How I'm Judging the "Condition" Category
On Getting Down With The Sickness
When I judge this category I follow a clear and simple approach. The first and most important rule is that your entry must actually match the category. If you had to sit and convince yourself that your work probably counts or that it might be close enough then it will not win. The category is the foundation. If you miss it nothing else matters and you are finished before the judging truly begins.
I do not care about your page design your CSS tricks or your art. None of that will save a weak submission. This is not a contest about decoration. It is not a beauty pageant for layouts. If you rely on visuals to carry the work then the work will fall short. The writing decides everything.
Language is not a barrier. If English is not your strongest tool you are still welcome to compete. I can read French without trouble and I can work my way through Spanish. What matters is clarity and intent. If your meaning is strong the message will come through.
The question I ask as I read is simple. Did you create something interesting. If you can hold my attention for more than fifteen seconds you have already risen above a large portion of the field. That means your idea is clear your structure is steady and your execution has some weight behind it. I am not looking for perfection. I am looking for work that shows care intention and an ability to engage a reader.
Alongside these points I follow the broader standards I mentioned earlier. I look at the strength of the writing from the first line to the last. I look at the clarity of the prose and the internal sense of the piece. I pay attention to how well the article presents itself. I do not reward shortcuts and I do not punish simplicity. I care about whether the piece understands itself and delivers on what it sets out to do.
As the event progresses I will release a shortlist when the time is right. That list will reflect the strongest examples in the category based on the criteria above. However that is not the only feedback anyone will receive. Every single entry will get thoughtful engagement from me. I will provide reaction insight and where appropriate I will include questions or ideas that may help you strengthen your submission or your broader approach to writing. I do not believe in competitions where only the winners receive attention. If you put in the effort to enter then you deserve acknowledgement.
That is the full standard. No tricks. No hidden preferences. Write something that belongs in the category. Write it with intention. Write it well enough to hold a reader. If you do that your work will be judged fairly and with respect.
...and probabaly win.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. I'm not hard to find.
To you, do things like depression or cirisis count? Acne? Or just your covids and mad cow disease?
They absolutely count.