We're looking for your true love stories, and a few good nerds, in two Valentine's Day -inspired contests

Some guys get all the girls. What's their secret? Is it just about looks, or badness, or is it a certain "je ne sais quoi" that can be learned?

Just like Will Smith, who plays a date doctor in the soon-to-be-released Valentine's film "Hitch," we're looking for a few love-challenged nerds who could be as dashing as Bond, smooth as Usher and incendiary as Antonio, with a little help from a few of our stylist and hipster friends.

Write in and tell us, in 500 words or less, why you or someone you know could use a little help. We'll pick one guy to make over and coach in cool, then turn him loose into the night. Ladies, watch out!

The deadline for essays is Feb. 4.

Entries must include a photograph. Be sure to include your name, address and telephone number.

Send entries to Love Doc, Today Section, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, Honolulu 96813; fax 529-4750; e-mail features@starbulletin.com.

TURNING POINT

In the history of amor, are there three more dreaded words than "Let's be friends"?

Those words need not spell the end of one's love life -- or so we hope.

For Valentine's Day we're looking for your true stories of friendships that blossomed into love. In 500 words or less, tell us your real-life "When Harry Met Sally" or Chandler and Monica kind of story. We don't care how many years you spent in friendship limbo. All we ask is that you keep the stories clean for this PG-rated newspaper. The story that melts our icy hearts wins dinner and roses for the loving couple, and will appear on Feb. 14.

The deadline for essays is Feb. 4. Be sure to include your name, address and telephone number.

Send entries to Turning Point, Today Section, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, Honolulu 96813; fax 529-4750; e-mail features@starbulletin.com.

Both contests are open to Hawaii residents only. Employees of the Star-Bulletin and MidWeek are ineligible. Entries will not be returned, and excerpts may be published without compensation. Judges' decisions are final.

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Send questions, stories or other story ideas or comments to:
Features, Honolulu Star-Bulletin,
500 Ala Moana, Suite 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96802
or E-mail to features@starbulletin.com.
Please include your phone number.