Friday, October 14, 2011

Writing Contests For Fun & Profit






WNI Believe it or Not*
Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet as an entry for a Romance Contest.

Like Shakespeare, if you want to be a writer, you have to write; and entering a contest every now and then stimulates your mind and improves your writing skills. Just today I learned fellow blogger Jennifer Rova won a short story contest sponsored by Idaho Writer’s League. Far out, JR!

In fact most of us (WNI bloggers) enter a contest every now and then. Last year Jennifer and I entered a Folgers Coffee Commercial Contest. We were bummed when we learned we didn’t win, but we both spent a few creative hours thinking of a scenario, writing dialogue, and fine-tuning our entries; which was much more productive than watching another "Law & Order" rerun.  No contest for Folgers this year, but you might check out the Fish Publishing International Short Memoir Contest.

Fellow blogger Nancy Owens Barnes won the Zola Award from the Pacific Northwest Writer's Association a couple of years ago. She entered three poems and won, like $100,000. Hmm, on second thought, it might have been a little bit less than that (more like $700), but she did win First Place and I’m sure probably took a trip to the ocean on her winnings. (At least that’s what I would have done.)  If you write poetry, check out their 2012 contest!

And lest we forget, the short screenplay I wrote that was a LOSER, was later chosen for production by the sponsoring organization. Lesson learned: good things can happen when you enter a contest even when you aren’t the big WINNER.  2012 Short Screenplay Contest info can be found on the kNIFVES (Northwest Independent Film & Video Entertainment Society) website in November.   

So, if you’re not protesting at Zuccotti Park this weekend, jump online, Google “writing contests” and have some fun. The Internet is fairly bursting at the seams with contests of every size, shape and genre. 

Just to get you started, how about entering our FREE Brilliant Beginnings First Line Contest? It doesn’t get any easier than a one-line contest, and think of spending all that loot if you’re the BIG winner. You can party like a rockstar!

Writer’s Digest sponsors dozens of contests year-round. Check them out. I’m sure you’ll find one that sparks your creative

Are you a winning writer? Find out by entering one of the Writer’s Digest Writing Competitions! Writer’s Digest hosts fiction writing contests, poetry writing contests, short story contests, screenwriting competitions, self-publishing competitions and more. You could win up to $3,000, as well as the opportunity to see your name in Writer’s Digest Magazine, opportunities to meet with editors and agents and more! Prizes vary between writing competitions.

Your Story Competition
Every other month, Writer’s Digest will provide a short, open-ended prompt. Submit a short story of 750 words or fewer based on that prompt. The winner will receive publication in an upcoming issue of Writer’s Digest.

Writer’s Digest Crime Competition
We are now accepting entries for the Writer’s Digest Crime Competition.
Win over $1,000 in cash and prizes and be featured in Writer’s Digest Magazine.
Entry Deadline: October 22, 2011

Writer’s Digest Horror Competition
We are now accepting entries for the Writer’s Digest Horror Competition.
Win over $1,000 in cash and prizes and be featured in Writer’s Digest Magazine.
Entry Deadline: October 31, 2011

Short Short Story Writing Competition
We are now accepting entries for the Writer’s Digest Short Short Story Writing Competition. Win over $3,000 in cash and prizes and a trip to the Writer’s Digest Conference in New York City. The top 10 winners will also be featured the July/August 2012 issue of Writer’s Digest Magazine.
Entry Deadline: November. 15th, 2011

Writer’s Digest Poetry Awards Competition
We are now accepting entries in the 7th Annual WD Poetry Awards. Win over $500 in cash and prizes and a trip to the Writer’s Digest Conference in New York City. The top 10 winners will also be featured in the July/August 2012 issue of Writer’s Digest Magazine.

Find more great contests online at Freelance Writing.

*WNI Believe It or Not Answer
Although it's possible Shakespeare did write Romeo & Juliet as an entry for a Romance Contest, it's not probable. I doubt he would have won anyway; who wants to read a romance that ends with death?  On second thought, he probably entered his R & J manuscript in the psychological thriller category.

1 comment:

Brooklyn Ann said...

Oooh, thanks for the links!