Date: Wed, 1 Jul 1998 11:08:59 -0500 From: Phanny Subject: [WRITERS] WOW: JULY CONTEST ESSAY CONTEST Subject: A specific place This can include anything from a room to a town in another country. Write so that we feel we are there with you, so that we can visualize it well or get the feel of the place. Give us all the sensory information we need to transport us there. This shouldn't read like a travelog, but if it's another country, information that would be useful to people traveling there may be included. Limit your essay to a specific place rather than a whole country. Probably nothing larger than a town or city. Show us why you like it there, or don't. How it's different than what we might be used to. Its unique characteristics, and the people there, if there are any. This should be a real place, not science fiction. Ideas: An island, neighborhood, nursing home, room, yard, festival, historical site, a house, building, monument, convention, work area, body of water, vacation spot, restaurant, barber, boat, wilderness area, small town, childhood home, school, store, train/vehicle, sports park/arena. Keep the time within your own lifetime and write about something you know about. However, for those on the list who are well known for something like a hobby, please write about something else. The idea is to have the writing stand on its own merit and authors remain unknown. So Robyn Herrington should not write about blowing glass, Valentine Smith should not write about Russian studies, and the known avid gardeners should find something else to write about. Stretch your mind; try something new, out of your rut, and yet something you know about. Chances are you've been some place interesting that we don't know about. Submissions July 1-17, midnight your time. Voting July 18-31. Winners will be announced August 3. The August Contest will be announced on July 31. One first place prize, yet to be determined. No word limit but keep in mind this is an essay, not a story. It should be a reasonable essay length, not really long. Everyone will get one vote, whether they enter the contest or not. You may vote for yourself or any other entry you wish.