by B. Lynn Goodwin

You polish your writing, imagining your audience. You read it over. Out loud. Does it say exactly what you want it to say? You have a friend read it to you. Impressed, she says, “You should submit this to contests. Put yourself out there. Get some recognition for your work.”

Maybe you leap at the idea. Maybe you hesitate. After all, it’s more work. Besides, it makes you feel vulnerable. There’s almost always a fee and you’re guaranteed nothing. Why bother with contests when the judge isn’t an agent or editor who could take you on as a client?

I’ve run contests for Writer Advice since 2006, and for the Women’s National Book Association since 2019. I’ve been a judge for Story Circle Network and a NorCal organization seeking local books. Placing in a writing contest is a huge boost to your work. Acceptances matter. No need to elaborate on that. Here are some other perks you might get:

• It gives you a chance to see how your work fares in the world.
• It gives you exposure. Contest judges know people. Maybe they’ll make a referral to an agent.
• Contest winners usually get published. Share the link with agents, editors, and anyone who might be interested.
• Winners often get paid. That’s usually the reason that contests charge fees. Those who run the contests need to cover expenses.
• The biggest payment, though, is the boost to your self-esteem. Who couldn’t use a little of that?
• There’s also the matter of name recognition. Wouldn’t you like to be Caitlin Contestant, winner of one or more writing contests?

What Do Judges Look For?

Without a rubric, judges look for writing that works, ideas that seem original, and something that touches their hearts. They look for carefully edited pieces free of mechanical glitches and work that either says something new or says something traditional in a new way.

Instead of writing a traditional rubric for Writer Advice’s and the Women’s National Book Association’s Contests, I’ve sent the questions below for judges to consider. You can use these questions before you send your work out.

1. Do you care about the main character?
2. Are there conflicts?
3. Is there more than one direction that the plot could go?
4. Are you already guessing what might happen?
5. Is a setting suggested?
6. How is the description?
7. How is the pace?
8. Is the dialogue believable?
9. Is the tone appropriate?
10. Given the subject and situation, is there an appropriate balance of dialogue, action, narration and reflection?
11. Did you stop paying attention at any point?
12. Does the story draw you in or do you feel like you’re outside and watching it?
13. Would you buy this book or story?
14. If not, why not? (If you hate the genre, give it less weight than if the story bothers you.
15. Will you remember this story tomorrow?
16. Is language used effectively?
17. Does the author make exceptional use of word choice, imagery?
18. Are right and wrong complex? Is there more than one way of looking at the issues?
19. Are the characters likeable but flawed? Will readers identify?
20. Was the writing clear and accessible, too dense to fathom or somewhere in between?

As a contest judge I invite you to consider these questions. Then look at the contests on Writer Advice, www.writeradvice.com, and sfchapter.org/2021-effie-lee-morris-contest-get-ready/. Research other contests and opportunities too. If you have questions, please ask either here or on the contact box at www.writeradvice.com.

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B. Lynn Goodwin owns Writer Advice, www.writeradvice.com. Her YA, Talent, (Koehler Books) won some awards, and some of the same characters appear in her new YA Ground Rules. Her memoir, Never Too Late: From Wannabe to Wife at 62 also won awards. Visit https://writeradvice.com/books-by-lynn/. Her flash fiction has been published in Flashquake, Nebo, Cabinet of Heed, Murmur of Words,100-Word Stories, and Ariel’s Dream. Other works have appeared in Hip Mama, The Sun, GoodHousekeeping.com, PurpleClover.com, and elsewhere. She is an editor as well as a writer. She lives her energizer-bunny husband and their exceptional terrier.

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