A writing contest is a contest in which writers submit their writing to be judged, and winners are declared from the submissions received. A legitimate writing contest usually includes cash prizes and a publication contract. Sometimes, publication might be in print periodical, print anthologies, e-books, or on a website. Generally, the winning authors get a byline, meaning their name will be attached to the writing, as well as the prize connected with the contest.

Some contests require an entry fee while others do not. No entry fee writing contests are usually hosted either by small publications that don't offer large prizes or are held by large publications that have good financial backing and can offer large prizes. Many mid-sized publications ask for entry fees to help offset the cost of offering the prizes.

Avoid writing contests with unusually large entry fees unless the likelihood of winning is great and the prize is quite large. Only the author can determine whether the entry fee is worth the time required to enter, worth the prize, etc. Be leery of writing contests that charge high entry fees but offer very low prizes. This means either their contests aren't very popular so the credit won't mean much or they are keeping a portion of the entry fee as a profit instead of putting it back into the contest.

Writing contests are a good way for a writer to break into publication. Entering a writing contests can be a boon to a writer's career, often adding a published credit and an award to the writer's portfolio. These credits and a better portfolio can lead to higher paying writing jobs.

One professional freelance writer and published author says fiction writing contests can change your life. If you're a writer, it's true. Fiction writing contests give you awards, published credits, feedback and critiques on your writing, and help bolster confidence to query and submit to larger markets.

Fiction writing contests usually offer cash and/or merchandise prizes and publication. Every published credit added to a writer's portfolio is one more credit to use to query and submit to larger and larger markets, earning the writer more money. For those wanting to break into fiction novel writing, winning prestigious writing contests can help get a foot in the door with a publisher too.