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Ever thought of writing? Do you enjoy teaching others around the office, or
at home, how to use their computer? Are you a gamer who likes telling friends
about cool new games? Do you frequently find cool web sites and enjoy telling
folks about them? Are you a creative writer who has fun and interesting perspectives
about technology that you'd like to share? Would you like to win cool software?
TechTrax will be conducting a writing contest as an added incentive to give
some of you talented folks the extra push you may need to sit down and
start writing. I believe there is a lot of talent out there. But sometimes
folks are shy about sharing their thoughts with the public. So we'll be enticing
you to join us by bribing you with your choice of Microsoft
FlightSim 2002 or Microsoft
Racing Madness (which include 3 popular racing games). Our TechTrax readers
will choose the winner.
The Basics
Starting right now, and for the next two month, TechTrax will be accepting articles
from readers. On June 24th (our July issue deadline) we'll choose the best five
articles from the current submissions we have at that point. Those articles
will appear in the July TechTrax. Each contest entry will be duly noted as Contest
Entry and readers will be asked to vote, via a special voting page, for
the one article they like the best in that issue.
We'll continue to accept entries throughout July and we'll choose another five
at the end of July (July 24th) for our August issue. Again, readers will be
asked to vote. Whichever article receives the most votes, wins! If there should
be a tie, we'll vote again between those articles.
That gives you two shots at winning, because if your article doesn't
make the cut for July, you'll have a second chance to make the cut for the August
issue.
The Rules
There aren't many rules. As you can see by the wide variety of topics in TechTrax,
just about any subject you'd like to write about can find a home. Your submission
can be made as a Microsoft Word document, a text file or an email. There's no
real size limit. Use the space you need. Since the articles will be converted
to HTML, KEEP formatting to a minimum! Obviously, a good submission includes
a good format. We like articles that's are not too difficult to read and do not need a lot of editing! So check that
grammar and use that spell checker! Also, be sure to check your facts and include
proper URL links.
If you'll be including images, insert them into the document where they belong
and BE SURE to add Alt Tag text describing the image! If you don't
know how to do that, be sure to read Alan Wheeler's article this month, The
Accessible Web, which explains how to use Alt Tags and why they're
important. However, you don't need to add the actual HTML code, just add the word Caption: under the picture and add text describing the image. Email your submission to TechTrax@MouseTrax.com. Please remember
to add Contest Submission to the subject line.
If your article is chosen as a contest entry, you will be notified via email.
An edited, web formatted version of your article will appear at a special URL
and you'll be given a couple days to proof it. You'll also be asked at that
time to provide a short bio so we can learn a little more about you. If you
have any questions about the contest email dian@mousetrax.com.
The Vote
A special page will appear in both the July and August issues of TechTrax for
readers to cast their vote. Efforts will be taken to help limit ballot stuffing,
but you're free to tell your friends to come cast a vote for your article(s).
Our regular writers will also be allowed to play the game. Should any of them
choose to enter the contest, their articles will be in addition to the
five articles we'll choose from our readers' submissions, so as not to take
away any of the five new writer slots.
The winner will be announced in the September issue of TechTrax. The winner
will be given their choice of Flight Sim or Racing Madness.
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