So, there you sit. You have three hundred and forty two contest entries, and no little shiny icons at the bottom of your author's page. Perhaps you write some pretty darn good stuff and have seen time and time again things tagged as winners that, in your opinion are drivel. Under you breath you whisper --cheaters, favorite players, etc.-- . You get all fuzzed up and swear never to enter another contest by Joeblow contest holder. If you do that three hundred and forty two times, you will soon run out of contests to enter. This could solve your contest woes, but I think there may possibly be a better way.
First, take a look at those winners whose work you consider drivel. Yes, the ones with the little shiny trophies sitting next to them. Are they any less drivel now that they own a trophy? Look closely. Are you any more impressed with the work than you were before? I doubt it. With this in mind, is there any reason that a collection of cyber tin next to yours --or the lack of-- would change your work for better or worse? How important is it, really?
As a prima donna, self centered, love to hear the sound of my own voice writer, I quite often have to question my motives for entering a contest if I find myself begrudging another their success. This entails looking at the reasons I write in the first place. In my case, I write because I have things to say that I consider important. You, on the other hand, may not be so impressed with my vast amount of knowledge and creativity. In fair turn, I may not be so impressed with you either. This could be the reason there is such a huge variation between the styles exhibited by even the old poets we often mimic.
My suggestion is this. Change your focus. I enter contests purely for inspiration. There is a topic that strikes my fancy and wakens the muse. I write on the piece until I am happy with it. I enter it hoping to see if I get a comment. Sometimes I am well received and sometimes I am not. There are times that I get no comment at all even from the contest holder. Rarely do I walk away with any shiny cyber tin.
I walk away with much more than cyber tin. First and foremost, I walk away with a work that expresses me and those important things I have to say. Second, I walk away with a few more friends who I enjoy reading. Third, I walk a way with ideas to take into my next work. My poetry is none the worse for my small collection of shiny icons.
One does not need praise to have written a good piece that touches someone somewhere. Laud and praise does not necessarily mean that my work is good. The little trophies cannot be cashed in at the pawn shop so they won't make me a living. Trophy or not, I can still enjoy the sound of my own voice and somewhere, amid the debris that is my ego, someone might walk away with something they needed to hear.
Use contests to improve your own writing and to meet other authors you enjoy reading. Give a little of your time and comment on the other entries. Check out the contest holders work, comment and earn yourself some points. Express yourself and enjoy what you love doing in the first place. If you get criticism, take what you can use, leave the rest and say thank you. This is not a high pressure exam. Your future does not depend on the grade and those little trophies don't do a darn thing except sit at the bottom of your author page.My humble apologies if there is an author on the site that uses the name Joeblow. All comments are appreciated
Adding your comment:
I guess I was insecure here, because I haven't been writing poetry for umpteen years and didn't know a cinquain from a haiku, LOL. After that, I could ease up and have fun (which was why I came here in the first place
(joke for those who don't know me)
