Get a Platform That Will Boost Your Talent. Try Writing Contests

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by: Janet Kirk
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Word Count: 513
Date: Thu, 7 Apr 2011 Time: 3:48 AM

If you are wondering how you can improve your skills as a writer or poet, writing contests offer you the best solution. You will have your work analyzed by a panel and be listed along with some of the seasoned writers. Who knows, you might even beat them in their own game. For instance, if you are a poet, look for writing contests that are targeting poetry submissions. The internet might be the best source of such competitions. Read the instructions provided with the writing contests to see what is required. For instance, you might be required to submit a haiku poem, which is a type of poem that contains three lines only and has several stipulated syllables in each line.

If you try out as many different types of writing contests as possible you may master the art and perhaps even win a cash or gift prize. One of the sites that offer at least 50 competitions monthly is the FanStory.com site. You need to sign up as a writer on the site in order to participate in the writing contests for free. In addition, you can check out the short story competitions. With these contests you have the option to write fiction or non-fiction stories. This is a chance to try your creative prose and formulate stories based on the topics given and in line with the word count. These writing contests might range from 700 words up to 3,500. If you feel your research abilities are top notch, the non-fiction short stories will suit your skills because you are expected to write from the research material.

On the other hand, fiction allows you to be creative and imaginative. The writing contests might have a starting line that you are supposed to use to begin the story or you will have the liberty to choose the introduction and style of the story. If you are a novice, try to find a unique style that will be seen all through the stories you write as a way to establish yourself. This is also important for the poems because you might be stringing one win after the other and you want the readers to identify with your style.

The writing contests have a panel that does the judging. They read the submissions checking for creativity, uniqueness of the idea and the ability to work within the instructions. The committee normally announced the winners, and therefore the outcome of the poem or story you submitted, within two weeks after the deadline.

Another type of contest you can try out to improve your skills is as a reviewer. Such writing contests require a sharp mind that will not only focus on the goofs but also on the good parts of the work. The idea is to explain, from a critical eye, what the author needs to work on. It is an assessment of the work, explaining the sections of the story or poem that needs work, and explaining why the work was well done or it was a flop.

About the Author

Bill Furyk is the author of this article on Writing Contests. Find more information on A Writing Contest here.

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