Guest Author - Sandy Lovern
For all of you that have a burning passion to write, writing contests are a perfect tool to get you motivated and keep you focused. Writing contests have what it takes to enable you to become a better writer. The contests usually require a very limited number of words, a strict format, a deadline and a subject, which is all necessary to develop good work habits to become a successful writer.
I have been writing since the age of eight, but it is online contests that really encouraged me to write with some clear goals in mind. There are a lot of short story contest sites on the web that you can take advantage of. Not all of the sites offer monetary prizes, but they offer something just as valuable, and that is validation of your writing. There is no greater high than submitting a short story and finding that you have won!
When I began entering my short stories online, I was very hesitant to let anyone read my writings. If you are a writer, I am sure this rings a bell with you. Writers are very protective of what they write, since the words can be very revealing as to who they really are. But once you take that first step and submit your work, it’s an “ah” moment.
Like any contest or sweepstakes, you must be prepared for “rejection.” Not everyone can win…but if you stick it out, hone your skills and keep trying, the odds are very much in your favor that you will one day win a writing contest.
Decide what genre best fits your writing style and then go on a web search for contests that match your skills. A good place to start is Manuscript Editing
Maybe you love to tell stories about your kids, write informational tips on how to plan a vacation or have a phenomenal story line in your head that will make Harry Potter look like Bugs Bunny.
Whatever is running through your thoughts, just put it on paper and let the thoughts lead you where they want to go. Some call this a stream of consciousness, where you just write the first things that pop into your head, with no editing. You will be surprised at what comes out of your innermost feelings.
So once you decide what area of writing intrigues you the most, fiction, non-fiction, poetry, etc., then go for it. Be mindful though, that many writing contests do require an entry fee, because many of the writing contest prizes are created by the entry fees that are collected. This is a call only you can make. Do you want to pay to have your words read or not? If you decide you don’t want to pay an entry fee, there are still tons of writing contests out there you can enter for free.
Writing contests are just another way to reach your dreams, while at the same time, doing what you love best, WRITING!
Get the inside scoop on how people are winning all of those sweepstakes and contests, and here´s a clue, it´s not all luck! Sweepstakes Your Guide to Winning! will give you step-by-step instructions on how to be a winner. To learn more, go to Sweepstakes Your Guide to Winning!
To read more from Editor and Author Sandy Lovern, please visit
Sandy Lovern; and Sweepstakes Success
