 Short Stories: December 18, 2024 Issue [#12896] |
This week: Checking Out the Competition by Reading Edited by: Dawn Embers  
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Short Stories Newsletter by Dawn
Taking a look at checking out the competition in contests on the site can be a personal decisions. Same with reading publications before submitting stories to them. This newsletter goes over some thoughts on taking the step to check out the competition. |
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Read.
One of the top five pieces of advice I've heard for writing has been about reading because it's important when it comes to developing the skills needed for writing and storytelling. Read in the genre you like to read, in the ones that you want to write and others just to give them a try. While it is good advice, the truth about this activity is it can extend beyond published stories and novels. Sure, you can learn a lot from what got published but there is plenty that can be gained from the stuff that isn't ready yet. Which is good because that's going to be most of the stuff you find here on the site.
That might be why we put such an emphasis on reading other peoples works and provide incentives to get people sending reviews or comments. To encourage the act of reading other people so that we're not just a bunch of random writers putting up static items into the vast cosmos of the internet while ignoring everyone else. Reading helps with the concept of community here. But does it help with just that, or is there another focus that can be used for reading here on the site?
What about with contests and activities?
During some of the years, we've had a year long activity that included both and it was one I have enjoyed every year. I Write is a challenge where anyone taking part had to write for a contest/activity and read/review the entry of the person who posted in the forum below. It is fun because you never know what the other person is going to enter. The items ranges from personal essays, blogs, poems to short stories that were under 2,000 words in length. Part of what makes the activity special is the additional requirement to read someone else's writing each week too.
Have you ever checked out the competition when entering a contest?
One activity is fine but it's not the only time you could maybe benefit from reading other items here on the site. What about when you enter a contest? While there are also some drawbacks to checking out the competitions as you might feel intimidated or it could mess up with your creative flow, it's something to consider. There are benefits to seeing what else is entered in a contest. People take a prompt in different ways, which can be quite fun to see. Open prompt contests allow for anything, which can give quite the variety when it comes to reading as well. And if you're worried about any influence on your own writing, well, just wait until after you've entered, then read. As long as you aren't entering last minute before it's over... actually, scratch that. You can check out the items even after the round is done because the learning experience doesn't have to influence the current story.
The thing about reading as a writing development tool is that it's something that helps gradually, over time and in the background. It will help in the long run but in ways you might not even be able to pin point. Plus, it's fun. In fact, there are times I'll check out a contest and read over a few entries but I won't even enter. I just do it out of curiosity. That and sometimes I miss deadlines but that's another topic for a different month.
In the end, whether entering a contest, looking for publications to consider submitting or even just wanting something to do to pass the time when you need a break from writing, a good option is to read. Doesn't matter if it's for poetry, short stories or novels. The advice remains the same...
Read. 
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Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
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Do you read other entries or check out things written in publications where you want to submit?
It seems I haven't worked on this newsletter for a good number of months. Looking back in the feedback section, I found a comment from a newsletter I did in August about word counts. So, here is that comment and my reply: 
Comment by Barbara Williams  :
I can't stand a word count. lol, it just dampers my "gusto". But I do understand their purpose and at time it is needed. But I can see the amount of characters being an issue. I was writing a short story with a whole family of thieves, The story ended up having chapters, about 9 of them and counting! I haven't finished it yet. it consists of 5 children, the parents, a couple of bad guys they work with and a security guard. I would have failed in the word count department.
- It can be difficult if it becomes a focus. Sounds like you've got the works of a novel in progress. The good part is that you can still write many word counts, there is just a name given to some of the groups. Well, might be hard if it ends up being over 600 pages... Even then, you can still write what you want. Thanks for sending in the comment.
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