Hatrack River Writers Workshop: Writing competitions

This is topic Writing competitions in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

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Posted by Leigh (Member # 2901) on :

My mum just gave me a form to enter a writing competition for the local area and I want to enter, the thing is I'm scared to do so and what it involves is writing a short story, something of which I don't feel I can write very well.

So, I'm asking for any advice to help me out for it.

The details are:

3000 word limit, $5.00 entry fee (Australian Dollar) and First prize is $500, any genre.

Posted by djvdakota (Member # 2002) on :

First, Leigh, it is my firmly held belief that you will learn more about the craft of writing, period, by writing short stories. They teach you things, in a sellable format, that will help you later sell novel length works. Also, a portfolio of sold short stories will help give your novel more weight when submitting to publishers.

So, in a quick lesson, how do you write a short story? It's mathematics, actually. The required length of a story increases in direct proportion to the number of important characters, the number of situations that require resolution, and the amount of scene setting required by alien/fantasy/historic settings.

1. Limit your characters. The more acting characters you have in a story, the more story you need to tell their stories. For a 3000 word story, I wouldn't advise any more than two (maybe three) acting characters.

2. Limit your situations/conflicts. The more problems your characters have to deal with, the more story is required to tell about them. For a 3000 word story, limit yourself to one problem/conflict that requires resolution.

3. Rely on the familiar. If you set a story in current times, you need spend very little time establishing scenery or cultural mores or physical characteristics or mode of dress/travel etc.

4. Read a LOT of short stories and analyze how the writer does (or doesn't do) the above successfully. You should be able to find plenty of short story anthologies at the library.

[This message has been edited by djvdakota (edited July 18, 2007).]

Posted by dee_boncci (Member # 2733) on :

I also find shorts very tough.

What I would try is to concentrate on the basics and avoid trying to get fancy. Get a character that has a want or need that can't be ignored, a major obstacle that opposes satisfying the want or need, make the character act immediately to address the want or need against the obstacle, and bring it to a conclusion/resolution quickly. Make sure the reader always knows what the character is thinking, and use the thoughts to reveal the character's unique emotions.

I have no business advising someone on writing short stories because I'm lousy at it, and have only completed a couple dozen. One I entered into a small competition.

So all that and 10 U.S. dimes will get you one U.S. dollar.

Good luck, and don't forget to take advantage of the F&F forums.

[This message has been edited by dee_boncci (edited July 18, 2007).]

Posted by Spaceman (Member # 9240) on :

Leigh, djv is spot on.

Just enter the darn thing.

Write the best story you can write today. Mail it to the contest, then forget about it. If you don't win--so what?

Posted by Robert Nowall (Member # 2764) on :

I've always been somewhat reluctant to enter something that charges a fee---I mean, I've paid up from time to time, but, usually, I'll skip it.

Posted by oliverhouse (Member # 3432) on :

DJVDakota's commentary's great. I struggle with my shorts turning into longs, and I'm not ready to write a novel yet. I don't want to be that heavily invested in one project.

I've entered one contest (Glimmer Train's Fiction Open), and was a finalist (though not in the top 25 -- not sure how that works). That validation is superb, even though I didn't win, and to be honest, just the fact that I submitted something matters to me. If you haven't done it before, it's probably worth doing just to have experienced it.

It's a local thing for five bucks. Do you trust the contest holder? Even if you're being taken for a ride, it's probably not a big deal. Just make sure you know what rights they're getting from you.

Regards,
Oliver

Posted by rstegman (Member # 3233) on :

the real question is what do they say they will do with all the stories. Some will use them as they see fit.

Posted by djvdakota (Member # 2002) on :

rstegman makes a superb point.

Before entering any contest, make sure your rights are protected. If the rights don't revert back to you after the contest is over, then it is definitely NOT worth it.

Posted by Crotalus (Member # 2345) on :

Ditto to all of the above. That said, I think that a 5$ entry for a $500 first prize is worth it. IF the rights revert to you. I entered a local contest two summers ago and won, so I can say from experience that I think local contests are a good thing. It will give you a motivation to write, good experience, and who knows--you may even win!

Good luck!

Edited to add: Oh yeah, and get your story critted here first. THAT will help tons.

[This message has been edited by Crotalus (edited July 19, 2007).]

Posted by Leigh (Member # 2901) on :

The competition is through a local writers club and the local community library so I believe it's also a way to see if there are more writers out there wanting to improve themselves. I may just try and join the writers group.

Anyways, thanks for the support and I'll start ASAP, and the entries have to be entered by the 12th of August so I still have some time to work on an idea I have.

Posted by Rick Norwood (Member # 5604) on :

I got another invitation from Glimmer Train that made it sound like an actual market, but when I dug into it, I found out that, as usual with Glimmer Train, there was a reading fee. My impression is that Gilmmer Train makes all its money off reading fees, and that the distribution of the magazine is incidental.

Posted by JeanneT (Member # 5709) on :

For contests, just about any legitimate contest charges a fee. If they weren't, I would question it.

So there is nothing wrong with that. A local contest is a good way to get started.

Posted by autumnmuse (Member # 2136) on :

Rick,

I just recently read Glimmer Train's submission guidelines. For normal submissions, there is no reading fee. However, they do run several contests through the year which have a fee. So, if you want to submit to Glimmer Train without paying for it, you can do so anytime. The difference is that normal entries are paid $700 upon publication and contest winners get $1200 upon publication.

Hope that helps.

Posted by oliverhouse (Member # 3432) on :

Glimmer Train is legitimate, even prestigious. Resume material for literary markets. They sell them at my local Borders here in Manhattan.

Literary, though. It's worth reading an issue or two to get a feel for them.

Posted by Rick Norwood (Member # 5604) on :

I've checked out Glimmer Train's guidelines several times on line, and contest or not there always seems to be a reading fee. Maybe I'm missing the fine print somewhere.

Posted by ken_hawk (Member # 2647) on :

Autumnmuse is right Rick. The only category Glimmertrain requires a reading fee for is the contests. What they call a "Standard Submission" has no fee and awards $700 for first publication rights. And Leigh, I agree with everyone here. You should go ahead and enter your story in the contest. I entered an essay contest last year for my local newspaper and 49 of 50 judges on the staff voted for my essay as the top prize. I paid no entry fee and won $50 U.S. dollars. I almost didn't enter it but I was glad I did. Even if you don't win the contest you won't have really lost anything, except maybe $5; but by not entering you can't gain anything. You just may suprise yourself and win. Go for it.

Posted by oliverhouse (Member # 3432) on :

http://www.glimmertrain.com/writguid1.html

quote:
We are happy to consider your stories whether they are submitted as competition entries or standard submissions. There are no reading fees for standard story submissions. On the other hand, the monetary award paid to competition winners is more substantial than the already tidy $700 payment for accepted standard submissions, and agents seem to be on the lookout for competition winners. ALL stories are read and appreciated and considered for publication by the same diligent readers either way. So relax and choose the category that suits you.