Ask questions via twitter! Message any question to @answers on twitter. We'll publish the question and send you a reply each time there's a new answer.
Next Question

Answered Question

michellel... michellel...
 
M$1.60 September 07, 2009 08:41 PM

Have you ever entered a writing contest? If so, have you ever won?

Writing contests can build a writer's portfolio and they can build confidence and give you awards and cash and publication too. Have you ever entered a writing contest? If so - which one? Did you win?
Interesting Question?  Yes (2)   No (0)   

Interesting: randync M$0.10, lindalstcyr M$0.50

RSS
 
 

Best Answer  Chosen by Asker

jobrielyn jobrielyn
 
 September 08, 2009 01:24 PM
Yes, I have entered three short story contests and one poetry contest hosted by my favorite writing forum, Accentuate Writers Forum. My first short story made it to the finals but didn't win. While I didn't win publication or a monetary prize for that first story, I really did win something more valuable. I received a critique from a professional editor I have a great deal of respect for and learned immensely from the experience.

Never one to give up easily, I entered the next contest. And, guess what? I placed. Then I entered again. Now, two of the stories and one of my poems have won and will be published in anthologies this year!

The first anthology book is called Elements of the Soul and is at the printers right now. My short story, Healing Scars, and my poem, When the Rain Comes, are both in this book which is the first anthology in the Accentuate Writers Anthology Contests. It's available on Amazon.com and has made me a published author and poet!

My second short story, Jeremy's Haven, will come out in the Elements of Time anthology later this year.

When I entered my first writing contest, I was sure I was a writer but I wasn't really sure I was a good one. Participating in these contests has helped me gain the confidence I needed to branch out in my writing career and go for it full force.

I'm working on a short story and a few poems for a new contest now. I also have a few others I'm preparing for. I love writing for children, so winning a contest for a kids' magazine is my next contest goal.

For anyone who hasn't been involved in a contest like this, take a chance. It's a great way to flex your writing muscles and take a leap (or even a small jump) into furthering your writing career.
Source(s):
http://www.amazon.com/Elements-Soul-Steven-Thor-Gunnin/dp/0984209506/ref=nt...
http://www.accentuateservices.com/AS/node/13

Asker's Rating:
• Thank you, Jo. I appreciate the time you took to share your experiences and your heart too! I hope others will enjoy writing contests in the future, and just maybe it'll be because of your encouraging words!


Tags: accentuate, writer, writers, writing, contest

Helpful Answer?  (1)   (0)   

Helpful: michelleldevon

Tip jobrielyn for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 

Other Answers (12)

Sort By
amplifyy amplifyy
 
September 07, 2009 09:10 PM
I did. When I was a child. But, I didn't win.
In the way I see it, I would never enter my writing to any type of contest anymore. I write because it relieves my soul; it sets my emotions onto paper.
If I did enter my writing into a contest, I would feel like I'm selling a part of myself. I'd release everything, for all eyes to read.
I like to keep the mystery. I like the express my opinions but not myself, for I do not seek any perks for my writing.

Helpful Answer?  (2)   (0)   

Helpful: randync, michelleldevon

Tip amplifyy for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 
fallen_ang... fallen_ang...
 
September 07, 2009 09:29 PM
Way back during my school days, I join different writing contest. I remember I won one time during High School... it's on a poetry writing contest. ^^

I'm not that talented when it comes to writing. I think I just really like writing and it shows in my work that's why I won that time.

Helpful Answer?  (1)   (0)   

Helpful: michelleldevon

Tip fallen_angel21 for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 
vicgoodwin vicgoodwin
 
September 07, 2009 09:52 PM
I did win a writing contest in High school and it allowed me to be given a scholarship to the School of Fine Arts. It was an amazing accomplishment for me.

Helpful Answer?  (1)   (0)   

Helpful: michelleldevon

Tip vicgoodwin for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 
jenki247 jenki247
 
September 07, 2009 10:18 PM
i entered a poem writting contest online once, and i wrote a poem about a friend that had just died. i won an editors choice award for it and my poem was put into a poem book.

Helpful Answer?  (1)   (0)   

Helpful: michelleldevon

Tip jenki247 for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 
randync randync
 
September 07, 2009 11:24 PM
I got an honorable mention once in a short story contest, for making the site owner laugh with something in my story. That contest was at a website for writers, http://accentuatewritersforum.com which I have found very helpful.

I feel that writing contests are good for writers to get an idea of how to prepare their stories better and maybe even win a few bucks.
Source(s):
http://accentuatewritersforum.com


Helpful Answer?  (1)   (0)   

Helpful: michelleldevon

Tip randync for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 
psycgirl psycgirl
 
September 08, 2009 12:42 AM
My teacher entered my english paper into a contest for creative writing and I won. I was so surprised. They gave me a certificate and $50 and invited me to a banquet where they presented me with the award. It was quite an honor. I was enrolled in an honors english class where we studied Shakesperean works and my teacher was very hard to please so I was shocked when she approached me after class and told me that she loved my paper and that she had already entered it into the contest on my behalf. It's always nice to receive praise and recognition from teachers but an extra award and $50 when you are a student is like winning a gold medal ;)

http://www.tonyaboldenbooks.com/Award%20Acceptance%20paid%20iStock_000001137992Small.jpg

I also entered a few poetry contests and won when I was in high school.

I also won an award for my dissertation in 2006 - it won for best student constructivist research paper. This was a HUGE honor. They awarded this to me in front of all of the conference attendees, many of which are very famous and successful psychologists in the area of constructivism. They gave me a $200 check and they published 2 articles about my award. It also brought a lot of attention to my dissertation topic which is always nice. I'm still very honored by this achievement.

