"Forgotten Valentine" Contest judged....so hard to do !!!

Blog Posted by Debra Squyres: 2/11/2013 12:24:00 PM

I knew it was going to be hard...but not this hard.

I've cried, I've ohhhhh'd, I've awwwee'd.....

There were some that did not make it to the list...simply for not using "Forgotten Valentine" somewhere in their title, Sorry...they were sooooooooo good. Some of these would have made it to the top of the list.

It was first on my checklist to move forward.

Three things asked:
Include the words "Forgotten Valentine" in the title
Date written at bottom, (on poem somewhere was fine)
Contest name listed at bottom

Judgine blindly, I could not send messages. But...it was on the Contest guidelines.....What more can I say?

Also, judging blindly I showed no favortism towards writers I visit frequently or who visit me frequently. Sooooo I have no idea who won !!!

So I'm off to see the winners for the first time myself.

Congratulations to all who entered (Exceptional Poets ALL)
and my thanks and humble gratitute I extend to each of you for supporting my first contest.

Special thanks to those who offered help and suggestions to me .... as this was my first contest.... that checklist of things to look for worked out !!! Much appreciated...you know who you are.... (((((Hugs)))))

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Bonchance
Longfall

Date: 3/10/2013 10:34:00 AM

Hello Debra! Good to see a fellow Lulu poet. Yes I am that Bonchance from Lulu. :)

Mandy
Tams The Golden Girl

Date: 2/12/2013 11:29:00 AM

Thanks for my place Debra it was fun.. xx

Seren
Roberts

Date: 2/11/2013 11:58:00 PM

Thank you Debra for placing me in your contest.....Seren

Poet Destroyer
A

Date: 2/11/2013 9:25:00 PM

yes,, very sad when we do not follow rules... :-(...xox~PD

Andrea
Dietrich

Date: 2/11/2013 4:09:00 PM

by the way, I read some really outstanding work from this contest. Thanks for the great inspiration.

Andrea
Dietrich

Date: 2/11/2013 4:09:00 PM

It's sad when we don't follow the rules and then we can't be on a winners list. I am glad I followed all your rules and that I got placed. thanks so much. And congrats to all those who are on the winners list. Being on both sides, judge and contest entrant, I know how easy it is to forget a rule and also how annoying it is for a judge to have to eliminate people for not following the rules. I admire you for sticking to your guns! But yes, I know you feel bad when a good poem did not place because they didn't do something you asked!!

Carrie
Richards

Date: 2/11/2013 3:02:00 PM

A big thank you, Debra, for my placement, and congratulations to everyone! And congratulations to you on your first contest!

Debra
Squyres

Date: 2/11/2013 1:34:00 PM

Special shout out to these Titles, though I don't know who wrote them. "Lace and Frills".. "The Smell of Your Skin" .. "Shoes for Wings" ... "Remember".. "My Valentine" ...and "My Valentine Contest".... All excellent writes, but...sadly, soooo very sadly..your Titles did not follow the guidelines. ALWAYS CHECK again to see if you have the correct information asked for in the contest on your poems. I only had 11 that did follow all the guidelines. Had to really adjust my check list...as I wanted more than 11 winners.

Debra Squyres
Date: 2/11/2013 1:35:00 PM

A checklist of what I wanted to see in the winning poems was soooo helpful !!!

Deborah
Burch

Date: 2/11/2013 12:36:00 PM

Thanks so much Debra for my placement in your contest!! And congratulations on your success, well done! Big congrats to all the winners!! Hugggss. Deb