I used to participate in a writing prompt thing which was a little like an art trade in that one person would hold all the material and then post it without names.
A theme and a "type of writing" would be decided.
Usually it was just poetry or prose that were the options, but still.
In case of prose it would be short stories and a word limit would be decided. 500-600 words was HARD! for me, while the 2000-2500 limit worked best, but then I tend to be a little verbose when I feel I have something to say.
Then a deadline was set, usually a couple weeks was all we had to work with, at most.
Then all was posted and each piece was numbered.
Then we'd have a month during which everyone could read all the pieces and give their feedback on them and atop the thread there'd be a poll so people could vote for which one they felt was the best piece of work this time 'round.
Once a year we'd do a "proper" contest of it and the winner got a prize even.
I tended to rank 'round the top, but then.. it seemed many of the participants were the sort that fancied themselves as great as their favorite authors, but couldn't even really get basic grammar right. You know the type. It's found in every amateur group.
Me, I know I'm not that good... but I do love the praise when I get it.