There are many reasons why entering writing contests is a good idea. Other people judge your work and you can gain recognition and critical acclaim. You can also win prizes. It is not difficult to find contests to enter as there are so many available online. Entering a free monthly writing contest will give you this opportunity. The best thing is that you do not have to pay any entry fees and all that is required from you is the time to write and submit your entry.
As there are so many contests, one has to be selective when choosing which one to apply for. The genres covered vary from mystery, science fiction and romance to non-fiction, travel writing, stories for children and memoirs. You need to find the best fit for you. If you are a newbie, it may be preferable to start small and progress on to larger contests as you acquire more confidence. Reading past winning submissions can be helpful in making a decision.
Once you have decided to enter a particular one, it is very important to read the rules and conditions. You need to understand exactly what is required of you and what kind of permission you are giving to the sponsors. You may be giving the sponsor permission to use your work and to be able to edit, promote and publish it at any time.
Certain guidelines are given as to what your manuscript should look like. There is a deadline for submission and you are given the maximum number of words required. If you ignore the maximum word count or other stipulations like double spacing, your submission could be rejected even if your actual content is superb.
Checking your manuscript thoroughly for errors in spelling and grammar is also essential. The first impression received by the judges is important. If they receive a manuscript littered with errors that could have been easily avoided by using shell check, their opinion may be colored before even considering your content.
Other important factors that help your submission to stand out are your creativity, originality and the way you use language. However, no matter how creative and original your content may be, you have to make sure you stick to the theme. A brilliant entry that completely digresses from the theme will obviously not be in the running.
There are many smaller contests with prizes like an annual subscription to a magazine if your submission is published. It is often best for new writers to start with something like this to gain some confidence. Some of these contests have really good prizes, including large amounts of money and there are many experienced writers who enter these. Remember that everyone has to start somewhere and even a T-shirt as a prize means that someone else appreciates your work.
As long as you understand what the sponsor requires of you and what they are able to do with your submission, there is no risk involved in entering such contests. Submissions can often be emailed to the sponsors together with a name, address and telephone number. The fact that no entry fee is required means you do not have anything to lose and much to gain. Even experienced writers enter such competitions for the worthwhile prizes and recognition offered.
As there are so many contests, one has to be selective when choosing which one to apply for. The genres covered vary from mystery, science fiction and romance to non-fiction, travel writing, stories for children and memoirs. You need to find the best fit for you. If you are a newbie, it may be preferable to start small and progress on to larger contests as you acquire more confidence. Reading past winning submissions can be helpful in making a decision.
Once you have decided to enter a particular one, it is very important to read the rules and conditions. You need to understand exactly what is required of you and what kind of permission you are giving to the sponsors. You may be giving the sponsor permission to use your work and to be able to edit, promote and publish it at any time.
Certain guidelines are given as to what your manuscript should look like. There is a deadline for submission and you are given the maximum number of words required. If you ignore the maximum word count or other stipulations like double spacing, your submission could be rejected even if your actual content is superb.
Checking your manuscript thoroughly for errors in spelling and grammar is also essential. The first impression received by the judges is important. If they receive a manuscript littered with errors that could have been easily avoided by using shell check, their opinion may be colored before even considering your content.
Other important factors that help your submission to stand out are your creativity, originality and the way you use language. However, no matter how creative and original your content may be, you have to make sure you stick to the theme. A brilliant entry that completely digresses from the theme will obviously not be in the running.
There are many smaller contests with prizes like an annual subscription to a magazine if your submission is published. It is often best for new writers to start with something like this to gain some confidence. Some of these contests have really good prizes, including large amounts of money and there are many experienced writers who enter these. Remember that everyone has to start somewhere and even a T-shirt as a prize means that someone else appreciates your work.
As long as you understand what the sponsor requires of you and what they are able to do with your submission, there is no risk involved in entering such contests. Submissions can often be emailed to the sponsors together with a name, address and telephone number. The fact that no entry fee is required means you do not have anything to lose and much to gain. Even experienced writers enter such competitions for the worthwhile prizes and recognition offered.
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