Entering my First Writing Contest
I was terrified and scared to enter my first writing contest. One reason why is because I think everything is a scam, the second reason sharing my work and getting real time feedback (okay so not real time) but feedback in general is scary. The anxiety of my inner monologue stating what if they tell me I suck, my grammar sucks, and I tell not show in my narratives, jumbled around in my head when considering spending the 72.00 to enter the NYC Midnight Flash Fiction Writing challenge.
My teacher friend and my neighbor, our classrooms right next to each other at the high school I taught ELAR in Texas, encouraged me to enter the contest. She even confided in me that she had made it to round three. This was not a scam, but it would force me out of my comfort zone.
No one likes being put out there, but this was a leap of faith I knew I had to take if I wanted to be a writer and actually start making money at living my dream job. NYC Midnight Flash Fiction Writing challenge was an amazing experience (I will enter again) and forced me out of my comfort zone.
If you have never entered a writing contest this is how this one worked, I was assigned a group where a location, genre and object had to be in the story. Round one I received Summer Camp, Mystery and Paddle, round two I received government building, thriller and a guardrail where I had 48 hours to create a 1,000-word short story. Because this is my opening blog post both stories are linked below for your reading pleasure. During each round the judges placed the top stories out of 15, if your story was 1 you receive 15 points for the next round, 2 would equal 14 points, and so on.
Everyone advances to round two even if you did not place. The points from round one and round two are added up and the top five writers advance to round three. I did not place at all during either round, but I love feedback aspect of this contest. I loved the fact that there was a deadline and a quick one too! I did not have time mull over all the little details, revise, revise and revise some more until I chickened out and did not submit the stories at all.
Constructive criticism and feedback no matter what field you are in should be seen as an opportunity to grow and hone your craft. Whatever craft that might be, engineering, art, music, physical fitness, bongo playing or even basket weaving.
Go ahead and take that leap of faith, get out of your comfort zone.
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