Column contest

Criteria

Write an original, personal column about a ritual that is important in your daily life. Your own voice and unique perspective are your anchor! Make sure it is written entirely by you and meets the criteria below.

What do we expect?
Write as freely, creatively and personally as you like. There are no set formats, it's all about your voice. Only the criteria below will be taken into account when we judge the winning column.

• Personal details: include your name, VU email address, study and student number.
• Subject: a ritual that is of significance in your daily life and provides you with support, structure or peace.
• Length: maximum of 300 words.
• Title: choose a catchy title that arouses curiosity.
• Introduction: start with a thought-provoking main question or main idea that engages you and immediately draws in the reader.
• Middle section: Develop the main question or idea by exploring different aspects, with a strong focus on the emotion/feelings that comes with it. 
• Closing: end the column with a strong and clear conclusion. If possible, answer the main question or tie the text into a finished whole.

The column must be written entirely by you. Texts that are (partially) copied will be excluded from participation.

Extra insights

Especially for you, Writer in Residence Désanne van Brederode has recorded videos with insights, in which she gives extra tips to take your column to the next level. But how do you get to these videos?

Below are several puzzles. Each solution leads you to a specific location on the VU Campus. At each location, you will find a poster with a QR code on it. Scanning this will take you to an extra tip by Désanne. Good luck!

Please note: at some locations you will have to look a bit harder for the poster than at others.

Find out who wins! Come to 3D on May 12 from 11:00 to 12:30 to attend the announcement of the winner.