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Writing contests – sometimes it’s about more than prize money
By Jill Pertler
I enter a bi-monthly humor-writing contest on a regular basis. There is a $10
entry fee. The top five entries win various amounts of prize money. I have
entered this contest four times. Four times I have received accolades from the
contest sponsors. My articles have ranked as finalists or honorable mentions
four out of four times. Still, I have won zero (big fat goose egg) in prize
money. To a casual observer, it might seem that I am coming out on the
short end of this deal:
Humor contest - positive $40; Jill Pertler (negative) $40.
Why do I keep entering this contest? I have my reasons.
Expanding your writing options – in other words expanding your ability to earn
more money for your words –involves various factors. It isn’t solely about good
writing. (If it were only that simple.) This particular writing contest helps to
foster my career in a number of ways.
• Exposure. This contest publishes winners, finalists, semi-finalists and
honorable mention entries on its website. Contest entrants are directed to the
site to read the winning articles. I can post my article on my own website, but
I’m willing to bet a nickel that I get a lot more hits by having my piece
grouped together with a bunch of other really great humor pieces (on a
well-frequented, well-known website). Every reader gained is a potential fan.
I’ll take all the exposure I can get.
• Name recognition. Every byline I can get is another chance to increase name
recognition. Self-promotion. Self-promotion. Self-promotion.
• It doesn’t cost much. Okay, I pay the $10 entry fee, but this contest allows
previously published articles. Anything I submit has already been published
elsewhere (for pay). I am essentially publishing a reprint, and we all know how
difficult they can be to place.
• Networking. This contest publishes the top 40 entries. That gives me access to
dozens of other successful humor writers. I have connected with a few and use
those connections to build on my network of online writing colleagues.
• Building credentials and reputation. “Recognized as a finalist and honorable
mention winner in a big international humor contest.” It has a nice ring to it,
doesn’t it?
• Adding to the resume. Another published piece, on a well-known and reputable
website. Sure it’s an addition to the writing resume – and a darn respectable
one at that.
• Increased self-confidence. Writing can be a lonely journey. I think what I
write is funny. People tell me it’s funny. But having an international
humor-writing contest recognize me as funny? That’s just a bit of a confidence
booster, don’t you think?
There are people who are adamantly against paying fees to enter contests. They
cannot and will not write for free. I agree with them. I do not advocate writing
for free. I do, however, support the idea that fostering a writing career
involves more than just good writing. Sometimes a contest can provide
non-monetary benefits to my growing career. And when that happens, it does not
feel like I am writing for free. Not at all.
Contests you may want to check out:
HUMOR PRESS
Bi-monthly humor-writing contest with a $10 entry fee. Top five entries receive
monetary prizes ranging from $100 to $20. Top 30 (approximately) entries are
published online.
http://www.humorpress.com/
FUNDSFORWRITERS
Annual essay contest that gives you the option of paying a $5 entry fee or not
(bigger prize money for those in the fee-paying category). Entry fee prizes are
$300, $100 and $50 for top three finishers. Prizes in the non-entry fee category
are $50, $30 and $20.
www.fundsforwriters.com/annualcontest.htm
WRITER'S WEEKLY
Quarterly 24-hour short story contest. $5 entry fee. Top three entries are
published online and receive $300, $250 and $200 in prize money. Lots of
non-cash prizes and door prizes. List of honorable mentions also published
online. They provide general feedback regarding all entries on common topics and
themes to give writers an insight on how original their ideas might have been.
http://www.writersweekly.com/misc/contest.php
WOMEN ON WRITING
Quarterly flash fiction contest. $10 Entry fee. Provide option of written
critique on your entry for an extra $10. Top 10 entries are published online. 15
honorable mention entries listed online. Top three win prize money ($250, $150
and $100). Top 25 win non- monetary prizes, including Amazon gift certificates.http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php
READING WRITER
Quarterly short fiction contest with the winner gaining $100 and publication
online. No entry fee. Lots of finalists and
honorable mentions are mentioned online. Option of having your entry critiqued
by the owner of the site for a fee of a penny per word. 1,000 words equals $10
(worth it).
http://www.readingwriters.com/contestcafe.htm
BIO
When not entering writing contests, Jill Pertler writes a syndicated column,
Slices of Life. It currently appears in
over 85 newspapers in nine states. Her book on the subject, “The
Do-It-Yourselfer’s Guide to Self-Syndication” is now available online through
Booklocker.com, Barnes and Noble and Amazon.com. Visit her website at:
http://marketing-by-design.home.mchsi.com/
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