I need an intervention, to be hauled off to some facility where there are no pencils or computers, where I can be kept away from my dark passion—entering writing contests. My obsession started simply enough, a friendly request from FBWG’s Roger Paulding to enter the 2007 writing contest. “Submit your work, get helpful comments,” he had told the critique group. Sounded reasonable to me.
I submitted my novel-in-progress (BROKEN LACES) in that Spring contest for the sole purpose of getting feedback. In fact, the idea of having “real writers” review my book seemed so smart that I entered 7 more contests within a couple months. What’s ten bucks here, thirty bucks there, for sage advice? The good news was that BROKEN LACES received an Honorable Mention in that first FBWG contest. The better news was that the contest judges gave me very detailed comments about what I was doing well and what I needed to work on. As the results from other contests dribbled in—two 3rds, a 2nd, a contest win, and a few did-not-place—I found the judges’ comments eye-opening. There was much agreement (eliminate backstory at the beginning, keep the natural dialogue) and some disagreement (protagonist is too big of a jerk, your protagonist is easy to root for).
For 2008, I scanned the internet for writing contests, skipping ones that seemed expensive or a little shady, and entering those that seemed more tailored to my work. Sometimes I entered BROKEN LACES, sometimes my new novel (WHITE CHALK ROAD), and sometimes short stories. I spent oodles of money entering the contests and was shut out of most monetary prizes, although I was fortunate to capture a nice first-place check in West Virginia and to be named as a finalist in the Writers’ League of Texas. My recognition as a State Finalist paid off as I attended this summer’s Agents and Editors Conference in Austin, TX, meeting agents and other writers. Time will tell if this leads to landing an agent.
After a year and a half, with 39 submissions in 25 separate contests, I offer the following advice:
1) Choose contests that match your genre and that aren’t a front for some for-profit company
2) Enter writing contests to get constructive criticism, not as a money-making venture
3) Examine criticism closely to see what has merit... and fix your manuscript accordingly
4) Enjoy nice comments from judges and celebrate contest certificates
5) Don’t angst over why your entry didn’t place/win in a given contest, since judging is extremely subjective
I am pleased with what writing contests have given me: excellent feedback to improve my manuscript and awards that build up my author credentials. If you are serious about improving your work, I recommend entering contests as well as finding a good critique group/partner.
I have collected a long list of writing contests on this page. if you find a contest that I don’t know about, drop me a line. My counselors at Writing Contests Anonymous don’t even need to know about it!
Here is a listing of writing contests that I have found. I've entered some, skipped some, and earned some awards. Contests are ordered by the postmark deadline, which means that next year’s contests will probably occur in the same timeframe. I believe that the links are accurate, but I can't vouch for any contests or confirm I have the latest information.
San Francisco Writers
Cost: $25 each
Postmark Deadline: 2-Jan-08
East Texas Writers' Guild
Cost: $15 each
Postmark Deadline: 31-Jan-08
Oklahoma Writers' Federation
Cost: $25 OWFI membership plus $20 blanket fee
Postmark Deadline: 1-Feb-08
Tennessee Mountain Writers
Cost: $10 each
Postmark Deadline: 1-Feb-08
Northeast Texas Writer's Organization
Cost: $8 each
Postmark Deadline: 15-Feb-08
Crested Butte Writers -- The Sandy
Cost: $30 each
Postmark Deadline: 17-Feb-08
Pacific Northwest Writers Association
Cost: $50 each
Postmark Deadline: 22-Feb-08
Fort Bend Writers Guild
http://www.fortbendwritersguild.org
Cost: $20 each
Postmark Deadline: 25-Feb-08
Maryland Writers' Association
http://www.marylandwriters.org
Cost: $40 each
Postmark Deadline: 28-Feb-08
Panhandle Professional Writers
http://www.panhandleprowriters.org
Cost: $20 each
Postmark Deadline: 1-Mar-08
IntermoonLit Award
http://www.brianagincourtmassey.com
Cost: free!
Postmark Deadline: 1-Mar-08
West Texas Writers
http://www.westtexaswriters.org
Cost: $10 each
Postmark Deadline: 1-Mar-08
Writers' League of Texas
Cost: $50 each
Postmark Deadline: 7-Mar-08
CNW/FFWA
http://www.writers-editors.com
Cost: $10 each
Postmark Deadline: 15-Mar-08
West Virginia Writers
Cost: $8 each plus membership fee of $20 plus $1 handling fee
Postmark Deadline: 15-Mar-08
Southeastern Writers
http://www.southeasternwriters.com
Cost: requires conference signup!
Postmark Deadline: 1-Apr-08
Willamette Writers
http://www.willamettewriters.com
Cost: $15 each
Postmark Deadline: 23-Apr-08
Alabama Writers' Conclave
http://www.alabamawritersconclave.org
Cost: $10 each
Postmark Deadline: 30-Apr-08
Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers
Cost: $25 each, plus $25 each for critique
Postmark Deadline: 1-Apr to 2-Jun-08 (get in early)
The Write Helper
Cost: $10 each
Postmark Deadline: 30-Apr-08
Southern Illinois Writers Guild
http://www.jalc.edu/activities/siwg
Cost: $5 each
Postmark Deadline: 1-May-08
SouthWest Writers
http://www.southwestwriters.com
Cost: $35 each, plus $25 each for critique
Postmark Deadline: 15-May-08
Society of Southwestern Authors
Cost: $10 each
Postmark Deadline: 31-May-08
Idaho Writers' League
http://www.idahowritersleague.com
Cost: $15 membership fee, plus $25 per entry
Postmark Deadline: 30-Jun-08
San Gabriel Writers' League
Cost: $20 each
Postmark Deadline: 26-Jul-08
Fort Bend Writers Guild
http://www.fortbendwritersguild.org
Cost: $20 each
Postmark Deadline: 30-Aug-08
Tampa Writers Alliance
Cost: $10 each
Postmark Deadline: 1-Oct-08
San Antonio Writers Guild
Cost: $20 each
Postmark Deadline: 2-Oct-08
Abilene Writers Guild
http://www.abilenewritersguild.org
Cost: $10 each
Postmark Deadline: 31-Oct-08
Pikes Peak Writers
http://www.pikespeakwriters.com
Cost: $40 each, plus $20 each for critique
Postmark Deadline: 1-Nov-08
More Links to Writing Contests
http://www.stephiesmith.com/contests.html
http://www.writersleague.org/links/sc.html