Crickets and $$$ #MFRWAuthor

Week 38 of the 2019 challenge is "Whether or not to enter contests." Just as I sat down to write the post the image of people bearing balloons and an oversized check appeared on television with the question "Would you like XXX dollars for life?" While the answer is yes, whether or not I would enter the contest is a different story.

But since this post is part of the Marketing for Romance Authors challenge, I will answer the question as it relates to me as an author.

First, reasons to enter a contest. If you win there can be:
Cash prizesChance at publication contractBragging rightsMarketing advantage
Other advantages are more ephemeral and can be yours just for entering the contest, even if you don't win.
Writing contests provide great experience in writing to a specific topic or theme.You get to practice adhering to a word limit, which is very important for professional writing assignments.You must under a deadline.You get to practice editing.You receive valuable feedback on your writing skills and style.Your work may be noticed, picked up, or published, opening new doors and paths for future publication of your work.You build a network of connections and a platform for future work.If you enter an unpublished manuscript, you may be able to receive valuable feedback from professional judges (authors, editors, agents, etc) you can use to improve your skill as a writer.Then there are the cons:
Feelings of uncertainty and inadequacy that come with entering a writing competitionFees can be expensiveSimply by entering a contest, you may inadvertently relinquish first publishing rights to the organization running the contest, thereby killing any opportunity to shop your work around to publishing houses in the future.

Before closing a few tips:
Is the entry fee reasonable? / Who’s doing the judging? / Have you protected your rights?ALWAYS read the rules and guidelines before submitting to contests.Make sure you'll be getting something out of it. In some contests, it is more important to get traffic on the site than to uncover the next bestselling author?
And what could be the most important - Create an entry of the highest quality writing and craftsmanship.


Though a little dated dated, Writers Digest gives insight into the pros and cons of entering a writing contest and I will end the post with how they did.

When it comes to writing contests, enter at your own risk. You may lose a finger or two. Before you decide against it, though, ask yourself if the benefits of a great critique outweigh the drawbacks of a bad one. After all, what’s a few fingers?

Oh and about my personal experiences with writing contests? There is a saying on a popular court show. "Say it, forget it. Write it, regret it." I'm going to think before I write, so there will be a Part 2.
The other posts are at http://mfrw52week.blogspot.com/. Or if you have a favorite author, on the individual links below. ~till next time, Helen