Hi, Annemarie! Welcome to the Challenge.

1. No. You don't even have to post your Prep writing on your portfolio; you can keep it in a notebook for all I care. Just post that you completed the challenge for 10/1, etc. If you would like to compete in a contest round, you have to post the writing in your portfolio and link it with a bitem link.

2. I would prefer a separate bitem link for your contest entries, and if I ever get any volunteer judges, I'm sure they would prefer separate links, too. You should only need one or two items, because the judging for the previous contest should be complete around the time you write the next contest entry, and you can then take the old one down. However, if you do run out of room, shoot me an email, and I'll help you work something out.

3. Nope. In order to win the November Merit Badge, you have to win NaNoWriMo at http://www.nanowrimo.org. They require you to upload your words so they can do a word count, but they don't keep the words, and you don't have to post anything at all at WDC.

Loving the questions!!! Keep 'em coming.