Why You Should Enter Writing Competitions
Winning elevates you to a higher level of professionalism
Just because you may be a new writer is no reason not to enter competitions. No one cares about your experience. They only care about your entry and whether it stands out above all others.
As the saying goes, you can’t win if you don’t enter.
There are several ways to find various writing competitions, which I list at the end of this blog. Some will charge you to enter. Some give cash prizes, and others will publish your piece, giving you another great reference.
No matter how you win, you have something to brag about and note when you reach out to publishers and agents.
It’s a big deal; don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Just think how many writers are out there in the world. If you win, you have beat out hundreds of other entrants.
There are scams out there, too, so be sure to find the contest on a legitimate site. Also, scams will change a lot of money. Be cautious.
Above all, follow the rules for entry. Read them, and read again.
According to my research on this topic, pay attention to the subject, word count, and format. Contest prizes will also be there, and rules will usually give a contest deadline.
You can be sure judges discard entries that go against the rules. Like the publication slush pile, these stories just don’t get read. The rules are a guideline of what judges expect.
Don’t Get Disqualified
You can get disqualified for many reasons. Rules vary, but there are general things that writers shouldn’t do-According to the experts, follow the list below:
1. No plagiarism.
2. Stick to the word count.
3. Don’t ignore the rules.
4. Submit only one story.
5. Don’t submit that story somewhere else.
6. Don’t enter published work unless the rules allow you to. Some writing contests do allow previously published writing.
Most contests have similar rules, such as they will ban the same things most writing markets will. No gratuitous violence, no pointless abuse, no exorbitant torture. Even for horror, the focus is still a good story.
Here is a short list of where to find writing contests
