On this blog I only share details of free to enter writing competitions (for several reasons, including the hope I won't be opening you up to scams). There are plenty with entry fees though - do you think those are worthwhile?
Free entry writing competitions
The Fitzcarraldo prize 'awards £4,000 to the best proposal for a book-length essay (minimum 25,000 words) by a writer resident in the UK & Ireland who has yet to secure a publishing deal.'
Where do you think it's directing people? Or maybe you know?
18 comments:
I would consider entering comps that had an entry fee of £5 and under.i think that's a reasonable amount.
I think £5 and under would be worth mentioning too, however, it might be more onus on you, Patsy? although I know many of us try to pitch in. There are several websites/blogs that offer all sorts of writing comps, but yours is specifically free entry, which is its USP and has its own attraction.
Yes I think around £5 sounds good to. I suppose the possibility of scams is ever present these days so people would have to judge that for themselves. I really don't mind though I'm happy to stick with present formula either. Once again thanks for all the updates, they are much appreciated as ever.
There are writing contests with fees, but those are easy to find. You find the ones that are more difficult to locate!
The signpost appears fairly useless as its primary function, Patsy!
Are you asking for views on whether you include paying comps or asking for our view on them in general? When I started writing I entered quite a few paid comps, secretly sure I'd written the best thing ever. Many years later (and wiser) I still do enter some paid comps but I don't enter the very expensive ones or the very well known ones. I should add I have won/been placed in some, so if you know you have a good story it can be worth it.
I'd prefer you to list free to enter comps. That makes this site a valuable resource.
Alyson
I generally only enter Australian competitions, but my yardstick is always the number of prizes available rather than the cost of the entry fee. If a competition costs $20 to enter but there are placings and category prizes, then I'm more likely to enter than if it costs $5 but with only one prize winner. I only enter when I know I have a strong story that has a genuine shot. Others seem happy for you to continue to list the free to enter ones, so I'd do that, Patsy - don't generate extra work for yourself. Liz
I think that the paid competitions are often much better advertised to promote entries and that makes them easier to find, so I really appreciate discovering the free entry ones here, Patsy.
I do enter some paid competitions and have won prizes, but set myself a yearly spending limit which encourages me to be selective.
The trouble is, it's not always easy to find free to enter competitions. The Prize magic website has a good, updated list of comps but these also include ones with entry fees and it covers poetry and non- fiction. I can provide a list of places that accept and publish fiction , but don't pay. I don't know if that will be of interest to anyone!
Useless piece of information: where I used to live, the bus stop at the end of the road? dirt track, was called 'The Back of Beyond' 😉
For the reasons others have given, I think I'd also say just the free to enter ones please. Info about those is much appreciated.
Like most others I wouldn't pay over £5 entry fee to enter a competition.
So free ones on this site are probably best Patsy.
I also enjoy hearing about everyone's news and love how we all encourage each other. Sharon H
Thanks for your comments everyone.
Sorry if I caused confusion – I'm not planning to regularly feature paid for competitions here. As some of you have said, there aren't many (any?) other sources of purely free competitions and I do like to be different!
I have entered competitions with fees, and it's possible I will in the future, but it's not usual for me to do so.
When considering whether to or not, I look at how that fee is being used. If it's for some kind of good cause that's fair enough - same goes for local clubs etc just covering the cost of a small prize and any admin. If the fee is for a really big cash prize and/or a profit for the organisers then it feels more like gambling than a writing challenge, and I'm not a fan of gambling.
@ Sharon – Yes, £5 seems a reasonable amount.
@ Marguerite – I don't plant to post about those with fees, but if anyone hears about one they think sounds worth trying, I'm very happy for them to share it in the comments and mention the fee.
@ Anonymous – Even free ones could be a scam of some kind and we still need to check all the rules ourselves. Fortunately most, free or otherwise, are genuine.
@ Alex - Good point!
@ Alyson - We *may* have got totally lost the first time we tried to find one of the places that post is supposedly pointing at! (It was still a lovely walk though)
I suppose that everyone paying to enter a competition must think they stand a chance of winning?
@ Liz - I can understand that. On the blog I tend to only mention the first prize. Often with free ones that's all there is, but knowing there are runner up awards etc does make them more attractive.
Personally I like it when log and short lists are produced, as it lets us know if we came close. That's especially helpful with regular competitions by the same organisers.
@ Fiona – You're right, those with fees do tend to be better advertised.
I like the idea of an annual spending limit - perhaps with the option to reinvest any winnings.
@ Sharon – I'd be very happy to post up your list if you're willing to share it.
I believe that writers should get something out of being published, but that doesn't necessarily have to be a cash payment. The resulting publicity / confidence boost might well be valuable to some, and I know you've allowed some of your own work to be used to help charities.
@ Marguerite - that's the kind of useless information I like! If our travels took us near somewhere with a name like that I'd mke a detour, just to say I'd been.
@ Maisie – That is my plan. (I reserve the right to make exceptions, but the ficus will remain on free competitions.)
@ Sharon – The sharing of news and information is the thing which most makes running this blog worthwhile.
Sorry I was the anonymous poster , 3rd down, purely accidental.
By the way here is a free competition I came across via The Voice writers newsletter
'The Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize
Writing up to 1,250 words on the theme ‘fear’.
Prizes: £3,000, £1,000, £1,000.
Entry fee: Free
Closing date: 1 April
For more information go to https://alpinefellowship.com/writing-prize
I just got a rejection from Dusty Attic, which I think I heard about on this blog. It's always good to have these opportunities, even if they don't always bring success!
Me too, Maisie, rejection from Dusty Attic but a sub accepted for the Crowvus journal.
I always seem to be late replying at the moment! I am very grateful to everyone who finds out about free competitions because I don’t seem to be very good at finding them myself! But if someone posted about a competition with a fee because it was raising money for a good cause, I’d be interested in that too.
Post a Comment