So I have been very blessed when entering contests!
Source(s):
personal writing experience


Helpful Answer?  (1)   (0)   

Helpful: michelleldevon

Tip psycgirl for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 
michelleld... michelleld...
 
September 09, 2009 01:23 AM
I had a teacher once who accused me of plagiarizing a poem because it was too good for a 7th grader to write it. Today, I'm an award-winning poet. I guess I started early. I will never quite forgive the teacher for the accusation.

I'm so thankful you have had a teacher who supported and endorsed you.

Congrats on the awesome honor!

Report
 
 
rissawatki... rissawatki...
 
September 08, 2009 09:06 AM
Yes I have entered a few different writing contests.

I have won two. Both were for Accentuate Services anthologies... http://www.accentuateservices.com/AS/node/13

Aside from winning some wonderful cash prizes, the short stories are being published in two books. One, "Elements of the Soul" is already available at Amazon.

Entering the contest changed my life. It gave me the confidence to leave a job I hated to write full time.

Tags: short, accentuate, story, contests, writing

Helpful Answer?  (1)   (0)   

Helpful: michelleldevon

Tip rissawatkins for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 
rishiku rishiku
 
September 08, 2009 11:35 AM
The closest I ever came was when I had detention...the teacher made me write an few paragraphs on some subject (wish I could find it). She liked it so much she actually got it posted in the school news paper (think this was 6th or 7th grade)....it was my first rant *Sniffles* aww the memories.....

Helpful Answer?  (1)   (0)   

Helpful: michelleldevon

Tip rishiku for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 
pkap pkap
 
September 08, 2009 02:47 PM
As a high school junior (11th grade; age 16), I attended a convention for students who worked on high school newspapers. The guest speaker was a speechwriter for then-President Ford, and we were to write a news article on the speech. The prize: A tuition scholarship to Syracuse University's Newhouse School of Public Communications. This was 1974, and we were all inspired by Woodward and Bernstein and "All the President's Men."

I had a fair amount of writing experience by that point: I'd been on the high school newspaper staff for several years, wrote neighborhood news articles for the local (small-town) newspaper, and worked Saturday mornings at the local (1000-watt AM daytime) radio station, making rounds calls to the area police agencies and writing stories on whatever they had to report. The summer before I'd attended a two-week course at Newhouse for aspiring student journalists, learning much about writing and editing.

I wrote a standard inverted-pyramid style report on the speech, and tied for first place. Both of us winners received a full tuition scholarship.

Helpful Answer?  (1)   (0)   

Helpful: michelleldevon

Tip pkap for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 
michelleld... michelleld...
 
September 09, 2009 01:23 AM
Congratulations! That's quite an accomplishment!

Report
 
 
novasparke... novasparke...
 
September 08, 2009 06:39 PM
I have never entered a writing contest before because I never thought that my writing was good enough to share. I have found over the past seven months that my writing is actually good enough to get paid for and may even be good enough to someday become my "day job."

My pessimistic attitude has begun to change due mostly to the wonderful friends I have found through an online writing forum. It has been encouraging to share my trials, tribulations, and sucesses with those who share my passion. I feel as though I can do anything with my writing now, anything at all.

I plan to begin entering writing contests now, just so that I can prove to myself and my "doubters" that Yes I Can!

Helpful Answer?  (1)   (0)   

Helpful: michelleldevon

Tip novasparker1 for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 
trumansdad trumansdad
 
September 08, 2009 08:05 PM
No but I got a "A" in 5th. grade for this:

Look at the dog look at the dog as lazy as a log.
He doesn't care about a hair.
Look at the dog look at the dog.

Helpful Answer?  (1)   (0)   

Helpful: michelleldevon

Tip trumansdad for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 
lindalstcy... lindalstcy...
 
September 09, 2009 12:36 AM
Yes, I have. Several in fact. I have not won first place but had the honor of placing second in theAccentuate Services Short Story Contest for the theme "Future".

The writing contest was easy to enter and the support of the writer's forum at Accentuate Services has been one of the best experiences in my freelance career.
Source(s):
http://www.accentuatewritersforum.com
http://www.accetuateservices.com


Tags: accentuate, story, contests, writing

Helpful Answer?  (1)   (0)   

Helpful: michelleldevon

Tip lindalstcyr for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 

Answer this Question

How tips and payments work

This question has already been resolved. You may add an answer to it but you will not be eligible to win best answer or any associated tips.

Related Questions

View All Authors & Writers Questions

Ask a Question


140 characters left
Top of Page
Buy Mahalo Dollars with Credit Card or PayPal

Top Members

This Week All Time
  • buddawiggi
    buddawiggi
    2nd Degree Black Belt
    28354 Points
    M$813.91 Earned
  • opher
    opher
    Purple Belt with a Brown Tip
    5119 Points
    M$210.34 Earned
  • annelisle
    annelisle
    Purple Belt
    3596 Points
    M$110.02 Earned
   See All
 

Most Popular Tags

mahalo(1709)
twitter(965)
music(485)
iphone(476)
google(374)
food(332)
internet(309)
online(308)
beer(282)
money(276)
movies(271)
apple(256)
facebook(246)
answers(235)
aotd(235)
health(226)
video(216)
free(211)
dog(208)
windows(201)
   See All
 

Categories

Welcome New Members


 
 
Mahalo Dollars are the currency of Mahalo Answers.

Each Mahalo Dollar costs $1.

Once you earn more than 40 Mahalo Dollars, you can request to be paid via PayPal. Each Mahalo Dollar is currently worth $0.75 when paid out via PayPal. Learn More

 
 

Please log in to use this function.

Answers Home | Ask a Question | Earn Points | How Tips Work | Widget