Two years ago we ran a fun and successful Christmas competition. This year we have decided to do the same – for two reasons: 1. Competitions are fun, and 2. I am going to be away for a week or two over Christmas.
First Prize
First prize is an 8GB iPod Touch (whichever model is the latest available in January 2010) valued at $199.00
Second Prize
Second prize is an 8GB iPod Nano (whichever model is the latest available in January 2010) valued at $149.00 in any color of your choosing.
Third Prize
Third prize is a 4GB iPod Shuffle (whichever model is the latest available in January 2010) valued at $79.00 in any color of your choosing.
Remaining Prizes
In addition to the above prizes, five published lists will be chosen at random to win a free copy of the Listverse book: The Ultimate Book of Top 10 Lists.
How it Works
The winner will be the person who contributes the list that I feature on the front page of the site on Christmas Day (December 25, 2009). The second place getter will have their list featured on the front page on Christmas Eve (December 24, 2009), and the third place getter will have their list featured on the front page the day before Christmas Eve (December 23, 2009).
At least five other (though I reserve the right to publish all regardless of number) lists will be published, and of those extra published lists, five people will be randomly selected to win a copy of our book.
The Rules
List Format: In order to enter, you must write a list of at least 10 items and include an overall description of your list for the opening paragraph. You can send the list in text form – no markup please. Each item on your list should contain at least one or two paragraphs – please no less or more. Each paragraph should be between 100 and 150 words.
List Topics: The topic of your list can be anything you like. I will accept lists relating to Christmas, but I would like a good variety of many topics so we don’t have a month of nothing but Christmas lists in December. The winning lists may not have anything to do with Christmas – they will be the best of the lists I receive regardless of topic. Remember, bizarre lists are the most popular here – so you might edge ahead with a bizarre list. Other than that, miscellaneous, science, and crime are also popular.
List Content: All content must be your own – you must not copy lists from other sites, text from other sites, or books. A good way to test this out is to do a google search for the list idea to see if anyone else has done it already. Lists must also not duplicate content from Listverse. Please spellcheck twice and grammar check twice. If I have to edit the list I will reject it.
Important Dates: No lists will be accepted after Midnight PST on the 14th of December, 2009. I reserve the right to publish any or all of the submitted lists from the 15th of December. All published lists will be marked as part of the competition. This means that if your submission does not win, it might appear on the site as early as the 15th (though you will still be in the draw for the book prizes).
Copyright: All lists submitted become the property of Jamie Frater (representing Listverse). Once the competition is over, all lists will be included in the general pool of lists for publication at any further date.
Single Entries: Entries are limited to one per person.
Submitting Your List
Please submit lists in text format (either as an attachment or directly in the email) to jfrater@listverse.com.
Please include your username from Listverse, your real name, and use an email address that I can reply to if you win (as I will need your address for prize delivery).
I hope I win SECOND PLACE! …I don’t need another touch. Barely use the one I’ve got as it is.
Single Entry, Jamie? Does that mean we can only submit one that month? If we choose to submit more, can we add in the comment section which one we want to be the contest entry? I do owe you a number of lists that have been lying around my hard drive, a third to halfway finished.
@gabi319 (1): You can submit one between now and the end of the competition. Pick the one you like the best, focus on getting it perfect, and submit it
I must say, I like those prizes. I’m gonna try my hardest to come up with something interesting.
“Your list should contain at least one or two paragraphs – please no less or more. Each paragraph should be between 100 and 150 words.”
I do not really understand this part.
The entire list should only be one or two paragraphs?
I’m German, sorry.
sdasdas
@Les (4): please no less
German or not, according to the rules you aren’t eligible.
@Les
That was confusing for me too. I think he means that each item should be no more that 1 or 2 paragraphs. He doesn’t want an essay for every item, nor just a picture and title.
O *****! I may just have to bust out a sweet ass list!
quick question… If the list that is created by the contestant already exists, but is much stronger in content, is the list still applicable for competing? For example, list of ten amazing red cars and why they are amazing (in interesting detail), as opposed to list of ten red cars. it’s a rough example, however i hope you understand me.
How about accompanying photos/art for the submitted list?
