For this month's personal entry, I decided to share with you my thoughts and experiences being a judge for a writing contest. You may or might not be one someday yet I included some pieces of advice that hopefully inspire you.
Last year, I was invited to be one of the judges of Jahric Lago Presents: Misty Moon. The JLP series is a yearly event under TBC Publications that caters to newbie writers and seasonal authors to be part of an anthology. There is a common theme, word counts, and other requirements that need to be followed.
A few months after a friend who is also a professor of Pamantasan Lungsod ng Muntinlupa sent me a PM. He asked if I can judge his students' essays. I was hesitant because I'm not really good with essays but he convinced me that I could do it. He told me that I should think of it as a project. I agreed when I saw that theme was how the students define leadership during the pandemic. A very relevant topic especially nowadays. Reading through the entries, I really learned how youth thinks and most of them tackled mental health which is good.
And recently, a fellow author and a bibliophile dropped me a message asking if I can be part of the judging panel for the Short Story writing contest of their school. Rizal Technological University is celebrating its National Literature Month and I'm very honored to be invited to this amazing celebration. I'm actually finishing reading entries and so far, I am having fun.
*Be humble enough to accept the responsibility.
*In giving critics, make them see that they are opportunities to improve and end it by motivating them.
*Be more open-minded.
*Don't be so hard with yourself and meet the deadline.
*Enjoy the moment.
That's it. I'm going back with checking the short stories and hopefully will finish judging them in time.
Thank you to Jahric, Jeff, and Zandro for the marvelous chance of being a judge!
