tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post4829760335654582840..comments2023-10-11T09:22:33.136-04:00Comments on Paperback Writer: Paying to WinUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-44862647841105954842012-05-24T09:14:45.232-04:002012-05-24T09:14:45.232-04:00I'm really curious about your entry now, and s...I'm really curious about your entry now, and secretly hoping it's some kind of steampunk, lol.<br /><br />I used to enter contests back when I was a member of RWA. I entered because everyone kept telling me it was a great thing, worth the money, etc, but I found it disheartening. I don't think they were scams, but they cost a lot (to me, anyway) and I would have been better off using that money for toner cartridges and comments from a friend. I did get useful feedback once, but most of the time, I just got a simple 'you didn't win' form letter.Vom Marlowehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06766012140370862681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-80963405722401304542012-05-23T11:05:54.026-04:002012-05-23T11:05:54.026-04:00I'm wiggling in excitement.
Ah... I enter the...I'm wiggling in excitement.<br /><br />Ah... I enter the RWA contests. Don't smack me... :OP and hey, I actually won one.. IF YOU HEAR HER won the Romantic Suspense Award of Excellence Published Author Contest, and it's finaled in a couple of others. Wish me luck.<br /><br />maybe I should have thought about entering my UF thing I'm probably going to self publish in something. Gee, are there any open right now? LOL. I don't know jack about writing contests, especially outside of romance.Shiloh Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07785046046157000126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-25345576508624842552012-05-23T10:09:34.003-04:002012-05-23T10:09:34.003-04:00Digillette shared some interesting insights. I agr...Digillette shared some interesting insights. I agree. Choosing the right contest is very challenging and I have been disappointed by the ways things are handled by some of the organizers.Julia Honeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08497316179340178624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-71611980752204372652012-05-23T07:50:28.048-04:002012-05-23T07:50:28.048-04:00You make some excellent points, Di, thanks for tak...You make some excellent points, Di, thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts.<br /><br /><i>Obviously this is a double-edged sword since the more renowned the magazine is, the more competition I'll have, but I am wary of forking over money to a magazine that didn't seem to exist a month ago.</i><br /><br />I agree with this 100% -- you do need to do some checking and see if you're getting into a competition held by the real deal, not funding a startup.the authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03220786472896283714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-13475820678501897582012-05-23T07:41:13.027-04:002012-05-23T07:41:13.027-04:00I avoided fee contests for a long time, but I do o...I avoided fee contests for a long time, but I do occasionally enter short story contests that require a fee. However, I look at a few things first before I decide:<br /><br />1) What am I getting for the fee? A lot of literary magazines will give you a year's subscription or a complimentary issue of their magazine for entering the contest. Getting a little something other than the hope of winning makes the contest fee more reasonable in my opinion.<br /><br />2) Is the fee a reasonable amount? I have never entered a short story contest that costs more than $15 because anything higher seems absurd for reading a short story. The lower the fee, the more tempting it is to enter for me.<br /><br />3) How well-known is the magazine? Obviously this is a double-edged sword since the more renowned the magazine is, the more competition I'll have, but I am wary of forking over money to a magazine that didn't seem to exist a month ago. Quality of what they publish plays a similar role in my decision process.<br /><br />4) How much could I win? Forking over $10 for a chance to win $50 doesn't seem like a good enough pay-out. I hold out for three figures or higher.<br /><br />While I am not at the point where I am entering novel contests yet, these guidelines are probably helpful for novel-length contests as well. For women who write flash fiction, I recommend checking out "WOW! Women on Writing" as they run several flash fiction contests a year. Entry is $10, but they limit the number of entries to 300 and give out a lot of honorable mention prizes in addition to the bigger prizes, so odds are better at winning a little something. You can also pay $20 to enter and get a critique of your story. (http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php)<br /><br />Hope this helps!<br /><br />Didigillettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01439806613517879373noreply@blogger.com