The Value in Entering Writing Contests

by Lynn H. Blackburn @LynnHBlackburn

I’ve been writing with an eye toward publication for five years and I’ve entered several contests. Contests are great for feedback, critique, and even to help you get your name in front of an agent or an editor.

They can also be demoralizing. You put all that time and energy into your submission and you get nowhere. Believe me, I’ve been there.

But I am more convinced than ever that when it comes to contests, no matter where you place, you win.

I’ll use my personal contest timeline to explain.

Conference Contest (2010) - I entered my first 45 pages into a contest at the Blue Ridge MountainsChristian Writers Conference. Didn’t place.

Operation First Novel (2009, 2010, 2011) - Yes, I entered the same novel three times. (I’m thick). The first two times didn’t include any feedback, so I had no way of knowing how I’d done, but the third time? Well, let’s just say those results convinced me to put that story in a drawer.

The Frasier Contest (2013) - The Frasier required the submission of your first scene and a synopsis. It didn’t matter that I didn’t have anything close to a complete manuscript, so I went for it.

I was a Bronze Medalist! The feedback included phrases like, “This writer is ready for publication” (I may have highlighted that one) and it encouraged me to press forward with this new story. I wrote quite a bit over the next few months. I’d gotten to the 30K mark when the next contest appeared on the horizon.

The Search for the Killer Voice (2014) from Love Inspired Suspense - Here’s where it gets really interesting. This contest was set up in four stages.

Stage 1 - First page

Stage 2 - Synopsis

Stage 3 - First 3 chapters

Stage 4 - Full manuscript

The most important thing for you to know is that when the contest was announced in February, my home was in chaos. We’d had water damage during the winter from a burst pipe. The entire contents of my downstairs were sitting in a pod in my driveway and my kitchen appliances and cabinets were in my garage. We were walking around on subfloor and had folding chairs in the living room.

Not the ideal time to enter a writing contest.

If I hadn’t entered those other contests…if I hadn’t had a first page, and a synopsis, and a few decent chapters…I would have seen this contest and thought, well, maybe next year.

But I had a first page, and a synopsis, and a few decent chapters. I had even, three different times, sent in a full manuscript. So even though it made no sense, I hit send.

And on July 23rd, I got the call.

Love Inspired Suspense 

bought my book!

I know not all contests have happy endings, but if you’ve got an opportunity to put your work out there, to get some feedback, to experience what it’s like to write on a deadline—TAKE IT!

You never know where last year’s contest fail will lead.

It might help you finally put that book in the drawer and start something new.

It might fill you with the confidence to keep plugging away at your WIP.

It might even give you the courage to take on something daunting and overwhelming, because it’s not the first time you’ve walked that path.

So how about you? Are you afraid to enter a contest? Has a bad contest experience kept you from getting back in the game? Have you entered contests and been encouraged? Let’s talk about it in the comments.

Don’t forget to join the conversation!

TWEETABLES
The value of writing contests - @LynnHBlackburn shares the journey from entries to publication on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Yes, a writing contest can lead to publication - @LynnHBlackburn shares her journey on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Lynn Huggins Blackburn has been telling herself stories since she was five and finally started writing them down. She blogs about faith, family, and her writing journey on her blog Out of the Boat. Lynn is a member of the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild and the Word Weavers, Greenville. She lives in South Carolina where she hangs out with three lively children, one fabulous man, and a cast of imaginary characters who find their way onto the pages of her about to be published novel. She drinks a lot of coffee.