You many have noticed that there are a lot of writing contests. You can find lists of upcoming ones in places like Dreamers Magazine or the Funds for Writers website. Some magazines, like Blank Spaces, run a regular quarterly write prompt contest. Many literary journals will simply run a contest for the purpose of fundraising and/or as a method to boost publicity for the volunteer judge(s). There are even third-parties, such as Writing Battle, that specialize in supporting emerging and established writers with very specific prompt-driven, time-limited tournaments.
Each one of these contests is unique in how it handles theme, prompts, judging, awarding “prizes,” and so forth. Entering your work in a writing contest can be beneficial. Depending on the individual contest, you can make great strides by getting involved. Here’s what I mean:
Reading your submission.
If you submit your work to a writing contest, it means that someone on the hosting literary journal’s team, or a member of a judging panel must read it in a timely manner. Even if your work doesn’t win or make the shortlist, you’ll gain the satisfaction that your work isn’t being returned to you unread after rotting away in a slush pile for months (or years!) as might happen with a regular submission. Many contest hosts (but not all) send a letter to update entrants as to whether the piece has made it to the next round or not. In this way, you’re getting at least some benefit of having your writing seen with the possibility of feedback.
Feedback for your writing.
Lots of writing contests offer feedback. Beware, however, if there is a significant extra surcharge to sign-up for editor’s or judge’s comments. You’ll need to scrutinize each contest’s rules and conditions. If a contest clearly states that feedback will be given, it guarantees that someone on the judging panel must read your work thoroughly enough to offer constructive criticism of the piece. I have found this to be a useful part of the writing-for-publication process. Many of my early pieces received professional feedback that led to huge improvements (and later publication!) even without winning the actual contest.
Bonus subscription or access.
The submission fee for a writing contest is usually part of a subscription drive for the literary journal, or may include access behind a paywall to participate in a discussion forum, or become part of a writing community. If you’re already considering purchasing a subscription to a particular magazine, wait until the next contest and you may be able to get both benefits in one transaction. In some cases, journals may only offer a free copy of the issue or an annual subscription to writers who win the contest or make it onto the shortlist. Beware of contests that charge a fee that doesn’t seem to have added value either by participation or by the size of the prize being offered. Check for the previous quarter’s or last year’s contest results—are there a large portion of “honorable mentions,” or does the shortlist seem more like a longlist? These could be potential warning signs—be vigilant.
Getting your name (& work) out there!
Winning a writing contest would be awesome. You get validation for your writing skill, publicity to build your platform, and possibly a monetary payout as a prize. You know what’s also great? Being shortlisted. You’ll often still get the benefit of validation, bragging rights, and sometimes a runner-up prize.
You know what’s the real win? That you’ve put your name and your work out there. Part of the writing-for-publication process is marketing. You need to look for ways to get yourself known as a serious writer. But you’re not going to get published at all if you don’t send your work out. Writing contests are a good way to start this process, but it’s not the only way to submit for publication. Submitting your work becomes second nature after a while—don’t sweat it.
Do you participate in writing contests? Tell me about your experiences. Start the discussion by sharing your comments below. Stay tuned for my next blog post. Wanna get it in your email inbox? Subscribe to stay informed of my newest articles, story reviews, updates, and more.
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Pauline Shen 
Writing competitions are like coffee—I need them to survive, to stay fresh, sharp, and diligent! Sometimes they make you jittery, but eventually that wears off and you wake up the next morning seeking that strong competitive aroma all over again with no regrets from the previous day. Nice read.