winning – Almost An Author

Writing Contests – Winning Can’t Be Duplicated

When it comes to entering writing contests, it’s important to remember that winning can’t be duplicated.

Many children’s sports leagues contain participation awards. Writing is very different form children’s sports. Publishers and agents aren’t looking for authors who have received participation awards. They are looking for authors who can write well enough to sell books.

Contests often help speed up an agents or publishers search process. They help separate the wheat from the chaff. Award recognition is a healthy sign of writing ability.

If you aren’t entering writing contests, you need to be. Contests help your writing career is various ways.

Contests require you to meet deadlines
1. Any writer, worth their salt, is capable of meeting a publisher or agents deadline. Contest deadlines push you to write well in a tight timeframe.
Contests build your writing resume/bio
1. Winning awards helps you pad your writing resume or bio. This is essential early in your writing career, as most beginning writers don’t have a lot of published work to include in their author bio.
Contests help you find an agent/publisher
1. Many agents and publishers serve as judges in contests. It gives them opportunities to discover new talent, find new clients, and see how your work stacks up against similar competition.
Contests stretch your writing ability
1. Competition drives us to improve. When you know your work will be judged against others, you strive to create your best manuscript, applying learned skills and strengthening your writing.
Contests allow you to gain perspective
1. Sometimes we need a reality check. You may think your manuscript is amazing, but in reality it needs some work. Many contest offer constructive feedback, which can give you critical insight into improving your writing.
Contests encourage you to step outside the box
1. Entering contests in various genres and writing styles helps you become a more well rounded writer. You may not be the best novelist, or best poet, but entering in various contests encourages you to grow as a writer, which can improve all of your writing.
Contests help you get published
1. Many contests offer publishing opportunities to winners and/or finalists. If you enter these contests and win, you may also find yourself become published in a magazine or anthology. Or better yet, you may land that all important book contract.

Writing contests are an important and necessary part of the writing lifestyle. Take time to search for contests that have deadlines within the next few months and begin writing and editing. Don’t wait for your writing to be perfect before you enter. No writer’s ever is.

Good luck, and I hope you win!

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Poetry Contests: Where to Find Them

Since there is not a high demand for poetry in the publishing industry, one way to get your poems out there is by submitting to contests. And winning contests can lead to hidden doors of opportunity.

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Below are places I recommend you research to find the right competition to match your style.

Winning Writers

With a database full of free contests in every genre, Winning Writers actually seems to emphasize poetry. Currently they are offering their own Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest, which is also completely free to enter. Once you sign up, you can browse the site for more opportunities. Additionally, they offer articles on tips for submitting poetry to contests and how to avoid scams.

Poetry Society of South Carolina

Poetry societies can be found across the nation. I am a member of the one based in the South Carolina low country, which allows me to enter both the fall and spring contests for free. Otherwise they do offer most of their contests to anyone for a small fee of $5 per entry. Not bad when you consider the cash prizes are between $50-$500.

Blue Mountain Arts Poetry Card Contest

This is a free biannual contest. They do favor a particular style of poetry so be sure to check out their guidelines and previous winners before submitting. They offer a cash prize for 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place.

Fresh Voices Writing Contest

Our very own Almost an Author website sponsors the Fresh Voices Writing Contest for multiple genres, including poetry. The fee is $10 per entry and one entry for poetry can be up to 3 poems. Currently there is no cash prize, but don’t let that stop you from submitting. Winning contests builds your writing resume. The more accolades you can bring home, the better.

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Local poetry contests

Another place to look for contests is locally. Find out where poetry happenings take place near your town. In Columbia, S.C., the poet laureate organized a poetry event recently through the arts initiative. I had the opportunity to have one of my poems published in the chapbook and participate in the event poetry reading. So be on the look-out in your area for happenings such as that.

Conference contests

If you plan to go to a conference, see if they sponsor any contests. Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers’ Conference sponsors their own competition each year, and the money from the fees provides for scholarships for conferees who couldn’t attend without assistance. There is no cash prize, but you receive a very nice award at fine banquet and ceremony. The experience is highly worthwhile. I happened to win 1^st place for poetry this past year, which encouraged me in so many ways. It also contributed to the opportunity to write this very blog!

Beware of Scams

Unfortunately some companies thrive on tricking writers into purchasing publication which is deceptively masked as a contest. Winning Writers offers great information on how to avoid scams that are disguised as poetry contests. If you’re not sure if a contest is legit, it’s better to stay away from it. Any “contest” charging a high fee and guaranteeing publication is probably not a true contest.

So now, it’s time to get it out there.

Research contests, study previous winners, and submit your work.

Know any decent poetry contests you could share with us? Tell me below.