Writing Contests from Writer's Digest & Others: Are They Worth Their Weight in Gold?

If you’re reading this article you are likely a fellow writer. And as such, chances are you’ve entered a writing contest at some point. Perhaps you submitted your writing to a mainstream contest sponsored by a reputable name such as Writer’s Digest, or maybe it was something a bit more obscure. Either way, you probably paid a reading fee for the privilege of entering said contest. You may have even fantasized about the day you would be contacted by a contest representative informing you that your brilliant manuscript won first place. This would, of course, mean a monetary prize and perhaps publication and you’d soon be on your way to forging a path as an established writer. Isn’t that how the dream goes?

Well, if you’re like most of us you’ve probably never won anything from these contests. Is that because your writing isn’t worthy? Not at all. Your writing might be superb; but then again, it might not. That doesn’t matter. You can pick up any one of the numerous articles and guides floating around out there that will tell you all the tips and secrets you need to know to actually win writing contests. And isn’t that what you imagined the life of a writer would be, reading one article after another about how to win writing contests and break into the elusive world of the published writer? Imagine that. You became a writer so that you could spend your time reading.

That might be a bit of an exaggeration, but you should be reading every winning entry of every writing contest you’ve ever entered, and even for those you didn’t enter. Why? You need to know what the judges were looking for if you plan to win one of these contests yourself someday. Now isn’t that how you dreamed your life as a writer would be, modeling the writings of others to improve your odds of winning recognition, prizes, and possibly publication? Me neither. But if that’s what it takes…