by Mo Siddiq

Created on: August 02, 2008

Essay Contest 101

The introduction to the 2007 edition of The Best American Essays begins with a critic murmuring "The essay?" This critic is in confusion to define term. After explaining much about the essay, the editor of the book simply ends his introduction in the same manner, "The essay?" That, in itself, explains that there is no equation for a winning essay, the dominant writing form of our generation. A good story, with at least basic adherence to grammar and rules of composition and a distinguishing quality is the basic format one should follow.

Before writing something for a contest, it is imperative that one has knowledge of the topic and, sometimes more importantly, the audience. The same story that can get a price put on your head in Mississippi can get people to buy you drinks in Boston. This concept applies to competitive writing as well. Research details on the topic of the contest and of those giving you the opportunity, take notes, and then embed the notes in your writing. Do so in such a way that the details don't scream for attention. Instead, they should add glamor to a sturdy body of work.

This sturdy body of work should be, obviously, your complete body of writing. While it is easy to get carried away by exploring creative sentence structures and other rebellious writing styles, a writer should not do it, especially if the essay contest is his rent money for the month. Let your idea, detail, and insight on the topic attract attention, not your compositional peculiarities. Following the fundamental rules of composition has helped many more people than it has hurt. It is true that William Faulkner and other great writers often disregarded, but they weren't writing essay contests in the 21st century. Not to mention, they were broke for a good part of their lives as well.

Most importantly, attempt, to the best of your ability, to make the piece memorable somehow. Faulkner, as mentioned, is immortalized for his vivid description of the Oxford, Mississippi lifestyle that is the envy of historians. By tying in your work with a universal human theme, as clich as it sounds, is often helpful. Ending with a quote and revising the work several times to establish harmony is also of utmost importance. The most important part of the essay, the general writing, is simple. As Ernest Hemingway said, "There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed."

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