Are you thinking about entering a contest, but you’re just not sure what to do?  How will you win?

 

As a judge myself for numerous writing contests, as well as a category coordinator for two different RWA chapters, I thought I could offer some advice to those writers who are not quite sure what judges look for in an entry.

 

First and foremost you have to love writing and love your story.  The love you have for your story will shine through in your entry.   Secondly, you have to edit your entry, if possible show it to a critique partner or group, it always helps to have a second pair of eyes to catch the little things we can’t seem to see on our own.

 

Why do people enter contests? It’s a good way to get your manuscript ready for submission.  You will get some feedback on your work, and if you’ve done well enough to final, your entry will land before an editor or agent.  Does finaling or winning a contest matter to an editor or agent?  It really depends on who you submit to.  Some say it’s great and shows you’re serious and that your writing is good.   Others say they are afraid the manuscript may be good for the first three chapters and then decline from there.  Just make sure you edit your entire manuscript as well as you did the first few chapters.  Having a crit partner or partners should help with this.

 

I have taken some of the most common scoring guidelines and explained them below.  Most will have a score from 1 – 5, with 1 meaning it needs major revisions, and 5 meaning it is ready for submission.

Format

The judge is looking to see that your manuscript is written in an acceptable format.  For example, you have 12 pt. font, Times New Roman or Courier font, double spaced, black ink, 1 inch margins, page breaks between chapters, *** between scenes or at least something indicating a scene or POV change.  (POV= Point of View, no head hopping!)

 

Opening

The opening of your story is generally thought of as the first line of your story to the second page.  You’ve really got to grab your reader from the start, make that first sentence and first paragraph really jump off the page, and compel the reader to keep reading.  You’re opening hook could make or break the entire story.  It could be action, dialogue or narrative, just as long as it pops.  As an exercise check out a few of your favorite books, how did they draw you in?

Storyline

Is your story fresh and unique?  You may have heard there are something like five storylines in the world, well what makes yours different?  Are we introduced to the main characters and shown their internal and external conflicts?  Is there enough conflict to sustain the story?  Now understandably you only have 20 – 30 pages to show the judge all this stuff and you may not be able to put it all in there.  Judges know that, and just want to see hints conflict will continue. 

 Setting

Judges want to be able to sense the place and time.   They want to see how your setting adds to the mood of the book.  Believe it or not, but setting and how you portray it, is very important to a story.  Setting sets the mood and allows the reader to become the characters.  I’ve always tried to describe the way I read as seeing a movie in my head.  If the setting is written clearly I can’t see the movie… Research your setting well, judges will check to see if the setting is believable.

 Characterization

Make sure your characters are well developed.  You should know them as well if not better than you know yourself.  Know what they would do in each and every situation, because if you don’t know your characters well, neither will a reader.  Your character’s goals should be portrayed or at least hinted at in an entry, and be realistic.  Actions, dialogue, thoughts, goals, motivation should all be relevant to the time period or at least give the reader an idea why they aren’t. 

Romance/Relationship

Your hero and heroine should be introduced to the reader somewhere near the beginning of the novel.  Upon their first meeting of each other, sparks should fly.  That doesn’t mean they have to want to jump immediately into bed together (although it doesn’t hurt!), they may hate each other at first, which could make it all the more fun.  Bring on the sensual tension!  Make us feel those sparks, or at least make us feel like we would if we could read more than 30 pages… Judges will look to see that your characters have enough depth to make it in a relationship.  They need to like each other for certain reasons, not just because she’s pretty and he’s hot.  Although physical attraction is important, judges are looking for emotional attachment too. 

 Dialogue

Your dialogue should move the story along.  It should be meaningful and reveal things about the characters, the setting and the story.  Read your dialogue aloud, if it sounds odd to you, it will sound odd to a reader.  Don’t use too many, “he said” “she said” tag lines.  Intersperse your dialogue with action.  Make it flow.  Also don’t give your southern belle a New York accent, or your noblewoman a peasant’s tongue.

Narrative

To me narrative may be one of the hardest parts.  You want to make sure you’re showing and not telling.  You want to make sure you get all your details and descriptions in but not too much that you bore the reader.  You want it to be well balanced with dialogue and action.  Show us what’s going on through the character’s point of view.  Your narrative should move the story along just like your dialogue does.

 Style

Judges look for your unique voice.  They want to see that your writing is vivid, emotional, and interesting.  They want to be hooked.  Did you use all five senses?  Can the reader hear, see, feel, taste and smell what the character does?  Again…Show don’t tell!  It is so important.  Make sure points of view are clear, and don’t hop from one person’s thoughts to another.  If you want to switch points of view make sure your transitions are smooth and not confusing.

 Categories: Historical, Contemporary/Series, Mystery/Suspense, Paranormal, Fantasy, Erotic, Time Travel, etc…

Most likely you will enter under a certain category or into a certain contest.  Make sure your story fits that category.  You wouldn’t enter your contemporary into a historical category.  Make sure you know your genre and you’ve researched it enough your eyes are now crossed.

 

When in doubt contact the contest coordinator they will be able to answer your questions, and get you on the right track.

 

Good luck!