Writing Competitions
Once upon a time, I hated story writing competitions.
Especially the ones with a prescribed theme. And especially the ones without themes. Themes stifle the creative juices. A lack of theme leaves you dangling helplessly. Maximum word counts make you feel choked, or desperate to pad out the space. So why bother entering?
Because writing to a theme, a word count and a deadline forces us to sharpen our writing. In fact, I like competitions now so much that I’ve printed off a year planner to help me keep track of upcoming competition dates. I regularly google search for competitions that appeal to me and stick them on my to-do list.
So – for someone who hated them, what made the change?
Probably winning a few, if I’m honest. And actually, the real reason I started entering competitions in the first place, even when I hated them, is … toward the end of this blog.
OK, so now that you are convinced it’s a good idea, how should you enter? Read the fine print for each comp. Follow the entry guideline instructions, or you may find yourself disqualified even if your story is great. Read previous winning entries and try to figure out why their story worked. I tend to write early, sit on it for a while, then revise and revise and revise again before handing it in at the last possible moment.
When to enter? Many competitions are run annually and the opening and closing dates are published well in advance on the actual competition websites, often around the same time each year. Watch those spaces, because your local writers centre or your favourite writing blogger might not advertise the dates until you have no time left to write. If you can get a feel for the competitions that fit your style of writing, then stick them in your diary and enter every year.
What kind of prizes are on offer? Cash, residencies, publications, vouchers – whatever the prize might be, there is always one more: that you’ve won/been listed in this competition. This was my real motivation for starting to write for competitions. For anyone who wants to make a career from writing, having wins under your belt is a glowing reference on your resume. Submitting your work to a publisher is a lot like competing for a job with three hundred other applicants. You’ll stand out if you have a list of credentials.
Many competitions have free entry – it’s worth shopping around. If you already have a story gathering dust, why not pull it out, do a google search for upcoming competitions, and see if your story fits the bill? After losing a few competitions, you might find yourself being longlisted. Then shortlisted. And then – you might start winning! Convinced yet?
Then go dust off that story and enter.