In my research for FundsforWriters, I was studying contests and grants. I don’t often talk about the winners of these funds because that would take twice the size of the newsletter that’s already pretty long, but a particular one had shown a snipper of one of the winners, and it drew me in. I wound up reading all of the finalists’ work for the Wild Atlantic Writers prize, and I was quite entertained.

When counseling folks on how to apply for a grant, I emphasize the need to read the grant applications of the previous winners. Most grant providers will allow you to see them. State commissions and councils are required to let you see them. Other grant providers may not, but you can at least see the writing that resulted from many of the finalists.

The same applies to contests. Read the pieces that previously won. Nothing gives you a better flavor of what a contest seeks than what managed to snare the judges before. I entered a contest two years ago with one of my opening chapters, the requirement, and did not win, but upon reading the finalists’ submissions, I realized why. The judge(s) preferred literary fiction. I write mystery. Apples and oranges. While the contest guidelines did not state a style or genre, there definitely was one. Nothing against the contest, because the winners were exquisite, but it wasn’t a contest for me.

Before you consider entering a contest, look at the pieces that won last year. Why?

1) To better understand the style and genre.
2) To measure yourself against the quality of the winners.
3) To get ideas on how to up your game by seeing what the judge(s)/sponsor prefers.
4) To quickly learn which contest to discard or take seriously and enter.

Contests aren’t just about the entering. They are about learning and growing in your craft, and seeing who and what has mastered a first, second or third place can help you in that journey.