Let’s talk about writing contests. A few months ago, I came in runner up in the Spring WOW! Women on Writing Flash Fiction contest. It earned me a small prize and publication on their site. But that wasn’t why I entered. Yes, the glowing feedback I received did wonderful things for my ego and confidence as a writer. Ultimately, for me, writing contests are a great way to flex my creative muscles.
Each contest has something slightly different they’re looking for. Whether that be a type of style, word count, or prompt (I’m looking at you, “not so great outdoors” prompt), there is something there to stretch me creatively.
Of course there are times when I just write something that speaks to my soul. In that case, I look for a contest that is open to pretty much anything within their guidelines. That was the case with The Melody for WOW! I actually wrote my entry on a rainy day while looking at my grandmother’s piano. The words flowed so easily that I knew I had something special.
Are writing contests a necessary part of writing? Absolutely not. But they can be a fun way to try out a different style, especially for short story or flash fiction contests. And since many contests are free or less than ten dollars to enter, what do you have to lose?
Winter 2023 Flash Fiction Contest Runner-Up: The Melody by Christina Adrian (wow-womenonwriting.com)