ON THE IMPORTANCE OF ENTERING CONTESTS

ON THE IMPORTANCE OF ENTERING CONTESTS Entering contests is an important component of any working writer’s outreach and promotions plan. Although it may seem that winning a contest is a long shot, that’s not necessarily true. Most contests (but not all) charge an entry fee, so the cost of entering should be weighed. Pick and choose carefully and be sure to match your entry to the focus and intent of the contest. I have entered my work in contests for years and have rarely won. Rarely is not the same as never. One of the few contests I won was a big one. My novel Memories from Cherry Harvest won the Frances Fabri Literary Prize. The award was a standard publishing contract with Counterpoint Press, a generous advance, and a dedicated marketing budget. There was no entry fee for this contest. The Fabri Prize Selection Committee is comprised of Matt McKay at New Harbinger Books, his wife Jude, and Tom Southern at Boaz Publishing. (More information about the Fabri Prize is available at the Boaz website.) Memories from Cherry Harvest appeared in print in June 2012. I spent about 20 years working on this book and I could wallpaper my living room with the rejection notices I have received for it. I have been submitting the manuscript to agents and publishers for 10 years and have been entering it in contests steadily since 2006. My eventual success at getting it into print is a lesson in perseveranc e and it demonstrates the importance of entering contests. There are many types of writing contests. Entering contests with short essays, short fiction, and poetry is an important way to build your credentials, to get your name out into the world, and to contribute to your platform as a recognized working writer. Remember that even if you don’t win, someone read your work, and you never know when that connection might evolve into a larger success for you in a different way than you expected. Also, consider the fact that reading tastes are subjective Memories from Cherry Harvest is not my first book in print. In 2007 I self-pubbed my children’s fantasy adventure The Call to Shakabaz under my own Woza Books imprint. I mention this because I want to point out that entering contests with Shakabaz was part of my marketing plan for the book. Whenever the book won an award, I used it as an occasion to send out press releases and email blasts and to bring the book back into the spotlight. Additionally, many contests have their own promotional mechanisms and that translates into free publicity for the winners. There’s an old Jewish joke that goes something like this:    There was once a good and pious man named Morty who was very poor. His life was difficult. One day he turned his eyes heavenward and pleaded with God, â€Å"I’m a good man, I obey all your laws, so why don’t you help me out here, maybe send some money my way; why don’t you let me win the lottery?† Thunder and lightening pierced the heavens and a booming voice replied, â€Å"Morty, I feel for you, but you gotta meet me halfway- buy a ticket.† Here’s my advice:   You have to work really, really hard to be a successful writer; but remember to buy a ticket.