Joining Short Story Contests
Make your Story a Winner by Avoiding Six Common Pitfalls
Creative writing teachers, contest judges and editors are quick to spot certain warning signs that immediately peg an author as an amateur.
1. The Incredible Talking Dog
As a general rule, animals don’t talk or think. Dogs can bark, wag their tails, appear to understand. But nothing puts an editor or contest judge off more than a talking, thinking animal, be it a dog, a cat, or a duck. Unless you are writing a children’s story in which the animal is the main character, dogs and other animals should not have their say.
2. Overusing/Abusing Second Person and Present Tense
True, there have been successful literary works written in second person. But they are rare. This is because a story written in the “you” tense all the way through can get tiresome for the reader and, even for the seasoned author, is extremely difficult to master. It is also wise, if possible, to avoid the use of present tense in a short story unless there is a very valid reason for using it instead of past tense.
3. Over-Experimenting with Language
The Girl with the Tarantula Eyelashes—While an occasional, jarring image can be effective, most of a writer’s prose should blend in, not stand out. Using a big, complicated word in place of the right one only makes a writer appear stilted and pompous. Overdone metaphors and similes may amuse the judges, but they will not help win a contest. Some authors actually overuse descriptive words or phrases. If your character has cauliflower ears, it is wise not to give him a turnip nose and sausage lips.
Bulwer-Lytton shows examples of metaphors, simiies, and descriptive first sentences gone bad.
4. Writing about Clichéd Subjects
Some topics, such what you did on your summer vacation, are of interest to only a small audience such as the writer and his or her immediate family. As a general rule no one wants to know how wise Grandpa was or how clever Aunt Clara. Unless the writer can find some way to make them universal, to represent “everyman’s” grandpa or aunt, the story will be of little interest to anyone who doesn’t know these people personally.
5. Using Writing as Psychotherapy
Many aspiring writers may turn to writing to purge grief, unhappiness, or anger. A person airing a personal grudge on paper is just as unpleasant hearing them rant in person. The evil boss who passed you up for promotion, that ratty ex-husband or girlfriend who dumped you, the co-workers who snubbed you at the annual Christmas party, are not in themselves stories.
The same applies to the death of a person or beloved pet, which is an all-around favorite theme for beginning writers. In fact, about one out of five contest entries will be about death. But what depresses the judges most is not the subject matter, but the fact that most of these true incidents are not developed into stories, but are only blow-by-blow accounts of suffering that is as painful to read as to write. Often, the writer is too close to the story to present it objectively. Unless the writer can find some way to bring these stories out of the ordinary, unless the author can impart some insight or universal truth worthy of being passed on to the rest of humanity, it is best to avoid writing about death.
6. Not Following Contest Rules:
If the contest has a theme, be sure the story you are sending is appropriate for that particular theme. Do not send a mystery to a science fiction contest, or a romance to a horror contest. No matter how good it is, it won’t win. They won’t bend the rules just for you. If a contest specifies a certain word length, such as 5,000 words, make sure your story conforms to that word length. It will be rejected if it is over the minimum requirements.
When writing a story for a contest, try to find a fresh idea, avoid clichéd subjects, and be sure to develop that incident into a story with a plot and resolution. Go over the content to make sure it flows without jarring words or phrases and that it fits into their guidelines for theme and word count. You will be well on the way to a winning entry.
