AS PART OF THE LAKE COUNTY LIBRARY BOOKFEST 2015, Writers One Flight Up is sponsoring another in a series of short story contests. Each of the three, top-placed contestants will win a fifteen-minute interview with both agent Lucienne Diver of the Knight Agency and Random House author Amy Christine Parker.
Stories must be 2500 words or less in the genres of fantasy, science fiction, urban fantasy, paranormal, or romantic fantasy. Find more information at the events page of Writers One Flight Up. Deadline for submission is midnight, February 13, 2015.
Short Story Contests: More Than Just a Prize
Short story contests can offer aspiring writers something even more valuable than a cash prize: an opportunity to connect with people in the publishing industry.
The Lake County Library BookFest 2015 short story contest is a great example. Instead of offering the usual monetary award, the contest gives its top three winners an opportunity to talk with a literary agent and a published novelist. For a writer hoping to break into publishing, that’s an exciting prospect!
A conversation with a literary agent can offer insight into what agents look for in a manuscript. You could learn how they evaluate potential clients and what writers should know about the submission process. Likewise, talking with a published author can provide a firsthand perspective on the challenges and rewards of bringing a book into the world.
No losers!
And even if you don’t win, entering short story contests can be a valuable exercise in developing your craft.
Writing a complete story in 2,500 words or fewer requires discipline. You need to establish characters, introduce conflict, develop a compelling narrative, and arrive at a satisfying conclusion. All without wasting words.
For writers working in fantasy, science fiction, or paranormal genres, that can be especially challenging. Worldbuilding is important. But in short fiction, you have to reveal just enough of your imagined world to make the story believable without overwhelming the narrative.
So if you’ve been thinking about entering a short story contest, consider what you might gain beyond the prize. A polished manuscript, experience meeting a deadline, and another completed piece of writing are accomplishments worth celebrating!
Short story contests offer wonderful opportunities to sharpen your writing skills and share your work with new readers. Are you polishing a short story or working on a novel? A writing coach can help you strengthen your manuscript and move toward publication. If you’d like some support along the way, visit my contact page, and let’s connect. You might also be interested in my books: Plotting Your Novel with the Plot Clock and Jamie Helps Mel Write a Novel.