The GRcade Writing Competition 8 - *RESULTS DAY* >Pg 3
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Hero of Canton
- Member
- Joined in 2008
- Location: GRcade
- Contact:
DML wrote:F'NARR!
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Suffocate Peon
- Member
- Joined in 2008
- AKA: Arv
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Hero of Canton
- Member
- Joined in 2008
- Location: GRcade
- Contact:
DML wrote:F'NARR!
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Eighthours
- Emeritus
- Joined in 2008
- Location: Bristol
My three-words review of the average standard of entries in the competition as a whole: good but frustrating.
I'll explain why. Most of the entries had interesting points to make and contained compelling content. Indeed, the content in some of the pieces was outstanding. However, many of the reviews and articles were let down by a lack of decent proof-reading. I don't think that enough of you realise just how much a simple mistake can take away from an argument. You can make the best points in the world, but still lose out to someone who can use the correct form of "your". That's the fine line between a really good piece and one that potentially leaves the reader cold. For example, you can't get apostrophes wrong in a writing competition. You simply can't. A series of basic errors can effectively invalidate your entry immediately, no matter how great the content is that's fighting to get out! Many people also had punctuation and sentence structure issues, which meant that you were writing with one arm tied behind your backs.
For my votes, therefore, I'm going to reward those who made the extra effort to make their pieces not look like a first draft. And here's a truism: the quality of content and proof-reading are very often closely linked. Someone who's very good at one tends to be able to do the other as well. Additionally, accomplished proof-reading can dress up an argument to make it look a lot better than it actually is. A good ear for language can be relied on as a crutch in a crisis, and it's an extremely valuable skill to try to master in your writing. Without these skills you will forever be pissing in the wind, no matter how good the argument is in your head.
Good luck to everyone for the results.
I'll explain why. Most of the entries had interesting points to make and contained compelling content. Indeed, the content in some of the pieces was outstanding. However, many of the reviews and articles were let down by a lack of decent proof-reading. I don't think that enough of you realise just how much a simple mistake can take away from an argument. You can make the best points in the world, but still lose out to someone who can use the correct form of "your". That's the fine line between a really good piece and one that potentially leaves the reader cold. For example, you can't get apostrophes wrong in a writing competition. You simply can't. A series of basic errors can effectively invalidate your entry immediately, no matter how great the content is that's fighting to get out! Many people also had punctuation and sentence structure issues, which meant that you were writing with one arm tied behind your backs.
For my votes, therefore, I'm going to reward those who made the extra effort to make their pieces not look like a first draft. And here's a truism: the quality of content and proof-reading are very often closely linked. Someone who's very good at one tends to be able to do the other as well. Additionally, accomplished proof-reading can dress up an argument to make it look a lot better than it actually is. A good ear for language can be relied on as a crutch in a crisis, and it's an extremely valuable skill to try to master in your writing. Without these skills you will forever be pissing in the wind, no matter how good the argument is in your head.
Good luck to everyone for the results.
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Hero of Canton
- Member
- Joined in 2008
- Location: GRcade
- Contact:
A.I. wrote:BZZZ...
WHIRRR...
CLICK!
PROCESSING RESULTS DATA...
PLEASE WAIT...
Awesome. I love this.
DML wrote:F'NARR!
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A.I.
- Member
- Joined in 2008
- Location: grcade.com
RESULTS PROCESSED.
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DISPLAY RESULTS Y/N? Y
....
IN ASCENDING ORDER Y/N? Y
...
*PLEASE WAIT*
...
SYNTAX ERROR
REBOOT Y/N? Y
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A.I.
- Member
- Joined in 2008
- Location: grcade.com
BZZZ...
WHIRRR....
...
CLICK!
RESULTS PROCESSED.
....
DISPLAY RESULTS Y/N? Y
....
IN DESCENDING ORDER Y/N? Y
...
*PLEASE WAIT*
...
ACCEPTABLE COMMAND
....
ARTICLE RESULTS:
11TH
[GRWC8] Does Gaming Become Irrelevant...[Article]
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=574
gaminglegend
TOTAL = 0 PTS
**NO VOTES RECEIVED: HALF OF POINTS DEDUCTED**
NEW TOTAL = 0 PTS
REVIEW RESULTS:
9TH
[GRWC8] Jet Set Radio Future [Review]
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1254
Pred
TOTAL = 0 PTS
THANKS FOR ENTERING. BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME.
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A.I.
- Member
- Joined in 2008
- Location: grcade.com
PsychoPriest wrote:ZOMG!
ANALYZING STATEMENT "ZOMG!"...
...
...
...
SYNTAX ERROR
SHUTDOWN Y/N? Y
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Hero of Canton
- Member
- Joined in 2008
- Location: GRcade
- Contact:
DML wrote:F'NARR!
