil over a post, read it over and over again, rewrite and make a meticulously cut out baby of our own... an expectation builds up. But what I believe is, if you are sincere today, you r bound to reap its benefits someday, if not today, tomorrow. nothing goes in vain...
When I first stumbled upon indiblogger, the close up contest was on.. I took part in it... but didnt win... i guess it took me quite a few number of contests to get the taste of what you call winning some wort of a prize... But I just love writing for a contest. Sometimes its a struggle, coz everytime the scope of the contes doesnt fit into what I like to write about.. and soemtimes you know after a tiring day at office, words just doesnt come to you. and yes, when you win something, however small may it be... u 'r just happy.. no words for it. :-)
I had already written one Lakme post earlier just because everyone was writing and talking about it. I was new to Indi by then and I thought it would be a 'cool' thing to do.I didn't even pay much attention to it.
Though my second lakme post had a reason.It is a true story, and when I met her after these long 10 yrs, i least expected her to be alive, I could see the sunshine in her eyes and the Diva attitude! just imagine, an old couple at a band performance! I had to write.
I think these competitions help you in a way to improve. It's a definate topic that is set, and you write upon it. It lets you allow to explore more areas, let your imaginative part of brain work, and you come up with a post, which you think wouldn't have been possible.
What's more? You get more readers. This is one of the main reason! And, all this, with a chance to win something BIG!!!
There is no simple answer to this. You need to join the contests regularly to get a hang of this. Of course contests get you more readers than other posts. The topic of the contest imposes boundaries on you that helps you look deeper within the boundaries to come up with something interesting. And thirdly you hope you will get a better assessment of the quality of your writings than other bloggers who just come and say nice things so that you say the same back to them or those who say nasty things just to run you down. (I personally have not experienced the second kind though heard about them)
If you participate in contests obviously you are interested in results. If you find the winning posts always better, you begin to doubt your writing capabilities. You wonder if you can not be in top 20 of 300 ameteur writers, is it worth dreaming of making a full time career in writing. On the other hand if you find the quality of winners not so good as yours , you feel cheated and that the whole thing is a sham even though it inspired you to produce something you normally would not have.
The reason why i participate in the competition is satisfaction and rarely do i take part like you. I hope some day interesting topic comes up and i log in my entry. The rewards at the end of the day is icing on the cake, but if one does not win, it should not take away the joy of participation.
After result of Vodafone contest i was disappointed not bcoz i dint won but thinking that non English(Hindi ) cant win a indi contest. But i was wrong i came to know that a HINDI post WON in kissanpur contest. So i am ready 4 nxt one which allows Non English posts and appeals to me .
Ofcourse even i want to win but as a Poet writing a poem is more important to me.
"no comments" "no fajeiti" "no prizes" "no inner satisfaction"
i write for a contest only when i find the topic interesting. and they are always targetted towards my readers as usual. what matters to me the most is my readers liking what i write consistently; winning prize for it would be an added bonus no doubt :P
like i wrote for lakme because i got a very intriguing story line to think about. and i am glad people liked the story(whoever read it :P) and also that i was able to write in a different genre than my usual!!
You're generalizing that people who don't win are upset for same reason. Just like how people participate for many reasons, people are upset of many reasons. No1 likes to be screwed! I am sure even you will agree to that, Animesh.
This is why I don't like participating in competitions. The 2 basic reasons bloggers participate: To be recognised AND to get something out of it. For many, its more to be recognised. Second: is to get something out of it. No comment about the second point: whatever rocks people's boat.
The first point? What else do you we have that a blogger is recognised and showcased in this site???? Officially??? Blogger of the month? Featured blogger? Newbie of the month? We have none of them. Do we have those yearly blogger award thingies??? Indiblogger should do something beyond contests.
I did not generalize. I said few
I am talking about those few.
I never said that all or few people get upset for the same reason. I said few of my friends were upset for same reason
I think if Indiblogger moves in that direction, soon blogadda and indi will end up looking like each other. Blog adda is trying to introduce forums and more contests. And all the things you mention, they are exactly what blogadda is already doing.
