by Collins Nonfiction
Member since:
July 12, 2007

Money for Nothing Poetry Challenge. Win a $50 AMEX Gift card!

March 06, 2008 01:43 PM EST (Updated: March 10, 2008 05:53 PM EDT)
views: 293 | comments: 63

Many of us dream about winning the lottery, perceiving it as a once in a lifetime opportunity for a better life. But in his book Money for Nothing, Ed Ugel reveals that winning the game isn't everything it's cracked up to be. Ed has met hundreds of lottery winners and has seen up close the often hilarious, sometimes sad outcome when great wealth is dropped on ordinary people. A gambler himself, Ed immediately understood their mindset.

Now we want you to take on the perspective of a down-on-his-luck lottery winner. The Bright Ideas from Bestselling Authors group invites you to take part in the Money for Nothing Poetry Challenge.

Through March 24th, we invite you to write an original poem, fictional or true story, about how you won the lottery. But the catch is, we want you to tell us in the poem how life didn't turn out as expected once you won. The poem can be of any length. It can be humorous, serious, or just plain silly. Just have fun writing it!

At the end of the challenge, one lucky writer will be chosen to receive a $50 AMEX gift card for smart spending!

Please follow the following steps when submitting your original poem:

  1. Include "Money for Nothing" within the article title of your entry
  2. Publish your entry as an article to the group Bright Ideas for Bestselling Authors. If you aren't already a member, click here to join.
The Gather Editorial team will select the writer who will be announced on March 27th! One poem is allowed per person.


 ***Bright Ideas from Bestselling Authors is a moderated group. Your poems will not show up immediately into the group.

Learn more about this book throughout March in the Bright Ideas from Bestselling Authors group on Gather. Click here to join.

Ed Ugel's website. Ed Ugel's blog.

Browse inside the book.

Buy the book.
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Comments: 63

Collins Nonfiction Mar 6, 2008, 1:51pm EST
Teresa,

The Gather Editorial is judging the contest. Member ratings will not determine the winner.
Curt L. Mar 6, 2008, 1:58pm EST
Thank you, Collins!
Lacey K. Mar 6, 2008, 2:05pm EST
I'll have to try my hand at this.
Andrea "slackermom" R. Mar 6, 2008, 2:07pm EST
I think for most people it will be fictional.
Ed Ugel Mar 6, 2008, 2:09pm EST
Hey All!! Poets and gamblers...a classic combination, no?

I'm psyched to see what folks come up with. And, while I can't compete, I promise to drop in a few entries just for laughs.

Two roads diverged in a lottery wood, and I--
I took the lump sum,
And that has made all the difference.

Good Luck and make poetry with your head, not over it.

Cheers.
Ghostly Ghoul Mar 6, 2008, 2:10pm EST
I may have to try this!
Rita j. Mar 6, 2008, 2:15pm EST
This sound fun
Mary S. Mar 6, 2008, 2:43pm EST
You can only enter once, right?
Shannon W Mar 6, 2008, 2:55pm EST
Hmm. Since it can be a fictional story, I may have to give this a try
Collins Nonfiction Mar 6, 2008, 3:15pm EST
Mary, that is correct. One entry per person.
April H. Mar 6, 2008, 3:16pm EST
Maybe I'll give this a shot if inspiration comes to me!
Steph-in-NE ..... Mar 6, 2008, 3:17pm EST
unlike these folks around me I have no talent,,, hope all well
Tiffany G. Mar 6, 2008, 3:19pm EST
well I think I may but it would just be for fun cause I ahve seen some of the peoples poetry on here and well.. I completely dont even compare.. IM like a 6 year old making poetry compared to an actual poet.. :)
Paula T. Mar 6, 2008, 3:29pm EST
This is my first attempt at publishing to Gather. Is there a delay between when it shows up as a Gather article, and when it shows up on this group?
Barb W. Mar 6, 2008, 3:33pm EST
What a fun contest. I look forward to reading what everyone comes up with.
Paula T. Mar 6, 2008, 3:34pm EST
Oh...and will you collect all the poems to one generalized post, like they did in the Crimewriter's contest, so that it is easy to read everyone's contribution? Thanks!
Tracey W. Mar 6, 2008, 3:46pm EST
What are the contest rules and where are they posted?
Stefania H. Mar 6, 2008, 4:28pm EST
Thank you!
Paula T. Mar 6, 2008, 4:42pm EST
Well, I posted my poem. It shows up on Gather articles at http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977277374&nav=Namespace but I don't see it under this group's listed articles. Am I missing something?
Ashley B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:55pm EST
Great, I just posted my poem.
Paula T. Mar 6, 2008, 5:15pm EST
Ashley, I read it! What fun...and so creative. I loved it.
Nancy 67 Mar 6, 2008, 5:56pm EST
This sounds really interesting! I've seen programs on TV about these lottery winners...some were very wise in their handling of it and invested in stocks, bonds, etc., while others were really sad cases and ended up in worse shape than before they won. I remember the name of the show now: "The Curse of the Lottery". I also had a friend/co-worker who won a $5M Michigan lottery about 15 years ago, and her whole life turned upside-down. She ended up having to move out of town - maybe even out of state...it's hard to remember now, but it didn't make things better for her, that's for sure.
F. Jeanette c. Mar 6, 2008, 7:46pm EST
THIS WILL BE FUN WHETER I ENTER OR NOT I'LL HAVE FUN READING EVERYONES POEMS.

10 4 u
Jo C. Mar 6, 2008, 8:18pm EST
I am reading this book. It is a stunner :)
Ed Ugel Mar 6, 2008, 10:25pm EST
All: I've read a few of the poems thus far. Great stuff. Thanks for your interest in the book. I look forward to seeing what comes next.
Janna R. Mar 6, 2008, 11:22pm EST
A Gather "Money for Nothing Poetry Challenge"?

