Howard, you asked the question earlier about what I thought about the idea that to generate interest in something, you start a contest. Sorry it has taken me so long to reply.

That idea is at the heart of the philosophy of the writing forum that I founded, Liberty Hall Writers. 

The basis for all interaction at the forums is a weekly writing contest (we call it a challenge). I started our first challenge in April 2005. This week we are holding challenge #150.  Collectively, we have written approximately 1,350 stories in the last three years.

Over that period we were voted into 15th (2005), 8th (2006) and 2nd (2007) places  as Best Writer's Forums On The Internet.  Approximately 20% of our members who had previously never published are now published authors.  One member won Quarter Finalist in an international competition (based upon a story she write for our challenges) and was flown from Paris to San Francisco for an awards ceremony. After three years the forum in which we brag about our publications is now the 2nd (and sometimes the 1st) most used area of our site.

What do the members receive as their reward for winning challenges? Nothing except the recognition of their peers; yet, they persevere. There clearly IS a lure to the idea of competition.

The "hurdle" (Inclusivity only after effort) is another key feature of our philosophy, and is one that I believe is closely linked to the interest generated by competition.  In our case,  the 'hurdle' is the fact that we are a 'by invitation-only' community.  In order to gain entry, you must jump the hurdle. 

You might at first suppose that I created a hurdle based upon people's writing skills. You would be wrong. instead, the hurdle is a perceptual and personal barrier.  It is actually quite easy to earn an invitation, and you do not have to have ANY writing skills at all.  You DO have to believe in yourself and you DO have to take several small, personally revealing steps.

I believe that contests work to generate interest, and I believe that creating a barrier to entry intensifies that interest.

What do you (all of 'you') think?