If you're a college student, or just plain passionate about The D, we want to hear from you! The "Experience The D" essay contest is an opportunity to put your writing skills to the test and share your positive experiences that are distinctly metro Detroit.

Several winners will be chosen and their essays will be featured online as part of the e-zine of Visit Detroit magazine.

Read on to see how you can enter!

Objective: To highlight metro Detroit through positive experiences at area venues, attractions, events, and more, and how they affected you, why they are memorable, and why you feel visitors to our area need to experience them through an essay or feature article that answers this question:

"If you had a friend come in from out of town, where would you take them to give them a positive, unique and 'distinctly Detroit' experience?"

Angles/ Areas to Consider: “Off the beaten path,” museums and exhibits, festivals, events, attractions, seasonal traditions, and things that are “distinctly Detroit.”

• Accompanying photographs are a plus, but not required.
• Students can select from a variety of topics and locations, including but not limited to:
  • Shopping
  • FestivalsEvents (North American International Auto Show, International Fireworks, Red Bull Air Race, Thanksgiving Day Parade, Detroit Tigers Opening Day, etc.)
  • Venues (Distinct restaurants, bars, nightclubs, music venues)
  • Ethnic neighborhoods
  • Detroit’s history
  • African American heritage
  • New area development
• Consider tying your article into The D’s branding attributes:  Cars, Culture, Gaming, Music, and Sports.
• Destination Districts include Macomb, Dearborn/Wayne, North Oakland, South Oakland, and Downtown Detroit.
• The Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau has a distinct tone and style. For examples, please read Visit Detroit magazine and e-zine posts here.
• All essays and feature articles must be written in correct AP style.
• All cited sources must be credible, including information where they may be contacted.
• All entries are subject to copy editing for grammar, punctuation, style and tone.
• If you are employed by a particular organization, please do not submit a piece for free publicity.
• Upon submission, essays become the joint property of the author and the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau.
• All entries will be read and the best will be showcased on our website's Visit Detroit e-zine, selected winners will also receive a Detroit-themed gift with no monetary value.

Entry Information: All entries must be received by the deadline below and follow submission guidelines as stated.

• Deadline:  OCTOBER 31, 2009
  
• Length:  Between 200 - 1,000 words
• Essay Format:  Word document
• Photograph Format:  High resolution, JPEG, at least 300 dpi,  4”X 6”
• To enter you must complete the online contest form, and upload your essay along with any related photographs.