Contests

So I got to thinking about contests the other day when I was planning my new website. I’d like to do them, and there are so many creative ideas out there. At the same time, there are also what I’d call the “Annoying” contests. You know, the ones where you have to answer about 35 billion questions and you actually have to think? I tend to avoid those. Then, too, sometimes there are the–comment here and I’ll draw a lucky winner–contests which require nothing at all. I like one that’s in the middle.

One of my favorites was done by Kate Rothwell. She did one contest where she chose some funny pictures and you had to make up either a blurb or back cover copy or something amusing to go with it. Reading the comments was a hoot! I think I may steal that idea or tweak it to make my own contest. I have some duplicate books from the RWA conference that I’d like to give away in celebration of finishing my book.

My web designer showed me another mock up yesterday and I LOVE it. I have a feeling I’m going to be logging on, staring at my pretty design and sighing in adoration. If you hate the design, don’t tell me. I’m in my happy place right now.

So tell me–what’s the most fun online contest you’ve entered or what’s the most annoying contest you’ve ever seen? (No need to give names on that one–let’s play nice.)