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Join in the Fun of Writers’ Week 2012–Great Prizes Await Winners

Enter writing contests to sharpen skills.

Join the fun during Writers’ Week 2012 over at Suess’s Pieces where you are invited to enter a friendly writing competition. Like last year’s contest, writers and bloggers will be given a choice of 50 weird writing prompts.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to finish what Emily started. At the same time, you’ll meet other writers and hopefully find some inspiration for your future projects. The contest is open internationally to writers at any level. Please note: if you live outside the US, they reserve the right to substitute prizes listed here for prizes of equal value.)

Whether you’re a business writer, a blogger, a high school journalist, a poet or an aspiring novelist, you can and should participate in this writers’ community event.

  • Deadline for entries is Sunday, September 30, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.
    writers' week writing contest
  • The top 10 submissions will be selected by the Writers’ Week Judges and announced on October 15, 2012.

Get the contest rules, prizes and other details at http://blog.emilysuess.com/writers-week-2012-writing-contest/

 

 

How to Sell Your Writing: Get It Out in the Open

How to Sell Your Writing

Selling What You Write

 

Your book is published.

You are stroking that beautiful cover and admiring your clever title.

Or maybe you’ve written a compelling short story, collection of poems or essays but have been too timid to let go.

Now what?

If you have plans to become a bestseller or even a modest seller, you must get your writing out in the open in as big a way as possible.

I know your published book is on the major booksellers, Amazon and Barnes and Noble. You even have a Kindle and Nook version available.

Or your friends have praised your great writing.

But that’s not enough.

What else can you do?

Consider entering contests.

They often charge a fee for submission, but in exchange you get another flock of eyes on your writing and sometimes commentary from the judges. There’s always the possibility that you could win the grand prize, of course.

Here are a few to consider. Jump on them, however, since they all have deadlines.

1. Check out Writer’s Digest 20th Annual SelfPublished Book Awards

2. Here is a roundup of Spring Contests that run March through May
Writing
Tips, Publishing Advice, and Book Reviews » Attention all

3. Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s Annual Writing Contest a Huge

4. More Writing Contest News for February 22, 2012 : WriteSuccess

5. How about a year-long writing contest March Writing Contests | Walrus Publishing

 

While you may not qualify or be interested in all of these contests, surely you’ll find a few that are perfect for your writing.

Go ahead, get your writing out in the open.

 

 

Entering a Writing Contest Helps Your Writing

Entering a writing contest helps your writing. The prizes may be great, but they are not the main benefit. Writing well develops over time and requires practice. In addition to your writing projects, contests and competitions give you practice in meeting guidelines, deadlines and sometimes even result in helpful critiques.

In the last few years I’ve entered a 100 articles in a 100 days contest as well as 10 articles in 5 days competitions on EzineArticles.com. Even though I didn’t finish all 100 articles in the HAHD contest I did churn out dozens more than I would have otherwise. I did complete the 10 articles in 5 days and won a mug with coaster. Yippee!

I recently entered a six-word challenge at
http://www.smithmag.net/work-inspiration/memoirs.php?q=passion. From now until Labor Day, Smith has teamed up with Mercer to issue a six-word challenge every 2 weeks. Along with your six-word entry you may also submit a photo and a back story. I entered the following six words about work challenge and the photo above.

Here’s my entry in response to the question about what inspires your best work:

Pupils leaning forward minds wide open


Backstory

After teaching junior high through college level for 40 years I still get a tingle when students lean forward, curious and eager to learn. Teaching is a learning exchange.

I’m seldom motivated by the prizes in a contest, but in case you want to know, the prizes are the choice of an iPad2 or Blackberry Playbook. All entries are eligible to be part of a “Six Words About Work” book, along with receiving a free copy of the book.

Hurry if you want to enter. The current theme is Lessons and ends on Labor Day. Get more details at Smith.