Competitions give you the chance to write the kind of stories and poems that can be hard
to place in mainstream markets. They also help you develop self-discipline in writing to set
lengths and in meeting deadlines. Look particularly for competitions that offer publication.
Getting into print as a winner gives you more than a prize and an ego boost - it gives you
a record of publication to add to your CV.
So how to make sure your write doesn’t get disqualified without being read.
- Read and re-read the rules and terms and conditions before and after you write. Always make sure your write meets all the requirements.
- Keep within word counts and line limits. The judges won’t see it if you don’t.
- Poems should be unless otherwise stated single spaced. Any other write should be double spaced.
- Read through your writing, checking spelling, grammar, punctuation etc.
- Do NOT use coloured or fancy paper and keep to plain fonts such that can easily be read. Font size should be large enough to read easily about a 12 point if using ‘arial’ or similar.
- Do NOT wrap your work up in fancy covers that is just saying you don’t have faith in your work to stand up on its own merit.
- Only print on one side of a sheet.
- And as a reminder and a touch of humour.
The Typo Goblin
I am the Typo Goblin, my heart is made of flint,
My role in life is simply this: to keep you out of print.
I sneak into your manuscript and do my fiendish work,
Adding errors guaranteed to make you look a berk.
And then I cast the ‘Careless’ spell: you say, ‘Ah, what the heck!’
And pop your script into the post without that final check.
At length some hapless editor receives your golden wit,
And after reading fifty words he writes it off as ... unpublishable.
- Michael Shenton
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