The NaiZizi Super Wonderful Most Likely One Time Only but We're Gonna Call It Annual Just Because Article Writing Contest.

Prizes:
First Prize: A Loot Card from the World of Warcraft Trading Card Game. It's NOT a spectral tiger, but it's got a US$ value of $10 according to eBay. You can have the entire card mailed to you, free of charge. Or you can just have the loot code if you'd prefer. Or I can email you the loot code first so you can get your item now and then mail you your card too. Unless you live in some part of the world where it costs $15 to mail something. I'm not entirely sure there is such a place though as I've mailed things about as far away as you can get from me and it hasn't cost even half that. In addition you'll get 500 EntreCredits.
Second Prize: 500 Entre Credits
Third Prize 250 EntreCredits
All 3 get their own post (Posted a week apart so that they're all visible) on http://naissasrage.com They'll also receive a permanent place on the contest page, which is currently empty because this is my first time doing something like this. If you don't use entrecard you can have a picture of a rabit with a pancake on his head. I'm sure we can work something out.

The subject is to be something related to world of warcraft, specifically something that applies to you. Something that you have experience with in World of Warcraft. I'd rather not see whining and complaining about how unfair certain things in WoW are, the entire official WoW forums are pretty much dedicated to that. However if you feel that strongly about such a subject, feel free to write about it anyway.

Example Subjects:
1) What it's like to raid as an oomkin.
2) What you need to start raiding as X class.
3) The evolution of the mage class since the release of WoW
4) Warrior Rage Issues in 5 Person Instances and 25 Person Raids
5) A guide on how to be a tankadin in a raid (Yes, it can be a guide!)

These are just examples; don't just pick one of those. Be creative! If you're not creative, feel free to pick one of those, but I would prefer that you're creative. Wow me.

Rules:
1) 1000 Word Minimum. This is a minimum. It's totally acceptable, but don't just stop at 1000 words. If you have more to write, keep on writing. Your entry can be as long as you need it to be.
2) Proper and readable English is required. So "liek sumtimes i liek 2 l@@k at butterflies n long 2 b free" is pretty much out. Your spelling and grammar do not have to be perfect. Mine certainly are not. Articles are being graded on how easy they are to read though. Your entry must have a title and use paragraphs.
3) It must be accessible for anyone that plays WoW, so no in-jokes or things that relate specifically to your guild/group of friends. An article on the politics of guilds is fine, but an article on why XxFluffyDoomBunniesxX is the greatest guild in the history of forever is not. As true as it may be, it's not really useful information to people that aren't in the guild or even on the server, unless they want to like Cower in fear of its greatness.
4) All work must be original and done by you. NO PLAGIARISM. No copying entire articles or parts of articles. (I can google!!)
5) One entry per person.
6) Entries will be judged on the following criteria: (1) effectiveness, insightfulness, creativity, and completeness; (2) organization and development of the ideas expressed, with clear and appropriate examples to support them; and (3) consistency in the use of language, variety in sentence structure and range of vocabulary, use of proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation. (Sounds all official like doesn't it?)
7) All entries must be submitted via email by June 7, 2008, in .txt or .doc format.
How long it takes to determine a winner depends on how many entries are received and chance of winning depends on the quality of entries submitted.
9) Close friends are NOT given priority or extra points. This is not judged by me alone, but by 2 other people that are unbiased in that they do not know any of you. If one of my dear friends should win it's not because they had any advantage (Send bribes to bribes@naissasrage.com), it will be purely because of their scores in the above criteria.

How to Enter:
Send your entry to articlecontest at naissasrage dot com in .txt or .doc format. Include the name of your main character in World of Warcraft as well as your email address and address of your blog/website/etc (if you have one) at the top of your entry. This is important! If there is any issue with your entry I will let you know immediately with the email address specified in the entry. Please include the delivery method desired if you should win first prize at the top of your entry also.
How to know if you've won:
Winners will be contacted via email. Names of winners will be announced here on Naissa's Rage. First prize will be mailed out, if that option is chosen, within 3 days of the announcement of the winner.
Good luck and have fun!

PS - Please send me good things to read! /beg