Winning writing contests is a great way for beginner writers to get their name in print and in front of potential readers. It also adds professional credits to your writing portfolio. An added bonus is the fact that many contests offer money prizes which would augment your writing income.
Getting into the practice of entering contests also gets you into the practice of writing. You will grow in confidence and your craft will be hewn by the practice as well as by the professional feedback that many contests provide. Taking the courageous step of putting your work out there, is a giant leap in the profession of writing.
Be realistic about your expectations when entering contests. If you enter with the mindset that you know it all, and have nothing more to learn—your will be greatly disappointed. If, however, you enter with the attitude of wanting to learn, rather than expecting to win, each contest entered will become a stepping stone to being published.
Remember, most writing contests have hundreds of entries in varying stages of skill. Just to be one of the authors who make a list, is quite an achievement. Being one of the final dozen or so vying for the top three prizes says a lot about your writing. You should be very proud. Take what advice the professionals give you, add it to your tool box and apply it to your writing. You don’t have to agree with everything they say, but do not casually dismiss it, either.
That all being said, here are some hints to making sure the odds of being noticed and placing in these contests are greatly improved:
Begin your story with an interesting or intriguing conflict. Hook the judges into your adventure from the very beginning. Engage the reader into the adventure. Make them want to know how it is all going to turn out. If the first paragraph doesn’t peek the judges’ curiosity, you are in trouble. Judges usually weed out losing entries by discarding those that don’t compel them to read on by the first paragraph or two.
Be unique. If your story is well written, it will stand out. Create twists and turns that are interesting and original. Create interesting, offbeat, and original characters or use unusual settings or situations. The judges are looking for something new, something fresh. Make your work stand out. Give the judges a reason to notice your work.
You characters must be believable. Even the most offbeat and original character must have characteristics that the reader can identify with. Make them authentically them. Their dialogue should be relevant and move the story along. Make sure that dialogue flows naturally, no matter what the emotional setting. To be convincing, dialogue has to emulate how real people would talk in the same situations.
Think your theme out before you start, then keep it consistent throughout the work. Keep your main plot structure consistent even when adding interesting subplots. What is theme? It is what defines your work. When asked, you should be able to say, “my story is about…”
Make sure that your ending resolves all of the conflicts introduced in the story. Your ending should be open and plainly expressed. Whether things end ideally or not, they should end with a positive resolution for the main characters. The characters are somehow better people for having taken the journey.
Make sure you proofread your entry before submitting it. Ideally, have someone with a knowledge of grammar proofread it for you. Most importantly, check for errors in spelling, grammar, sentence structure, and plot development. Neatness is very important. You entry should reflect that you are a professional and capable writer, whether or not you have, as yet, been published.
Enter contests as soon as possible – well before the closing deadline. Many judges read the entries as they come in and early submissions will find them less overwhelmed, and more likely to notice the unique and professional quality of your work.
FOLLOW THE RULES. Make sure you read the submission guidelines very carefully. Make sure your entry complies with every one of those guidelines. If you entry breaks the rules, it will not be looked at further. In other words, you did not make the first cut, so don’t put yourself in the position to be cut before anyone reads what you have submitted.
Submit more than one entry if the guidelines say that you can. The more of your work that they read, the more likely it is that your work will be noticed, read, and in the running for the prizes. Make sure that you read the guideline on how many submissions you are allowed, and if you are able, submit the maximum.
A good story does not simply entertain, but it affects or stirs the reader. It may change the reader’s perceptions or provide understanding. Writing contest judges are looking for stories that will engage the reader. They want to find works that will make them become emotionally involved—make them laugh, cry, or move them in some way.
Winning writing contests may not be a golden paved road to riches, but it does provide opportunity to get published, and provide writing income which legitimizes, to some extent, the time spent on the occupation. It can offset some of the expenses of the creative writing journey.
10 Warning Signs that a Writing Contest Is A Loser
Many writers begin their career by entering writing contests. These contests can provide many perks:
Having your work published
Receiving monetary rewards
Getting credits for your writing resume
Getting your work and your name “our there”
The thrill of being recognized as an author.
There are hundreds of literary contests, online and off. Most are legitimate contests which are designed either to attract and discover new talent, to provide a format for writers to display their works, or to promote a writing business, group, or genre.
Sorting through the myriad of contests to find the ones that are legitimate and worth your time and effort to enter can be a daunting task. Here is some information which will make the task a little less confusing and will help you sort the weeds from the flowers.
1. Exorbitant entry fee. A contest entry fee is not an automatic sign of a questionable contest. Many legitimate contests require an entry fee to cover expenses and fund the prizes, but the fee should be appropriate. Typically, $5 to $15 is average for poetry and short stories, while fees for novels and screenplays may range from $20 to $50. Anything over $25 should prompt you to do some careful checking into the contest. Also be wary of the ratio of the fee to the prize. An entry fee of $20 for a potential prize of $50 to $100 is not reasonable, so don’t waste your time.
2. No entry fee. This sounds great but make sure you check out the organization that is running the contest. Some of the largest fake contests begin with no entry fees, and then require contestants to purchase the publications that their winning entry is published in. This can run $40 or $50 for an anthology and anywhere from $20 to several hundred dollars for extras. These publications are sold by order only - and usually are only purchased by the contestants themselves.
3. The contest claims your rights to the entry. Any contest that claims rights to your work when you submit it for entry should be avoided. This is simply a way for publishers to gain free content, not a legitimate practice - and not something that any writer should submit to. Even contests that claim all rights to the winning entry should be avoided unless the publication is highly reputable. Be sure to read the fine print.
4. Guidelines are not clearly stated. Any legitimate contest will provide clear guidelines for entry, including eligibility, contest categories, deadlines, format, fees, prizes, judging, and rights you may be surrendering. If questions regarding any of the above are not clearly answered, do not enter.
5. All entries are considered for publication. Contests that claim that all entries are considered for publication are not contests at all. This is simply a way for publications to get content without paying for it, and your entry fee is actually a reading fee. Be sure that you will receive some form of payment if your entry is accepted for publication, even if you are not actually a winner.
6. The contest prize is publication in a low-quality periodical. Contests that offer publication as a prize is very appealing, however, if the publication has low readership, or is not a respected publication in the literary field, there is no value to being published here. Research the publisher thoroughly before entering, and never enter a contest where the rules do not allow you to refuse the publishing contract if you win.
7. The competition is run by an individual. Be especially wary of contests that are conducted by individuals. Most reputable competitions are run by organizations such as literary groups, publishers and magazines. While such a contest is not necessarily illegitimate it is probably not likely to be a worthwhile writing credit and it may be more difficult to claim your prize. (except for mine of course. lol)
8. A fee is required for publication. There should never be any cost associated with a publication prize. If there is, the contest is most certainly a fake.
9. Payment is required for a copy of the publication. Legitimate competitions will send you a copy of the publication in which your winning entry appears. If payment is required you are probably dealing with a vanity publisher. Make sure you do your research before entering any contest.
10. The prize depends on the number of entries. These contests usually require high entry fees and are offered as a profit making enterprise for the organization promoting the contest. This is one to avoid.
On the upside, the majority of competitions listed online are legitimate, and some can provide a real advantage to your career if you win. With a common sense approach you should easily be able to assess contests for what they are - good or bad.
