How do I know if my trips have been read?

Hi Susan--
We generally start working our way through the contest trips the final week of the contest, so we're just starting now.

As we read the contest trips, we also try to read the other trips by these writers (we have a separate process for reading regular submissions as they come in, but we give the trips by the contest entrants who make it through the first round a second look--or a first look if they haven't been read before). If a trip doesn't have a photo--or the photo is blurry or not the correct size--then we send it to our photo editor to find one, which can take from a week to a month or more (and a handful prove impossible to find). Contest entries that need photos are still in the running, even if we don't find a photo by the date when we announce the winners. We judge strictly on the writing--but we still have a pretty high standard for the photo quality when it comes to making them Trazzler trips.

We are working on setting up a way for writers and contestants to see when their submission or entry has been read (we realize it's confusing as-is, because trips get published out of order). It's next our our list of development projects and should launch in the next month. I'll post back here when it does. Though, still, if there's an issue with the photo a trip could be read by an editor, put in the "Trazzler Trip" queue, and still be in photo limbo for some time after if we have trouble finding and/or getting permission to use a photo.

I hope this helps. If you want us to have a look at your trips, just send your username and we can make sure that we look at them all so you know where you stand.

best,

Megan