Every writer that has entered any writing contest knows that they are a huge investment. Whether it is short stories, essay, chapbooks, or poetry, most competitions will charge reading fees. In addition, you will also spend your time working on the task at hand. When you don’t win, you will end up losing both time and money. However, writing contests can give your career a big boost as they will give you writing credentials that are essential for establishing a good reputation in the industry. Here are a few questions you should ask yourself before you enter any writing contest.
Is the Writing Contest Reputable?
You should never enter any shady contests. Writers need to be cautious because there are many websites that are just writing contest factories out there. You should look for writing competitions that have longevity and solid reputation in the industry. With a reputable competition that has been running for years or decades, you can be confident that you will not waste your time or money.
Who Are The Organizers And Sponsors?
If the competition in question is run by a renowned magazine, then you can be confident that it is of great renown. However, if it is being sponsored by some little know company, then you know that the contest is not well-known in the writing industry. If you cannot find any information about the organizers or sponsors, then you should email them and ask for details. Always remember that the reputation of the organizers or sponsors is directly related to the contest’s reputation.
Who are the Judges?
In most cases, it is the judges who can make or break the reputation of writing competitions. Some organizations never disclose their judges. However, a specific judge may affect the willingness of contestants to enter. If a new contest is judged by a famous author, you will definitely want to enter.
What Is The Payment And The Payout?
Most writers will pay for a contest where their work will be published in their favorite magazine, with an added cash prize incentive and a subscription. However, most people will have challenges paying for a contests where their work will be published by an unknown editor in an unknown website. You need to analyze the publication credits and determine whether a win will be a boost for you. If winning a contest will take you places and give you rewards that valuable for you then you should proceed and enter. Always remember that winning smaller or lesser-known writing contests can be a windfall especially for writers who have never published anything in the past.
What are the Odds of Winning the Contest?
Some writing competitions, especially the well-known competitions will attract professional writers. Other contests will just attract new writers and hobbyists. You can determine this by checking out the people who have won in the past, affiliates, and even the judges. Be sure to enter a competition where you know you have higher chances of winning.
Writing contests are essential for writers, especially those who want to improve their skills and grow their career. There is much more you will learn than just winning the ultimate prize. However, you should not just enter every contest that you come across. Keep these questions in mind to determine whether a writing contest is worthy of your time, effort, and money.
