tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post9070398275679483908..comments2024-01-12T00:48:48.031-06:00Comments on Go Teen Writers: Should I Enter A Writing Contest?Stephanie Morrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-1452345354042537502013-06-29T13:30:31.682-05:002013-06-29T13:30:31.682-05:00I entered a writing contest, that asked for only t...I entered a writing contest, that asked for only three chapters and if you won, you got your book edited and published, plus you also got to go to New York. I don't remember all the details, I just know it was my first one I entered. I was all excited. <br />Supposedly the results were to be announced within three or four months and if you didn't win you were supposed to receive a letter that would tell you and I figured maybe some helpful advice. But, now like three or four years later, still nothing. Obviously I didn't win, but seriously? I was really upset and I hardly even remember the organization that put the contest up. <br />Yeah, that would be my bad experience. <br /><br />(MJ)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-66197370412280129732013-06-28T16:57:50.865-05:002013-06-28T16:57:50.865-05:00what's that contest? Sounds promising! Good Lu...what's that contest? Sounds promising! Good Luck!!Summerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14352544336341809273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-43663924034576133992013-06-28T12:00:23.656-05:002013-06-28T12:00:23.656-05:00That's awesome, Jenny! Congratulations!That's awesome, Jenny! Congratulations!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-73205991974024161292013-06-28T11:33:11.210-05:002013-06-28T11:33:11.210-05:00Oh, also--
they don't give feedback on your su...Oh, also--<br />they don't give feedback on your submission (I can imagine that that would be highly time-consuming :-|).<br />Despite that's it's still a great experience--especially as you get to meet so many other young writers at the awards ceremony. Families fly in from all around the country to go to the Carnegie Hall ceremony, so I got to meet all these writers from the West coast and stuff (it was awesome!!!).Jennyhttp://insatiablebeforedeath.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-36295335712972352022013-06-28T11:26:04.328-05:002013-06-28T11:26:04.328-05:00I've entered one writing contest before--the o...I've entered one writing contest before--the one run for teens by Scholastic (artandwriting.org). The entry fee is only $5 and there are fee waivers available for anyone that qualifies for free or reduced price lunch. I submitted a short story, received a regional gold key, and then a national gold medal. I was invited to an awards ceremony at Carnegie Hall, where there were Really Famous People. Like Usher.<br />I don't know much about other writing contests, but I would definitely encourage other teen writers to submit to Scholastic. It's pretty competitive (this year they received >230,000 art and writing submissions), but it's definitely worth it. The short story I submitted was the second short story I had ever written (and I wrote it like, the week before the competition deadline), so I'm not kidding when I say that I had absolutely NO IDEA what I was doing. <br />Also, if the possibility of a really cool medal isn't motivating enough, they give you free books when you pick up your tickets for the national awards ceremony. Free. Books. xD Jennyhttp://insatiablebeforedeath.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-29712880317464922842013-06-28T07:50:03.294-05:002013-06-28T07:50:03.294-05:00Great post, Stephanie! I would love to enter writ...Great post, Stephanie! I would love to enter writing contests eventually, but I don't know if I'll ever come to a point where my book is "done." :)<br />~Sarah Faulkner<br /><br />www.inklinedwriters.blogspot.comSarah Faulknerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00244256396217402116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-73104044437630920592013-06-27T23:38:26.636-05:002013-06-27T23:38:26.636-05:00I know Zondervan occasionally has writing contests...I know Zondervan occasionally has writing contests, but I don't think teens are eligible for most of them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-18704949251300861422013-06-27T20:33:07.748-05:002013-06-27T20:33:07.748-05:00YAY! Contest!!! I've been looking forward to t...YAY! Contest!!! I've been looking forward to that ever since I found you guys. School's done, so I'm back to writing!Catsi Eceernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-20646773008081362332013-06-27T20:27:03.605-05:002013-06-27T20:27:03.605-05:00That's what I think would be the best part of ...That's what I think would be the best part of a writing competition. I only get feedback from friends, so it'd be nice to know what complete strangers think about your work. 'Course, I've never entered a writing contest except for family ones my sister organizes, so I wouldn't really be an expert on that stuff. :)Catsi Eceernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-20123263899609617982013-06-27T20:17:20.363-05:002013-06-27T20:17:20.363-05:00What a great attitude, Fire!What a great attitude, Fire!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-28442219858137391152013-06-27T20:16:24.479-05:002013-06-27T20:16:24.479-05:00I'm so glad to hear that, Rachelle!I'm so glad to hear that, Rachelle!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-14960725235130371732013-06-27T20:15:50.165-05:002013-06-27T20:15:50.165-05:00Yes! We're looking at the second part of July ...Yes! We're looking at the second part of July for a writing prompt/150 word contest. It's been too long!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-50693661383145678572013-06-27T19:44:05.474-05:002013-06-27T19:44:05.474-05:00I generally enter in writing contests for just fee...I generally enter in writing contests for just feedback. Yes, it's pretty awesome to get first, second or third place but what I really enjoy is the feedback. This is also I'm not a very competitive person but also because I feel that you can move forward more. The more feedback you get the more you can improve!<br />Thanks so much for the post Stephanie!!Emmi Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16103869981438471742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-42038261865757117072013-06-27T18:32:44.735-05:002013-06-27T18:32:44.735-05:00I loved reading this one, Stephanie, because, as y...I loved reading this one, Stephanie, because, as you know, I entered my first writing contest this year! And it was a biggie!<br /><br />It was such a growing experience, though, that I'm glad I didn't progress any further than the first round. =) Entering was worth it.<br /><br />At the same time, looking objectively at the pros and cons of big contests (like Jill's reminder that they're subjective and your point that they're not perfect) is kind of cathartic for me now. So, thanks. =)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06150136011032761640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-90115183058502429972013-06-27T17:28:48.066-05:002013-06-27T17:28:48.066-05:00Definitely some food for thought.
