| The Blogfest 2005 Writing Contest has only | | | | |
| been running for two weeks and already the | | | | These people have entered and then sent us an |
| results are overwhelming. And not because | | | | extra email just to thank us for the |
| we're getting far more entries than we | | | | opportunity. They've told us how just writing |
| expected. It's because along with entries, | | | | about the project has made them so excited |
| we're also getting heartfelt messages from | | | | and full of joy. They have enthusiasm and |
| writers all over the world. I've run a few | | | | feel delight just for thinking about finally |
| contests before and received quite a few | | | | writing. And we've started reading the |
| entries, but I've never been personally | | | | entries and the joy is there too. As a |
| emailed and thanked by so many writers. | | | | publisher, I'm used to reading submissions |
| | | | and contest entries. It's often a joy but |
| What's the difference with this contest? I | | | | there's rarely as much life as there is in |
| think the main reason is that the idea | | | | these submissions. Reading them, I can feel |
| actually came from writers. Even though the | | | | that people have that spark of excitement |
| writers at our company work in publishing, | | | | that is only motivated by something much |
| they find it a little sad that there's so | | | | greater than money or even publication. It's |
| much focus on writing what can sell instead | | | | the joy of doing what your heart's always |
| of writing what truly matters to you. They | | | | wanted to do. |
| wanted a contest that would allow people to | | | | |
| write whatever they wanted to write. | | | | There is more to writing than publication and |
| | | | money and this competition is bringing out |
| From that idea came Blogfest, a contest | | | | the real spirit of writing. |
| designed to encourage all writers to get the | | | | |
| project of their dreams done. Unlike most | | | | My message to all writers is to think about |
| contests, we decided not to offer publication | | | | what matters to them. Think about that one |
| and not to pay the prize for a completed | | | | thing you've always dreamed of writing. I |
| work. Instead, we decided to offer the prizes | | | | challenge you to write down what completing |
| based on how much the writing project means | | | | that project would mean to you. If you feel |
| to the writer. This is one contest that isn't | | | | that spark, I challenge you to commit to your |
| about whether or not your work can sell or | | | | project and get it written. Not because you |
| about what your writing will mean to someone | | | | can make money from it, but because it means |
| else. It's about what it means to you. | | | | something to you. |
| | | | |
| To enter, we asked writers to tell us about | | | | This contest has made me see more clearly |
| the one thing they've always wanted to write | | | | than ever that there is far more to writing |
| and to tell us what it would mean to them to | | | | than making money. There will only be a few |
| write it. Now, after only two weeks, we have | | | | winners to Blogfest, and choosing them is |
| an inbox full of emails from people. Entries | | | | going to be the toughest job we do all year. |
| so far have included grandparents wanting to | | | | But I hope this idea can reach further than |
| write their life story for their | | | | that. I hope all writers will listen to their |
| grandchildren, aspiring novelists, | | | | hearts and complete their projects. I hope |
| professional writers looking for the chance | | | | that just thinking about actually doing it |
| to write something for themselves and not for | | | | will wake up that writing spirit that is in |
| money, and a young woman wanting to capture | | | | so many people. |
| and preserve her mother's family recipes. | | | | |