Several writers have written books that sell extremely well with the title (or a version of the title) “How Everything Works.” These writers include Clive Gifford (objects, environment, and machines), Louis A. Bloomfield (physics), and David Mccauley (windmills to Wi-Fi). I’m not surprised these books are popular. Most of us are curious about life.
I believe I have a picture of that same long horn from the Oklahoma State Fair. It's true what you say about judging being subjective, which is why it is a good practice to enter a work into more that one contest. I've had the same difficulty with finding judges for a writing contest. The best advice is pay attention to the work of the people who have won in the past as the judges often come from a similar pool for the same contest.
One of my poems won fourth place in the national contest by The Writer's Digest. When I entered it into the OWFI contest, the judge disliked it because I was being "self-pitying.' They did not catch the irony of the work.
I believe I have a picture of that same long horn from the Oklahoma State Fair. It's true what you say about judging being subjective, which is why it is a good practice to enter a work into more that one contest. I've had the same difficulty with finding judges for a writing contest. The best advice is pay attention to the work of the people who have won in the past as the judges often come from a similar pool for the same contest.
One of my poems won fourth place in the national contest by The Writer's Digest. When I entered it into the OWFI contest, the judge disliked it because I was being "self-pitying.' They did not catch the irony of the work.
Good advice. I'm into writing contests as well, and I have to say that sometimes I fret a little too much!