The jokes just write themselves....
Ellie !. Mar 6, 2008, 11:39pm EST
HMMMMMMMMMMMM....could you make that a 50 million gift card and I'll tell you how it feels?
;-)
Connie C. Mar 7, 2008, 1:45am EST
I think this is exciting. I have seen a few of the poems and they are good.
Collins Nonfiction Mar 7, 2008, 9:05am EST
Paul,

Bright Ideas from Bestselling Authors is a moderated group. Therefore, content you publish to the group will not show up immediately.

You can find all of the poetry submitted to the group within the "Recent Articles" section.
Collins Nonfiction Mar 7, 2008, 9:05am EST
Tracey,

The rules for the challenge are included in the article above.
Jennifer Oliver Mar 7, 2008, 10:16am EST
This sounds like a lot of fun! I'll see what I can dream up...
Paula T. Mar 7, 2008, 11:53am EST
Thanks for the response, Collins Nonfiction! This is a lot of fun! (But it's Paula, not Paul ;) )
☆ Æ’åitÄ¥ ☆ Mar 7, 2008, 2:29pm EST
I was perusing Gather's homepage today and noticed that this article is featured under 'Money' - great job!
A. Foster T. Mar 7, 2008, 2:52pm EST
Can't wait to read them. I'll definitely do some cheering.
Dani B. Mar 7, 2008, 9:34pm EST
ok my dorky poem is posted
Wanda H. Mar 8, 2008, 6:31am EST
I am going to try this. I have never won the lottery but I did win a brand new ford pickup, it was terrific! Until the tax bill came due the next year. LOL
Bob C. Mar 8, 2008, 12:17pm EST
I will give it a shot! Thank you!
Ginger C. Mar 8, 2008, 12:19pm EST
Sounds like fun! I'll be watching and reading!
Gretchen Lee Bourquin Mar 8, 2008, 12:31pm EST
Sounds like a great oportunity!
Steve V. Mar 8, 2008, 12:44pm EST
Sounds like fun. I'll give it a try.
John Monteith Mar 8, 2008, 1:51pm EST
I've read a few and they look good, sounds like fun maybe ill write one
Kitty Lone Hawk Mar 8, 2008, 2:06pm EST
Sounds like a challenge....and I LOVE a challenge. :0)
Georgiana S. Mar 8, 2008, 5:51pm EST
Sounds fun, but...what if you have never won the lottery? Not even a dollar? Can you still enter without that experience?
Lydia (part of the solution) Shelley Mar 8, 2008, 7:46pm EST
Worth a try, I do love to write...
Ethan . Mar 8, 2008, 10:48pm EST
I'm in!
Sherrie H. Mar 8, 2008, 10:50pm EST
Hmmm... wishing I could write one based on personal experience.
Member Photog Mar 8, 2008, 11:58pm EST
i won a few times,but obviously not enough scratch to be elsewhere,eh?

i posted my entry Saturday and await moderation acceptance....

Thanks for sponsoring this contest....would be great to fill my tank + have enough leftover for a latte or two ;>

cheers.gayle

*psst, Ed...send me a book and i will read n' write a stellar review for ya....
Bethany C. Mar 9, 2008, 12:34am EST
I might just try this. I'd be fiction, though. Pure fiction.
Bonnie L. Mar 11, 2008, 3:14am EDT
Sounded fun so I gave it a shot!

Money For Nothing Poetry Challenge: Twinkle Twinkle

And I will definitely check out your book!
Ms. Meacham: Money Maven Mar 11, 2008, 11:43pm EDT
Money and poetry! This is so up my alley. I can't wait to read the results.
Ms. Meacham: Money Maven Mar 13, 2008, 1:01pm EDT
I've posted my contribution (The Bottom Line: Money for Nothing), but it pails in comparison to other entries (like Bonnie L.'s). Great stuff everyone!
Sharon B. Mar 14, 2008, 8:02pm EDT
Thanks
Susan B. Mar 16, 2008, 12:36pm EDT
I'm submitting mine now :)
Amanda C. Mar 19, 2008, 10:01am EDT
I am finding this late, but I still have a few more days to enter, so I will see what I can come up with!!
Christine Zibas Mar 21, 2008, 12:36am EDT
Thanks to Connie for calling attention to this article in her daily review. This looks like fun. Can't believe you stole my Robert Frost idea, Ed.
Susan Budig Mar 21, 2008, 4:34pm EDT
I'm wondering why my story Money for Nothing in Sugarville, Tennessee hasn't shown up as published in the Bright Ideas for Best Selling Authors group. I published it there a day and a half ago.

Maybe I need to be more patient, but the contest ends on Monday.
Paula T. Mar 24, 2008, 2:47pm EDT
Just wanted to point out that the rules say the POEM can be either a real or fictional story, not that it can be a story or a poem. I have really been enjoying the entries! Good luck to everyone.
Jennifer K. Mar 27, 2008, 1:51am EDT
I am almost AFRAID to imagine in poetic format what it might be like to win a lottery! I don't want to get addicted! Interesting challenge, though!
Jo C. Mar 27, 2008, 2:42am EDT
Not entering the contest but here is a review of the book:
Jo C. Mar 27, 2008, 2:43am EDT
I guess you have to click on ME to see the review :)
Collins Nonfiction Mar 27, 2008, 5:08pm EDT
Congratulations to Hollee Chadwick for her poem My Shih-tzu and Me. She's getting a $50 AMEX gift card!
Ms. Meacham: Money Maven Mar 29, 2008, 4:57pm EDT
Congrats Hollee Chadwick! So many good entries to choose from....
Mila Fergson Aug 7, 2008, 1:41am EDT
Congratulation to happy winner!
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