Is This a Legitimate Contest?
As a freelance writer you’ve probably spent a great deal of time exploring your options when it comes to the best ways to make money writing. If that’s true, I can safely bet that quite a few of you have considered entering at least one or two writing contests.
While I’ll frequently share and direct you towards writing contests posted on other blogs or websites that I know are legitimate, I also know that there are dozens of “contests” on the web that are less than such. For example, many of you have heard of the International Library of Poetry, Birthwrites, and several other publications that annually accept “entries” and review them for “prizes and publication.”
The problem is that many of these “contests” aren’t really contests. They’re slick publishers attempting to make a few extra bucks while gathering enough data to put out a new anthology. In most cases you’re the only one paying anything - your entry fee and, likely, a hefty fee later on to purchase a copy of the anthology in which you’ve “earned” publication. Submit your worst and I can almost guarantee you’ll still get a letter advising you that your piece has been accepted for publication (if only you’ll send a check for a copy of the book).
In short, watch out for these red flags as you review potential writing contests:
- Are the entry fees reasonable? I won’t say an entry fee is unfair because someone has to spend time reading every entry, but the average entry fee is between $5 and $50 depending on the type of competition. Anything higher, or with an odd ratio of entry fee to prize (ie. $5 entry fee for a $20 prize) is likely a scam.
- Will there be a definitive list of winners or will everyone who submits their work be published with the top writers acknowledged as winners? If the latter is the case then you’re not really entering a contest - you’re being taken advantage of by editors charging you to read your work.
- You should not have to relinquish the rights to your work just because you submitted it as an entry. Winning and publication - yes. Merely entering a contest? No way. Someone’s trying to get free content to use as they wish. Don’t let him have yours.
- If you win, you shouldn’t have to pay for a copy of the publication. You should receive a copy with your prize.
There are a few other things to consider, but all in all it’s important to remember that not everyone online is out to support you. You need to keep your own best interests in mind and do your homework before entering any sort of writing contest. Don’t waste your time, money, or TALENT attempting to gain publication in a “vanity” publication that will never make it off of your own bookshelf!
Other great freelance writing resources on the web: