5 Tips For Choosing The Correct Short Story Competition For You
Short story competitions are unpredictable. Here are 5 tips for choosing the correct short story competition for you.
There are so many short story competitions that you can enter before the end of the year. I find that it can be overwhelming.
If you need help writing the actual story, we have a Short Cuts – how to write a short story course . If you need help choosing a competition for yourself, carry on reading.
5 Tips For Choosing The Correct Short Story Competition For You
How do you choose the competition that works for you?
- Read the prompt or find out about the theme. Does it seem like something you can, or want, to attempt?
- Pick the competition that suits your writing style. If you do better with stories that are 5Â 000 words in length rather than 2Â 000 words opt for the competition with the longer word count or vice versa.
- Ignore the prize money. Some competitions have excellent prizes, but don’t force your story to become something it is not, simply to be eligible.
- Don’t try to enter them all. Less entries, mean better writing, better proofreading and better editing from you.
- Forget about winning and ignore everything I just said. It is a short story. Take a chance. Write in a new genre, try a different viewpoint. Rattle your own cage. Who knows where it will lead.
I hope these tips help you with choosing the correct short story competition for you. Short story competitions are unpredictable. Don’t take the results too seriously. They are great to enter and they give you a deadline. Try to have fun and write your heart out. Maybe you’ll win, maybe you won’t. It will be a great experience either way.
If you want to learn how to write a short story, sign up for our online course.
by Mia Botha
If you enjoyed this post, you will love:
- How To Use External Change To Show Emotional Changes In Your Characters
- How To Make The Most Of Your Scenes
- Fallen Heroes – Creating Characters By Looking At Real People
- 3 Things You Need To Do At The Beginning Of Your Novel
- The Character Biography – Writing More To Write Less
- 7 Reasons Why Writers Should Make A Scene List
- Plan Your Blogging Week In Fewer Than 15 Minutes
- Janet Evanovich On 4 Ways To Write Every Day
- Why Writing A Memoir Is The Ultimate Selfie
- Do You Need An Author Platform?
Top Tip: Find out more about our workbooks and online courses in our shop.