Freelance Authors

Are you an aspiring author who wants to enter your short story in a contest? Is your story ready to compete against thousands of others? Then, the Internet has become a perfect tool for you to get started. First of all, you will need to research the different writing communities for legitimate contests to enter. Web sites for authors such as www.writing.com or www.fanstory.com have contest listings and community boards for aspiring writers.

Fortunately, there are several websites that are full of contest listings and tip that can help you become a winning author. Most contest websites will list its guidelines and types of stories that they accept. Some contests are looking for certain types of stories to judge; like fantasy, adventure, comedy, drama and overcoming life's trials or challenges. Every contest has its own requirements, which that should followed by the contestant.

Sometimes, you will find contests that require an entry fee or a reading fee, before they will even consider judging your story. Other contests may only accept submissions from children under 18 or minorities from other cultures. So make sure that you read and understand the contest rules, as well as the guidelines. This way, you can decide if your story is appropriate for the short story contest that you are planning to enter.

Furthermore, you can join www.writersmarket.com and find current contests that have just been listed. Also, there are magazines like Writer's Digest that list contest and markets for aspiring writers, who want to showcase their story or talent. Therefore, it shouldn't be hard to find a contest that would be perfect for your literary masterpiece. However, beware of the different type of scams, which has hit the writing world by storm and has disappointed many new authors.

Always be sure to check out the company and the contests out, by calling the Better Business Bureau. Plus, you can search the internet and writing communities for complaint and comments about the contest. But, there are also websites like: www.winningwriters.com, which is exposing the writing scams that exist. Then, you can protect yourself from the disappointment and frustration that scams cause all of their victims.

Additionally, try to submit more of your writing to separate contest, since this will increase your chances of winning. Before you send off your contest entry, be sure to write down the contest information in a safe place. You should create a submission notebook or index cards, in order to keep detailed records of your submissions. So, you will avoid submitting stories that have already been judged by another contest.

Some contests require newly written stories and other contest will allow simultaneous submissions by new authors. However, you must be sure what each judge is looking for, if you want your story to at least be read. Plus, be sure to send your best writing, because you will be competing against other freelance writers. Therefore, use your best writing and proofreading skills, in order to increase your chance of winning.