People post articles on Bitmob for a number of reasons. Some want to break into the games enthusiast press. Some want to weigh in on the big issues of the day. Some just want to write about whatever happens to be on their minds at the time. Regardless of your reasons for being a part of the Bitmob community, chances are you’re interested in improving as a writer. From casual bloggers to career-focussed professionals, everybody can benefit from some extra writing practice. And that’s exactly what this community writing challenge is going to give you.
What it is
On the Contrary is loosely based on a challenge that was given to me by my Rhetoric professor in college. Traditionally, it’s known as the Invective and Encomium, or Blame and Praise. We were asked to choose a topic and write an argument for it, but we also had to submit an entire counter argument for our chosen stance. If you wrote an argument that stated that abortion was evil and immoral, for example, you would also have to submit a paper stating the benefits of pro-choice. This forced us to consider both sides of an issue fully before committing to a final stance.
I’m asking the Bitmob community to do the same. I’d like each of you to pick a topic that you feel strongly about. Then, I’d like you to argue both sides of that topic. The goal is to promote a more thorough understanding of issues that affect us as gamers, with the added benefit of generating some top-quality content for the Mobfeed.
Why you should participate
People often have a tendency to stick to the side of a debate that they initially feel drawn to. This can limit you as a writer. By gaining a more complete understanding of an issue, you can broaden your view of it and argue your chosen side more effectively. You’ll be able to counter any arguments the opposition might have, because likely, you’ll have already made them yourself. The result is tighter, more balanced writing overall.
Plus, once I’ve collected all of the entries, I’ll post a series of links featuring the best-written articles. This means more exposure for you and your writing if you choose to participate.
What you have to do
- Choose a topic of interest. Your topic could be anything from “Nintendo is the greatest developer ever” to “Grenade spammers should be banned”. Be creative! Be inventive! Be daring!
- Write two entries, one in agreement with your chosen topic (pro) and one in opposition to your topic (con). Articles should be at least 500 words each -- any less than that, and you probably won’t have enough space to develop a convincing argument. Be sure to include the tag on the contrary in each article. Your article titles should also give some indication of the stance you’re taking in each piece.
- Post each article separately. Submissions are due by midnight on January 31st, 2010. You don’t have to post both articles at the same time, and the length between posts doesn’t matter. Everything will be archived in the wrap-up post, so long as you remember to include the correct tag.
I think this is a great opportunity for the Bitmob members to gain a better understanding of a variety of issues. Standing on the other side of the fence may be uncomfortable, especially when arguing against a stance you feel very strongly about, but stepping out of your comfort zone is a necessary step towards improving as a writer. I’m really interested to see what you guys come up with, and I look forward to reading all of your submissions.
This challenge is open to Bitmob staff, as well. You guys are a critical component of our community, after all, and interacting with you is a large part of what makes Bitmob so special. Feel free to participate if you have the time. I’m sure we could all benefit from some solid examples.
