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.