Writers often need a challenge to enable them to stay motivated and to keep their creative muse burning bright and nothing challenges a writer more than when entering a writing competition.

 

The very thought of pitting their wits against the imaginations of others is enough to h

ave some writers sweating blood and tears as they pour out words onto the blank page. Some writers can become incredibly successful when entering competitions and because the benefits can be huge, it is not surprising that they put a lot of time and effort into each entry.

 

Choosing the writing competition that inspires is a must however and this is not difficult to do because there are numerous competitions available that cover a wide variety of subjects. Some competitions have an open theme whilst others provide a theme which must be adhered to and these may be harder in some respects because the guidelines are available for all and this then calls for a very imaginative response from the writer.

 

Finding a unique angle and interpreting the theme imaginatively is not easy but it is necessary to enable the writer to have a fighting chance of winning. Sometimes the first ideas that spring to mind are not necessarily the best and it is useful to mull over ideas before even committing the first words to paper. Many writers will tend to think along the same lines initially; and learning to open up new avenues from those first suggestive thoughts is certainly worth exploring as these can lead to real winning ideas that stand out from the other submissions.

 

Whilst generating an exceptional idea is a real step in the right direction, the actual standard of writing must also be as good. An exceptional idea can quickly lose its advantage with competition judges if the words do not flow, pace is faltering and it is followed by poor spelling for example.

 

Allowing time to produce a well –written and imaginative entry is essential even if some writers thrive on pressure, there is often little time to make important changes if the deadline is looming. Of course there will always be a degree of luck involved as it can be dependant on who is judging and of course, their criteria. Every effort should be made to produce a tightly written and compelling entry that keeps the judges hanging on to every word.

 

This challenge on the writer’s ability to interpret a theme and create something unique is what makes competition writing exciting but a little forethought and increased creativity can ensure a winning entry, cash prize and an endorsement for the writer in addition.