• bright pink background with silver glitter spilling out of a silver trophy, what is a writing contest?

    Writing Contests: What They are and How to Write a Winning Submission

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    Writing contests can be a great way to challenge yourself, hone your writing skills, and even win prizes. All writing contests are unique, too, which makes it fun to enter more than one. To make sure writing competitions are fair, contests often have specific guidelines and themes that writers must follow to be eligible to win. These guidelines can include word count limits, genre restrictions, and specific topics or themes that must be incorporated into each submission. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know to prepare for your next online writing contest. What is an Online Writing Contest?…

  • Writing a short story can sometimes be more difficult than writing a full novel. Your first tip is to begin the story as close to the end as possible...

    How to Write a Captivating Short Story

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    According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a short story is defined as an invented narrative that’s shorter than a novel, deals with a few characters, and often concentrates on the creation of mood rather than plot. A short story can come in varying shapes and sizes: Traditional: 1,500-5000 words Flash Fiction: 500-1,000 words Micro Fiction: 5-350 words Writing a short story can sometimes be more difficult than writing a full novel. You have to captivate your readers, take them on a journey to a different world, and create character and story depth, all in under 5,000 words. That is why your first…

  • Here are 7 tips with writing examples of how to captivate readers and take them into your world all in under 5,000 words. A short story can sometimes be ...

    Tips for Writing a Captivating Short Story

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    In the publishing world, a short story normally refers to fiction and they come in varying shapes and sizes: Traditional: 1,500-5000 words Flash Fiction: 500-1,000 words Micro Fiction: 5-350 words Writing a short story can sometimes be more difficult than writing a full novel. This is because you have to captivate your readers, take them on a journey to a different world, create character and story depth, all in under 5,000 words. Because of this, short stories should begin as close to the climax as possible.  Here are a few tips for writing a captivating short story: 1. Use the…

  • Why writing contests matter for self-published authors

    Why Writing Contests Matter for Self-Published Authors

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    Writing contests are one of those hit or miss spots for authors. People either love and trust them fully or they question everything about them. Generally speaking, most require a fee. If not, you should probably be a bit skeptical of where the funds are coming from and how much said contest will actually benefit you. What is often overlooked is the value they hold for self-published authors. Even more so, if the writing contest is hosted by a decently sized self or traditional style publisher. The benefits Depending on the particular writing contest, prizes vary and can include a…