How Can I Submit My Story To Current Writing Contests Easily?

Question

Kevin · Answer

Okay, look—contests are a numbers game. Every writer I know with contest success just keeps a spreadsheet. Find twenty that fit your genre and deadlines that work, then submit to all of them. Don’t overthink the ‘perfect fit.’ Half the judging is subjective anyway.

I use Submission Grinder to track openings, but honestly, following a few publishers and writing orgs on Twitter gives you the fastest heads-up. The ‘easy’ part is just being organized; set aside one Sunday a month to update your list and send stuff out. You miss every shot you don’t take, and some of these have tiny entry fees that are worth the lottery ticket.

My only hard rule: never submit something you just finished last week. Let it sit, edit it once more, then send it off. Rushed entries always read rushed.

Vanessa · Answer

Search for contests with free entry first. Many respectable ones run by universities or nonprofits have no fee. Avoid the ones with high fees and vague judging criteria—they're often revenue generators. Just google 'no fee writing contests 2024' and you'll find lists. Read the guidelines twice, format exactly as asked, and hit send. Keep a record of where you sent each piece. That's really all there is to it.

Xander · Answer

I'm maybe a bit jaded here, but 'easily' is the wrong goal. A lot of those 'submit here!' platforms that aggregate contests are taking a cut or selling your data. The legit ones aren't usually on those sites.

Better to pick three or four contests run by institutions you actually respect—like a specific literary magazine's annual award, or a genre foundation's prize. Read past winners. Tailor your submission to feel like it belongs there. That takes more time, but your odds improve because you're not just blasting the same story everywhere.

I won a small one last year only because I noticed they favored quiet, character-driven pieces and trimmed the atmospheric description in my story to match. It wasn't easier, but it felt more purposeful than spraying submissions into the void.

How Can I Submit My Story To Current Writing Contests Easily?

3 Answers

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