Is this also the responsibility of the submitter, or do you handle that, Jamie?
Sounds like fun.
@interestingquestion (9):
I think that would fall under “Lists must also not duplicate content from Listverse.” I think the new list has gotta be as unique as one can get.
can anyone in the world compete? e.g. I’m Romanian.
if we sent in a list recently are we aloud to use that list????
cool, to be honest i’d be happy with the book lol
I just submitted a list earlier today, would that be included? Not that it matters, I already have an iPod, I’d rather it go to somebody who really needs it (as opposed to me just selling it). Hell, I’d actually be perfectly content getting a list published without Jfrater adding onto it. But just for the record, will lists submitted prior to this announcement be included?
Ok so are we voting or is it your choice who wins? What if you dont like me or ive *****ed you off?
Can I resubmit a list which I’ve already submitted and you haven’t published yet you rotter though that’s probably not the best way to ingratiate myself with the management?
So, can we provide one or two pictures with every item on the list, or just one or two pictures overall?
@Les (4): My mistake – each ITEM on the list is what I meant.
@interestingquestion (9): No – it is not eligible – the list must not be a duplicate of any on the site (no matter how much better yours be) – if you really think yours is better, find a new way of presenting the same material. Exempli gratia – if we have a “top 10 best horror films” – consider doing a “top 10 horror films that were banned”. Find a twist for your list.
@deeeziner (10): Normally I handle that – thought oftentimes people will submit image URLs and I try to use them when possible. You do not have to include images – but if you do, I may use them or not. It is up to you whether you want to put in the extra effort to find applicable images.
Having said that, if your list contains entries that are so obscure (which is a good thing) that even Google images can’t find something suitable (in other words – you submit items I won’t be able to find images for), consider scanning some in for me or finding direct links to images that Google hasn’t indexed. It will make my life easier and will improve your chances
@stefania (13): Absolutely! Quite often lists submitted from non-US and non-UK people are especially interesting as they give us a new perspective on things. If I can’t get Amazon to ship a prize to you directly I will go to an Apple Store where I live, buy the prize, and post it to you personally.
There are no limits at all on entry – this competition is NOT restricted to Europe or North America.
@kristi (14): Yes – you can resubmit the list. But bear in mind that if it hasn’t been published yet, there may be flaws that are preventing me from using it. Go over the list, make sure it complies with the rules here, and rewrite if necessary.
@gr8flddfn (15): If you win the first prize I am happy to substitute
@ianz09 (16): You did? I haven’t received it – did you send it via the submissions page?
You said: “Hell, I’d actually be perfectly content getting a list published without Jfrater adding onto it.” – have you sent in a list before that I modified? There is always the risk (for the sender) that I will modify something if I think it will benefit from it. What was the list you speak of?
@littlegoldwoman (17): I am voting. No matter what I think of anyone that sends in a list, I will be fair about the decision. I don’t exclude submitted lists because of who the author is – if the list is good, I will post it. Fortunately the comments I am likely to receive as a consequence helps to keep me honest on this point
@astraya (18): Of course – but see my reply in comment 24
@Perx (19): If you are going to send pictures – you can do so for one or all items – but as I said in an earlier comment, they may not be used. BUT – your list may not be used if you send in a list that refers to items I can’t find any pictures for on Google images; in cases such as this, you should definitely send in links to pictures or the pictures themselves.
@ianz09 (16): It appears that I had a number of submitted lists stuck in my gmail spam folder. Any lists which were not submitted through the link on this page are not included. That would mean your list which was sent earlier.
You say you don’t care so much for the first prizes so at least be assured that there will be many more lists in the future that will include competitions to win copies of our book
“List Content: All content must be your own – you must not copy lists from other sites, text from other sites, or books.”
Can we use an open-source site like wikipedia?
@astraya (31): Yes – but you must tell me if you do so I can post the appropriate copyrights.
@jfrater (26): 10 Roads That Will Scare You Stupid. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the additions (I guess not so much modifications, the wording of that would be my mistake). I had originally only submitted the introduction and 5 list items, and when it was published, you had added 5 more list items. Definitely not complaining, but it was listed as a double credit, so I have been trying to get a good solid list that need not be added on to.
