| Writing
Contests: pathway to a career
Many
aspiring writers never blossom because they're simply
intimidated by the process. How do I get my work in
front of publishers? Would anybody take my writing seriously?
Too many talented writers allow their manuscripts to
wither and die because of basic questions like these.
But the answer is really simple… enter a writing
contest.
Writing
contests are a proven way to get noticed and they offer
something for every style and genre, even poetry and
they're everywhere. The variety is endless, there are
internet sites like fanstory.com
that are virtual catalogues, pw.org
who cover things like grants for writers, and there’s
freelancewriting.com with its tutorials and advice columns.
Actually, any search engine will yield scores if not
hundreds of opportunities for submission. You will find
genre specific contests, short story contests, novellas,
etc. You can also search for contests that do or do
not charge an entry fee. The prizes may range from one
time publication to cash to full blown publishing contracts.
Choose your level of competition and go for it.
My
personal experience with writing contests has been overwhelmingly
positive. The first short story I ever submitted became
a finalist and led to a publishing offer. I've never
finished in first place but have made the final cut
a few times. And some have even drawn helpful and constructive
critiques from the judges as well as connections to
publishers and agents.
One
of the intangible benefits is that you can enter several
contests at a time and that activity helps you avoid
one of the writer’s worst enemies and that is
the feeling of stagnation. There are so many contests
out there, it makes it easy to constantly keep your
writing and more importantly, your name in front of
dozens of industry professionals.
Whether
you're a rookie or a veteran, writing contests make
sense to keep you fresh and keep you moving.
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