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Article writing:a great way to promote your website.
There's nothing quite so satisfying than seeing your name in print, whether it be in the local newspaper or on a website article.
And to be quite honest there is no better way to promote your website than writing articles, out of all methods...
Ghostwriting - Making Money by Being Invisible
My bookcase takes up one whole wall in the family room, from floor to ceiling. It shows my eclectic reading tastes... fiction, non-fiction, Harry Potter next to murder mysteries and metaphysical literature. Also there are books I've written for the...
How to Have an Effective Writing Group
The works you’ve written are numerous, ranging from short stories to even the novel, hidden in a storage bin (under the bed) collecting dust. But there comes a time when you must wipe away that dust, regain your pride, and prepare your babies...
Ten Tips for Writing Effective Web Copy
On the Internet programmers and designers rule, not the writer. Yet words drive targeted traffic to your site, carry content, make the sale, convey marketing messages, persuade people to buy and make the difference between your site’s success or...
Where to Find Writing Jobs Online
A freelance writer’s best resource of finding jobs online are Job boards or sites. While some boards are geared specifically to the freelancer, many others also list other type of jobs. Some job boards allow freelancers to register their...
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How to Evaluate Writing Contests: Six Starter Questions
At some point in your writing career you will probably encounter the possibility of entering writing contests. As you peruse writing newsletters and magazines, at any rate, you’ll almost inevitably find listings of competitions; you may very well begin to wonder how to decide whether a given contest is “right” for you and your poetry or prose. Here are six “starter” questions you can ask yourself to initiate that process of evaluation:
1. Do you recognize the press, university, writing center, magazine, literary review, etc. that is sponsoring the contest? Do your writing friends and teachers know about it? (A number of Internet boards post warnings about “scam” contests—it can’t hurt to check those out.) Is the administering organization one you’d be happy to have publish your work?
2. Does the competition post the names of past winners (and the titles of their winning works)? Can you locate the published stories, poems, essays, or books?
3. Is an award guaranteed? Some contests stipulate that an award may not be given in a particular year; this may not be appreciated when fees have been collected; you may choose not to hand over a fee to such a contest.
4. What does the rest of the fine print say? Have you given over rights to your work simply by
submitting it? Such details are often included in that tiny type. Read it carefully.
5. Is judging “blind”—are you asked to submit a manuscript without any identifying material on it?
6. If a fee is charged, does it seem “worthwhile” considering the potential prize? For example, a $25 entry fee for a possible $100 prize might not seem as alluring as a $25 fee (or less) for a $500 (or more) prize.
Considering these questions should set you on the way to thinking more critically about the contest process, and they’ll assist you as you navigate the many listings and advertisements you’ll find the more time you spend investigating opportunities to develop your writing career.
© Copyright 2004 Erika Dreifus. All rights reserved. Article reprint permission is granted provided that the entire article, including the “About the Author” information, remains intact and unaltered. Please send a copy of the reprint to erikadrei@yahoo.com .
About the Author
About the Author: Dr. Erika Dreifus is a writer and writing instructor in Massachusetts. She edits the free monthly newsletter, "The Practicing Writer," and is the author of "The Practicing Writer's Guide to No-Cost Literary Contests and Competitions." Visit her website at http://www.practicing-writer.com .
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