Contests—Pretty or Prickly

Your opening scene has edge-of-your-seat tension, your characters are witty and full of life, the description of your setting is amazing, and your villain has just the right amount of evil. Your manuscript is perfect. Now, it’s time to win a contest and become an award-winning author. Right?

Unfortunately, new writers can be unaware that contests are prickly little things. Kind of like a cactus. Standing on a sidewalk admiring a cactus garden can be an amazing thing. All the beautiful shapes and blossoms. But as we all know, they are pretty from a distance, but up-close they can be brutal.

Many writers submit to contests and have their hopes and dreams trampled on when they don’t win or the comments received are disheartening. We’ve all heard it said that you need a thick skin to be a writer. There is no doubt about that, but part of the contest world is how you view it. Pretty or prickly. So, the question is, should you enter contests? It all depends on your purpose.

I’ve entered multiple contests. Some I’ve won, others I didn’t make the finals. And that was with the same manuscript. That can be frustrating to say the least. But I’ve learned a lot over the last few years.

• Enter a contest for feedback, not to win. Being a finalist or winning is an added bonus, but it’s the judges’ feedback that will help your writing.

• Enter in the appropriate category. Suspense authors usually judge suspense. Therefore, you are getting feedback from someone who’s in the publishing trenches of your genre. Who better to give suggestions on your suspense elements than someone who writes suspense?

• Not all judges will like your writing. Similar to when we read novels, we have our favorite authors and authors that we just don’t care for. Judges are like that too. Don’t get discouraged if your entry comes back marked up by the red pen of death. Read through the comments and pick and choose what is important. However, if two judges tell you the same thing—It’s probably important.

• Don’t take it personally. Yes, your manuscript is your baby, but the judges aren’t insulting you. They are trying to help improve your chances of becoming published.

I highly recommend contests. They can be a great learning tool. But check your reasons for entering before hitting send. That way you won’t be disappointed with the results.

It takes courage to put your book baby out there. So, breath deep and go for it.

What’s your biggest fear or best advice about entering a contest?

Sami Abrams grew up hating to read. It wasn’t until her 30’s that she found authors that captured her attention. Now, most evenings you can find her engrossed in a Romantic Suspense. In her opinion, a crime and a little romance is the recipe for a great story.

Sami has finaled 15 times in writing contests, including receiving first place in American Christian Fiction Writer’s Genesis Contest in 2019 and Faith Hope and Love’s Touched By Love Awards in 2018. She lives in Northern California, but she will always be a Kansas girl at heart. She has a love of sports, family, and travel. However, a cabin at Lake Tahoe writing her next story is definitely at the top of her list.

Visit Sami at:

Website:  Samiaabrams.com

Facebook Author page:  samiaabrams

Twitter: @samiaabrams

Instagram: samiaabrams