Writing Contests: Win More, Spend Less with a Flash Assessment
Nothing will raise the heart rate of a contest judge (or an editor) faster than a great opening. Successful writers know how to quickly hook readers. Their openings are tight, and dialogue
crisp. They sprinkle their stories with
small surprises. Their voices are sure and unique. They know how to raise a story question and divulge
These writers win prestigious writing contests and get published because they dramatize complex ideas and know how to create and increase tension.
Lee Kvern, who won our Hazel Hilles Memorial Short Fiction Award for her story "In Search
of Lucinda," submitted the same story for the Howard O'Hagan Short Fiction Award and won that contest as well.
For a single story, she won $500 in our contest and $700 in the other.
Lee, also a talented novelist, kickstarted her novel-writing career with short story prizes. Many other writers consistently publish their stories and win contests, yet in
my experience, more than 90% of stories are rejected or eliminated before an editor has finished the first page. Fiona McCrae,
director and publisher of Graywolf Press recently wrote:
People often ask me how much I read of a manuscript before deciding whether or not to publish. The answer is that it variesthe
more I like something, the more I read of it. However, it is certainly true that one can tell a lot from a first page.
Bad opening pages are similar, with numerous problems that could be easily fixed. Too many adjectives, clunky
sentences, and cliches combine to create insurmountable dullness. Great opening pages, however, are all unlike, and my favorite ones nearly always contain a surprise. The surprise often does
not come from language that is forced and straining to impress, but can spring from quite simple phrasing, which nonetheless signals something quite dramatic. Think of Orwell's clocks striking
thirteen at the beginning of 1984, for example.
My agent, noted: "Fiona is being discreet: editors rarely get beyond the first page."
12 Criteria for Winning Entries
- The writing voice is confident, fresh and original.
- The opening has a strong hook that catches and holds interest.
- The story evokes reader curiosity.
- Conflict is meaningful.
- Ideas are complex, captivating, and fully developed.
- The writing contains an abundance of concrete, sensory details and little, if any, summary.
- Characters are dynamic, their markers succinct and unforgettable.
- Diction is tight, fluid and elegant in its simplicity.
- Dialogue feels natural and authentic.
- The theme, implied or overt, resonates long after the initial reading.
- The climax and resolution feel well earned and satisfying.
- Overall, the story feels powerful, well crafted, polished, entertaining, and memorable.
Lorian Hemingway, granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway and founder of the Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition,
wrote that editors and jurors "look for stories that provide meaningful connections with readers through wise, graceful, unforgettable prose."
I've read hundreds of submissions and contest entries. I know in the first couple of paragraphs if a piece of writing has what it takes, and my Flash Assessment for writing contests or
publication provides a thorough analysis of any opening. If the writing does not meet the criteria above, I explain why and offer suggestions for improvement.
As contest submission fees rise, premature submissions cost
writers hundreds of dollars in accumulated fees. That money is better spent on improving the story. With perseverence, a graceful, well crafted story will find a publisher.
Unfinished stories will be rejected every time.
Investing in qualified feedback saves you time. Even as a writer with a good understanding of craft, you may find it difficult to judge whether or not you have executed techniques
successfully. If something sounds "off," can you pinpoint the problem? Good feedback not only points to issues, it teaches solutions. Personalized, one-on-one advice prepares
you to spot problems faster and arms you with techniques to resolve those problems, in every story you write.
The Flash Assessment below removes doubt, teaches, and provides solutions. Then, when you submit a polished, arresting story to various writing contests, feel confident your manuscript
will receive the attention it deserves.
~ Howard Schwartz, NYC
|Thank you for your feedback. Your words are the most help I have received since I started writing in 2008. They were honest yet sincere. I felt the encouragement you included in every
sentence. I have struggled to receive credible critiques, something I can put to use. I saw immediately how your advice will make me a better writer and my book more attractive to readers.
~ Tammy Stafford, Chatsworth, GA
|I found this very helpful, as it's the first time someone has critically looked over my creative writing since my school days.
It is hard to reread something you have written from an outside perspective, so to actually have one is invaluable.
I'm glad I emailed you when I did, as I would've submitted my story prematurely, and overlooked important factors affecting my chances of publication. ~ Shaun Wilson, UK
|Thank you for helping me to see my writing, including the strengths and the areas that need improvement. Your services were prompt,
professional, detailed and helpful. And you articulated what needs to be done in a way that I can take action on. Many thanks. ~ Laura Rietfeld, Montreal, Quebec
|Thank you so much for your review of my work, it was immensely helpful! It was very thorough and much more than I was expecting. As an amateur writer, I am always looking to improve my
writing, and your insight and suggestions have given me a great sense of direction. I'm excited to take what I've learned from you and apply it not only to this story, but to all my
writing. ~ Audrey Seningen, Newark, Delaware