Duh.
I know, it's an obvious statement. Yet, this statement rang like a bell when I read Annette Young's recent article on her writing contest website Creative Competitor.
"The main element to winning is to enter in the first place. It’s as simple as that"
I have been busy with life lately. Moving, new jobs, young children, etc. Through it all, my writing fell to the bottom of the list. Has that ever happened to you?
So while the statement is simple in itself, there a few angles that warrant further discussion.
- Entering writing contests is important because it keeps you writing. Like any skill, writing well requires practice, repetition, and exercise to stay sharp. Contests keep me honest. With a fixed deadline, I have to write.
- Writing that sits on the shelf isn't doing anything but collecting dust. Yes it takes courage to put yourself out there and possibly face rejection. The beautiful thing about most contests is that they are anonymous to the judges. They don't know you, and you don't know them. Look for contests that provide feedback.
You can't win if you don't play the game, so get off the bleachers, put on your uniform and enter a contest today. Annette's site is a great place to start.
Annette's article on Winning Writing Competitions
very nice article.
ReplyDelete