Choosing a Fiction Writing Contest

Fiction writing contests are always a lot of fun, but you can run into trouble. Choosing a fiction writing contest should be the result of research and careful consideration. If you place high in a fiction writing contest, you might have access to opportunities that wouldn't have been available elsewhere, and you might feel more confident about pursuing a writing career. As mentioned above, however, you need to be careful about which fiction writing contests you choose.

1- Who is Judging the Contest?

If the judges are not named on the promotional material for the contest or if the judges are not notable names in the writing or publishing industries, then the fiction writing contest is probably not worth your time. For one thing, a contest judged by Stephen King is going to hold more weight for future opportunities than a contest judged by Joe or Jane Doe. Furthermore, you're less likely to find unscrupulous contests judged by well-known public figures.

2- What is the Entry Fee?

You'll find that most fiction writing contests have entry fees these days, though they are usually not prohibitive. The entry fees should only be enough to cover the prize money awarded to the winner(s); anything above and beyond that is suspect. Since most contests receive at least 100 entries, you should multiply the entry fee by 100 to determine the minimum amount they will make. If that number is more than five times the total prizes awarded, look for another contest.

3- What Does the Winner Receive?

Prizes for fiction writing contests are usually proportionate to the prestige of the contest itself. I would avoid any contest that offers nothing more than publication as a prize because you will receive no direct reward for winning. This is especially true if you have to pay for the medium in which your winning entry is published. The award should be worth the task of completing and submitting an entry; for example, a $25 prize for winning a novel writing contest is not worth the effort to write the novel in the first place.

4- Do You Keep Your Rights?

No fiction writing contest should ever relieve you of all rights to your work, regardless of whether or not you win. If your entry is selected as a winner, you will probably be required to license the organization with the right to publish the manuscript, but you should still retain the copyright. You should never -- I repeat, never -- lose rights to your work just for submitting it.

5- Who Has Won in the Past

You should have access to the previous years' list of winners upon request. If you can, obtain the contact information for those winners and ask them about their experience. Did they have any trouble? Would they recommend entering? This is a great way to determine whether or not a fiction writing contest is legitimate.