Anyway, yes I used the submission page, but not the competition link (I’m not too eager for entry anyway, I’m more concerned right now with whether my lists are even good enough for publication). Although, I would gladly accept the book! No need for the iPod, I’m sure another user would be much more deserving, but I would happily accept the book.
It appears that I had a number of submitted lists stuck in my gmail spam folder. Well, that’s disheartening… lol
Here are some links to the apple website about these iPods -
http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/
http://www.apple.com/ipodnano/
http://www.apple.com/ipodshuffle/
Here are some links to the apple store about these iPods -
apple.com/ipodtouch
apple.com/ipodnano
apple.com/ipodshuffle
Also for people who don’t know, the iPod nano has a pedometer, an accelerometer, a speaker, a FM radio, and a video camera.
Hey JF,it means we CAN use wikipedia,isn’t it? I thought it would be real hard trying to research and write all the info without using the net.
@jfrater (26): I just have a question… What about the pics? should I add pics to the attached list? (so it looks like the lists published here?) Also… is grammar going to be considered for the winning list? and… we have to list of the sources right? Thank you
! sounds like an awesome contest!
lol..sorry I asked more than 1 question XD
If we enter it in text form..does that mean you will add the pictures yourself or how exactly do we go about that part of the list?
oops..forgive my question..i knew i should have read the previous ones first=]
Here’s my entry.
TOP 10 QUESTIONS REGARDING SUBMITTING AN ENTRY TO THE CHRISTMAS LISTVERSE COMPETITION:
1. Does that mean we can only submit one that month?
2. If the list that is created by the contestant already exists, but is much stronger in content, is the list still applicable for competing?
3. How about accompanying photos/art for the submitted list?
4. If we sent in a list recently are we allowed to use that list?
5. Can anyone in the world compete?
6. So are we voting or is it your choice who wins?
7. Can we use an open-source site like wikipedia?
8. The entire list should only be one or two paragraphs?
9. Single Entry, Jamie?
10. What if you dont like me or ive *****ed you off?
Thank you.
I will not be submitting a list, as I am not clever enough. I think that the things I am interested in, most would find rather boring. However, I look forward to a lot of really good list, and some spirited competition. Good luck everyone.
@That Guy (41): Almost all of your questions have been asked and answered. There are only 40 posts, so you should be able to trudge your way thru them.
@Geronimo1618 (36): You can use Wikipedia, yes.
@samsaragx (37): Bad grammar won’t be published – so yes it is important
Pics are optional – if you send them I may use them, if you don’t, I will find my own.
@redcaboose: Albeit a bad one, it was more of a joke… I bet you’re a riot at cocktail parties though. A top ten response about a top ten contest? I didn’t think getting it would be that much of a stretch (cough, cough).
Wait… Ok, I’ve got a legit one. So, I submitted a list prior to the competition announcement. Let’s assume you read it and approve it for publication. Would you hold off publishing a non-competition list SOLELY to make room for lists submitted for the competition? Like, would you post my list AFTER Christmas because you will be publishing (failed) competition lists until then? Or will you not make any distinctions other than for the 3 prize spots? This question hasn’t been asked yet. Unless I am unfortunate enough to discover somebody posted while I was typing.
@ianz09 (48): All lists submitted normally will be published as per my usual schedule – only lists submitted to the christmas list address will be included in that competition and those lists will begin to appear from the 15th of December.
@jfrater (49): Alright cool, that means I still have a shot…
@Maggot (6): That took me WAY too long to understand.
@jfrater (21):
Dam it man you gave away my freakin idea for a list!!!!
Oooohhh!! I just finished mine. Now to edit it. Twice.
@ants1 (52): If you write it – send it in
i might just be stupid or what do you mean username? do you mean like my ‘kristi’ or do i have to subscribe to listverse?
oh and do i have to say my last name?
@jfrater (46): Thank you
Now.. how come I never see my pic beside my posts? hmmmm
Oh nevermind… I see my pic now XD Sorry lol
I love that the Howling Bells are on the iPod touch.
xoxo