6 Benefits Writers Can Reap From Entering Writing Contests (beyond winning)

Just last week I submitted to two writing contests, one in fiction and the other in poetry. In my career of writing I have entered eight writing contests. Of the six I have finished (two are still in deliberation), I have not ever won or placed in a contest. 

It would have been amazing if I had, but winning a prize is just one of the many benefits of participating in a writing contest. Not only have I gotten six stories published online through contests with The Write Practice partnering with Short Fiction Break, but I have become a better writer for the practice, challenge, and the judge’s feedback I have received. 

If you are not yet convinced writing contests are worth doing just for the experience, then keep reading because I have listed the benefits I have gained from my contest experiences to convince you. 

1. Practice 

If the only benefit of writing contests were to practice writing, then I would still submit over and over again. For me, I often lack the motivation to practice other forms of writing when I could be making headway on a bigger project, like a novel.  

But how am I supposed to write a good novel when I can’t master a short story? The fundamentals of storytelling are compacted in short stories, so practicing this form of writing is extremely helpful for bigger projects. 

The more practice we have under our belt, the better writers we will be.

2. Challenge 

Contests are a challenge. It is a competition against other writers, but it’s also a competition against your own writing. With every contest I try to challenge myself. I try to apply a piece of writing advice I was critiqued on, or try a new genre, style, or technique. 

To accomplish new feats and grow our skills we need to be challenged. What better incentive is there than a competition?

3. Deadlines

“I love deadlines. I like the swooshing sound they make as they fly by.”

Douglas Adams

If you’re anything like me, then personal deadlines rarely get met. 

However, if it is a deadline set by someone else, then I have no choice: I have to make it. I can say that when I finish and submit my writing by the contest deadline, it is a marvelous feeling.

I have not missed a contest deadline yet, and I’m hoping the practice will spill over into my lack of achievement in personal deadlines. 

4. Judge’s feedback

Perhaps one of the richest benefits some contests offer is the judges’s feedback, or editor’s letter. Whatever name a contest calls it, getting feedback from the judges evaluating your story is a great and simple way of getting good (for the most part) critiques from people who know the craft. 

From the contests I have been in, this service is an extra fee, but it is worth it. 

If you need help using your critiques and/or need emotional support from receiving bad critiques, then check out this post I wrote on handling and using criticism. 

5. Prizes

As I said before, I haven’t won a writing contest (hopefully someday!), but I think prizes are an important benefit to mention. 

Prizes are the first thing that pop into people’s heads when they think of writing contests. Sometimes there is one winner or many, and their are often cash prizes, writing tools, or recognition to be got out of a top place finish. 

I don’t think anyone would say this wasn’t a great benefit of entering a contest. The achievement of a top place finish is the ultimate goal we seek in a contest. It is a competition, after all. 

6. Publication

And finally, the benefit of being published and getting recognition. 

In many contests you only get published if you win a prize, but some contests—such as some hosted by The Write Practice partnering with Short Fiction Break—will publish your story regardless of your finish, if you so desire. 

Having your work start reaching readers is my goal, and to have this opportunity of getting your name out there is a wonderful step to reaching readers who will love your work. 

Recognition is one of the longest lasting rewards you will receive in a competition, and it is well worth the time and effort of crafting a story to enter. 

What Are You Thinking? 

Have I convinced you that writing contests are something you should be doing? I hope so! 

A word of caution: Do not place all your hope on winning. There are many great writers out there, and writing contests are a subjective business. When I enter a writing contest, I really hope I do win a prize, but I don’t expect to. I focus on the other long-lasting rewards that are reaped from the process. 

If I do win a contest someday, then it will be a reward I will be ecstatic to receive. 

Now go enter a contest!