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| Contests |
Writers crave positive feedback
on their work. When you're a beginning writer, family members and friends often provide feedback,
but let’s be real. Would they tell you if your writing stinks? It’s like singers
auditioning for American Idol. In
their introduction, when the contestant says Grandma thinks they sing like an
angel, America cringes. I know I do. J
Writers also want recognition which
could lead to publication and/or securing an agent.
Here are three reasons why writing
contests can help meet these goals:
Critical
Feedback
Besides joining a critique group, a great source of honest feedback is writing contests. These are easily found through a Google search or in the contest listings in Writer's Market. The best contests are linked to reliable publishers, magazines, or groups like Romance Writers of America. Avoid contests with high entry fees and no publication or critique. Some contests offer cash awards in lieu of publication or feedback. The objective is to get feedback, no matter what prize is awarded the winner.
Besides joining a critique group, a great source of honest feedback is writing contests. These are easily found through a Google search or in the contest listings in Writer's Market. The best contests are linked to reliable publishers, magazines, or groups like Romance Writers of America. Avoid contests with high entry fees and no publication or critique. Some contests offer cash awards in lieu of publication or feedback. The objective is to get feedback, no matter what prize is awarded the winner.
Contests judged by published
authors, agents, or editors provide valuable feedback. You couldn’t hire an
editor for the amount of an entry fee, yet typically two or three critiques are
included in that fee.
Seek contests with more than one
critiquing judge. This gives a comparison between potentially conflicting
opinions. I prefer three-judge contests because of this. Regardless of the
number of judges, consider all comments carefully. Even the most stinging
critique will often have kernels of truth to improve your writing. In the end,
it’s your choice to toss or use the suggestions.
Place
your work in front of an agent/editor
Paying $25-30 to have part of
your manuscript read by a published author, an editor or agent is a great
investment. Seriously, this is what you’d pay dining out. Can you think of a
single restaurant meal that could top an agent’s critique? You’ll have to tell
me where, so I can eat there. J
If the contest has more than one
round, the final judges are usually acquisitions editors and agents. In
addition to their critique, they sometimes request a full manuscript after any revisions.
This is your chance to shine! The process doesn’t always lead to a contract,
but it’s a good start.
You
might become a finalist or even win!
Last, but not least, enter a
contest because your manuscript might be good enough to outshine the competition.
You could win! This will add credibility to your writing career and
perhaps land a contract or nice cash prize. Simply being a finalist also adds a
writing credit to your résumé.
So what are you waiting for? Get
to work! Polish that manuscript and find a contest to enter.
Now, it’s your turn. Have you
ever entered a contest? If so, what was the experience like?
© Laura Hodges Poole
I did enter a Writer's. Digest but did not win and got no feedback. :-( I will check out these suggestions!
ReplyDeleteGlad I could help. WD is an example of a contest I would not personally enter. When you consider the number of entries they receive worldwide and the fact you get no feedback, it's like giving your money away. I hope you have better success in the future. Thanks for stopping by! I look forward to hearing from you again.
DeleteI don't think I have ever entered a contest, but maybe I will start doing so in 2013.
ReplyDeleteI encourage you to do so. Regardless of how you place, it'll give you such a feeling of accomplishment just entering. Also, read the comment below from Sharyn. She gives a great testimony for entering contests. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I'd love to hear when you enter your first contest.
DeleteThe reason I've been hesitant is the ones that cost money. I thought it might just be a rip off (I am sure some are) but I had not looked at it from the perspective that you're paying a comparatively small amount to have an editor read what you write.
DeleteI've wanted to enter contests for years but something always seemed to get in the way, like missing the deadline or not having the money or some more frustrating problems. But this last summer I entered the Write Integrity Press One Hope Contest and was named a finalist! I now have until the end of the year to submit a finished manuscript. And though I have a lot of work to do, I'm excited about the possibility.
ReplyDeleteAnother plus: the editor gave me some great feedback and encouragement as I move forward. And, come what may, by the end of the year I'll have a finished novel ready to submit to other contests as well as editors and agents.
That's so exciting! Thanks for sharing your contest journey. It's a testimony to what I wrote. What a sense of accomplishmnet to have a finished manuscript! You'll feel so good about that regardless of whether you win. Thanks for stopping by. I'd love to hear the results of the contest when you get them.
DeleteThanks, Laura! Are you on Facebook? :-)
DeleteYes, I am. I don't have an author page yet, but you can look for my personal page and send me a friend request, if you'd like.
DeleteMy son is always challenging me to write a book from all the experiences I have had living in two other countries...flying into remote places to visit missionaries, etc.
ReplyDeleteI have entered a contest on short fictional stories but did not win. Have had a couple of articles published by a christian womens magazine. Hummmm you have given me some food for thought...may just at least start to write a book...or another short story. Thanks for the information. Good read.
Your experiences sound exciting! I'm sure you have much to share about how God worked through your life. Winning a contest is tough, but as I said above, there are so many other reasons to enter. I encourage you to continue on your writing journey. I'd love to hear about your progress in the future. God bless.
DeleteMy husband has been writing continued stories on his blog, and of course I think they are good, but then I am his wife. Thanks for the info that I will book mark and consider for him and myself too.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you're a good writing team. I'm glad you found the information helpful in the post. God bless both of you in your writing. Thanks for stopping by.
Deletethis is a great post....you put some wonderful ideas down here....I belong to an amazing writer's group with some members who are published authors...others who are struggling to get their work in print. It's a bit nerve wracking to sometimes share my stuff b/c I tend to doubt what I write. Their feedback is like gold to me though. Happy writing.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sarah. I'm happy you found the post helpful. You're doing exactly what you need to in order to improve your writing and further your career. It's easy to doubt your work when you're by yourself. I understand the nerve wracking part. I feel the same way at times. Please stop by again and share when you take the plunge and enter a contest. God bless.
DeleteI was wondering if contests were a good idea (some are pretty high). I entered WD and one for Southers Writer's magazine once. Got nadda lol. But I am interested in entering more.
ReplyDeleteGreat post.
I don't enter contests where the fee is above $50, and I've only gone that high once because of the critiques. I usually stay around the $25-35 range. It's well worth it for three critiques. As I commented above to Kat, I don't do contests like WD because I'm sure they get thousands of entries worldwide. I tried them years ago and didn't even get a confirmation on my entry, so I basically just handed them my money for nothing. Keep me posted if you enter one on how you do and if you liked what you got for the money.
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