Okay, I don’t actually know if it is contest season, but it seems to be, what with all the contests being announced!
I’ve been busy with school (only six weeks in my current class and 16 weeks in the fall, and I’ll be finished this degree!) so I haven’t done much writing, but I’ve been doing some critiquing and am thrilled with what I’ve been reading, especially from four authors–one already published and three I am sure will be published in no time. Seriously, they’re fabulous writers! In any case, I’ve been busy. However, I’m excited because this week was a “light” homework week, and that means I have this weekend to write! Or rather, polish what I have, look at entry guidelines, and enter some contests!
Contests are new to me, but can I tell you something? They’re great learning tools! And I’ve noticed quite a bit of confidence building in each contest I’ve entered (which admittedly is only one with another one about to happen in the next day or two, and a third by the middle of August–with maybe another one or two thrown in there for fun, because who doesn’t like extra work?!). So if you’re a writer, I highly encourage you to start entering contests. But first? Polish those stories! Get avid readers to go over them. A fresh pair of eyes (or two or three pairs of fresh eyes) will see issues with point of view (something I struggle with), sentence structure, pacing, etc., that you can’t see right now. But when those eyes point out the issues to you? Wow! You’ll see your work in a whole new light–a beautiful new light.
So go ahead and enter those contests! Take a look on my Check It Out page for links to various contests, which I’ll update as I hear of more.
Go write now!
Mikal Dawn 