One more result out and again I lose. As always I see some pretty average posts making it, some lengthy essays which just promote the sponsors, some with poor grammar, some with spelling mistakes, etc. As a cricket blogger, on a day when Sachin plays his last innings, I guess its only befitting that I quit these contests too. As it is, I am always only making up the numbers which I dont like especially when I think that my entries are not badly written.
DS, 'Winners never quit; Quitters never win'.
'Sooner or later the man who wins is the man who thinks he can'.
As Uncle Pai used to advise, the key is to 'try, try, try, till you succeed'. Let's keep trying wih a positive mind & hope & faith... 
DS, if you want to win, writing promotional post instead of what you like. You will stand better chance of winning. This is my observation until now when it comes to contests. I think I should start writing promotional post if I like the prizes; if I don't like the prizes, I can give in to my wish of writing fiction. Sigh....
@Anita, I don't want to offend you but my opinion is, you can only try so much before you need to take a break to maintain your sanity. At least I would, and to be honest, I have already started doing so. I don't participate in every contest as I used to when I was green behind my ears :)
pankti annie was not promotional post...u won that 
@Fairy Princess, I just shared some quotes that have been motivating me for long!
No offence, as a Contest Junkie I have learnt from experience- have mostly landed up with Consolation prizes like t-shirts & many times, with nothing at all! Still, I take part with all my heart!
anita...i like the term "contest junkie" ..
ND, I won that contest cause it was not supposed to market any particular product aggressively...only a book. So the sponsors weren't interested to see how much marketing content the post had as long as there was the link for the book. That's my take.
Anita, I am glad you are motivated enough to participate in all contests. It really takes lot of grit to keep on trying without being a winner. I really admire such people. I am more of a quitter. I would rather sit on the side and watch everyone trying without feeling least bit inclined to try. 
ND, Thanks! I have even written a poem about Contest Junkie (that's me!)
Pankti, Sometimes people feel I'm silly being a Contest Junkie as most of the times I don't win (despite having spent lots of sincere time & effort); but still I gather my never-say-die-spirit and move on with renewed faith! Feels worth when efforts get rewarded! Great to win my 1st IB Winner's badge 2 days ago!
Anita, I am really glad for you. BTW, I never find it silly if anybody keeps on trying to do something despite repeated failures. In fact, those people impress me, and so I am impressed by you. Not kidding.
pankti ...sab contests same hai sponsors do want to market their stuff...and blogging contests are one of their marketing activity via social media...book is also a product but a creative person can include the marketing part subtely while remaining creative too ..
Come on, DS - Not when your old friend is getting back into the circuit. Let us form the old team again. Btw, first thing I looked for in this contest resuts was your name and was disappointed not to find it.
ND, I can't see subtle marketing when I see some winning posts. And this is not about a single contest. In my 6 months, I believe I have seen enough contests wherein winners have blatantly marketed the products with grammar and spelling issues. Sigh...never mind, this discussion can go on and on without any conclusion.
hmmm...well i dunno..cos i havent read them all...the ones i saw werent blatant marketing...maybe i missed...anyways i'm least bothered..i guess rather than pointing at others we should check if we've lacked too somewhere...atleast thats what i do and realized i badly need to read harry potter/lord of rings and learn sketching or ateast buy some pencil/paper or some drawing apps,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ( just kidding...i'll never post sketch posts/harry potters posts come what may )
Thanks Pankti!
Abraham Lincoln is an example of "keep on trying to do something despite repeated failures". At the end he became the President of the USA! Such people impress me too!
anita...theres a famous rumour that abraham lincoln is now a ghost in white house....so message is : everything is temporary in this world....if u win have fun...if u lose have some more fun...hum kya leke aaye the jo leke jayenge
Nandini deka: Probably "babaji ka thullu"..
in response to lekar kya aaye the aur kya jayenge ;)
Very True ND! Philosophical note- "Khaali haath aye the hum, khaali haath jayenge..Has kyunki duniya ko hai hasana!" (Song from Kaho Na Pyaar Hai movie) 
(We had come with empty hands, will depart with empty hands...Smile as we have to make the world smile!)
@Anita, you are truly filmy
ND, yes...after reading the winning entries I have realized that I need to change my style of writing if I want to have those prizes
@ Anita - I appreciate your patience but then there is only so much I can do. I have been trying for more than 2 years, many times after submitting the entry, and reading other entries, I have felt that this time I have a good chance of winning something (I am not a greedy person, I dont even want that 1st prize worth many thousands.. Even a 1k voucher will make me happy), but never have I won anything. So I dont see any point in my continuous participation any further, I cant give any more time and effort and free publicity to the sponsors.
@ Fairy Princess - What you say is not entirely wrong, though its not entirely correct too. Not all entries are blatant promotions of the products but still win top prizes. And a quitter is someone who never tried, I have given it my all, I have not given in without a fight!! :)
@ TF - Our team will probably unite someday again, to lose together for sure, but for now I am out of this. Not seeing my name in the WeChat results (which had some 90 prizes) and now this one with 70 odd prizes has been heart breaking and a painful pill to swallow. Anyways I hope and wish that you have better luck in your second innings here and win more than just readers and appreciation!!
@DS..probably treating these contests with more seriousness than they deserve?
DS, what I meant is, most of the times the winning posts are boring and promotional but not always. Also, when I said "quitter," I meant myself as I tend to try 3-4 times and then quit And I don't regret quitting or being called a quitter
I have realized that I need to change my style of writing if I want to have those prizes
i dont think we need to,,atleast i'll never change mine i find some top winning posts outright boring too, but its all about luck....
ND, I am talking about myself. If I like the prizes and not the contest, I will write in a particular way (which I don't like personally); but if I like the contest without giving two hoots about the prizes, I will write it in the way I like. That's the conclusion I have reached.
And when I neither like the prizes nor the contest (like the eBay one), I will sit under the shade of the tree, sip on my favorite drink and see everyone scurrying to write.
DS, Key is to 'never give up'. I believe the 'best is yet to come'.
'Oopar wala jab bhi deta, deta chappar phaad ke!' God is watching & will reward at His own time & pace!
I also believe- 'Waqt se pehle & kismat se jyaada, kisiko mila hai na kisiko milega'. Still, I try sincerely so that ooparwala will someday be compelled to ask me what do I want & willingly gift me the same!!! High Hopes!
Even after working hard, if I don't win anything, like has happened with this contest and many more, I cheer myself that I'll win the grand prize in the next one!
right Anita.. optimism is the key to ultimate success.. bt jab zyada samay beet jata hai toh insaan thoda mayoos toh hoga hi na.. beech beech mein agar kuch prize mil bhi jata hai toh wat's d harm ;)
right tym wahi jab right cheez mil jaye :)
Stuti, Let's hope it's so! That we get 'regular returns' (prizes) on our 'investments' (time as effort)!
Getting prizes yaani cheez, will make us say 'Cheese'!
yes anita... coz it feels good to win :)
Right Stuti! Yeh Dil Maange Wins! Cheers to our future winnings!
