So...I have been thinking about contests lately, a lot. I thought it might be fun to run a contest, just a little one. However, I don't know if my contest would have very much incentive. I wouldn't want to attract big artists I don't think because I don't really have anything they would want, I'm not that great really at art that I feel comfortable promising art as a prize. I also feel like I am a journeyman writer (though better at writing than art). So, the really good artists here that actually charge commission prices...I don't see that they would be interested in a contest to draw something I designate.

I could offer up to a year's membership, depending on how guilty I feel about the subject matter of the contest. But is that enough incentive? I don't really care to buy a membership myself. My other thought was to offer, as part of the prizes, a story written by me but featuring their character. I figure a lot of people here might be better at art than they are at writing and appreciate that. In this case, I would also be offering the winner a paid membership of some length or other in addition to the story featuring them. I would also publish that story here and on my personal website, crediting them for the character.

Anyone reading this ever run contests here and have some advice? One thought I had was a costume designing contest of sorts. My OC in my primary novel in the works is a disguised dancer of sorts and I have been having trouble clearly picturing what her outfits might look like. All I know is that they need to keep people from knowing she isn't human and add a mysterious allure while being able to attract attention and perform in. This involves decorative masks as well, typically half-masks in which everything below the nose is exposed so that the Spinner may eat. The character is part of a spiritual order called Spinners who are so many things to their people, something a little like dancing bards with the status of religious avatars. Maybe offering to directly describe their design in a scene and thank them in the author's notes or something would make a nice prize too? Then again, while I might be able to finish that scene for them, they would have to wait for the rest until I get published...which could be a looooong time.

Contests seem fun, but I draw so poorly that I thought it might be more fun to run one. Anyone have any thoughts? I do know a lot of really great artists join big contests, but since I haven't much to offer, I thought this one might be more attractive to practicing artists who aren't confident enough to charge commissions.

Tell me what you think!