Do you love writing, or have a way with words? Perhaps you’ve always had a feeling that you could do something more with those skills, but the thought of seeing your work published seemed too impossible or intimidating.

One way to build your confidence and benefit from other people reading your work is by entering a writing contest.

You can gain more exposure for your writing, receive constructive feedback, and maybe even win cool prizes, like money or a publishing deal!

But to increase your chances of success, there are a few things you should know before entering a writing contest.

How to Enter a Writing Contest

Follow these 8 steps to make the most of your writing contest experience and increase your odds of winning.

1. Choose a contest.

If you don’t already have a specific contest in mind, you’ll need to find a list of writing contests that are currently accepting submissions.

Then, there are several factors you’ll need to consider before choosing a contest to enter. These include:

• Deadlines
• Submission requirements
• Fees (if any)
• Prizes
• Accepted genres

Many contests are genre-specific, or have very particular guidelines regarding theme, word count, and other requirements, so it’s important that you take time to research what each contest requires before you commit your time.

2. Read and follow guidelines.

Once you’ve chosen the contest(s) you’d like to enter, make sure you follow the guidelines to a tee.

Make sure you’re clear on:

• Accepted genres
• Word count minimums and maximums
• Deadlines
• How to submit your work (email? upload? mail-in?)
• Accepted formats

You might not think that some details are important, but if something was written out in the guidelines, there’s a reason.

Failure to comply with even one guideline—such as uploading a PDF when a Word document was required—could disqualify you entirely from the contest.

Reading the fine print is also important for understanding the process and what happens if you win. Make sure you understand if the contest claims any rights to your writing (you should beware any that ask for all the rights to your work).

3. Find beta readers.

If you really want helpful feedback on your work, you should look beyond your close friends and family. Their opinions could be really helpful and constructive—but you’ll want to seek input from people who can remain objective, and who ideally know a thing or two about writing (if not how to create it, then how to spot it).

Search for beta readers to review your work before you submit it. You can find these reviewers in places like writing workshops, or even ask some of your friends and acquaintances, if they’re skilled writers. Learn more about how to find these reviewers in our complete guide to beta readers.

4. Proofread.

Always proofread your work before submitting it, even after your beta readers have reviewed it. (While implementing their suggested changes, you may have inserted a few typos!)

Check out our proofreading checklist for a complete list of everything you should look for. Some grammar mistakes really stick out like a sore thumb, and they’re often a fatal flaw for many submission entries, especially if they distract the reviewer from your story.

Plus, leaving in such glaring errors shows a lack of care and effort on your part, so it will be hard for a reviewer to take your writing seriously.

You can use a proofreading tool like Grammarly to help you double-check for errors, including typos and passive voice (but note that it’s no replacement for human eyes!).

5. Check your layout.

If you’re submitting a complete book or manuscript to a writing contest, they might also be judging your book’s interior design and layout. (This should be specified in the guidelines.)

If this is the case, you may want to hire a book designer (or, you can learn to do it yourself using out 7-step book layout tutorial for InDesign).

Whether you or someone else lays out your book, you’ll want to check that there are no widows or orphans, and that you have proper margins as required for the contest. These terms are defined in our post on layout rules.

6. Submit your entry (on time!).

Mark your calendar! Set reminders! Whatever you have to do to make sure your work is entered—and received—on time.

It would be a real shame if you spent weeks, or even months, writing a beautiful piece, only to be disqualified for missing the deadline. Don’t let that happen to you.

As soon as you decide to enter a contest, take note of the deadline, and write it down somewhere that will help you remember (perhaps in a planner, or on a giant post-it note above your writing station).

If you’re mailing in a physical copy of your entry, there may be a cut-off date for having your work post-marked, or the deadline might represent the day your work needs to be received by the host organization. Make sure you’re clear on what the rules actually are.

7. Tell your followers.

If you’re entering a contest that is determined by voters (like our own Readers Choice Awards), make sure you notify your friends, contacts, social media followers—anyone you can reach with your platform.

Tell them where they can find your work, how to vote, etc. (Make it easy for them by sending a link to the contest, your work, and the voting form, if possible.)

8. Share your victory.

Were you the selected winner of the contest? Congratulations!!

That’s definitely something worth sharing, so go ahead—brag a little! Post about your victory on your website and social media accounts.

Winning a writing contest is a great way to gain exposure for your work, and it can also help you establish credibility as a writer, so it’s definitely an achievement worth mentioning on your CV or author bio. For more tips, check out our post on what to do after winning a writing contest.

Are Writing Contests Worth Entering?

As many writing contests come with an entrance fee, you may be wondering whether these competitions are worth the time, money, and effort.

Of course, some contests are more prestigious than others, and you’ll have to judge for yourself whether the entrance fee seems justified. Anywhere from $5–$30 is typical, though you may come across much larger numbers.

Fees are usually commensurate with the prize amount and how “big” the names of judges or sponsors are.

That being said, entering a writing contest can offer the following benefits:

• Exposure: Whether you win or lose, writing contests are a great way to gain exposure for your work. Judges will review your writing, and if they see promise in your work, they might keep you in mind for future opportunities. If the competition is decided by voting, you’ll be able to get your work to out to more readers, some of whom might become your first fans.

• Credibility: Winning (or even placing) in a contest can help add credibility to your title as a writer. The more recognized the contest, the better.

• Feedback: If judges provide a critique of your entry, getting their professional feedback can easily make the entrance fee worth it. Take note of everything they have to say, and keep it in mind for your future work.

• Chance to win prizes: Most contests feature some sort of prize, whether it’s cash or a publishing deal. Check out the details for each contest you wish to enter, and decide if you think it’s worth your time, effort, and application fee.

Check out this post for insightful tips to help you avoid scams.

Enter Our Short Story Contest

TCK Publishing is excited to announce our first annual short story awards contest!

Submissions are open now through August 31, 2021. Submit your short story of up to 3,000 words with an entry fee of $12 for your chance to win $1,000!

Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!

 

If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:

• 2020 Writing Contests: Where and How to Enter Your Work
• 2020 Readers Choice Awards Contest Rules
• List of Book Awards Contests (Updated 2020)
• How to Get Publicity for Your Book: Tips, Tools, and Successful Strategies