Speaking of wri...Definitely some food for thought.<br /><br />Speaking of writing competitions, is there going to be a Go Teen Writers competition any time soon?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-73287893847801362992013-06-27T16:12:59.793-05:002013-06-27T16:12:59.793-05:00This will hopefully be something to think about th...This will hopefully be something to think about this winter when I'm revising my current WIP!. :DAllisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05433338978586263492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-363962412947217452013-06-27T15:46:25.032-05:002013-06-27T15:46:25.032-05:00Great advice on contests!
My own experience has b...Great advice on contests!<br /><br />My own experience has been a mixed bag between helpful advice and judges who didn't care for fantasy novels (even though they were judging the speculative category). So you really never know what you will get. <br /><br />But they are fun to enter and you can learn some great stuff. Including how to handle criticism and people who don't get your book. Because people will still criticize you and won't get your book even after you are published. That's when you smile and eat lots of chocolate!Morgan L. Bussehttp://www.morganlbusse.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-83855997086677172022013-06-27T14:07:38.892-05:002013-06-27T14:07:38.892-05:00I think its important to have expectations in chec...I think its important to have expectations in check when entering contests. I agree with everything you said. I did enter one contest and I never thought id make the next round (I didn't) I wanted some feedback to see where I was. I hope in the future to enter a contest with the same organization to see if I made any improvements. I first researched the organization, I was familiar with who they are and what they do.i also read who the final round judges were and looked to see about past winners (sometimes they have blogs and such). I don't know who judged my entries but I do know of authors that mentioned on their social media about judging a contest around that time, lol! Every time I read mt scores I pretend retain authors judged it! But really I got a lot of good feedback and was happy with it, probably because I knew that all I wanted was to see what a few published authors would say about my writing. I was really surprised by a few consisten strengths $ scores and surprised and one or two particularly low scores. Tonyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14500897912581589616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-17234700164551639902013-06-27T12:43:10.434-05:002013-06-27T12:43:10.434-05:00I've entered a couple poetry contests. The fir...I've entered a couple poetry contests. The first one I never heard back from--the second I was featured in a book called "Talented," but I don't call that extremely special because lots of others--with poems I thought worse than mine (okay, maybe I was getting a litttttle too prideful here... ;))--were also included! I've never entered a "writing writing" contest, as in prose, though. Hannah Bartahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16113296657540921039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-20996433166056695002013-06-27T12:41:24.605-05:002013-06-27T12:41:24.605-05:00Sorry that I posted this twice! It was an accident...Sorry that I posted this twice! It was an accident! :(Naominoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-4829928363035910082013-06-27T12:39:44.383-05:002013-06-27T12:39:44.383-05:00Whoops! It is Thursdsy, isn't it? :) Thanks fo...Whoops! It is Thursdsy, isn't it? :) Thanks for answering! I wanted to make sure she was ok.Naominoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-41490385239836923482013-06-27T12:36:29.160-05:002013-06-27T12:36:29.160-05:00I don't really know much about contests, so th...I don't really know much about contests, so this was good. It gave me something to think about... :) Thank you!<br />Is Mrs. Williamson ok? I thought she was planning to do Friday, plus I though you alternated days... I was just wondering! :-)Naominoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-64593988755423241842013-06-27T12:26:50.862-05:002013-06-27T12:26:50.862-05:00I'm considering entering a writing contest rig...I'm considering entering a writing contest right now, but its not a novel one (word limit is 750) and I wouldn't submit an extract because the top 100 entries get published in an anthology, the proceeds of which go towards running the award next year, so then if I wanted to publish with a house there'd be all that "previously published" stuff to deal with. It's run by the Wicked! production in London and one of the judges is Michael Morpurgo! It's also specifically for kids and teens with multiple age categories. I think I am going to enter, because at worst it'll be an experience and at best it's an achievement to list in a pitch :) Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11828772181763803223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-87282175180768269872013-06-27T12:03:22.591-05:002013-06-27T12:03:22.591-05:00If you think you'd enjoy that idea, Ashley, go...If you think you'd enjoy that idea, Ashley, go for it! :) You'll never know if it works or not unless you try! ;) I think it could be quite entertaining as well.Amanda Fischerhttp://alifeonmission.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-33758034428626651612013-06-27T10:54:48.921-05:002013-06-27T10:54:48.921-05:00That's a good question, Sierra. I've heard...That's a good question, Sierra. I've heard those two sentiments applied to big contests, but never smaller/shorter ones. My opinion? I think if you use them as a constant distraction from your novel, then they don't do you much good. But if you use them to exercise different writing muscles or to learn your strengths and weaknesses, then I think they're a good thing. Just my thoughts.Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.com