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Printed from https://shop.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/12174-From-Start-to-Submit-Finish-Your-Entry.html
Contests & Activities: September 13, 2023 Issue [#12174]




 This week: From Start to Submit: Finish Your Entry!
  Edited by: JayNaNoOhNo Author IconMail Icon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

Hi, I’m Jayne, your guest editor for this week’s Contests & Activities newsletter. Let’s delve into practical strategies for maintaining your motivation and keeping the creative juices flowing as an amateur author. Whether you're entering a WdC contest for fun or to sharpen your skills, enjoying your creative journey will help you cross that finish line with a piece you're proud of.


Word from our sponsor

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Letter from the editor

Participating in WdC’s writing contests is an excellent way for authors to hone their skills, gain visibility, and even win prizes. However, maintaining your drive from the start of the contest to the submission deadline can be a challenging feat. So how do you keep your motivation high and ensure you cross that finish line with a polished entry? Here are some tips to keep you on track.

Set Achievable Milestones
If your enthusiasm typically wanes mid-way through the contest, try establishing a clear writing schedule with achievable milestones. Instead of looking at the whole task of your short story or poem, break it down into smaller, manageable parts. For instance, if you're writing a 2,000-word short story, aim to write 300-400 words daily, allowing room for edits and revisions later on. When longer form contests pop up, shifting your goal to 500-600 words a day will be much easier if you’re already used to habitual practice.

It can also be beneficial to use a dedicated calendar or writing app to remind you of your daily or weekly goals. Crossing off these milestones can provide a sense of accomplishment that fuels your motivation to keep going.

Find Your Collective
While writing is often a solitary act, the WdC community can be a great motivator. Sharing your progress, struggles, and triumphs can make the process far more enjoyable and less daunting. You can ask for advice, share your own wisdom, and even swap drafts for constructive criticism.

I understand the pushback here is “but reviews are hard to come by”. While I strongly encourage traditional reviews, sometimes simply having a friend to bounce ideas off of or give you some quick feedback can help you clean up your copy.

The point is, don't go it alone; a shared experience is often more enriching and motivating than a solitary one.

Remember, too, that feedback is a two-way street. Swapping your thoughts with someone who also needs a set of fresh eyes can help attract those willing to look over your work. And hey, exchanging feedback with someone entering the same contest as you isn’t some forbidden fruit. While we all like to win, don’t lose sight of the community WdC has to offer, and what you can learn from helping others out.

Keep Your Eyes on the Prize, but Enjoy the Journey
Yes, winning a contest comes with its perks—recognition, gift points, merit badges, awardicons, and the satisfaction of a job well done. But if you make the prize the only focus, you may find yourself stressed and less motivated to create your best work. Instead, focus on the skills you’re building—improving your writing, experimenting with new ideas, and even overcoming writer's block.

This attitude doesn't mean you shouldn't aim to win. It means enjoying the process itself. At the same time, don’t fall into the trap of thinking you’re entitled to win. Doing so may lead to discouragement, indifference, or procrastination. A “why bother” attitude is the antithesis of improving, no matter where you are in your writing journey. The skills you pick up, the feedback you receive, and even the self-discipline you develop are valuable takeaways that will last far longer than any contest.



Editor's Picks

Here's some contest for you to try your hand at:

FORUM
The Bard's Hall Contest Open in new Window. (13+)
NOVEMBER: Comedy... Thanksgiving with the Family
#981150 by StephBee Author IconMail Icon


FORUM
The Science Fiction Short Story Contest Open in new Window. (18+)
A contest inspired by the serious need for more good sci-fi
#2140378 by BlackAdder Author IconMail Icon


Daily Flash Fiction Challenge Open in new Window. (13+)
Enter your story of 300 words or less.
#896794 by Arakun the twisted raccoon Author IconMail Icon


FORUM
Hook of the Book Open in new Window. (18+)
Can you write the most engaging opening sentence for a story?
#2293351 by .Jeremy. Author IconMail Icon


FORUM
The Dialogue 500 Open in new Window. (18+)
Dialogues of 500 words or less.
#941862 by W.D.Wilcox Author IconMail Icon


FORUM
Creature Features Open in new Window. (13+)
Round 26 open!
#2211262 by Angelica Weatherby- NaNo 14000 Author IconMail Icon


SURVEY
Journey Through Genres: Official Contest Open in new Window. (E)
Write a short story in the given genre to win big prizes!
#1803133 by Writing.Com Support Author IconMail Icon


FORUM
SCREAMS!!! Open in new Window. (GC)
A Terrifying Contest Of Horror And Three Time Quill Award Winner!
#2020439 by Lilli 🧿 ☕ Author IconMail Icon


FORUM
Poetic Traditions Poetry Contest  Open in new Window. (E)
A Contest for Metrical Rhyming Poetry.
#2055137 by Brenpoet Author IconMail Icon


FORUM
Shadows and Light Poetry Contest Open in new Window. (E)
Do you love the challenge and creativity of free verse poetry? This contest is for you.
#1935693 by Choconut Author IconMail Icon


Don't forget to nominate great work!

SURVEY
Quill Nomination Form 2024 Open in new Window. (E)
Nominate someone for a Quill!
#2145930 by Lilli 🧿 ☕ Author IconMail Icon

 
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Word from Writing.Com

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