[From the Archive] To Enter or Not to Enter – that is the Question
This week’s archive post…
Many new writers wonder if entering contests is worthwhile – both to their careers and to their budgets. The answer to that – as with just about everything else in the publishing industry is…maybe. Picking a contest is a lot like picking an agent or publisher. You have to weigh the risk to reward factors. Is the time, effort, and possibly money to invest in the contest worth the potential pay out.
First – you have to decide if you’re going to pay to play. Many contests charge an entry fee to pay for prizes and contest judges and the like. The thing is – does the entry fee justify the prize. It’s a ratio thing. If the entry fee seems high in terms of the prize pay outs, then it’s probably not worth it. You also want to look at the judges – if you have more credits than the judges of the contest, you probably want to run. The other thing to factor in would be Odds – Writers of the Future is an awesome Free contest with a kickin’ payday (pro rates plus and publication), but the competition can be fierce because it is free.
Second – figure out why you want to enter the contest. Do you have a story that fits the contest but almost no place else? Is the prize something you really need/want? Or does the theme of the contest just strike a chord with you? You can use contests as exercises in craft. If there’s a good reason for you, personally, to enter the contest, then go for it. As long as you know why you’re doing it.
Third – contests can be fun. Especially if you’re entering to see what you can learn/accomplish from the contest rather than thinking you’re going to earn cash and prizes. Learning is the key thing.
Shameless plug time, a month or so ago, Revolution SF announced a contest on their website. In honor of the new Best of Joe R. Lansdale collection, they asked entrants to write a weird story (in honor of Joe) in 67 words or less. I took that as a challenge. For, as most writers discover, Flash Fiction is one of the hardest skills to learn, and to be excel at doing. I chose to do it as an exercise in craft – that and I like Joe Lansdale as both a writer and a person. I was one of 5 winners, it made me silly happy to win – and when all of us as writers have those moments of “I’ll never sell againâ€, a cheesy contest win can make a big difference. Besides, it was FUN, and the time outlay to write the story was minimal.
So, bottom line…it’s up to you. Contests – if not take super seriously – can be a fun and profitable way to hone your craft – especially if the judges offer feedback. Or they could just be fun. As with everything in the publishing industry, do your homework first. Know what you’re getting into, and have some fun.