Of course, I soon learned that I could chant 'til the cows came home and my card would never again see the light of day. So I swept away the sweeps and concentrated on contests I had some control over.

I got a note several months ago from Ardina Black, a 67-year-old widow in Missouri who requested any sites I knew that listed contests. She said several ladies in her neighborhood were getting together once a week (when the weather was good) to "chat a bit, drink a cup of tea and spend an hour or two entering contests." She added that their winnings had ranged from OK (cans of cat food, a Slinky), to ordinary (dinner out, a one-year subscription to a contest magazine) to outstanding (a weekend spa getaway for two, a $5,000 scholarship from a diaper company that was given to a grandson).

So for those of you who are kindred contest competitors (or would be if only you knew how) -- here are some sites with contest details and others to teach you how to use the tricks and avoid the traps.

• www.writing-world.com/contests. If you think you can write your way to winnings -- this is the site for you. There are categories for poems, prose, screenplays, spooky stories and a database that just keeps going. It lists details including prizes and entry fees (if any). Be sure to read the home page. There's lots of good advice and it should give you the answers to any questions.

• http://dmoz.org/Arts/Photography/Contests. If you'd rather snap your way to fame and fortune, this has a sizable list of photography contests and competitions including some for pros and some just for beginners. Prizes range from film and camera equipment to some hefty checks (as much as $25,000 so dust of your lense).

• www.winningways.sweepstakes

online.com. There's a charge to join this one, about $5 a month or $40 a year. Without joining, I investigated several of the contests by going to the sponsor's Web address. As far as I could tell, everything is legitimate. I like this one. (Yes, I'm probably going to try it for a month.) It's great because they give members several ways to keep track of all those pesky deadlines and make the list available by subject, date or prize.

• http://thebargainproject.com/

contests. This page offers a small but interesting list of "free" offers and contests. Just make sure you read all the fine print before filling out the forms and clicking to consent.

• www.pianoworld.com/contest.htm. Here's one that caters specifically to the musically minded among us. For this one your card has to be drawn, though, so you may want to get your amulets out.

• www.contestguide.com. This is an attractive page with a list of links and details that lets you scan before you click. Most are sweepstakes but there are a few gems hidden among them.

• www.afsascholarship.org. Here's one that's near to my heart. It's from the American Fire Sprinkler Association, which awards several scholarships to high school seniors by way of an annual essay competition. Read all the details and entry rules for your state. (It's dear to me because I won a similar contest for junior high students. No scholarship was attached to the honor, but I did get to lead the fire prevention parade as Miss Flame, 1964. which at the time, was pretty cool.)Jan Perry is a Kentucky-based freelance writer who recommends you read the rules before entering ANY contest. She welcomes your questions, comments and suggestions, as well as favorite contest sites. Send them to SiteSeer2K@aol.com.