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12 Point Checklist for Writing Feature Articles
1. Have you selected your intended subject topic and carefully planned out your idea? 2. Have you sent your idea query pitch to magazines or newspapers who may be interested? or will you write "on spec"? With many magazines and newspapers now...
Earn Money From Freelance Writing
If your writing skills are not so good, or you’ve failed your English test on the high school, you may be feeling a little slighted about writing an article, report, sales copy or ebook. If it’s your case, there is a solution just for you. ...
Power Writing 101: Tips and Tricks to Get You Taken Seriously!
In my ten years as an advertiser, I’ve encountered plenty of folks with a flair for writing. They were born having some idea of where to put the words within the sentence, and the sentences within the paragraph. They usually know what words to use –...
The Beginner's Guide to Freelance Writing
The Big Idea Okay. So youve figured out that you would like to write for magazines, newspapers, and e-zines. Unfortunately, so have about eight gazillion other people on this planet. Therefore, you have to stand out from the crowd. You have...
Writing for Publicity and Profit on the WWW
I sincerely believe that there has never been a better time in
history for we (or is it us?) writers to making a comfortable
living on the internet.
The World Wide Web offers you an opportunity, unique in history,
to speak directly to...
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How to Evaluate Writing Contests: Six Starter Questions
At some point in your writing career you will probably encounter the possibility of entering writing contests. As you peruse writing newsletters and magazines, at any rate, you’ll almost inevitably find listings of competitions; you may very well begin to wonder how to decide whether a given contest is “right” for you and your poetry or prose. Here are six “starter” questions you can ask yourself to initiate that process of evaluation:
1. Do you recognize the press, university, writing center, magazine, literary review, etc. that is sponsoring the contest? Do your writing friends and teachers know about it? (A number of Internet boards post warnings about “scam” contests—it can’t hurt to check those out.) Is the administering organization one you’d be happy to have publish your work?
2. Does the competition post the names of past winners (and the titles of their winning works)? Can you locate the published stories, poems, essays, or books?
3. Is an award guaranteed? Some contests stipulate that an award may not be given in a particular year; this may not be appreciated when fees have been collected; you may choose not to hand over a fee to such a contest.
4. What does the rest of the fine print say? Have you given over rights to your work simply by
submitting it? Such details are often included in that tiny type. Read it carefully.
5. Is judging “blind”—are you asked to submit a manuscript without any identifying material on it?
6. If a fee is charged, does it seem “worthwhile” considering the potential prize? For example, a $25 entry fee for a possible $100 prize might not seem as alluring as a $25 fee (or less) for a $500 (or more) prize.
Considering these questions should set you on the way to thinking more critically about the contest process, and they’ll assist you as you navigate the many listings and advertisements you’ll find the more time you spend investigating opportunities to develop your writing career.
© Copyright 2004 Erika Dreifus. All rights reserved. Article reprint permission is granted provided that the entire article, including the “About the Author” information, remains intact and unaltered. Please send a copy of the reprint to erikadrei@yahoo.com .
About the Author
About the Author: Dr. Erika Dreifus is a writer and writing instructor in Massachusetts. She edits the free monthly newsletter, "The Practicing Writer," and is the author of "The Practicing Writer's Guide to No-Cost Literary Contests and Competitions." Visit her website at http://www.practicing-writer.com .
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