Yeah, they just started recently. This is the best time to join there, if someone is interested in being a forum hero.
Somehow I run out of imagination when I have to write for a competition. That is why I have never been able to participate in one 
But I agree that it will only help one to explore some more of one's creativity.
I think competitions give you something to write about... and you are free to participate. Its not about winning prizes. But I do it also for increasing my readership. If someone comments or votes for my post, I feel deeply satisfied.
I have participated in three-or-four competitions and haven't won even a special mention. But I can always check out the winning entries, isnt it? That helps in appreciating how innovative can people get, and how the same topic is interpreted by different people across the globe.
The prize is the first thing that makes me write for a contest ( honestly admitting facts 
). The second reason is the traffic that I receive. While I always hope to receive a prize, atleast the consollation prize ( the only ones that I received till date), not winning any does not disappoint me. I alwasy accept that there are a large number of bloggers who write better than me and I get inspired by them to write better the next time, be it for a contest or for any general post on my blog.
Is there anyone who would return the prize after winning the contest because they had participated for learning something new ?
Everyone wants the prize and thats why we participate
and also there are the "side benifits" like getting a topic to write about, learning , etc, etc
Participating in contests are always fun. But one should be open-minded and sportive while participating in any contests. Shouldn't put too much expectations on our posts. There maybe several better posts than what we have written or maybe our post seems like a better post for others.
In the end, if we lose in a contest, first reaction's always bitter. It's basic human nature to feel disappointed when one has put a lot of effort in creating one's post. But we should overcome that very soon and appreciate the winners :) But if one wins, then be happy and zealous but never brag about it too much. Even that is not a sportive thing to do.
My point is, winning boosts up our confidence to heights. Losing may damper our spirits for a while but then it will also set fire within us to come up with even better things with our talents :)
Note to Indiblogger Team:
So many links going to sponsors (within a short duration) may not be good for their search engine reputation. Search engines have some aversion to unnatural linking and sponsored posts (which is what these are). I suggest that you take it up with organizers and try to convince them that 'no-follow' links from blog posts are better than do-follow links. All participants should be mandated to give no-follow links.
Otherwise, they might have a difficult time with Panda, Penguin, etc and it will hurt their online-reputation on the long-term.
Well I stayed away from contests for a long time now.
I have started it now.
I was never made for contests so never thought abt winning any
I dont know what makes ppl to wait for prizes and get disapppointed if they dont
I am not sure if a true blogger needs a prize !!
I had decided that I would only write for a competition if the topic intrigued me and made me write. Which somehow never happened...so... :P
The prizes are an added bonus that's all. And I understand that a certain person might not like the post while another might. But I write first for myself. So other than genuine critique, I really don't care.
For the first time I paritcipated in some competition Emotional Attyachar or some thng (I dont exactly remember the name)
I was actually informed by one of my friends about the forum to get readers and get connected with writers. I was super glad as till then I used to only write and send mails to a group of frnds! I thought this a cool way and started posting. I post for competitions to increase trafficking and to get readers and to read others fresh posts and thoughts too. During that emotional atyachar I was told (i got a mail) that I Won consolation prize- sochle movie tickets and I mailed back giving my postal address and other details but I never got the prize
Since then I was not so particular about winning or even getting what I win. Am not sure if every one here got prizes (all kind of ) when ever they won! Anyway Ya at times when I see a particular flashy post with 4-5 lines or some other post which I feel is not prize worthy I feel bad.
But then only thought which gives me solace is I AM NO JUDGE .Now am glad they have removed the votes linkage to the winning post but frankly chosing a winner is very tough (votes/ no votes). Some times I think here goes the winning post by reading some ones blog but they get a mere 10-20 votes and no prize 
so to me competition is sheer luck
HAVE to mention this the cool prizes they display attract me to the topic many a times I write but then I finally decide when results are announced every timee-- Oh that kindle- Do i really need it and this one -- Oh I will buy it soon 
haha. Thats all for now. I will always be thankful to indiblogger which helped me to gain some readers
