Many people think that creative writing is just something that we did in school – however there are millions of people around the world from all age groups that spend their free time creative writing. It can be a very relaxing and rewarding activity and all you need is a creative imagination and some writing utensils.
In this guide we shall look at creative writing contests – what they’re about and how you can enter.
Types of Creative Writing Contests
There are all sorts of creative writing contests that run each year – and there are usually dozens running at once so plenty of opportunities for you to enter and win!
Some creative writing contests are open to people of all ages and any type of creative writing – short, long, science-fiction, romance and more. These ones are usually very popular and the best-known ones will receive thousands of entrants. Often if you want more chance of winning you should enter the more specific creative writing contests which we shall outline below.
There are creative writing contests for all sorts of genres, styles and more. They range from the pretty standard through to the truly bizarre! So no matter what type of creative writing you enjoy there will always be a contest for you to enter into.
Some of the more standard specific creative writing contests include: poetry, short stories and those that are specific to age groups.
For school-aged children there are usually much more specific age groups to make it fairer on those that enter. They will often be done by grades or groups such as under 16’s and under 5’s. Age groups tend not to be so important for competitions for adults.
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How to Enter and Costs
Entering creative writing contests is usually very easy – and there are very rarely restrictions on who can enter (except age and location if it is not a national competition).
However, many creative writing contests require you to pay an entry fee which is usually less than $15 – although many are free to enter. Some of the more prestigious and reputable contests will charge a higher fee. If a high fee is charged you should decide whether it is justifiable before you pay – as some may try to rip you off.
To decide whether a creative writing contest is reputable you should make sure that the contest is sponsored by an organization as opposed to an individual, and they should also identify who the judges are and what the prize is in detail. You should also not have to relinquish the rights to your work once you have sent it to them. More about Translation Services UK
Always make sure that you have read through the entry details thoroughly to avoid being disqualified. Some of the details that people often miss are: word count, formatting and deadlines.
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What you can win
Prizes vary between competitions – and the higher profile competitions will usually offer much larger prizes than smaller, local contests.
Some creative writing contests will offer prize money – usually there will be prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. The amount of money largely depends on how much money has been put into the contest and how high profile it is.
Other creative writing contests may offer you the chance to have your work published either in an anthology, in a magazine or in a book. This can be a great way to get your name out there and it can be very exciting seeing your name in print. Sometimes this can outweigh the thrill of winning prize money.
If you are serious about creative writing, then entering and winning creative writing contests can be a great way to kick-start your career and looks great on your resume. Even if you just do creative writing as a hobby it can be a great way to reward your efforts.
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Where to Find Creative Writing Contests
There are plenty of places to find creative writing contests of all genres and types. The best place to look is on the internet. The internet is a fantastic resource for finding almost everything – including creative writing contests!
A quick search engine search will bring back dozens of results – so have a look through a few different options to see what’s available. Always make sure the competition is reputable before entering and paying any fees.
