Writers are often urged to enter contests. Somebody has to win so why not you? Take a chance along with a thousand or more other writers. What are the odds you'll win? Should you try? Or not?
There are things to consider when you enter your work in a writing contest. Here are just a few:
- If I enter my story in the contest that will not announce winners for 6 months, then I cannot submit it for publication. Do I want to tie up my work for that long?
- How do I know the type of writers that enter this contest? Can I actuall compete with them?
- Is there a fee to enter?
- How much is the fee? Is it exorbitant?
- If I enter 5 contests and pay an entry fee for each but win nothing, where am I?
- Do I know if the contest is legit?
- Have I checked for validity of the group behind the contest?
- Does the contest pay winners? Or just publish the winning entries?
- If they only publish, not pay, winners, why am I paying a fee to enter?
- How high a fee should I be willing to pay?
- How many contests per year should I enter? The free ones? The ones with entry fees?
- Should I enter smaller contests first and progress to the bigger ones?
- Should I skip the small potatoes contests and aim for the big one with the big prizes?
/There are also good reasons to enter your work in a contest. Consider these:
- If I place, it's a good thing to be able to tell an editor later when I submit the same story for publication
- It's good practice for submitting to editors later
- You might actually win first, second, third or an Honorable Mention
- Enter the no fee contests and you have lost nothing, but they usually have lower amounts for prizes.
- You can't win if you don't enter
- Winning a writing contest looks mighty nice in your bio
- It's fun to take a chance and see how your work stands up to others (We sometimes forget that writing should have some fun in it)
As for no-fee or fee to enter, that is something each person needs to determine. I have entered both types of contests, have placed in some, and got nothing in many. If you do enter your work in a contest, be sure to read the guidelines and know for sure that your piece fits. Best of luck to all who give it a whirl.
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