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Thank you for the tour on writing tips for contests. We leave on a tour of Israel tomorrow morning but hope to follow whenever possible. This is an area I haven't seen much information on and appreciate it.
Blessings for the journey!
Carol

I LOVE that you host a writing contest. Contests are a fantastic way to hone our craft and get feedback on things we may nit even know we're doing wrong. Thanks for the tips on knowing how to tell the good from the bad too, with so many contests out there, it can be a little scary when its time to hit that send payment button!

I laughed when you said don't kill your protagonist when you start to run out of words. I get that momentary panic when I write flash fiction. Thanks for the tips.

I love entering contests, but sometimes it is hard to tell if a contest is legitimate. Thank-you for the tips!

Thanks for the comments! I'll be checking back throughout the day and will try to answer any posted questions about contests or the anthology.

Seize the Dame!
Sherri Cook Woosley

I always wondered how you can tell if a writing contest is legitimate. Now I know. Thanks for that!

Hi, Sherri! Thanks for your fiction-contest tips. I have a couple of questions.

If a fiction contest has no entry fee, can it still be a legitimate contest? Can it have as much prestige as entering a contest with an entry fee?

Also, what is the single most important element that you look for in a winning entry?

Thanks!!!

Thank you for a great tour topic. I anticipate more inspirational posts. I'm on tour too - a month on the road in my van. Writing, walking on the beach, picking up bits and pieces.

No fee contests.

Yes, they can still be legitimate, but usually are sponsored by big names like the Ladies Home Journal or Folgers who have plenty of money to pay prizes and are more concerned with advertising their main product.
Also, some contests that don't have a fee pay winners in gift certificates or keep the rights to your story once you've submitted. You just have to read the small print.

The single most important thing for a contest-winning story to be is: different. It has to stand out from the stack of other entries.

Does this help?

Sherri Cook Woosley

Thanks for the great tips! I also enjoy entering contests(I entered summer WOW contest).
Sounds like an interesting anthology!

I'm excited... In my desk are some manuscripts that I know are good (I'm not boasting, I have lots that aren't good too, and know the difference!) but have never found a "home" for. I think I'll enter some contests instead, especially if there is a critique involved. Thank you for your interesting interview!

Thanks, Sherri, for all your hard work on coffeehousefiction. As an author from the Anthology, set to appear tomorrow, I can confirm to anyone reading that entering contests is a valid path to publication. It can work -- it certainly did for me!

best best

best

Thank you for the helpful information. And I'm happy to find this publication - I love the whimsy of the name and it looks great. Ordering a copy now!

I do have a question about submitting to contests and credentials; maybe my question is even more applicable to non-contest submissions. If a writer has a short list of publications, does it help to have an advanced (masters or beyond) degree? Some contests are obviously "blind" and have very clear separation of personal information from the writing - some, not so much.

Any advice related to credentials or how to recognize if that may be an issue?

Hi Dot,

I ran a blind contest. Each entry was immediatly given a log number and the cover sheet was kept in a separate folder because we wanted everyone to have a fair chance -- may the best stories win.

For literary journals and magazines the work is also the most important thing. The list of publications shows that you are a serious writer and that others have already acknowledged your skill and talent. An MFA may help if you were in a prestigous program, but otherwise degress don't really matter.
For non-fiction, however, credentials (degrees or work experience) are important because you are representing yourself as an expert on your topic.

Thanks,
Sherri

Hi Sherri,

Congratulations on a fabulous interview!

Great tips about the contests. Thanks!