.jpeg?picon=893)
- Guidelines offer focus. Writing within parameters forces you to focus on your message. Word baggage is eliminated and the piece forms a tightly-written story. A theme provides focus, but it does not limit your imagination. Creativity in plot and word choice are limitless! Even genre-specific contests let you stretch your writing prowess by crafting a new world or twisting history.
- Attitude is everything. Did I stop writing when I didn't win in class? Heck, no. I never gave up. Instead, the competition and my lack of "prized success" pushed me to develop my craft by tuning in to what wasn't working in my stories. I never viewed those works as failures. They just weren't what the instructor was looking for. A positive attitude makes a difference, and I was positive to continue trying!
- Contests give writers permission to write. If you're set on entering a contest, you've given yourself permission to schedule time to write. Sometimes outside forces control the amount of time we dedicate to our craft, but knowing you have a deadline and plan to enter your best work gives you the say-so to make time to write.
- Writing increases confidence. I've entered several poetry contests and I've experienced some success. It's a confidence boost! Even when I didn't win the grand prize, I made fantastic discoveries: what judges are looking for, what writing styles do or don't work, how other writers approach the challenge. These lessons also boost belief in my work.
Entering a writing contest may be a big step for a writer, but it's an action that will enhance your writing.
by LuAnn Schindler. Read more of LuAnn's work at her website. Graphic design by LuAnn Schindler
(C) Copyright wow-womenonwriting.com
Visit WOW! Women On Writing for lively interviews and how-tos. Check out WOW!'s Classroom and learn something new. Find jobs on the Freelance Job Board. Enter the Quarterly Flash Fiction Contest. Open Now!
By: Neil Gaiman,
on 1/7/2008
Blog: Neil Gaiman (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Winsor McCay, photographing the kitchen table, P Craig Russell, Add a tag
On any normal day, the most exciting thing in the morning's mail would have been the limited editions of CORALINE, or the second volume of the collected Moomin comics, or even the new Lamy 2000 Fountain pen (to replace one that I must have lost somewhere along the way. I'm writing The Graveyard Book with a very antique Waterman flexnib, which makes it very pleasant to write but not the most legible manuscript you've ever seen). Not to mention the DVD screener of Sweeney Todd. And even on a slightly abnormal day, filled with amazing postal gifts and such, the most exciting thing in the mail would have been the DREAMS OF A RAREBIT FIEND, a book of amazing hugeness and beauty that I had ordered from http://www.rarebit-fiend-book.com/ (and had been waiting for with suppressed excitement for about ten days). I put it down on the post-covered kitchen table and stood on a chair to take a photo of it. The book is enormous (that's a full-sized phone beside it) and I cannot wait to read it...
But the surprise of the postbag was this: The Art of P. Craig Russell, a Retrospective -- a lovely surprise. Introduction by Dave Sim, put together by Craig and Joe Pruett. It's a look at Craig's art and work from boyhood until today that is complete, illuminating and beautiful.
There's one chapter that's just Craig talking about Murder Mysteries, how he adapted it, what choices he made, how he broke it down, the design of the word balloons, the use of colour, and so on, that should be compulsory reading for anyone who wants to write, draw or edit comics.
If Craig had told me he was doing it (and I'm sure he did) I had managed to forget completely. Which made it the perfect surprise. (Craig's website is http://www.pcraigrussell.net/. )
And that was followed by a phone call from my agent letting me know that United Artists was the first studio to sign a deal with the Writer's Guild, and that if I wanted to write a film for them, or sell them the rights to a book, I could. Here's hoping that a lot of other studios follow.
Excellent points, LuAnn! I'm big on entering contests, for many of the reasons you stated. But I'll share another of my reasons for doing so: When you enter a state writer's contest (many states have writing associations), the entry fees are minimal, and you're helping that writing organization grow and provide services to their members. And P.S. You might even win. WHeee!
Very true! Nothing like a deadline and the fear of public scrutiny to crack on and bash a piece of writing into a respectable sort of shape. Writing groups and courses can have a similar effect, don't you think?
I entered and won a few contests. It is indeed very satisfying, but not as fulfilling as the journey.
Since entering a contest includes a hefty fee, it can soon add up to a lot of money. Since the chances of winning is slim, I don't see why writers should enter these....
I've been writing for about 4 years and just in the past 2 weeks, started entering contests. I cannot believe how inspiring it is. It is so good for honing the craft, as you said.
I find competitions very inspiring, although I prefer no theme. It's a way of participating too, being out there. My stories have been short-listed a few times and that's a great spur to go that bit better next time. Some organisers publish the top 20, or top 10 stories too and that can be your first publication - huge boost. A stimulating post, thank you.