Hardly if you are an experienced writer but definitely if you are not!
For any established writer, contests and competitions are really a great waste of time.
For them it is time that could be better employed.
They don’t need the publicity or the paltry rewards that’s on offer!
Unless of course it’s the Booker or the Nobel.
But for a newbie it’s a heaven sent opportunity to try out new ideas, new topics and generally get in some- off the block experience.
How
If you are just starting out contests and competitions can gain you some valuable writing practice.
Say you’ve never tried your hand at Flash Fiction or even Science. Competing will not only help polish your existing skills it could even introduce you to a whole new genre of writing.
It hones your writing skills and disciplines you into writing within a pre- approved format while having fun- learning on the job.
Actually it isn’t about the prize at all or if you’re wise it shouldn’t be.
Entering these contests you should realize is for what they will teach you.
It hardly matters whether you win or lose!
What matters is that you have attempted to write on a topic with a word limit that’s been given to you.
A dry run wouldn’t you say for when you get actual assignments?
And if you do win, well, wouldn’t it look just great on your CV! Leave alone doing wonders for your confidence and reputation?
On the down side your piece could very well be one of those you could have hawked for a tidy sum.
You could still do that once the results are out!
But again you wouldn’t have written that piece but for the competition.
So wouldn’t you say you still stand to gain? Unless of course the rules tie you up nice and tight in a copyright bind.
And to avoid just that you need to choose your competitions with care.
How do you do that?
There are all kinds of contests out there. The World Wide Web isn’t all sugar and spice and it’s really not everything nice as you must be aware by now. Nobody but nobody floats anything without an angle .So what you need to do is to sift the wheat from the chaff, spot the angle and only enter those that are genuine and avoid the fakes.
And how do you do that?
By doing what you normally do! Yes you need to
- Surf the net.
- Check out all those on offer carefully.
- Choose some viable ones that look promising.
- Bone up on the rules and regulations- the terms and conditions.
- See if they are favorable to you as a writer.
- Avoid those that ask you for an entry fee or all rights.
- In fact avoid all those that have any fee or ask for any rights till you know the lie of the land.
- Also don’t enter any that appear on freelance writing forums/bidding sites or any that requires you to compete for a project. It is a ploy to get their stuff cheap.
- Always ask yourself what’s in it for the organizers/yourself before you commit yourself.
- Remember to go by its reputation and the names of the jury.
- Choose only those that sound genuine or truly interesting.
- Those that will help you evolve as a writer.
Then go for it.
Chillibreeze will soon be coming out with a contest.
Watch this space for more!
- Sreelata Menon
Please Note: Chillibreeze does not endorse techniques or views mentioned in the articles here. The articles listed here are provided as reference material for writers as a support service.
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