by Ruth Belena

Created on: December 09, 2008   Last Updated: December 16, 2008

As a short story writer, you will want to find a short story contest that will give you the best chance of winning. Before you use a search engine to find a writing competition for short story entries, or a creative writing contest, there are a few important factors you may want to consider, so you know exactly what to look for. This will help you to find the best places and sites to search. Then you can enter a short story contest that is right for you, and that will give you the best chance to win.

[1] Decide whether you are willing to submit to a contest that requires an entry fee, or if you need to find a free entry competition. If you are willing to pay, you should consider how much you are prepared to spend on entries.

[2] Ask yourself if you want to enter contests offering a cash prize, or would you rather have your winning story appear in print. Some contests offer a cash prize, plus publication in a magazine or anthology, others simply offer a copy of the publication as a prize.

[3] You can choose to enter a local, a national, or an international writing contest. If you win a big national contest you gain more prestige, so you will benefit more than you would for winning a small local contest. If you enter an international writing contest your short story will in competition with a great many others, giving it a lower chance of winning.

[4] Consider whether you want to enter your story in a contest asking for a particular genre of writing, or based on a given theme. You may prefer to find an open contest, where you can write in any style, and on any subject.

[5] Finding a short story competition is just the start. Reading the guidelines and the entry terms is most important, to ensure your short story meets the requirements of the contest. You also need to know if you are agreeing to give publishing rights to your work, by entering it in the contest.

- How To Find An Online Writing Contest -

* Search the Internet for a fiction writers group, a writing forum, or a creative writing network. Most of these give links to short story contests, and some host their own competitions for writers.

* Active forums for writers usually have posts about current creative writing contests. You can also visit blogs about freelance writing, as some of these feature news about short story contests.

* If you use a search engine to look for a creative writing contest, or short story competition, take care before you enter. Ensure that the contest is genuine, and that the site has a secure payment system for entry fees.

- Offline Writing Contests -

You can use your local library to look in annual yearbooks for writers, where you can find annual fiction awards and established writing contests. The library may also be able to provide you with entry forms for local writing contests, and should have information on any local writing groups or writers circles.

You will find short story contests listed in specialist magazines for writers. You should also look at fiction magazines and literary journals, as some of these run their own contests, and publish winning entries.

- Competitive Writing at Helium.com -

Helium.com has regular writing contests that are free to enter, and pay cash prizes. There is now a monthly Creative Writing Contest, in addition to regular Adopt-a-Title contests, so fiction writers can look out for short story titles in that category.

Learn more about this author, Ruth Belena.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.