Author: Corinne
After years of avoiding them, I have suddenly started entering writing contests. Not just one but as many as I think I can handle. Though I have yet to succeed I am not discouraged because, though being accepted would be gratifying, that is not really why I’m entering these contests. I find the challenge of writing on a topic that I may not have considered very stimulating and the repercussions of struggling to make my article/essay/short story interesting very rewarding. I have pondered the meaning of “diligence,” struggled with a memoir of an experience I had as a junior high teacher, written an article about popular images and women’s self esteem and composed an article on experiences I had living abroad. Although it would be gratifying to succeed in at least one of these attempts, I don’t regret a single moment working on my approach to each theme. I find that, when I am frustrated with the novel I am currently working on, if I have a shorter work I can address and finish such as one of those mentioned above, I return to my longer piece with sharper focus and renewed energy. Although you do have to pay a nominal fee for many contests, there are a lot that are free. If you’re interested in tackling some of these contests, a great place to find them is http://www.justacontest.com/.
Have you ever thought of just organizing a writing contest yourself? I have, and you’re more practiced in writing than I am. I was hired to help judge entries for two different writing contests, my only two assignments through Emory’s temp employment services after I signed up in 2003. Even though we only helped with the preliminary judging, we drastically reduced the number of entries, so it would probably help entrants to understand they are writing as much for the casual reader as for the professional. One contest was for Georgia high school students on “Internat’l Laws of Life”, and the other was a national contest for adults on “Power of Purpose”. Maybe we could organize one together, w/ long distance communication the way it is now? I’ve given up on most of my solo efforts for lack of success. Cooperation is the norm today.
In my 2nd sentence I meant I had thought of it, not that I had actually done it.
That is so funny that you mention this–I was just talking with a friend about starting a contest though I don’t think I really want to…right now anyway. I had no idea you had participated in judging! That must have been interesting and perhaps a bit overwhelming! There really are so many people ‘out there’ vying for attention, trying to win, including me! Jeeez. Have you ever thought of entering anything in a contest?
Gotcha
I did think of entering a contest soon after I had done the judging, but could only find a couple online, neither of which sounded very interesting. I browsed the web site you shared, which looks much more useful. Maybe I’ll look more thoroughly when I have more time, but when I think of the possibility of writing prof’ly, I usually think of writing for local publications and/or for The New Yorker. The NY would take a lot of time & research, maybe too much like a college student again than I’m willing to be, but would be one of the ultimate acceptances in the periodical realm in my view.
Well you should enter something. Why not? There are contests that are free so you don’t lose anything. And I agree re The New Yorker–I’d love to have a piece of mine in that magazine!