Big Profits From Writing Contests - At Less Cost

How could you win story competitions more systematically and enjoyably? Here's a win-win story plan to help you succeed in creative writing competitions.

Tip #1. Look for contests which supply a great spread of awards.

An excellent range could include a main award of $250, 2nd award of $50, 3rd award of $30, and additionally ten runner-up cash payouts of $15. This sort of contest offers you 13 opportunities to succeed. That's a good writing contest!

As a bonus offer, a lot of competitions also give personal advice for the significant winners.

Nevertheless, in the event you exert every ounce of your effort to enter a significant contest that provides simply one star first prize, yet absolutely no other prizes, it is small comfort to become honored after that among its major one hundred also-rans - if these names are released in any way whatever.

Tip #2. Search for competitions which offer you cash prizes but where contestants have to satisfy specific criteria.

The factors could demand that the writer falls inside a certain age range, ethnic group, sexual category, career or national identity. Provided you really match those criteria, you stand a much better chance of winning than when you enter a competition which sets no limitations on any entrant.

Why? The number of entrants must be a lot fewer and also the judges will be in search of aspects in the narrative which illustrate the requirements of this competition. As an actual member of this specialized niche, you are able to persuasively supply those factors. The prizes may possibly also be greater than normal due to the fact these contests are frequently managed by companies that have some public relations, ethnic or other program to pursue - as well as a budget to suit.

Needless to say, it would be extremely rash to conceal your personal identity to go into such contests...

The promoters of a writing contest will thirst to display their champions to help their public relations missions. Therefore if a competition is run to support women Canadian writers and you masquerade as, for example, a Vancouver-born mommy of 3 it would be quite uncomfortable if you win and are then expected to make a media interview. Particularly when you appear to be, unquestionably, a male Australian.

Something like that occurred not too long ago for the recipient of a women's novel prize who wrote using a female identity. As soon as the winner visited the award ceremony, every person was stunned to discover that "she" was obviously a retired brigadier of advanced age, with a moustache. It would not be surprising if the organisers took back their prize...

Tip #3. Search out contests that ask only a token entrance payment.

A payment of say $8-$16 (£5-£10) can be a affordable gamble when the top money award is in 3 figures. A fee of $30 or more is most likely not. For a weekly financial commitment of $160 (£100) and entry fees of $8 (£5) you could enter something like 20 contests per week and enjoy a really good opportunity, not only of recouping your investment, but also of producing a wholesome gain.

At $30 per entry, given a $160 spending budget, you could approach only 5 contests each week and you'd stand incredibly small opportunity of profiting whatsoever.

Yet another tip: when your entry has won, right away submit it once more elsewhere - adjusted to the rules of the further contests. But check that the competition policies don't explicitly prohibit the entry of tales which have previously gained a top prize in a competition.

Your chances of succeeding in a new contest will also be now higher simply because you are submitting a tried "product"!


------

Dr John Yeoman, PhD Creative Writing, is chairman of the writing contest ideas centre Writers' Village. A university lecturer in creative writing, he is a veteran contest judge. Discover a wealth of original plans to win major prizes in his 7000-word manual How to Win Writing Contests for Profit. Acquire it free now at:
http://www.writers-village.org/ideas