The Keys to Winning a Writing Contest

Is there a magic formula to winning a writing contest? Sure there is - write the
perfect book. All kidding aside, there is never a guarantee, especially because
you'll never know what the judges are looking for. How do you win a writing
contest, then?

Well, you write a book that is intriguing, important, provocative, fun, wild &
crazy, or simply wild. In all honest, we'll be rejecting most of the manuscripts
we receive for our writing contest after reading the first page. The reason is
simple: the book is unedited, uninteresting, or poorly written. If you plan on
entering your book into a writing contest, or sending your book to a literary
agent or book editor, here are a few tips:

Edit the heck out of your writing

Perhaps the first thing we'll look for is whether or not you've bothered to edit
the book. Misspelled words and grammatical errors will get your manuscript
tossed without a moment's hesitation. The only exception to this rule is if the
book actually calls for poor grammar, such as a dialogue between a few
uneducated folks. Go through your manuscript carefully, especially the first few
pages.

Open with a bang

"It was a dark and stormy night," will never win you bonus points. Do your
homework and create an opening that gets the judges interested in reading
more. Perpaps you're writing a science fiction novel. What's the hook that will
keep us interested? Or, if your book is non-fiction, is your subject matter
relevant or important? What about romance or erotica? Hey, we like steamy
as much as the next person, but if it is cliche, we'll drop it faster than a used
condom. You'd better make your opening good, or you won't get far.

Create a good reason to read the whole book

Is your book relevant? Is it important? Do you have a clear niche for your
book? We look for more than just good writing and an interesting story. We
want to know that your book has some relevance. In other words, we want
your book to sell. An agent or editor will want to know the same thing, and if
you can't immediately demonstrate that your book will be a hit, it will be
ignored, and probably won't win the contest

Relax

A writing contest should be fun. Sure, you're submitting your baby - your pride
and joy - to the whims of some unseen and probably ignorant reviewer. All the
more reason to have some fun with your writing. If you're enjoying yourself,
your reader will be more likely to enjoy him or herself as well. I love reading
anything that's been written with heart, passion, and soul. If it's flat, dull, or
reads like an English literature assignment, I'll drop it faster than you can say,
"Ouch. That hurt."

The truth is that you'll never know what the reviewers are looking for in a
writing contest. But, if you write well, create something that is interesting,
provocative, intriguing, or just fun to read, then you'll have a much better shot
at winning than if you write a sloppy and poorly constructed piece.

Really, the best advice I can give you is to relax, have fun, and do the best you
can. You might not win this writing contest, but if your work is good, you'll feel
that much better for having submitted it. You can't - and shouldn't - hold on to
your writing. It is meant to be read, and quite often rejected. So, send it out.
Enter contests. Then, move on to your next project and keep writing. That's
how you'll improve, grow, and make it as a writer.