19/01/2025
VOTING CONTEST: A CLARIFICATION
There are methods, other than voting for arriving at a winner in a Writing Competition. We looked at each of them and considered local context before our decision to do monetary voting.
First, we have eliminated fear of tribalism by judges (we will not pretend about how this evil can affect and almost cripple merit)
Token voting (monetary) does two things. One, it pushes writers to engage in marketing their contents (this is the weakest part of efforts among many writers). Many writers do a great job Writing wonderful books, spend several millions bringing them out from press but never make time to factor promotion, marketing and sales. They think books or any other creative content sells by sentiments -it takes hardwork to convince people to rather spend their hard earned money buying your book than on other needs. This is an aspect we are going to spend time to train participants.
Many Nigerian writers have their books on Amazon but only a negligible few have sold a copy. So, what's the problem? One of it is, weak promotion, poor marketing and sales plan and strategy. We shall handle this during training. Token voting is to prepare everyone for where we're going. Honestly, if you're shy, ashamed, or passive about your product (your write-up is a product) and engaging in digital marketing/promotions, etc then just know that, though you develop a good content, it may just end up with you.
Now, not only does monetary voting help to push a writer to plan and strategize (which he or she will eventually apply to selling his or her books when published) it helps to keep the process open. Being an online voting everyone will have the opportuinity of seeing first-hand how each participant is doing. For example, if you have 100 votes everyone will see it. Even before the end of the competition each participant will be able to see what's happening with others.
Lastly, non-monetary voting usually result in some participants mobilizing everyone and anyone to vote and by so doing sabotage the process. We all know that, this is very easy. So, we want participants to brace up and market their contents to people who'll be ready to spend N50 just to make them win.
Let me give you this secret, the data you'll have from the people who voted for you gives you an idea of the people to market first, to buy your book online when it's out. So, see the benefits and brace up for the challenge -because at the end you'd have built a network of people who'll help you rise.
As we are focused on growing and empowering skilled writers to earn more from their works, deservedly, we are not going to deceive anyone by making you think rising in life comes by just wishing it -writing and going to sit down while your dream work itself out? No Way!
Let's Work and Walk Together and See What Happens by the End of 2025. Many of you will be telling better stories than you did last year. We are here to push You away from continuing to do the same thing year in, year out and expect a different result in your Writing effort. You can rise. Yes, You Can!
You're highly welcome to GoSobo Writing Competitions platform for your empowerment! Participation in this competition gives you access to more.
Click to register,
https://sites.google.com/view/gosobo/home
Submission of entries is from 16th January - 20th February, 2025.
1ST PRIZE: N700,000 Editing, proofreading, cover design, ellook formatting, markup, etc will be provided free by a professional team for the publishing of 5 of your eBooks on GoSobo -your eBooks will be promoted free on all GoSobo social media handles 2ND PRIZE: N300,000 Editing, proofreading,
