Yep, I can’t believe it either, but it’s contest season again!
I know, you’re wondering what this has to do with writing. Well, a couple of things, actually.
If you’re unpublished, contests give you the opportunity for lots of feedback from not only published authors, but sometimes editors as well. I’m not saying the judges you get will all be kind, or even right. But when you’re first starting out, getting some objective opinions on your writing is a good thing.
You don’t necessarily want to make every change suggested by your judges, but if two or three of them mention the same thing, then that’s a sure sign for you to sit down and do some thinking.
If you’re unpublished, but further along the ol’ career path, contests are a great way to get your work noticed by people who might be in the position to buy it!
Published writers love contests because mainly, we like the badge jewelry! Let’s face it, we all want pins and things cluttering up our name badges and finaling and winning a contest gives you some great little trinkets. But there are other reasons, too. Say you make the finals of a prestigious contest or two. Then you get to email or phone your editor and agent to spread the news. They in turn spread that news everywhere else. Marketing hears about it, publicity and maybe even other houses who just might sit up and take notice…
My point is, contest season is time consuming and expensive. But enter as many as you can. You have nothing to lose and lots to gain.
Maureen Child is the author of more than one hundred romance novels and novellas. She is currently bagging up her RITA entries.
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Aaaah……..THIS is why we’re friends!! Yes! Let the nagging begin!!
Ooh, ooh, me, too!!
Can I nag Jen too???
Marianne
I do love me some badge jewelry!!! you’re so right you’re going to next year, jen, cuz I’ll nag and nag and nag…
You do have some awesome badge jewelry, Maureen! I know I should enter contests…next year I’ll do it!
Thanks, Kate! And everyone should listen to you about contests! The year before you sold, you finaled or won just about everything!
Hi, Maureen! Well, if anyone can talk about badge jewelry, it’s you, my dear. I don’t know how you stand up straight with all that bling hanging around your neck!!
You’re so right about contests. To anyone who’s on the fence about contests, take a deep breath and send that baby out into the world. Okay, it might get slapped around a bit, but it’ll make you stronger and more savvy about writing itself as well as the business of writing.
And good luck!!