Writing competitions. Clearly they’re not all made the same.

Some are free, some are costly, some are actually impossible for mere mortals to enter due to their criteria.

The prizes vary too. From small cash prizes, to publishing deals.

Today, we’re asking the question… on the whole, if you’re serious about being a writer… are they actually worth it? Are they worth the money, the - let’s face it – likely disappointment, the effort and most importantly of all… the time?

And the biggest question of all - are there any quantifiable things you can do to help nudge your entry to the top of the pile?

We consider such things as:

Where’s the best place to send your piece? Maybe a competition isn’t the right destination? Maybe it’s a literary journal instead?

We get some top notch insider insight, from Bath Flash Fiction Award past winner and judge - Kathryn Aldridge-Morris to get the skinny on what works and what doesn’t. What will wow the judges, what will make them spit their tea out and what will make them slide you into their shortlist.

https://www.kamwords.com

Plus we hear from fabulous literary agent Joanna Swainson from Hardman & Swainson, for an agent’s eye-view.

https://www.hardmanswainson.com

Finally, the winner of a competition who we suspect is quite glad she entered DFB & Arvon Search for a Storyteller prize, because it won her a publishing deal with David Fickling Books – Miranda Moore.

I can personally recommend her excellent YA book, A Beautiful Terrible Thing.

Yes, devastating & emotional, but also joyful & redemptive.

https://www.mirandamooreauthor.com

And speaking of competitions… look out next week for our BRAND NEW POETRY COMPETITION!

We’re too good to you. Seriously. We are.

Lovely episode art by Katie Rand.

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