Tips to Winning a Writing Contest

Posted on August 17th, 2008 in Writing by Jo Oliver
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One of my hobbies is entering writing contests. I have a great passion for the written word and thoroughly enjoy entering writing contests. Through trial and error, I have discovered a few tips to winning.
  1. Use correct grammar, spelling, tense, punctuation, and ensure good sentence structure. If a judge is reading a story, but can not get the tempo of the story, he is automatically going to discard it. So, structure and punctuation are key. Proof read multiple times for accuracy.
  2. Use unique phrasing. For example, the line: “the sun melted into the ocean,” has been overused and lacks originality.
  3. Read the rules and guidelines of the competition carefully. Don’t stray from those rules. If the minimum word count is 1500, do not turn in 1499 or 1501. Be sure to watch for rules that ask for double spacing and specific fonts.
  4. Get an upper hand on the competition. Often the judges will be listed. Research their previous work. This will help you determine if they have a specific style or subject that they are inclined to like.
  5. Look at the past contest winners. What was the style, eye catcher, and subject?
  6. Do not ask family or friends to proof read your work. Their opinion is often biased. It is best to find someone proficient on the context subject and that will not be afraid to offer critique.
  7. Define characters and settings in your head before you begin writing. This helps the story stay consistent and flow easily. If you are a novice writer, it is best to have limited characters.
  8. The opening line or paragraph should give a clear essence of the story. It should invite the reader and spark interest in the story. The first page of the story is always the most important. If the initial bit does not grab the attention of the judge, they will not put much thought into the rest of the story….if they finish reading it.
  9. Humor never hurts! Even if you are a writing a tragedy, try to inject some humor. Judges love anything that makes them laugh and breaks up the monotony.
  10. Avoid space filling words, empty details, and too many adjectives. Too much fluff kills the essence or point of the story.
  11. I have seen a lot of stories lately that are skipping one of the three essentials. Every story must have an opening, core, and conclusion. If you skip the conclusion, judges feel cheated. Writing contests are much different than a Hollywood movie. They can leave their audience in the lurch for a sequel, but you cant.
  12. The best stories are those that come from a personal passion, interest, or internal knowledge. The story must be believable and spark emotion. That emotion can be: humor, fear, excitement, empathy, etc.., but it must convey and generate feeling(s).
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7 Responses to “Tips to Winning a Writing Contest”

  • colette234
    August 20th, 2008 at 2:01 pm

    Thanks for reading and commenting on my articles, I can see we’re both trying to make on these sites. Good luck on your articles.

  • jo oliver
    August 20th, 2008 at 5:09 pm

    colette234,
    Thank you for the comment and you are very welcome. That was some good work. It is just a shame that a lot of talented work is overlooked around here.

  • carl
    August 22nd, 2008 at 5:16 pm

    jo- very good job. These are great tips. I too enter bunches of writing contests. I just never seem to have the right mesh? It is expensive to enter these contests and sometimes I wonder if the winners are not predetermined. Most of the time the winners work is not as good as other submissions that just get honorable mentions. Anyway, great tips that I will try next time.

  • carl
    August 22nd, 2008 at 5:18 pm

    I keep trying to hit the like it button and the number does not move up. Is something wrong? I tried cause I do like this.

  • jo oliver
    August 23rd, 2008 at 1:02 pm

    Keep at it carl. Writing can only improve as you practice at it. Thank you for the comment.

  • Patricia
    August 24th, 2008 at 1:01 am

    A great article, very helpful. It sure caught my eye, always looking for a contest :)

    Windsong

  • NA Staffieri
    September 12th, 2008 at 8:23 pm

    Great writing tips, Jo Oliver. This should be a must read for anyone wanting to improve their chances at successful story writing.

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