 Your Guide to a Successful Writing Career
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by Kathryn Lay Since that time, I've placed over 100 times in various writing contests. Contests are profitable (in more than one way), encouraging, a chance for learning and preparation, and motivating. Opportunities abound for entering prose and poetry in contests, whether through local writer's groups, magazines, online sites, or book publishers. There are many ways that entering contests can be beneficial to your writing.
Feedback. Entering contests is a good way to receive an unbiased critique from someone who doesn't know who you are. Judges are comparing your piece to others entered in the same category, much like an editor reviewing the huge pile of manuscripts received every day. You don't always have to win a contest for it to be worth your time to enter, as long as critiques are promised. A manuscript that doesn't win may still be very good and publishable. I've used the critiques received for both winning and non-winning manuscripts to make them more saleable. Some suggestions have made the manuscripts better. Other suggestions I've ignored. So don't let a loss get you down, but do let a win encourage you. Approval. Rejections come hard, but winning contests can re-build your self-confidence. When you've learned that your manuscript competed against 500, 100, or even 25 others and came out on top, you feel recharged, ready to pound on those editor doors once again. And, if you don't win, well, you know that you were up against many others and if you can handle it, you can handle whatever happens to your "babies" when they're shipped off to editors. Monetary awards. In one year, nearly one-third of my writing income came from contest wins. Some of my stories made more money in contests than when they finally sold. Another advantage of contests is that you can enter the same manuscript in several different contests, though not in the same contest the next year. Several wins on one well-written manuscript is very profitable. If the contest includes publication, your story may receive more money and prestige than other pieces accepted by the same publication. Publication. "The Worst Sport Ever" was a humorous short story I entered into the Pockets fiction contest. It didn't win. But I was just as thrilled when I received a letter notifying me that they wanted to purchase and publish my story in a future issue. Other writers have entered Highlights for Children contests and had similar experiences. Sometimes, you don't win the contest, but you do win an acceptance. Contests are one way some publishers have of finding publishable stories. Amanda Jenkins researched publishers for edgy YA novels and found there weren't a lot of places to market her book. The Delacorte contest seemed a good way to get a foot in the door at Random House. When the contest winners were announced in April 1996, Amanda learned that she was the winner of the 14th annual Delacorte Press Prize for First Young Adult Novel for Breaking Boxes. Amanda believes winning the Delacorte launched her career. She has since acquired an agent and sold four more novels to Harpercollins. Her books have been nominated for the California Young Reader Medal and the Los Angeles Times Book Award. Amanda says, "Many people in the YA business are aware of the Delacorte contest. The contest not only gets you published, it automatically gives your book a slightly stronger push off the starting block. Winning the Delacorte helped attract attention in my cover letter to my agent." Martha Moore, the 1994 winner of the Delacorte, author of Under the Mermaid Angel, Angels on the Rooftop, and Matchit, agrees that winning this award launched her career. "I immediately received invitations to speak, sign books, and more. I will always be grateful for getting this wonderful opportunity." Another author won the children's story category for a Writer's Digest competition and soon after sold his story as a picture book. Recognition. Sitting in an awards ceremony, hearing your name called and going forward to receive your award amidst applause is a great boost to your writing ego. How exciting to learn there were 50 entrants in a category and you won first place. Contest wins also help balance those rejections. I frame my winning certificates and hang them on the wall in front of my computer. When I'm down or frustrated with rejection, I look over the awards and get a boost to my self-confidence. Every writer craves assurance and approval of their work. A contest win or encouraging word from a judge has kept me submitting a manuscript that I might otherwise stuff in a file and give up trying to sell. Are you excited? Find a contest by checking writer magazines online and off or getting in touch with your local writers group. Prepare your manuscript as if an editor were reading it. Send it in. Then, rejoice over your wins and learn from your losses.
This article originally appeared in Children's Book Insider. This article may not be reprinted without the author's written permission. Kathryn Lay has had over 1000 articles, essays, and short stories published in magazines and anthologies such as Woman's Day, Cricket, Guideposts, CHICKEN SOUP, and more. Her children's novel for ages 8-12, Crown Me! is published by Holiday House Books. She is also the author of The Organized Writer is a Selling Writer. |
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